Before Becoming a Mommy...

...I did not realize that necessary bathtime equipment included wetsuits and back braces.

Why I'm Freaking Out

So yesterday's Reality Check was actually more of a pitiful attempt at asking for help/advice...You see, this weekend, Tom and I are leaving our children for A WHOLE WEEK! We are going to (of all places) Disney World for my mother's 50th birthday celebration. Fortunately, my in-laws are flying out to take care of the girls. My worries aren't because my in-laws are bad people, they are just Not the Mama (I love this post by Michelle). And it's not that I'm terribly worried about what they are going to do with the girls, (but let's be honest, I am) I'm just worried in general. Isabel has been away from me for multiple days before, once with each set of grandparents, but Tom was always close by (she traveled with him to a couple of classes). This time we will both be far, far away. Alexis has never been away from me for more than maybe 5 hours in her short life.

The biggest issue, by far, is how well is Alexis going to eat. I had been trying to freeze enough milk to make it through our trip, but due to some traveling and growth spurts, I'm going to fall just short. We bought some formula to cover the shortage, and she has taken 3 bottles well to make sure she's not allergic or anything. So now we just hope she does well taking a bottle (milk or formula) for every feeding. I also feel bad because she's in a phase of getting up more often than I would like at night. It's one thing for the Mama to have to get up at all kinds of crazy hours, but I feel bad about Tom's parents having to get up with her. I'm not too terribly worried about Isabel, as long as they keep her somewhat on schedule for naps and bed. She's pretty easy. And I also worry about the grandparents trying to do this all as visitors. They've only been here a handful of times.

So I guess what I am so pitifully trying to do, is ask for your advice on

a) handling my worries
b) best preparing the grandparents to make it as easy for them as possible. Any tips?

I'm not dumb. I know that Tom and I getting away is a good thing.

I know that his parents have taken care of kids before.

I know that Alexis will eat when she gets hungry.

I know that not everything, if anything, will be done "my way."

I know that God will take care of everything.

But sometimes my heart and my brain don't communicate so well. I am human after all. And more importantly, I'm a mom. And I will ALWAYS worry about my kids.

Reality Check Monday

How did you handle (mentally, emotionally) the first time you left your kids with someone else (read in-laws) while you went out of town?

Rated PG-13

I got an email from my husband while he was at work the other day. The title said "NOT for Isabel's eyes" so I'm thinking it has something to do with Christmas presents...Silly me. Why would I think that? That would mean my husband was thinking about something more than 5 minutes ahead of time. No, this is what he was talking about...
This cartoon actually says a lot about my husband's sense of humor. Hopefully, there won't be a reenactment at my house on Thursday!

Not THAT Kind of Yankee...

I was over at Building the Ark and came across this quiz . I took it twice, because there were a couple of questions I could have answered different ways. The first time I got 50%, Barely a Yankee and the second time I got 48%, Barely a Yankee, so it seems the changes didn't really matter. Go ahead and find out if you are a Dixie or a Yankee. GO SOX! (just emphasizing again, not THAT kind of Yankee).

Reality Check Monday

How do you get a decent workout with a 2 year old and a 7 month old in the winter?

I Think my Husband Was Involved

My husband is a HUGE martial arts fan. And every time we are in Waco, TX, he points out the Texas Ranger Museum. So obviously, he's into Chuck Norris. And he's been hearing me talk about Mike Huckabee a lot lately. And then I come across this political ad...My husband has to be involved somehow.

Jean over at Catholic Fire pretty much took the words right out of my mouth.

Before becoming a mommy...

...I never appreciated what a shower can do for your insides.

Catholic Carnival 145

Check out this week's Catholic Carnival at Adam's Ale.

And it begins

Last night there were a couple of firsts in our house. Alexis had her first "real" food. Of course as soon as I sat down and lifted that first spoonful, it all came rushing back to me. The sticky, runny rice cereal, the jars of gross smelling baby food, the mess...And what else should follow this lovely first than Alexis' first bath in the big girl tub? It was also the girls' first bath together. They had a blast splashing each other, although Tom was not as excited about the splashing. I got a really cute video, but needless to say, I won't be posting it on the web. I did send it to the grandparents and godparents though, and it will probably show up again in about twenty years when the suitors come around. Did I say twenty? I meant forty. And then just a few minutes ago, my darling husband lowered the crib mattress because my baby can now pull herself up on the side. It's all going so fast. (Yes, I'm getting a little sentimental here.) What's a mom to do?