I'm not strong enough.

My girls deserve more than this.

They deserve to have a daddy who can pick them up and love them when mommy's hands are full.

They deserve to have a daddy who reads to them, rough houses with them, colors with them, takes them to the park.

They deserve a mommy who isn't frazzled.... stressed... overwhelmed... too often harsh, impatient, snappy.

They deserve more love than I can give them alone. More time than I have. More patience. More understanding.

More kisses, squishes, laughter, tickles, singing, running, games.

They deserve more than I can give them on my own. They deserve two parents. And I hate him for all of it. Because he didn't just check out on me. He checked out on them.

And they fucking deserve better.

So keep your phone calls. Keep your half-assed promises. Keep those clothes you keep promising... the "help" you say is coming. Keep your bullshit. And keep away.

Because you DON'T deserve these angels. You DON'T deserve to see their smiles, feel their light.

You don't deserve them. And you don't deserve me.

This one's for my ladies....

A year ago, I was 35 weeks pregnant.


I was also newly single, having left my fiance in September. Teagan and I had just settled into our new apartment. I had the few belongings I took with us already put away, and even though it was empty in our little apartment, Teagan's smile and our love for each other made it home. It was the first time I had been completely on my own, living with no other adults.

And I was scared.

I was scared because although I was employed at the time, I knew that I wouldn't be once the baby I was carrying was born. After my 12 week maternity leave, I couldn't imagine having to leave my infant in someone else's care. Yet I prepared myself for that possibility and resolved to just face it when it came.

I was scared because I knew this change of plans had the potential to interfere with how I dreamed of birthing this precious life inside me.... Negative energy, as any good midwife knows, can interfere dramatically with the birthing process. I wanted to have a peaceful, intimate, loving birth with just me and my fiance. The other half, my fiance, was making it clear that he was not with that program. Fear flitted through my mind daily... what would happen if I needed him and he didn't step up? What if I end up birthing this baby all alone? What kind of connection would he have with this beautiful soul that he made with me if he was already distancing from us?

I was scared because I knew the circumstances would also interfere in what kind of mother I was and wanted to be. Was what I was leaving bad enough that I would choose to be a single parent... compromising my ideals, my dreams.. opening myself and my children up to the pain of their father possibly not being an active part of their lives? Basically, was more damage being done by staying? Or leaving?

I was scared because I was going to be raising two children on my own. As an AP mother, I wondered how being single would affect my ideals. Going back to work was just one issue to face.. what about the plain ol' logistics of taking care of two small people when I'm just one me? And never having a moment where I can just step away and breathe? How was I going to read stories while nursing and making dinner? How was I going to be able to give enough attention... full, heartfelt, willing attention while being spread so thin? My babies deserved better than that... Teagan got my full attention.. we communicated, she rarely cried, I didn't *need* to put her down.. she was held whenever she wanted for however long she wanted. She used her energy to grow, learn, love, and be happy. How would this change affect my future relationship with this active little baby inside of me? Would she be able to have what Teagan and I had and have?

And I was scared that the fiance I was leaving no longer loved me. I left because I wanted our relationship to survive. I left as the final warning... that what was happening in our relationship was not ok.... was not healthy for Teagan or this new baby to grow in. I hoped against hope that he would understand that I was offering him his last chance. And that I was finally relinquishing the control I thought I had and allowing him to make his own decision. To change, or not.

And I was deathly afraid the answer would be "Not".

How would I live without him? My soulmate... the father of my beautiful babies. How would Teagan live without her Daddoo? What if this baby never gets to know who "Daddoo" is?

And then I was scared of the little things... how I was going to afford things like pads, birthing supplies, sheets, a bed, a vehicle (that may have been a big thing), diapers (cloth or otherwise), baby wash, baby clothes, clothes for Teagan, winter wear, my bills. How I was going to recover from birth taking care of babies by myself? How I was going to grocery shop... or shower?
 
The little things were what tipped the scale for me. I seem to be able to handle numerous big things at once, but it is the little, everyday worries that finally broke the camel's back. Sometimes you get to the point of wondering if anything will ever go right. And if someone up there is actually listening.

Now, I don't pretend to be religious. Sometimes I wonder if I even believe in God at all. But I do believe in angels. And I am lucky enough to be blessed with knowing them.

At one of my darkest moments, I wrote to my online breastfeeding group, Milkdrunk. They knew of the struggles I was facing before this writing, and always offered up their wisdom and encouragement to me, reminding me that I *was* worthy of love, worthy of respect, worthy of friendship, worthy of kindness. And that was the greatest gift a girl could ever ask for... they were a ray of sunshine through the gray mist and darkness I was living in at the time. And that would have been more than enough.. more than anyone could hope for.
But they did more.

