Week 11 & 12 Year 2

Reme Lynn,

Well for the first time ever in 2 years and 12 weeks, I am behind on your letters! I have never gone this long without writing. I know it doesn't really matter if I write "on time" but still here I sit with a tinge of guilt! I started these letters for a variety of reasons. One is for you to read when you're older and/or when I'm gone and you have children of your own and you can look through them and see yourself in your own children or learn from my mistakes or even get some tips!If I could offer any advice to with your own children it would be the lesson that I try to teach myself everyday and that is to "give yourself a break"! "Don't be so hard on yourself! You are doing the best you know how and that is all the best your children (you) need!"

We have had an "AMAZING" two weeks! That's your new word....AMAZING! It is just about the cutest thing you've ever said. Except when you said "Aba-cookie" when I asked you to say "Albuquerque" when we landed in New Mexico! You said it so loud and proud! Everyone around us heard it and it brightened the tarmac!

We made a secret trip to Santa Fe to surprise Gmomma for her 60th birthday! Aunt Christi and Papaw decided to join us as well. As a matter of fact, we ended up on the same plane in Dallas on the way there! Crazy how these things work sometimes! I sure do wish there was a direct flight from Nashville though!

Flight Number 1

A little playtime in Love Field

High Five with Papaw! We made it to Aba-cookie

Silly plane faces

Gmomma really didn't have any idea we were coming and made plans to spend the day running errands and wouldn't get home until later that afternoon. So the 3 of us had some lunch, checked into our beautiful hotel room and relaxed!

Bishop's Lodge & Resort

We went to Gmomma's house and hung out with Gpoppa for a bit waiting "patiently" for her to come home. Christi and I were in the TV room and you were in the dining room when she finally got there! You were the first and only person she saw. I could hear her say, "Reme? What are you doing here?" like she couldn't believe her eyes! Then the rest of us popped out and said "surprise"!

We went for a nice dinner, had some yummy cake and called it a night! We were all pretty tired! Gmomma came back to the hotel with us for a little bit and we rolled around on the bed, acted silly, played in the water and visited a little bit more!

The next morning we leisurely woke up, had some milk (and coffee) on our balcony with a lovely view of trees and the gentle sounds of nature,  got ready, and headed back to G's! Once we all got together, we had brunch at The Pantry, visited Gmomma's tea shop (Artful Tea) and checked out a cool toy store! You left there with a good score of a stuffed horsey that you call "Neigh", a fuzzy puppy dog you call "Max", a very cool spinning toy and a drip castle castle funnel!! Then we made our way into the Plaza to shop and people watch. You ran into some little girls playing on a stage and you joined them for a round of tag! You also got to feed some pigeons. This was a first for  you!

Sorry...I couldn't resist!

Good Morning Santa, Fe

 Gmomma's tea shop, Artful Tea

Blue Moon Rabbit Toy Shop

Learning to play darts!

TAG! You're it!

This is your definition of "smile" these days!

 

 "Gonna get me"

 I knew that if I tried to "make" you take a nap, it wasn't going to happen so instead we drove around gorgeous breathtaking Santa Fe while you car napped! Then after about an hour and half or more we went back to the hotel to freshen up, have a snack and took a walk to see the horses!

A little afternoon snack on the balcony

A walk to see the horses

And to play by the creek

We met back up with Papaw & Gpoppa to see the famous La Fonda hotel. We also did some quick shopping and you picked out the sweetest little Mexican dress! Seriously, you found it, took it off the rack and asked to put it on right there in the middle of the store! So we did! It's adorable!

By this time though, I think the in and out of the car and all the go go go was really started to wear you down a little bit. You were a little cranky and I know now well I guess I always knew but I understand more now that you really prefer to chill out more than go go. You like to be "home" or at least "stay put" more than you like to explore. I think that you like to explore, I just think you'd rather go check something out and then stay in one place longer than an hour or so. Once we got back to the hotel that night you were much happier.

Four Generations

The little Mexican dress!

Aunt Christi and Papaw had an early flight on Sunday morning and you and I weren't leaving until Monday. We had the hotel room all to ourselves. We slept in a bit, snuggled, slowly got moving, had our balcony breakfast and decided to take a bath! We had a huge bathtub and make a giant bubble bath and had SO MUCH FUN! It was a very special time! We laughed and played and you helped me shave my legs and washed each others hair! This was probably my favorite part of the trip!

Gmomma arrived soon after that to pick us up and you did not want to get in the car seat. You were over it! You probably just didn't want a repeat of the day before with all of the go go go which we weren't planning to do but that was sort of hard to communicate to you. We finally got you settled in and went to Whole Foods for some yummy brunch and gave you a break from the car seat and walked what seemed like miles to do some shopping. And again, even after all that walking you did not want to get in the car seat. Once we did, we went to Gomomma's house and we played and feed the birds, relaxed outside and then decided to walk to the park. I should have known we were headed for disaster the minute you didn't want to run on the bridge. You love bridges and this was a cool bridge and I could tell you were exhausted! Just not being yourself. You hadn't had a nap either. We played briefly at the park and then you fell asleep in my arms on the walk back. Phew you were heavy! I put you on the bed and you stayed asleep the rest of the afternoon into the night! You slept for almost 14 hours until we woke you up the next morning.

