Lovin' 'Lanta LIFE

I had no idea how much I missed Atlanta. 

This might sounds obnoxious but "things are going great!"

Other than the fact that Ruby's tantrums have reached a whole new level of "HIGH" and I feel sorry for our neighbors.  A handful of which have come out of their apartment and stopped just short of complaining to us about our kids by the look of frustration/desperation on our faces.

Autonomy.  Tough stuff.  Poor Ruby.  At least I haven't forced her into Mommy's Morning Out, but CONFESSION: I threaten her with "school" if she doesn't behave and I tell her (when we're out in public) she better quit fussing or the teacher will come and get her. 

Oh, I know!  Awful! 

So far, I'm managing.  Trying to survive the hard, tantrum-type moments and relish in the sweet, cuddle bug and 'I love you mommy' moments. 

frog-lovin' family

A couple of of nights ago, at tuck-in time, when teeth were brushed, medicine given, potty gone, stories read Charlotte needed to tell me "somethun wiwy quiwdy".  In the next morning she wanted to go to the pet store, take Keeper and Mo to the dog park, swim in the inside pool, play with her toys, find a beach, see the lions at the zoo, go for a horse ride, fly a kite and paint. 

Alright, sounds good.  What about you, Ruby? 

Ruby:  (eyes looking off to the side, pointer finger on cheek) ummm...I WANNA EAT BACON!

My youngest thinks "school" is the stuff of nightmares and worst-cases but it is proving to be Charlotte's saving grace. 

Because I am quickly realizing that I cannot handle a "loose schedule", which has been our way of life for 5 years.  I am neurotically tidy but chronically distracted and incredibly neurotic.  Relaxing, sleep-in mornings are disastrous for us.  The miracle has been showering and having coffee before I wake up the girls, dressing Charlotte for school at 7:00am (as part of rousing her), shaking her awake at 7:15am, medicating her with asthma meds while she's still in a sleep hangover and then quickly running a brush through her hair while I sit her on the potty, handing her a baggie of cereal and putting her in the car.  The trick is never letting her wake up enough to get distracted by ANYTHING because we'll never make it into the car without a lot of raised voices and constant nagging.  I grab Ruby out of bed, still in pj's and plop her in the warmed-up car (she wakes up smiling, "hey mommy!  I love you!").  Charly goes to speech at 7:45,  then we drive her to preschool.  Ruby and I have our day together then we pick big sis up at 2:30.

One day a week Charlotte has gymnastics (LOVES!).  The next morning Ruby and I go to gymnastics.  Luckily, I've started yoga back twice a week, otherwise the warm-up stretching would be embarrassing.  Then the foam blocks?  At one  point in class, Ruby has to run as hard and as fast as she can down the...I don't know...the springy floor? the older gymnasts (and I mean seriously - those girls blow my MIND) practice their floor routine?  flip, somersault and spring down - ends in huge foam block, rectangular pit that is floored by a trampoline.   The first time I leapt in, trying to encourage Ruby, I almost gave up trying to get out...tried convincing myself I could live in foam blocks.

Ruby is quite the disciplined, well-behaved, obedient and courageous little gymnast.  I was proud of her in the first class - she bravely tried it all: bars, floor routine, somersaults, trampolines, rope climbing/swinging, beam - no hesitation, took her turn, followed directions.  And I was PLEASED but a little confused.  I kept hearing from the coach and the other moms, what a 'sweet little athlete!'

And I'm kind of hesitantly nodding, uh-huh, yeah, I don't know about the credit for this one...I'm not comfortable taking it and then, after class, it felt a little bit more real, bit more familiar, when Ruby was pitchin' a fit in the office because she wanted a Nestle Crunch Bar, head thrown back, feet stomping, 'I's so hungry mama!  I need somethun' tu EAT!!!  PLEASE MA!!!'  And then I, in typical fashion, yes, please, good, just one?  Okay, (awesome!) Here you go!  Ring this up!  Now I'm on familiar, solid ground.  I needed to finish my conversation in peace with the office manager and coach about how cute and precious my girls were and which unitard to buy for Charlotte...

...Noni took Ruby to class the second session, because Charlotte had a field trip at the same time as Roo's class...Noni jumped in the foam blocks too.  =)

Aside from nearly being swallowed up whole by the amount of information I'm getting every which way I turn about Charlotte's "quirks"; everything is good, really good.  We're loving it here, back in Atlanta.  We spend quality, fun, family time together.  I can't wait for summer...with the pool and our little deck I think I'll feel like I'm on vacation every day!  Well, except for the whole, 'loose schedule is the epitome of happiness' thing...