day 21: a tiring first day back home

Two days in a row of bed pictures.  I get really sad when I realize I have gone the entire day without taking a picture.  I will give myself some credit, though, we had a busy day.  We cleaned the fridge spotless, went on a huge grocery run, cleaned the house, and then had the Bollin girls over for the evening.  Marley was exhausted by the time she got to bed, which always makes me feel like I've done something right!

Vivi didn't want to talk about sleep.  She wanted to sit on my lap, clutching the toothpaste until I went to bed with her.

day 20: coming home

It was a long day.  We headed out of Nacogdoches around 5:45 in the morning and I had planned to stop for the night in Tulsa.  But we kept going, one town at a time.  We stopped at parks and rest stops and health food stores and Panera, until we were finally home.  Marley was completely broken-hearted to leave Texas.  She cried several times on the trip, but she was also my helper.  She was my assistant when Vivi needed something and my entertainment when I needed a friend.  She was happier once we got home and she could get out her favorite books and snuggle into her princess sleeping bag.  She rested on the couch reading books while I unpacked the car.  And once I got her into bed, she was asleep within 3 minutes.

Vivi was a good sport for most of the time.  She was about how you could expect any 14 month old to be on a 14 hours car trip.  On the last hour of our trip, I decided to get out the laptop and keep the girls happy in the dark car with a movie.  Vivi has never watched a movie.  But I thought if there was any time to be the first time, this was it.  So, we stopped at a rest stop and I got it out.  It was dead.  So, we went inside and I charged it.  20 minutes later, we emerged with a laptop that had just enough battery life to get us home.  I got everyone in the car, started the movie and started driving.  About a mile later, Vivi was screaming, so I exited, stopped the truck, climbed in the back and nursed her in her carseat until she had gone to sleep.  And then we were able to get home, thankfully.  I brought her right inside and she was asleep for the night in the same clothes she had worn all day.  But the three of us slept hard until morning.

day 19: last day in texas

Today we soaked up as much time with family as we could before leaving to go back to Missouri.  We got to spend a little more time with Mimi 2, Grandma and Persaious came to visit, Aunt Lele came by, and we enjoyed seeing everyone we could.  Marley, Persaious, and Vivi enjoyed dressing up together.  Then Marley got to have some much needed alone time with her Mimi on a trip to planetarium and an ice cream stop.  She had such a great time in Texas and it breaks my heart to see her so sad to leave.

Vivi, on the other hand, doesn't really know what's happening.  She also got to spend some quality time with everyone, but she lives each moment as it comes.  So, she was a little happier all day than Marley was because she had no idea we were leaving.  I know everyone in Texas will be missing her happy smile and bright personality.  Her spirit makes everyone around her glow, too.

day 18: papa's birthday party

Today was Papa's birthday party.  His birthday isn't until tomorrow, but we had his party one day early to make packing to go back to Missouri a little easier.  I spent all day in the kitchen making homemade chicken pot pit, peanut butter chocolate chip cupcakes, and german chocolate pecan pie.  I had a special little helper with me, who assisted me in licking the beaters.  Thankfully, Mimi 2 came to visit us and she was there to help with all the cooking and child-corralling!

Papa had a special helper to assist him in blowing out his candles.  Lucky for him, we didn't get him 60 individual candles.  We just stuck with the numbers.

day 17: duck pond picnic

We had a picnic with Mimi today at the duck pond.  Vivi got to see some sweet ducks and not-so-sweet geese and she fascinated by them.  She did eat a large amount of the bread I handed her to give to the ducks.  But she also figured out that we wanted to feed them, and threw about every third piece to them.

Near the duck pond is the perfect sized hill for a four year old to roll down.  I loved sitting in the grass, watching the pure joy on her face as she rolled down over and over.  And over.  I love seeing her that happy.

day 16: welcoming frogs and cousins

Vivi loves this little welcome sign in front of my mom and Joel's house.  There are three little frogs in cowboy hats welcoming us to the house.  The first few times she saw it, she pointed to it, got close to it to check it out, and didn't want to leave it.

Today, we were headed out the door to meet Donna at Chick-fil-a and Vivi was walking behind me.  I got all the way through the front yard before I realized she wasn't following me anymore and I turned around to find her hugging the frogs.  She even kissed them.  After she had looked at them for a while, gave them some love, and then decided to put them back.  I motioned for her to come with me, she looked back at the frogs, grabbed them and ran to the truck!

Marley loves Persaious.  When they are together, Persaious just adores Marley and Marley protects her like a big sister.  It stinks that kids are so much sweeter to cousins or friends they don't all the time than they are to their own siblings!

day 15: i'm tweet and a lesson in how a princess poses

New pajamas.  Mimi has a pajama-buying addiction that we all benefit from.  These say, "I'm tweet."

