In theory, with the girls being so young and me staying at home, I have the 'luxury' of being a able to pick up and travel when I want to. And by luxury I mean, they do not have school and I do not have work. However, the plane ride itself, without my hardworking husband, was anything but luxury (and it still costs a lot being on this coast). There is nothing like taking two small popcorn machines and sticking them in small seats (or a lap if you are Indigo) for 5 hours. Good thing the man next to me had three children and was understanding each time I looked over and Indi was grabbing on him or she was practicing her vocal skills. I could write a 3 page essay on the pains of my flights but I will save you the time and hopefully help myself forget enough so I will be able to fly again (like next week to Boise, Idaho - but I will get to that later.
Once we arrived to NJ, we got the royal treatment. I was forbid from doing any work such as cooking, clearing dishes etc... My dad steamed and pureed all of Indi's food. He and Caroline made Helaina feel like she had gone to two and a half year old heaven. She got to ride lawn mowers, a gator, listen to TuTu (Caroline) play harp and even drove the back hoe. She pushed plastic Santa in the cat stroller (the cat was hiding from the harassment, but enthralled with the visitors), bug hunted and pretty much ran the joint. Helaina even vacuumed the garage with Pop Pop which was mind blowing for me since the noise of the house vacuum bothers her so much, that Chris has to be home for me to do so. They even treated us to Story Book land - a really clean and not that packed amusement park perfect for kids Helaina's age. She had the time of her life.
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| Peek A Boo |
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| Tea time with Tutu |
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| Run princess run |
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| Can't run with shoes on |
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| Bug hunting with Pop Pop |
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| Our first H that was legit. Go sidewalk chalk! |
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The little sister is a force to be reckoned with.
"Are you talkin' to me" |
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| This was as close as Pop Pop got to holding. |
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| Monkey was a sport to the harassment |
Indigo has had a really big mommy attachment as of late which I believe is typical for this age however, I would not know since Helaina has never shown the slightest -- so it was kind of nice for me. But not so nice for my family who were itching to love on this little cute new member of our family. She did finally came around a bit to Pop Pop and to one of my second cousins, Gabriella. Other than that, she was attached to Momma the whole time.
The rest of us enjoyed our time with our family that we don't get to see more than once a year at best. It makes me warm, happy and sad all at once to see cousins (and 2nd cousins) playing together. I am grateful to have grown up with the notion that there is nothing like family!
Dad sent us off properly by driving us **"down south"and personally delivering us to Chris (who had flown on the red eye to DC), his mom and brother (who trekked up from SC). The girls did great in the car to my delight. We all had lunch in Alexandria and said good bye to dad. After driving 3 more hours in DC traffic (thank you Jeremy for driving) we arrived safe and sound in VA.
**Since marrying I have been informed that VA is south of the Mason Dixon line
and therefore part of the south. History aside, I know it's 'more south' in attitude
than NJ but after living in Georgia and South Carolina, I still have a hard time calling
Virginia 'the south'. I know my husband and 'in laws disagree but this Yankee girl is
entitled to her opinion! ;o)
Once we arrived it reinforced mine and Chris' desire to live in a house with a yard again for the girls. We all had so much fun doing a whole bunch of stuff in the yard and outside. We all played duck duck goose, soccer and blew bubbles until we were silly. Both girls were tickled pink. Mimi helped Helaina climb a tree, we took a couple family walks, and explored acorns and sticks - and even tried to dunk a basketball. Squirrels and birds were both fed and watched. It was all so very nice. We went down to Richmond to visit Nena (Chris' grandmother), his Aunt Ann, and his cousins the Lawrence clan. And since we haven't touched on much food yet, (and you people know that I chowed down on some of my Jersey favorites including Crabs, tomatoes and prosciutto), we got to indulge in one of my new favorite VA traditions, Carls. It quite possibly is the best soft serve ice cream that I have ever had. Dad Higgs was kind enough to make the late night Carls run for us. Yummy!
Its also worth mentioning that whatever apprehensions Indigo had about being held by family were shed for the Higgs and especially Nena. She was quite fine with being held by others besides mommy. Maybe she had time to get used to this travel thing. Maybe it was because daddy was back on the scene. Or quite possibly she is a "Southern girl" at heart. Whatever is was, it was nice to share the love.
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| 4 generations of ladies |
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| The Matriarchs |
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| Uncle Jeremy was a slam dunk |
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| walking "softly" |
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| Brother from another Mutha' |
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| Static head |
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| Obligatory Mimi slide shot. She's a kid a heart |
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| Heyyyyyyyyyyy |
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| Are we going to eat some delish Southern Ham Sandwiches? |
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| Uncle Jerm giving camera lessons |
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| This is my favorite picture of Nena EVER! |
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Bye Mimi
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As usual, the visits were too short so every minute was capitalized. Alas, it came time to say see you later. -- For a few, later this year in Florida. Fun was had by all -- until the plane ride but again, we must not speak of these things.
We will speak of the girls and their goings on. Helaina is potentially coming around from the terrible twos. She has much more pleasant and FINALLY catching on to some of the things that we have been going over repetitively for an eternity. (ok just a year but it feels like it). Sure we still put our hands and everything in our mouth still but potty training has turned a corner!!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! The last 2 days she has gone on her own accord without us asking her if she needed to go. Light. Tunnel. Hello. (Hope it isn't the train coming!) Her going to bed has been notably easier, especially at nap time.
As a side note, I had a dream of my mom the other night. It does not happen very often but I am over the moon when it does. It always the same... I never remember what we have done but know that we have spent some extensive time together and that I don't want it to end. We embrace and then I wake with one of the warmest and most grateful feelings you can imagine. I was sharing my dream experience with Chris and Helaina. Helaina was looking at me intently. I reiterated that I was dreaming of Grand Mom Angie and asked if she dreamed. She said Yes but didn't take it any further. In her pause I had wild thoughts in my head that maybe my mom somehow visited her in her dreams or something of that nature. Me: "Helaina, what do you dream about?" Helaina, very seriously looks at me and says deadpan as she stuffs more cereal into her mouth, "Food." Now while that changed the mood drastically, it was all good. Bless that girl and her love of food!
Indigo is moving quite rapidly in her new skills and tricks, as little ones do. We still only have 2 teeth but I believe we are working on 2 on the top now. She is sitting on her own and pulling herself up on furniture. She is quite strong and determined when trying to get into things -- usually trouble. She has been putting her hands up for "how big are you?, SO BIG" for a month or so. She sort of gives high five, claps regularly and is turning light switches on when enabled to do so. Besides Momma and "Dadda" she can say "Uh Oh". She is even taking a few steps with the push and go. We have been working on animal sounds and body parts with her. Poor second children! We were doing this with Helaina since birth. Hopefully her determination will drive her to make up what we have lacked in doing equally. She has a super sweet disposition and is a great eater like her sister.
We are so very lucky to have an upcoming trip to visit our friends in Idaho who we met in Hawaii. They have a little girl 2 weeks older than Helaina and another little girl almost 5 months. We are so looking forward to seeing our friends that made during one of the most pivotal times in our life. Stand by for a recap of that trip. But for now enjoy some of the pics from our trip that didn't make it into the text above and some since then.
