37 weeks...

Things looming ahead of me in the beginning of 2018 -
1. Give birth
2. Close on house
3. Get washer/dryer/fridge/curtains and settle into this said house
4. Move O into new school and hope she doesn't become traumatized by all the changes in such a short period of time.

Isla, our new upcoming baby, is doing considerably well considering all the stresses in my life and work.  I hope she is as chilled in life as she is in utero.

Olivia, my existing toddler, is giving me a taste of the feisty three.  Some days I do well not to spank her and leave her on the side of the street.

Me: Olivia, who do you love more, mommy or daddy.
O: Daddy.
Me: Olivia, who do you love more, mommy or nai nai.
O: Nai Nai.

No I didn't cry.  I know she loves me.  And perhaps I shouldn't even be asking these questions but she is so cute in answering them with her unhesitating honesty.

Cooking Lately -

I was going to attempt this sheet pan chicken recipe and realized I bought sour cream instead of yogurt.  Sigh.  Instead I googled for some kind of chicken dish that doesn't require me going back out to the store... and came across this. 

Not bad. 

Quicker than roasting and pretty tasty.  

I sautéed some potatoes that Olivia devoured.  Not bad for a lazy Wednesday. 

2018...

2018... Here you are.

As I'm entering the second half of my 30's, it helps to have one (soon to be two) babies to remind me that there is a lot to be gained by aging.  It's hard to begrudge the fleeing of my youth when in exchange, I see Olivia getting bigger each day.  It is a blessing to be alive.  So 2018, beyond all hefty goals and expectations, I hope to simply stay healthy and strong for my babies.

I worked Christmas 2017.  Olivia got her long talked about tricycle but her legs are too short to reach the pedals.  She puts her horse on the tricycle then pushes it all around the townhome.  It is too cute for words.  The top hit of her all presents is an ice-cream truck from S's friend Dave and a Pladoh set S got her.  Many many hours were spent dishing out ice cream cones.

Lastly, my parents came for New Years and watched Olivia while Steve and I went to a Falcons game at the new Mercedes Benz stadium.  It was my Christmas gift to him and we had a blast.  I forgot how much fun it is to spend time alone with this guy.  FUN time.  Not running errand all around town and maybe squeeze in a meal time.  I don't know what having two kids will mean for us.  I can't imagine having even less quality time than we already do.  But I know somehow there is light at end of the baby/toddler tunnel... somehow we will come out of the other end... older, more wrinkles, but still us.