Traveling Man

David has been traveling a lot lately. Indigo has been great and we've spent time with Auntie Leigh and Scousin Leighton and his family. And I have inexplicably gotten hooked on Grey's Anatomy. Why I like it, I have to idea. None of the characters are particularly compelling, there is NO way real life docs spend so much time with patients, or do the procedures they do (but nurses do the procedures and they rock). Oh, and two doctors on a date, drinking wine wind up doing surgery on the guy that has a heart attack at the next table! Remind me never to need surgery at that hospital. They operate drunk! Ha ha. 

Our team did community service today instead of being in the office. It was fun and we got out early. So I ran my car to the dealership to check out the low tire pressure light. They recalibrated the pressure and it should fix the issue, if not, it is likely the indicator and that is under warranty. The service manager paid me the nicest compliment a while back so it's kind of fun to go there. Is that weird? I guess it is just fun to feel special. 

Then I picked Indigo up just as she was waking up from nap. I took her to the library for the first time and she loved it. We went in time for story time. I think she was the oldest child there and I'm fairly sure she was the only one not at home with a parent. They sang a few songs, and the librarian passed out books that we each read to our kids. Indigo was confused that she didn't read the stories, but she said that with a lot of babies in the room it made more sense to read individually. Which was fine. I might go back if I have an early day again. I can see how fun it would be if she didn't go to daycare to interact with other kids. That's kind of how I feel about the Children's museum. I could see a group of moms meeting every week for some group play and down time, where the kids can entertain each other. I like how much she learns at school every day. We came home and she led "class" and we worked on letters for a while. She's a lefty, I'm pretty sure. So we should probably figure out how to help her make her letters correctly and not end up dyslexic or something! 

David should be home soon. I think his plane just landed. This flight was too far past her bedtime to go meet him. He loves when we do that, even though his car is actually at the airport. I know it's silly, but it's the little things, right? he told me not to come this time and  I believed him, so hopefully he's not too disappointed I'm not there.

The Heat is on

Yep, summer is definitely here. It has been above 100 for the last few days. I just try to remember that by August I'll be used to it and it won't be a big deal. Ha ha. Is it too soon to count the days until October?

My mom came and we went to Disneyland again. We're crazy. David got a bonus and we had such a good time when we went in October. It was fun again. We took our time and didn't feel the need to fit everything in, which was nice. Indigo's favorite ride was Pinnochio. We did NOT wait in the 3-HOUR line to meet Anna and Elsa, so that was nice (she wasn't aware this was an option - so glad she's 3 and not 5 or we would have needed an extra day!). We did meet Tinkerbell and she was very sweet to Indigo. But Indigo was definitely testing boundaries and we got a glimpse of how kids can melt down in the happiest place on earth. Sometimes it is just a bit much. So, we learned we'll wait a few years before going back.


David's grandmother passed away in May, so we took a quick trip to Utah and saw his parents and other family. It was nice to see everyone and remember grandma.  St George is beautiful. I love the red rocks and David definitely feels home there. If only we could find jobs there!

My cousin irrigated his yard last weekend and invited us over to play. Indigo and her little cousin had so much fun playing in the water! They played for over an hour, pulling each other on the boogie board and throwing pine cones. Who needs Disney?!

I almost forgot! I retired from coaching. I had been thinking about it for a while and it just felt like time. I was not having enough fun to justify being away from home on Thursdays. I has been about a month now and it has been nice to have the time back. It was only one night a week, but we would all eat out that night, and at least once a month I would need a babysitter because David had a dinner that kept him late. I'd pick her up from daycare and head to the baby-sitter's. We love the family and they love Indigo, but I felt bad being away from her the entire day. Maybe I'll coach again one day, but not right now. So, in case I never enter a gym again, here is my last remaining skill that I can execute reasonably well!

Lud-A-Byes and Horseys

Lately, Indigo thinks naps are optional (they are not), so I started getting creative on the weekends. A few Saturdays ago, I offered to sing to her. So, to the tune of "rock-bye baby," I sang: go to sleep, little bug, and when you wake up, we'll go to the park, and we'll swing, And we'll slide, and so on. So of course now anytime she goes to sleep, she needs a "ludabye." And I always have to say "go to the park." And after I finish, she sings to me while I lay on her pillow and hug her kitty. AND, I also made the mistake at bedtime of giving her a horsey ride on my back. Our floors are laminate over concrete and my poor old knees cannot take it! So I tried to just give a piggy-back, but she would have none of that. So David, in his awesomeness, offered to be her horse. So now, every night when it's time for sleep, she says "horsey, take me to bed!!" And he carries her to her room and we tuck her in (with aforementioned ludabyes). 

She had a great Easter. She loved her basket and hunted for eggs in our living room. I suppose I could have put the eggs outside, but she didn't mind. And David thought that I didn't make her a big enough basket, or have enough eggs to hide, but after a few minutes of her hunting, he realized I had gotten it just right. She wore her pretty dress to church and after her nap we went to Auntie's house and played in the pool and we had a great dinner. 

Saturday she did not nap at all. David did his western martial arts class (sword fighting) in the morning and then came home for a few hours before working at the theatre that night. While he was home we colored eggs and then she was supposed to nap and basically tore her room apart for an hour instead. So it was a long day. I managed to wrangle her to dinner at Culvers, because she wanted ice cream and she almost fell asleep while we were eating. But I have to say, even at her "worst," she is still pretty awesome! She is not whining as much as she was a month ago but she does still try to get her way most days. So we do a lot of distracting and making her think something is her idea do she will want to do it! Usually, she says "my grandma says yes, so I can do it." Hard to deny her something when that is her reasoning. 

