This week

This week has sure been fun, interesting, tiring, exhausting, exciting - all at the same time.

My dear dear friend, Sami, came to visit. She is living in Dubai and I maybe see her every 3 years :-) So she came into town and we spent a few days together. It was so great to see her! Made me see how lucky I am to have true friends who are there NO MATTER WHAT and forever! I have some great friends who I can call up, see, write, or facebook and we pick up right where we left off. Jessi, Sami, Katie, Charlotte, Laurie.... I love you all so very very much and know that I can always and forever depend on y'all! Thank you!

Anyway - so we went shopping, to a baby shower, and the most exciting thing to me - CHURCH! It was my first time since Lulu was born to go. I was very nervous since she has reflux and is sometimes fussy after eating - I didn't want my first time going back to be alone. I could just imagine it being a catastrophe :-) (I think that'll come tomorrow when I really am alone). So it was great to have her go with me! It was just all in all a WONDERFUL visit! I am making room for her now so she can come and live with me and stay forever ;-)




Another fun thing that happened this week - Cy fell ... climbed (ha!) head first out of his crib. My sister was here, visiting, and it was right then that I decided we needed to move him to a big boy bed. At 10 pm at night. Yeah... fun stuff. We set it up but after 30 minutes of him screaming and us doing the "Super Nanny" technique of no talk, back to bed. We decided it was too much for him. We then took his crib apart and took off the front bars - so now he has a toddler bed in his crib. He went down around 11, but was woken up around 12, and got to bed at 2:45 am. It was a LONG night for my sweet hubby. He let me sleep (I know - soooo sweet of him!!).

Tonight was night #2. It was just as bad. He and I went back and forth for over an hour. With Lulu refluxing and screaming as well. That was a LONG hour! Daddy came home and took over from there. Of course after 10 minutes with daddy, he was done and went down. Too bad daddy can't be home at an earlier hour and just do bedtime every night ;-)

Cy has been a very hard child to deal with lately. I think terrible twos is upon us, and with changing him to a toddler bed - he wants paci more (which have been taken away), and is testing EVERYTHING I say! I say "don't push your friend" and he walks up to his friend and puts ONE finger on him. UGH! Timeouts are in full swing. I just need to learn to keep my cool a bit more. It's hard with a toddler misbehaving and a newborn refluxing and exhaustion all at the same time. But I look at this as a perfect time to practice patience ;-)


How can I NOT find strength when I see my 2 children side by side, and Cy loving on her?!

Also something wonderful happened this week! The temps, which have been in the 100's for weeks, fell to 85 degrees!!!!!!!!!! SOOO to celebrate - Cy and I went with some friends to the park, first time in over 6 weeks! Yay! It was so great! Still sweaty ha - but wonderful!

LOVE my moby! Gives me so much freedom to chase Cy around!!

Anywho - I am exhausted but had a great week, full of highlights - both bad and good :-) How was your week?

Those that Wait

The more I am a mom, the more I understand .. well, I better understand, God and how He must feel or how I treat Him sometimes. I also understand our relationship as Daughter and Father. Everyone knows that my relationship with my dad is strained - so this new-found trust in this relationship leaves me yearning for more. To understand more. To know more. Also with the last few months of becoming a mom of 2 and trying to figure out WHO I am as a person and who my friend are, where I stand as a Christian, and a wife.... I want and need His guidance. For I want to be the best person that I can be, the best mom, the best friend, the best wife. And I believe the only way for me to better myself is to grow a stronger relationship with Him.

Anywho - I downloaded a daily Bible verse thing onto my iPod and today's was Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait (Rely) upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Wow! Any mom right now, who is exhausted, run down, "at the end of her rope", or had a crazy day with tots or kids going back to school - will understand this "wow" :-) I am told that if I rely on the Lord, that my depleating strength will be renewed. As I read that tonight - I was amazed at the Lord's mercies. If only I will rely or wait on Him. Lean on Him. Go to Him - I will be renewed. And at this moment of time in my life, that is exactly what I need. What a great promise from Him. Leaves me feeling safe and secure, that my FATHER is willing and wanting to give me strength, to help me - if I will only rely on Him. I picture myself standing with Him behind me and FALLING back into Him - with complete trust that He will catch me and hold me. Definately leaves me with a smile for tonight :-)

Friends

I find myself asking lot of questions lately about friendships. One labeled who their friends are as: one who gives them things (snack, best dinner, invite to party). While that made sense to me a long time ago, I find myself definition of friendship maturing. Changing.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201002/what-makes-true-friend

This was an interesting article that I read. It made me think about what I thought defined my friends ...

1. Being there for each other, through thick and thin. Whether it's easy for us or not.
“A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain than to have to watch their friend suffer.”