"Mama, this is how a princess poses.  I know because I'm a princess.  Sometimes they hold their dress and their head, but sometimes they close their eyes, too."

day 14: a party for marley

We had a belated birthday party for Marley at Donna and Lewis's house today.  Her cousins and Aunt Bonnie were there and she had an amazing time.  We sang, opened presents, and then all played in the back yard together for a long time.  Marley played with every one.  She pretended to hunt dinosaurs with Billy, saw Malachi and Billy's campsite, and pushed Persaious on the swing.  She had so much fun.  Pure joy.

Vivi had a blast also.  The girl literally grabbed handfuls of dirt and rubbed it into her skin.  Between her runny nose and grubby face, she was a complete mess.  A beautiful mess.

She loved watching all the big kids play and it was adorable to watch her try to play like they were.  She tried to climb on the playground, followed them around, and studied their every move.  The typical little sister.

day 13: drawing and mermaid hair

This is one of Vivi's favorite  things to play with in the car right now.  Asa actually bought it for Marley on our road trip home from Michigan, but both of the girls ended up loving it.  She has always been interested in watching Marley draw.  So, she has just started getting interested in coloring with crayons instead of eating them and it is a lot of fun to watch her excitement when she makes marks herself!

Marley loves to lie down in the bath water and swoosh her hair around like a mermaid.  It always reminds me how long her hair has gotten and how absolutely gorgeous she is.

we did a 5k today

This was my first 5k.  Well, actually that's not true.  I did the Jingle Bell Run 5k when I was in middle school.  But this was my first 5k since having kids and trying to get in shape.  I knew about the race and wanted to do it and then my mom and sister decided they wanted to participate also!  I was really glad that we were all doing it!  Family time!

 Emily trying to take an artsy picture...

My goal was to run the whole thing without stopping. My mom and Emily walked with the girls in the stroller.  I was actually really nervous.  I knew I could do it because I run that much on a pretty regular basis.  But I was nervous about the group atmosphere and people watching me.  I got over it once I started jogging and realized no one cared what I looked like!

 That's me in fluorescent green shirt closest to the camera.


The run was a little harder than I had anticipated.  I might have done better if the headphone jack on my phone was working and I could've listened to music the whole time.  But I did have a great time.  I ended up going about 7 minutes faster than I thought I would!  It really makes a difference when you have people around you encouraging you!

After I finished, Joel and I waited for the rest of the party to arrive.  When I saw them coming around the corner, I ran to them and took Marley out of the stroller for her to run with me to the finish line!  She was very proud and excited!

Then Marley saw Dede, Vivi, and Mimi coming up to the finish line and wanted to go through again with them!  

I'm so proud of us!  I had a great time and I want to do more.  I am actually signed up for a 10k next month, but I don't know if I will be able to run the whole time for that one.  Maybe with Asa and the girls running next to me, I will have the encouragement to finish it. 

But for now, I am super proud and happy with my first 5k and hope to do many more!

day 12: a hard day

Today was a hard day.  I am thankful I got these pictures in early, because otherwise I might not have any.  It was one of those days where I couldn't get out of my funk and the girls seemed endlessly unhappy.  I am so glad the day is over now and I can put it behind me and look forward to the next day.

day 11: tummy aches and funny faces

Marley had a stomach ache all day today.  She relaxed on the couch for the entire morning looking very pitiful.  Luckily, she felt better later in the day and was back to her normal self.  Vivi took good care of her and offered her many books and toys.

Vivi's new favorite face to make.  A look of shock!

day 10: marley's new bed and vivi uses a fork

Marley has a new bed at Mimi and Papa's house.  Her own twin size day bed, with fancy girly covers and plenty of decorative pillows.  It is so cute and Marley loves it.  She has been exhausted every day from so much activity and looks precious tucked in her big girl bed.  With her covers perfectly straight, because that's how she rolls.

I cheated tonight and had to pick two pictures.  She is grinning at Marley in the first picture, and that look just melts my heart.  She loves to get her sister's approval.  And the second picture just cracks me up.  She is getting really great with a fork, especially since this is only her third time to use it.  She ate her whole dinner tonight with a fork and looked so much bigger.

day 9: red hair and sister swinging

This wig.  I literally had to change the settings on my camera to calm it down because it was completely taking over the pictures.  It only lasted one day before it was too messy to even use, but in that one day we even got it on Papa.  Vivi just kept this expression the whole time she was wearing it.  Nervous and unsure, but thinking she might look cute.

I love when I see them getting along.  It is a rare moment, usually clouded by some not so great moments.  But the good moments do happen and I try to savor them.  One time that it never fails is when we are at a play ground.  Marley always wants to proudly introduce her "baby sister" to anyone she meets.  She runs to where Vivi is and hugs her like a proud sister.  I love that moment.

day 8: texas

Today was a long long long day.  Long.  Vivi, Marley, and I traveled for 14 and a half hours to Texas.  It should normally take about 9 and a half.  The girls were much better than I anticipated, but the trip just took forever.  There were countless things that we had to do to keep everyone happy, including dance parties, park stops, and dumping cheerios all over the truck.  Sorry, Asa, we may be finding Cheerios in the crevasses of the truck five years from now.

