Stuff

I don't really have much to blog about recently. The girls have been doing very well. Abbie is nearly 19 months (how did that happen?) and talking up a storm! Believe it or not I may actually start potty training her. She tells me now when she goes 'poopie' and wants to follow Jaelyn to go potty so why not give it a try? I would certainly have NO PROBLEM with NO MORE DIAPERS!!!! I have some spare pull-ups from the days of training Jaelyn so I do believe within the next week or so I may give it a go. She does seem to be smart enough to know, thats for sure! She is so active and on the go that most days I don't know how she doesn't crash during dinner. She sings the alphabet song all the way through now, she sings other songs and emphasizes on the key words which just cracks me up! She has her own personality totally seperate from her sister and everyday a little more comes out.

Jaelyn is a little more reserved (on most days!). She seems to want to cuddle more, hug more and just be around Chris & I more in general. I suppose that is par for the course. I can only imagine she may not have received much of that and given Abbie has had that attention, Jaelyn loves it now. She is about to turn 3 next month so we are planning her birthday party little by little. It will be small in comparison to last year which was more or less so everyone could meet her & her sister. This years party is Minnie Mouse themed since she is totally obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse right now! I will share more on that later.

We've been spending some time at my Brother's house since they just got a new pool. It's lovely and the company is too! Jaelyn is quite the little fish. She will have a life vest & swimmies on and just go about her way. She even gets brave enough to jump off the ladder by herself. Abbie isn't quite ready to go on her own but she does try. I think she is still too little so I'm sure I hold onto her a little more.

We are planning a trip to the boardwalk soon with our best friends, Markie & Liza and their daughter, Amber who my girls just adore. I'm sure it will be fun with rides, boardwalk food and lots of laughs! We always have a good time together whether its just sitting around talking or going out.

In the fall, there is a big wedding coming up and Jaelyn is the flower girl. I'm so excited! We have picked out her dress and she looks adorable in it. She enjoyed walking around in it at the store and even showed off a bit in the mirror. Hopefully she makes the walk down the aisle!

Mediation is coming up on August 2nd. I wish I knew what to expect but all along everything has been unexpected so I can't imagine it being any different. I do hope to get more answers, perhaps more peace of mind too.

As of now, we are enjoying our Summer, trying to stay cool and having fun while doing all of it! ♥

Prayers Requested

We have a rough month or so coming up. I know God will see us through it as he brought us to it but a little help from friends never hurts. Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers. I cannot tell you how very much they are appreciated. ♥

Compliance Review - 7/2/2010
Mediation - 8/2/2010

Both of these are consuming most of my thoughts right now. It's always hard to not know what will happen or the 'unknown' so-to-speak. However, Jaelyn & Abbie are with us right now and both of them wake up with smiles on their faces, they are in good health and they certainly fill my heart with an overabundance of love. THAT is what matters most. THAT is what will see us through along with the love & support from everyone.

The Climb

I keep saying that I'm not a Miley Cyrus fan and in reality, I'm not. However, I laughed at Hannah Montana whenever I watch it with Jaelyn (anything is better than Sprout 24/7!), and I always seem to turn up the volume when a Miley song comes on. Do I think she's made mistakes? Sure. But hey, good music & good laughter is always a GOOD THING. I may not like Miley as a person but as far as the rest goes, I suppose I am a fan.

This song has a whole lot of meaning for me. It has ever since I heard it for the first time. It doesn't ring more true right now. I just have to remember what is important and this song helps to remind me.

"The Climb" - Miley Cyrus

I can almost see it.
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shakin'
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, but

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, woah

The Many Faces of Abbie Lynn

I know, 2 new blogs in ONE day! But I just had to share these photos to show how quickly my little monster can go from happy to sad to silly to mad! It just cracks me up how many faces she actually has and how quickly her little personality is developing!

Sweet Summertime

Summertime is finally here! This has to be one of my favorite seasons of the year. Long Summer nights, days spent at the beach, hanging out with friends on the patio with a drink in my hand and most of all seeing the girls run around in the bright sunshine!

We just bought the girls a little pool to cool off in last weekend. They love it naturally and I love to see them splashing around like little fish! I really think Abbie might have a future in the water. She lays on her stomach and kicks and literally has no fear of it. Jaelyn just likes to dump it out on her head, the ground or back in the pool and sometimes over her Sister's head as well.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the beginning of SUMMER 2010!






Of course the sand box and just being in the yard is still a favorite too. Ahhh... sweet sweet Summer! I have missed you!

Please Touch Museum

This Monday we had an appointment with DYFS to have the house inspected. This happens yearly and I think this was our 3rd year? I had already had the day off for my birthday and since the girls needed to be present during the inspection, we decided after the inspection we would do something fun!

We took the girls to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. It was fantastic! The girls enjoyed every minute of it. What was so great for us parents is that you don't have to worry about them running off & getting into something they shouldn't because that's exactly what they are suppose to do!!

Alice in Wonderland's room of doors. Abbie LOVED this little room! She played in there well after her sister was off discovery more things.

Taking a ride on a sailboat. It moved up & down as you turned the wheel.

Making a little music on the big piano.

Inside a bird's nest. I love Jaelyn's ballet pose!

Playing in the water with boats & rubber duckies!

Going thru the big space tube.

Hanging around some hangers.

What a fun day!

One on One Time

Becoming a Mommy of two has been the most joyous, rewarding award I've ever received. Since it literally happened in the blink of an eye, it has also been challenging and educational. Having to divide your attention between 2 little girls, who honestly never received the attention they deserved, is sometimes more difficult than catching a rain drop.

Abbie is my youngest at 17 months and she naturally wants Mommy for most things. She will sit and play by herself but she requires help when eating, still needs changed, can't really sit in the bath alone, etc. So, 90% of my time when I'm with them is making sure Abbie has what she needs & wants.

Jaelyn is on the verge of being 3 and so independent that I often forget she needs Mommy time too! She feeds herself, goes potty, can take a bath with minimal supervision and is even starting to dress & undress herself. I lose track of her and have to make myself STOP and take a time-out with her and her alone. My eye opener was when Jaelyn decided to, whats the word, 'act-up' at daycare. She was pushing friends, not being nice, and not her normal bubbly self. There are a lot of things I could blame it on but the truth is she was wrong. I did a few things differenly after finding this out, we made a sticker-chart which she was very excited about and I tried to explain things to her calmly instead of being completely upset about it. Afterall, how can she understand it's not nice to be mean if I am not being nice when I explain it?! In any event, it made me think that perhaps I do need more one-on-one time with her.

On Tuesday, I decided to take Jaelyn to a little local circus in town. Just me & her. Mommy & Jaelyn. I cannot tell you how very rewarding it was. She sat on my lap almost the entire time except when she needed to stand-up to see what was happening. The excitement on her face as the elephants came out and the clown car broke in half was a joy unlike anything else. Seeing that Circus through her eyes was the best kind of therapy. I forgot about work, dishes, laundry, the vacuum cleaner and just enjoyed cotton candy, elephants, clowns and much more like I was three years old, too. It made me realize that Jaelyn doesn't care if we are at a Circus, at home or shopping in a mall. All she cares about is being happy, smiling and knowing she is loved. I am so very proud to be one of those that gives her what she needs. I am so very proud to call her my daughter and I am so very proud that she is teaching me just as much as I am teaching her.

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan

I can't think of anything more true.