2. Being a good influence - bringing out the absolute best in each other. I was once told that you become the 5 people you spend time with the most. Surround yourself with people who have your values, beliefs, goals, attitude, whatever is important to you - for you will start to adapt yourself (whether you notice it or not) after them.

3. Choosing the correct time for everything. There is a time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to fight, a time to play, a time to support, a time to critique. There is a time for everything. I believe a true friend will KNOW when those times are and not "force" something hard on one when that person is already going through hard times.

“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.” - Gloria Naylor

4. Being there FOREVER - no matter what!! I have many friends from past lives that I will forever and always cherish! I will forever and always think of them as my dear dear friends. They will always have a place in my heart. And some of them, I've had disputes with and arguements with - yet through it all, whenever I see them (every 4-10 years ha) - we love each other, care about each other, and want to help each other.

“A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.”

5. Trusting in the best YOU, even when that best isn't always showing. Or in my case, messes up from time to time ;-) With my pregnancy - I had a lot of hormonal craziness and there were many who stuck by me and dealt with it... understanding that it was temporary. Because they trusted the real ME. That even when I make stupid mistakes, I overlook things that might hurt others, say things at the wrong time - a TRUE friend will give me the benefit of a doubt and automatically be able to say: "That is SOOO not like Sariah, she is not that type of person, let's see what's going on".

“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.” - Donna Roberts

Those are just a few things that I find define friendship for me. It's not what one can GIVE me in monetary ways - but what they can give me emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Being there for me, trusting me, loving me, supporting me, helping me to become the best me I can be.

I have a few other quotes that I just loved so will share them as well :-)

“You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your 'friends.'”

“the best relationships--friendship and otherwise--tend to be those where you *can* say anything to the other person but you don't say *everything*.”
Audrey Beth Stein

“True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” - Gentry

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”


I still have a long way to go, to be a great, TRUE friend myself. While I am defining "friendship", I am also taking notes for myself. I want to be the friend that I want in others. Like Ghandi said: Be the change you wish to see in the world. And while on this search for a definition... I am humbled at my truest friend - God. While I complain or feel sad at times for people mistreating me - wow! How often do I mistreat God? How often do I forget to "text" Him and don't talk to Him "for days"? How many times have I taken things from Him, without giving anything back? Perhaps the first friendship/relationship I should work on - is that one. Through my work with Him & our relationship, my other relationships will also strengthen and I will be able to be the truest friend possible...

5 years and Counting

Thursday marked DH's and My 5 year wedding anniversary. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by!!! And I cannot believe how much MORE I love him now than I did when we first got married. Something about going through trials, 2 kids, jobs, school, stress, vacations, fun times, weddings, family stuff, ect - that just brings people closer together after all that time.

I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband! While marriage is hard as heck at times (No one ever told me that when I was growing up... and I refuse to sugar coat it for others - it is hard and at times feels almost impossible - BUT WORTH IT!!) anyway, it's so hard and takes a lot of work, prayer, dedication, and patience. And I am so blessed to have a husband who is WILLING to work as hard as I do on this thing called marriage. For without 2 people, walking down the same path, with the same goal in mind, and same values - marriage would not work. We are both dedicated to making a life with our lovely family and it makes a difference!

Dear sweetie - thank you so much for the last 5 years! Thank you for working so hard, and having so much "fight" in you!! You have been through a lot in your life, and I am touched and in love with how you will go through ANYTHING to give your wife, and espcially your kids, everything you never had. I love that about you! I love your dedication to this family and to how we want to raise the kids - with me at home, making a home and you working, showing Cy and Lulu - through example, what we think a family should look like. It's not easy at times, but we get through and at the end of each day, I find myself smiling and extremely HAPPY with where we are at as a family, as a couple, and as individuals. I love you beyond words!

Here's to another 5 years and BEYOND

10 things I've learned with 2...

So my friend, Jessica, just wrote a blog about the 10 things she's learned in 10 days :-) She just became a mom of 2 as well - and I enjoyed reading it sooo much, that I thought I would steal her idea ;-) Thanks Jessica ;-)

It's funny, as a mom of 2, so much changes and for all those mamas who are going to be a mom of 2 soon - enjoy ;-)

1. Never say "This is Easy" - HA! That was my mistake the first 2 weeks of Lulu's life. "Oh this is easy... I can do this" - because it just gets harder. Week 3 was tough and this week has been even tougher. Right when I think I am getting into the swing of things, God throws another obsticle at me and I gotta readjust me whole way of thinking, breathing, doing... all over again!

