June was BUSY!!!!

As you all see in the pictures I posted we've been just a little busy.  June has completely flown by and I can't believe we are about to be in July!!!
First and foremost Harloe turned 2 June 7th and we had a little celebration after daddy's super regional games in Fullerton.  We had cupcakes and sang in the back of Gigi and Papa's car!  Then went to Dales for breakfast with Auntie and Lexi, Auntie Jen, Grandma and Grandpa to open presents and sing once more!!!  It wasn't the most ideal birthday party for our little sweet pea, but the pictures will tell a different story and that's all that matters! LOL.
Speaking of Super Regional, who would of ever thought UCLA, the underdog, would beat Fullerton the first two games taking them to the College World Series.  Honestly, TJ and I hadn't even discussed "what ifs."  Partly because he has taught me that with this career you never expect or count on anything because things can change in a blink of an eye.  That goes for jobs, games, travel, etc.  So I have taken to that the best I could because I have to just keep living things out as usual for the girls and keep our routines as normal as possible and worry about things as they come.  Well...they won and then it was like, "OH, you are going to Omaha!  Again, for the second year in a row!"  Now it was time to start planning.  I still had two weeks of school to finish out and now travel plans to make.
Rhowan went to Omaha with Grandma the following weekend for opening games and me and Harloe met them there after I closed out my school year.  She was super excited to go and loved being with Daddy in his hotel room.  Harloe on the other hand, she didn't know what to do with herself.  She was sooo extremely sad and fussy that it literally brought tears to my eyes.  She asked for Sissy when she would wake up, go to sleep, take a nap, get in the car and look at her car seat, get in the stroller, anything and everything about our day she wanted Sissy!!!!  I was happy to have this bonding and down time with Harloe as we don't get much of it, but to be honest, she wanted Sissy and just couldn't function without her.  It is actually pretty cool that they love each other that much and are so close.  I hope it stays that way forever.
The week leading up to us leaving poor Harloe had been battling a head cold, yucky eyes, heat rashes, etc.  But...we went and took Auntie/Nurse Jen with us! LOL.  We left first thing Friday morning to see their game that evening that would tell if they would play an elimination game or make it to the National Championship bracket.  They kept winning and we kept moving right along.  It was so very exciting.  In the meantime we made a trip to the Omaha Zoo and kept ourselves busy in the horrible heat and humidity! :/  Then come Monday UCLA would play Mississippi State for a three game series to win their first National Championship.  It was such an amazing experience to be a part of watching these players and coaches strive to beat the bad commentators, poor reporters and even our local newspapers poor credit where credit was deserved!  I am so very proud of my husband for all he has accomplished in his career, his passion in such a short time.  Yes, he is only an assistant in some eyes, however, in mine, he is the hardest working, most dedicated and ambitious coach in the NCAA that has truly earned his stripes and paid his dues to get where he is today.
I am not saying it hasn't been a struggle.  TJ's hard working schedule puts a lot of pressure on our family and our marriage.  No white picket fence here so please don't think I am trying to paint that picture.  However, we put things into perspective and I try to take everything we are experiencing as God's blessings and working through the hard times.  TJ is a workaholic.  I have officially diagnosed him...LOL.  So after our Omaha trip and coming home as Champs, off to a 6:00 am flight TJ went the very next morning to recruit and recruit some more.  So me and the girls drove to Palm Springs for a much needed relaxing getaway!  Our dear friends, The Mogg Family, gave us 4 nights paid to get away and relax and so off we went again!!!  Unfortunately, TJ couldn't join us, but we met up with my sisters family and even my parents for a night.  It was much needed and perfect.  Me and the girls slept in until 10 am every morning, took 3 hour naps, had nice AC, a pool and such a relaxing time.
After such an amazing weekend and nice getaway we had TJ's cousin Michael and Krystina's wedding to get ready for.  Rhowan had been waiting for this wedding for a whole year as she was honored to be a flower girl with her cousin Chloe.  It was such an amazing wedding and some really great family time.  I finally got a night out with my hubby and still rocked it 6 1/2 months pregnant.  It's nights like those that remind me of how lucky we really are and that I don't have it that bad.  My husband is gone A LOT, works A LOT and has a hard time creating boundaries of work and home, BUT, we are so truly blessed and it may not be about quantity but QUALITY time.  I take those nights, moments, hours that are so few in between and just want to pause time to embrace and enjoy.  Our lives are crazy now and its only going to get busier with another little one on the way.
And grandma, this is for you...THANK YOU for the emails, hugs, kisses and whispers in my ear.  You always know what to say and when I need it most.  During all this celebration, exhilaration, and exciting times, you can still see how hard it can be but you push me along and give me encouragement along the way and for that I THANK YOU.  To my family and friends for ALL the love and support during the last few crazy weeks, I can't thank you enough.  Knowing we have such a huge support system behinds us helps in ways you can't even imagine.  It takes all that love and support to help me be the mommy and understanding wife I need to be in a career that is so demanding you can never mentally prepare yourself enough.
So now July is here. It is time to just stop and enjoy the summer and have fun being a MOMMY!!!!

