Here is a life lesson I did not see coming: My kids are FUN!
You know, there is a point in life with littles (especially the under age 3 crowd), where a parent can easily burn out. I have to admit I have been in that burnt out state for a while now. But there is something so very refreshing about learning to have fun and enjoy life with kids. Since the move away from all our extended family members, we have found all this spare time and have been able to refocus our attention on these two little crazy people in our lives. No distractions, very few events or gatherings to attend… it has been a really great time getting to know K & L better. And though we really do miss everyone back home, this move has already been so good for us as a family.
For instance, we took the kids on our first real “family vacation” a couple weekends ago to Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach. Part of me was very hesitant to do it because we know that L is a runner without any regard for his personal safety, and a large body of water without boundaries and lots of crowds of people would make for a LOT of chasing our little man out of harm’s way. But I have to say that it was possibly some of my favorite days I have ever spent with my kids. They are SO MUCH FUN to hang out with! I could not stop laughing at L’s antics as he chased the waves and experienced the new sensation of the water crashing over his feet and the sand between his toes.
L still does not say anything intelligible, which would concern me except that he still communicates in his own ways. Something tells me he is just soaking it all up and will surprise us one day with his first sentence full of all his first words. And conversely, my dear, sweet daughter has really become quite the talker. She will talk my ears off for hours now about anything and everything. K always has a comment on what we are doing, or what she wants to do, or who/what she is thinking about at the moment. I find myself with my video camera out all the time just wanting to capture the conversations she has with herself as she plays with her baby dolls, or the narration she gives as she colors and draws pictures. She may not speak with perfect diction, or use proper grammar, but it melts my heart still. I love getting to experience our world from her perspective.
Stress is nearly non-exsistent here. People told me that would happen, but I guess I doubted that army life while being 8 months pregnant with two kids under age 3, a dog, and plethora of responsibilities would be anything but stressful. North Carolina, you have proven me wrong. We love life here! I could still do without the heat, humidity, and bugs (OH… the BUGS… that is a whole other blog), but overall, this state has treated us well and taught us that it really is possible to enjoy life together without the constantly busy, go-go lifestyle we were experiencing before.
All that is not to say that we are completely alone out here. We still go out and do things together and with other people, and we have met some great new friends so far. This past weekend, we went out to a pumpkin patch with the Slones and had a TON of fun! I just do not know how to explain it. We are relaxed now. We are laughing — a LOT. We are soaking up time with each other and enjoying the little things.
Bottom line, we are having a huge amount of fun together!