They asked me for a list. What do you need? they asked. And I told them the few things that I really NEEDED and just simply couldn't afford... pads for postpartum, diapers for baby, clothes for the girls.

And then the packages started coming. Clothes... so many clothes! And beautiful cloth diapers and covers... prefolds, fitteds, pockets, you name it! And slings and carriers. And money. And love notes with their beautiful handwriting lifting me up. They sent reiki, prayers, positive thoughts, love.
Lots and lots of love.

I still ask some of the questions that begin with "How will I...."
But because of you ladies, I will always know that no matter what challenges I face.. no matter how dark it gets.. no matter what...
I have angels with me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You gave me the breath I needed... to recenter myself, to focus on the most important task at the time... birthing my baby.
And I did just that. Lovingly, intimately... unassisted on my bedroom floor.

I've figured out how to live without working for now. My daughters have their mommy full-time. We sacrifice a lot of material things... but in the end it doesn't matter. The relationships that are being built in our little family are well worth it times infinity.

I've figured out how to be parent enough for my girls. I wish it wasn't that way.... that I wasn't just *enough*. I wish I could be two parents. And then I wish I didn't have that wish... that instead my wish was that their father would come back and be the incredible father I know he can be. But only for a second do these thoughts come. Because he didn't change and he won't. And I'm not scared to be without him anymore. And I now know the decision I made then was the right one.

I'm not always where I want to be as a parent. I yell more than I'd like, and I've swatted a butt a time or two. AP parenting philosophy calls for balance... and I'm not sure if balance is possible for a single parent while still maintaining the AP mindset. Or perhaps "balance" needs to be redefined and I haven't gotten there yet. Either way, as I parent, I am a work in progress. And our house is filled with love.

Lots and lots of love.

They were pissed-off tears

I had my oncology appointment today. The doc came in, sat down, went over a bit of my healthy history, and said "Your thymus is fine. It isn't cancerous. You don't have thymoma or lymphoma from what I can see".

Which is great! Ok! My thymus growing is nothing to worry about... just a benign thing that happens sometimes. Awesome.

However, I still feel like shit. And I tell him so. And he asks me a few more questions and tells me what tests he'd like to run. Except that all the ones he mentions have already been done. So he throws up his hands and says "I've got nothing then. If you go to another doc, they'll tell you chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. But I think you are perfectly healthy."

Yup. I'm the f-ing picture of health. I can't exercise because my energy levels completely crash afterwards. For days afterwards, I struggle to take a shower and make my kids meals. I am also a 23 year old that has a hard time walking up and down her stairs because of how bad her joints hurt. I physically can't keep up, and I run on sheer willpower 80-90% of the time. I have obvious, embarrassing hormone issues.

Yes, I'm perfectly healthy. For a 90 year old.

I argue this point with him for a minute, and realize, as he becomes condescending and looks like he wants to pat me on the head, that my voice is once again going unheard.

And then the tears came. The pissed-off ones that burn all the way down your face? Yeah, those. And I squeeze my eyes shut and will the tears away. I WILL NOT cry in front of this ass. That's all I need.


I let him finish his babbling and resist the urge to trip him and strangle him with his stethoscope. 'Cuz I'd rather not be put in prison in my current condition. And that was the only reason I could come up with at the time.

I came home and of course called H, A, and K. Heh. HAK.Oh, they'll love this ;)
What would I do without them? They are the greatest friends that anyone could hope for. They believe me, sympathize, offer support, love, and tears. But mostly, they believe me when I say I am sick. And that is, oddly, one of the most wonderful gifts they have given me. Because I AM physically sick. I am. And nothing is worse than the people I love and the people I need to help me figure this out throwing words like "depression" at me.

THIS IS NOT IN MY HEAD. My head is fine. It is in a good place. Really. So the next time you start to even THINK depression.. please stop. Please. I've been there, done that. I KNOW what depression is. It sucks, possibly even sucks as bad as this. But THIS doesn't = depression. K? K.

***brief interlude while that sinks in. Real deep.Keep letting it sink in... Deep enough now? Good***

Now that we've got THAT cleared up...
So I make myself a new appointment with Dr.STD (heh, Small Town Doc) for next Tuesday. Please pray for some answers!

Teagan's first day of school!

