One Crazy Week

We having been trying to get into a three-bedroom apartment within our complex for a VERY long time. The rent is not that much extra and their is a lot more space. Plus, we are considering adding another child to our family and quarters start to feel pretty tight with child/children around (as most of you know). Additionally, I have a low tolerance for clutter and mess so that adds to my need/want for a larger place to live.

So, after weeks of haggling with the landlords they finally allowed us to switch apartments. The only catch is that we had to be out in 8 days. And three of those days were a planned cabin trip that we really couldn't and really, really didn't want to miss. So we went to the cabin and once we got home, we have been packing like maniacs. Two evenings and one day later, our entire apartment is packed except for the few items that we really would need for our last days here. We received the keys to the new place this evening and the big move kick-off starts tomorrow at about 11 a.m. Larry was fortunate enough to be able to take the day off of work and I only have to attend an am meeting and then I get to home -- And then the fun really begins!. We are lucky to have flexible employers.I think I have been running on pure adrenaline this week because I feel like crap and yet I keep going and going, packing and cleaning away.

The next kink in the plan is that all three of us came down with a nasty cold this week. Great timing, huh? I have a bad case of laryngitis and no almost no voice at all. Aha! But that cannot stop me from rambling on and world called the Internet. I have been using tons of Zycam-ing and Emergen-C so fingers-crossed these will help shorten the duration of my cold.

Odessa has been taking the move way much better than expected -- I didn't want to traumatize her with all our belongings being boxed up. She LOVES to help unfold the boxes and put things in. She also has been using the boxes to build forts, towers, and tunnels. However, in my effort to make the move a positive thing, I think I may have gone overboard. More about that on a later post. I have to at least attempt to catch a couple hours of shut-eye tonight.

So anyway, wish us luck!

Big Girl Panties

Although far from potty trained, we got Odessa her first big girl panties. They didn't have princesses in her size so we ended up with Elmo and Minnie Mouse. Very cute and she is happy and excited to have them!

I never thought I would hear myself say...

"Odessa, princesses don't use their wands as weapons"

Odessa, 2 1/2 years old

I thought I knew what people meant by the "terrible twos"... But that was before I had a 2 1/2 year-old of my own. Some days are awesome. She is beautiful, silly, fun, sweet...all those wonderful things. Then some days are not so awesome.

Here is an example:
wake up, cry because I didn't let her play with the oatmeal before cooking, begin eating, cry because she has a blue bowl instead of a green one, throw bowl on floor, ... (continue this pattern for ten hours)...

It is one, big all-day meltdown. It really reminds me of when she was a super-colicky new noodle, I don't know what is wrong or how to fix it. It doesn't appear that their is any rhyme or reason to the madness. I try to change what I am doing so to give her more (stop cleaning and start drawing or doing puzzles) but it really doesn't seem to help anything. It is like she needs a padded room or a tranquilizer. Just kidding!

Oh, the drama. But, despite all of it, I find myself melting with love for her. That has to be the biology behind procreation. You just love them so much that you want more! Even when life is totally insane.

She just keeps growing and learning and it all happens so fast! She knows all her ABS's and most of her 123's. She counts to seventeen (we have seventeen steps which lead from our apartment to our garage). She pulls down her pants and goes "potty" on her own. But, as Larry said, she just can't put the diaper back on! :) I guess this means it is time for pull-ups or panties or whatever the next step is in potty-training. She gets in bed with her books when she is sleepy. She repeats EVERYTHING which is a big lesson for me that I say some phrases way too often (ex "I'm too tired!"; "Lar!"; "Sit down!")

Current obsessions: princesses, Elmo, the movie Mama Mia, ABBA music, pockets, hearts (as in the Valentine kind), glue, temp tattoos...