Well nap times have gotten better, but yesterday after an hour plus of going in Amelia's room to tell her to stay in bed, she finally quieted down. When I went in to check on her this is where I found her.
Yes she is sleeping like an angel (whatever that means) underneath Charlotte's crib with her beloved (naked) Raggedy Ann. Well I am grateful she had a nap!
I never thought I would be sad to leave New Bern. "Leave New Bern?" you may ask. Yes, next weekend we are moving down to Beaufort to live with Erik's mom. Figuring we could sell our house easier if we weren't living in it, we decided to go ahead and move and then take the next month to get get our house in order before putting it on the market. The plan has always been to move down that way, and doing this will allow us to make the move sooner than later and also to get rid of some of that pesky student loan debt.
We moved to New Bern in August 2004 and I was underwhelmed from the beginning. Erik and I joked that no matter what we would never be "from New Bern." Well four and a half years and two children later, we are definitely New Bernites. We've made many friends and lived some of the most memorable years of our life here. Not to mention we are leaving just as we get a Dunkin' Donuts and Little CaesarsPizza right down the street. What is that about?! I'm sure we will return here quite often, and not just because most of the stake meeting are held here - there is the Target also.
We're excited for the next adventure in our life and to able to be closer to Erik's family. And to answer the question I get asked most often, yes Erik's mom and I do get along well enough for this to work:) Hopefully we'll all still like eachother when this adventure is over!
When there is a perfectly good changing table to sleep on. A week and a half ago we set up Amelia's new "big girl" bed. So far night times haven't been a problem, but nap times aren't working out so well. To be fair, they weren't working out so well when she was still in the crib. I still put Amelia in her room for a nap, and while she stays in her room, she doesn't stay in her bed. Often she doesn't fall asleep at all (which I wouldn't mind too much if she wasn't completely beastful once 5 o'clock comes) and instead plays in her room for an hour and a half or two. The room is always in some state of disarray when I get her from her room. Today I noticed that after about a little over an hour, it was quiet in Amelia's room. I went in to check on her and found her asleep on her changing table. What a monkey!
Those bronze looking metal bars are the bed rails Erik's sister Allison used when she was a girl. They often wind up on the floor during nap time. I took them off for a bit, but Amelia fell out of bed last night, so Erik put them back up. Also it may look like it is really light in Amelia's room, but actually the room is quite dark - the light was from the camera's flash.
On another note, I'm sure if someone asked you what color your child or childrens' eyes were (presuming you have a child or children) I'm guessing you would be able to answer that question. Not me. Amelia's eyes still seem to be changing colors, and I'm wondering if they will ever settle into one color. They are not quite green and not quite brown. Charlotte's eyes, on the other hand, are 7/8 baby gray, and 1/8 brown. Go ahead and click on the picture and see. It's crazy!
That the weathermen would get it right? Often when we get predictions of snow nothing comes of it. Monday night we got predictions of 2 to 4 inches, but when we woke up Tuesday morning, there was nothing more than a light dusting. I thought, "too bad, Amelia would have enjoyed it." Well then it began to snow. And it snowed, and snowed, and snowed, and snowed. By two o'clock there was a good two inches on the ground. So then we layered up and played in it. Amelia had a ball but Charlotte wasn't so keen on the cold. Erik and Amelia built a little snowman and enjoyed their snow ball fights which was mostly throwing snow at each other. The snow is mostly gone now but we had fun while it lasted.
Erik and Amelia (Erik brought the tape measure out to see how much snow had fallen)
Mommy and Charlotte
Our Snowman
The Family
Our House
Amelia is kind of like the post office motto. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can keep her from enjoying being outside. On Friday mornings we attend story time at the library and then go play at the park. Even though it was 28°F outside, while we were loading up after story time, Amelia ended her half real words, half gibberish sentence with, "go to the park." Luckily I had anticipated this and had both of the girls bundled up. We were the only ones at the park, but we had a fun time none the less. I must say that I am truly enjoying this cold winter. We're anticipating snow tomorrow, so perhaps we'll have some more fun in the cold soon!
High on the slide
Amelia on the swings
A self portrait
Charlotte giving me smiles during story time
I've been tagged 4 times since this blog started. Well, technically this is both Erik's and my blog, but lets be realistic, I've pretty much kept this going myself. Most recently I was tagged by my mother. Well, I can't ignore that, so to be fair, I went back and did all four of the tags I received. I'm officially done after this, so I would appreciate if no one tagged me again. My brain hurts from doing this.
