Exciting Times

So a lot of things have happened this week, here is a list of just a few.

1. Emma started clapping, and she loves to do it!
2. Emma started crawling! It seriously happened overnight.
3. Emma can now say, "ma-ma" and "da-da".
4. Ava finished another semester at The Little Gym.
5. Ava told us for the first time BEFORE she had to go potty, and held it until we could get to the restroom in the store! Huge accomplishment!
6. I ran my first 5K - which was not a flat course at all - in case anyone cares.

It's been an exciting week, just wanted to share it with everyone.

Christmas Presents and New Year's Resolutions

The one thing I asked my sister to give me last year for Christmas/New Year's was more quality time with our families together. We live 15 minutes away from each other, but until this year have only seen each other on special occasions and/or holidays. This year, I wanted that to be different. I wanted it to be different for me, because I want a closer relationship with her. But I also wanted it to be different for the kids - I want Ava and Emma to know their cousins and be able to spend time with them on a consistent basis.

We both knew that this would take intention on our part, and we would have to make time in our already hectic schedules, but somehow this New Year's resolution has been one that has already come to fruition.

Other things that have yet to come to fruition in the first half of 2009:
1. Life insurance/Will
2. Retirement Fund Started

We still have time...right?!

4th of July

The fourth of July for us is usually marked by a
family BBQ, time in the sun and time in the pool (or fountains, or hose!). This year though, it landed on a Saturday night, which for Michael and I translates into being at the church. This meant our quality time as a family needed to happen before the 2:00 call time.

Keeping all of that in mind, we woke up early and spent the morning in the pool and sun just relaxing! After lunch and naps, we made our way to the church. They did a great job at offering an experience of free food, water bouncies for the kids and a section of the parking lot blocked off to sit and watch the fireworks from the nearby Surprise Stadium. So after two services, we made our way outside to join in the fun.

One of the water bouncies was a giant slip and slide. Michael thought it would be fun to throw Ava down the slide (since she is too small to get the running start like the bigger kids) and this scared the living daylights out of her. She screamed bloody murder! Needless to say we went back to just the regular bouncy!

Not too long after the bouncy experience the fireworks started and we enjoyed the 30 minute show. Ava loved the fireworks. She said, "I want to eat the fireworks Daddy!" I'm not sure Emma noticed them until we got to the grand finale and then her eyes were fixated on the colors.

It was a great day - lots of quality time - and lots of fun!!

New Updates and New Adventures

There has been a lot going on for the past few weeks - so here's the Garland Family rundown:

Ava is little miss independent, with her new favorite saying, "I wanna do it all myself." We're still struggling with the potty training - still trying - but I think it would be a stretch to say we are successful at it! She loves the pool, and has the tan lines to match. She's still doing really well with Emma, almost too well at times trying to hold her, which means more often than not attempting to pick her up from her head...yikes! We've introduced her (I can't even remember how) to chocolate milk, and she LOVES it. Although I'm not sure of a kid who wouldn't. It's a fun treat for her to have once or twice a week.

Emma is getting so big so fast. I swear it goes faster with the second. She is now 7 months old, sitting up on her own, rolling all over the room and beginning to show signs that she is ready to crawl. I don't think it will be long before she will be chasing Ava all over the house! I am beginning to question whether or not she is a little behind developmentally on her speech. This is likely because her sister is talking non-stop, and saying things for her, so we're trying to work on that. We're trying to spend quality time just with Emma talking to her and reading her books. She's getting there - there hasn't been a "ma-ma" or "da-da" yet, but they'll come soon enough. She's in week 3 of swim lessons (she took a week off because her instructors were on vacation) and is now rolling on her own from her stomach to her back in the pool. It's very nerve racking to watch, but also very exciting. We're working on speeding the whole process up because she does take her time getting from her tummy to her back - but she isn't upset at all once she does make the shift. She's eating real foods every day - and loves them way more than her bottles. Sometimes you can't get the food in her mouth fast enough - she's crying because she wants more! Soon enough she’s going to be running around chasing her sister, it won’t be long.

Michael and I are doing well. I began training to run my first half-marathon in January (there I said it - now I'm committed!). It's been hard, but good. Running is good stress relief and good time with just me. Michael is still following his workout plan, working out 4 days a week. He’s in the best shape of his life! I’m trying to catch up to that. He still loves his truck and is continually looking for more things to enhance it. It all just takes time…and of course money!

That’s the Garland Family update for June in a nutshell! More to come soon!

Realization

This last month for me, for us as a family, has been all about realization. On many fronts this has been a harder month that usual, but we have come out of it stronger and closer to each other than ever. Don't get me wrong, when I say, "harder month than usual" I'm not referring to home life, but to work life. Lot's of changes, long meetings and needless to say: personal growth. However, I really believe, deep down, it’s God's way of giving us the realization that there is so much more to life that what we get caught up in during the everyday grind.

This month has been about realizing that there has to be balance between long work weeks and quality time spent with the kids.

Realizing that I love Ava, I love her so much I'm willing to set boundaries and limits for her. After all she's two - and we all know what that means - I don't have to explain it!

Realizing that I love Emma just as much - enough to get up from my desk - even in the busiest of days to try and go feed her a bottle. Recognizing that there will come a day that this will no longer be possible.

Realizing that I love my husband more than anything - I would do anything for him - no questions asked. He blows my mind every day.

Recognizing that Father's Day was filled with business (or should I say chaos at work - thanks to a car show) and lots of happiness; but also sadness. Sadness because an icon in my life, my father, is no longer here on this Earth to celebrate. That just hasn't gotten easier yet.

Needless to say, this month has changed me (us) from the inside out. We are now much better at prioritizing what's important - and recognizing that 99.9% of the time -it doesn't come in the form of a paycheck.