Flowers & Snuggles

I spend time being grateful. It's important. It's too easy to get caught up in the negative. So this week I'm grateful for my husband and his mostly speedy recovery. And getting the time with him that we've had over the past week and half...even if it's not under the best of circumstances. And I love him because he's not down-in-the-dumps about his situation either. We were laughing and making jokes just minutes before they took him into surgery. He's a brave guy. And he's stronger than I give him credit for sometimes.

And I'm grateful for our moms for helping us so much during the early days when he was just home, on tons of meds, in lots of pain...and I was bolting up to Greeley everyday trying to pretend that I wasn't totally worried about what was happening in my little home.

But we've been reunited for the past couple weeks. And things are as normal as they ever really get around here. I wanted to cry Eliana's "Mother's Tea Party" at her preschool was so cute. The kids served us cookies and punch and made us all sorts of thoughtful presents and even sang us a song that Ellie continues to sing around the house...."I like the way you look, and I like the way you cook! So I just want to say, 'Happy Mothers Day!'" She's just big all of a sudden. We have real conversations about very important things. And she tells Mr. Pope he needs to call her if he needs anything. Very important.

And I'm glad we've taken away that blasted binky as Parker is much more fun to be around without that plug shoved in his face all day and night. He's talking so much too. The other day when Derrick told me Parker said something funny "out of the blue." Parker looked at him all squinty-eyed and said, "No, Dada. It was purple." Hehe. And just today he corrected me while we were playing horses that his was "A baby horse, not a big horse, Mama." He's putting 2 and 3 sentences together at a time. It happens so quick.

And I love the sunshine (now that it's back). And I can't wait to have the family over for Mother's Day Brunch tomorrow even though it involves and evening of cooking and cleaning. But I'm grateful. (And I'm posting this late. Updates to come.)

QOD: "I wanna tell Mama bye-bye." - My little Park

"This taint supposed to be happening to me!!" - My Mister

Haircuts

The kiddos got their hair cut by my friend, Melissa.

They look super-duper cute.
But they still hate to have their pictures taken.....

Eliana got bangs. They make her look so grown-up.

And out of nowhere Parker is looking like a little man.
I mean, really, look at him in a sweater vest....

Sweet Dreams

My darling husband has a beautiful voice. I'm not sure if that's what you say about a man's voice...I'm sure I should say "amazing" or "strong" or something but he doesn't really sing that often (seriously, that is) except for when he's singing our children to sleep.

It's probably one of the sweetest things I've ever heard and one of the memories I will keep with me forever. He would sing to Ellie for hours when she was a baby. And while Parker has been highly attached to a specific "Mommy & Parker" routine at bedtime he's missed out on some of the Daddy singing. Until the other night.

I listened to the song from outside Parker's bedroom door and didn't see the little man again until 14 hours later. Those Daddy songs. They do the trick. And I even sing and hum the song, too, and that's quite the feat as I was not blessed with musical talent. So here's a little song that makes a lot of little people in this house happy, sung by one of my favorites, Kristin Chenoweth.

I'm the Dude

My mind is polluted lately with all the things I want to do but haven't yet accomplished. The problem is that it's a long, long list of desires that are all completely and desperately mutually exclusive.

Such as...I want to play with the kids and take them to the park and the library and swimming and I also want to finish about 100 house projects.

And then...I want to create more fun family time when Derrick is here and I also want more solitary Veronica time.

And maybe...I want to go back and get that Master's (and be a Little Lebowski Urban Achiever) and I want to go back to work and I want to stay home with my babies (because it's finally getting a little bit easier!! Why would I give up my chance for the first "break" I've had in years? This is the hardest job I've ever had and I'm gonna "tender my resignation" as soon as I see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel?)

As the Big Lebowski, The Dude, would say, "Too many thoughts in the ole Duder's head."

As you might realize, there are a lot of difference between me and the Dude. But we have a lot in common. Okay so the Dude wasn't a stay-at-home mom but I feel his pain.

I'm stalled. I spend a lot of time waiting for someone to come "fix the cable" and with recent potty training efforts I'm quite sure that the rug has been micturated upon. Several times. I've got some growing emotional problems....beyond Pacifism.

And I'm looking for the answer by doing relatively nothing but waiting to see what information the world will provide me. I feel like I need to have a plan, because that's my thing. And a late-night fight between me and the Mr. a month or so ago revealed that I have to start doing more for me...just me. So I've started back to Yoga because I love it and stalking style blogs because I love fashion (and currently ignoring the fact that I have no where to wear a cute black French Connection mini-skirt) and spending a little time being me. And pondering my next steps.

Maybe I should just go bowling...

QOD: "Mommies don't work!! They stay home with babies!! And I'm pretty sure they don't go to school. That's a good deal." ~EKP

Lazy River

With a house full of family and a what feels like a long, hot summer, my father-in-law, Jack, had the brilliant idea to go to Water World last week. We packed up the cars and made it for a whole afternoon. I had the distinct pleasure of riding along in a tube on the Lazy River with Parker. He LOVED Water World. What do you know!?! He might really be my son after all....

He waved at all the people, splashed in the water, giggled with delight, and when he snatched my sunglasses off my head and I playfully demanded that he give them back he cocked his head and gave me a big fat, "No!" He's 15 months old. And with that, I think, my baby Parker was gone.

He's acting so much older all of a sudden. He said "Blueberries" yesterday and "Grandma" this morning. He's paying attention to everything and he's learned he can actually tackle Ellie, knock her down, and pin her to the floor. He's 15 months old. Bye, bye Baby Parker. I love the little boy you are becoming. (Tackling Ellie included. I'm sure she deserves it.) How is it that a baby is just a baby for what seems like forever and then one day - not a baby. I'm glad I got the moment with him at Water World. It seemed like a little secret between me and him.

In other news we've got a list of things we still need to accomplish before these summer sands run out. Like a trip to Steamboat Springs with the parents and grandmas, a mountain retreat with all of the siblings when brother Dan and family get back from Japan, my cousin's wedding in Chicago and a few more house projects like painting the kids bedroom furniture. Not so lazy after all....

Quote of the Day:
"I love my Aunt Emma cuz she's all grown-up like me. And I love my cousin Cole because he's soooo handsome," ~Eliana