I love you all and will keep you posted on our fun adventures of the summer.


Much love and God Bless,

The Bruce Family

June...phew what a busy month it's been!

Some pictures to show just how much has been happening and I will catch up on my blogging later!!!  

Yep we are having a baby boy!!!!

Ucla made it to the college World Series for a second year in a row!!!! 

Ucla won and has made it to the finals of CWS...and uncle Troy payed a visit in Omaha for last nights game!!!!  It's been busy!

Harloes 2nd Birthday

Here are some pictures from the weekend and of course I will blog about our birthday girl this week!

Life of a Baseball Widow

Some of you are reading this and saying, "Widow?"  Yes, widow  well ok, wife.  I have joked about it time and time again and I try to always have a positive attitude about it.  When TJ first started this career we were just starting our marriage so needless to say, it was a bit difficult, challenging and awful to be honest.  However, we don't know any different of a marriage, other than how each of us were raised of course.  We decided early on his career would be the one we follow.  The best thing that ever happened to me was meeting the Green Family.  At the time, Becki's husband was a coach at UCLA, kind of ironic right?  TJ was at LB State as a Volunteer Coach.  They became very close friends of ours very quickly.  In this career you hang on to good people you meet because you need all the support you can get.  She showed me, talked to me, let me in, and helped me learn the ropes of what the reality really was as a baseball wife and mom. (We had no children yet, so I still didn't really get it.)  I am forever grateful for our dinners, talks, drinking nights with the hubbies, parties at their home on 2nd.  It helped me really see how to stick by your husband during the demands of this career and how to be strong and independent.  Not that I needed any teaching on that, I have that down to a T! :)
With all that being said, I still struggle.  Yes, everyone, I struggle.  Believe it or not I cry out for help and hit a breaking point too.  I struggle with being a mommy to two young princesses, pregnant with a third, working full time and a husband who is never home.  Not because he doesn't want to be but because his career and our livelihood depend on it.  I always say, I know no different and this is our life and be grateful for what we have.  Which I am.  We are blessed and have the best support system/family that gets it (the best that they can) and helps me with the kids A LOT whenever they can.  Then why does it have to get so hard?  Why am I struggling so hard?  I have hit a point where its not fair to have your own husband physically there to hold you tight and tell you it will be ok when you had a rough day, week, month.  It isn't fair to not have a husband there to help with the kids and do family things together and share in every memory.  Ughhhh, I feel awful as I type this and say it out loud because there are single parents out there who don't choose to be single and believe me, I KNOW that.  I pray to God everyday for how thankful I am and to continue to give me strength.  I just feel more overwhelmed right now than I ever have.  I feel guilty complaining reaching out, because I don't have it that bad.  But sometimes you feel more alone when you aren't really alone than if you truly were alone.  Does that even make sense???  And you all know, I am open with my heart, emotions and feelings, but I don't like asking for help or showing I am defeated.  So this is hard for me to conquer.  I want to be positive, uplifting, focus on my two girls and the baby I am carrying.  I want to just enjoy this ride  journey God has blessed me with.  I have just hit a rough spot.
I am forever grateful for the people God has put into my life.  I feel he has done that for me knowing my husband can't always be.  Sometimes though, you just want your husband.  I thank each and everyone of you who have reached out and supported, helped, listened, prayed and talked with me these past few weeks of my struggle.
I think the best compliment I received was this past weekend.  The Volunteer Coach at UCLA stopped to chat with me at the hotel while the kids were swimming and said that when he meets the woman he wants to marry she will have to meet me and have coffee with me to know what she is getting into and to learn to be a good baseball wife.  I may not always be super understanding but I have tried to really learn my role in this career run while working full time myself.  When he said that it reminded me of needing Becki to really teach and show me.  People joke about it, but you don't really get it until you live it.  You know?
Please don't take this as me being ungrateful or hating my life.  I am just struggling to find the balance that so many of us face in our own lives, marriages, work place, home, etc.  To be the best mom, healthy, good wife, teacher and so much more.  It is hard.  I know I will get through and I know I am blessed, not a day goes by that I don't forget.  My eyelids are just sore from the balling I did last night to remind me that I am also HUMAN!!!!