Life is good, I am blessed. 

Every Day

Every day is a gift and a fun new adventure. Indigo is so sweet and kind. And she doesn't miss a thing, if we tell her something, she will remember it days later. She loves all sorts of Disney movies, My Little Pony, and sunglasses (obviously!). 

She just sparkles with her personality. Everyone loves her and wants to bear near her. My aunt took her for a weekend, just because! It was nice to have some grown-up time. It was nice to have two nights to hang out and sleep in. We are very lucky to have family here. 

I just love seeing what a fun little girl she is becoming!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bug!

I can't believe 3 years ago I was in a hospital room trying to comprehend how much our lives were going to change with the little 7 pound beauty that entered our world. She has been such a joy and the years have just flown by. She had a great birthday. We had cake at my aunt's house and she opened presents. I hope to post the videos soon. Her teacher made her a crown and we went to the park after school. When we left school, all her old classmates wee on the playground and they all said "hi Indigo!" And were so happy to see her. It's so cute how close all the kids are and how much they seem to like her. Proud momma!

Our life is so full and I am so happy. We love you, little bug!

Hello Again!

Wow, hello. It's been a while. Life has been good here. The fall went by really fast. My sister came with her family and then my mom came and we went to Disneyland. Indigo was a dream. She waited patiently and only had one meltdown after which she promptly passed out in the stroller. She was mesmerized by World of Color  and she and I rode the tea cups more times than a woman my age should.

Christmas was quiet. We were all a little under the weather. I'd like to just move past January and declare that 2014 started on 2/1/14 this year. We are going low-key for her birthday this year. She has been invited to 3 parties in the last week. I'm glad she has friends, but I just don't see the point in having a big party that she won't even remember. We have many big parties to come so I'll hold off as long as she will let me.

She moved to the 3's room at school with Miss Kim. She loves it, although I think it's been a little tough to transition. There are more rules and structure but she is getting used to it. We come home and she plays "school" and I am her class. She is tracing letters and can count to 12. Past 12 gets a little wonky.

Oh - and Frozen! How could I forget her first actual obsession? We are talking Elmo times 1,000! We sing the songs in the car, taking turns singing Elsa and Ana's part. She dresses up like Elsa and pretty much loves everything about it. Go Disney! The Blu-Ray is on order.

I cannot believe she's been in our lives for 3 years now. It has flown by so fast. She is such a neat little girl now. Full of questions, ideas, opinions. It has been a challenge to parent the way we envisioned we would before she was born. Reality is always different that the imagined but we do have certain rules we are trying to enforce while still letting her make choices. Does that make sense?

My goal this year is to blog more. I'll do my best! Happy Birthday, Indigo!

I Miss Autumn

September is probably my least favorite month in AZ. In my brain it is the month of back to school shopping, warm days and cool nights and watching for the first leaf to fall. In Phoenix, however, it means 109 degree days and still very warm nights. Halloween is really when it starts to get nice. That is probably why it is such a big holiday here. Everyone is out celebrating the season change and kids can wear costumes that don't have to be fitted over snowsuits to go trick or treating! But that is still 2 months away, so I must be patient. 

Last week, when we asked Indigo what she wanted to be for Halloween, she said "Tangled Princess." This week, however, it is all Tinkerbell, all the time. So we'll see. Either will be cute. I need to figure out if I have to coach that night or not. My one class is full of 6 year olds - and I imagine they will be heading out door to door and won't want to come to the gym. The Xcel team also practices. They are older (for the most part), but that means they have lives and those lives might include some sort of Halloween activity. So we'll see.  It would certainly make things easier as a parent if Halloween was always on a weekend! 

David and I went to Jerome, AZ this weekend. We had a nice time. Lots of funky shops to browse in and we had a beer lunch and a wine tasting. We stayed the night in a little inn and drove home on Sunday. It was nice to reconnect before work and life get busy this fall. Indigo had a great time with Auntie Leigh and family. They love her so much and she has such a great time with them. 

I am declaring Indigo officially potty-trained! She had one accident while brushing teeth about a week ago. I think she just couldn't switch gears fast enough when she realized she had to go. And Monday she had an accident in the morning at daycare. She was not happy about going to school because she hadn't seen us much this weekend, so we didn't make her go at home before leaving. That was a mistake! But overall, she is doing really, really well and I don't miss the diaper stage AT ALL!

Our most fabulous tenant is moving out this week. She found a bigger house to rent for her last two years of med school. I am so sad! She did help us find a new tenant. He's perfect and the lease starts on the 1st. The only problem is, he hasn't paid the deposit yet or sent the lease back! I'm trying not to freak out, and I know we can still rent it to someone else (maybe not until October at this point), but he could at least let me know if he's changed his mind! Or, he's all set and packed up and just hasn't sent the lease back and hasn't spent the energy to assure me that he is still coming. I'm hoping that is the case! We are getting the water heater replaced tomorrow - it rusted out and we are putting in a new patio door. So it should be very nice should this guy move in. 

We think our next door neighbor walked away from her house on Monday. She had told me previously she was trying to sell, but was likely more underwater than we are. I don't know what will happen to her house. Another neighbor is moving out this weekend also. He was living free at his sister's condo, doing work on it, but now she's decided to rent to a paying tenant. So 3 new neighbors next month. Should be interesting!

That's about it for now! I just wanted to write a post because my friend just had a baby on Saturday! Hopefully this will give her something to read quick between feedings and diaper changes and playtime with her 2-year-old! Congratulaions, T! 

(p.s - I can never find the pictures that get downloaded to the computer. I need to start filing new ones. So this post is text-only tonight!)