You insisted on wearing the dress again the next day -

 You look so grown up to me here!

Cheerio Honey

Feeding the tweets!

You practically fell asleep swinging

 Out like a light!

We had plenty of time before our first flight and had a ball running around the airport! We looked at an airplane exhibit, some cool art, looked through some books, had some ice cream and watched the planes lands!

You slept the whole way on the first leg of the trip! Then on the next flight something weird happened. It was very hot on the plane and as we took off I got very motion sick and thought I was going to pass out. The flight attendants had to get a paramedic to check my vitals and get me oxygen. You were very concerned but didn't fuss really at all. A very nice flight attendant asked you if you wanted to play with her and you said, "yeah okay". Southwest Airlines took very good care of you and me! Once we landed, Daddy was able to meet us at the gate with EMS. They checked my vitals again too and everything checked out fine. I just got really motion sick! I'm so thankful it happened on our second flight and we made it home safely! Despite the turbulent ending we had a wonderful trip and so blessed to have been able to spend time with Gmomma for her birthday!

Then it was back to our normal routine for the week and I was so surprised that drop-offs all week long went so smoothly! Literally you hit the ground running and didn't look back! That hardly ever happens!

 

We often send pictures to Daddy after I pick you up from school!

Chocolate Chip muffin! (It was Muffins for Mom's Day)

 This year's Mother's Day card from school!!! Oh how I wish you'd wear your glasses!

 

We started our weekend off with a visit/play date with Averie Grace!  You two had a ball! You dressed up, had a tea party and took a bath!

Saturday morning we went to CC's house for a  mini Mom's day to watch our kid's play! You were so excited about getting to play in the water but once we got there, you really didn't want to have too much to do with getting wet.That's the funny thing about you. You love to play in the water but had to get wet! Love it!

Averie signing her kindergarten graduation song! 

Snacking - I love sitting on their deck!

Sweet babies and their mommas!

Sunday (Mother's Day) was glorious!!It truly was a perfect day! You got up around 7:30am and daddy brought you to bed with us and you just thought that was the coolest thing ever (and I did too)! We snuggled and rolled around until about 8:15am. We got up, made a delicious homemade breakfast of all of our favorites! Scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, fresh fruit and waffles for you! We had originally wanted to go to a local farm and pick strawberries but apparently everyone had the same idea and they were all picked out! So instead I decided that I really wanted to plant some flowers! We putted around the house for a couple of hours just doing our thing, chilling out, playing and we did some chores. You presented me with a beautifully laid out and thoughtful photo album of our year. From Mother's Day of 2014 to 2015! It is the most precious thing ever! I am so proud of this photo album! You guys did a great job! It is so very special!!

Then off to Lowe's (way later than we should have gone) we went! And of course my eyes were bigger than the actual time we had to do the work but there were a lot of sales and you and I were in a groove! Everything we saw was so beautiful and they smelled so good! We had to get them all! Once we got home, unloaded and started to dig in, it was noon and time for you to take a nap! We had lunch reservations at 2:15pm! After quite the battle you fell asleep around 1pm and was only to nap about 45 minutes. Needless to say you did NOT want to get up! You were really mad at me and bummed! THEN it was the "what to wear" battle. I gave at least 10 options of dresses and you refused them all, even some of your favorites! You wanted to wear your bathing suit or your nightgown. So I then offered up several t-shirt, pants and shorts combos which you weren't having! So back to the dress options...I was literally forcing you to put on the dress when I just gave up and grabbed the bathing suit. Suddenly and I mean in an instant you were content, cooperative and clothed. You even agreed to wear a skirt! You wouldn't let me brush your hair and you chose very comfortable brown corddaroy shoes. I by no means think I'm going to win all of the battles and you know what I don't need to! The end product was worth it!

Just look how cute you are...

We wanted to try something new so we went to the Farmhouse! It was delicious! I had Eggs Benedict, Daddy had a good old fashioned breakfast with biscuits, ham and scrambled eggs and you had pancakes!

I was able to dig in the dirt the way I love for the first time in what seems like a very long time! The end result makes me very happy!

 

Then we watched the sun go down and Daddy & Stella play! Like I said, it was perfection and I am so very thankful to be your mom and your daddy's wife! It's exactly what I was always meant to be!

Another new "word" you're saying lately is "me's" meaning mine and I hope you never stop although I correct you often. It's my favorite! I think we should all say "me's" instead of mine!!

I love you baby,
Momma