We are HOME!!

There's nothing like coming home after being away for a few days. We survived our trip home. Our trip there, Piper slept the whole way and Allisyn cried most of the way. She was mad about having to be in her seat. We had to stop along the road to change her diaper. A highway patrol stopped to make sure things were ok. She waited until we were just past the midway McD's to say she needed changed. When we got to my aunts she was so wired she didn't go to sleep until after 2am. It was great.

Saturday was a day spent with Pap-paw at Great Grandpa's. Alli had my dad crawling around and playing "where's pap-paw" with newspapers. Allisyn definitely has her Pap-paw wrapped around her little finger. Of course pap-paw and great grandpa were enamored with Piper. They have this endearing quality of just sitting and staring at their grand daughters when they are infants.

Sunday we had a small shower with family and friends. We got our double stroller!! We put it to use at the Tulsa Zoo yesterday before we went to Michael's parents. It is nice to have! We survived dinner at Michael's parents. They have really cleaned up their house. The changes are like they had been visited by Clean Sweep. Seriously, it was a shocking. I no loner have the excuse of their house is too messy as a reason for us not going over there.

Our trip home started out as unpleasant. Piper screamed until we stopped just before getting on the turnpike. Then screamed all the way to the first stop on the turnpike. She finally fell asleep at that stop and they both slept the rest of the way. Today was spent recuperating. Michael goes back to work tomorrow and I'm sure Allisyn will be upset, but we will get through it.

We are off!

For the weekend. To see our families. YAY!! Right? We are praying the travelling goes well. Piper does not like the car so we are leaving at night hoping she will sleep.

I should be helping Michael get the car ready.... I'm doing that now.

What was it like?

To have somewhat normal sleeping habits? I'm not even sure I remember when the last time we had normal sleeping habits. Here lately Allisyn has been waking up every morning with Michael at 5 or so. This morning she was up before him at about 430. Then she will stay up for a while and then go back to sleep. Sometimes sleeping in until 11! Of course naps are just about unheard of and if they do happen, they usually happen later than we want and on our way to somewhere. I'm not the kind of mom who will try to keep her exhausted child awake, and yes we have tried using Benadryl to help her sleep better at night. It doesn't seem to help her much.

Piper, on the other hand, sleeps GREAT! We might have periods of night that she wants to be awake and needs company, but she sleeps in nicely in the mornings.

I know I need to try to get us on a better schedule. But right now Allisyn's sleep patterns are so off and it leaves me so tired it just hasn't happened.

We made it out alive!!

We did really great at the Omniplex! We started off the morning to a less than wonderful start. Allisyn got about 5 1/2 hours of sleep. She woke up when Michael got up when Michael did and did not get back to sleep. I was working really hard to keep her awake. I went with knowing that we may not last long because she did NOT get much sleep. I almost lost her about the time when we got off the highway, but I pulled her out of her sleepy state by telling her we were going to go play. Piper screamed the whole way there.

Thankfully we got there and Allisyn was wide awake and ready to go play! It was really nice with 3 moms. We had 3 sets of eyes on our three 2-year-olds, and everyone could relate when we had to nurse! It was a good time. Allisyn passed out soon after we left and headed for home. Piper even slept on the way home. It was the most peaceful car ride I've had in a few weeks!

This morning Michael was getting Allisyn dressed so they could go spend the day together. He brings her in some pink capris and needed help trying to find a shirt to go with it. I told him, it wasn't that hard to find a shirt to go with them, but if he brought a few I would help him out. What did he bring? A bright orange shirt with red lettering. A dark brown shirt with blue glitter lettering and a yellow shirt with pink lettering. I gave him a look that must have told him what I was thinking, because his response was "I really don't get it." No Michael, you REALLY don't get it! At least he tries though. He did do her hair on his own! After 2 botched attempts, he got her hair up in a pony tail. I don't think it will last all day since she wouldn't let him put clips in it, but I was impressed!

I'm braving it tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be my first time out with the girls by myself! Not counting running to the post office to drop my phone off today. Tomorrow we are meeting some friends who also have 2 girls. Their oldest are a few months older than Allisyn and their younger are a few weeks and 2 months older than Piper. We are going to the Omniplex! I'm excited and nervous and flat out scared. Luckily the moms I am meeting can totally relate!

Other news, I got out on my own for the first time tonight. I was gone about 2 hours. Michael and the girls survived. Allisyn had a meltdown and Michael got to experience both girls upset in his arms in the chair. Allisyn ended up falling asleep. She is still asleep at 15 til 8. I just pray that she either stays asleep or if she does wake up, she goes back to sleep when we go to bed. Not holding my breath on it though.

4 years, 2 weeks, and being a big girl

Yesterday Michael and I celebrated our 4th anniversary. Piper also turned 2 weeks old. We celebrated the day by going to the zoo as a family. Piper slept in the sling the whole time. We still need to get a better one. The one we have offers absolutely no back support, but the good news is she did really well with it!

Allisyn is growing up way to fast. Yesterday she put her sandals on by herself. On the right feet. She didn't have any coaching at all. She put them on then brought Michael his shoes because she wanted to go play outside. Another thing she is doing that momma is just not ready for...riding the carousel at the zoo by herself. Michael said she did it the last time they went together, but I got to see it for the first time yesterday. She does really well. I was surprised the people let her since she doesn't quite make the height requirement, but they encourage her. It really is a precious sight as she tells me every time she comes around that she is on a tiger and dad is on a monkey!

Last night Michael and I got to do something we haven't done in over a year! We got to go see a movie! Allisyn stayed with some friends that we swap baby-sitting with. We took Piper with us. She slept through most of it. For some reason we never tried to see movies when Allisyn was tiny, so we weren't too sure what to expect. We didn't have to leave with her at all! It might be something we try to do more often!

Today is Michael's first day back at work. We had a rough night last night so I hope he has a good day. Luckily for me, it meant we slept in. Michael of course doesn't get that option. His alarm goes off at 515 regardless. So far our day has started out well! Allisyn has had a few moments of wanting dad and not wanting mom to help Piper, but she got over them quickly. Hopefully the rest of the day goes as well!

We survived

We had pictures done today. It was a great time. Allisyn decided she didn't want anything to do with her sister. We got one picture of them together.

Allisyn was trying to get away and Piper was through with pictures

Our other family shot is in my profile.
Isn't she precious?
Allisyn got to help put the flowers in the basket. It was sweet.
Pretty girl! The poor lady really had to work to get Allisyn to smile.
Beautiful eyes!!