Happy Birthday to my kids!

The birthdays are finally over and I have 2 very lucky and very happy kids!

We traveled to Orlando this past week to celebrate the birthdays of my 1 year old and 4 year old who have birthdays 8 days apart.  First, we had cupcakes on my 4 year old’s birthday with the family that was in Orlando.  She loved it!  And, the next morning we woke up and took her to Magic Kingdom where we let her be a sorcerer of the Magic Kingdom.  After a few missions, we went and had lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table at the castle.  She had the best seat in the house because every princess came straight to her when they entered the room.  5 princesses in one lunch, plus she got to have frosting in a cone for dessert.  That was one happy girl.  After that, I had scheduled fastpass+ experiences with Rapunzel and Snow White (Jade was dressed as Rapunzel).  Then, the new talking Mickey sang happy birthday to her.  We ended the day with Enchanted Tales with Belle.  It was wonderful!  She was so happy.  I don’t know what made her happy, her day at Disney or getting a Kindle Fire of her own.

The next day was the big 1st birthday party for Maxwell.  It was themed after the book the Very Hungry Caterpillar. I made a caterpillar banner that stretched across the food table and had a picture of Maxwell for each month of his first year.  The food was all the foods from the book.  Apple, Pear, Plum, Strawberries, Oranges, swiss cheese, salami, sausage, pickles, cherry pie, cupcakes, chocolate cake, lollipop, and green leaves (spinach).  It was a huge hit.  Maxwell did great with the cake (and got frosting everywhere).  He handled being passed around by all of the family very well too, as long as someone was feeding him.  The crafts for the bigger kids were a huge hit (they made butterflies and colored).  I forgot to read the book, but it was a great party.  It was nice seeing our friends and family.

But, I am so glad it is all over now.  We have two very lucky kids, and I feel so blessed to be their mother.  I love throwing parties, but planning and throwing a party 1100 miles away from your own home is difficult and stressful and I am glad it is over.  Next year, I am looking forward to 2 parties a week apart for a 2 year old and a 5 year old!

Can you go home again?

Tomorrow we’re headed back to Florida to celebrate the kids’ birthdays.  Jade is super excited, although nervous that someone is going to take her stuff while we’re gone (more on that later). I know it is going to be weird being there when we don’t live there anymore.  How will the boys do, that is what I’m most nervous about?

I moved away from Michigan when I was 18. That first time I came back to visit my family, it was weird.  Although I had only been gone for a few months, I clearly didn’t belong there anymore.  I had moved on, and the people there had moved on it.  We didn’t need each other anymore.  This is what happens when you move away. So, now that we’re going back to visit Florida tomorrow, I’m hoping my family will be okay to see that everyone has moved on and survived without them there.

Jade has already said some things that really make me upset.  First, she said, “when we go to Florida, I want to stay there.  I don’t want to come back to Texas.”  She’s clearly not as happy here as I hoped she would be. I know it is going to take her a little longer to get involved and to make some friends, but it is tough to see her struggling, because she’s such a sensitive girl.  Second, when she asked if we were leaving our stuff here, and I told her yes, she said, “you need to make sure that every door and window is locked so no one can come in here and take my toys.”  I don’t know where that fear is coming from.  But, I’ve assured her that we will not let anyone take her things.

Jeremy is stressed with work (you know, a new job and all, plus he’s worried he isn’t meeting up to their expectations).  So, taking this weekend to leave town is going to be tough on him. I hope he can put it aside and enjoy the time with our family.

So, I’ll let you know how the family does next week when we get back.  I know we’re going to have fun (lunch in the castle with the princesses, Maxwell’s birthday party, and so much more).

Adventures with Customer Service

Moving to San Antonio has been a challenge, to say the least. First there was the car problems on the drive out. Then, we had problems with our Sears delivery of washer, dryer, and refrigerator. And, since the day before Thanksgiving, we’ve been dealing with a furniture store, trying to get a good quality bedroom set. Now, a month and a half later, and 7 visits later, we still don’t have a quality bedroom set!

I hate (and I don’t use that word flippantly) talking to customer service. I have been on the phone with these people way too much. I am stressed just talking to strangers, and I have to be on the phone with these people at least once a week. I get all emotional when they aren’t helpful and take it personally that these people don’t think I deserve quality furniture. I sit on the phone for sometimes over an hour at a time, with a 4 year old (well almost) and a 1 year old (again almost) tugging at me, climbing on me, screaming, singing, etc. almost in tears because they don’t seem to want to help me at all. Just thinking about it again has me almost in tears.

And, after today, it looks like we’re going to have at least one more visit sometime in the future.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A BEDROOM SET WHERE THE DRAWERS ALL WORK AND THE BACK ISN’T FALLING OFF?

What will the new year bring?

2013 was a big year for the Breiding family.  What will 2014 bring?

Just 9 days into 2013, our lovely son Maxwell was born.  It was a a much easier birth and recovery than I had with Jade.  I had to recover fast though.  I had Jade to take care of, and I was the president of the MOMS Club.  Everyone needed me.

Maxwell’s first few weeks were rough, just like with Jade.  He had trouble latching on, and wasn’t gaining weight (in fact he was losing weight).  But, he bounced back fast than she did.  He learned how to eat quickly and bulked up pretty fast. But, he wouldn’t take a bottle, so we had to deal with that.

A couple of months later, after a lot of rough nights and some scary symptoms, we found out Maxwell had an allergy to dairy and soy.  So, I had to cut that out of my diet.  Luckily, it didn’t last too long.  At 7 months, we tried introducing it back into my diet, and the symptoms did not return.

