Big Day

*Warning - long post that will probably be boring to most people and may offend some people.  If it offends you, sorry -  but I'm not sorry.

I was sitting in Mrs. Culpepper's 1st period AP English class as a senior in high school when I was told that a plane hit the World Trade Center.  I was visiting my grandparents when JKF Jr.'s plane went missing.  I was in my car on the way to the post office when Michael Jackson's not guilty of child molestation verdict was read.  I remember what I was doing for several "big news moments" in my life and today is another one of those days.  The Supreme Court ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional, thus giving all citizens marriage equality.  I have never used my blog as a political outlet, and I don't intend to now - but I thought this was too important not to blog about.  

For most issues, I fall somewhere in the middle.  And really to be honest, I am not a big politico even though I am married to a very informed and active political guy.  I usually don't say anything because I cannot imagine anything more boring and less helpful than me telling why each side is sort of right and also sort of wrong.  Today, I can say with complete confidence that the Supreme Court was RIGHT.  Today was a good day.

We were having a lazy day and were still in our pj's - even though it way past time to be in clothes.  I had CNN turned on while I was cleaning up around the house and thinking about getting us all ready for some errands.  Caroline and Ann Parker had no idea what was going on.  C watched a show on the iPad and AP played with some toys.  One day they will realize how significant today was.  Their generation will look back at the issue of marriage equality the way our generation views gender and race equality issues.  

We don't face any big discrimination's.  We are sort of main stream - white, college educated, married people.  We got married, bought a house, then had kids.  We followed the traditional plan so to speak.  While I stay at home now, we both had (and Adam still has) good jobs.  We aren't using any type of government assistance.  We have not had to face anything serious like that.  We are blessed and we are thankful.  However, I know many people who aren't so lucky.  I know people who have lost jobs and have had to collect unemployment and listen to people make ugly comments when they buy groceries using an EBT card.  I know single parents who have had to listen to people say how irresponsible it was for someone to get pregnant outside of marriage.  It makes me sick that people feel like they should have that much say in someone else's life.  

I look at my two beautiful children and I cannot help but be filled with so many emotions - joy, pride, love, but also fear.  Fear that I cannot protect them from illness, accidents, hurtful words, and other things.  I remember being pregnant with Caroline and saying things like, "I hope she likes dance."  and "I hope she's not one of those goth kids."  After a while I started saying, "I hope she has all her fingers and toes."  and "I hope she can see and hear."  And then, I just didn't care about any of that.  The only thing I said was, "I hope she can find joy in her life."  All I wanted was a healthy baby (regardless of whether she had all her fingers, toes, eyesight, etc.) who could find happiness.  Whatever it was - flute, cheerleading, chess, track, science club, WHATEVER.  I didn't care what she liked, as long as she was happy doing it.  I wanted her to love herself.  

One day, these kids will grow up.  God willing, they will find someone they love.  I don't care if they bring home a boy or a girl - it doesn't matter because neither will be good enough :)    It doesn't matter to me WHO they love, I just want them TO LOVE.  I want them to do whatever it is that makes them happy - and if that means that they are happy being with someone of the same sex, I hope they know they have my support and blessing.  I don't know what the future holds for my kids, but I cannot bear the thought that one day they wouldn't be able to get married if they happened to be gay.  It makes me sick to know that people would view my kids as lesser citizens because of their sexual orientation.  I just want to punch those people.  I want to punch anyone that hurts my kids.  Don't mess with this mama.  Don't misunderstand - I don't think they are gay and I am not sitting here hoping they are.  I just want them to grow up and be whoever it is that they are meant to be.  I just want them to be happy.  

Today was a good day.  Today the Supreme Court said that ALL people have the right to be legally married.  There are many people who aren't happy today.  Many people who have said that God doesn't bless same sex marriage.  Many people who think this makes a mockery of marriage.  I don't know what to say to those people.  All I know is that I am happy today.  I am happy for my gay friends.  I am happy that my children get to be raised in a world where there is one less legal discrimination.  Today was a good day and I will remember it for the rest of my life.

 

One more funny story...

