Who am I?

Ha ha, wouldn't you all like to know?!?!? No, really though. I am a simple person. I live with my husband of almost 6 years, The Teacher in Illinois. We have two amazing kids who are 19 months apart in age. (Our daughter was a surprise baby) Z-man is our wonderful 4 year old son who is full of energy, smart, and adventurous. He absolutely loves preschool (despite some bad days) and adores his little sister. Princess M is our little miracle. She is 2 1/2 years old and crazy to say the least. She is our accident proned, loving, shy girl. When I say accident prone, I really mean accident prone. We have already sustained a broken leg (from tripping over her own two feet), some stitches (once again falling over her own two feet and landing on a toy), and some glue to cut a wound (once again falling over her own two feet) Yet, despite her uncoordination, she is adventurous and loves to try and keep up with her big brother.

The Teacher is a high school English Teacher and football coach. (I dread the months of June-November, only because it means I lose my husband much of the time) He recently got his masters degree and I couldn't be prouder. As for me, I am 27 years old. I work part time as an optician assistant and am a full time mom who cooks, cleans, does laundry, wipe tears, cuddles, and gives much love to my two children.

We also have two dogs who were our first babies, but since the addition of our children have taken a back seat in the attention department. They love bedtime because that means they gets lots of extra loving. Our Lab, Grace, is 7 years old and full of medical issues. She has a lot of ear infections and is amazing allergic to grass and pretty much the outside. Yet she loves to lay in the grass and play outside. Go figure. She is usually medicated with Benadryl to help. She is overweight but only because of her need to be protective of the kids. Our Beagle, Daisy, is the graduation gift that keeps on giving. She is our rowdy active dog. She is just full of energy. The kids love to chase her around the yard when it is nice out. She is our cuddler. The minute you sit down, she will find a way to get on your lap and curl up.

We love much about where we live, but long for a bigger house. Unfortunately with the housing market being crappy, we make the best with what we have. We have wonderful neighbors and a big yard and the house fits us for now. Hopefully by the time the kids enter grade school, things will be looking up.

So that is us. Simple people who cherish all that we have been given, but are always looking for ways to improve.

A 2 year old with an attitude

Raising a girl has been very different. Z-man was an easy baby, started his terrible 2's on his first birthday, but quickly outgrew them. He would test his limits, but when we told him no, he would move on. Granted we had to tell him no A LOT, but he would move on. Princess M on the other hand is a handful. From the day I found out I was pregnant, she has been very dramatic. She was a difficult baby, crying many nights for hours on end, never letting anyone other than me hold her for practically the first 6 months of her life, and now we have entered the terrible 2's. Thankfully, we have just recently started on her terrible 2's, however they have come in with avengence. When she is doing something she is not supposed to be doing and you tell her no, she yells and screams at you. She will hit, bite, kick whoever is disciplining her. We do the whole time out thing, but she's 2 1/2 and I am pretty sure it enters one ear and exits the other side and at no point gets processed. She is a kind, loving, gentle child when she wants to be.

If she has such an attitude now, I am fearful for the teenage years. I am pretty sure I am going to want to ship her off to boarding school. I kid of course, but ask me in a few years, I may no longer be kidding!