Why I am home

This week I've had a couple fantastic opportunities and more reminders about why Heavenly Father wanted me to stay home. I was able to make dinner for a family that had a medical emergency, drive a friend around who was trying to help another friend find her son (who got lost in an early-release mix up), and make grammy and grampy's day playing with them for a couple hours. All things I would've been unable to do if I still worked full time.

I was thanked for helping these families, but no thanks was needed. This is the reason (in addition to taking better care of my own family) I know Heavenly Father wanted me to only work part-time. I am so thankful for the personal revelation that has given me these opportunities and blessings.

Perfect Day

Yesterday was such a great day and, dare I say, a perfect day. And I don't mean perfect perfect as in some minor things didn't go wrong, but it was exactly the kind of day I hoped to have when I started staying home more.

Normally, I go to work on Mondays, but that didn't happen this week. Doug doesn't go to work until 10pm, so it was like we had a long weekend together! Vivienne let us sleep (with much kicking and rolling around) until about 9am. We got up and ate breakfast together, which never happens. We've been having beautiful sunny (but cold) weather, so the three of us went outside and played (kicking and throwing the soccer balls, of course). Vivi and Doug took a 1.5 hour nap right as scheduled (after we ate lunch together), so I got lots of work done. In fact, I got my day's work done by 5pm, which left the evening open to work on other things. Dinner was yummy and easy and the kitchen was cleaned up right after. Vivi and I played while Doug took another nap and then went to sleep without at hitch at 7:30pm.

Like I said: perfect. I know there's nothing glamorous or dazzling about this day, but it was incredible to have some time where none of us felt any kind of stress, pushing, pulling, etc. and just got to have fun together. Not only that, but Doug voluntarily did things like just wipe down the counter and take out the garbage/recycles with Vivi (he calls that 'going on a field trip' with her). Not only that, but Vivienne was a peach almost the whole day! Oh, and she pooped in the potty! I couldn't believe it, but I put her on the potty after her nap and she pooped! I was so excited!

Doug and I spent so much time apart our whole married lives that I really cherish days when we can just focus on family. With our crazy schedules, me commuting 2 hours every day, Doug being in school, etc. we would go days without seeing eachother. While staying home has been tough on the pocketbook sometimes, it's been soothing for the heart. Vivienne loves seeing her papa, I love seeing her papa more, and it's been so good for our marriage just to be around eachother more. Many times when we saw eachother, it was all business because that's what we had time for. Now, we actually get to goof around, relax, and just be us. It really is a testiment to the fact the Heavenly Father does want what's best for us and he'll let us know which way to go if we ask...and then listen and obey.

Anyway,

She's so smart

I find myself being very careful about the things I do and say...usually after I realize she saw me do something I wouldn't want her to do. I'm pretty sure one of the reasons she throws her food is because she sees me throw things into the garbage. One day she came over and hit me after she saw Doug smack my butt. It's a fine line :)

She's got about 20+ words, including: cheese, please, shoes, teeth, nana, grandma, grandpa, bummer (our warning word of choice), bye bye (which she says over and over as we're leaving), hello (not hi), juice, book, ball, and boobs (when she wants to nurse as mentioned in my previous post...that's one of those things we should've been more careful about saying around her).

She can now also properly point to and identify all facial features, including ears! She can definitely understand more than she can say, which is frustrating for everyone. But I am happy when she understands (and does) put things back when I ask her to, to take something to papa (Doug), and puts something in the garbage for me (that SUPPOSED to go in the garbage). She put of her small toys in the garbage today and I couldn't find it without digging through everything so I just left it. Unfortunately I wasn't so lucky when she threw her sippy cup in the garbage yesterday. Gross.

She peed on the potty 5 of the last 7 days, which is great. I wouldn't say we are training right now, but I'm trying to get her comfortable with being on the potty and show her how exciting it is to do her business on the toilet. I will continue to put her on the potty when she wakes up for the morning and naps for a while longer until she shows me (I don't know how exactly) that she's ready for the next step. I would love to have her completely trained before she's two. Wishful thinking?

It's Potty Time!

Last weekend I went to the always super fabulous Seattle Families of Multiples sale and I got a ton of stuff, including some super awesome clothes, toy kitchen, and potties for potty training. I couldn't wait to try them out on Vivi and so far she's doing great!

I put her on the potty first thing when we get up in the morning and from naps and before bed. The last 4 days she's gone 'pee pee on the potty' at least 2 of the three times! It's very exciting and I try to get her very excited about it. I wouldn't say we're doing intensive training (she's not even 18 months yet), but I'm just getting her used to being on the potty and saying the words. Plus, she tries to wipe her own butt. How cute is that?

Last night was also the first night she climbed out of her crib. I know it's inevitable, but really? I heard the soft 'thump' as she either hit the floor or the bed and out she walked from the bedroom. It's a little concerning because we don't have enough space to move her anywhere else and I really don't want her crawling into bed with me whenever she wants 'boobs' (yes, she says boobs-we only nurse in the middle of the night because I need to sleep!).

Exciting stuff all around!

From Peanuts to People

A lot has happened since my last post, including a trip to Utah that was great, but that's not what this post is about.

I always wondered how parents could get so excited about their child's stumbling steps, their toddlers first attempt to kick or throw a ball to dad (or mom!), their young child's first soccer game, the tedious balley recitals, etc. Now that I am one of those parents, I think I understand why.

I think that reason is the same reason I got all excited when I found my nephew is getting baptized this weekend. Undoubtedly I am more excited to see him and watch him reach this important milestone than he is to see me (I can already see/hear is polite but subued 'Hi Aunt Vanessa' with the possibility of one-arm side hug). Why am I more excited to see him than he is to see me (his super awesome, fun aunt)?! The same reason I get excited when Vivienne climbs up and down the stairs or gets down from the bed on her own.

I remember when Ian was born. And of course I remember when Vivienne was there. I remember before they were here and then one day, poof! New miniature people here on this Earth who weren't here the day before. I remember when Vivienne couldn't do anything. She was just a blob and I couldn't wait for her to smile, laugh, feed herself, etc. Now I can't get her to hold still (even when she's sleeping), she gets her food all over the place, and she has no fear and serious sense of adventure.

That is why parents get so excited about those seemingly 'normal' things and why aunties and uncles are more excited to see their nieces and nephews than the other way around. We remember when they weren't here and we're so grateful they are. We remember when they couldn't walk, but now they're playing soccer. We remember when we panicked about solid foods, but now we're so proud when they eat their vegetables.

With this new realization, I can only wonder more how Heavenly Father feels about us, but know that He loves us more than we know.