Caroline likes to pretend she is a secret agent.  On a visit to Publix she ran in and said, "I am a secret agent and I need that green cart!!"  The green carts are the one with the car steering wheels.  A lady next to us burst out laughing and asked, "Did she say that she is a secret Asian and needs a green card??"  

No, no she didn't.  But I do agree- that's exactly what it sounded like!  

L for Monkey

Caroline was singing the ABC's tonight - which she knows. By the third time she started adding to the song...

A B C...J K L. L for monkey. L for seahorse. L M N O P...

So far L is for a lot of things, and none of which actually start with L.

Fourteen Months Old!!!

Fourteen Months Old - June 20, 2013

My sweet Ann Parker turned fourteen months old!!  When we were out this week someone asked how old she was.  Without even thinking, I said "20 months."  The lady had a puzzled look and said how she was smallest 20 month old she has ever seen.  I corrected myself and we all had a good laugh at my "mommy brain."  Not sure why I said that because she is certainly NOT 20 months old!!

So much has happened with this little girl in the last month!!  First of all - she is getting lots of teeth!  We have had a rough month since about 4 or 5 teeth have decided to come all at once.  No fun, but we are so excited to see her little toothy grin!

Next - her vocabulary is taking off big time!!  When she went for her 1 year checkup, I commented on how her expressive language seems to be slow.  She wouldn't really say anything.  Her reactive language was huge though.  I could say several things and she would respond/react accordingly.  The doctor said not to worry - that second children usually speak later since you aren't focusing all your attention to teaching them words the way you did with your first.  She also explained that usually second children catch on quicker, so it all evens out.  She was right!!  In a period of a few days, I think Ann Parker said about 20 new things!!  She will repeat words that I say, but she can also correctly identify dog, Daisy, cheese, cracker, cupcake, cookie, milk, shoe, hat, up, baby, duck, quack and a few more.  She will say hi and occasionally bye.  She says mama and dada.  She has the sweetest little voice.  Seriously, why are my kids so adorable??

She loves doing puzzles.  She sees Caroline doing them all the time, so it makes sense.  She still loves the same things as last month, being outside, bath time, etc.  She is still a good eater and a good sleeper - not much change in that area.

She is turning into quite the little mama's girl lately and I not so secretly love it.  As we speak she is sitting on my lap while Caroline and Daddy sleep in.  Typical Saturday morning :)

Happy 14 months precious girl!  You are such a sweet little thing and I love getting to spend this time with you!

Literally 30 seconds after entering the room...she knows how to make a mess!

Blurry, but I thought Daisy's face was hysterical

I told AP to smile with Daisy.  This is what I got - a silly face from AP and Daisy  preparing to get hit on the head...again.

AP is great at making a mess.  Each morning we pull out toys and games and this side becomes the "kid" side.

And this side become the "adult" side.  I have to have some where that isn't covered in toys!!  

Longest Week Ever

Adam has been out of town for trial, leaving us to fend for ourselves :)  Since I knew that no one was coming home in the evening to help with the feeding, bathing, putting to bed routine, I planned our days to be as full as possible.  Tired girls make for an easier bed time.  I have also learned, this makes for a tired mama...and that doesn't make for an easier bed time.  Let's just say we are all SOOOOO glad to have daddy home!!

On Monday I decided that we would stay in the house.  I had so much laundry to catch up on and it was blazing hot outside so it seemed like the best idea.  We did puzzles, books, painting, and played with about every toy in the house....all before lunch.  We did take a few minutes to go outside in the heat though.  I put them in outfits that had pants - since I knew we would be inside where it's cool.  Both girls were naked within two minutes of these pictures - it was that hot!!

On Tuesday, we had planned on going to story time and then the splash pad but it was rainy, so we just did story time and lunch.  We were so glad that Sydney and Brooklyn were there!!  These are blurry because I still had my camera on some settings for being outside in the bright sun, but I wanted to put these in here.  It's Caroline dancing at the front of the room - when all the other kids were sitting in their spots.  Sweet thing thinks she always needs to be front and center.

