4/28/10
Having children changes everything.
I moved away from Texas and my family living there when I was 17 years old. It was wonderful to go home and see everyone, share my children with them. I visit every couple of years now but going home with my children was totally different. More biter sweet. I always miss my family when I leave them, but this time the sadness has lingered.
Our family is big, competitive and loud. The cousins in Texas all grew up together. They support each other and still have fun together as adults like they did as children. Watching them play with my children was so touching. As a parent I feel like I'm cheating my children by not having their cousins, Aunts and Uncles near them. They won't get to experience that closeness on a daily basis from my family or Naing's large family.
To add to that sadness was seeing how old my Mom looks. She has aged even more since I saw her in December. When we left our visit at her apartment I couldn't help wondering if this was the last time we would see her in her own apartment.
Haven and Alec had a wonderful experience visiting my family and they loved all the attention and admiration they received while they were in Texas. But they are happy to be home, happy to be in their beds and so estatic to have their toys back. Alec has played non-stop with his cars and the shopping cart since he got home. They don't know what they are missing not living close to the family so I need to stop being sad about it and enjoy the beauty of the NW in the spring with my children.
Our family is big, competitive and loud. The cousins in Texas all grew up together. They support each other and still have fun together as adults like they did as children. Watching them play with my children was so touching. As a parent I feel like I'm cheating my children by not having their cousins, Aunts and Uncles near them. They won't get to experience that closeness on a daily basis from my family or Naing's large family.
To add to that sadness was seeing how old my Mom looks. She has aged even more since I saw her in December. When we left our visit at her apartment I couldn't help wondering if this was the last time we would see her in her own apartment.
Haven and Alec had a wonderful experience visiting my family and they loved all the attention and admiration they received while they were in Texas. But they are happy to be home, happy to be in their beds and so estatic to have their toys back. Alec has played non-stop with his cars and the shopping cart since he got home. They don't know what they are missing not living close to the family so I need to stop being sad about it and enjoy the beauty of the NW in the spring with my children.
4/22/10
It is official my boy can dance!
I have been in Texas for a little over a week for my nephew's wedding. He got married at a lovely vineyard in the hill country of Austin. This has been an adventure coming down to Texas with the kids by myself. They did very well on the plane, but going through security was a NIGHTMARE.
Mindy, Zac and Anthony walked us to security helping us with the bags. Haven was extremely upset when they left. She is running after them and I'm trying to corral her, Alec and manage three carry ons. The TSA agents didn't make me wait in the line, that was nice. Second thing that went wrong, we had to take Haven's shoes off. Don't mess with my girl's shoes! Big melt down. We went through the metal detector and my brace on my wrist set it off. Since the kids were with me all three of us had to be searched. Haven still in melt down mode because they had her shoes and she could see them. I asked if she could have her shoes, no they had to be checked for explosives. Did I say she was in a meltdown? Words can't even describe it. All three of us had to be patted down. They wanted me to put Alec down. No I answered he will take off and I was having a hard enough time dealing with the screaming daughter on the floor. Finally they let her have her shoes back, but then she was refusing to put them back on. I got her shoes, my shoes and Alec's shoes back on. Got all the luggage loaded into the cart and one of the TSA workers helped me get them to the gate.
Once there, things settled down and Haven loved seeing the planes. The flight was good. Not much drama. Haven got scared looking out the window so I had her switched seats with Alec and all was good. We watched, "We Sing Sillyville" and Alec was as happy as can be. When we landed in Dallas I had them wait until the other passengers were off the plane before we got off. The man sitting across the isle from us got a surprise. While he was standing in line to deplane, Haven grabbed his hand and held it. (Going to Haven to watch this girl very carefully she would go off with anyone.)
We had a day to chill in Dallas at Aunt Donna's before heading to Austin. My niece, Taylor rode with us down to Austin and helped me keep the kids happy in a hotel room. Two toddlers running amok in the hotel room that is not baby proofed and getting into suitcases. UGH.
Alec got into the oatmeal packets while I was dressing Haven for the wedding and spread it all over the hotel room. Had the call the maid back for the 2nd time that day. We got all dressed up and boarded the bus that took us to the wedding venue. Kids proceeded to fall asleep on me and take a little snooze for that hour drive.
The did so well at the ceremony. I couldn't have asked for better children! Except Haven peed on Aunt Patty. (I say that is payback for the sucker she gave my child, but I digress.) It was a beautiful outside ceremony and we enjoyed the reception. But I don't know if even the bride and groom enjoyed it as much as Alec.
