What have we been up to?

Seriously, I realized it's been a month since I posted anything, so here we go!

Rafael decided that his goal in life is to single handedly destroy my house and every belonging we possess.  He takes every book off the shelf and scatters it around the room.  He finds every single toy we own and puts it in a new spot that is more to his liking and most likely to kill me as I trip over it.  He plays in toilet, dog, and spilled water with equal parts abandon and glee.  He climbs on everything!  Couches, stools, anything with steps, they are all fair game for this little daredevil who tries to kill himself every other second!  And then he smiles his little smile and just DARES me to be angry with him.  Little stinker.  On the plus side, he is still a super happy kid, and he can communicate!  I love that I can ask him what he wants and he will get up, walk across the room and show me.  It is so much easier!  And he dances.  All the time.  Every time a song with a fun beat comes on he starts to shake his little booty.  He is so cute!

Michaela decided that her goal in life is to disagree with every single thing that I say and to yell no at me every single time I ask her to do something.  She has also taken to climbing on the top of furniture and sliding off of it.  Not cool.  I am working on a chart for her, because being the optimist (or delusional crazy, whichever title you prefer), I'm hoping this will cure all our discipline problems!  On the good side of things, she is completely potty trained!  She started potty training herself (I kid you not, this girl is awesome) before Christmas, and throughout the past month has not only weaned herself off of daytime pull-ups, but in this past week has also started sleeping in underwear.  It is so nice not to have to worry about 2 sets of diapers!

I've been doing pretty good.  There was alot of crazy drama with my MOMS Club that happened at the end of December that simultaneously caused half of the club to drop out and me to become President all within a couple of days.  It has been a really tough month trying to pull everything back together and move forward, but as the dust starts to settle, I feel really good.  I discovered that I am stronger than I thought I was, and am proud that I stuck with it.  My strong friendships were strengthened more than I could have imagined.  I realized that I can depend on these women for anything, and that they will always be there for me, through thick and thin.  They have seen me at my best and at my worse and they love me regardless, which is worth all of the craziness that happened.  And I truly wish the same for everyone that left.  I hope that they find or have already found a group of women who will support them and love them through anything life throws at them.

I've also been getting healthy.  I have been going to the gym every single day (and sometimes twice a day!) with a friend, and have been eating healthier.  I've only lost 5lbs, but I'm down a pant size and I feel really great.  There is something to be said about knowing that I am taking care of my body and teaching my children the importance of being healthy!

That's all we've been up to!  Now I'm off to contain the little monsters running loose in my house!

Ghosts of New Year's Past

4years ago I had a crazy, drunken, smooch filled New Year's Eve befitting my age and childless newly married state.

3 years ago I was pregnant with Michaela and exhausted all the time.  I slept through New Year's Eve.

2 years ago Michaela was a baby, we were still co-sleeping, and I was exhausted all the time.  I slept through New Year's Eve.

1 year ago Rafael was a newborn.  I was exhausted all the time.  I slept through New Year's Eve.

This year I have an almost 3 year old and a 1 year old, and even though I am still exhausted all the time, they both sleep glorious 12 hour nights.  I figured if I was ever going to actually stay awake during New Year's Eve, this had better be the year, before I get pregnant again.  And so I invited 2 of my sisters over and spent the night drinking wine, watching Love Actually, and hanging out with the 2 women who I never have to censor myself around.  It was a great night, and the perfect way to bring in the New Year (finally)!