It's Been Pretty Busy Around Here

It has definitely been busy around here! And I love it!

Friday was the last day of work for both Brian and me! We are so excited to start our very first summer off together since 2008! Brian is planning on working at the movie theater he used to be assistant manager at - just this time as a part time employee. And I will have 9 piano students throughout the summer. We'll be busy, but still be able to enjoy time together and with Lydia - and with our family. 

Monday was Memorial Day. We spent the day at my parent's house, swimming, playing games and visiting. My friend, Brandy and her son Noah came over to swim, as did another couple from our Sunday School class and their two little girls. Lydia looks super cute in her swimsuit and loves being in the pool (although she still loves the swings best - I asked her "Do you want to go in the pool?" and she said "No, swing").

Today is Lydia's 2nd birthday! I cannot believe she is now two years old! Where did the time go?! She is so big now! 

Her verbal skills have taken off recently. Really only Brian and I usually understand her - you really have to concentrate on the context of what she's talking about. But, she's pretty clear and can get her message across. She has recently started talking in sentences, which is awesome! Today, she pointed at an Elmo ball in the store and said "Ball, please". I love asking her what she dreamt about in the morning - yesterday she said, "Mimi a dada" - her mimi (pacifier) and her daddy. Super cute!

This morning she woke up at 7:30 (which was super nice). I went off to the preschool to help the teachers clean up. Brian took Lydia to Home Depot to get plants for the front yard. She "helped" him plant in the front yard, went on a walk, ate lunch and went down for a nap. I got home around 1:00 and Lydia woke up from her nap at 2:00. We cleaned the house and then headed off to Party City. Brian bought a DJ Lance Rock hat to match the T-shirt I made him, and we bought a bubble machine for Lydia's birthday party, and a few Gabba decorations. I can't wait for her party on Saturday!

Lydia was in such a goofy mood all afternoon. We stopped off at Culver's to visit with Nellie and to get Lydia some cheese curds. It was not very busy, so she got to dance and run around for a bit. Super cute. When we got home, she got to facetime with her grandparents in Austin - she loves doing that and had fun talking with them.

There is so much joy and happiness when I think of Lydia. Despite the circumstances before her birth - which are hard to forget - she brings me more joy and I am constantly thankful for her.

Only When You're There to Catch Me

I had my second piano recital on Saturday and Brian celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday. Here's a breakdown.

On Saturday, the house was cleaned and readied. Al and Karla Pfeiffer arrived around 2:00 to help me get ready for my recital. I only had 5 out of my 10 kiddos for the recital, which was actually good, since it was a bit crowded! I had the chairs set up in the front room, facing the piano. My kiddos started arrived right before 3:00 and we were able to get started just about on time!

All my kiddos did great! For three of them, it was their very first piano recital ever! I made my two "veterans" go first and they did great! My newbies did awesome, too! I just love watching them play and show off their skills. It always amazes me that it was ME who taught them to do that! How did I manage that?! They're all such hard workers and really enjoy showing off.

My game didn't go too well, but we still had fun!

Sunday started off great, since Brian let me sleep in to 8:15! We got ready and headed off to church for the 9:45 service. When we got home, Lydia had a quick lunch and then went down for a nap. We ate small lunches and started preparing for Brian's party. We had chicken thighs, bacon-wrapped chicken, bratwursts and corn on the cob to prepare. Nellie brought Culver's onion rings and cheese curds. We had queso and chips. Fruit salad (in the shape of the American flag), watermelon and carrot cake. We had a TON of food! Loved it! And most of it was eaten!

We had 17 people over at the house and we had a blast. Everyone showed up around 3:00 and started eating and chatting. The kiddos had a good time playing together in the yard. Lydia surprised me and chowed down on the cheese curds! Sara and Michael gave Brian some yard games and we started playing it. I have no idea what it's called, but it's a ton of fun. When I tried (I'm not very good - no surprise there), I have the funniest look on my face!

Leah, of course, was a pro immediately. Everyone had a blast playing and Brian and I enjoy playing on our own, too. I need to practice to work up my skills!

