little miss independent

Addy has been sleeping in her pack-n-play since we got here a month ago because we decided to save space in the POD and not pack her crib. We bought a new bed when we got here, we gave Aubrey our old one, and we set up Aubrey's old one in Addy's room. I was just telling Dave yesterday that I felt bad for not bringing her crib because I think she likes the security of sleeping in one, but I don't think a pack-n-play is the most comfortable place to be. Anyway, tonight after bathtime and reading time, Addy said "big bed". I wasn't sure she was ready, but I tucked her in and she stayed put. My baby is turning into a big girl! She is also ready to potty train because she says "potty" all the time and has even gone a few times, but I haven't quite worked up the energy to fully commit to the process! She acts much older than 20 months, that's for sure.

The girls...

Addy was 20 months old yesterday...she really loves fruit snacks, as evident in the first pic. She is an animated little thing, and she loves following in big sister's footsteps. She even wants to go potty like big sister, so that might make my job a little easier when the time comes! She is very vocal and surprisingly girly...she has to have a bow in her hair and she HATES bugs! I thought she was going to have a heart attack today because there was a nasty looking bug in the kitchen, but she was alright once I shot it with Raid...




Aubrey, Aubrey, Aubrey...such a complex little four year old. She always seems to be thinking something, yet she doesn't talk to herself like Daddy (I say yet). She is so aware of people and emotions, and I suspect her stomachache over the past few days has been a result of being homesick. She really misses her family and friends. She also misses her pet fish, Nemo, who unfortunately went "belly up" and took a ride in the porcelain throne to heaven a couple of days ago. Thank goodness we found her escaped crab, Crabella, to lessen the blow. Anyway, the boredom has officially set in...I may get pretty good at photography by the year's end...

flexibility

As a teacher, I had to be flexible, often finding new ways to do things (or finding something to do period) at the last minute. I've had a craving for corn since we drove through the endless miles of farmland on the way here, so I thought I would throw some on the grill the other night. Of course, I didn't think about how the girls were going to eat their cob considering I've never bought any corn skewers. I didn't actually think about this until they were slobbering at my heels, but my quick thinking led me to this:




CORKSCREWS SAVED THE DAY!

HOLY FIRECRACKERS!

If I didn't know any better, I would think the little town of Coralville, IA was under attack. This place does 4th of July up big...we attended the town parade this morning, but we're missing the fireworks because Dave got called into the hospital to do a procedure (one procedure, paged at noon, not home yet, it's almost 11 pm). Plus, it gets dark here SO LATE that my children were asleep well before the initial firework launch. However, I am a little afraid they might wake up from the OvErWhElMiNG noise that the festivities are producing! It is crazy loud. Anyway, we had a great day. Aubrey was basically adopted by some friendly Iowans at the parade who helped her score an entire bag of candy and goodies, Addy just ate the candy Aubrey got, we went to the hospital to hang out with Daddy and got to play on the awesome playscape there, and we experienced an Iowa Dairy Queen (not quite the same as Texas DQ's). The girls both passed out at the end of the night, and I am not too far from that myself. :) Here are a few pics of our little FiReCrAcKeRs!!

Cookin' up some fun in Iowa City...

That's right! Dave is now a board certified radiologist after passing his oral exam, and we hit the LONG road to Iowa City last Tuesday. Mimi, Pops, and Uncle Bink came along for the ride (thankfully), and they were a tremendous help the entire time. As if the road to Iowa wasn't long enough, we headed to Chicago on Saturday (along with everyone else who was there for the "Taste of Chicago"). We spent the weekend at the Westin on Michigan Avenue, complete with air mattress and pack-n-play in tow. I'm sure we looked like the freakin' Clampett's, all piling out of my Chevy Tahoe...oh well, it was fun. A few tears were shed as we bid farewell to Mimi, Pops, and Uncle Bink on Monday, but it wasn't too bad since we basically had to kick them out of the car at O'Hayre International Airport. That place is insane. We have survived our first few days, and I am becoming increasingly comfortable with my role as stay-at-home mom. Life is good.