52:25 - home

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As of this moment we're moving again.  I say "this moment" because if you're familiar with our story you know that our moves and when the moves happen change with the wind and change frequently.  We're like a dandelion family.  Changing direction with the wind.  It is not in my personality to let big things, such as moving, have such uncertainty floating around.  I'm a planner.  But here's the thing; you have to learn to live with and accept the hand you're dealt.  I will say, however, that I never in a million years imagined that marrying a man that works in construction management would mean moving around all the time.  One thing that brings me some peace in all of this is knowing that I can create a home for my kids no matter where we go.  

We headed to Iowa City to check things out.  Carter stayed with Nana & Papa and Mya came with us.  These were two big deals for us.  I've never been away from Carter for longer than 18ish hours.  This would be a whole weekend.  And Mya had never been an "only" child.  Carter had a blast with Nana & Papa and Mya was a little road trip trooper.  

 

For what it's worth Iowa City actually seems pretty decent.  When Joe told me Iowa, I thought "oh good lord why?".  But as it turns out Iowa City seems very family friendly.  We'll see when, and if, this moves pans out.  But like I said, as of now we're moving there sometime this fall or early next year.  How's that for a plan? :) 

project 52:24 - having a baby daddy

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My kids have a great dad.  His love for them knows no bounds.  While he usually keeps his emotions under wraps, when it comes to Carter & Mya his heart is on his sleeve, and plastered all over his face, at all times.  It makes me so happy to see the love between them.  To watch Carter run and give him a hug when he gets home from work.  Or to see Mya laughing like crazy while playing with her daddy.  It makes me so happy.

Carter is very much in a Daddy phase.  I try not to be offended that I'm chopped liver compared to Daddy and most days I'm simply happy to see the love between the two of them that I can't feel hurt.  

project 52:23 - happy

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I know this isn't the normal project 52 but this video cannot be missed.  Mya is one happy girl and she loves to laugh!  This little game with Daddy is always a hit!

Oh my, Mymy.

This girl.  She makes me happy each and every single day.  I had no idea how much I wanted a daughter until she came into my life and cried her little petite cry and I felt her little baby breath on my lips right after she was born.  I cannot believe she is almost 5 months old already.  My Mymy is amazing.  She is very happy and very social.  She thinks Carter is the best thing since sliced bread.  She scrunches up a face in anticipation of a kiss... from me, Joe, Carter & Kody!  She thinks the ABC song is funny and she likes to smile and laugh at the baby and mama in the mirror.  She fake coughs, chews on her hands constantly, and loves her Aden & Anais blankets.  She likes to jump in the jumper and snuggle in the baby carrier.  She really enjoys bath time and still thinks our shower curtain is super awesome.  She rolled over for the first time at 3.5 months but has only recently been rolling all over the place.  Because of this she is now sleeping on her tummy, side and back!  She laughs if you nuzzle her tummy or rub her legs.  She likes to dance and be held.  She's pretty dang amazing that little Mymy.  And if you haven't noticed she has amazing blue eyes and is beyond kissable and snuggleable at all times.

There are more of where these pictures came from but it is getting late and this mama needs her sleep!

52:22 - wrinkles

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Some of my supposed to be great ideas turn out to be the biggest flops.  Like his birthday present balance bike - he's still not into it!  Or the water table I bought Carter last year.  FLOP!  The hose and a puddle of mud and rocks captured his attention much, much longer than the water table.  Now, a year later I told Joe I wanted to get Carter a little blow up pool.  He was on board.  My mom, however, thought it was going to be a waste of money.  A small blow up pool is eight bucks.  For eight bucks it can be a flop.  Turns out those eight bucks were some of the best spent money ever.  To say he had a fun is a serious understatement.  He played non stop, all day long with this little pool.  He had fun!  We had fun, the dogs had fun.... and Mya was really sleepy that day and missed most of it! 