Brian got lots of good presents and had a blast. He received a dehydrator to make his own beef jerky from his parents (they tried it out Sunday morning). The American flag-shaped fruit platter was from my mom, plus a pineapple, peaches, and more beef jerky. Lydia and I gave him two new cups to take to school (one with Super Dad written on it). Leah and Jessie gave him a shirt that says "Bacon Makes Everything Better" - so funny!

My favorite thing about birthdays is that it is a chance for everyone to get together and show how much they love Brian. The birthday boy (or girl) should be surrounded by people who love them! And Brian definitely seemed loved!

Tomorrow is my last day of work until September! Brian's last day of school is tomorrow, too! We can't wait for summer! It's our first summer off together! Leah and I plan on losing 10 pounds each (will keep you updated on that), we plan on purging/deep cleaning our house (and perhaps having a garage sale), and just relaxing and hanging out as a family.

More pictures:

I've Been Dreaming of a....

Today was the first day this week that I had Lydia all to myself - all day. I had been looking forward to a day with just Lydia - not having to leave her with anyone else. Monday, I worked in the morning, so I dropped her off at Leah's at 7:30 and picked her up at 1:30. Tuesday, we went to MOPs, so she was in child care from 9:30 to 12:00, took a nap, and then I dropped her with my sister in law at 3:00 so I could teach piano. Brian picked her up and took her to Wal-Mart, since I had lessons until 6:30 that evening. Wednesday, I worked in the morning and then had piano lessons until 4:30, so Brian picked her up from Leah's house (Lydia went to BSF in the morning - and even to a Switchfoot concert!).

So, finally, Thursday came a long and it was just me and Lydia! And I loved it! Until about 5:00, of course (Brian's normal time in coming home - he stayed late tonight and then ended up not feeling well). I first heard Lydia at 6:30 this morning and sent Brian in to give her her pacifier and settle her down. She seemed to settle down, but when my alarm went off at 7:00 and I turned the monitor back on, she was talking to herself. She happily played and talked to herself until 7:45! She hasn't done that in a while! Usually she is crying when she wakes up and wants out of bed right away. I listened to her playing while I lay in bed and played on my iPhone. When she finally started calling for me, we got up and had breakfast.

Lydia was great and let me get my makeup on and dressed without any fussing. She happily watched the Top 10 Funniest Baby videos on YouTube (her favorite) while I got ready. We headed out the door by 8:30 for HEB. Brian and I had made the grocery list last night, so it was easy to get out the door this morning. Lydia loves going to HEB and really loves it when she sees other babies at HEB. She brought her baby doll with her today, and the baby sat next to her in the cart, with it's own seat belt buckled - so cute! The guy at the checkout somehow recognized me from Oak Hills Church! He helps with communion every Sunday. We talked about church and he thought Lydia was so cute (she was "talking" on my phone - to no one), so he gave her a ton of Buddy Bucks!

I had wanted to go to La Cantera right after HEB (after I put the food away), but I was worried Lydia wouldn't want to get back in the car. Luckily for me, Lydia never wanted to get OUT of the car! She wanted to stay in her seat, playing with the seat belt. So I quickly put away what needed to go in the refrigerator, got Lydia a drink and a snack, and put her stroller in the back and we were on our way to La Cantera! We were able to get almost exactly what I wanted for Brian's birthday, and then we played at the little park there. Lydia loves that park - it's nice and small and in the shade. She played at the park for about 45 minutes. After we got there, a few other kiddos arrived, and Lydia loved watching them and interacting with them (she calls everyone "baby").

After the park, we headed to Chick-fil-a at La Cantera. I got Lydia her own meal, but she didn't eat a lot of it - she was too busy drinking the apple juice and being goofy. The A/C in my car isn't working it's best right now, so I rolled the windows down a bit for Lydia. She was a bit fussy in the car, but quickly passed out from being so exhausted! I had definitely worn her out this morning! We got home and I put her in her crib at 11:40 and she slept until 2:00! Perfect!

