Packing Up

Isabella and I have been enjoying the past few days at my sister's house. Both the girls are sleeping now so I just packed up and we'll be leaving after lunch to go home. I think I speak for quite a few moms when I say that as fun as it is to go somewhere, it's always good to get home and get your child(ren) back into their routines and their own beds. The first night away is always the hardest for us. We had a long, fun day at Monte's sister's for Easter. Isabella didn't get any naps until the car ride here to my sister's in the evening. She had a hard time settling down and didn't get to bed until 9:30 (she goes to bed at 7:00 at home)! And my sister was the one who got her to go to sleep (Isabella LOVES my sister). And why is it that the later a child goes to bed, the earlier they wake up?? I knew she would be getting up early, but she was up for the day before 5:30 a.m! I am definitely not used to that, I was borderline comatose for the rest of the day. In fact, I fell asleep rocking my niece a few hours later!

The cousins are having so much fun this time! I can't believe how much my niece talks (she's only two months older than Isabella). We thought Isabella could say a lot, but Rachel says everything - honestly she can say any word you ask her to, it's amazing! She even says Isabella (Bella) and she calls me Anga. It's so cute to watch them play, they just sit on the floor handing toys back and forth to each other, and as each one gets handed a toy they say "thank you". Precious. Of course there were also a couple of spats over a doll stroller and a big, fat lip for Isabella (although that had nothing to do with Rachel, just her own clumsiness led her straight into the path of a rocking chair). And they must be really wearing each other out, because after our first night here, they've both been sleeping a lot. And taking naps at the same time - it's glorious!