Until next time, God Bless and thank you all for being in my life.  :)

Another post...another baby on the way!

So much time has passed and I keep asking myself, what is missing from the days I loved being home with Rhowan...I think it may be blogging.  I miss the days of being a mommy, sharing my thoughts, feelings and obstacles of mommy hood.  With working full time those obstacles are even more so, therefore all the need to blog more.  However, not a minute of time to do it.  :(

Here we are in May of 2013, approaching summer (I can't wait to be home with my girls), Harloe's 2nd Birthday, and so much more.  I am finishing my second year working full time as a teacher at the private school and feeling totally blessed, however over worked and overwhelmed.  I feel so under appreciated as a teacher and wonder how to balance my life as a mommy and teacher every second of the day.  I can't even tell you how many times I pray about it and ask God, "How can I find a balance?"  I know I am not listening because I am sure he is telling me, but I just keep going, going and going.  Then boom!  Blessed with another baby on the way and due this October, right before Rhowan turns 4.  So once again, lots of prayers, questions and seeking of guidance is under way.  I couldn't be happier to be where I am today, given so much that TJ and I have worked so hard for and have always been so passionate about.  Who can honestly say they get to do what they always dreamt about.  Here we are, both blessed in our careers and a growing family and life is so chaotic that we forget to stop and enjoy that and be thankful for it.  I am sooooo guilty of this!!!  I have bounced back and forth between being a stay at home mommy and giving up my passion for a time the girls are in school to keep grinding it out because its taken me so long to get here.  We all know with TJ's career it makes those priorities to my children even more so.  I feel that guilt when I am not with them.  I feel the loss that I didn't get to share the time I did with Rhowan with Harloe.  I feel the pain of not knowing what to do now with another little one on the way and my kids being so small and close together in age.  Then I feel the defensiveness I have to answer to with people saying and looking at me like I am crazy for having another baby on the way.  Why does that bother me soooo incredibly much.  Why do I feel like I have to stop the stares, the comments, the passive aggressiveness in people?  I have never been one to care what people think.  Now I feel like I am consumed with it.  I feel like people forget what it is like to have young children, to be a mom to small kids.  People and their patience and compassion are long gone.  When I am in a restaurant, grocery store, church, etc.  Even at my own workplace at a school function.  Again, why am I letting this get to me so badly?
I do have to say that so much good has come from my job of working at our home parish.  I have met people I think I will be life long friends with, genuine people.  I have had the opportunity to give my children their first sacraments at the very church I was raised in.  I have finally felt that connection with God, that void I had all these years of knowing my religion and the roots of it and my relationship with God and what that meant.  I have tried to be a better person with all these contributors, however, I have still managed to struggle with the balance of my role as a mom, wife and teacher (working full time).  With the third one on the way, that pull and struggle is even more so.  The  unknown is scary for me as I am a planner on steroids.
With all that being said we are so incredibly busy with another baseball season coming under wraps, a school year ending, house plans underway to remodel and our two busy princesses.
I know there could be so much more to be dealing with and that I am grateful for.  We are healthy, happy, blessed and have a roof over our heads with two paying jobs.  We have it sooo good!!!

Stationery card

Merrily With Love Christmas Card

Personalize your Christmas card at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Stationery card

Merrily With Love Christmas Card

To view our unique Christmas card designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

Wow...how time flies!!!

