Well, it's been quite awhile since I blogged! I've just been so out of it and busy with the holidays and Molly...whew!
Anyway...we are all doing well. We moved in November to a 2 bed/2 bath condo in Carmichael (down from our huge 3 bed/3 bath condo) to try to survive (financially). WE LOVE OUR NEW PLACE!!! The girls now share a room and so far that has worked out well. I think they like it (or at least that's what I'm telling myself) and really, they are still so young to even care. The condo is laid out much more condusive to our life. They can play in the living room and their room and I can be in the kitchen doing what I need to do and still see them. The place has a small pool, so we are really looking forward to summer and swimming every day! We'll have friends over, too and I hear that not many people use it (maybe just one neighbor with her 3 kids) so that will be nice not to have an overcrowded pool. Also, it's right at the bottom and around from our stairs (we live in an upstairs unit that backs to a park...beautiful view). I've gotten pretty organized here..still working on it...getting rid of lots of stuff that we just really don't need! It's amazing the stuff you think you need...but really, you don't.
Alyson is growing so tall!!! I think she has had a few growth spurts in the past 3 months. She's already 43 1/4" tall and 43 lbs. Her hair is still crazy curly and wild...She has had two haircuts in the past 6 months. She can write her name now and has shown interest in reading (she pretends to read her books which is great). She is such a great big sister to Molly now (which is a huge relief for me..such a huge turn around from last year where I was litterally going crazy and almost going to seek medical attention for my anxiety and stress). She is a protector now and has a lot of fun with playing with her (most of the time). In the morning, I find her reading or playing games and talking to her sister while she is still in her crib (they try to let me sleep a little bit). She's very much looking forward to Kindergarten. I went today to place her in the Home School in our area-Starr King...which is not where I would like her to go. I open enrolled her for Deterding (better school) but I won't find out until March (lottery system...fingers crossed!!). I've also been looking into California Montessori Project (tuition free charter) and some other options just in case. Wherever she goes, she will do great and I will be an active parent and plan to help and participate in her education as much as possible. :) I am enrolling Alyson in her first gymnastics class at Fliptastic (new gym in Carmichael right down the street from our new place). She had a trial class and loves it. She also tried out preschool Cheer, and enjoyed it, but it's just too disciplined for that age group...she had more fun in gymnastics. She was in a little fashion show at Nordstrom (Galleria Mall) with her friend, Sierra. She was such a little HAM walking up and down...so funny! Also, as you might see in the pictures on the shutterfly share site (link below), she has this funny fascination with manequinns....she loves to go hold their hand or give them a hug...too silly!
Molly is doing well. She's 17 months old now and she started walking last month (late bloomer) and now she never crawls. She loves her babies. She signs many things as well as says it when she signs...like more, all done, milk, drink, eat. She doesn't like taking naps...ever, but she eventually goes to sleep...I put her down and she stands right up and I just have to leave the room. Sometimes I hear her cry for a couple minutes, other times she just lays down...I think she's finally getting it...it's nap time...lay down. :) She can be very stubborn (wonder where she gets that??? haha). She has lots of teeth and continues to get more..she loves brushing her teeth with her big sis and even mimicks when Alyson spits in the sink...she spits, too...it's pretty funny.
Mike is, as always, continuing to work hard for us. He's gone quite a bit, home a little more than usual which is nice. It's slow time now, but his manager said she will keep him busy because he helped out so much over the holidays (and he is the senior driver....on the fleet now for over 7 years). He's gotten a cold 3 times in teh past 2 months...poor guy and can't sleep that well lately and his back is hurting him a lot more. I am hoping he can talk to the doctor about that when I make his appointment soon for a Vasectomy (yes, he is going to go through that because we are done having children). Maybe they can help him with his other ailments.
I am busy with the kids mostly. I'm trying to get into a better routine in our new place to work out (mostly in the afternoon when I put the girls down for their naps)...I've joined sparkpeople.com, a motivational website for weight loss and other challenges and joined on that site a 12 week Biggest Loser Challenge. I'm on a team with 4 other ladies (GO RED!) and it's just a nice support and keeps me on track and motivated with my weight loss efforts. I've been busy, too, selling on Ebay (find me on Ebay user name angel_girl222). I sell whatever I have laying around that we don't need. My recent sales were some old maternity clothes and other clothing items. Mostly I sell kids clothes that Molly has outgrown. I'm saving all of my ebay $$ for hopefully a trip to Disneyland this year for Alyson's 5th Birthday and Molly's 2nd Birthday!!! We really want to go for a few days!!!
Mike and I celebrate in June our 5th Wedding anniversary. We would like to take a getaway for a couple of days, but we will see how $$ is....we should file our bankruptcy case in April or May (have to pay attorney fees first-saving up for that) and get all our paperwork in (which is almost done).
2010 should be a better year for us! We are looking forward to a good year, and are thankful for our family and friends!
Oh...and I must mention because I am just so excited....my Best Friend is GETTING MARRIED!!! YAY!!! Kirsten and Dave got engaged a bit before Christmas and I can't wait to celebrate and help and just be there! WOOHOO!!! :)
Please visit our Share Site with pictures!!! :)
http://heathfam4.shutterfly.com/
