Award Winner

Bad mama blogger of the year award winner right here!  Dang it!  I've read a few times lately that instagram kills blogs.  True?  Maybe.  Being close to family?  Probably.  Having a husband that monopolizes the computer every night?  Yep.  I know I said it last time but I need to get back on the blogging wagon.  I want this to be a place we can come back to years from now and read about what we were up to, look at pictures and watch "bideos".   

Our biggest news is that we're moving.  Again.  Yes, I know.  We just moved back.  Yes, I know before that we'd just moved, and before that, etc, etc, etc.  We move A LOT.  This time we're moving to Iowa.  When I first heard the moving news I cried.  Joe said "North Dakota or Iowa".  I said "Hawaii".  But, after visiting Iowa I have to say I am a little excited to move there (since we have to move, otherwise I'd much rather stay in MN).  Iowa City seems very family friendly and the town is smaller - which I have realized I really do like.  As of now the plan is to move in early 2013.  We should be there 3 years.  Although I'm not holding my breath on that because things in the construction business change with the wind.  They also told us this would be our last move.  That I'm going to hold them to.  I'm sick of moving.  However, I am very thankful that Joe has a good job and it allows us to do the things we want to do.  Specifically that it allows me to be home with the kids every day.  I wouldn't trade that for the world.  Also, Joe and I have come to an understanding that when we're old and retired I get 100% say in where we live.

Moving on.  Pun unintended but fitting. 

Carter and Mya.  Little people loves of my life.  I love having kids and I love being a mom.  I had no idea that I was born to be a mama and that it would be the single most fulfilling thing I've done.  Their sweet little faces and personalities get me every single time. 

Carter has lots of news lately.  First, he's started speech therapy.  His speech is a little behind and we are doing early intervention through the school district and we started last Friday.  What's funny is since we started the process to get speech therapy (which we started 1.5 months ago) he has come such a long way.  It is almost like he hit a plateau for a while and now suddenly took off.  He sings now - "oh no, no babies" to my if you want my baby made up song that I've been singing to him since he was tiny and now we sing to Mya too.  Mya is learning to shake her head "no" and when she does it Carter chimes in "oh no!  no babies!"  Melt me.  Even picturing it makes me laugh like a fool.  And when I sign the song they both shake their heads no.  The song is silly but has stuck.  It goes "if you want my babies you cannot have them.  oh no!  can't have my babies! cause I will never ever give them to you!  oh no!  can't have my babies!"  I need to get this on video stat.



Carter is also potty training.  It has been an on going process for the past couple months.  He's totally potty trained if he's naked.  However, we obviously can't leave the house with a naked Carter so we had to tackle pants.  For a while he was having consistent accidents if he was wearing pants.  So we took a little break and then suddenly he is telling us "poop in potty" which means "I'm going or about to go".  Progress!  He doesn't always go when he says but he tries and sometimes he tells me a little late, but hey it is progress and we're so proud of him!  

  

Carter is such a great big brother.  He is so sweet with Mya.  He brings her her bee (he knows the difference between his and hers) he shares his toys with her and takes turns.  It's amazing.  He loves loves loves to make her laugh and will repeat anything that makes her laugh.  Their relationship is so amazing to watch.  It makes me so happy.  

Mya is learning new tricks everyday and she loves to perform them for a reaction.  Silly girl.  Her sense of humor is blossoming lately and she knows it.  

She isn't crawling yet.  Probably because she loves for me to hold her all the time!  But she is pulling up on everything and loves to stand.  She yells for "mama" when she wants me... which is frequently!  She is still very much a mama's girl.  She thinks dogs are funny.  If we walk behind one she laughs, if Kody wags her tail she laughs.  However she does not like Kody's alarm barking.  Not at all.  That sends her into scared sobs with big fat tears.  It is so sad. 

Mya has also finally started eating solid foods.  She has never been a bit baby food or solid food fan, but all of a sudden she eats!  She eats everything from baby food to homemade pizza these days.  Maybe she won't be as picky of an eater as Carter?  Mya now has 4 teeth and at 9.5 months is 29 inches and 21 lbs.  90% for both.  She is an awesome sleeper and sleeps through the night most nights. 

(8 months old here)

(9 months)

I feel like this isn't substantial enough to make up for the past 2 months of not blogging, but right now I can't think of anything else.  Halloween was awesome, but needs it's own post with pictures.  

