Mama of 2 P's in a Pod

We in the Dodds circle got to meet two new people who were born into the world on the same day! These kiddos don't know it but I think they may in the makings of an arranged marriage already =) Just kidding but WELCOME TO THE WORLD.... ~ Macie Dyan Staniec ~ 7lbs 13oz and 20 1/2 inches long!! (our niece!) And of course her future boyfriend and our nephew by default.... ~ Colin William Huynh Lavigne ~ 9 lbs 5 oz, 21 inches long! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE BOTH FINALLY HERE!!!!

It's been a month since I've blogged. Wow, time flies doesn't it? It's so weird how that works as we get older, I say to myself here are the people I'm going to call tonight when I get the girls to bed and before I know it, it's late and I don't end up calling them, then a month passes by and I feel bad for not being a better friend, neice, granddaughter etc. The girls are doing good, getting big and making life more enjoyable every day. I do worry though, that I spend too much of my time around them, cleaning house, getting errands ran, to really sit and enjoy their little minds. Its so easy to get wrapped up into "to-do" lists, and laundry piles and everything else that I think I just have to do right now! I caught myself last night getting so angry with them for bugging me! I mean seriously, what am I thinking? Some day they will be off doing their own things and not have time for me and I will wish they were around to bug me. These are little,...

Piper has been fighting a fever for over a week, a low grade fever, but a fever nonetheless. Not wanting to take her to the doctor over every little ache and pain, Kris and I waited to take her in. We gave in yesterday after a weekend of glazed eyes and a very little 4-year-old. Sure enough, Piper has a double ear infection, her left ear is pretty bad. When I first told Piper she was going to the doctor, she kind of panicked. But I reassured her that we were going to get her to feeling better and in order to do that we had to go to the doctor. She was very nervous that this included a shot. I reassured her and she hesitantly got into my Escape, crying for her daddy. Parker on the other hand was mad that I was going somewhere without her, and she stood at the door crying for me. Kris and I could only just look at each other and smile. Once we pulled up to the Doctor's office, Piper's fears were gone. She has been there before and they have been very good to the little girl. She...

It seems like everyone I know has a cold or the crud of some sort. Poor Piper had strep a couple of weeks ago and continues to battle a cough and fever. Parker is just a walking snot machine. Now mommy has their cough. I would much rather have any of it then for the to have it. I'm waiting for Kris to get it too, but hopefully his immune system of steel will continue. I know most of us are ready for Spring and some warmth, I know that will help peak all of the moods that have been down with this yucky stuff. I am sick of coughing, sick of wiping running noses and so sick of our girls being sick.

Kris took me away for the weekend, our first trip away from the girls. What a great way to relax and find some time together. I had such a good time with him, not having to rush back home Saturday night to a babysitter, but being able to take our time and enjoy the night and go back to a hotel in a whole other state. The girls were pretty happy, they got to spend the day with Grandma Pat and saw Pappo for a bit. Then they spent the night with my parents and enjoyed that time too. I really think Kris and I needed this after the year we've had. I think we should have little trips away more often and it just rekindled the need to snuggle, laugh and enjoy the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with! That said, I am having hard time focusing on the week. I got spoiled having him to myself for two whole days and it's hard not being with him when he's off this week and I'm at work. I feel like a girl who's just fallen in love, and I know that may sound cheesy but...

Kris is working a lot of hours right now, between his 3 jobs and while I worry that he will wear himself out, I do appreciate his hard work. AND I know it's for the greater good. We are trying to save up to buy a house, and that turkey is taking me for a Valentine weekend out of state! So, there are reasons for his absence. I am trying to take the girls to see him when he is working. We got a chance to do just that last week when we got 8 inches of snow and he worked for a fellow firefighter who plows snow on the side. The girls FINALLY got a chance to do snow angels and play in the white stuff. The past few times, they've had some kind of cold or something that makes letting them play in the cold not even an option. It was so much fun to capture them in the snow, with Kansas being the state it is, who knows when we'll see that much snow again! It's hard to think in just a few months we'll be sweating likes pigs, ok maybe just me!

I am trying this new thing, where I actually take the time to listen, truly listen to what Piper and Parker have to say. I know this statement may sound horrible but in the day in and day out routines sometimes I feel like I don't listen to them well enough and just bark orders. I don't want to look back 20 years from now and wonder who our daughters were. I tried this last night when I got home from a meeting. Both girls were already in bed, (thank you Kris!!) and Piper was still awake when I got home. She was laying in bed with a few Barbies and watching the Grinch. She was very happy to see me, which is an amazing feeling in and of itself. But instead of hushing her into bed when she ran to the door and threw her arms around me telling me how much she missed me, I instead reached down picked her up and carried her back to bed. I laid down beside her and let her tell me about her day. I laid there and watched her sweet eyes fill with excitement about school and her eyebrows, ...