Florida Trip

We just got back yesterday from spending a couple of days down in Stuart Florida visiting with Aaron's family. His sisters and his Mom were able to come down from North Carolina so it was very nice to be able to see everyone.

So we left on Wednesday and everything started ok. We got to the airport and through security with both girls without any problems. We were flying out of Austin with a layover in Tampa and then to West Palm Beach. Well when we were at our gate I saw on the screen that our flight was now delayed an hour and a half which meant that we were going to lose our connection in Tampa. There was another flight going direct to Ft. Lauderdale that was leaving on time, at the same time our flight was supposed to go so we were rushing trying to get into that flight. If we did not make it into that flight and kept our original flight it meant that the next flight from Tampa to West Palm Beach was not going to be until 9pm which meant about 5 hours in Tampa. With both girls that sounded like a disaster so we were very eager to get into the Ft. Lauderdale flight. Luckily we were able to change flights and things were looking good again.

Then we got into the plane and the girls were in good moods. The plan was to give them lunch on the plane and hope they would take their nap afterwards since it was naptime. Izzie was sitting around and playing, Natalie was fascinated looking out the window. Then we started leaving the gate about to take off and Izzie went nuts. We have no idea what happened but she freaked out. She was screaming and throwing herself around. She did not want to be held and was trying to get our of our arms. Both Aaron and I were trying to console her but she was irrational, just screaming. She cried (screamed actually) for about 30 minutes. She finally calmed down and took a little nap but it was not long enough. She kept crying and being really fussy. As time went by she got more used to it but she was not happy to be on the plane. Given all this commotion Natalie did not sleep but she did great coloring and watching some cartoons.

We landed in Ft. Lauderdale and Aaron's dad and his stepmother were there to pick us up. Our bags made it and we were very happy to be able to have had a direct flight. Not sure how Izzie would have done with the connection but now we had that to look forward in our return flights.

For the next couple of days we just hung out and enjoyed visiting with everyone. The kids had lots of fun in the pool. It was a little chilly for south Florida but the pool was heated and the kids did not seem to mind. Natalie was a little cold but she still went in and had fun. Izzie was insane for the pool. We had to keep our eye on her because she wanted to go swimming all the time. The girls enjoyed visiting with the cousins. Natalie really enjoyed playing with Rachel & Sarah and Libby & Abby. Natalie was not shy at all and was giving out hugs and kisses all around. Izzie was a little more reserved but she did ok. It definitely was a lot easier now with Natalie being older and being able to understand more so I am looking forward to when Izzie is Natalie's age. Hopefully we will be able to travel more and it won't be so difficult, especially considering how far apart all our family is.

On Sunday afternoon we went for a walk on the beach to collect sea shells. Natalie was very excited to pick them up and was walking around and running in the sand. I was very happy to see her more comfortable in the beach. When we went to Puerto Rico on August she refused to walk on the beach because she did not want to get her feet dirty by the sand. Izzie was scared of the waves but given that she is less shy than Natalie if Natalie over came her fear I am sure Izzie will too.

Yesterday was our flight back. We had a 6:30am flight out of West Palm Beach with the layover in Tampa again. We had to get up and leave for the airport by 4:30 am! We woke up and got dressed, packed the last few items, loaded up the car and picked up the girls and put them straight in the car seats. On the plane Izzie freaked out again but she quickly fell asleep and slept the whole flight to Tampa (about 40 min) and then slept through the layover. She woke up as we were boarding the plane to Austin. I was afraid she was going to freak out again inside the plane but she actually did very well, the nap must have helped. The girls were awake for about the first 30-45 min but then they both feel asleep and the slept the entire flight up until we started the descent into Austin. So not a bad flight in the end.

On the plus side of having such an early morning flight was that we were home by 11am. They were so happy to get home. Natalie ran inside to kiss Parker and Abi. Then they both ran around and I think they pulled out all of their toys. They had toys everywhere but they were so happy to be home. They took good afternoon naps and today we are back to schedule.

Izzie has been a little fussy. She has a runny nose and some coughing but no fever. We are not sure if its a cold or just teething, I thought I felt a molar coming through so we will see. She is doing much better today since Natalie is in school and she can rest a bit more than if Natalie was here.

Now today and tomorrow should be interesting since Aaron had to go on a business trip and left early this morning to catch a flight to Atlanta. He comes home tomorrow night but the girls won't see him until Thu morning. This morning when Natalie asked where he was and I told her he was not coming home for a couple of days she asked me "Mommy cooked dinner?" and I told her yes that I would cook dinner for her tonight and she responded by saying, "No, daddy come home cook dinner". I guess she know who the cook in the family is!

Here are some pictures from the trip.

Izzie loving the pool




Natalie was very happy to see Aunt Becky


Izzie was trying to be in the noodle all by herself




Natalie & Aunt Jenn


Natalie & Libby







Sarah, Rachel & Natalie

Happy Three Kings Day

Growing up in Puerto Rico we always celebrated Three Kings Day. In Puerto Rico today is a holiday so it is weird here in the States since it is like any normal day. Aaron and I (mostly me, Aaron just follows along ) have been trying to keep the same traditions for the girls we had growing up. So we always celebrate Three Kings Day too. Last couple of years Natalie was too little to understand so this year I was excited that she was more aware of what was going on and I tried to explain more to her what today is. So to keep up with tradition last night we took the girls outside so we could cut some grass to put in a box for the camels (we used to leave grass for the camels to eat, kind of like leaving cookies for Santa). The girls had no idea what was going on but Natalie played along and tried to cut some grass. We had told her the Kings were coming tonight and that they would bring presents but we had to put some grass out for the camels. As soon as the word presents was mentioned she was up to anything.