Teagan had her first day of school today. I was super nervous about it, and talked to Teagan about school a lot in the last couple of weeks. We talked about what she would do at school, who her teacher was, what kids would be there, and that mommy wouldn't be staying with her. She always seemed very cool with that fact, but I wasn't so sure how she'd react when the time would come.

So last night, I put the girls to bed at 7:45pm and they were sleeping by 8pm. And I cleaned and prepared for the morning until about 11pm. I could have went to bed earlier, but I just a ball of nerves. I did my routines (Flylady.com rocks my world), and had everything set up for an easy morning.

At midnight, Ever woke up fussing. And she stayed awake nursing, climbing on me, screaming and pinching me (because she wanted me to get up), and babbling until about 5:30am or so. I got NO sleep, and thought that it was going to throw a huge wrench in the whole day.

But I got my butt up out of bed at 6:45am, got dressed, curled my hair, put some makeup on, changed Ever's diaper, and made breakfast. Teagan woke up and the girls ate while I threw laundry in, put the dry dishes away, and cleaned up the breakfast mess. Then I cleaned the girls up, put Teagan's hair up, and got them dressed with the clothes I laid out the night before.

And I got all of this done easily in less than an hour! I was so freaking proud of myself, you just don't even know LOL.

I grabbed my bag, my list, and Teagan's backpack and we were out the door. On time. No, better than on time. EARLY.

I'm pretty sure that's a first for me.

We got to the school with Teagan about squealing in her carseat. I took her to her classroom, and Teagan found her cubby (all by herself!). She hung up her coat and her backpack all nice and neat, and we headed to their bathroom to wash her hands (Mrs.Y's rule, which I appreciate). We found her nametag, and put it on her shirt (which she loved so much!). A little girl who was also there early was a bit upset that her mom was leaving, and Teagan was so sweet to her. She told her "It's ok, she's comin' wight back, it's ok", took her by the hand, and they went to play with the toys. I told Teagan I was leaving then, and she came and gave me a kiss and a squish (what she calls a hug) and said "Ellalee stay here?". "No, Everleigh is coming home with mommy." And with that, she gave her "Ellalee" a kiss and a squish and ran off, yelling "I love you more!" as she went.

And then I teared up... just a bit. My little girl.... so secure and wonderful and happy. Ready for the world! I hung out outside the door for just a bit before heading to the car again. She was happy to stay with Mrs. "Hung" (I laughed so freaking hard when she repeated Mrs.Young's name to me!) and the kids, as she likes to call them lol.

When I came to pick her up, she gave me her big grin and said "HI MOMMY!" and then "I WASHED MY HANDS!"... "Oh wow!... That's so awesome Teagan!" I said with a grin to rival hers.
Apparently that's all they do in preschool these days.

In the car she told me she colored and played with the kids and had milk too. Phew. At least they aren't teaching my kid to be a germ freak ;).

The beauty of my children

Teagan, Ever, and I went to my mom's best friend's campsite today. It was so beautiful there.. peaceful, relaxing, and open so the kids could run around and play. I took the time to just BE with my girls today. I really need to do that more often. I have so many things going on with my life all the time that I forget to just enjoy the now.

So here are some observations I made today while just being;
Teagan is so much more intelligent than I sometimes realize. She may not talk as well as some of her peers, but she is so amazing in how she sees things. She is very abstract and open in her observations.. it gives me such a rare, beautiful look into her world when I can just be with her and try to see what she sees.  She loves the way the lake looks when it is still and reflects the sky. She sees letters in the clouds, and asked me where the stars were today when we laid under the sky during the late afternoon. We talked about the different leaves she found, and I loved giving her the names of the different kinds she collected. Teagan is so good at athletic-types of things, too. She quickly learned how to balance a birdie on a paddle just right so she could throw it up and hit it to me. Her look of pride and wonder made me tear up, and I had to give her kisses and squishes to show her how wonderful she is to me.
Teagan sang to the fish she was trying to catch today, too. She loves catching her tiny sunnies and throwing them back. She calls to them too, saying "Here  fishy! C'mere!" in her little sing-song voice that I love so much!
I also noticed that Ever's eyes are the same color as the deep blue of the sky when the sun is creeping towards sunset. They are so peaceful and beautiful, dancing with laughter and wisdom.

Teagan's are a different shade of blue... more like the clear crisp blue of the morning hours, or like a blue hydrangea. Her eyes also dance with laughter, but while Teagan's eyes make me tear up with deep love and tenderness, Ever's cause me to smile and feel the joyful, exuberant side of love. I love looking into their eyes... trying to imagine what they see, what they experience, what they know. They are what makes me strive to be the best mommy I can be... the best person I can be. I want to give them the world, show them love beyond words, and just BE with them.

