Conversations with a Two Year Old

As I walk into Micheala's room, she's wailing, not crying wailing. She hasn't been crying long because it seems to start as soon as I stepped out of the shower. Walking into the room, I instantly smell the culprit to Micheala's crying.
"Mommy I poop!"
"Yes Micheala I can smell it. Why is your shirt off?"
"I took it off."
"I can see that. Oh Micheala, that's nasty."
"Nasty?"
I lay Micheala down to change her big, nasty poopey, making faces and sounds as I'm getting ready to peel and wipe. Then Micheala says to me...
"Mommy you funny. I funny too Mommy."
"Yes Micheala you are funny."

Laundry Bites

I hate...hate...hate...laundry. I dread Mondays and laundry days. I'll even think of an excuse or errand that has to be done to delay the chore. Five loads for one week...I was actually expecting for it to be a little worse. Before Josh was a pilot it was at least two more loads for his Chick-fil-A uniforms. For the three of us, this doesn't seem too bad. I can only imagine what my mom did. Its a wonder that we had any clothes at all. Well, if there were five children in my house, there may be days that Josh would have gone without something clean.

I don't mind the sorting, the washing and trying to get out stains, the transfer from washer to dryer, or even folding. Its putting it all away that I can't stand. It only takes minutes to put it all away, but I dread it!!!! It ruins everything for me... Does anyone else hate doing laundry as much as I do?

LOVE

Until Micheala was born, I never really understood how intense your love for your child is. No matter what she does, or how badly the day is going a hug and a kiss seem to wipe it all away. I'm under no illusions that this is how it will always be. In fact, I know I need to stay strong and probably toughen up some. A hug and a kiss won't always correct a wrong. BUT for now, while she's still young, it does.

When she was an infant I used to look at her, hold her, and cry. I was in awe!!! I did this again today as she came running down the hall in her birthday suit telling me that she had a bath and wanted butt cream. I couldn't help but smile and hug her as we finished her nighttime routine.

When Micheala was born, I asked a close friend of the family which stage he loved the most so far, his daughter was four at the time, and he said, "all of them". I miss her being so little and cuddly. I miss how she used to fall asleep on my chest or curl up with me for a nap. But I LOVE how she calls out my name and announces that I'm her mommy!! How she grabs onto me and kisses me. How the simplest things make her glow. She is amazing and I am blessed!!! I pray that I have many more stages to watch in her life. I also agree with Mark, I love EVERY stage so far...

Rockwall

So for almost a year, I have stared out from the Welcome Center desk at Branch Crossing at the Rockwall. Almost everyday I told myself...I've got to at least try it. I didn't like the idea of being up that high or descending from a rope. Not to mention, I didn't know anyone that was willing to try it with me. Well, not anyone above ten years of age.

Well, I found someone!!! My dad, Frank, went with me!!! With my dad and the rockwall staff pushing me on, I was able to climb three different walls, and got halfway up a fourth. I would have said they encouraged me...but that would not be proper word. Every time I wanted to come down, I heard, "You're kidding right? Just...." "We'll never let you live it down..." It was pretty awesome...but my hands are hurting now...

Little Blessings

WOW!!! Today Micheala seems to have made a complete turn around. She made it through school without a breakdown. No fever!!! I can walk without lifting thirty pounds around the house!!! I think I could even attempt to use the restroom or take a shower without toddler supervision. And, even though I feel weak and foggy headed, I am just grateful that Micheala is finally feeling better!
What a week!!! A new boss, with GREAT ideas!!! A healthy baby!!! AND last but certainly not least another wedding anniversary to celebrate!!! 6 Years!!!!

Stuck

I guess I'm super codependent because I feel so stuck in my life right now. Two years ago I never thought that we would be where we are at today. At the bottom starting all over AGAIN. Its a catch 22. I'm grateful and happy that Josh has finally found something that he really likes, but I guess I didn't realize that it would take so long to get going. What I really hate right now is being full-time working mommy. I feel like I'm doing Micheala a disservice by putting her into daycare five days a week. Soon right?!
On a brighter note!!! I'm really excited about bringing Micheala to see UP today!!! Praise God for the little rainbows in life.

Sick Babies

I think there is almost nothing worse that when you're little one is sick. Of course a sick husband is a close second. I feel almost as if I've failed Micheala somehow. I've exposed her and not protected her from her current ailment. I felt hopeless when the doctor told me that all I could really do is give her Motrin and Tylenol to bring the fever down and feed her light snacks. The stomach bug is the WORST. She's been fighting a fever since Friday. Saturday and Sunday seemed to be the worst of it. She made it through the night without a fever, but woke up with a slight one this morning. I hate it because there's nothing I can do but hold her. Which is all I've been doing all weekend, carrying her everywhere. I'm starting to get cabin fever from boredom and the cartoons.