Keaton and Stacie, did their first dance very early in the reception so people would dance. As soon as the music started Alec, was wiggling in my lap trying to get down, chanting music, music. We were the first "couple" on the dance floor after the bride and groom were done dancing. Alec wowed everyone with his dance moves and was being photographed alot. I hope some of them are in the proofs so I can get a copy of them. People were approaching me and commenting on how well he danced and his beauty. Yep beauty. I have never had so many strangers tell me how beautiful my children were before. We danced into the wee hours of the morning.
Haven on the other hand, was enjoying the lavishing of attention from her Aunt Patty, my cousin Cindy and her husband Dan. That made my life so much easier, I just had to chase after Alec and they took care of her. She danced and kept trying to cut in on her Uncle Fred's dances. When she saw him dancing she was trying to get him to dance with her, but when he wanted her to dance with him she ran away. Can you say tease? We all had a wonderful time and both kids fell asleep on me on the bus ride home.
I apologize for the lack of pictures but I never had a chance to take any. Alec was on the move the whole night.
On the whole my children have done incredibly well with all the change and all the new people to meet. It has been a little challenging because my sister's house is not baby proofed.
Mindy, Zac and Anthony walked us to security helping us with the bags. Haven was extremely upset when they left. She is running after them and I'm trying to corral her, Alec and manage three carry ons. The TSA agents didn't make me wait in the line, that was nice. Second thing that went wrong, we had to take Haven's shoes off. Don't mess with my girl's shoes! Big melt down. We went through the metal detector and my brace on my wrist set it off. Since the kids were with me all three of us had to be searched. Haven still in melt down mode because they had her shoes and she could see them. I asked if she could have her shoes, no they had to be checked for explosives. Did I say she was in a meltdown? Words can't even describe it. All three of us had to be patted down. They wanted me to put Alec down. No I answered he will take off and I was having a hard enough time dealing with the screaming daughter on the floor. Finally they let her have her shoes back, but then she was refusing to put them back on. I got her shoes, my shoes and Alec's shoes back on. Got all the luggage loaded into the cart and one of the TSA workers helped me get them to the gate.
Once there, things settled down and Haven loved seeing the planes. The flight was good. Not much drama. Haven got scared looking out the window so I had her switched seats with Alec and all was good. We watched, "We Sing Sillyville" and Alec was as happy as can be. When we landed in Dallas I had them wait until the other passengers were off the plane before we got off. The man sitting across the isle from us got a surprise. While he was standing in line to deplane, Haven grabbed his hand and held it. (Going to Haven to watch this girl very carefully she would go off with anyone.)
We had a day to chill in Dallas at Aunt Donna's before heading to Austin. My niece, Taylor rode with us down to Austin and helped me keep the kids happy in a hotel room. Two toddlers running amok in the hotel room that is not baby proofed and getting into suitcases. UGH.
Alec got into the oatmeal packets while I was dressing Haven for the wedding and spread it all over the hotel room. Had the call the maid back for the 2nd time that day. We got all dressed up and boarded the bus that took us to the wedding venue. Kids proceeded to fall asleep on me and take a little snooze for that hour drive.
The did so well at the ceremony. I couldn't have asked for better children! Except Haven peed on Aunt Patty. (I say that is payback for the sucker she gave my child, but I digress.) It was a beautiful outside ceremony and we enjoyed the reception. But I don't know if even the bride and groom enjoyed it as much as Alec.
Keaton and Stacie, did their first dance very early in the reception so people would dance. As soon as the music started Alec, was wiggling in my lap trying to get down, chanting music, music. We were the first "couple" on the dance floor after the bride and groom were done dancing. Alec wowed everyone with his dance moves and was being photographed alot. I hope some of them are in the proofs so I can get a copy of them. People were approaching me and commenting on how well he danced and his beauty. Yep beauty. I have never had so many strangers tell me how beautiful my children were before. We danced into the wee hours of the morning.
Haven on the other hand, was enjoying the lavishing of attention from her Aunt Patty, my cousin Cindy and her husband Dan. That made my life so much easier, I just had to chase after Alec and they took care of her. She danced and kept trying to cut in on her Uncle Fred's dances. When she saw him dancing she was trying to get him to dance with her, but when he wanted her to dance with him she ran away. Can you say tease? We all had a wonderful time and both kids fell asleep on me on the bus ride home.
I apologize for the lack of pictures but I never had a chance to take any. Alec was on the move the whole night.
On the whole my children have done incredibly well with all the change and all the new people to meet. It has been a little challenging because my sister's house is not baby proofed.