From Mom
I am: tired
I know: I didn’t get everything done today
I want: to like this more
I have: to prepare for Sunday
I hate: cutting my nails
I miss: “me” time
I feel: hopeful
I hear: the computer and the TV
I smell: neither good nor bad
I crave: caramel brownies
I search: using Google
I love: getting a break
I care: about my husband
I always: love checking the mail
I believe: I’ll never have enough pairs of black shoes
I sing: to Amelia all day
I write: nonsense
I lose: my temper a lot
I win: sometimes
I never: go to bed without a clean face and clean teeth
I listen: to my new under the cabinet radio (thanks Erik!)
I am scared: I’ll have too many regrets
I need: to try harder with Erik
I am happy about: Lost starting soon
From Catherine
10 years ago:
1. I lived in Idaho
2. I was in college.
3. I still had braces.
4. I lived with some of my best friends.
5. I missed my family
5 things on today's to do list:
1. Fold laundry.
2. Put laundry away.
3. Renew my library books.
4. Make dinner.
5. Survive.
5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Cocoa Chex Mix
2. Granola Bars
3. Chocolate milk and a banana
4. Chocolate Chip Cookies
5. Popcorn
5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Buy a fabulous car or two.
2. Payoff all debt.
3. Give my parents money to buy a new house.
4. College fund for the girls
5. Shopping Spree!
5 places I have lived:
1. Indiana
2. Ohio
3. North Carolina – Goldsboro, Fayetteville, Cary
4. Idaho
5. North Carolina – Raleigh, New Bern
5 jobs I have had:
1. The Party Machine
2. Bagel Girl
3. Fabric Store
4. Temp
5. Banker
From Andrea
20 years ago:
1. I lived in Fayetteville.
2. Amber was my best friend.
3. I was considered one of the “cool” kids.
10 years ago:
1. I was in college.
2. I still had braces.
3. I lived with some of my best friends.
5 years ago:
1. I got married.
2. I was still in college.
3. I was a lot thinner than I am right now.
3 years ago:
1. We were trying to have a baby.
2. I got a job at RBC Centura.
3. I had no idea how my life was about to change.
1 year ago:
1. My father was about to celebrated his 50th birthday.
2. I was crazy.
3. I had just been called to the Primary Presidency.
So far this year:
1. I’m adjusting to life with two children.
2. I can’t stop baking.
3. I finally got our checkbook back in order since having Charlotte.
Yesterday:
1. I did a ton of laundry.
2. I finished reading a really good book.
3. I talked to my sister on the phone.
Today:
1. I baked pumpkin muffins with butterscotch chips.
2. I took a shower even though I had decided not to take one when I woke up.
3. I got both girls down for a nap at the same time and then folded some laundry.
In the next year:
1. I’m thinking about growing my hair out again.
2. I’d like to make more of a conscious effort to enjoy the little things.
3. I’d like a real vacation.
From Heidi
1. Where is your cell phone . . . kitchen counter
2. Your significant other . . . is my rock.
3. Your hair . . . brown and actually “done” today!
4. Your mother . . . is the standard which I measure myself
5. Your father . . . is a very intelligent man who sometimes enjoys acting like a child.
6. Your favorite thing . . . whenever I get to do exactly what I want to do.
7. Your dream last night . . . ???
8. Your favorite drink . . . mostly water but I’m lovin’ caffeine free pepsi right now too.
9. Your dream/goal . . . to pay off all our debt.
10. The room you're in . . . office/guest room
11. Your hobby . . . reading
12. Your fear . . . trapped in a small space
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years . . . closer to the coast.
14. Where were you last night . . . at home.
15. What you're not . . . energized.
16. Muffins . . . chocolate chip
17. One of your wish list items . . . bigger car
18. Where you grew up . . . Fayetteville, Cary, Rexburg, Raleigh, New Bern
19. The last thing you did . . . work on dinner
20. What are you wearing . . . my standard of jean, a t-shirt, and my adidas sandals.
21. Your pets . . . none
22. Your TV . . . Oprah is on, but no one is really watching it.
23. Your computer . . . in front of me.
24. Your life . . . challenging
25. Your mood . . . not too bad right now.
26. Missing someone . . . not really
27. Your car . . . needs gas
28. Something you're not wearing . . . a watch
29. Favorite store . . . Target
30. Your summer . . . HOT
31. Like someone . . . lots of people
32. Your favorite color . . . green
33. When is the last time you laughed . . . today (it was either that or cry)
34. Last time you cried . . . yesterday
35. Who will resend this . . . n/a
36. Done something stupid to entertain . . . the story of my life