So, yeah, I basically stopped blogging after Rhowan's 2nd birthday which was almost 6 months ago. Which means, Rhowan will be two and a half this month and Harloe just turned 10 months old. OH MY!!!! So I am not even sure if we have followers anymore or how often I will honestly be able to keep up on this, but I MISS it so much. I truly enjoyed blogging in a therapeutic way and to share our memories and lives with our loved ones.

So a little bit of a re cap in the Bruce lives...

Rhowan:

As I said, she will be 2 1/2 this month...she is potty trained as of December, however still will NOT go pooh on the toilet, so she brings me a pull up (princess pull up of course), does her business then comes to get me after. UGhhhh, I have bribed with it all...and so now, I am going to start her in the ballet class (my bribery for after pooh in the toilet) and see if she will feel like a big girl and then go pooh in the toilet. Worth a shot, right?! And, she is still on her...PLUGGY (pacifier)! She only gets it at home, not with grandma, not at daycare, but the second she sees me, she wines for it!!!! I am soooo over the pluggy!!!! We are down to one left in the house (that she knows about) and I have tried a few times to "lose" it, but we give in during the whee hours of the night in hopes of not waking Harloe up and having two crying children up in the middle of the night. Other than the fun stuff, she is a smart, witty, cuddle bug, loving, full of life, (and that two year old attitude) little girl that I couldn't be more proud of. Her vocabulary, independence and everything about her just blows my mind. I know we all think our own kids are great, but Rhowan is among them. ;) She can fully use and maneuver my iphone and daddy's ipad for her apps and pictures and knows who to call and how to find them on the phone. She still loves to read and is currently obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake and Disney Princess', go figure. She is spoiled and gets to go to Disneyland often as Grandma (who is watching both girls for mommy Mondays and Tuesdays) has a pass and so does mommy!

Rhowan is adjusted to me working but still gives me those puppy dog eyes on certain days saying, "No work mommy." Oh it breaks my heart. She knows daddy is gone a lot for baseball and has gotten used to that, that was a tough one as she is getting old enough to realize him being gone a lot and on airplanes. And she is the best big sister one could ask for. She loves her "Baby Harloe Grayce" so much!!!!

Harloe:

Harloe just turned 10 months old on April 7th and is about ready to walk any day now. Rhowan was just 10 months old when she took her first steps and I think Harloe is right behind her. She is anxious to get down and play with her big sister and cousins. She gets so excited. She is such a good baby, sleeps well (goes down well, in her crib!), eats well, she is so calm and easy going. I feel like she had no choice because her sister is enough drama for the both of them! :) We truly are blessed with our girls, they are both good!

I often feel that guilt, that many say is normal for the 2nd child, but I don't want it to be normal guilt. I feel sad that I never get or got that one-on-one quiet time with Harloe the way I did with Rhowan. That I went right back to work after Harloe after saying I was going to stay home with her. (Although, she is in great hands and luckily didn't have to start daycare til 6 months old.) I just miss her as a baby, but with Rhowan at such a vulnerable age she sucked most of everything out of us and the DR said, she is the one that needs it. Harloe has love, food, diapers and that's all she needs, but it still makes me sad. :( I know she will be a better baby, little girl and person for it. (As I was a 2nd child too!) :)

With all that being said, I am so excited for the girls to start to play together and truly enjoy each other. I know they will be the best of friends.

TJ:

As always, baseball, baseball, and oh more baseball. If he isn't recruiting, scouting, coaching, returning calls or emails, he is sleeping or in the office!!!! I miss my husband and I know what his job entails, but it gets really hard. (and lonely too.) He is such a good daddy and misses the girls to pieces when he is home. He leaves for work when we are all still asleep and gets home when we've all gone to bed. I know it will all pay off and that he is doing what he loves, but it's hard. He is so great at what he does and has such a big future in front of him for his career and our family. I am so proud of him and know the girls will be too when they are old enough to understand. He has truly worked his way to the top for what he has wanted and is finally seeing it pay off but still earning those stripes as this is only his second season with UCLA. Keep him in your prayers for job security and the well being of himself and our family during the demands of his career. :)

Oh and we just celebrated his 30th Birhday...which we all know TJ is a no fuss muss guy and I had to get every inch of approval to try and do something small and quaint, that he would still enjoy and remember. It was perfect, well I think so anyway...he loves to get together with everyone as he misses out on a lot because of his career and never gets to indulge in those nights out, vacations, visits, etc.