While I was in the hospital having Maxwell, Jeremy got a phone call offering him a job where he would work from home most of the time, which he accepted.  It was nice having him home for the first year of Maxwell’s life. He got to spend more time with Jade and Maxwell.  I got a little bit of help, which I needed.

Just before Easter, Jeremy decided he needed to enhance our family once more with a puppy.  We got lucky and found a puppy in a rescue.  Her mother had been rescued pregnant.  She’s a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, with a lot of energy and a lot of spunk.  She’s very fast.  But, with all that energy, Jade still wears her out.

Our summer went by pretty much as normal.  Nothing exciting, just fun as a family in Orlando.

Then, Jeremy started interviewing for new jobs.  In September, we took a family trip out to Washington, so he could interview with Microsoft.  He loved it.  We had fun.

A few weeks later, Jeremy took a trip out to San Antonio to interview with Rackspace.

A week later, we made the decision to pack up our family and move to San Antonio.  We had a month to get everything ready and by the end of November, we were in Texas, our house in Orlando cleared out.

So, a new baby, a new puppy, and a new home in 2013.  What will 2014 bring us?  I’m excited to find out. I’m excited to watch what Jade and Maxwell will learn. I’m excited to watch my husband grow at his new job.  I’m excited to see what I have in front of me.  What will I do?  Stay tuned to see!

First month in Texas

We’ve been here a month now, and we’re doing okay.

We got here the week before Thanksgiving, which made Thanksgiving very interesting.  Me, the one who loves to cook, had to buy a pre-cooked turkey and sides, because all of my dishes and everything were still in boxes.  We had a nice day, though.  I had my husband and beautiful children with me, and that was all that mattered.

My husband is freaking out a bit about his job. He is super smart, but he’s afraid that they are going to expect more from him than he can give. I’m confident that he will shine, but he’s a worrier.

I’ve contacted the local MOMS club here.  They are very different from Orlando.  Most of them have older kids. I haven’t met another Mom with a baby yet.  They aren’t very active.  I’m in desperate need of some connections here besides my stressed husband and my small children.  I’ve looked for other groups, but so far, none of them are accepting me.

Finding a preschool for Jade has been rough. I’m just not as thrilled with what they offer here.  I’ve settled for a school and have her signed up to start in January.  I hope it ends up being ok.  The trickiest part is that I have to decide if I like it in a month, because that is when enrollment for next year is, and schools fill up quickly here.  She’s been begging to go to school too, so I know she misses fun time with people her own age.

Maxwell is doing great.  He’s trying to drop his morning nap.  The good news is that he has been sleeping for 3 hours when he naps just once.  Now if I can only get him to sleep through  the night.

Christmas is just two days away.  There are tons of presents under our tree. I have the turkey in the fridge. I’ve made peanut butter balls, cookies, and pies.  It’s cold here.  It could snow, but it probably won’t.

So, all-in-all, we’re doing okay.  One month down.  I think we’ll be doing “well” by Easter.

This is getting real

The company my husband is going to work for is packing us up, so here we are 5 days from our move date, and we haven’t packed anything yet.  It really hasn’t seemed real, until today.  Yesterday was my husband’s last day in the office.  This morning, they movers came to pick up his car.  This is really happening.

People always say, you find out who your true friends really were when you move, and I’ve found that to be the case throughout my life.  With the exception of family (of course) and the casual Facebook “friends,” I haven’t kept in touch with very many people from Michigan, where I grew up and spent 18 years of my life.  And, after spending 9 years in Miami, I only have 1 person I keep in touch with from there, except for those Facebook “friends.”  Now, I’ve been in Central Florida for 10 years, 4 years in Lakeland and the last 6 years here in Orlando.

Everyone has very busy lives, but for those that you care about, you make time.  It doesn’t have to be hours on the phone every week, or even tons of letters.  It’s more of a meaningful connection, like what my friend from Miami and I have.  We don’t have to talk every day, or even every week.  But, we know that when either of us needs someone for anything, the other person will be there.  We keep in touch and keep up with each other’s lives.  We are there for the important events. We know, and we understand that life in two different cities and two different places in our lives make it difficult.  But, it doesn’t matter.  We are friends.

Will anyone from here continue to be a friend once we’re not here?  Or, will we all change to casual Facebook friends?

Craziness of Moving

I can’t believe that in 2 weeks we will be on the road headed to our new home.  I never envisioned myself a Texan, but in 2 weeks, that is just what I will be.  Wow! I’m excited! I’m nervous!  I’m freaking out!

There is so much to do  to get ready.  We’re trying to sell things that we don’t want or need before we move, which is a pain.  We’re trying to organize.  Plus, I’m trying to keep life as normal as possible so that the kids don’t freak out too much.

Sadly, I think I’m failing, because Maxwell is clinging to me, so I think he knows something is up.

What’s worse is that we are just now signing a lease for a place to live today.  It was difficult finding something that we both liked and that was in our price range and that we could agree to the lease terms.  At least that stress is now behind us and we have a place secured.

Now, with less than 2 weeks left in Orlando, we are so busy!  We don’t have a free night for the next 2 weeks!  It’s just crazy!  How am I supposed to get anything done? How am I supposed to get any relaxing in?  Can I cry now?

Plus, we’re moving right before the holidays. I’m worried about my hubby.  He’s never been away from here before, and for us to do this  move right before the biggest family time of the year, I’m nervous.  I hope he’ll be ok away from everyone.  I hope I can make Thanksgiving and Christmas nice enough for him.

Wish me luck! I’m going to need it!