Sisters

I'm so grateful I have two daughters. I always wanted a sister. Then I was hoping my sisters-in-law would want to be my surrogate sisters. That didn't really happen. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I guess when you already have sisters you aren't as interested in finding them wherever you can. I'm satisfied that my SILs and I at least get along well.

BUT - my girls. It's strange how two kids from the same parents are so similar and so different. At birth Julia had a headful (ok - the side and back - she was bald on top) of dark wavy hair and the blackest of black eyes. Anna was born with blond hair and blue eyes.. .and that is where the difference begin... Julia was the mellowest of babies, an amazing sleeper and barely ever cried. She was happy and smiled - but you had to work for it! Anna on the other hand is a hyper baby, could care less about sleep and loves to scream and cry. She is the happiest baby I have ever been around - EVER. She is full of smiles and giggles and is just joyful. I found the quote

“God one morning, glad of heaven,
Laughed--and that was you!” ~ William Brian Hooker

and it describes the Banana perfectly. She is joy!

I can't wait to see what Anna will grow into - Julia is now a drama queen... she is funny and loves to sing and dance (I mean constantly) and is very outgoing and adventurous.

I now say that Julia is the kind of girl that boys/men will write poems, books, stories, movies ABOUT and Anna is the kind of girl that boys/men will write poems, books, stories, movies FOR.

I just love my girls. I'm so glad they have a sister!

Poop and cloth diapers

Ya know - I can definitely sing the praises of cloth diapering your babies. It was a great experience for us - and if we do it again (ummm - the kid thing) we will cloth diaper that baby too. I couldn't believe how easy it was.

Ok - that said - enter solid foods - and REAL poop! I am not squeamish - but after a week of cloth diapering after a month of disposables (while on vacation) I'm TIRED of screwing around with poop. See - you can wash breastfed baby poop in your washer - but once those solids are introduced - you need to flush the poop and then just wash the diaper. Anna is pooping about 5 times a day - so I've touched poop (with toilet paper of course) almost 40 times this week. UGH. I haven't gotten the hang of the dumping it in to the toilet yet - it seems to either stick or fall on the floor when I do that. I did the disposable liner thing - but see - I'm back to dealing with poop again!

Did you know that you are actually supposed to dump the poop from disposables too - but no one ever does!

So - I'm giving it another week and then I'm back to dumping diapers in landfills... I sure wish my social conscience would catch up with my anti-poop vibe.

What's that smell coming from the bedroom???

Vacation ponderings

I learned a lot on our vacation. Three weeks of family and cold weather will teach ya something. The holidays are hard.

I have decided I spend too much time wasting energy on people that don't give back to me. This extends to both friends and family. I spend a lot of time keeping friendships and relationships going. I had a good look over the holidays at over how many of my relationships are amazing - and why I waste so much time on the others. I have friends and some of my family that are there for me and my kids all the time. They show over and over again that they love us and want to make sure our relationships continue.

In particular - my brother and my brother -in-law both put up spectacular showings this trip of how important our relationships are. In the face of other family and friend situations that illlustrate otherwise in very stark, obvious contrast - they stood up and showed us what family really can be. I'm so grateful for that glimpse... and I'm grabbing on to it with both fists and holding on tight.

I also came to realize that I'm ok with who I am. I have spent a long time being VERY worried about other people and what they thought of me and I often found myself measureing me through their eyes. I was able to look at me through my own eyes over the past couple of weeks and once you get past the baggage - I like me. I might actually REALLY like me. Now - love is taking this whole thing too far... but I'm really ok with who I am. Crazy - really.

So - what does this all mean? That it isn't always about me - other people have problems too and sometimes when they are upset - they aren't upset with me - they are just upset. NOVEL concept. I don't have to beat myself up everytime someone is snarky.

I have amazing friends and I DO have amazing family. I have love in my life. I am loved and I do love.

It's working - whatever the hell I'm doing - it's working for now

Too much luggage = too much laundry

Yes, we overpacked - by a TON. It was embarassing. I just didn't want to get to the land of snow and ice and not have enough clothes to keep us warm. Snowsuits, boots, coats, jeans, sweaters - take up a lot of room! The other problem was that we just didn't know if or when we'd get to do laundry.

We each had 3-4 outfits we never even put on our bodies. Of course we also got clothes as Christmas presents, so I'm buried in 3+ weeks of laundry now. I'm just hoping we have it all done and put away before our trip to Maine - in JULY!

So - as if we're not crazy enough - we leave this weekend to go to Disney for Julia's 4th birthday (not to be confused with the 2 parties she had in Michigan and the she has in a week here in AZ). SO - more laundry. It also looks as if we'll be swimming from ride to ride as the LA area is having rain , rain and more rain. I've been online all day getting info on preparing for Disney in the rain. I think we'll be prepared - and nice and dry. I can't wait to go back.

I can't wait to come back either and have more laundry.

I love Disney - but that subject will have to wait for another day as the dryer is reminding me I have something to fold and put away now. Nice to be back!