Me:

Well I am two months away from finishing that long term sub job I started back in August I decided I was going to be a stay at home mommy and this opportunity pretty much fell in my lap. It turned out to be an all year thing but still only the Long Term Status when it came to pay...hard pill to swallow (and still is) but hoping all my hard work and dedication will pay off in the end for a permanent contract for next year and that most importantly, God brought me back to my home parish I was raised in. I truly feel that He placed me there, in this position, doing what I love, learning even more about my faith and building my relationship with God even more and being close to home and my girls! I am blessed and do have so much to be thankful for. So in the end, yes, I feel I got a little screwed with being paid as a long term all year, but the end gift is priceless. I keep telling myself that anyway.

So after 5 years of marriage, two kids and turning 30, I can honestly say, I'm finally where I've wanted to be for all those years I dreamt about as a little girl. It was not an easy rode, but worth the ride.

Updated pictures to come. I hope this update finds you all in great health, happiness and love around you.

5x7 Folded Card

Holiday Love Sketch Christmas Card

Create personalized Christmas cards. at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy 2nd Birthday Princess

OH MY Heavens! Our princess is 2 years old today. Last night TJ and I were laying down, cuddling, which I loved because its been forever (I miss you babe), and we were reminiscing about the day we were at the hospital awaiting Rhowan's arrival. It just seems so weird that it was 2 years ago...and even more weird that since then we had another baby, our princess #2, Harloe Grayce! Oh my, how time flies. This morning daddy had to leave very early, but he got to see his princess before leaving, yes, at 5:30 am, which mommy wasn't totally excited about, but I was so sad he was having to leave that I went with it! :)

Rhowan had balloons awaiting her this morning and cupcakes to take and share with her friends at daycare. Then mommy picked her up to have dinner and ice cream cake (thank you auntie) at Oma and Papa's. Gringa, Ampa, Auntie, Uncle Anthony, Nate Nate, Lexi and Oma and Papa all helped celebrate her special day. Thank you "Gringa" for the yummy dinner and Oma for having us all over and for completing the dinner for us! It was a great evening and I know she was as happy as can be! I feel so sad that daddy couldn't be there, but he got lots of pictures and updates throughout the night and we sang to her on speaker at least 3 times today! :) She's got it down pat that today was her day! :) She will probably take after mommy and celebrate for a whole week in her college days to come! LOL...She loved her new bike, helmet and rain boots. It was a great day and I couldn't have asked for more from our family, so thank you. The day she came into our lives two years ago has forever changed me as a person, our marriage, our families and everything in my being. We love you princess, more than you would ever know!

"My Bike!" Ok Lexi, you can get on the back! LOL

It's my Happy Day!!! :)

What an amazing day I had!!! You can't see it but she still has her Minnie necklace and bracelet on with her sunglasses in her hands! :)

Harloe 4 Months Old

Oh my how time is going so fast. I know that is so cliche, but really, where is the time going? Next week, OMG, next freaking week Rhowan will be two years old...I have started showing her how to show that she is two, but wow holding all her fingers down except two of them is hard! LOL...she keeps saying one, but we will work on it. She is just too smart for her own good and the best big sister ever. She takes care of baby...when Harloe is crying I will walk in and Rhowan is already tending to her trying to give her the pacifier or one of "baby's toys cause baby cry." :) She has such a big heart and just loves baby Harloe so much. This morning we were getting in the car and she started jumping up and down saying, "it's raining!" I said, "No mommy, it's foggy." She said, "oh, foggy?" then I put her in the car...all my bags in the car and third trip, baby in the car (Rhowan refers to her as baby, so we'll see if Harloe ever learns her name!) She grabs Harloe's hand and says, "baby, it's foggy. You gringa's too?" Oh my, she is just too freaking cute!!!

