Seasons of change

Okay so a few people have told me I really do not have a right to be a "blogger" if I update it every six months. I understand and agree but the goal of this blog is mostly to be a place for us to record stories and pictures of our family. In the last six months since I wrote last, I have updated and reoganized our family photo albums and wrote a few entries in both girls journals so I feel that I have been putting an effort into our family's memory keeping, just not via the blog. Who knew that memory keeping took so much time and organization skill. This is probably why the home I grew up in has such scattered memory keeping.

We have about 10 family photo albums and about 1000 pictures floating around loose at my mother's house. I am realizing that a few of the areas of life that I am weak at such as photo organizing, closet organizing, and decorating are things that my own mother never put a ton of time into. She did put a lot of time into us, into keeping strong relationships with her friends and family, and into planning social activities but not into the house. I am still just beginning to understand how much I am like my mother.

Since I have referenced my mom in this blog, I'll take the time to give a little update on her breast cancer. Right now she is considered cancer free and is taking Arimidex to keep the cancer at bay. However two new updates are that she has been having some unexplained pain in her glands (underarm and neck area) twice and is having side effects from her medicine so she is going back to the oncologist soon. I am praying that everything comes back negative but of course anyone whose mom has cancer knows how you are always preparing yourself for the worst. Cancer is a blessing in that as soon as you start taking life for granted or maybe not appreciating all that is wonderful in your life, the always impending threat of the return of cancer reminds you to stay focused on the positive and appreciate each day. I imagine it is a little bit like Prozac. Helps you stay focused on the good things.

Okay, so I guess this blog is going to be just one big brain dump for me. I am fighting the flu so perhaps a mental cleansing will help my body recover faster. : )

On the subject of the kids, both girls are growing up so fast. Amara is crawling everywhere, flying up the stairs, holding fingers and walking, and also doing this adorable thing where she tries to stand unassisted. She is falling down after about 2 -3 seconds right now but I think she might start walking by Christmas. She also is definitely letting us know her preferences and her personality. Her primary interest is in Annika. Whatever Anni is doing, playing with, etc. Amara wants to do exactly that. Any adult is barely noticed when Annika is in the room. When Annika is not around, Amara loves babbling into the phone (only if someone is on the other end), loves climbing through/under tables, loves blocks, and making music/noise. It is amazing how different they are. Annika was more into babies and animals and care taking and Amara loves to build, take apart, and crawl through. Amara also puts anything in her mouth that she finds on the ground. This week she swallowed a very small bead, a small pebble, and a piece of a leaf. She is so fast and so good at finding things we do not even realize are there. I vacuum every single day and still she finds things. I can't wait until she is walking so at least she is spending less time on the ground. She is also doing a lot of pteradactyl screeching because she wants to talk but does not have words yet. She recently learned the art of pouncing. She likes to crawl over to Anni, and then pounce on her. Amara screeches in delight and laughs while big sister Annika (a good 10 lbs heavier and a lot taller) whines for help from us. "Mommmy! Mara's got me! Help! She won't let go!". Watching these two grow will be quite entertaining. : )

Annika is quickly becoming a little girl instead of a toddler She uses new words everyday and can explain ideas and emotions I had no idea a 2 year old can explain. She recently has told me when she is bored, lonely, wants to write a letter to her cousin Anya in Buffalo, wants warm weather back, and wants me to go out to dinner with daddy so she can play with Masi (my sister). She also started pre-school twice a week for 2 hours each time so she is getting more brave and independent. Just now she actually got out of her big girl bed and came running out of her room calling for Samir. This is the first time she has ever tried getting out of her bed. Usually she just calls for us to come get her. Parenthood is the most challenging role I have ever had. It is changing constantly. As soon as you think you have a routine down, or a method for handling the chaos, the little kiddos develop new strengths, new needs, or new opinions that challenge the old methods of parenting.

As winter is slowly coming upon us, and we are settling in for the cold, I can't help but think of how much I should appreciate snuggling inside with my kiddos. Next summer will be full of so much change. Hopefully I will be starting medical school in the fall so I am relishing being home with my girls most of the time. I am only gone 3 days a week now and it is wonderful. Tuesday and Thursdays are school days and Wednesday is my day for studying and volunteering the ER at Bethesda North. I definitely have to share some interesting stories from my ER time. I am loving being in a hospital and being able to help patients in some fashion and learning so much from being in the midst of it all.

PS. This year I convinced Samir to let us put up our trees on the second weekend of November. I LOVE the holiday season! I am excited to bring back our annual Holiday party. We took a two year hiatus as we adjusted to parenthood but we are excited to host the fourth annual Kulkarni Holiday Party this year.