But it was all worth it.  These babies missed their family.  And for the next two weeks we will bo soaking up a lot of family time!

day 7: marley's plant and vivi's toothbrushing

Marley planted these seeds less than a week ago.  And she obsessed with checking on it.  She is so proud.  She wants it to be kept in her room "forever until it gwows as high at the ceiling!"  She tells it sweet things like, "Please gwow plant.  Gwow big."

One of Vivi's favorite times of the night is toothbrush time.  She carefully watches Marley and the second we are done brushing Marley's teeth, she grabs the toothbrush and sticks it in her mouth.  If she can't reach it, she points and jabbers until we get it for her.  It must feel really good on her poor little baby gums!

day 6: sleeping after a busy day

I will confess: today I almost forgot to take pictures.  It was the first day that it completely slipped my mind until bedtime.  But I will also confess that I have an addiction to taking pictures of my girls sleeping.  And Marley did not disappoint when I walked into her room to take her picture and she had lined her bed with all the stuffed animals that she and Ainsley and Abby had torn down from her animal hammock.  We had a busy day, full of the farmer's market and brunch with friends, packing for our trip to Texas and Asa's trip to Arkansas for training. 

When Asa was deployed, I was so concerned that he and Vivi would never have a good relationship because he missed so much of her life.  But I am ecstatic when I see them together now and I realize that they have an amazing bond.  She adores her Daddy.  And he is in love with her.  It makes me a very happy mama.

day 5: dates

Tonight, Marley went on her first movie date with her best friend Ainsley.  They were so stinkin' adorable going into the movie together (with Ainsley's dad, Tony) that I almost cried.  She was beyond excited the entire day and asking me constantly if it was time yet. 

After the movie, she came home and ran to me and started crying about how sad the movie was.  Apparently, the daddy gets lost from his family and that made her broken-hearted. Poor baby.  She may be ready to go see a movie with her friends, but she is still my sweet baby.

Marley going on a date meant that Asa, Vivi, and I went on a date!  We were so close to going to Texas that we decided to go out to eat instead of cooking.  So, we had a nice evening date to Panera and Walmart. 

Vivi learned to do high fives today (Tony taught her) and has been having a blast with them!  She even says, "IE IE" when she wants one.  It was really nice to have some alone time with her, but she missed Marley.  She kept looking at Marley's empty car seat and pointing to it.  They were happy to see each other when Marley finally came home.

day 4: bath time

Things Marley has said recently:

"I don't know what to have for lunch!  All we have in the fwidge in zucchini and waw milk and and kombucha!"

"I want to have a snack.  But I needs to be healfy because I'm having a baby."

"Did you know it tastes good to lick your feet?"

"Vivi, you are the best wish I ever wished!"

"Can I have a snack and a nap, please?"

Vivi's communication is just exploding!  She can sign so many things: milk, all done, book, more, water, eat, ball, shoes, thank you, up, diaper, ad probably something else I have forgotten.  She watches us do the sign once or twice and then knows it!  

And she will attempt to repeat anything we ask her to.  She will say Mama, Dada, Mimi, Papa, Dede, hi, bye bye, go, out, shoes, Henna, and she tries hard to say Marley.  I love this age and how much she is learning every day.  She is constantly amazing us!

day 3: waking up and babies

Every morning, it is a race to see who can hear Vivi waking up and see her happy smile greet us.  Vivi calls, "Mama.  Mama."  I usually head in there first, but Marley is on my heels itching to jump in bed next to her.  They cuddle and laugh and hold hands and I love to watch them.  Sometimes it gets a little out of hand and Marley starts to get wild.  But on the days that it works out, they are so cute together.

Marley has been asking to play doctor all day long.  Sometimes she has a broken foot that we need to have surgery on.  But most of the time she is having a baby.  

She holds her stomach and tells me she is having contractions.  They I count to ten and she makes a pushing face and we pull the baby out.  She immediately grabs the baby and hugs it and names it.  It's so sweet.  I love her little mama skills.

day 2: books and a fall

Marley would read literally all day long if she could.  She will always ask for "one more book" before bedtime or quiet time.  She is starting to sound out words and has a lot of interest in what each word says.  One of her favorite places to be is the library.  I have to stop her from grabbing 20 books to bring home with us.  I hope her love for reading only continues to grow as she does.

Vivi is usually really good on the playground and every time we go, she gets a little more independent.  So, I trusted her enough to crawl up the steps of the playground yesterday while I turned around to watch Marley do a trick.  I turned back to Vivi with just enough time to see her land face first on the ground.  Luckily she only scratched her nose and cried for a moment until she saw Marley going somewhere exciting.

Oh, and I realized today that she is getting 2 molars!  That explains the not sleeping lately.