Dance Recital Hangover

Rylie just completed a week of recital practices and her two recitals with the last being last night.  She did so great, she didn't even hesitate to get on stage and did her best to hit every step. She was an animal cracker in the show "Annie." We are so proud of her and she has made huge progress since she started in February.
Waking up this morning, I was exhausted happy to have a day off of dance.  Rylie woke up saying,"Mommy are we going to my hearsal, I have to put on my costume."  She has a two week break and then she will be taking a tap/ballet combo class and an acro class.  She loves dancing and knows what days without me saying a word what days she has dance.  The day she decides she is done with dance, then we'll be done.
The recital experience was great for her and she loved it! She told me, "Come on mommy, we have to go to my show!"
Here are some pictures of my little animal cracker:

Flowers from Ashley and Aaron, who came to watch Rylie

Rylie and her friend Naia coloring backstage

Summer Is Here!!!!

Summer is officially here, I've been a bad blogger, mainly because we've been so busy, so here is what the family I love so much has been up to!

This past weekend was spent, where else, but the pool!  Rylie was in the pool everyday from Friday til Sunday. I think she would sleep in the pool if we would let her!  I am also happy to report that Liam no longer screams bloody murder when we put him in the pool.  Saturday afternoon was Liam's first swimming adventure without tears and he loved it!

This past weekend also came time to say good-bye to the Polk family.  Bill's sister(my brother and sister-in-law) got transferred to Florida.  We were sad to see them go and I don't think Rylie fully understands that they won't be half a mile from us anymore.  Many Fridays after school were of Rylie saying, "I wanna go see Sydney and Sam!"  We hope they have safe travels as they travel to Florida this week! We will be hooking up Skype and planning a visit.

Rylie with Syd and Sam at Sea World 2 years ago

Bill has been busy with work(no vacation for him) getting ready to be part of the hospital's launch of the electronic medical record.  The emergency room hasn't really slowed down for the summer and I'm looking forward to a few mini vacations this summer!

I am actually off starting today for 8 days!!!! Miss Rylie has her first dance recital this weekend and I've waited to be "that mom" since she was born.  I have the week off to take her to practice everyday and get her ready for her show.  I'm looking forward to some Mommy/Rylie time.  I'm so proud of her and can't wait to see her perform!

We have a fun summer planned; including San Diego and Chicago!!!  I'm looking forward to spending as much time as possible by the pool, with my babies and family!

Happy Summer from the Fitzgerald's!!!!!

Some Things I'm Learning the Second Time Around...

It's amazing when when you're a mom of more than one child, how things change from one child to the next.  When Rylie was a baby, my overall goal was to keep her healthy, happy and clean!!! Besides her eating puffs, crackers and other dry food, I didn't really let her feed herself until she was about 16 months old(in hopes to prevent a mess on her and the floor).  We didn't have finger paints and crayons were given in a controlled environment.  Today as Liam was eating, he had rice and vegetables on him, the floor and even his head!!! I thought to myself how things sure do change with the second one.  Maybe because with two children, my worries for their safety and health double,  and rice on the floor is small in comparison. Also, our house is now filled with crayons and finger paints which I have learned will come off the walls and counters eventually with some scrubbing!!!

Here's some pictures of Liam's messy lunch and my more relaxed parenting:

Family Time

Today has been a family fun day for the Fitzgerald's.  Rylie and I spent the first part of the day at her recital pictures.  She loved getting all dressed up in her costume! She looked adorable.  She has her first dance recital next month and I can't wait to see her perform!

We spent the rest of the day at my parents having a barbecue and swimming.  Rylie is a little fish, she will spend hours in the pool if we let her! Liam is the complete opposite and screams every time we try to put him in the pool.  I think it might be a little too cold still for him, but hopefully he gets used to it soon!

He doesn't like to get it wet, but sure sports it well!

Our little fish

This weekend also meant the start of summer school.  Biomedical ethics and Pathophysiology will be among my summer reading list.  It will be a long 12 weeks I'm sure.

We are excited for summer and hope to have some fun things planned for our family!

One Proud Mama of Two

On Mother's Day, I took some time to reflect on my children.  When you have more than one child, people often compare them and mine are no different.  I hear comments like she was an easier baby or he wants to be held more than she did.  Even though they have the same parents, they are different ages, different sexes and completely different children.  Here is what I love about my children:

What I love about her:

1.  I love how strong willed and independent Rylie is.  I have no doubt she is going to be a woman to be reckoned with when she grows up.
2. I love how she shows concern for others.  Even without saying anything, she knows when someone isn't themselves and just needs a hug.
3.  I love her sense of humor.  She comes up with the funniest things to say and has some pretty cute knock-knock jokes.
4.  I love how smart she is.  She can recite and memorize things at first glance.  She does very well in preschool, even being advanced for her age.
5.  I love her creativeness and her imagination.

