The Long Haul

I've felt like a single parent since about Christmas. I think this is when the bulk of my pregnancy, fun yet challenging 2-year-old, and Derrick's renewed dedication to completing his MBA all combined into the perfect storm of solitary parenthood. With his long hours, my increasing exhaustion, and all of the daily routines that make up a stay-at-home-mommy's life, there seems to have been little room for anything but the necessary and the obvious.

Is this how a single parent really feels or am I whinier than I think about my lot in life?? (The one I chose, I remind myself at least twice a month.) Hmmm. My mom raised us alone for quite a while both while married to my air-traffic controller dad and after the divorce. Derrick's mom managed the single parent role for years and years. How did they do it? I'm amazed that it's possible. I laugh at the fantasies I concoct on the long days....or more accurately, the long weeks before Derrick has time to let me out of the house sans sweet baby girl Eliana.

"Oh, gosh!" I think, "Other moms get almost an hour of alone time while they commute back and forth between home and work!!! That would be amazing!!" or "Lunch!! Other people eat lunch with other people...in public!! And don't have to do it around a nap schedule!! That's the coolest!!"

The bedtimes, the naptimes, the three meals a day (with three snacks mixed in for good measure) the picking up, the wiping up, the inevitable messing up. All in a days work. I remember when I had time for pedicures and "2 o'clock meetings" at the movie theater across the street from my office, and blowing out my hair didn't seem like a luxury. But the reward for that career wasn't as great and I remember thinking even then, "When I have kids all of this will be irrelevent." And most of the time...it is. I am grateful for all of the support I have in our friends and family. And yet, when Derrick comes back to me and our family, I look forward to no longer measuring my weeks by his class schedule, but by our little family schedule. We're almost there.

What a Zoo!

Eliana celebrates her 2nd birthday on March 26th. We simply cannot believe that time goes by so fast (and yet, so slow...some days.) We also cannot imagine the world without our little bug. Her smiles and kisses and hugs and pats, not to mention her rapidly expanding verbal expressions, are just enough to make my heart want to burst on a regular basis.

Her birthday party was today. For the little girl who loves giraffes and quietly whispers, "ROAR" when she sees the lions, we had a Zoo-themed celebration. A small family affair as we are in no condition to host much more than that. Although Derrick and I love a nice big party (who doesn't?) it was perfect to have all of Eliana's grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins here to celebrate. And of course the few that couldn't be here were greatly missed, but I think living halfway around the world is as good a reason as any to skip the zoo.

She was of course spoiled by everyone going above and beyond on the presents. She'll look cute in her new summer clothes and got some kickin' new chuck taylors, loaded up on fantastic books, LOVED her new giraffe bedding (as being immediately demonstrated below), and was in awe of "Curious George." She even eventually warmed up to the very awesome Schwinn tricycle from her dear old mom and dad.

More than that, she seemed to be quite the gracious hostess and was very sweet in her attempts to make everyone feel warm and welcome on her big day. Kisses and hugs and cuddles for all.

Happy Birthday little bug! We love you tons.

Yup, Still Pregnant

I just realized that there are virtually no pictures of me pregnant. I'm sure that's because right now I don't want any, but someday I know I will....so I should work on that. Well, there is one of me swimming with Eliana at the recreation center...but that one will never see the light of day. Until I get out the old camera and work on "capturing" this moment for ever...you can check this one out and basically get the same idea:

Hahahahaha. Yeah, and Elle actually calls me "Mamoooo" now. No joke. Okay, moving on.....this week, in our world, we're sick. Eliana is sick, Derrick is kind of sick, and I'm trying not to get sick. We'll see how it goes. I'm in awe that such a small child can produce so much snot. It's amazing. I'm going to give her a medal or a cookie or something.

Besides being sick, Eliana just keeps on being Eliana. We had combined doctor's visits on Monday for my 32-week check up and Eliana's 2-year check up. She is now 35 inches tall (90th percentile for height) and 23 lbs. (10th percentile for weight). The doc isn't worried about her skinny little frame and I guess we aren't either. I'm gonna blame genes (well my former, pre-baby genes, anyway.) And, as Derrick pointed out if you combine both of her percentages, you get a full 100%...so she's just trying to be perfect. A perfect 100%.

And thanks to sis Wendy for the new family pics! We never seem to take a family picture together....and the one of Eliana laughing on the sidebar is my new favorite. Thanks family photographer!!

Little Buddies

I'm not the kind of person who collects tons and tons of friends. I'm a friendly enough person, I guess, but good, true friends are hard to come by and should be appreciated as such. Derrick and I have the very best friends.

As just one example, I've had the good fortune in the past few years to reconnect with a old school friend, elementary school to be exact. Katie and I were in 5th & 6th grade together....kind of lost touch over high school and college....and then miraculously reconnected when she applied for an internship in my mom's agency while completing her Masters in Social Work (oh those social workers....). So, not only did we mix 18 kinds of soda in one glass while downing bags of candy in front of "Wayne's World," but we've attended each others weddings, made it through a pregnancy each, and are now both pregnant at the same time with our second "batches." Our kids now play together not totally unlike we did 20 years ago....(well, okay, we had a few more words and social skills but we were 10 and they're only 2).

Katie, expecting twins, and her wonderful husband Patrick & son Michael, stopped by today to thank us for a load of baby girl clothes Eliana was happy to pass on. They even brought us a gift certificate for a nice dinner out....totally unnecessary but so very thoughtful. We look forward to many more fun play dates and trips to the zoo as we now get to watch our kids grow up together.

The top picture is from Michael and Eliana's very first meeting. I promise they play together a bit more nicely now. Not a WHOLE lot better, but you know! They're sweet together and Elle just loves him in a very "hard-to-get-I'm-going-to-ingore-you-the-whole-time-you're-here" kind of way.

In other news, we had SO much fun bowling last night (well, Derrick bowled, I sat and ate...and talked) to celebrate JR's 30th birthday!! (Picture taken in Venice Beach on a trip we all took together last summer. Oh, just too much fun.) Thanks for all the entertainment, Danyel's "Sampler Platter" dance, JR's "Snuggie" fashion show and Funfetti brithday cake.

We appreciate all of our good friends for all they do and all the happy places they fill in our life.

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Miss Ellie-Belle is a busy, busy little girl, if you didn't already know. She's been keeping me very entertained as of late with all her busy-girl activities. We've been having lots of fun and thought we needed to share our pictures....

Today, after "Beastie" gym class (that's what her age is called and I think it's funny. She's my little beast) we made peanut butter cookies. Eliana made this tray all by herself. She was so proud!

On Monday we met up with Melissa & Hayden and Armando and Elijio for a little Casa Bonita. I don't know why I thought of it...it just sounded necessary all of a sudden. Surprisingly, Eliana hated the gun fight. Weird. I don't know what I was thinking...but I'm still glad we all went.

We had some great adventures at the Broomfield Rec. Center last week with Auntie Wendy and Cousin Cole. Here, Cole takes Eliana down the slide (picture captured mid-slide, of course). I think the picture is hilarious....so you all have to look and laugh, too.

Swimming at the recreation center. What a great pool!

Eliana also took me to the park last week. She played for TWO HOURS and made three friends. (All boys....again....weird.) She's just so much fun right now I can't imagine missing this point in her life. I'm so glad I don't have to. Not that she doesn't keep me busy....