And the award for most neglected blog goes to...Confessions of the Chromosomally Enhanced!
Again.
Ugh!
We are so sorry. It's not that we don't love the blog - we love it with ever fiber of our being. It's just that third trimester fatigue, coupled with two energetic toddlers, on top of two weeks of solo parenting thanks to a husband's hectic business travel schedule, etc. etc. etc...means that any remaining "free time" (oh how this concept is lost on me), is usually spent in peaceful slumber. That is, if "peaceful slumber" is defined as tossing and turning and getting up to pee every 10 minutes.
Please accept this extra long blog post with tons of photos as a token of our sincere apology.
Guess who graced us with a sensational visit last week: That's right - Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne!
Aren't they the cutest?! And I think we can see where Merryn gets her dimples!
Oh what fun we had! The Divas were reunited and as always, it was apparent that neither time nor distance could impact their treasured bond.
And we all know that grandmas are at their happiest when they've got armloads full of grand kids to love and spoil.
We were fortunate enough to get some nice Tundra-spring weather which we took full advantage of at our local parks.
We also got right down to business nesting in preparation for the arrival of Baby #3 next month! I asked Travis to bring up the bin full of infant stuff. He emerged with FIVE bins full of infant stuff. Hello, my name is Elizabeth and I am addicted to dressing up my little girls like doll babies. This is my daughter, Merryn. I anticipate she will need a similar 12-step program someday. While Mama Hop was benevolently sorting and hanging infant clothes, Merryn stumbled upon some preemie diapers and quickly swiped them for her dolls. Dolls, whom I might add, are subjected to hourly wardrobe changes. Yes, it runs in the family.
But in all seriousness, I am SO grateful to Mama Hop for tackling this project for me. Most days I am completely overwhelmed by the standard demands of caring for two toddlers and a household while fighting through pregnancy fatigue. Finding the extra time and energy to do this with rambunctious tots underfoot was beginning to look like a pipe dream. Thank goodness for grandmas who step in and save the day! Now Baby Number 3 will be adorned in outfits properly hung in a closet; not haphazardly fished from a Rubbermaid bin. Thank you, Mom!!!
Meanwhile, Leanne got to cheer Josie on during physical therapy. Until Josie's own personal transportation butler comes along, she's going to have to keep practicing getting into and out of the car independently.
And as always, Mother Hen was right there making her baby doll practice climbing into the car seat.
Merryn's doll has rigorous physical therapy sessions twice a week right alongside Josie. Merryn is quite committed to ensuring that her doll conquers her gross motor goals.
But just as we work hard, we play hard, too. We set aside plenty of time for leisurely trips to the park.
It's so nice to have an extra set of hands to help wrangle kids at the park.
At one point I asked Aunt Leanne to keep an eye on Merryn. Little did I know what an exhausting assignment that would be. Aunt Leanne is about as athletically inclined as Miss Josie is, but she did her absolute best to trail our little hurricane and protect her from harm.
It's a good thing Mama Hop was back at the condo preparing a hearty dinner for us after all that fresh air and exercise! Look at her! Doesn't she just need her own cooking show?! Call us Food Network! We promise delicious food and a hefty helping of humor!
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and so we were forced to say goodbye to Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne. And as sad as it was to see them go, we are comforted by the fact that we'll see them again soon...
...very soon! Next month, in fact! And just in time for the World's Best Aunt to welcome one more niece into her loving arms. What a lucky little girl to have these charming chicas eagerly awaiting her arrival!
Let's hope little lady #3 enjoys a good hug fest!
Aunt Leanne said the sweetest thing to me. She was telling me all about her birthday plans (yes, it is completely typical for Leanne to start planning her birthday festivities months and months in advance) and she said the best gift she will receive this year is my baby.
As I reached to wipe the hormotional tears from my eyes, she amended it with "...and Tic Tacs and Starbucks cards. I want six Starbucks cards."
And that, my friends, is the innocent candor that we've all come to expect from the one and only Aunt Leanne! Oh Leanne! Here's hoping while I'm wandering around in a post-partum sleep-deprived haze, you're toasting the good life with your favorite Frappuccino!