After she woke up, she wanted to watch Wiggles and eat a snack. I snacked with her for a bit, and then I was able to clean the living room and front room and even got to vacuum! We then made blue jell-o and then painted paper plates that will become umbrellas. Lydia had taken off her diaper and then claimed that she needed to pee. So, I rushed her into the bathroom and sat her on her potty. After almost an hour of sitting on the potty (or walking around the bathroom) Lydia STILL hadn't peed! I only let her out of the bathroom because I had a piano lesson at 4:30. As soon as I put a diaper on her, she pees! UGH! If only I could have stayed in the bathroom with her until she peed!

My student arrived for her lesson right on time. I had set up Lydia in the living room with the Wiggles, a snack, juice and new toys. But, of course, she wants to hang out with us. She actually did really great, but this particular student is very distracted by just about anything - especially Lydia! But, she still managed to do a great job and at least Lydia wasn't throwing a fit.

After lessons, I took Lydia outside but she started throwing random fits over just about anything and threw herself down on the porch and hit her head. So, I took her inside and had her rest in her crib. I sat in the glider and fell asleep. Brian called me at almost 6:00 saying he was heading home because he wasn't feeling well. His stomach was upset. I got Lydia up and we had a simple dinner and then Abram came over to play. They played outside really well for awhile, took a bath, and then watched TV. By 7:45, Lydia was cranky and not sharing, so she went to bed.

Abram watched as I made graduation caps out of paper and paper bowls and now he's playing with every single toy in the living room! He is good a messing up my newly cleaned living room. Brian is already asleep in bed - hopefully he's feeling better tomorrow, although I wouldn't mind if he stayed home tomorrow.

All in all, I loved having Lydia all to myself today! She is so much fun to watch, play with and is so goofy! I just need that break at 5:00 that Brian usually gives me.

This weekend we're looking forward to my student's piano recital on Saturday and then Brian's birthday celebration on Sunday!

I'm Handsome Even When I Sleep?

Today is Day Four of Lydia's bad cold. Lydia is not a fun patient to take care. Lydia is tired and I am tired.

How Lydia Handles a Cold:

- She plays and plays until she's too exhausted and then clings to me, while her nose is running and she's starting to feel warm

- She lets her nose just drip down and rarely wants it wiped

- She wants to have her pacifiers with her at all times

- She wants her mommy with her at all times

- She will actually sit on my lap for a whole episode of Sesame Street

- She will only fall asleep if I am holding her or lying next to her

- She wakes up at night about every 2-3 hours, whether I am with her or not (but it's easier to just sleep with her than have to get out of bed)

- She ONLY wants her mommy

- She doesn't eat or drink very much

- She doesn't mind when boogies get on her pacifier

- She's very cuddly

How I Handle Lydia's Cold:

- I sleep with her at night (letting Brian sleep, uninterrupted, in his bed) in the guest room, so I don't have to continually get out of bed

- I let her have her pacifiers throughout the day (although I managed to keep them from her for about 2 hours this morning)

- I give her Tylenol whenever she starts getting fussy (usually within the 4-6 hour range)

- I rock her to sleep

- I sit in her room until she falls asleep for nap

- I sit on the couch with her, watching Sesame Street, instead of cleaning the house

- I hate hearing her cry, so I give into her - constantly

- I don't get anything done around the house, because Lydia wants me with her at all times

- I take a super long, hot shower with Lydia, trying to clear up her nose with the steam from the shower

- I left her with Brian Monday night so I could go to Mentoring Moms

- I left her with Leah Monday so I could go to work (sorry Leah!)

How Brian Handles Lydia's Cold:

- He goes to work and then takes over (to the best of his ability - whatever Lydia's allows) when he comes home

- He sleeps, alone, at night

- He wipes her nose with napkins because he can't find the Boogie Wipes

- He helps me get things I need to take care of Lydia, since Lydia won't let him take care of her

Hopefully Lydia's cold will be gone soon! She seems a bit better today. Her nose isn't as runny and her eyes aren't as watery. She hasn't had a temperature today, although I've given her Tylenol to just make her comfortable. Her cough seems to be getting better. I thought she'd take a great nap this afternoon, but I put her down at 11:45 and she woke up at 12:20! I tried resting with her, but this just woke her up more, so I ended up letting her cry it out, which took about 30 minutes (that girl can cry!)!

Let's hope after a night spent with Lydia coughing and sneezing in my face that I don't catch this cold!