Harloe will go to the dr next week for her 4 month old check up and shots, so no stats to report, but stay tuned. Then the following week we will be back at the dr for Rhowan's 2 year check up. I just introduced Harloe to rice cereal Sunday for the first time. This past week she was waking up every 3 hours through the night, so I though growth spurt, but then thought it was time to start rice cereal. I am still trying to nurse as much as I can, whenever I am with her, however with me back at work, I don't have time to pump the way I did with Rhowan, so I see myself nursing less and less already. It makes me super sad cause I went 7 months strong with Rhowan. But I am learning a lot is different the second time around when you have a toddler/baby around! Which is a good thing, just different :)

I am starting to feel human again. The girls have a bedtime routine FINALLY, wow that was the hardest thing to get down with two wanting me to lay with them, hold them, Rhowan wanting to read, both needing a bath, making dinner for me and Rhowan while Harloe wanting her dinner too, Rhowan being needy while I was nursing...phew, it was rough figuring that part out. For awhile I was thinking to myself what I was going to do because I was having to call someone over just about every night just to help me get them down. I knew it would come within time and it did, it finally came. Watch, now that I say that it will all change!

Harloe is such a good baby, very low key and easy going and happy! She has transitioned to her crib very well and wakes up 1-2 times at night to nurse, which isn't too bad! Rhowan is still waking up too to come to mommy and daddy's bed and then most nights she hears me get up to go feed the baby and comes in and lays down until I put the baby back down and take her back to bed. :( I feel so awful because she is waking up too, but what are you gonna do? I keep telling myself, Survival Mode, screw what "The Books" say! Yes, you heard me right. Mrs. over analyzing, want to be perfect mommy said, "SCREW the books!" LOL...Any of you who have two, under two, in diapers, can relate and don't judge me for saying that. :)

Harloe is very alert, already pushing herself out of her swing and vibrating chair, forcing me to strap her in now. She has been on many trips to Disneyland already, and a trooper at that. I still do get that sense of guilt that I don't have the down time to really get to enjoy her and I alone time the way I did with Rhowan. I think that is natural though? So at her 3 or 4 am nursing is when I take advantage of our quiet time together.

I am still struggling finding the balance between work and being a mommy. I want to lesson plan all day and night to do everything I can in my class, but just don't have that kind of time on my hands. Then I want to come home and be with my kids and not worry about doing school work and feel I am not giving them my 100 % when I should be. So it is difficult...I know I will never get this time back with my girls at this age so I want to cherish it, but feel like most days I am just going through the motions to get through that day because I am so exhausted and stressed with wanting to be the best mom and teacher.

I feel like I am all over the place right now, but just a little update with pictures to follow. I have to download my most recent pics off of my brand new, professional camera TJ surprised me with. I now think I am the paparazzi so watch out, I have the big lenses that come on and off and everything! :) Love it...

Girls Trip 2011

Click here to view these pictures larger

Many Changes...

Wow, I am blogging, can you all believe it?! Change, seems to be the theme in our lives for the past year or so...change is not always a bad thing, its a time to adjust and count our blessings. I like to look at it as a positive thing because of what all the changes have brought to our lives. Since the day Rhowan has blessed our lives we have been confronted with change after change...just before she turned a year old we found out we were pregnant again, at this time I was a stay at home mommy, having just finished a few long term sub jobs. Then along came my office job that I started and worked through my entire pregnancy with Harloe. I was not the happiest there, but thankful for the financial stability it brought to us. I just realized in doing this job that I wasn't an office gal.

Working through my pregnancy I knew I wanted to stay at home after Harloe with daycare so expensive and work schedules not giving me the balance I wanted of being mommy and working. As we are going through my work changes, we are blessed with Harloes presence. This is a major change for all of us and adjustment period. Just as I was feeling like I knew what I was finally doing with two babies under two, it seemed another blessing just fell into my lap, literally. It all worked out being at the right place at the right time...and here I am now, a full time, working, teacher, in my own classroom! Teaching 7th grade at our home parish that we were married at and have grown up going to, what a full circle. I can honestly say, that I believe God has been holding out on me for this opportunity and that this is where I am meant to be. Now I just hope it becomes permanent, right now only being a long term sub position. However, I have not been treated that way and have been doing everything just as it's my own class, which I love!

