Sometimes you have to laugh

Because it's all you can do. You have your good days and your bad days with the little ones. They brighten your life and your days 95% of the time. But sometimes that 5% just takes its tole on you at times.

This week has been one of those weeks for us. After a few months of sickness all of us are pretty tired and worn out, each week seems to be bring us a new virus or another. The past few days Gabby hasn't been getting enough sleep we think as she is waking up pretty defiant. It seems that if things don't go exactly her way she throws a fit. One morning it was because I didn't stack her cereal "right". Right for her is one layer of each of the 3 to 4 cereals, that morning it was because it was more like a  mountain. who knew there was a right way to stack cereal. LOL

Today we had a great day, she cuddled in bed with us while she watched some cartoons, we got to "sleep in"....well for us anyway until about 7:15. We had a good breakfast of pancakes - no stacking involved. Then headed to the Zoo for a family trip. Met up with some friends, had lunch and had a great time.

She napped on the way home and cuddled with Mike for awhile. We had a great afternoon and then dinner happened. We had the audacity to serve Gabby enchiladas. All hell broke loose. All we ask of her is that she eats 3 bites of each item of food on her plate. She just had to eat 3 bites of enchilada to get some corn bread that was it. Well lets just say it didn't happen. After 20 minutes of fighting with her we told her she was done and going to bed. I have never sent her to bed without dinner in 3 years until tonight. She didn't eat, she fought us every step of the way.

During this same time the littlest one also decided that after her few bites of corn, enchiladas and cornbread that she was ALL DONE! and was throwing her food on the floor and screaming her head off. Fun times!!

But I know that tomorrow is a new day and they will be smiling and laughing with me tomorrow. When I went to put Liv down tonight, she was screaming her head off until I started tickling her and then she was all smiles and giggles and it took away all the frustration for the night.

I need to remember these moments when I am in the thick of it and dealing with them trying to exert all the independence they can muster!

Life....

....goes so fast! Before I had kids time went fast. Although now that I think about it I am not even sure what I did before kids??

Oh that's right, slept in. Went out to dinner on a moment's notice, went on vacations to the Bahama's and Italy!  But even with all that (and I did like sleeping in) I wouldn't trade it one bit for the life that I have now.

My two girls give me an amazing view on life. The things that come out of Gabby's mouth just crack me up.

Here are a few conversations she and I have had over the past few months

Conversation #1
Mike: mumbling something under his breath about the semi driver not being nice on the road last week
Gabby: Why is he not being nice Daddy?
Mike: He isn't sharing the road with the rest of us
Gabby: Maybe he isn't being nice because he is angry?
**A few minutes later
Me: Ouch, my knee hurts.
Gabby: Mommy, why does your knee hurts?
Me: Not sure it just does a little
Gabby: Maybe it hurts because you are angry?

Conversation #2
Gabby was sitting in the car and was counting....this is how she was counting

Uno, Dos, Trece, Quatro, Cinco, Dora, Seis, Siete, Ocho, Diego! 

Conversation #3

I overheard her talking to Liv the other morning....

Gabby: Okay Olivia, I am going to make you breakfast. Do you want Hotdog pancakes?, are you sure you don't want any hotdog pancakes. Maybe I will give you some bbq sauce and that will make you want to try it.

Conversation #4
Me: Gabby who did you play with today?
Gabby: Charrrrrrlie
Me: No one else?
Gabby: Nope just Charrrrlie.
Me: What about William or Gavin, Kate, Alaina?
Gabby: Nope just Charlie, William and Gavin.
Me: Not any of the girls?
Gabby: No I don't like the girls, just the boys, they are my  brothers.

Conversation #5:
Me: Gabby we are going to the dentist tomorrow
Gabby: I will get to pick a prize and watch a movie
Me: Well you will get to pick a prize, I don't think you will be able to watch a movie.
Gabby: No mama, I watched a movie last time up there (Pointing to the ceiling).

Fast forward to us going to the dentist, sure enough they had tv's on the ceiling. This girl remembered 6 months previous that she watched TV at the dentist's office.

I look forward to many other conversations like these (most of which happen when she is going to the bathroom). and many more with my little Olivia!!