Ever loves people. She loves watching them, copying them, and being with them. She especially loves my mom and Teagan. Teagan and Ever are two peas in a pod... they are so sweet with one another, and you can just see the love in their eyes when they look at one another. Teagan always greets Ever with a "Hi baby!! Whatchyou doing? Were you seepin' nice?" whenever Everleigh wakes up, and Ever returns the greeting with a huge smile, no matter how crabby, tired, or unimpressed she is with me. Everleigh is also a screamer, and before today I've viewed it as a very loud and difficult habit of hers. But now, I understand that she is just SUPER outspoken, and her screams aren't her being "naughty". She already has strong opinions, and I realized today that I absolutely love that about her! I hope I can have lots of patience with her from now on, and encourage her to express herself without the "naughty" judgement thrown at her.

I watched Ever walk today and marveled at her strength and balance. She doesn't express pride in the way she acts about walking... it is more a matter-of-fact kind of expression... concentration and determination. She gets ahead of herself a lot, thinking she can go faster than she ought to. I recognize that as something she got from myself.... it can be a difficult trait, but one that is also very rewarding. Pushing oneself is a good thing, in my opinion.
My babies are growing. And even though I am here with them, I feel like I have missed more than I should have. The struggles just don't matter when I look at what I have been missing because I'm not present with the girls everyday. And I hope that I can remember the lesson I've been taught today, especially when the inevitable curve-ball is thrown at me. This time is much too precious.

... and then the road came out of nowhere

Sometimes I watch Teagan leap gracefully from my furniture, nimbly walk along the post fence, and run without tripping, and wonder...
Where the hell did she get that from? I'll admit it; I am probably THE clumsiest person. Ever. I'm so clumsy, things that should make me klutzier actually have a reversed effect on me. Because it is impossible for me to get any less graceful. Take pregnancy for example. I'm like a friggen ballerina the moment I conceive. A very pukey, kill-me-now-I'm-so-tired, whiney ballerina, but a ballerina nonetheless. I actually catch things. YES, AMAZING I KNOW. I can put my shoes on without falling over. And I can walk without damaging much needed appendeges.
I've decided that I'm having at least 20 kids. I'd rather exit this world in the drama of childbirth when my body finally has it than die from blood loss because I tripped into a stopped vehicle and sliced my artery on a Arizona license plate. Why Arizona, you ask? Cuz those damn license plates always do look... sharp. Minnesota plates are all wore down from salt. Arizona ones.. they are like razor blades having never been ravaged by an actual winter.  Machetes. Thirsting for my blood.
Ok, no more coffee for me!

So I'm walking. OH MY GOD. Yes, scary I know. Seriously, how DARE I walk? Who DOES that anyway?

So I'm walking, and just barely trip. Barely. It didn't even slow me down. I felt my toe scrape across the pavement, but completely ignored it. I mean, a scraped toe? PUH-LEASE. Not even worth a look, right?

Except that a scraped toe in my world equals OMG I THINK I NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION. It was ridiculous the amount of blood that came out of my body through the scrape. On my toe. Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh.

So, with my toe stinking to my crocs (yes I wear crocs. And yes, I acutally wore them in public. With jeans and a respectable shirt. And the crocs are ORANGE. Oh the horror!) I walked into the public health office. And for some reason, I found this completely humorous.

Anyways, after having my heart restarted and a blood transfusion done, I threw a bandaid on the damn toe and forgot about it.
Well, for a few hours anyway.
When I got home later, my toe started to whine a bit. Nothing I couldn't handle. I specialize in working with whiny-ness, let-me-tell-you. So I ignored it, cuz that's what you do with whining. Ignore it.

After... 20 seconds of this whining, it got louder. And louder. And then all the sudden... I couldn't think. I couldn't type. I couldn't read. I couldn't watch t.v. And I couldn't talk straight.  Who knew that your brain functions are directly linked to toe health? Huh.

So I finally took the damn bandaid off and paid attention to the little whiner. And realized that my little scrape had turned into a nasty infection.
Seriously? Seriously. Seriously!
*sigh*
I cleaned it up, and it is doing fine now, thanks for asking.
(Of freaking course it is... it was JUST A SCRAPE! Infection should never be an issue with JUST A SCRAPE. I'm pretty sure my body hates me.)

