To Do To Do

Days are all full to the max each day with all kinds of things. Feed baby, get breakfast for everyone (usually one armed), eat (with one arm) while holding baby, get school going for both girls, straighten kitchen and maybe squeeze in dishes (at times with one arm) while holding baby, send Keirah on to make her bed and straighten her room as she finishes school first, teach Aliyah's new math concept for the day, followed by Language, and everything else. By the time we get to writing and spelling, I am usually hoping to be able to put Noelliah down for as long as she will allow. If so, then I hurriedly put on make-up and get hair fixed. She may or may not wake up before that is over. Continue by getting Keirah's clothes out and Aliyah's, check on Aliyah's school progress and see if she needs help.

Next, work on other odd items that need done...address birth announcements, change a diaper, feed the baby, dust the furniture, check the mail, work on the checkbook, help with bed-making if Keirah had trouble, if she allows put the baby down to sleep, go put out yard patch and water the patch that has already been put out, write thank-you's, and then realize we are starving. Aliyah will have finished her school work so get them ready and then figure out lunch. Make a trip to the post office to get stamps for those birth announcements, mail them, drop something off, come home.

Realize the afternoon is half-way over and feed the baby again while the girls play and I sit and chill while the baby eats. Next, we go on a walk and make a stop at grandma's house. After visiting awhile, we head home so that we can work on bicycle riding with Aliyah. We haven't been faithful at the bike practice just because it wasn't exactly an activity that worked well with me being pregnant and daddy not home most evenings. So, I am determined now that it will get done. We had 15 minutes before dark to work. I hate that it gets dark so quickly because we always have so much to do that involves outdoors. It was probably like a 3 ring circus now that I think about it. Keirah riding her bike around, while I hold the baby in the sling, and help Aliyah and try to help her realize that she CAN do this. She starts to make great progress and I feel so excited! I'm further determined that we will work on this every night.

Darkness is upon us so it is time to head indoors. Time for Noelliah to eat again and just in time for me to sit and watch Biggest Loser. WOW--watching that show makes me never want to eat anything naughty again. We finish that and move onto the baths for the girls. At this point of the night, Noelliah is very for sure that she wants to be held. I assist the girls as much as possible and make sure they don't forget to wash everything. Brush teeth, get dressed, let me brush your hair...you get the idea. It's almost 9 and that starts the "nightly cry routine". It started around 9:30. She wants to be held constantly and even then still cries. Aliyah wanted to help out so she "babysat" while I took a bath. It was nice to have her sing to Noelliah and talk sweetly to her. After that, it was baby bath time. Okay, with that finished, eating time again for baby. By this point, I am more than ready for daddy to get home and be back up for mom. This is the point of the day that I am exhausted and ready to totally pass out. There are different things that need done each day, but this was my yesterday.

Oh yeah, I'm excited to report that Aliyah is riding her bike. The only thing that needs work is the starting off. I'm so proud of her!! The other thing that is funny lately is Aliyah and her desire to earn $$. We allowed her to pick out something special at a local store after the baby was born. Of all things, she picks out this American Girl book called "A Smart Girl's Guide to Money". Okay, she has been reading it A LOT. She doesn't have anything that she is earning for at this point, just for her piggy bank. I gave her $2 for her "babysitting" last night. Keirah got $2 as well for being a great gopher and getting everything needed. The money was promptly stuffed into both of their banks. Grandma H. said she is going to give Aliyah $2 for learning to ride her bike. She is really enjoying this "earning" money thing. She loves to swiffer, help with dishes, etc...Believe me...I won't have any problem figuring out chores for her to do to earn cash.