R&R is awesome

Being in the States is great because you can't do this in Manila. Kids need fresh air to grow

sleep walking

The girls and I were bleary eyed when we got back to my parents' house yesterday. Addie was bound and determined to check out every square inch of the house and yard before bed time. She did not stop to take a nap for the rest of the day. Bella was so tired and woozy from the flights that she couldn't walk straight. It didn't stop her from swinging on the swing set at Grammy and Grandpa's house. Addie almost fell asleep in her dinner plate. She ate two bites and asked to be excused. She fell immediately asleep on the couch. She woke up screaming an hour later in a night terror state. I finally got her calmed down and in bed at 6:30 PM. Bella went down at the same time. Both girls were extremely over tired and I knew I was in for a rough night of fitful sleeping. Both girls woke up scared; not knowing where they were. Addie was hungry at 11:30 PM. I woke hungry at 3:30AM and Bella woke up every few hours screaming. It's always fun getting used to a new time zone and sleeping environment all at the same time. Bella came in to bed with me at 6:30 AM and fell back to sleep. I was up at 7:15 AM but the girls kept on sleeping. Bella finally woke up at 10:30 AM and I had to wake Addie at 11 AM. I have no idea how many hours total they slept since they were awake often during the night but that's some pretty good sleeping.

it wasn't pretty but we did it

I must be a glutton for punishment because anyone who flies around the world with their kids alone once will vow never to do it again. I broke my vow obviously with this trip. I got lots of "you must be crazy" looks and a few "oh you poor thing" looks, even a few "you are a brave Mom" comments which were stated while the individual gave me one of the two previously mentioned looks. In the end, it sucked, but we made it. I had zero expectations for the travel. I really was planning on the worst so a few times I had to smile at the situation because my girls pleasantly surprised me. They both sat very sweetly and watched our DVDs while munching on crackers. I used this peaceful moment to use the airplane restroom. Bella finally fell asleep for an hour and a half nap after being awake for 10 hours and I used this time to eat the first two courses of my dinner with Addie. Addie woke up as we were descending into Portland, OR and was happy as a clam exclaiming "we made it to Portland! I don't want to land in the water, Mommy!" (this water landing thing is totally messing with her head-she really doesn't want to get her clothes wet).

There were tons of sticky moments too. Bella just couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep on the long leg of our trip (or the short leg). She got about 3.5 hours of sleep the entire travel time. It's better than nothing but not nearly enough to keep her happy. During the first flight I was walking Bella around the isles and returned to our seats to find Addie's empty. She had come looking for us and one of the flight attendants had scooped her up and enlisted her help with passing out immigrations forms. During our layover in Japan I left our passports and tickets at the front desk of the business class lounge. Luckily they were returned to me before I even realized I had left them. These are the sorts of mistakes that are made when you are strung out with adrenalin for 20 plus hours. Thank goodness Bella decided to have her poop of the day in that same lounge in the kiddie play room. I didn't have to wrestle her into a clean diaper at 30,000 feet. The sweet flight attendants kept refilling my wine glass to help me get through the flight. The only way to fly from SE Asia to the West Coast of the US is a little tipsy. Too bad I had to stay sober! I was peed on twice, vomited on, covered in ube flavored (purple) ice cream, and a little ripe with airplane stink by the time we arrived in the Pacific Northwest. I didn't sleep a wink on the plane so I almost fell over with exhaustion as we waited for the computer system to boot up at the immigration lines in Portland. I was definitely done with the trip by that time and couldn't believe that we were having to wait in our longest line of the day at the very end of our trip. I could see our bags going around the baggage carousel and feel the hot shower that awaited me at my parent's house. Waiting was not what I wanted to be doing.

We made it but I am vowing to make our return trip to Manila the last time I go it alone. It's definitely not an experience I would recommend.

Yay for this welcome sign!

dry run

The girls simulated a practice flight this afternoon. Bella really likes her car seat when it's not in the car so maybe she'll be thrilled to use it on the plane. Here's to hoping! Addie gets to sit like a big girl without her car seat in the plane this time. I spent some of the morning putting together fun goody bags for each girl for the flight.

