Brian's 27

On the morning of his birthday, I was planning to surprise Brian with candles and an ensemble of ward members singing to him at our ward campout.  Alas, the night before it rained with a fury and no one was brave (or stupid) enough to spend the night at the campground.  I was a little bummed, because I was pretty excited about our first camping trip since we've had Scarlett. Oh well, we got great sleep in the comfort of our own home.

Scarlett is obsessed with birthdays, so we all wore the traditional party hats and blew out candles on top of some zucchini bread I had made earlier that week.  Still delicious. Dad opened a present from Scarlett filled with peanut butter M&M's.  Scarlett made this little celebration so fun, Brian mentioned he can't wait for Christmas.  Kids are magical,  because let's be honest, the parties I throw are laaaaaame.

We went out to dinner downtown with a groupon then headed to a classic dumpy bowling lane.  It was so fun.  We bowled in our party hats.  It's not embarrassing if the kids are doing it.

Some festival was going on Downtown.  This was the only free activity.  We made a plate person.

Happy Birthday Brian, Lover.  Our life is pretty fantastic right now.  We are incredibly blessed.

RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI came through Coralville this year, so we decided to go ride the red carpet along with the racers. Alice and I ran behind Scarlett and prayed for Scarlett's survival.  There were a lot of other bikers and walkers and Scarlett doesn't look up to navigate very often, so it was a little stressful protecting her tiny self from crashing or being run over.  She earned a lot of fans and cute calls tho (do you like that? I just made it up-- like cat calls but for babies).

Brian decided to ride a little bit of the course the next morning on the next leg to Davenport.  He had it pretty rough trying to keep up with the riders with his cute little tag-a-long.  Scarlett is getting to be a most pleasant riding companion. 

Alice and I stayed home, slept, and cuddled.  It was terrible (wink). 

My Posterity Doubled

  As every first time mom, I worry.  I worry about when my kid is supposed to be potty trained, supposed to be out of a crib, supposed to still nap, supposed to go to bed at night, supposed  to eat, drink, etc.  It probably makes Brian and other husbands roll their eyes, but I know I'm not alone in this feeling.  Luckily, I feel like my second newborn came worry-free.  I don't have that eery feeling like she's dying if I leave her in her crib alone at night, and when she's acting hungry, I feed her.  I don't count the hours or count the poops, we just go with the flow. We's alright.

Alice basically always goes with the flow

Growing up, you kind of believe that your parents are supposed to be perfect.  That they should handle situations with patience and wisdom and fairness.  The older I get, and the older my girls get, I realize that we are NOT.  We parents are learning as much as the little minds we mold. And unfortunately, most the time I don't know what the heck I'm doing.

Letting Scar run loose at Build-A-Bear

On a happier, more selfish note,  I feel as though I my mom-hood and Natalie-ness have found common ground.  I love the challenges I face daily (and nightly!). I feel pretty awesome when I  come home from doing errands and taking Scarlett to fun places and making it to appointments-usually late.  It takes a lot of work to keep these two alive, let alone travel with them.

My competitive drive is satisfied when I get five loads of laundry done in one day, when I succeed in buying a weeks' groceries, or when I clean my kitchen or get some weeding done.  Doesn't that sound lame?!  These tasks are a big deal when I have to sit and breastfeed a little baby every 3 hours and keep a toddler fed, mostly clothed, and happy (even though she can be soo moody!). It's like my new sport: Time Management meets Loving Care meets Keep Yourself From Going Crazy.  Oh and don't forget: Make Time For Your Spouse.  This one is getting harder; I already dream of the days when we have kids old enough to babysit so we can ditch them and take our time giggling and eating a nice meal and make-out in the car like we once did, ha!

Oh how I miss our long crazy bike rides. Salt to Saint 2012.

Enjoying a nice meal after a practice triathlon in Ogden Valley

Pretty Panguitch.  

Spouse's birthday is coming up.  He will be 27.  Old.  The years have blown by and some days feel so slow.  Its hard to put a finger on what I have accomplished in my life here in Iowa.  Supporting Brian's dream of earning a PhD while I stay at home to support our dream of having a family I guess.  When we go out with all of his aspiring PhD friends, I feel like all I know and want to talk about is kids.  I get bored talking about most other things, probably because my life is so focused on my two baby girls, but I've learned to not feel bad about it.  There will be a time when I can fill my head with new research findings, current events, and politics...but for now I get to be lost in a world of pretend restaurant play, cuddles, and manipulating a 2 year old to want to poop on the toilet.  I'm seriously lucky that I can ignore the weight of the world and focus on little kid's feelings, innocence, and love.

"Mommy, I make Temple!"

Queen Alice

Running her "rest-er-aunt" in the buff