Let the countdown begin!

To summer vacation that is!

I am so excited that this once-in-a-life-time trip has come together! – Not that Brad, the kids and I won’t ever go back to Greece, but it will probably be many, many years from now to get EVERYONE there at the same time. That includes:

George, Steph, Allison, Evan, Jonathon, Beequee, Emma, Aubrey, Dad AND my mom! Include Brad, Elijah, Athena and myself – wow, we are asking for some crazy times.

It’s also going to be a ‘farewell’ trip for myself before I come home and start looking for a job. See, I will be gone with the kids for about 2 months (Brad, unfortunately will only be able to come for a few weeks during our stay) and then when I get home it’s time to utilize my overpriced education.

We’re also still planning that ‘mini trip” I’ve mentioned earlier. Well my dad has offered to watch the kids while Brad and I go alone. Alone….what does that word even mean when you have kids?!?

My first reaction is NO WAY. I don’t want to be without them. But my rational side starts taking over and when could Brad and I go to Rome alone for a few days?  Probably not any time soon. Initially we were planning on taking the kids and making it a 4 day trip, but I’m sure we could see in 2 days alone what we could in 4 days with the babies. Not to mention the prices are very reasonable so we could splurge on ourselves a little….which is almost as unheard of as “alone” – being able to splurge that is.

Seriously though….even a few days I would miss them. Wouldn’t you?!

He likes to fake laugh now…what a goof!!!

This is the look she gives Elijah most of the time.

He got his second hair cut last week…he looks so handsome doesn’t he?!

She has entered the phase of wanting to stand all the time, and apparently it cracks her up to do so. What a sweet smile!!

Lucky for Elijah and Brad we will be set up with skype over there so they can see each other. Elijah loooooovvves his daddy. I know he’s going to miss him a lot. And I know Brad will binge on PS3 for a few days and then miss his babies like crazy. I really appreciate his sacrifice so I can spend as much time there as I can. He loves me :) and I love him :)

I can’t take my eyes off the pic I just uploaded of Athena. What a cute baby!! And let me tell you, her personality is out of this world! The happiest, smiliest little thing. oooo….makes me wanna get her and snuggle her right now.  I’m not that crazy to disturb a sleeping baby though.

Which by the way, I found out her needs. My family may laugh at me, but she needs to be super swaddled. Elijah had to be swaddled so tight for the first 5 months it was such a challenge to get any sleep – ever – with him. Athena however hates to be swaddled when she’s awake. She gets furious! But if I tuck her little hands away after she’s fallen asleep I will get up once or twice with her. Typically she falls asleep around 9:00 wakes up around 2:00 or 3:00, then maybe at 5:00 and then she’s up for the day around 8:00. So sometimes in an 11 hour stretch I may get up only once.

So, I’m finally getting on a birth control! That may sound crazy, because as some of you may know I am anti-birth control. For a few reasons. Firstly, it makes me insanely bitchy and emotional - really I would only feel normal a few days a month. Secondly, I disapprove of the idea that birth control can preempt a pregnancy because it causes my uterus to shed regardless if there is a fertilized egg or not.

So my prayers were answered when insurance said they’d pay 100% for the IUD Paragard. It is 100% hormone free and is effective by killing sperm before they have a chance to fertilize an egg. Apparently sperm do not like the copper wire  that is wrapped around the funky looking thing….either way, I get it on Tuesday and it is supposed to be 99.9% effective and can stay implanted up to 10 years! Wow! – It also can be removed if we ever decide to try for a 3rd. (HA! that thought is SOO ridiculous right now! 2 is plenty, for now…I guess)

So now I have more free time I will be better at blogging. I mean, that since the kids are a little more regulated in the evening with bedtime I have the luxury of being on the computer without balls or toy trucks flying at mine or Athena’s head :)

So let the Rome planning begin!….

Since I breastfeed

shouldn’t I be rewarded with nice, perky boobs?

No such thing will be happening to me unless I pay for it! I’m so glad that nursing Athena is going well. She’s a pro, really. But I don’t get many perks. I don’t even get the “I-lose-weight-like-crazy-because-I-breastfeed” benefit.

I expected it really, the same thing happened while nursing Elijah. I actually gained weight a lot easier than normal. As soon as I stopped the weight dropped off me (it’s hard to say if it was because of no longer nursing, or having terrible morning sickness/food aversions while pregnant with Athena).

Anyway, I’m here to vent a little because I have been going to the gym 5 times a week (Thursday mornings and evenings) for 5 weeks now and I can’t drop a pound! I fluctuate a half pound here and there, but come on!!!!!!!!!!!!! I even got a personal trainer for a few weeks. Lets see how that goes (I started yesterday with him).

