We Love Nana!

My kids love their Nana.  It's sad that they only get to see her once or twice a year, but the time they do spend together is so special and memorable. 

 

I see London, I see France

Paris and London... here I come!

I have devoted my mind and body to growing our family for the past few years.  I've been pregnant, nursing, and even both pregnant and nursing for more than three and a half years.  Since the birth of Amelia, I haven't really been away from the kids.  Exclusive nursing makes it very difficult to get away for more than a few hours. 

A few months ago, I committed to traveling to Europe this summer with my mom and sister for a Gadingan Girl's Trip.  Not only was it a great opportunity to take a great vacation, but I also hoped having a hard deadline would influence me to wean Alex before the trip. 

Alex is definitely a "bobbie boy," ha ha, but he's been adjusting well to the weaning.  I think if it were up to him, he'd be nursing until kindergarten!  It's now about three weeks before my trip and Alex is now almost weaned.  He's down to one (sometimes two... I'm a sucker, ha ha) feedings a day.

I'm so looking forward to my trip to London and Paris in July.  I will be traveling with my mom and sister.  My Auntie (my mom's sister) lives in London and has been asking us to come visit for years.

The timing just worked out right because this is my sister's last summer in school and (hopefully) by then, Alex will be weaned and the kids will be old enough for me to leave them for two weeks.  Jimmy will be taking a few weeks off from work to watch them while I'm away.

Since my Auntie is a London native, she is planning everything, so that takes a lot of stress away from me for travel planning.  I'm so looking forward to spending time with my mom and sister.

I know I'll be a blubbery, emotional mess from being away from the kids and Jimmy for so long.  Of course, I feel guilty.  I think about the trip and I get so excited.  Then I think about leaving my family for so long and I get sad.  It's been an emotional roller coaster.  But I need this; I need to get away.  I know I will come back refreshed and ready for my crazy life at home ;0)

Jimmy is amazing and I am so thankful that he is fully supportive and even encouraging me to go on this trip.  I know there aren't many spouses out there that would do the same.  I feel so lucky and blessed.  Although, I don't know how he will feel once he's been alone with the kids for a while, ha ha.

(Our original plan was for Jimmy and I to go on a second honeymoon to Ireland... but finding childcare for the kids was very hard. It was basically a logistical nightmare since we don't live near family. We also feel guilty that they would have to take two and a half weeks off work just to babysit for us.  Ugh.  Maybe someday... hopefully soon!)

Getting to Know Myself

One of my favorite bloggers answered these same questions about herself.  I decided to do the same thing because I think it would be cool for my kids (and possibly grand kids!) to read this in the future.

1. What is your favorite color? Why?

Burgundy- I love the way it looks on me and I also love using this color in the house.  It's a warm and very comforting color to me.

2. What is your favorite thing to do on a Friday night?

Relax on the couch with Jimmy.  Go to bed early. At 32, I already feel old and tired!

 

3. What is your best high school memory?

Just staying out late, hanging out with my friends.  We just used to drive around and go out to eat.  Simple fun

 

4. Describe your worst day of college.

Getting drunk for the first time and throwing up.  I felt sick for the rest of the day.  There was also another day where I had all three of my finals on one day. 

 

5. What kind of music do you like? Why?

Pop- I like something I can sing and dance to

 

6. Do you prefer sweet or sour?

Sweet

 

7. Describe an experience that has shaped who you are in the last year.

I have met a few people here in Clarksville who weren't very nice to me.  At first, it made me question why they would treat me like that, knowing basically nothing about me.  Then, after muddling over it for a few weeks, I have come to the conclusion that it's too bad that they treated me unkindly.  I would have been a great friend.  They are missing out!

 

8. If you had one hour to do anything you want, what would it be?

Fall asleep while cuddling

 

9. Where would you travel if money and time weren’t an issue?

Any place that has a gorgeous beach that's not crowded

 

10. What is your favorite “fast food” place?

Panera Bread

 

11. What is the best dinner you make?

Ordering take-out ;0)

 

12. What is your most beloved dessert?

Red Velvet Cake and carrot cake

 

13. What are your three favorite traits about yourself?

Positive, organized, realistic

 

14. What is one weakness you are working to overcome?

I care too much about what other people think

 

15. Who are two of your closest friends?

Jimmy and Jessica

 

16. What is your favorite thing to read?

Classic novels

 

17. Name your least favorite food.

Chili

 

18. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Banana

 

19. What is your favorite movie?

Sleepless in Seattle

 

20. Would you rather travel to Europe or Asia?

Europe

 

21. What is your favorite month of the year, and why?

September- The end of summer and the start of Fall.  The weather is always perfect and the air always feels so nice and crisp.  And of course, it's my birthday month!

 

22. Who are five people that have been influential in your life? Why?

Dad- He is one of the most hard working and passionate people I know

Mom- She has so much compassion for others.

Jimmy- We've grown up together and he's been beside me helping me navigate through life since I was 14. 

Amelia and Alex- I want to be everything for them. 

 

23. What is your favorite thing about winter?

Holidays and traditions

 

24. What makes you laugh out loud?

Random stuff Amelia says, Alex's rapid marching when he gets excited

 

25. What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Great marriage, career, kids

 

26. What are you afraid of?

Snakes, health issues

 

27. What is your favorite hobby?

Blogging

 

28. What are you most grateful for each day?

My family, health

 

29. What do you love most about where you live?

Space

 

30. What is one of the most difficult things you’ve ever done?

Move to a different state with a one year old and newborn

 

31. What is your favorite memory of your grandmother?

Pretending to be scared at night, so I could crawl into her bed and sleep with her. 