This is how excited we are to get to Washington (Bella just mastered twirling yesterday):

family effort pie

Both girls wanted to help with Dad's pecan pie for Father's Day. Bella comes running every time she hears a kitchen gadget running. She insisted on her Dad holding her as she peered into the mixer as it whipped the eggs and butter. Addie helped me chop up the pecans and measure the sugar. She decorated the top of the pie with the pecans. This pie is wonderful and I like it because there isn't any corn syrup in the recipe (corn syrup is a gross food product anyway-who needs it in pie). I call it No Corn Syrup Pecan Pie. Here is what you do and here is the original recipe if you just want to print it:

This literally takes 5 minutes. Melt 1/2 cup butter and blend it well with two frothy beaten eggs. Add 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar. Add 1 tablespoon flour and mix it all well. Add 1 tablespoon milk and a teaspoon vanilla flavoring and mix. Add 1 cup chopped nuts and stir. Pour into your pie crust. I used a frozen one this time. Decorate the top with whole pecans if you like. Addie's turned out really pretty. Bake this pie for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then for an additional 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve it at room temperature with whipped cream. Also good the next day with coffee (breakfast of champion Moms).

This was another dessert enjoyed after the kids were asleep. I'm not giving Bella tree nuts yet (although I think she put a chunk of a pecan in her mouth that was sitting on the counter-probably right after I took this picture of her. She must not be allergic!). Addie, in a very confidant voice, informed us yesterday that she doesn't eat nuts. More for the grown-ups. The girls had chocolate ice cream. Everyone was happy. Especially Dad!

packing our bags

In about 36 hours Addie, Bella, and I are wheels up on our R&R home to Washington State! I'm excited of course, but mostly anxious about the travel and packing right now. I always feel better when we are seated on the plane, our bags are checked in and getting loaded on the plane, the car seat is installed and we all have a moment to just sit there before the plane takes off. This will be my third flight around the world alone with my daughters (the first time Arabella rode first class back to the States in my belly). It's crucial for me to get mentally prepared for this marathon flying experience. It takes an immense amount of mental stamina to keep my Mom game face on for 24 hours straight with no sleep.

The plus side to this flight is that I already know it can't be any worse than last time; flying back to Manila with a two year old, an unhappy newborn, all our crap, using my breast pump on the airplane every three hours, and doing it all alone. This flight SHOULD be a piece of cake compared to that. My darling husband has scored mega huge points with all his girls by upgrading us all to business class seats for our flights on Wednesday. He is the BEST! Thank you so much honey! What an amazing guy. With this little perk, and arranging to have airport assistance help me by carrying luggage in Japan, it shouldn't be too much of a problem logistically. The problem really lies in how to entertain two busy girls for the uber long flights.

I just started packing and decided to allow myself my very own suitcase this trip. Imagine that! My little reward for not having to pack my breast pump. I can't recall the last time I had a suitcase containing ONLY my personal things. I usually pack my things, both girls' things, as well as all the kid toy and baby sleeping accouterments that are required, in one suitcase. This time, the girls have a suitcase for their stuff and I have one for mine-for now. I'm sure in the end I'll be stuffing a favorite bedtime story in the side pocket of my bag or shoving a few extra diapers on top of my shoes, but for right now I am packing it with my stuff and I'm not skimping. I'm bringing everything I want. We're even bringing an empty third suitcase for our resupplying shopping trip to Target (and Nordstrom Rack and Powell's).

The ten day forecast in my hometown, in Washington State, looks mighty chilly compared to the Manila summer we've had. The average temp is in the low 70's with the high of one day at 78 degrees. Unexpectedly, I am bringing a few pairs of jeans, long sleeves, and jackets for all of us. I'm not sure how I will get long pants on Adelaide or shoes and socks on Arabella. I put a pair on her today and she attempted walking but looked mostly like a broken robot teetering around in the crazy foot contraptions. I was thinking about it and Bella has truly never worn a sweater or socks let alone a jacket and a pair of closed toed shoes. Such is the life in the tropics.

One more day, a night, and a wake-up; then we are off!

Happy Father's Day

I try to tell my husband what a great Dad he is all of the time. I could be better though. I take for granted that I have a parenting equal in Justin. I am very lucky that he is right there in the trenches with me when it comes to our girls. He has a very special relationship with both of his girls and I know it's because he is involved. He combs knots out of freshly washed hair, reads stories, cuts up beans for dinner, wipes poop from bums, helps Addie decided on an outfit (no small feat), kisses boo boos, etc. It's not about just being present as a Dad, it's about doing the small things that shows our daughters that Dad is Dad and not just another adult in the house that wrestles around sometimes. In the little things Justin shows his girls that he loves them, and they love him for it.

This morning Addie and I made waffles for Dad and gave him his homemade picture frame she had decorated. Justin is taking Addie to Toy Story 3 today and as they left she was bouncing out of her shoes with excitement.Later we have a special steak dinner planned with Dad's favorite pecan pie. Love is in the labor of food preparations this Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all our Dads! We love you.