Around Here

It's been awhile since my last post, and our blog has just been neglected. Not only has our blog been neglected, but I have not had the time to sit and read all of my blogland friends' blogs. Boo hiss. That is just how it's been around here the past month. I've got many posts in my drafts that need to finished, edited, and pictured in order to be published. Since it's been almost a month since my last post, I figured I would give a little update.

Madeline is in preschool full swing! Madeline loves preschool, and preschool loves her! But, to be honest, going to preschool everyday is kicking my fanny. It's a production to get Madeline to preschool everyday simply because our preschool is about 25 minutes away. That means, we leave here at 8:30 every morning, and from 9-12 everyday, Amelia and I are "living" across town. Most days it works out fine since I go to the gym and run errands until it's time to pick Madeline up at noon. However, Amelia is not exactly the best "on-the-go" napper, so you can only imagine just how p-oed Amelia is by noon. Yea, she's awful. I have a hard time justifying driving back and forth multiple times five days a week to the tune of $3/gallon in my gas guzzling Nissan Armada. It stresses me out, but it'll work out eventually. By the time we arrive back home at 12:30, I'm frazzled & trying to determine which house chores I want to tackle during naps. Usually Amelia is having a nervous breakdown because she's so tired, and Madeline needs some down time after being at school all morning. Not to mention, I'm packing bottles, baby food, baby snacks, diapers, wipes, etc. just to survive the morning. I think I prefer the M-W-F schedule, but like I said, Madeline loves preschool! In the end, it's worth it to have her in a place where she's learning & making friends, and Eric and I love the preschool. As Amelia adjusts to our new routine, gets off the bottles and baby food, and learns to catnap (HA! Wishful thinking!), things will be better. I'm also having to figure out my new routine too. I'm such a "clean house on this day, laundry on that day, grocery shop here, errands there" kind of gal, that being gone all morning everyday has gotten my OCD-Type A self all worked up about getting my duties done. Our routine is a work in progress, and I'll figure it out. Hopefully sooner than later. One thing is for sure, I make it to the gym like clockwork everyday since that is the first stop after preschool drop off. No excuses for that chore!

Madeline is taking ballet/tap, and SHE.LOVES.IT! Every Tuesday, she looks forward to her dance class, and every Tuesday, I have to pry her dance shoes off her feet!

Aside from adjusting to being the second child that must go here there and everywhere with me, Amelia is doing so well. Her 9 month post is unfinished in my drafts, and at this point, I'm thinking I will combine her 9 & 10 month-days into one ginormous post. She's healthy, chubby, going on two whole months of no ear infections, and is becoming more and more mobile by the second it seems. Our little Amelia Bedelia is waving, clapping, eating us out of house and home, and cutting two more teeth. She's a doll baby!

I was in a car accident very recently because some yahoo wasn't paying any attention and slammed into the car behind me which caused her to come into my rear bumper messing up our bumper region & the function of our rear lift door. My left arm went immediately numb, and since I've had two neck surgeries, I was freaking out. Both of the girls were with me, so I was freaking out. I'm pretty sure some very ugly choice words flew out of my mouth in the middle of the intersection, and now I'm dealing with the insurance/getting the car fixed aftermath. I was taken from the scene on a backboard to the ER for x-rays since I have had previous neck issues, and THANK GOD the girls checked out fine. In fact, Madeline said to me with a wide eyed look right after it happened, "Mommy! Who bounced our car like that? Who bounced me and Amelia?"

We spent a long weekend on Hilton Head for a last summer hurrah, and it was fabulous. We have beach babies there is no question about that.

Eric is working hard (what else is new?), loving his less overnight travel job, and enjoying his fall hobbies: football and deer hunting.

My Disney marathon training is about to crank up full speed ahead, and I'm excited about it. I've schedule about 11-12 weeks of training where I slowly work up my miles with my longest run being 20 miles. Those middle weeks are going to be tough since I'll be averaging about 35-40 miles over the course of four runs. I've scheduled two cross train days, and one rest day. I am especially looking forward to my long runs where I can enjoy the fresh air, listen to music, work out my thoughts, and feel the adrenaline rush of completing a long run in my training program.

So, having said all that, I promise more interesting posts are coming with more pictures than words, and I'll leave you with a preschool funny:

This was told to me by Madeline's teacher at pick up recently: During circle time, Madeline apparently wanted to sit on the orange mat next to her friend, but I am sure her teacher wasn't excited about the two chatterboxes sitting next to one another. Her teacher asked her to sit on a red mat away from her friend. Madeline decided to make one last argument, "Mrs. Molnar, can I pleeeaaaase sit on the orange mat because it matches my outfit better?" Her teacher also demonstrated some sort of hand motions rubbing up and down her leg. (For the record, her outfit was hot pink & lime green, so the orange mat would coordinate!) As much as her teacher laughed at the sales pitch, politeness, and cuteness, Madeline had to sit on the other mat. Madeline definitely has her Daddy's sales skills and her Mama's fashionista instincts.

Little Mama

I went up to the playroom to clean, and I found Stella so carefully snuggled. What a sweet little mama Madeline is...

First Day of Three Year Old Preschool

Madeline started preschool today, and she couldn't be happier about it! She's been asking to "go to school" for a month now. She was all ready for "my big day!" today. We love that she loves school so much.
Her "cheese" face. And, my goodness, look how her feet have grown. Her toes are poking out of those sandals.
Madeline was so over the picture moments. She really just wanted to get into the car and go!
In the car all set to go with little sister in tow.
Waiting in our carpool line...our school doesn't allow parents to walk children into the building. They operate the carpool line on the first day. It was all I could do to get Madeline to say, "Bye!" No hesitation as her new teacher unbuckled her from her seat. She was stoked about going to see her friends and her new teacher! Warms my heart for my girl to be so independent and confident!
When I picked her up today, she was busting at the seams to tell me about her friends, her circle time, and playing on the playground. Her teacher told me, "She had a great day!" When I asked Madeline about her day, she responded, "It was fabulous!" She then proceeded to take a 3 and a half hour nap, so I'd say it was fabulous!