So, toe crisis over, I return to my daily activities... like cleaning my fridge. OMG NO SHE DIDN'T. Yes, how DARE I clean my fridge? Who DOES that anyway?
I get the big glass shelf out of my fridge, and clean it up so it's nice and shiny. Kind of like an Arizona licence plate.
See where I'm going with this?
And as I'm putting it back into my fridge, I drop it a bit. On the inside of my ankle... the corner of the glass stabbing right into it.
And it hurt. Really. bad. And it required me to look at it, unlike my toe.  And I did. And it looked fine. Just a small dent, a small bruise. In a few seconds, the pain subsided considerably, and I went about my business once again. But as the day progressed, my ankle started to swell. And hurt. A lot.

And so I'm going into the doctor tomorrow. Lovely. All because I cleaned my fridge.

Rough

Today was a rough day. The girl I've been doing daycare for didn't pay me this morning like she said she would. I'm not really surprised. She hasn't been reliable at all so far, and I am relieved I am not watching her kids anymore. Things didn't end on such a good note with us, and although I do care for her and her children, I'm pretty fed up with all of it right now. $110 and many hours of my time not only watching her children, but being completely exhausted, taken advantage of, worried, and stressed.... all gone. Lovely.

Secondly, I talked to J. today. I haven't in a LONG time. I've been getting better about calling him. The calls never amount to anything but heartache, so I've stopped allowing phone calls. Today, with my mom and I fighting, daycare girl screwing me, and numerous other stressors, I broke down. I hate to admit it, but I did. The kids were sleeping and I was sitting alone crying, and I called him. Well, first I called K., but she was sleeping... thought about calling my aunt, but she was out of town... so there go my in-case-of-an-emergency-aka-in-case-you-decide-to-call-J. people. *sigh*
To be fair with myself, I've gone nearly a month without speaking to him on the phone. I think I deserve some credit, eh?

Anyway, it went exactly as it always does. Me hoping he's changed, missed me, missed the girls enough to come home and change his ways, had an epiphany, yaddayaddayadda.
Him being skeptical, vague, belittling, and most painfully of all.... not caring. Not trying. Not coming back. Not loving me. Not missing the girls enough to change.. to come home and be with them. Not willing to sacrifice to come back here.

But I asked him to read a few books for me. We'll see if he does. Their on verbal abuse, so naturally he was skeptical right off the bat. But then I ask myself the question... does it really matter if he does read the books? If he does have the "epiphany"? If he decides he loves me, decides to come back, etc.? Could I take him back? Could I patch up the damage he has done?
I don't know. Would I let him try? At this very moment, I want to say yes. I'm sure my brain will start functioning again tomorrow and that answer will change. Nothing makes me more wishy-washy than dealing with J. *sigh*

So after our conversation, I went over to my moms. I just needed a hug, needed my mommy. I went to give her one, and she started asking me why I was even there.... why I come visit her, etc etc... going back to the fight we had last weekend. I really don't know what to say to her. If I try to explain myself, I end up fighting with her. So I said very little, and gave up trying to get any comfort from her. I just went out with my bunnies and hung out with them for a bit. I wish I could just do bunny stuff all day lately. It relaxes me so much, and gives me something to look forward to. Hopefully I will someday soon have my own place, with my own bunnies that Teagan, Ever, and I can show together. Hopefully someday isn't too far away.

Then my friend L. called. She is in the hospital with a kidney infection. Like that isn't bad enough, she is being battered verbally by some ignorant, chauvinistic OB because he found out she's planning on having a homebirth. Again, lovely. This man is entirely lucky I'm not there. He might just wish he was equipped like a woman when I was through with his "manliness".

Also, my father has dropped off the face of the planet. He must have a new girl he's seeing.

And...... my brother is still in jail. He was supposed to get out today, but has a warrant in another county. He missed his court date because he was in jail here. It's never-ending for him. He cried a lot today. I hope he finally learns his lesson though. Please let this be his rock bottom.

Overall, a really crappy day, even though the weather was beautiful.. a perfect, fall-ish day. I'm looking forward to more with this sort of weather. And hopefully today's weather portends a better emotional day for me tomorrow.

Starting over again...

So.
Hi again :) I'm back! Things have been hectic around here for awhile, and keeping up on the blog just didn't make it onto the list of priorities. I'm back to being able to take some "me" time (thanks to flylady!) and thought I'd like to start posting here again. Ah.... I love to write!

