Bedtime Routine

I love the bedtime routine that we do with the girls before putting them to bed. While some nights vary a little, we always get some time with the girls and those moments are priceless.

After baths, Mya takes a bottle. Ally gives her sissy big hugs and kisses and then Nick or I take her in, pray with her and lay her down. She sleeps with her pacifier and Pooh Bear! I love standing in her room, holding her, looking at her sweet little face and sleepy eyes!

Then we take Ally into her room. We have started making up stories. Nick and I have different characters that we use in our stories and they don't always make sense but Ally LOVES them! Ally always wants us to say her preschool prayer with her. "Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you God for everything!" Such a sweet prayer!

A day can be as crazy as ever...I can be absolutely exhausted and these few moments erase them all! I feel so blessed that God has given me such a great family and sweet little girls! I hope that the girls enjoy this nightly routine as much as I do!

While we are on the topic...

Of second children, I have to express my amazement of how different my two girls are! They have been different from day one and by day one, I mean the day of conception! I was perfectly fine during my pregnancy with Ally. My pregnancy with Mya, nauseated daily for many months. I found myself in my Ob's office quite frequently with Ally because she would not move the "required" movements within a certain time. Mya, on the other hand, moved CONSTANTLY! Ally had a certain time, usually the evenings between 6 and 8pm, of fussiness. Her evening fussiness lasted approximately 3 months. Mya has felt the need to let her voice be heard much more! Her fussiness occurred frequently throughout the day and lasted well into 6 months. After that, she was fine! Ally liked to cuddle for a while but Mya LOVES it. She loves to be held, kissed and hugged. I soak up all of the extra loves I can get from her each day! Ally never climbed up on anything until she was probably 2 years old and was good at getting up onto a chair. Mya has already started climbing on chairs, tables, etc. Of course once she is up on a chair, she chooses to stand...not sit. She is quite the daredevil. It is amazing to watch my girls and discover more about their personalities. I love each difference that they have and I am sure there are many more differences to come! Here is a picture of my little sweeties!

The Second Time Around...

I know, I know, I know! I haven't written in a VERY long time. Student teaching, classes, the girls, and just life in general have kept me super busy! I am determined to start writing again!

I was talking with my cousin tonight and we got on the topic of second children. I have tried to keep things equal between Ally and Mya but the truth is that Ally comes out on top. Ally has a baby book that is far more filled in than Mya's book. I have TONS of pictures that I would take on a daily basis with Ally, while I only have some here and there of Mya. We have video of Ally's birth but sadly our camera messed up and Mya's birth got deleted when we shipped it off to have it fixed. I made a scrapbook of my pregnancy with Ally and have not touched my scrapbook stuff since then...so needless to say there is not one of those for Mya. Not all of these things are really under my control but I can't help but to feel guilty. I know that I am not alone in this ordeal. My mom has far more things for me than she does for my little brother! I know one day, Mya will understand and know that I love her just as much as I love Ally! Now...my goal is to start taking more pictures/video of the girls!

Does it ever get easier?

"Time heals all things."

We have all heard the saying. I am sure that at some point in time, I have said this to someone that was hurting. Tonight, I stopped and asked myself if this statement is really true. I have to be honest and say NO. After a pretty rough week, I finally realized my problem. I am in my annual depression. My father died around this time 18 years ago. Seriously, 18 years has passed and I find myself sobbing as if I were 7 again. Does it ever get easier? I have come along way since that time but healing is a process. It is not instant and I am not sure that the process is ever complete. I have a wonderful Dad, who has been there for everything along the way and I am grateful for all that he has done and continues to do. I just can't help but to feel an empty spot in my heart this time of year. I count heavily on God's grace to pull me through!

I miss you and love you, dad!

Student Teaching

This last week has been exhausting, yet so very rewarding...exciting and scary...rich with information and confusing. The funny thing about it...I LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!!

I began my student teaching experience this week. I am in 4th grade Communication Arts. At first, I was not sure if it would be a good fit for me since I have never been a huge reader and really didn't enjoy writing either. Much to my surprise, it is a PERFECT fit! I have always felt that God called me to teach and this week, those thoughts were confirmed. This is where God wants me and the peace and drive that comes with that is unbelievable.

I came home every night, mentally and physically exhausted but I longed for the next day! I miss the additional time at home with my girls but they love being watched by their MiMa (Nick's mom). Ally asks, everyday, "Mommy, what did you do today at your student teaching?" I LOVE our conversations about the day! My husband and I have more to talk about than just his work and the girls, which is a little refreshing!

I had such an amazing week and even though I know there will be bad days, I know that God has called me to do this job and he will be there every step of the way!

Anticipation

Do you remember that feeling that you used to get when school was about to start? For some it was a dreaded event, but for others, the days before were filled with excited anticipation.

I have both of these feelings right now! I am about to start student teaching and while I am very excited and filled with great anticipation of the changes that are coming, I can't help the bittersweet thoughts that are filling my mind.

I have not had to actually work (minus some subbing days last fall) since October, 2006! I might have forgotten what it feels like to wake up at 5:30am and actually have to get ready for the day. I enjoy working around the house or on homework and getting to stay in my PJs! I have been away from Mya once for an 8 hour time period and now I will have to do it on a daily basis. I like talking to Ally throughout the day to learn more about her and her beautiful personality. I like to talk to my husband when he calls randomly. I like the flexibility of doing things at my own pace.

On the other hand, I will enjoy more adult conversations that will occur with co-workers. I will enjoy getting to know my new students and watching them learn things that I am teaching! I will love the excitement that my daughters will show when I come home from work! I will enjoy getting to share the highlights of my day with my husband.

I am definitely filled with anticipation!

Lost in the Chaos

I have neglected my blog for the last month or so. I have found myself lost in the chaos. The chaos that is the holiday season. I love this time of year for many reasons but I welcome the new year with open arms and sleepy eyes! Although I am sure that I could have found some time to write, I filled it with many miscellaneous tasks; baking cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, visiting with friends and family, wrestling two sleepy little girls and the list can go on and on! This new year is going to bring on new changes but I hope to keep up with my blog more frequently, even among the chaos!