This morning she woke up and came downstairs and I guess she must have looked in the shoe box under the tree because she came in our room and told me the grass was all done. When we put the presents under the tree last night I took the grass and put some in the floor and along the walk to the front door and outside in the driveway so the shoe box was mostly empty. So then Natalie said that the camels came and ate the grass and brought her presents. Pretty funny how she was thinking that it was the camels, not the 3 Kings that gave her presents.

So Natalie again was very excited to open presents. Izzie has lost interest in present opening so Natalie pretty much opened them all. Izzie wanted to play with the toys not waste time opening presents. But then Natalie had to go to school and Aaron had to go to work so it's back to a normal day. Although Izzie is pretty happy to be playing with the new toys without having to share with Natalie.

Here are some pictures:

last night cutting the grass





Izzie opening presents






Natalie opening her Pluto. She was very excited and wanted to bring Pluto to school with her

Cheers!

I don't remember if it was when we sat down for dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas day but we had our wineglasses and we did Cheers! or Salud like we say in Puerto Rico. Anyway the girls got a kick about us clinking our glasses. Natalie wanted to do it too with her sippy cup so we clinked our wineglasses with her sippy cup. Izzie just watched and laughed. Well after that meal we now have to do Cheers at every meal. With water glasses, coffee mugs, soda cans, whatever we have. For the first couple of meals Izzie would just watch us but after a few times she got the hang of it and now she joins in too but they want to do it over and over again so now we do it once and then we have them do it with each other. At first it was Natalie that initiated it. She said she wanted to do cheers, but last night Izzie was screaming and swinging her sippy cup around. We had no idea what she wanted until we realized it was that we had not done cheers yet. She was happy once it was done. They are goofy girls!

Happy New Years

Happy New Year! We are very excited to start 2009. The girls are getting so big so fast that we can't wait to see what 2009 brings. It seems like 2008 went by way to fast. It is amazing how things change in just one year. Looking back at this time last year we were in our home in North Carolina with no intention of moving. Natalie was a little over a year and a half entering the terrible two stage, Izzie was a tiny little baby just 2 months old. I was about to start my leave of absence not knowing how staying at home full time was going to be.

Now just one year later, we have moved to Texas and the girls and the dogs are all settled in. Natalie is almost 3 years old, she is potty trained, sleeping in a big girl bed and talking nonstop. She is not a baby anymore! Izzie is trying to catch up to Natalie badly. She is walking, actually she runs now. She dances and has started to talk (more on that later). She loves whole milk and all kinds of food and she loves to feed herself (more on that later too :-). I survived a year staying at home and Aaron is enjoying his work at Dell. We miss NC, all the friends and family we have there but we are starting to make some really good friends in TX so it is starting to feel more like home. So we are very excited to see what 2009 has to offer and we are looking forward to watch the girls grow up and all their new adventures. Although I am a little sad to see that my babies are growing up.

We have been spending the holidays mostly at home. We had a great time with Sue and we were sad to see her go. Hopefully she will come back next Christmas. Natalie keeps talking about Grandma so I know she misses her. Natalie has been busy playing with her new kitchen. She plays with it all day long, making us foods and now she has started feeding all her stuffed animals too. So cute watching her play. Izzie is trying to play along but she does not really understand the whole pretend food playing. So she tries to eat the play food and when she can't bite it or it does not taste like food she looks at us like we are nuts. She is starting to realize that we are just faking it but she still takes bites and tries to drink from the cups.

On some exciting news Izzie has started talking. Natalie was a late talker so it is amazing seeing and hearing Izzie talk. It is funny because she is so little to be running around and now she is talking, amazing. Here are the words that she knows: apple, help, papa (for parker), abu (I think she was trying to say Abi but Abu came out first, either way my mom is very excited), abi (she later said it right ), up, milk. It seems like every day she repeats something else. The funniest is when she says help. She says help for anything that she wants. Like help is the magic word that gets her whatever she can't reach. She is starting to become more independent too. Today for dinner she wanted a yogurt, because Natalie was having one. But she did not want me to feed her. Needless to say she made a mess. She gave up on the spoon and was putting her hand into the container trying to grab the yogurt with her hand and then trying to eat it. I had to take some pictures!

Well I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve we hope to see you all in 2009!

I was trying to get some pictures of the girls in their new dresses from Titi Nilda but Izzie was a little cranky. Thank you Titi Nilda for the dresses!


A blanket and a paci made things better for Izzie


Natalie then wanted pictures with her kitchen


Natalie playing.....


Izzie likes the pretend fruit


Coffee and sandwich time for the animals.....


Lillian came over to play so the girls had a little tea party


Izzie trying to eat the yogurt with a spoon


moving on to use her hand


what a mess, although in the picture you can't see the yogurt in the hair......