We had planned on going to the farmer's market that evening, but it rained again.  Boo.  On Wednesday, my friend Elise brought her two sweet girls over - Campbell and Anna Bryant.  They are both a little younger than my C and A so we've been passing down some monograms!  It works great!  I only took this one picture, but I wish I took more.  Caroline LOVED playing with Campbell.  She's big enough that she can talk and do what Caroline tells her to do, but small enough that Caroline still felt like the boss.  Yes, my child is going through a major bossy phase.  After they played for a while, Caroline said "You sit there Campbell and eat a sandwich."  What a mess!!

After lunch and Ann Parker went down for a nap, Caroline and I enjoyed some ice cream.  I love that I have little ice cream lover like me.  I know someone will always justify my mid-day dessert, I mean - it's really for her right??  I just get to join in!

By that afternoon, I was exhausted.  I hadn't been sleeping well, and neither had the girls. AP is cutting another tooth - so she has been waking up TWICE each night.  It wouldn't be so bad, if Caroline didn't stay up until midnight!!  She gets tired around 8:30, but says she is going to wait up for daddy.  After I explain that he isn't coming home, she cries and has a lovely little meltdown.  I can tell she's tired, but she keeps waiting for daddy.  She finally goes to sleep around 11:30-12:00 and I have just enough time to fall asleep before AP wakes up.  My friend Sarah must be an angel because on Wednesday at 3:30ish, I got a text saying that they were headed to McWane.  Yes!!  Just what we needed - an activity before bed.  Both girls played and then we came home for dinner and finally and easy and early bedtime!!  Score!

On Thursday morning, the girls and I headed to church.  I am doing a bible study during the summer with my friend Blair (and a bunch of others) and C gets to play in the nursery with Blair's two boys - who she adores!!  When I picked her up she said, "I love that Jack Jack.  He loves me too!"  After that, we went to lunch.  Caroline only ate her pickles and some pickle flavored chips.  The girl can't get enough.  AP and I actually ate our sandwiches :)  That afternoon we went to play with some more friends.  We brought the bounce house and they had a blast!

Finally we made to Friday!!!  We stayed in all morning so I could get the house all clean.  I had planned on having the cleaning lady come but she couldn't make it that day so I enlisted the two worst  sweetest helpers on the planet.  Caroline unfolded all the clothes and AP pulled out all the toys as I put them away.  All in all, it was a productive morning.  Not.at.all.

I took Caroline to Build a Bear that afternoon!  She had never been but I have been wanting to take her.  She picked out a pink bear and a little outfit.  She had a great time.  It was so cute watching her.  She LOVED giving the bear a "bath."  The bear and the clothes were pretty expensive, but it was worth it, right??  She hasn't touched that bear since we left the store...

Next time this one will be making an animal too!!

Are these two not the cutest??

After making bears, we headed to the food court for some fries and a milkshake.  Caroline had a major meltdown.  Probably one of the biggest she has ever had.  Caroline is usually pretty easy going and has never thrown huge tantrums.  She has her moments, but she is a lot better than most other kids.  Yesterday was a tantrum like no other.  She tossed the milkshake because she didn't want to share.  She screamed and yelled.  It was bad.  After we got home, she looked at me and said, "Mommy, Ann Parker needs to tell Ms. Sarah she is sorry for acting ugly.  I told her to behave so it's all her fault."  Ummmm....what?!?!?!?  I wanted to laugh and cry.  In the end, I just had to laugh because if my three year old throws a tantrum and that's the worst thing that happens in that day, I am pretty lucky.

Daddy FINALLY got home around 8:00!!!!!!  I am not sure who was more excited - the girls, him, or me.  We have him all to ourselves this weekend and we are taking advantage for sure!

Puzzle Girl

Conversation with Caroline last night:

Me:  what do you want to be when you grow up?

C: Bigger.

Me:  I mean, what kind of job do you want.  Do you want to be a lawyer like Daddy?

C: No.

Me:  Do you want to be a teacher or a mommy or a doctor?

C: no, I will be a puzzle girl.

Me:  Wow!  How much does a puzzle girl get paid?

C:  One hundred pennies!!!

Cinco!!!

Some of our favorite friends had their sweet baby boy this week! We were lucky enough to visit a mere 8 hours after he was born! He is beautiful and perfect...and his mommy looked like a super model. Seriously, it is unfair how gorgeous she looked after having a baby. Can't wait to visit him again next week!!

