Michelle asked me awhile ago if the cold and dark weather had me down and I was like, "no way!"  Well now that it is bright and warmer, I am feeling more alive again, so I am wondering if that wasn't part of my problem.  This was the first winter in YEARS that I wasn't on pre-natals and now I am thinking maybe I was having a shortage of vitamin D.  Diabetes is still a problem.  Still not fit and fantastic.  Still poor.  Not everyday is a parade, but, I am feeling better!  I feel like me again.  And I hadn't in a long, long, long time.

I had the kiddos outside today.  We started running around at 8:00 AM and we are just getting in now at 7:30 PM.  Both Sam and Kit have started riding regular 2 wheel bikes.  Sam is so, so cautious and Kit is like a wild man, lol.  Susanna likes to sit on the Big Wheel and push herself with her feet.  She does not let her little body or age keep her back from hanging with the big kids.  We had all the neighborhood kids riding bikes in our driveway and playing in the yard.  We seem to be the hang out house, which I like.  I figure when the kids are older, as long as I keep the fridge stocked, they can continue to hang here and then I can more easily keep an eye on them!  Yes, plotting and planning ahead, lol.

Today I started looking into getting the kids passports.  I do not like the idea of not being able to leave the country - even to Canada or Mexico - and not being able to come back with out one.  It makes me feel trapped.  So we are going to find the dollars and get the kids their own.

Sam's bday party was awesome.  We had a swim party at the YMCA.  It was fast paced and the kids had a blast.  I can't believe my monkey is 5.  She is so big as well!  I am looking forward to going away for a few days in June, just me and Samantha.  I like to have one on one time with her - she is truly very pleasant company.  Being she is the oldest, she gets less of my time at this point cause the younger ones just need more.  This will be nice for both of us.

Kit is still coming to sleep with me at night.  Less than before, but still most nights.  He genuinely wakes up with bad dreams, so I figure fine.  I rather him have the security of me there.  I do not care what SuperNanny says.  I highly doubt he will still be sleeping with me when he is 10!

Speaking of sleep, we moved the girls to our old room and made it to a fairy room.  We took the nursery and made it very south west.  Kit will have the space bedroom, altho right now he wants his official bed to be with the girls.  The space room can sit empty for awhile.  We just got a great deal on bunk beds - listed 650 but by mistake on their web site for 199.  They gave us the 199 price!  WOO HOO!  They arrive in a few weeks.  Susanna is still in her crib, so we can have the bunks and the crib in the big room.  It will work!  I like that my kids are so close that they all want to be together at night.  I think it forges an even closer bond.

I am a bit envious and in awe of some of my lady friends who are busy with lives of their owns, kids and the whole deal, yet never seem to miss a birthday or anything.  They post on the board, read blogs, send IMs, emails, the works!  I am still trying to get back to me and am lucky if I can brush my teeth, lol.  So know I think you are Goddesses.

Speaking of my Goddess friends, Michelle - I have been thinking of you and the kids so often.  It breaks my heart that Gabe still is having such pain from his headaches.  And now that Hannah has the Chiarra too.  Know I have been praying and thinking of you all!  The guest book still won't let me in.  I think Ben set my computer not to accept cookies and that is causing a problem.  Also, ty for thinking of me on my bday!

Kristin, ty for my bday wishes - a day late when you have 5 kids, is a day early for reg people.  And BTW, your kids are so beautiful!  I love the pic you sent, altho Sam has stolen it cause it is pics of her friends, lol.  I can't wait to meet Miss Macy and hold her.  She is too precious.

Carie and Tiff also ty for thinking of me on my bday!  Tiff, I lent the diapers to my sister - but I can try to get them back.  It just will take me a bit cause they just moved back to NC, literally, yesterday.  So she is living in a box right now.

Wendi and Jen C, ty for taking the time to email me when I know you both are busy.  Jen, I know you are super busy with 4 and I hope everyone is feeling better!  Wendi, I hope your trip to Hawaii was AWESOME!

To everyone on the board, thanks for the bday wishes for me, Samantha and Susanna!  And I hope all the LC's had great bdays!

Must get the kiddos a snack b4 bed.  So I am off for now! 

As Kit grows into a boy, I have noticed that many toddlers when making the transition to kid-dom develop a new found independence.  Simple requests become big battles.  They come up with some creative ways to defy...

There is the "wag your finger in defiance", which is silent, but screams non compliance.  To stay in the genre of silent strategies, there is the walking away from me or the going to time out before I can say time out.

A funny technique is the old but reliable, "I'm not talking to you!"

There is the plethora of "I'll cut your hand off", "I'll pull your hair"... etc.  Where they get that from I do not know!

My personal favorite is the marching away from me while telling me, "I'm moving out!"  Where exactly is my three year old boy moving?

But Ben got the best retort last night.  "Dada, you better do what I want or I will pull your penis off." 

11:48 AM March 3, 2006 my beautiful baby girl was born.  Since that moment, Susanna has been nothing short of pure joy to all our lives.  She is a happy, intelligent, funny girl that is adored by everyonen who knows her.  Like her big sister, she has her own mind.  She thinks nothing of backing up and sitting on anyone who isn't giving her the attention she deems she deserves.

Today she has a blast helping me and the older ones make her cake.  She was covered head to toe and needed a bath.  She also enjoyed eating her cake, resulting in another bath.  However, like her brother, she did not like it when her hands got to sticky.

It saddens me that she is truly on her way to toddlerhood and done babyhood.  Yet, she is healthy and happy, so I am also overjoyed.

I am currently working on moving the kids to the big bedroom and soon enough she will be sharing a room with Samantha.  We will be doing it in fairies!  I have a feeling Kit will be with them for awhile too, lol, which is fine.  So his room will be empty until he is ready.  :) 

Strange thinking of Susanna old enough to share a big girl room.  *sigh*  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEETEST BABY!

Thanks to everyone for the other day.  I am having a hard time, but it is nice to know I am not alone - even when I feel that way sometimes.