A Zoo-riffic Adventure

I can't stress to y'all how much family time has meant to us lately. These past few weeks have literally flown by, because we've been so focused on working and each other; little else included. My husband and I have made it a point to spend these days together, ones that are few and far between, because life (as we've recently learned) has no intention of slowing down; whether or not we want it to. Don't get me wrong, working hard and making a stable life is important. We know that. But what's more important is ensuring that we, and our daughter, live life to the fullest and love with every square inch of our hearts. Laughing is as essential to life as water or food is. For it is nourishment for our souls. This is why we have chosen to make Wednesday our Family Day. Every Wednesday, every week, a new place to visit, new restaurant to try, new memories to make. Life is too short to spend it unhappy or inexperienced.

This week we chose to make the 64 mile trek to the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, since neither Papa nor Kiri had ever been to one. And I must say, it was a big hit! Brayden came over to play, so we took him with us! We saw giraffes, monkeys, kangaroos and even stingrays! Kiri even came home with a black plush gorilla that she named 'Willow'. Willow and Ninny are brother and sister, reunited at last. They now go everywhere with her. TOO CUTE, I say. Here are a few photographs of our day!

Over Thinking.

Wheels in my mind keep on turning....

Life has been so unbelievably crazy lately. A co-worker and really good friend of mine quit the other day. Apparently his perfect relationship wasn't what it seemed and crumbled rather quickly, causing him to move back home to Georgia. I'm a bit surprised, but then again I'm not. 2011 really ruined relationships for a lot of people. A lot of people I thought were happy and so in love. It's just kind of disheartening to me. Maybe it's because I'm not a quitter. I'd fight with everything in me to save my doomed marriage/relationship. Or maybe I want it more than others do? Or then there's the chance that I'm just so fucking naive, because I take people's happiness at face value. Whatever the cause, I hope and pray that it's truly what they want. Being loved is the most incredible feeling. I couldn't imagine losing it. Back to the point though, because of his departure, hours are going up at work. Meaning I've been there the longest, so his shifts will more than likely be added to my workload. Good or bad thing? Probably a little bit of both. 

Aside from work life, home life has gotten better. Mine and Papa's relationship has hit a "Mario star" and out of nowhere, we've been kissing and loving on one another ten times as much. I think subconciously we're both a little set back by the split rate of our friends and we've secretly began putting more effort into the areas of our relationship that we've gotten too comfortable with. Not that I'm complaining. I enjoy the giggles I get from him kissing my nose. [The smiling from ear to ear begins!] We've been doing phenomenal with the vegetarianism too. It's day 16 and I still feel good. We're just in dire need of some recipes, cause pasta is getting SO blah, after having it for half a month straight. If you have any ideas AT ALL, please feel free to send them to my email at fortsawyer@gmail.com. (Thanks in advance!) 

The fitness aspect has been hard to keep up with. I want so badly to dedicate certain times to working out, but between Papa's three jobs and my crazy hours, it gets really hard to be strict about it. Especially when we're eating so late. (Both of us don't end up getting home until after midnight, then we either wait until after a workout to eat -at 2am- or we eat and skip the gym. This is NOT want I wanted. Motivation, dedication, satisfaction. I can't have one without the other. And I need it so badly right now. That's why I think I'm going to start a food & fitness journal. Maybe then I can keep up with it!

As of a few days ago, Kiri has been asking for a little brother. NON-STOP. Like every single day, without fail. And not only is it "Mommy, can you have a baby?" It's like, "Mommy, will you please have a baby and name him Liam? I want to have a brother before I turn five. That way I can see him before I start school."  SAY WHAT? When did this happen? When did my little girl start wanting me to get pregnant? I thought that she -of all people- would wanna stay my baby forever. I thought I could count on her for support for my no-baby campaign, but I guess I'm on my own. Maybe Papa brainwashed her, maybe she just yearns for a sibling. I have no idea. All I know is that she wants one and it's starting to cause me to want one too. I'm in serious trouble now...

C'est la vie.

You Got It Dude

Kiri's new trademark? "You got it, dude!" Just like Michelle off of 'Full House'. She says it to everything.

*Also, please excuse the nip-slip. This one's been going through a phase of wearing all of mama's maternity shirts (that I will never, ever wear again!) and using them as dress up clothing. She's got a trunk of old stuff that she just loves. Makes clogging around in old heels even that much cuter.

Sleeping Beauty

There's nothing in this world more precious. Absolutely nothing.

Smiles For Miles

I'm so unbelievably grateful that Robert and I have wonderful jobs and bosses that are awesome enough to give us the same days off in a week, so that our little family of three can spend time together. For them to take into account that we both do schooling part time, work full time and nurse a monthly impromptu drill session 300 miles away and actually go out of our way to accomodate us is so fantastic! I was horribly afraid once I moved here and started working, that with Papa's rigorous schedule, that we'd never see each other. BUT! It's been the complete opposite. As a matter of fact, since he moved here three and a half weeks ago, we've had the exact same, (if not closely resembled) schedules. If I could show my extreme gratitude, I'd be thanking them all until I'm fifty! Nevertheless, I'll settle for some pretty snazzy DIY Christmas gifts!

In the meantime, I enjoy our family dates. So far, we've canvased Target 100 times, gone to about a dozen parks, power shopped two name-brand outlet malls, walked countless miles during our family-walks and even enjoyed many hours of Papa's famous Mama-Papa one on one workout nights. I love it so much that we're able to do little things like that.

Oh, and did I mention that both our bosses gave us Halloween night off, so that we could take our monkey (yes, Punky's a monkey!) trick-or-treating?! Told ya they were awesome. SCHWING.

Slow Down, Little Weed.

I’m still in shock as to how much this little girl has grown up over the past few weeks!

Just the beginning of April, I was nursing skinned knees and a dirty face every two and a half seconds. But now, it’s all about princess dresses, lipstick (which is actually clear lip gloss, but she doesn’t have to know that) and the newest addition…bras. Every time I go to dress her, she asks for a bra. “Mommy, I need this,” she says, “I have to hide my ta-tas!”

Um, heart attack much?! Not even three and she already understands the concept of modesty? This could be a good thing. Papa sure seems to think so. Of course, it’s a better alternative than stalking and/or beating up any of Kiri’s potential “seekers”…but you know.

Melt my heart.

There is nothing---nothing in the entire universe---sweeter than the bond these two have. With Papa being super busy and away ninety percent of the time, we really have come to savor the moments we share together. Moments like these, (which were regrettably taken with my iPhone), but precious nonetheless.

I just can't explain in words how fond they are of each other. Papa's come a long way since the birth of Punky. Freshly eighteen, out of Army Basic Training, with no experience with children whatsoever, he was terrified of making mistakes as a father. So he didn't do anything at all. (Well, he helped me, but refused to tackle a parenting job alone, with the fear that he'd hurt her or screw up royally!) And now look at him. Every chance he gets, he offers to let me take a bubble bath, while they play Zombie Farm (an iPhone app and one of Punky's faves), run to the grocery store together or cuddle for "bonding time". Bonding time?! Who is this man? Since when did he go from freaked out newbie to calm and collected father of the year? I'm definitely not complaining, as it's a pleasure to be able to let the relationship between my husband and our babe intensify, meanwhile I get to tackle tedious lady chores like shaving and such. But I'm shocked as to how much of a 180 he's done over the past two and a half years. And how much she's benefited from it.

By all means Papa, she's half yours. But I have to warn ya. If my heart swells even the least bit more, it's gonna burst at the seams with adoration. Just thought I'd put it out there.