Honey!

Natalie (18 months) has started talking a ton! "Butterfly, No, No Bark, Go Away Dog, Mater (Tomato), Milk, Uh-huh, Da-da, Crocs, Lia (babysitter)" But today may take the cake. She stands at the bottom of the stairs of "Ryan's room" and is yelling "Honey, Honey." At first I wasn't sure what she was calling and thought it was Maggie. But after asking are you calling Honey, she said Uh-huh. So cute. Oh and How cute are the pony tails! I LOVE them!

Zach has taken to figure out ways to keep Natalie happy when she is upset. If she cries, he will make funny faces, offer her a piece of food, or a drink of milk. It really is sweet. And a far cry from that 3 year old Alien that lived in our house last year. Love the 4 year old!


Zach and his favorite TV character - Curious George!

Reflections and Looking forward to 2009

Life with 2 young children is not easy. In our house, Ryan and I both pull our weight but probably feel like we each do so much which may explain why we are both always tired. Probably doesn't help that he goes to work and is woken at night either. Finding balance in my life continues to be a tricky, balancing act. I love working, I do find it quite rewarding, but it's a fine balance of not working too much. The weeks I work 25-30 hours/week it's great. When i get more than that I feel overwhelmed and bad at everything. Too little and I find the kids to be challenging. Also, I strive to have balance with exercise, time alone with Ryan, time with friends, time to work in the yard, and house to keep it in order, etc, etc.

Last year at my Bookclub, one of the members suggested we go around and share a word to describe how we thought the next year would be. Mine for 2008 was "Journey" - I felt like I was in the throws of a 3 year old and 5 month old, amidst challenges that would affect my marriage, work and social life. A wise sister once said that the first year of life with that 2nd child was one of the hardest of her life. She was right... but now Zach is 4 and Natalie is 17 months so we are more "settled."

I learned a lot in this past year - it was definitely a year full of many journeys. I am really looking forward to 2009 as I feel like it will be a better year. So as I move forward and get ready for my next bookclub (which was rescheduled due to INSANELY inclement weather), my new word is "Change." I'm ready to welcome change. For 11 years I lived in my house with wallpaper in one bathroom that I absolutely hated. It never really occurred to me to change it until this past year. So on a whim, Samantha (babysitter to kids, friend, former vball player) and I tore out the old wallpaper. Ryan was a little shocked to say the least, but later said we did a pretty good job not destroying the drywall. The bathroom now is a vibrant orange and has great new bathroom fixtures (again, HATED the old ones). Kids are in a constant state of change and with it come challenges, but out of those challenges, they usually are better off, as am I.

Other changes I'm looking forward to:

1. The change in leadership of the country,
   
2. Planting a garden,
   
3. Lessen my carbon footprint by composting, not buying as much,
4. Change the amount of "stuff" in my house so that I can live more efficiently.
5. Having a 4 year old instead of a 3 year old. Someone also told me that the year young kids drop their naps was their hardest of parenting and I will attest. Zach always seemed tired but if he napped he wouldn't go to bed, so away went the naps most days.
6. My cleaned out garage (thanks honey . . . can't wait to get to my side).
7. Continued growth and change as a wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, aunt and woman.
8. Change in the weather - or at least getting to Hawaii in April.