So here's some updates:
The girls are doing really well. Teagan is starting to sight-read. She knows many common words; mama, baby, Everleigh, Teagan, Jacob, etc. She also is learning phonics. She can figure out what a word starts with by saying it out loud, and loves to come up with words that start with __ . She continues to amaze me everyday.

Everleigh is walking now! She is just getting her 5th tooth as well. She cut down on nursing just enough lately to let AF come back. (UGH! But maybe she'll pick back up and it will go away again.. a girl can hope!) She can say some words, like mama, deda (what she calls Teagan), hi, byebye, kitty, niy-niy (boobie), gentle, eye, and a few others every once in awhile. She also signs drink, eat, more, and up. Her sign for "up" is so cute.. she puts her palms up in front of her and shrugs her shoulders... usually wrinkling her nose as well. Makes me wanna squish her lol!
Ever is such a happy, loving, cuddly baby. She can also be sassy and outspoken about what she wants. Screaming happens regularly around here... but it has gotten better this last week or so as I learned to give her signs and words before she gets frustrated. She will probably be talking in no time!

I have been struggling physically. It isn't being a single mom, or having two kids, or anything like that that is causing this... though I'm sure doing this completely on my own isn't helping. For awhile, I just put up with it.... but it just got worse. It got to the point that I couldn't take care of my children, myself, and our home without a constant struggle. I did it... and still DO do it... but it is on pure willpower. My body hates me right now, and we still don't know why.

Lyme disease was the first "diagnosis". It has since been dismissed. The story is too long to go into great detail so I'll leave it at that. After doing more tests, they discovered my thymus is still enlarged... in fact, larger than it was before when they found it was enlarged. It's growing, in other words, when it should be shrinking or basically non-existant by this point in my life. The doc wanted to send me to an endocrinologist, but after consulting with several specialists.. who are wondering if I don't have cancer... they are now sending me to an oncologist September 9th.

I am scared. When they thought I had cancer back in '05, I wasn't scared at all. I hardly worried about it and had faith that I would be fine.
This time... notsomuch. I'm trying to keep my worries at bay, but with the way I feel... the way I struggle... I am constantly being reminded of them.
I keep saying to myself "Only worry about what is in front of you", but I still find myself asking the what ifs.
What if it IS cancer? How am I going to do all this? How will I be able to take care of my girls on my own? How will I go back to work? Go back to school? Afford running to and from the cancer clinic? Afford my medications? Afford.. anything? We barely make it as is.... being sick would throw a huge wrench into the budget and leave us drowning. I cannot depend on anyone for financial support. J. only helps with what is forced from him, my mom is as poor as me, and my dad... well, he *could* in theory. But so far he hasn't nor do I expect him to help. I wanted to get my CNA and start working in a few months, once Ever is a year old. Right now, that is impossible. How long am I going to feel this way?

Even though the what ifs catch up with me once in awhile, overall I'm ok. I think we will be fine.. we will make it. Things will be tough, but somehow, we will pull through. I know we will. There is no other option in my mind. I WILL pull us through this. Alone, if I must.

For them.

Ever got her first tooth!

I haven't gotten a picture of it yet... it is so tiny, and there is so much drool, that my camera in all it's amazing-ness can't quite get the lil bugger. But it's there... I can feel it! The tooth came in yesterday, 5/6/09 (writing it down in the baby book as we speak..) at 6.5 months old. I'm so freaking excited... you'd think she just won the Nobel Prize or something!




Ever is also starting to sign now. She can sign "nurse" consistently, and we are working on "more", "mommy", "eat", and a couple of others that I remember every once in awhile. Teagan is back to signing too.. she only had to be reminded of a few to remember many of them, and is attempting to teach Ever as well.





Tomorrow, I am going to take nice pics of the girls, weather permitting. And of our garden. I'm soooo excited for the garden! Teagan is just excited about dirt... and wallows in it any chance she gets. Ever likes it too... but would rather wear it internally. That kid will seriously put ANYTHING in her mouth. Except bananas. Apparently, bananas just aren't ok.

Teagan's Haircut

Here is some Ever fluff! She was eating her supper.. bananas! Mmmmmmmmmmmm.....
I gave Teagan a bit of a trim tonight. Her hair was getting all scraggly and would tangle up easily. I just took a 1/2 inch off, but it really made a difference! Here are her gorgeous locks!


I gave Teagan a bit of a trim tonight. Her hair was getting all scraggly and would tangle up easily. I just took a 1/2 inch off, but it really made a difference! Here are her gorgeous locks!

And lastly, a video of Everleigh playing peek-a-boo!