I can’t blame my diet really either. Sure I definitely have my sweet tooth attacks, but I don’t give into crazy chocolate items often…it’s normally Italian ice cups (sooo good by the way – I’m figuring out how to make my own organic version!)

I’m still staying positive though. I feel great, actually pretty rested and energized since working out, and I feel stronger than I have in a long time. Part of the reason I hired the trainer was to push me to do things I know I can…but am scared to since breaking my leg. For instance if I tried to hop on my right leg (the broken one) I have this unexplainable fear that my leg will snap…a little weird I know, but I’m slowly overcoming this crazy idea.

I guess all is good, I just wish I could fit into those size 8 jeans that have been hiding behind a lot of maternity clothes.

Along with working out I have been trying a lot of  holistic means of caring for my body. I have keratosis pilaris – kp - (which is a common skin condition that is basically raised, bumpy skin on my arms). There isn’t a “medical” cure…which is fine with me. I avoid drugs at all costs. Through research online, I found that coconut butter/oil can help some people. I found it at the grocery store, and I really don’t think I will use lotions again. It’s helping my kp a lot, and my skin feels great.

I also tried oil pulling for a little while, but with the kids it was too crazy to do it faithfully. I can’t say that it cleared up any of my kp (which is rumored to do), it did make my teeth and gums feel great. If you’ve never heard of it, it is so bizarre that you have to read for your self. Oil Pulling

I’ll have to fill you in with all the other things I have been trying….but Athena is awake….so my break’s over :)

Meet Bobby.

This is Elijah’s beloved bear, who he calls Bobby. He is SO attached to him that he goes everywhere with us. It’s so sweet, but now I’m getting worried that if he gets washed another time he will be a pile of fluff. He was a gift before Elijah was born, and now I can’t seem to find another one. Bobby is from Wal-mart, so I am on the hunt for a stunt double. I think I may even send an email to Wal-mart asking for another Bobby.

Bobby has become part of the family….I didn’t realize how many times I could find him (candidly) in photos!

So things are getting pretty good around here…or at least the last few days have been less busy I suppose is the best way to say it :)

Elijah is adjusting very well to his new school. He goes Tuesday and Thursday from 9ish to noonish. This morning he pouted a lot when I dropped him off, but his teachers said that there were no tears today!

Geez, he is also talking up a storm!! I can’t even keep up with the words he’s saying now.

1. Buboo – bubbles
2. yonyon – onion
3. poo – pool
4. doo choo – train
5. now – cat (so really he’s calling it a meow)
6. puppy – puppy
7. Lisha – Elijah
8. Yiayia – old lady (but means Grandmother in greek)
9. aapoo – apple
10. ca corr – pop corn
11. ees – letters
12. ooo – the letter “o”

There’s definitely a lot more, I just can’t think of them right now.

So Athena is also learning like crazy! She went for her two month check up last Wednesday (Feb 9th). She is 11 pounds 1 oz (65%) and 23 inches (80%). She is getting SO big. It’s getting difficult to tote her around in the car seat already!

She has awesome neck control and is a little “advanced” because she swats at toys dangling from her play mat (I call those toys her friends). She is 11 weeks old today! ( Elijah also turns 19 months today!) Time is flyyyying by.

His shirt says “I didn’t do it”….hmmmm….

she is SOOO sad when she’s upset. Look at her little nose and her lips. that’s not even a great shot of her doing it….see it in real life and your heart breaks!

that’s better :)

I love these babies! How sweet! – Elijah always gives the best hugs and kisses…mmmmwA!

So things are going ok. Life is good, and I am grateful.  add a few more hours of sleep, and life would be just about perfect :)

Ready for summertime.

Nothing can lift my spirits better than planning for travel. And I must say, it’s perfect timing to plan considering I have been snowed in for a few days. I don’t do well being cooped up!

I’m really excited about planning our family trip to Greece. Not just my family, but my brother’s family and sister’s family! It is going to be craziness while we’re there with all of these toddlers we have, but it will certainly be well worth it.

Becky and I will probably be leaving with my dad in early June. She and I will stay for a couple months with the kids and Brad and Jon will come sometime during our stay for a few weeks. Steph will be coming later in June and staying until early August, with George coming during the middle of her visit.

I really can’t wait. No….really….I’m so glad that we are still able to travel, see and do things. Having a family can interfere with a lot, but I’m glad it hasn’t with my love of traveling.

Actually, I am really excited to share the memories with my little guys over there. I know they won’t remember the trip, but that’s not the point. I will remember, and they will see pictures to hopefully encourage them later in life to take adventures and see beyond our country and culture.

Ahhh….for now I will keep planning. Athena isn’t adjusting too well in her crib. Quite frankly, I’m not adjusting well to waking up 3-4 times a night when it was only 1 when she was next to me….

Here is round 1 of 3 (or 4) for the evening. Hopefully she will sleep for a bit……………………