I have no excuse...

..for completing neglecting my posts. March 15? Really? I'm not sure what my deal has been. Since I have no specific topic in mind, and I really wanted to just update this, I will do exactly that....give an update of our life. (and since I haven't posted for such a long time, this might be long!) I will really try to be more disciplined from now on, though :)

1. Finger Foods - Amy eats them!!! YAY, Amy! I was so hesitant to start giving her finger foods because a) she had no teeth, b) she often chokes on pretty much nothing, and c) she's still my little baby. I figured I'd follow the typical guidelines, though, and give it a whirl. She did/does AMAZING! Mum-mums were her first finger food experience. (These are much like a cracker for babies, but pretty much dissolve upon touching moisture, and most importantly, I can read all four ingredients in them!) She also eats pears, apples, carrots, avacado, string beans, Cheerios, sweet potatoes, squash, blueberries, and mango. All of these are steamed (if necessary) and cut or mashed into verrrry tiny pieces. The most exciting part - aside from the Mum-mums and Cheerios, Amy has yet to eat anything that was not fresh and prepared by me! Yippee!! I love not working!

2. Positive Statements - Example: "We should put our shoes away once we take them off." vs "Don't leave your shoes in the middle of the floor." I learned this in almost every education class, I read about it in every childcare book/magazine/website, and it is completely logical for so many reasons. However, it is harrrrrrd to do. There are some {...many?...} instances when, in the 2 seconds I have to come up with a reply, I find myself at a total loss for a "positive statement." I imagine that it is okay, and I tell myself that as long as I am making an effort, it is helping. Atleast 3 times per day I think about what my children will become as "tweens," "teens," and "adults." I try to analyze how they will be affected by the mistakes we are making with them now. (behavior, self-esteem, respect, etc.) yikes!

3. Weight Loss - Remember that post? Well - Bob: -21 pounds. Jame: -10 pounds. I'm happy that. I suppose that those amounts are in proportion to the sizes of our bodies.

4. Broad St. Run - I've been training for the Broad St. Run, a 10-mile run straight down Broad St. I was doing great in the beginning, then I had about 2 rough weeks. Yesterday, though, I had my greatest achievement thus far.....7 mile run that I completed with such ease I questioned that I actually ran 7 miles! (I did, I checked when I got home!)

5. Paralyzing Fear of Returning to Work - Spring break is over which means what is left of the school year will fly by. I will be sitting in August in-services again before I know it. Without any exageration, I lose feeling in my body, my heart beats extremely fast, and I get hot when I start to think about it. There really are no words to describe how much I love being home with my girls. I love every single thing about it. I even love the days that get so crazy I don't even know which end is up. There are days while I'm teaching that get equally crazy and, guess what, I'm spending that time with someone else's children while a babysitting is with my children. No way - I want the relaxed days, hectic days, happy days, sad days....every day I can be here with them is the greatest day EVER!!!!! It's a double bonush when Bob is home, too! :)

For the record: the only reason for me going back to work is to a) finance the construction of the girls' "ultimate playroom," b) possibly finance the construction of a deck and fence, and c) MOST IMPORTANTLY - create that "savings account" that I'm told grown-ups are supposed to have. We are not savers - this is no secret!! haha. But we need to change that if we really want to persue our baby #3 plan: ".....resign...." Shh.

6. Wedding Season - 10 weddings from now until December. Literally. Here is the schedule....April 10 (already happened), May 8, June 4, June 5, June 12, July 10, August 7, Sept 24, Oct 30?, Dec. ?teen. I forget that exact date. But there it is. Holy cow!

7. Milk - I just pour Addy another cup of milk. We have 1/4 of a gallon left. I bought it Saturday. We really do use an entire gallon of milk in about 2-3 days. Jeez!

8. Stewie - who is Stewie, you ask? Well, he is our new 10-WEEK OLD YELLOW LAB PUPPY!!!! tee-hee!!!! I will post more about him later, but right now Addy and I need to eat breakfast.