Mother's Day

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Mother's Day tomorrow!! Life is amazing and God is so good! Even when I'm completely stressed and frustrated with the daily mommy routine; I'm also grateful that I can go through that. So here are some flowers for the mommies and grandmommies out there!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!!

Common Sense

So...I know its a little early to borrow trouble and worries concerning the Swine Flu, HOWEVER....
Working at the YMCA we got a lot of visitors from Mexico and members that are always traveling back and forth. **First Worry**
People don't always wash their hands or clean equipment when they are using it. AND they will still come and work out EVEN if they are feeling a little under the weather. **Second Worry**
A member called today and said that her children's school was closing due to the Swine Flu (I don't know the name of the county, or even if this statement is completely valid.) The member wanted to know if our childwatch would be open....hmm....Common Sense...If your child was expose to the Swine Flu at school, and it closes down...Why would it be okay then expose other children to the Swine Flu????? I don't get it!!!!! Keep your kids at home if the school is closed for a threat of this flu!! Don't bring your sick kids to the YMCA. Stay home. GEEZ...
Sorry, I've got that off of my chest now.

April Showers bring May Flowers?

Well, we followed the crowd and had to get a least one picture of Micheala in Texas Bluebonnets!!! Of course she didn't smile, or want to look at the camera. She was busy trying to smell and pick the flowers. The scary part is that I had to pull off onto the side of the road and put Micheala in the flowers. You wouldn't even know that there were many cars passing as I was on the ground, butt in the air, trying to capture the natural beauties before me.
The Romitelli's are gearing up for a wedding in just a few weeks. Its a little scary to think that my little brother is getting married. Just as long as he's not the next one to have a baby.
Josh is busy instructing still. He doesn't have the hours to fly right seat privately just yet. Insurance isn't willing to cover him. So he's back to teaching as much as he can, and hoping to fly right seat with Captain Don in a citation jet. Please pray for Josh, he is ready to move onto the next thing. Financially we're both ready for Josh to move onto the next thing. It has been difficult for me to trust that God will provide for us.

My Embarrassing Day at Ross

Micheala and I made a trip to Ross. She didn't have much of a nap at school and wanted to get out of the cart and touch everything. We passed the shoes and she wanted to try them ALL on. After every shoe she screamed for another one. I'm sure the whole store heard her. If that wasn't embarrassing enough, pulling her away from the shoes created another screaming fit.By the time I made it to check out, I wanted out of there. The lines of course are long, and Micheala is itching to make a break for it. I can't even strap her down because the buckle on the cart is broken.As the young lady is commenting on how cute Micheala is, my precious little girl decides to stand up in the seat and begins peeing. Oh, and it gets better...the diaper some how managed to come undone on one side. So now Micheala is soaking her clothes, the shopping cart, and leaving a nice puddle on the floor. The store manager was not pleased, and sweet old lady behind me shot me a look that could kill.I tried my best to leave with my dignity and my wet child.

Yellow Snow

No we aren't talking about the kind of snow that you're not suppose to eat. We're talking about the massive amounts of pollen that coat our Texas cars and send my eyes into an uncontrollable itch. The pollen in the air is unbelievable right now. Unless you keep your car in a garage there is no point in washing it.
Besides the pollen that is attacking our allergies, we are all trying to get over whatever is going around. Its harder when your little one gets it from preschool or church and brings it home. The worst is in childwatch at the YMCA because those mommies are not going to let a little thing like "Johnny" and a fever stop them from going to BodyPump.
Micheala is growing up so much!! She's so much fun, and becoming very interactive with us. Her Sunday school teacher feels otherwise though. She's concluded that she doesn't like boys, doesn't share well, and she must be an only child. I want to scream out, "She's two!!! She her social skills are very much on target for her age, and I don't want her to like boys yet!!"
Josh is flying a lot!!! He has almost 940 flight hours, and his SIC, Second In Command, rating in a citation jet. He is booked solid every week, which is good. He keeps waiting for the next thing. Instructing is becoming old fast for Josh, and its hard when you're not the one actually flying all of the time. I truly feel blessed that he has a job at all with the way the economy is right now. We keep praying that God would find Josh another job to help support our family. He has one possible job as a first officer which could definitely help us out.
The YMCA is good but a little overwhelming. There are lot of things that seem to come my way, and I struggle balancing the YMCA and my family at times. I would love to work part time, but again, I am grateful that I have a job with health benefits for my family!!!