A New Decade

Okay....so I'm 30. Big deal, right? I guess having two kids has mellowed me a little. I have to come to the conclusion that it isn't all about me anymore. Anyhow...I welcomed the 30's in typical Crystal fashion....acting like an idiot on stage at Pete's. The sad part is is that I remember everything. I kind of wish it was one of those nights where you don't remember anything at all.....no such luck! Even worse, Megan proceeds to send video clips from the evening via email the next day...lovely! And meanwhile, Beth is just laughing it up! Everytime I see her in the hall at school, she thinks it's real funny to reenact my dance moves. I will never live it down. Oh well, I will never be accused of being a wet blanket or not knowing how to have a good time!!!


Anyhow, as far as the Moncrief household, things are starting to calm down. Routines are being set and Emerson Mae is getting a whole lot better in the evenings. We resorted to buying a new swing. One hundred dollars later, it seems to help, but I am not sure if it is one hundred dollars worth of reprieve (see pic). I cannot tell you how broke I am going to be with the little diva. I finally broke down, much to Wes and Beth's chagrin, and purchased her first bows. She looks so adorable I can hardly take it. The bows aren't too big....yet! However, my next adventure is to learn to make my own because boy, can they be pricey! (again, see pic) I can't tell you how much fun I am having with her!

As for Campbell, I just can't take how big he is getting. He just melts my heart. He is real big on not making me sad. The minute I say, "Oh Campbell, mommy is so sad." he gets upset and will do anything to right his wrong. Yesterday he didn't eat any of his lunch at school and Wesley and I talked about how sad we were and how it wasn't good for his body to skip meals. Needless to say, the first thing he said to me when I picked him up today was, "Mommy, I ate all my lunch!" He is such a pleaser. He is really into puzzles and Batman these days. Don't really know where the Batman thing came from. Up until now, he had never seen an episode. His Momo sent him PJ's and he has worn them every night (see pic). Last thing about Campbell, he FINALLY got a haircutt. I took him by myself and he is finally over the fear...Whew! (see pic)


Now to Wesley...for my 30th he got me a sewing/embroidery machine. I don't think any of you can understand my excitement...I will be able to do so many things I didn't think I would ever be able to do. I can't tell you the amount of ideas I have in my head just waiting to come out! There is just one small problem...I don't know how to sew. No biggie, I am a quick learner and very eager to learn so I don't think I will have too much of a problem.


And now for the drama...Wesley is going out of town (College Station) to recruit. He will leave Wednesday and come back Friday night. I can do it...it won't be too big of a deal, but in two weeks, he goes to St.Louis for, SAY IT OUT LOUD WITH ME, one whole week! Help mommy....if you could see me right now, I am in the fetal position at just the thought of it!

Sorry for the long post, but it has been a while and a lot has been going on!

All I can say is...Oh My Gosh!

Okay, so I have yet to start the twins little outfits, but I made an outfit for Emerson yesterday...can I just say that it might be the cutest thing ever. I think I hit the big time with this one...I know I always say, "I need to open my own shop." But serioulsy I do! Not to brag, but so cute! My next adventure is to learn to make bows and headband bows.

New Adventure

Okay, you know me...I am always looking for new things to make and create. I am about to adventure into the art of tutu making. We will see how it goes. I am also going to create some onsies for a set of twins (boy and a girl). All new stuff for me. I hope to have it done by Sunday. I will post pics!

Life Unexpected!

I mean, REALLY? I never would have guessed how hard baby #2 would be. I am completely exhausted. As you all know, I went back to work this week.I was so looking forward to being back in a routine, but I forgot how tired I am at the beginning of a new school year. I wasn't getting any sleep this summer so I figured working all day would be no big difference. Man was I wrong. I am lucky if I see 8 o'clock. It was my goal last night to stay up until 9:00. At 9:15, Wesley woke me up on the couch (I was sitting straight up) and he said, "Get in bed before you break your neck. There is no telling what I looked like. I don't even know when I fell asleep.
Anyhow, Emerson is just so high maintenance. I have tried everything in the book to comfort her and get her to stop crying. I will list them now:
1. Running a vacuum 2. Putting her in the car seat and setting her on the washer/dryer 3. Driving around 4. Putting her in the Baby Bjorn (really it is Infantino, but nobody would know what I was talking about 4. Using the bouncer, swing 5. The device that makes the womb sounds 6. Putting her on her back/tummy 7. Swinging her in her car seat 8. giving gas drops 9. carrying her 10. letting her wail 11. rocking her You name it and the list goes on. Obviously she is just going to fuss and forget trying to coax her. Her fussy hours are from about 5-8 in the evening. Perfect, right when I come home from a long day at work. I will say though, when she sleeps...she really sleeps.

I just want to give you an typical 24 hour period in my life.
5:00 am -wake up and shower, feed Emerson, make my lunch, get ready, get Campbell ready and his breakfast ready (Wesley does some of this, usually feeding Emerson)
6:30 am-out the door
7:00 am-arrive at Sharon' s and drop off Emerson
7:10 am- Arrive at Legacy and drop off Campbell
7:25 am- arrive at work
7:30 am- kid's in room
3:30ish- Leave to pick up Emerson
4:10- Take Emerson out of the car and into Legacy to get Campbell
4:15- put both Campbell and Emerson back in the car and start lecturing Campbell about his sad face and unfinished classwork
4:50- Emerson starts crying
5:00- Arrive home where Emerson is screaming hysterically for food and Campbell is singing, "I wanna a snack, I wanna snack..............."
5:10- The house is silent bc Emerson is eating and Campbell has a snack and Noggin
5:30- Emerson is crying, but stops only if I hold her while standing and moving
6:00-Emerson starts to fall asleep, but cries if I put her down
6:30- Attempt to start dinner while Emerson is crying in her bouncer and I ignore her and Campbell is STILL playing by himself (see pic)
6:45 Wesley gets home and immediately takes over baby, but she is still crying, so no peace for me
Here's where it gets tricky and can go one of two ways:
Way Number ONE (more peaceful for mom and dad, but less sleep)
7:00- we get to her to sleep
8:30- Wes puts Campbell to bed
10:30- she wakes up and Wesley feeds her
11:30- goes back to sleep
3:00 am- Emerson wakes and I get her up and feed her
3:45 am- Emerson is back to sleep, but I can't so I am pretty much lying awake until the alarm goes off
Way Number TWO (I prefer this way bc this is the way we eventually want it to be, but stressful evening, but more sleep)
7:00-8:15ish- we are making dinner and eating all the while Emerson is crying, sometimes to where she can't catch her breath
8:15- Wes feeds her and put her to bed
8:45- Wesley puts Campbell to bed
Here's the best part:
SHE SLEEPS UNTIL 5:00, but I start all over again!
I have never wanted to be back in the hospital more in my life than I do right now. I get to sleep, not cook or clean, the nurses are there so I don't freak about anything, she was newborn so she literally just ate , slept, and pooped. Everything was so peaceful! Then again, I am one of the few people who actually enjoyed my hospital stays! Anyhow, all this to tell you that after Campbell, I just assumed (wishful thinking) that she would be just as easy. WRONG!!!! Never assume because we all know what happens when you assume!

FYI: Please don't think I am ungrateful or that I love my child any less. I thank God everyday for both my babies and when I start to get even the slightest bit frustrated, I think about all those mommies and daddies who would give ANYTHING to hear their babies cry again and I hug her even tighter.