All in all we're doing well.  We had a tough patch but we're past it and looking forward to the future!  As much as I don't want to move again I am looking forward to staying in one place for more than a year.  I am craving some serious stability and routines. 

PICTURES!

I have no clue what has been going on with my flickr account and why my pictures often show up as "unavailable".  Unfortunately flickr has terrible customer service and has not responded to my issues.  So we'll try posting some pictures and see how it goes! 

Since I've been such a bad blogger there are so many things I need to blog about but haven't yet.  Kid updates being at the top of the list. 

Carter.  My little person.  He's growing so much.  Both physically and mentally.  He has really started talking, yeay!, is starting to potty train, sleeps in his big boy bed, loves his sister, is super tall, very active, loves to be outside, LOVES to swim, and loves his sister.

A few of my favorite Carterisms: "mom kiss".  I ask him to give "mom a kiss" all the time.  He now thinks that kisses are called "mom kiss".  Whenever he gives a kiss he says "mom kiss".  So funny and so cute!  Joe even asks for a "mom kiss" from Carter.  So adorable!

Potty training.  This time around it is going so well!  No 3 day bullshit and no pressure.  Just the potty out and available if he wants to.  He has been averaging about 4-5 times a day and has even pooped on the potty!  After a successful potty in the potty he runs to the bathroom so we can flush, wash his hands and then he runs to the pantry and waits for his candy.  His little voice all excited for his "tandy" is adorable!  He is so proud of himself!

Mya.  She is such a happy happy baby!  She is always smiling and giggling.  She is such a little girl. She loves her big brother, watching Kody run up and down the stairs, reading books, trucks, and her exersaucer.  She has finally started to like a few foods.  Not the homemade organic stuff Mama made though :(  She is still a huge Mama's girl and loves to snuggle.  She isn't quite sleeping through the night yet.  She is usually up 1 or 2 times a nigh.  Usually once.  She has two bottom teeth and the most amazing bright blue eyes.

52:28 - moments

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*** I realize I thanked the wrong dude!  In my haste to get back to blogging it was all done late one night and clearly my mind wasn't functioning at full capacity.  I thought about changing it, but I think it is funny and so true of what I was going through at that time. (waking up 6+ times a night with Mya.  Mama was sleepy!)***

Mya was crying because I walked away from her to get something from the kitchen.  Carter walked over to her and said "ismkay" and hugged her.  I raced for my phone on the counter as quietly as possible as to not disturb the most amazing sight before me.  Unlocked it as fast as possible, and pressed the camera icon like a maniac.  I took as many pictures as I could because these moments are usually very short lived.  This hug, however, lasted much longer than normal.  He hugged her for at least a minute.  And you better believe that she stopped crying as soon as he walked over to her and said "ismkay" and by the time he was hugging her she was giggling and grabbing for his hair.  My heart couldn't decide if it wanted to explode into fireworks or melt into a huge puddle on the floor.    You better believe I had the largest shit grin on my face and had a serious case of love laughs.  These moments are pure gold.  Crying and meltdowns are forgotten and I stand back and watch the love between the two of them and thank my lucky stars that I have them both and that they have each other.  And then I fall a little more in love with my iphone.  If I didn't have it I would have never captured this moment.

52:27 - changing

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Those two kids are my heart and soul.  I never knew how much I wanted, and needed, each of them.  They each have completed me in ways I never knew possible.  They have changed me.  When it comes down to it the most important change is to let go of the things that really don't matter.  This is a work in progress... just ask Joe.  But it is a conscious work in progress.  My kids are happy and healthy and the most amazing little people.  That will always carry so much more weight than how clean my house is or weather or not my husband picks up his socks.     

52:26 - guilt

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I'm learning.  I'm letting go.  I'm accepting that for me to be the best mom I can be I also need to be just Tara sometimes too.  I'm pushing this mommy guilt out and embracing alone time.... or at least I'm trying!  Joe had to push me out of the house but once I was out.... I spent an hour and half sitting in a Starbucks chair with my lattle and my kindle book.  Nothing to clean, no diapers to change, laundry, etc.  It was refreshing.  A few hours here and there can do a world of good to my mental well being.  I've also learned that I need a creative outlet.  I've taken up sewing.  I should get back to writing and blogging.  I need to work on that.