Stacking Blocks

Papa

My dad came over for my birthday on the 20th. The girls just love him... especially Teagan who calls him "Papa". He plays with her like he played with me when I was a little girl; letting me do pull-ups on his fingers, having horse rides on his legs, swinging me in the air, etc. It is moments like these that make me wonder where my childhood went... it was so happy and fun. Things are so much more complicated when you are older! But I'm just thankful I get to see that same light in my girls' eyes now.

As blue as the sky on a spring day....

Spring and I are tight. So tight, we even share a birthday. And I'm thankful for that more than ever this year. Why? Because I still feel special, even after this:



Yes, that is my birthday cake. Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a deathly blue, freeform "Loser face" on the side of a chocolate ice cream cake.

I wonder if CakeWrecks would love this enough to blog it?? If this cake became famous, all would be forgiven.

Spring is in the air!

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree!

12:19 and all's well..........

Ack I'm tired. I'd like to sleep but I have too much on my mind. I finished some e-mails, gave the blog a new look, and read a few articles online... and now I'm blogging.

The events of the day? Well... Teagan cut her toe open. Again. I broke the glass part of my blender... It didn't shatter, or so I thought. It looked like I just cracked the glass, and being it was thick it didn't smash into a million pieces like every other glass thing that hits my concrete floor. So I just picked it up and threw it in the garbage, not bothering to sweep.
I also ended up with glass in my foot. Except my mommy can't see like she used to... leaving me to pull out my own pet shard and nurse my gaping wound all on my own.

Teagan did so many funny things today. However, I can't remember any of them. Why? Because I'm a bad mom. Ok, well... I may just be tired. Aha! I remember something...

After the Glass Episodes, Teagan has developed a twitch. A twitch that is cute, but eventually drives her mother to tears and curse words. When the subject of her owie comes up, Teagan says to whomever is listening, "Don't touch-a cups!!". Over. And over. And over. She's like the Rainman when she says it... over and over. Did I mention she says it over and over again?? She sounds very similar to a robot. Like yes, hunny. We get it. Your mother has beaten the rule that you shouldn't touch glass cups into you and you shall never forget it. Except I didn't beat her. No, really...

She also does that with other things. Like when we see the colors blue, red, or green. If she sees blue, she says "Jacobis-a-schoo" (translation: Jacob is at school) over and over. Red? "Teaganis-a-schoo" and green is "Mommy (or daddoo)-is-a-schoo". I have no idea why.
Strange strange child.

Speaking of school, I took Teagan there on Friday. Jacob and his classmates put on a mini-play for their parents (and weird sisters), and I thought Teagan would love to go. She loved it so much, she took her overwhelming affections out on Jacob, who was beyond mortified (in a good way though). She would run up to him, and give him this huge hug, and say "Aw, Jacob!" and just love him up. The pure joy on her face nearly brought tears to my eyes, and when I saw how sweetly embarrassed Jacob was, I really had to control the onset of tears that threatened to break loose. I don't usually get this emotional. Well... Ok I lied. I'm always emotional. But that's why you all love me, so I'm cool with it.

Speaking of emotional... I've been in a bad way here for awhile. My life is at a very important crossroads right now, and I have to admit that I am terrified. So terrified in fact, that I'm afraid that I will be paralyzed with that fear and not be able to do anything... which I know for sure is the WRONG choice right now. I want to be a midwife so badly... I want my family to be loving and supportive.. I want to be near all my friends... near Jason... all while being in a place that has plenty of opportunities for myself and the girls. Is that too much to ask for? I think not.
However, reality sets in and I'm realizing that I can't have it all. I am going to have to choose. And I don't wanna.

More on that later. Ever's awake!

For the Love of Siblings

No one told me how wonderful it would be to see my two children love each other so much. I mean, I figured it would be very touching.. but to see that protective, loving look from your oldest and that adoring, I-wanna-be-just-like-you look from your youngest... well, it is beyond words. And I wonder if my brother Michael once looked up to me like that, or if he still does in a way. I know I still feel protective of my brothers, and want to just make them learn from my mistakes so they don't have to... which I'm sure comes off as bossy, pushy, naggy, or know-it-allish sometimes (ok, or maybe all the time). I hope my brothers know that I do it out of love for them though, and that my intentions are good. Being the big sister, I wish I could just fix everything for them.. make it all better by paving the way for them or something. And I wonder, being I'm their big sister, if they still look up to me at all. I think part of the reason I try to get things right the first time is because I don't want to lead my brothers down the wrong path.