What I love about him:

1. I love how loving he is. Liam always gives lots of hugs and love.
2. I love his determination.  He will try and try to figure something out until he gets it.
3. I love how curious he is.  He doesn't let anything get past him and wants to figure out how it does that or why.
4.  I love his sense of humor.  He laughs all the time, even at himself, cracks me up.
5. I love how he shows his love for his sister.  They even sympathy cry for each other.  His face lights up when he sees her.

I could go on and on about what I love about them. Through the years as they grow and change, they may have some things the same but I'm sure more things different. To me they are equally perfect and I wouldn't change a single thing about either one of them.  I am one proud mama of two!!!!!

Motherhood is not for Sissies

In the spirit of Mother's Day, I had a couple more Mother's Day posts to share, so a little late here they are.  On my first Mother's Day, I had been in a glow of motherhood of our baby girl who was about 6 weeks old.  I thought I had it all figured out. She was a happy, healthy, sleeping baby girl(maybe not a great sleeper) but I was on top of the world.  My husband for my first Mother's Day made me a steak dinner, flowers, card and this book Motherhood is not for Sissies.  I kind of laughed when I first saw it, thinking motherhood is great, couldn't ask for a better baby, it had been easy so far.  So yesterday as I celebrated my 5th Mother's Day and now being a mom of two, I realized motherhood is kind of like a game of survivor, us against them.
Not everyday is without some tears, the house isn't always spotless and even sometimes I think, "Wow, kids score 1 and mom 0."  I've learned, as long as they are healthy, happy, fed, loved, clean and housed, that's all that really matters.  While everyday isn't glamorous in motherhood, everyday is amazing for so many reasons.
Here are some of my favorite quotes form the book:
"Motherhood is not for sissies.  A mother needs strength, courage, patience, a big heart, and, most of all, a good sense of humor.  Raising children is not for the fainthearted; they disturb your sleep, add wrinkles to your brow, and test limits of your physical endurance."

"All mothers are working mothers."

"That million-dollar smile doesn't come cheap."

"Never tell a child anything you wouldn't want the whole neighborhood to know.

"In the cycles of motherhood, there is never a dull moment.."

"Laughter is like changing a baby's diaper.  It doesn't permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while."

I truely love being a mommy, mainly because I get to be Rylie and Liam's mommy.  I am thankful and blessed everyday to have been given these two children.

Some things I learned from my mother...

My Mom and Liam

So with mother's day here, I want to share a little bit about my mom.  My parents divorced when I was between 6 and 7 years old.  I chose to live with my mom for certain reasons, mainly because even at that age, I knew I would have a better life living with her.  She supported us all by herself, even working two jobs to provide for us.  I never felt like I was without and it was the memories we made, just her and I that I always remember. We went shopping, to car races,  concerts, camping, different community events, we were a pair.  Every year for six years she spent her only vacation with me at the fair, helping me with my animal, staying up late washing my show clothes for the next day, cheering me on as I showed.  She was at every dance recital and barrel race, she was my number one fan! She always put me first and did everything to give me the best. I could write pages on how much my mom means to me and here are some of the things I learned from my mother:

1. Always tell the people you love that you love them when you have the chance because you never know when that moment will be the last time they here it.
2. It doesn't matter how much money you have, the car you drive or where you live, the memories you make with your children and how you share your life with the people you love is what they will remember.
3.  Always keep your word and promises to your children, whether it be a reward or discipline, your child will have much more trust and faith in you when you follow through on what you say.
4.  Always support and love your children no matter what decisions your children make, trust in the way you raised them and understand that sometimes they have to go through their own learning experiences to find their way.
5. There are never too many "I love yous and I'm proud of yous."
6. Always keep open communication with you child and be a listening ear, not just a mouth of advice.
7.  Everyday encourage your child to be their best and praise their every attempt in doing so.
8. Even when you aren't with them, they remember the morals and values you taught them.  Trust in that when you worry about them when they're away from you.
9. A child remembers how much you love them by how you show them and not just by what you give them. Children remember moments more than things.
10.  She always told me, "You'll understand one day when you're a mom."  Well guess what?, I realized how she raised me was through the love she had for me and her fears for me being out in the world would soon be my fears as I raise my babies.

I wouldn't be the woman I am or the mother I am if it weren't for my mom, she is one kick a** lady and I hope I can be half as good of mom as she was to me.  I am forever grateful for the choices she made for us and for the best life she gave me!!
Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!
Love, Me