 

32. Would you rather live on a farm or in a big city?

Big city

 

33. What was your worst birthday? Why?

21st- didn't do anything fun, I didn't even have a drink on my 21st birthday!!

 

34. What was your best Christmas? What made it the best?

2009... found out I was pregnant with Amelia!

 

35. What time do you like to get up in the morning?

At this point, I'll settle for anytime after 7am

 

36. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Astronomer

 

37. Which smells remind you of your childhood?

Filipino food

 

38. When you’re feeling sad, what food do you like to eat?

Cupcakes

 

39. What or who do you have full confidence in?

My ability to organize things

 

40. What is a characteristic of one of your children that you wish you could emulate?

Alex's fearlessness

 

41. Whom do you admire? Why?

I always admire the awesome mothers I have met in the past few years.  It's a tough job and I always look up to moms that do it well!

 

42. What makes you feel balanced?

Routine, exercise, organization, classiness, my family

 

43. What did you like doing as a child that you still love doing today?

Eating grapefruit with vinegar

 

44. What is your favorite part of your daily routine?

Jimmy and I call it "appreciations."  Every night before bed, Jimmy and I say a few specific things that we appreciated about each other that day.  We always end it with an Eskimo kiss and kiss.

 

45. What things move you to tears?

Anything sentimental about kids or parenting

 

46. What is some of the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Just do what makes you happy. - It sounds so simple, but very hard in so many ways.

 

47. What is your favorite thing to do during the summer?

Go to the beach

 

48. When your children are grown, what are three things you hope they say about you?

My mom did the best that she could for us.  I had a great childhood.  I always felt loved.

 

49. Who makes you want to be a better person?

My kids and Jimmy

 

50. When do you feel you are at your best?

When the house is clean and my whole family is together.

 

5:20am

Alex almost always wakes up at 5:20am every morning on the dot.  It doesn't matter what time he sleeps or naps, he is an early riser.  Jimmy and I keep thinking he'll grow out of it.  Amelia, who normally sleeps in until about 6:30am has also been waking up around 5:30am.  Ugh!

Will we ever sleep in past 5:30am ever again??

Underwear Head

"Mommy, it's a beautiful hat!"

Amelia then (forcefully) put one on Alex's head.  Poor kid.

 

Mini Mimi Cart

Alex's Dance Moves (video)

 Alex loves to dance!

Arm dancing, marching in place, and more arm dancing

 

I think it's hilarious that Amelia is in the background reading a book.

Rainy Day

We had plans to make a Father's Day craft with friends, then go to the park for a picnic and playtime.  The day went much differently than I had planned...

 

Painting ceramics with a one and two year old is a lot more complicated and stressful than I thought.  This is an activity I won't do again without an extra hand, ha ha.  Trying to manage two kids during a painting activity surrounded by tons of breakable items was a logistical nightmare.  However, in the end, the kids had fun and we ended up with some cute gifts for Jimmy. 

 

Also, we were going to surprise Jimmy on Father's Day with their little painted figures, but as soon as Jimmy got home from work, Amelia explained, in detail, everything we made for Jimmy!  She even told Jimmy the exact colors Alex used to paint his lion and the colors she used for her ladybug.  So much for a Father's Day surprise! 

 

We had to cancel our picnic and playtime at the park due to the rain.  We were bummed out!  However, when we pulled into our driveway, I decided that the rain wouldn't stop us from having a picnic.  I saw the wagon in the garage and had the idea to have a "wagon lunch."  Amelia bought into the idea immediately and both kids jumped in the wagon immediately. 

I already had all the food packed and ready, so it was super easy.  We sat in the garage with the door open, ate lunch, and watched the rain fall.  It was awesome and the kids loved it!  They especially loved it when I pulled them around the block in the rain.  Getting sprinkled on by the rain was so exciting for them.  I think we will be having more rainstorm wagon lunches in the future.

Ha ha, Mimi was done with her cheese

When we finished lunch, the kids played outside in the rain. They enjoyed puddle jumping and just running around in the yard.  It had been a while since we played in the rain.  Again, this is something we need to do more often! 

I was very surprised when Amelia wanted to take off her sandals for puddle jumping.

"One, two, three, JUMP Akee!"

 

It turned out to be a good afternoon after all.  Some of the best moments are unplanned ;0)

Alex's Car Seat Giggles (video)

Cutest. Giggle. Ever.

 

Game Changer

We. Have. A. Babysitter.

She is amazing and I'm so thankful for her!  She's a college student studying to be a teacher.  She is very sweet and silly.  Most importantly, she is great with the kids and they absolutely adore her.  They don't cry when they are with her.  I am amazed.

Amelia is absolutely smitten with her.  Of course, she already has her birthday memorized, knows her favorite drinks, how many keys she has on her key chain, what kind of car she drives, and other random tidbits.  Amelia constantly asks when she will come back.

The real test was Alex's reaction.  Alex is very needy and well, cries a lot.  Amazingly, he has adjusted well and hasn't cried at all with our babysitter.  I am one happy mommy!

So far, I've only used the babysitter during the day for when I volunteer.  However, Jimmy and I are trying to figure out what we want to do for a date night!

I can officially cross this off my list.  I am so relieved, happy, and excited!  My New Year's resolutions are officially completed.