Father's Day 2013

Today is Adam's FOURTH Father's Day!!!  Sadly, it isn't the great Father's Day that I had imagined.  Adam is set for a trial tomorrow, so he's been working around the clock for the past two weeks.  He had to wake up bright and early this morning, pack, and leave for Montgomery :(  No time for a special breakfast, no time to play, no time at all!

He did get a couple of special gifts.  One present isn't pictured.  Spoiler alert...it's clothes.  We added another page to his Father's Day scrapbook and got some new water bottles for his road bike.

We took a couple pictures of Daddy and his two sweet babies before he left.  I truly cannot imagine a better daddy than Adam.  He is so head over heels in love with these girls and I have a feeling that they feel the same.

I love doing the questions with Caroline.  She is finally old enough that her answers make some sense.  It says:

How big is Daddy?
So big I can't see him.

How old is Daddy?
5.

What does Daddy like to eat?
Fruit and yogurt.

What does Daddy do all day at work?
Nothing.

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Read books and do pieces (puzzles).

What is Daddy's whole name?
Daddy Adam Israel Grace Israel.

What does Daddy like to do?
Color.

Caroline enjoyed taking a bigger part in making the scrapbook page.  She did the "daddy" stickers on the right page and did the dot art of the left page and also picked out the purple craft paper.  I can't wait for AP to get in on the fun!!

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy I know!  Even though we are bummed to not be spending the day with our #1, it's a great reminder of how hard he works so that I can stay home and raise these beautiful kids, in this great house, with food in our cabinets, a car in our garage, and so much more!  I cannot wait for trial to be over - we could use daddy back home with us!

Big Girl Time

Most days AP just takes one nap.  Caroline will spend that time doing a quiet activity (or at least that's the goal) and I will take that time to get stuff around the house done.  On days that AP takes two naps - C and I use THAT time for some special mommy-big girl time!  Yesterday we some extra special time since little sis took two long naps.

It was so nice outside, so we took advantage and spent some time outside playing and eating ice cream.  I am so in love with this sweet big girl!

Daisy got to lay in the grass and watch birds.  Best.afternoon.ever.

And this is why we live in play clothes all summer long...

The Cow Hunt

My kids have a TON of toys.  Most days I think it's too many.  However, when people say that kids have so many toys that they don't even know what they have - I have to disagree.  We have too many that take up a lot of room, but Caroline knows EVERY toy she has and EVERY piece to EVERY toy.  Seriously.  She will pull out toys just to check and make sure everything is in its place.  She knows that she has 9 princesses in her castle currently - including 2 Snow White's and 2 Cinderella's.  She knows that in her wooden food group toys there are 6 fruits and 4 dairy items.  She knows that there are 6 animals in her Little People farm.  Because she is well aware of all this, I have become the same way.  If I don't know where every single thing is, then I can't help her find things and then a meltdown will occur.

I have a love/hate relationship with this.  We never lose toys and her room is virtually always organized.  The only downside is that we can never have huge playgroups here.  Seriously...too many kids poses a threat that too many things could go missing.  5 or 6 big kids is our limit...unless we are outside playing and not getting into the inside toys.  As I type that out I am actually realizing that it's not a bad thing :)

The other morning, however, something went terribly wrong.  Caroline pulled out some puppets.  She will put them in a line to make sure they are all accounted for before she starts playing.  As soon as she set them out, she saw that all four birds were present, but one of the farm animals was not.

The cow was gone!!!  Yikes!  We launched a full scale cow hunt that morning.

She started looking in the most logical place...the barn.  Even though the puppet is almost the size of the barn, she still had to look in each tiny little spot. :)

She looked in all of her drawers, under her bed, with her dolls and wasn't able to find Mr. Cow.  She was sad.

Very sad..

Even Ann Parker was distraught.

Finally, after a thorough inspection of her dress up bin, she found Mr. Cow among the tutus, pompoms, and sequins.

So excited to have Mr. Cow back with his buddies!!!  Right before this all happened, she poured water on herself...I don't usually put my kids in dirty clothes.  I let them get dirty themselves!