One parenting lesson I’m learning right  now and that so many others have learned before me is that weekends aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.  Now that my lil’ munchkin is growing into a healthfully defiant 2 1/2 year old, weekends tend to throw a wrench into our well oiled routine.  We wake up Saturday morning with the highest of hopes for a nice respite from the busyness of the week only to be pulled abruptly back down to reality.

The past couple of months Eva just cannot handle the change in routine a weekend brings.  She is so happy to have her Daddy home, and I am so happy to have her Daddy home so he can take care of her, and I can get a little bit of a brake but it just doesn’t work out that way.  Our toddler NEEDS routine and does not do well when it is disrupted.  This leaves me feeling resentful that my husband is home on a weekend?!  WTF?! 

As far as letting Daddy do the usual routine things like taking her to the potty, getting her dressed, brushing her hair.  She will have none of it.  Daddy is not for taking care of me!  He is for playing with me!!!

All of this disruption in her routine makes her a very grumpy little girl.  Crying and throwing a fit over every little thing.  Daddy tries to do something like say get her dressed, she will have none of it and start crying, mommy steps in to try and work some magic, she starts crying even harder “I want my Daddy!!!” 

This reminds me of how I used to be when I would come home from being at a friends house all weekend.  Now I know why my dad would tell me.  “If your going to be so grumpy when you get home I’m not letting you spend the day at a friends house anymore.”    I totally get it now Dad.  Just what you always wished for right?

Maybe the real lesson I’m learning (over and over again) is that life with kids is an ever changing process.  Nothing ever stays the same for long.  I used to look forward to weekends…now I look forward to Mondays.  Go figure.

photo credit: Chelsea Peterson (go check her out on flickr)

What would a Modern Mommy do without a Modern Daddy?  I know I could not live without Eva’s Daddy aka my husband Chris.

• He set up this sight for me and maintains it.
• He comes home every night from a long day of work and for the most part takes care of Eva the whole night.  Usually even giving her a bath and getting her ready for bed.
• On top of that he cleans up after dinner every night.
• I’ve never had to touch a lawn mower or weed whacker in my life because he does all of it.
• He humors me as a I order him around outside telling him what shrub to cut and what not to cut while a lay back on a chair and get some sun .
• He takes Eva somewhere when I need a break.
• He loves our daughter and would do anything for her.
• He loves me and would do anything for me.
• He has an incredible sense of duty for his family and is a great provider.
• There are many more reasons why I love this man and could not live without him but I can’t list them all here.

We love you honey, happy early Father’s Day!

Did you hear that at Old Navy this Saturday you can get tank tops for $2 a piece?!

Hope you are having a Fantastical Friday as well! Remember to tell the Dad in your life how much you appreciate him!

She technically wasn’t born until 4:50 p.m. but close enough right? Last year was such a whirlwind of activity that I didn’t have a lot of time to get sentimental about it but this year I can’t stop getting all mushy and teary eyed. I am trying not to dwell on the sadness that is connected with this day. Even though it is the day the world was blessed by her presence it was also the day her first mother followed through with her heart wrenching decision to relinquish her. I have so many questions for this woman I have never met. I only have a picture of her and I can see her everyday when I look at Eva. Imagine if I am having all of these emotions what is it going to be like for Eva? I don’t want every single one of her birthdays to also come with a little bit of sadness.

Two days after Eva was born I sat at my dying Grandmother’s bedside asking her to put in a good word for me with God. We had been waiting for a little girl. Little did I know she had already been born. Thank you Grandma. I miss you.

The 8 month old baby that came home to me is all but gone. She eats normal food, feeds herself with a fork and spoon, drinks out of a normal cup, can turn off and on lights, opens doors, can undress herself, communicates her needs, tells me what she wants to watch on t.v., runs, jumps, climbs, occasionally uses the “big girl potty.”

She’s growing up so fast. I was writing down the things that she loves in her journal the other day and basically broke down crying thinking about the fact that the time until she is old enough to read it will come quicker then I could ever imagine. While I was sitting there on her bedroom floor watching her pretend to feed her dolly, her whole childhood flashed before my eyes and suddenly I was looking at a 16 year old girl. It was, well, terrifying.
Enough gooey mushiness. Here are some pictures.

At two weeks old

With daddy before her birthday party

Striking a pose

Best part of a birthday

The only picture with mommy of course.