2. Laughter goes a LONG way!!! - I just have to laugh during the day. If not, I will have tears half the time. Ok, maybe not half the time... but when I am running my toddler to the toilet while poo is falling from his tushy - yeah, laughter is definately the way to go. My friend, Erin, gave me a paper with advice and one was "A toddler laughs 300 times a day - strive for that". So that's what I now read every day and I now strive to laugh, 300 times a day

3. ENJOY the new baby! - With Cy, I was so worried about his jaundice and breastfeeding, and changing him, and sleeping patterns, and and and. I never got to ENJOY him like I would have liked to. With Lulu - I am enjoying every MOMENT with her. They also come so far and few between, what between caring for the house and toddler. So I am SOAKING up the Lulu-Love and enjoying those sleepless nights more than I did with Cy. Because it goes so fast and will be gone SO soon!

4. Clean as you go - I have never been one to clean as I go. I let the dishes get a mile high, and then decide that it's time to clean them all at once. Laundry was meant to be done 7-8 loads at a time. That was back then. Now with 2 - I clean as I go. I have to keep dishes done, I must do 1 load of laundry each day, and it is crucial to take the trash out on a daily basis! Otherwise, I get behind and it's very hard to catch up

5. Support is so important - I stole this one from Jessica ;-) But it is so true! With Cy, we lived with my mom for the first 2 months, so I had a ton of help! I got to shower and rest and relax during the week. Cy got to be held and be loved by all his family members. My mom cooked dinner each night and would help clean my bathroom. It was amazing! With Lulu - I am on my own. I cook my own meals, and Cy's. I do not have time for nightly showers, and the kids don't see family as much as Cy used to. I expected a greater support system this time around, it being #2, but got less. Just makes me notice how important support really is and how much I took it for granted when it was just Cy

6. You can chase a toddler to the bathroom while feeding the baby - Ha! I've gotten good at chasing Cy, while nursing Lulu. It's hard but not impossible. You know what's harder?? Cleaning up pee off the floor because Cy ALWAYS needs to go RIGHT when I start nursing... so problem solved! It might be tough, look ackward, and be weird but it gets the job done! And at this point - it's all about survival for both kids ;-)

7. A little crying never hurt anyone - I don't think I ever let Cy cry as much as I let Lulu cry. Of course she cries a lot lot lot more than Cy too because of her reflux. But With a toddler, I cannot jump to Lulu in a moments notice - she has to wait at least 30 seconds to a minute (no! I'm not talking about letting her cry for 5 minutes). Same with Cy - he falls and gets a booboo - well, you gotta either come to me or wait a few minutes until I am free to kiss your finger

8. Friends are crucial - With Cy, I never had any friends, never went to playdates, never really left the house. But now, with a toddler and new baby, I am starting to see how crucial friends are! And how much I need real friends more than ever! I need someone to be there through the thick and thin. I need someone to hold my hand and be so loving and kind - to help with Lulu while I run Cy to the bathroom (Thanks Maria haha). Friends are so important

9. You can sleep when you're dead - yeah, this is self-explanitory ;-) I'm too tired to explain - ha

10. Most importantly, Trust God!!! - I find myself praying a lot more now. And not just to ask for strength or that Cy poo in the potty - but in praise & thanksgiving too. God has given me such a beautiful family - i trust that He has a plan for all things & even when things are overwhelming - that He will never give me more than I can handle! From day 1 of potty training, I sat Cy on the potty & we asked God to help Cy, to make him comfy & not nervous. While some might not believe this - i firmly believe that God has helped this potty training go so well & I will continue to pray with Cy each time we are having a tough time. Also, Lulu's every 1 1/2 hour feeding at night - is a great time to pray & meditate

Poo, Pee, Pardon Me

This week has been full of poos and pees all over the place :-) While talking to my dear mom a few weeks ago, she remembers: "I never had a conversation with a fellow mom that didn't end in some type of conversation over bowel movements of our toddlers/babies" :-) And so it begins in my life - that is all it ends in - lucky for my friends/siblings with no kids, they don't get the same "ending" conversation ;-)

I'm not gonna lie or sugar coat - being a mom of 2 is hard. I've had some things going on in my life too that has probably drained me more than I needed, some of which I am fixing - so that I can have all the energy possible to handle a potty-training toddler, husband in the middle of Back-To-School CRAZINESS, and refluxing newborn. But yeah, it's hard, and each day just proves that it gets harder. First 2 weeks - hard... then came the 3rd and 4th week - even harder. Yikes! Come talk to me on week 10 and 11 ;-) I might be hiding in a closet somewhere at times. While it's hard - it's super fun and gives me so many funny... well, funny to YOU (not to me at the time) stories. That's what being a SAHM is all about right? The stories? HA!

