Creative "Nappy Time"

Victoria is usually a good sleeper and usually naps between 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day for me (and stills go to bed by 8:30). However, lately she has started 1) postponing nappy time or 2) skipping it all together. The other day she decided she wanted to sleep in the hallway floor upstairs instead of in her bed. At that point I did not care at all where she napped just as long as she slept - so of course I said yes.
So, she grabbed her Dora pillow and a blanket and sprawled out on the floor. I said good night and came downstairs to enjoy my peaceful few hours for the day. As I was eating my lunch and watching TV I heard little pitter patters across the floor upstairs. I knew that she may be getting in the playroom to get some books or something but she was being awfully noisy for quite sometime. About an hour later I finally went upstairs to check on her because I was still hearing some noises. Above is a picture of what I found upon coming up the stairs...

All of her babies and stuff animals were now sleeping on the pillow and under the blankie! And, as you can see she created her own library of books all the way down the hallway. Needless to say, she did not take a nap that day and I couldn't stop from laughing. She gets more and more creative as the days go by.

Missing Daddy

Well this week has been quite a challenge. John had to leave for Santa Cruz last Sunday for a big Cerner project he has been working on for the last 6 months. From what I can tell he is surviving on Starbucks and no sleep. I think I've talked to him a total of four times since last Sunday!
Me and the girls are really missing him tonight. Victoria has been waking up in the middle of the night crying. When I ask her what is wrong she says, "I'am crying for my Daddy". It just breaks my heart. Not to mention I've come down with some awful cold and cough. In addition, Claire just starting saying, "Da-Da" and "Dad-die" for the first time.

To stir things up even more, John was suppose to come home this afternoon and I told Victoria after naptime today that Daddy would be here. Well, wouldn't you know another node failed at the hospital and he has to stay another night working it out with IBM and the hospital. Try explaining that to a 3 year old. To top it off, tonight before I put Victoria to sleep she says, "Mommy, will Daddy be home after this nappy?" My heart broke it two. I didn't want to say yes in case something else came up - so I simply said, "he should be honey".

Even though I have been sick I tried to keep Victoria busy. We have cooked dinners together, colored, played in the playroom and today we went to her soccer practice. Then, we shared a blueberry scone at Starbucks and went to storytime at Barnes and Noble and played with the Thomas the trains. They learned about the Chinese New Year and made Chinese dragons as a craft. We had a lot of fun...but we will have more fun once Daddy gets home.

What I miss about Texas

Moving back to Dallas has been on my mind for a long time. When we got to Arizona it was super nice. The desert blooms in summer were absolutely gorgeous, the sunshine was radiant and the mountains were breath-taking. However, once we got settle into the rental house things seemed to get a little weird. We still did not know any of our neighbors, the dust started to overtake the house, yard, community and my contacts! Then, this awful smell was hanging around. John kept telling me that Claire's diaper was dirty. I knew it couldn't be because I had just changed it. We finally figured out that the smell was coming from the outside. After asking around we figured out it was the dairy farms in the area (how embarasssing was that).

I also said I was not a fan of stucco houses (I said that before I left TX) but now I am really not a fan. All the houses around here are ALL the same color...beige, tan, or brown - UGH! No more personal mailboxes either. I loved having my own brick mailbox that matched my house. Call it weird but that's what I liked. Not too mention you can hear everything in the house - as if the builder forgot to put in insulation or something? On top of all that, the houses have no storage here. No attics, no crawl spaces and no extra closets or walk-ins for that matter. Where am I going to store my Christmas tree and decorations? And, even though the weather here is beautiful I sure miss my Texas-size thunderstorms, Texas wildflowers, green grass and trees, icy snow storms, and the exciting tornado-watching skies! (That's just the weather freak in me).

I believe for the first six months it felt somewhat like a vacation here - everything was so new, then soon reality set in and I realized that this was for good. Eventually, I started sharing my feelings with John that I wanted to go back to Texas. And the wonderful husband that he is, he said he would move us back...

I love you honey for all the sacrifices you make for our family - I couldn't have married a better person in the whole wide world than you! I can't wait for us to get back to blue bonnets with green grass, pink brick houses with matching mailboxes (and walk-in closets). Oh, and did I mention my friendly neighbors and the Cowboys! :-)

Quote for the week

"Once a Texan, always a Texan!"

Baby Claire and ACDC dancing!

Well the other day I found my old Karoake machine and hooked er' up. Well, for those of you who don't know this, Claire is a dancing machine. (Just like her mommy). As my mom would say, when I was little I would dance to anything - even the washer and dryer! So, we are scrolling through the radio stations and ACDC - Shook Me All Night Long is playing. Well, Claire took off...then later on danced to the Beastie Boys - So What'cha Want! I'll share that later.

But this one is too cute - check out this video of our 10 month old jamming to ACDC (I know it's not the best choice but what can I say, this is the song that got her groovin'! :-)

Theresa's 2005 Top Ten List

After reading several blogs over the past week I have been nudged to post my top ten so here we go: (BTW - New year, new look!)

10. Our family vacation to Disneyland

9. Staying with my mom during our visit to Ohio

8. Victoria memorizing her first bible verse

7. Having John home every night since the move in June 2005

6. Building a new home in Buckeye, AZ

5. Dedicating Claire at Palm Valley Church

4. Me and the girls unplanned visit to Dallas with all my friends

3. Another year of growing in my faith with God

2. The birth of our daughter Claire Elizabeth - February 28, 2005

1. Celebrating another year of marriage with my wonderful husband, John

Wow, what an awesome 2005! I can't believe everything that has happened over the past year. God is truly amazing. May I continue to be blessed and follow his plans for my life in 2006!

Upstairs Laundry Room?

I have made up my mind, my worst chore around the house since being a stay-at-home mom is Dirty Laundry! I swear, the piles never go away! Everytime I turn around there is a pile started on the couch from the night before from Victoria getting "too hot". Then, the pile in the laundry room from John (his personal laundry basket) since being in the rental house. Then, there is Victoria's room, Claire's hamper in her room and the master bedroom with my clothes.

I think the real issue is that the laundry room is downstairs and all the bedrooms are upstairs. Confession: Its been getting so bad that I am now throwing laundry over the mantle instead of carrying laundry baskets full of clothes up and down the steps.

Now it makes total sense why the new house will have the laundry room upstairs with ALL the bedrooms!

The Final...Tah Dah!

If you have been reading my blog recently you would have read how I am addicted to Rachel Ray's Thirty Minute Meals show. This past weekend I finally got a hold of her new cookbook: RACHEL RAY 365: NO REPEATS. Since I have been religiously watching her show our family has enjoyed dinners that I would have never tried on my own such as Salmon Burgers and Ginger-Soy Chicken on Shredded Lettuce. Tonight we had Thai Shrimp with Basil. They all were absolutely "delish" (as Rachel would say)! Now if Claire isn't pawing at my leg or Victoria screaming for Mommy, I can REALLY get them done in 30 minutes or less.

I'm so proud of my dishes that I had to take a few pictures so you can see the results. BTW - John loves them too! Now all I have to do is get that RR Furio Gusto-Grip knife she uses and maybe I can slice off a few more minutes! :-)