But thinking more on my girls' love for one another, I wonder if I can help my girls keep that love intact.. whole, and without judgment. I know my brothers and I have had our moments of being angry with one another, but I think we all accept one another's love the way it comes. Or at least try.





I hope my girls always remember this.. that once upon a time Teagan was Everleigh's world... her idol... her big sister. And Ever was Teagan's favorite person, *her* baby, someone she should protect and teach.. her baby sister. And even though their relationship is bound to change, I hope they remember to learn from one another, and love each other no matter what.

And of course, take it easy on their ol' mom.

Shaklee to the Rescue!

I'm starting a new blog. And yes, I'm going to actually write in this one. No really. Don't believe it? Well then I'll have to just prove you wrong. These girls do so many amazing and wonderful things everyday, and I am horrified that I am not documenting these at least a few times a week! Plus I have a lot to say about what is all going on in my life at the moment.

So... here it is. The blog about us ladies.
Today was fairly uneventful. Ha! Way to start a blog :) Ever has taken a liking to her thumb... and has been sucking on it so much her skin is chapped on her hand, chin, and face. Niiiice. I'm not sure when she has time to suck on her thumb, being she is on my boob pretty much 24/7.



Yesterday, Teagan was a bit tired from daylight savings, and so proceeded to beat the crap out of herself all day. Tired= insanely klutzy + only half the brain functioning which also =self-mutilation.
So after I told her 1,000,000,000,000 times not to play with the glasses I just put in a box to donate, she takes it out anyway and then of course drops it. On my kitchen floor. Which by the way is concrete covered in tile. So you can imagine my panic seeing as not only was Teagan surrounded in broken glass, but being I was in the same county, I was as well.
Greeeaaat.

I firmly tell Teagan not to move, and with eyes as big as saucers, she looks at me and says in all seriousness, "What happened?".
Um.. I don't know Teags? It's possible an alien took over your body, broke the glass, and fled the scene giggling evilly. But somehow I doubt it, child.

Somehow, I maneuver Ever and myself close enough to Teagan to save her from the shards of death, but not before she takes that one step forward and gets glass in her toes. *sigh* Well, you can't say I didn't try.

So after removing the two tiny shards from her big and second toe, I put a band-aid on to her fierce shouts of "Don't TOUCH!"... followed by apologetic and hopeful cries of "I sowwy mom... S'all bed-der now?" To which of course I say "Do you want me to kiss it".. and of course she does. And of course it feels all "bed-der" after that.



And all this time, Ever just watches and smiles at Teagan... She has no clue what she is in for.

Later, Teagan is messing around on her chair. Apparently, being tired also = having ants in the pants. Except Teagan never wears pants. Anyway, she was wiggling around in her chair at the kitchen table, and every once in awhile would remember that she was eating and would take a sloppy bite of spaghetti. The next thing I know, she has fallen off the FRONT of her chair, cracking her eye on the table on the way down. Hard. Really hard. Like, I'm-crying-so-hard-I-can't-even-breathe hard.
And all I can do is hold her, poor baby! Of course, putting frozen strawberries on it was completely out of the question. Hell, I was lucky to even get a glimpse of the damage the way she was protecting that eye. Can't say I blame her.



After 10-15 minutes of wailing (hey I know it hurt.. but 10-15 minutes worth?) I resorted to bribery. With chapstick. Carmex to be exact. The crying ceased, and we went about our merry ways. After I knew things were cool, I distracted her and took the carmex away, putting it on the counter. We then headed upstairs where we played for awhile with her toys. Suddenly, Teagan was thirsty and told me she'd be "wight back.. stay-eere. I be wwwiiiight back," and headed downstairs for her water. After a bit she came back up, and headed into her room. I should have known something was up. Two year olds never play by themselves willingly... at least without announcing it to the world and getting praised for it!
Carmex... in her hair. Thick too. I'm pretty sure she squeezed the whole damn tube out. Ack. I hate the smell of Carmex. And I hate the look of greasy hair. So off to the tub we go.


After 4 shampooings, nothing. I actually thought it might be even worse. Eesh.
Today, I tried baking soda, a different shampoo, and dishsoap. Nothin'. Good lord what the hell is in that crap?
Finally, I break out the Shaklee. Tada! It comes out! Seriously, that stuff can kick anything. Well, maybe not toddler butt into napping when they are supposed to, but you get the point. At least now I know to go to the Shaklee straight away when the next time change/ sickness/ tooth/ random day of no sleep/ growth spurt/ etc/ etc/ etc. comes around!