I finished Mariah's room! I realized that this is the first room that I've actually really decorated completely before... it was so much fun (and lots of work), but I think it turned out pretty good and she loves it. She helped me do lots of it too - it was our little project. I just love all the bright colors!
So we went to visit Josh this weekend... and there will be more pictures etc. from that. We went out on our second camping adventure ever since Robbie was born. The first was a complete and total disaster, so it's taken us over a year to recoop and try again. This time was a success, but more about that later.
The drive is a little over three hours from Cleveland to our house. First of all, Robbie was just about all the way better (he had been sick for over two weeks prior) and while we were camping got totally sick all over again. Total bummer. And you want to know the worst of it? (Confession coming...) I was more concerned about myself (mostly my mental well-being) than him! Anyways, so he's super sick and we're driving for what felt like all day long...
We finally FINALLY pull up to our house! I'm tired, trying to talk on the phone, carry in a ton of crap, get the kids inside and say hi to the neighbors all at the same time. Robbie takes off down the street and I have to throw down the groceries etc. to go get him. The story goes on... finally we get in the house.
Problem #1: It smells like crap. Problem/Explanation #2: Mariah tells me that there is in fact crap sitting in the toilet. (keep in mind, we've been gone six days) Problem #3 and #4: I didn't finish doing the dishes or take out the trash before we left... so the house smelt horrible and now I had all this stuff to do on top of bringing everything in from the car and unpacking it... to say the least, I wasn't in the best mood.
Mariah comes upstairs to 'check' on me (I think I had been yelling at the plunger which kept flipping inside out and getting NASTY POOP WATER ON ME!!!). "What's wrong mom?" I told her I was just tired and grumpy and sad that our house stunk. She gave me the best hug ever and told me I could hold the soft pillow she was had in her hands and her 'mana' (her special blanket she sleeps with). Then she wanted to open a package we had gotten from my mom.
She pulls out some fun goodies for her and Robbie and then something for me... magnets for the fridge! (I love magnets!) She pulls them out one at a time as I read them out loud - 'Hope' 'Peace' and 'Dream'.
I smiled and realized that everything will be okay. Talk about perfect timing... thanks Mom.
The kids and I came down to visit Josh for the weekend because he wasn't going to be able to come see us this week with his work schedule. We met in Knoxville (half way between the two) at the zoo to break up the trip.
The kids had a great time. The zoo was so huge that we didn't even see the whole thing! They also had a play area, similar to the museum in Johnson City that the kids spent most of the time in. It was fine with me too because there was air conditioning! It was so hot that day!!
Josh had to leave to go to work, so he left Mariah's carseat under my car for when we got out to the parking lot. I was pushing both kids in our huge stroller up this GINORMOUS hill (okay I'm exaggerating...) and was soooooo hot. I finally made it out to the car and some jerk had stolen our carseat!! It all worked out fine though because we got her a new one and she loves it... but it was just one of those moments.
Here are some pictures from the day...
So I was talking on the phone to Monica, then my cousin Daniel, and then Rashauna (they were all together at the time) and I was in my room. The whole time I was talking I could hear Mariah and Robbie laughing and I could see Mariah running back and forth between her room and his carrying stuff, but didn't think much of it. Robbie was still in his crib from his 'nap' - ya know one those ones where they never actually go to sleep... anyways, so since no one was crying I thought I'd enjoy the time talking to my sisters and cousin.
But then I started hearing other noises. Mariah ran into my room and grabbed my bra and some other clothes... So at that point I decided I should get off my lazy butt and actually go check on them. And this is what I found: (see below) I call it crib craziness. I was laughing so hard and telling Rashuana about it - she said I should take some pictures and I'm so glad that I did because it somehow turned into a total photo shoot... and yes, that is a bra hanging out of the crib.
The other day Mariah starts walking out from her room first carrying her sleeping bag, then flashlight, then toys, books etc. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Building a fort, of course." Sorry, I should have assumed that. So her and Robbie played under the table for at least 30 mintues straight... it was so cute. Mariah was reading him books and everything. For a while they were both laying down together. Then that night, she wanted to sleep under there! She only made through half the night, but she thought it was the coolest thing ever. Here's some pictures.