4/9/10
My children always amaze me
Yesterday was a why wasn't I thinking day. Haven was having a difficult day from the time she woke up. Everything was a battle with her. I so thought a nap would fix it and then I could run errands and get things done for our trip next week. Yes I know all the exprienced Moms are laughing out loud right about now.
But I perservered. The kids napped well Haven sort of napped. She is fighting a nap now. We had lunch, packed them up and went off to Washington Square Mall.
I need to return some valances we got and get shoes for the wedding and an outfit for the rehersal dinner.(My wardrobe is lacking these days.)
I put the kids in the stroller because I knew I didn't want to be chasing them down. The first 20 minutes went well and then it was downhill from there. Haven was putting her foot in Alec's face, Alec was hitting and pulling her hair. Both were messing with each others shoes and screaming at each other. So I thought I was so smart, I removed their shoes and socks, put my coat between them...hahaha. Haven continued to put her foot in Alec's face until he bit her toe. Alec kept screaming stuck so I would let him out of the stroller. I kept telling him you are not stuck you are strapped in the stroller so you don't fall out. No STUCK I got screamed back to me. People were staring and not because of the normal your children are beautiful stares, so lucky stares and comments I normally get.
I wasn't going to give in to their demands I kept going. Got my outfit, the mirror in the dressing room kept them entertained for a little bit. When we got to the shoe department, things got good in Haven's world. Rows and rows of shoes. So I gave her a few shoes to try on while I tried on the shoes I wanted. Then we were done and they kept insisting they were hungry and wanted to eat. Silly kids they just ate lunch.....no, no, no these simple tasks took almost 3 hours because of stopping to referre all the time. As I was driving home and they were drinking the drinks I brought for them I kept saying to myself am I just crazy that I think I can do all this with two kids in tow. When will I learn.
We are driving home listening to music, they love music. In fact the brief seconds they have to wait for the song to change on the cd is too long for them. They chant music, music thinking I turned it off. But I degress. Haven started spitting so of course Alec started spitting. So I threatened to turn off the music if they did not stop, Alec stopped. Did Haven, nope she got louder. So I turned the music off. As Alec is chanting for the music...wait for it...Haven starts counting. She counted 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (no 3). I was so proud of her, all the frustration for her behavior flew out the window. We counted the whole way home and did our ABCs. Lesson learned just when I think Haven is never going to listen, she amazes me with her brillance.
But I perservered. The kids napped well Haven sort of napped. She is fighting a nap now. We had lunch, packed them up and went off to Washington Square Mall.
I need to return some valances we got and get shoes for the wedding and an outfit for the rehersal dinner.(My wardrobe is lacking these days.)
I put the kids in the stroller because I knew I didn't want to be chasing them down. The first 20 minutes went well and then it was downhill from there. Haven was putting her foot in Alec's face, Alec was hitting and pulling her hair. Both were messing with each others shoes and screaming at each other. So I thought I was so smart, I removed their shoes and socks, put my coat between them...hahaha. Haven continued to put her foot in Alec's face until he bit her toe. Alec kept screaming stuck so I would let him out of the stroller. I kept telling him you are not stuck you are strapped in the stroller so you don't fall out. No STUCK I got screamed back to me. People were staring and not because of the normal your children are beautiful stares, so lucky stares and comments I normally get.
I wasn't going to give in to their demands I kept going. Got my outfit, the mirror in the dressing room kept them entertained for a little bit. When we got to the shoe department, things got good in Haven's world. Rows and rows of shoes. So I gave her a few shoes to try on while I tried on the shoes I wanted. Then we were done and they kept insisting they were hungry and wanted to eat. Silly kids they just ate lunch.....no, no, no these simple tasks took almost 3 hours because of stopping to referre all the time. As I was driving home and they were drinking the drinks I brought for them I kept saying to myself am I just crazy that I think I can do all this with two kids in tow. When will I learn.
We are driving home listening to music, they love music. In fact the brief seconds they have to wait for the song to change on the cd is too long for them. They chant music, music thinking I turned it off. But I degress. Haven started spitting so of course Alec started spitting. So I threatened to turn off the music if they did not stop, Alec stopped. Did Haven, nope she got louder. So I turned the music off. As Alec is chanting for the music...wait for it...Haven starts counting. She counted 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (no 3). I was so proud of her, all the frustration for her behavior flew out the window. We counted the whole way home and did our ABCs. Lesson learned just when I think Haven is never going to listen, she amazes me with her brillance.
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