52:21 - eye opening

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These kids and the way they love each other is beyond words amazing.  Mya came out having this intense love for Carter.  It's adorable.  Carter, on the other hand, hasn't always paid much attention to Mya.  He'd randomly hug her or kiss her, but lately he is much more interested in what she's doing and wanting to interact with her.  Most mornings Mya spends a little time in her jumper.  Usually I'm cleaning up breakfast at this point.  One morning my back was turned to them and I hear "hi honey!" from Carter and turn to see him waving at her and sitting right in front of her face.  Adorable!  Now he does this almost every time she is in the jumper. 

project 52:20 - fast

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This weekend marked another milestone in my little dude growing up.  We converted his crib into a big boy bed.  *sniff, sniff*  We were a little nervous at all of the freedom that went with a big boy bed, but we knew we had to do it.  Carter was having a tough time sleeping in his crib.  He'd toss and turn like he couldn't get comfortable.  He'd do this for hours each night and before naps too.  

Saturday morning we made a super big deal about converting his crib into a big boy bed.  Carter still has a love for all things tools.  Bolts, screws, allen wrenches, etc.  Converting his crib into a bed was right up his alley!  After the transition was complete we all rested in his bed for a minute.  Carter had this huge happy grin on his face!

Then it was nap time.  Here came the real test.  We did our usual routine - reading books in his chair, then hugs and kisses before I put him in bed.  I laid him down in his big boy bed.  He sat and watched me walk to the door.  As soon as I turned the door knob he cried.  It was such a sad cry that I turned around and walked over to him.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his bed.  I laid down and he snuggle up against me so I was spooning him.  He turned on his seahorse and laid very still in my arms.  No more than 10 minutes later he was out like a light.  Now, this wasn't what I had planned by any means.  I knew that I couldn't start a habit of laying with him while he napped, or while he fell asleep.  I still know I can't do that.  But in that very moment with my little blonde boy snuggled into me and sleeping peacefully I didn't care.  We've never snuggled like that for a nap and my heart was jumping up and down in my chest screaming with happiness.  It was a perfect moment and I wasn't about to let it go.  We napped for about an hour and half - he woke up as I was trying to sneak out.  I figured it wasn't a total loss.  As least he slept in his bed.  Any other time he's in a big bed he doesn't even come close to sleeping - he thinks beds are for jumping, so I figured it was a little win that he actually slept in his bed and didn't use as a trampoline.  

Bedtime.  Joe normally puts Carter to bed since I am busy putting Mya to bed.  So we decided to be consistent and have Joe do his normal thing.  But I made it clear that Joe was NOT to lay and sleeping with Carter.  (do as I say, not as I do :) ).  They read books and again Carter grabs Joe's hand to pull him into bed.  Joe obliges and they lay in bed for a bit together.  Maybe 10 minutes later Joe kissed Carter goodnight and left the room.  Carter wasn't impressed.  He sat in his bed crying for a bit.  Then it was like a light bulb went off and he remembered he could leave his bed.  He went to the door and cried, turned on his light and cried some more.  After 10 minutes of on and off crying he went to his bed, grabbed his big blue puppy and brought it to his rocking chair and rocked with his puppy.  Joe and I were watching on the video monitor with these ridiculous grins on our face at how cute this all was.  Then he read a few books on the floor.  About a half our later he got back into bed and laid down.  No more than 10 minutes after laying down he was asleep.  His light was still on, but he was snuggled in bed and sleeping!  Yeay Carter!  (I went up a bit later to turn off his light)  

He slept in bed all night and seemed to be pretty comfy as he didn't move around much.  At 5am I was up with Mya and turned on his video monitor - he was still asleep.  I went back to sleep and woke up at 7 and saw that his bed was empty.  I scanned his room with the video monitor and found him sitting by his bookshelf reading books on the floor.  What a great way to wake up on a Sunday morning.  

He's growing up so quickly.  And while I would like it to slow down I am enjoying each and every new stage just as much as the last.