Monday - That was a fun day! I have noticed Cy getting more and more needy... or "into" things, while I feed baby girl. She has to eat every 1 1/2 hours and then be held up for 30 minutes so she doesn't spit it all up, so a lot of my time has been spent on her (yes, take my first posting about schedules - and LAUGH at it... kids NEVER follow schedules - EVER! I am laughing at my own ignorance about that one). So within 5 minutes here is my life: Feed Lu, Cy proceeds to dump and smear juice ALL over the floor. Get Lu put down, clean up Juice and Cy. Sit down again, start feeding (while a sweet, innocent boy looks on... just being quiet and ADORABLE). Moment she is feeding again - I hear dryer open, wet clothes being dumped on the floor and see Cy run into the living room, grab some cars - and hear BANGS into the dryer (cars being thrown into the dryer). Oh dear. Choose my battles... I do not yell or get mad b/c he's not breaking anything.... yet ;-) 2 minutes later - he runs in, plays in his box and I see brown spots - yep, POO! He had a blow out and it was getting EVERYWHERE! Sit sisa down, change screaming Cy while Sisa Lu is also SCREAMING from hungry - all the while I am screaming (only in my head b/c WHAT would the neighbors think if all 3 of us had been screaming?!). Yes - that was a FUN 5 minutes of my life.... FUN FUN FUN ha.

So Thursday, dear Lisa came over to bring lunch, goodies for Lu, and meet Lu. While here, I had to feed Lu. Got up and Lisa noticed that I had poo all on my shirt, pants, boppy, and Lu(I won't talk about how FAST Lisa got up to run to the kitchen and wash her own hands haha) but I proceeded to wash Lu in the sink - getting rid of her blowout which went all the way up her back, to her neck and to her belly button... and let's not even TALK about her legs. Poor thing. After that whole craziness was done - I went to change Cy and who had a blowout? Cy! It was all in his pants, down his thigh - yeah. It was in that moment that potty-training seemed even more magical and dreamy than ever before.

Friday - Had to take both kids to the doctor. Cy for blood work, Lu for check-up with her reflux, to make sure she was gaining weight and get some help/relief for her. 1st off - my sweet chunky monkey gained 1 1/2 pounds in 12 days... she is now 10.6 pounds (oh dear!) - jumping from 70th percentile, to 96th percentile... such a fatty. She will be going on a diet immediately! ;-) Get into the room, I drop my makeup and half of the powder breaks and falls onto the floor. I proceed, in my incredible genius mind - to give Cy the makeup because, well, I already droped it so what's the harm? I say "Here Cy, play with this so I can take care of Lu with the Nurse... just don't drop it like mama did"... what does he do?! DROPS it... the rest of the powder goes EVERYWHERE and then he SITS right in it and starts throwing it around. Ha. The nurse and I both scurry from Lu to grab Cy and clean up the HUGE mess. After appt - we head down for Cy's bloodwork. NOW - let me tell ya, taking a 40 pound 2 year old with a 4 week old hungry newborn to get blood - NOT a good idea. I had to hold Cy, put my legs around his legs and hold him down for the bloodwork (NOT an easy feat - I lost at least 1/2 a pound from all the fighting with the poor guy) - all the while Lu is SCREAMING with Cy, but because the chunky monkey is hungry and not happy about being in the seat. Yes, the 2 nurses, after taking Cy's blood proceed to look at each other and say "I think my one is enough... 2 is just too much... yeah, I'll stick with 1 kid" haha - sorry ladies :-)

This is all within a week. Love my stories?! I do!!! While my heart is getting a workout, from all the stress and chasing of a 2 year old. I am loving every single minute! I am overwhelmed a lot, completely exhausted out of my mind, and longing for quiet time - but I love it! I love my little family, I love the adventure, and I love that I am never, ever, EVER bored ;-) Now to just control the stress and learn to let the "small" things go... I'll be a lot better.

1 month - No eating out

As part of our financial make-over, we have decided to try an experiment :-)
We love eating out, but it is also one of our biggest down-falls with budgeting. SOOOO we decided that for 1 whole month - we would not eat out! No eating out, unless it's from our "fun money" from our cash system (which is usually gone after play dates and such).

We set up a calendar by our door and we check off each day as it passes. It is a constant reminder of our goal, each time we leave the room - we see where we are going and aiming for.

We are on 2 day and going strong ;-) Today was hard, since it was Ash's first day off for the week - and I have a feeling after a while, it will feel second nature to eat at home for all 3 meals. We didn't eat out a ton, but it was nice to eat out maybe 2 times a week & grab coffee once. So this will be interesting :-)

My next project -
If looking at a calendar reminds me of our financial goals, I should also put up Bible verses, to help me also remember the most important parts of my life.