In such an unfortunate situation with my MIL being laid off, she has been able to provide the best care for our children and even better, it's free! :) Not to mention my girls much prefer to go see "Gringa" (Rhowan's version of Grandma). It warms my heart to have her be the one to watch the girls for me so that I can not feel guilty for leaving them every morning and know they are in the BEST care! Thank you MIL, I couldn't put into words how much it means to us and how blessed we are. Not many people have it so easy with their parents right down the street and on the way to work, all less than 2 miles away from home. Can you say God has been looking out?! :)

So with all the changes have finally come a calming to the craziness. I feel like we are where we need to be. TJ getting his 2nd year contract with UCLA, Rhowan will be turning two and is quite the princess, and then our newest and most precious addition Harloe is almost 4 months old, while I finally get to take on my passion of not only being a mommy but a teacher in the classroom! :) So all the challenges and chaos have been worth the pay off!

Meanwhile, I got to end the summer with an amazing family vacation in Hawaii, (and we already have our trip for next year in the works to go back!) but our annual girls trip was this last weekend. Thank you again MIL and "Ampa" for watching the girls all weekend long, with the help of daddy of course in between his million and one games to recruit, etc. I tell ya, recruiting is busier than actual baseball season! We had such an awesome time in Temecula on our girls trip, wine tasting! Much needed girl time, as guilty as I felt going and being away from the girls it was so nice to have "me" time and girl time. So the pumping breaks in all the bathrooms throughout our wine tour was well worth the pay off of some much needed "girl time." LOL...

That is pretty much a recap of the last few months for you all. I feel like things never calm down in our crazy lives, but for once I feel like we are right where we should be and have worked so hard to be at and waited so long for. I am looking forward to getting on a routine with work and the girls and having some, hopefully, relaxing weekends ahead after an eventful summer.

Wishing this update finds you all in good spirits and health.

God Bless,

The Bruce Family

Mammoth 2011

Click here to view these pictures larger

Hawaii 2011 Vacation

Click here to view these pictures larger

Part 1 of Mammoth Trip :)

Click here to view these pictures larger

2 trips to the OC Fair this Summer!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Rhowan's 1st Camping trip...Pismo beach!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Concert in the Park

Click here to view these pictures larger

7 Weeks old...

Rhowan wanting to help mommy garden...Little does she know mommy hates that and she'll need to go to grandmas house! LOL

Harloe 7 weeks old

Rhowan being her self! :)

Wow, time flies. I feel like we are still getting adjusted and its already been 7 weeks. However, I do feel like I am starting to get into a rhythm just not for bed time or nap time...seems during those two times, the most important, both babies want mommy at the same time! TJ has been getting home earlier at night being able to help hold Harloe or put Rhowan down, but there are nights I am alone and it can turn into an hour to three hour process! Yep, one baby cries when the other is just about asleep. Harloe wants to nurse when Rhowan wants mommy to lay with her and sing twinkle, twinkle. I know we'll get there.

Oh and little Miss Rhowan has finally learned to crawl out of her bed and open her bedroom door to find mommy and daddy. Last night I went in the baby's room to turn on the night light before bed and I turn around to see Rhowan staring at me from the doorway. I said, "oh, hi, what are you doing?" I pick her up to take her back to bed and what do you know...Harloe starts crying in her bassinet! So, back to mommy and daddy's bed we go and little Miss Rhowan was a happy camper back to sleep in seconds. hmmmm, what have we created?! LOL...Oh well, can't sweat the small stuff as badly as I want her in her OWN bed and sleeping through the night, right now I just gotta focus on routine and not the details! I knew this day would come and she is now 21 months going on 5 with her chatty self and independence!

I am feeling in the need of an hour in the am or night to have some alone time, so I started setting my alarm and setting up the coffee maker to wake up and have a cup of coffee after I nurse Harloe and then waking Rhowan up at 8 so that she can have an earlier bed time then what we have fallen into (9ish, I want her back to at least 8 o' clock!) So like I said, we are getting there. Things were so crazy and hectic that it's time to start slowing down, staying at home more to prepare for earlier bedtimes and start enjoying my two babies because before I know it they will be in school!

So...Harloe is now 7 weeks old and already so strong. She is wanting to lift her head up for longer periods of time then what she realizes she can, I guess I have another curious one that wants to know and see all that is going on around her. :) She is already kicking those legs like crazy when I am holding her to push herself up when on my chest. She has already transitioned so well to taking a bottle of my milk to nursing and back and forth when mommy needs a mini break! She is just such a good baby. Still sleeping more in the day than night, but that is ok. She has started to sleep from like 11-4:30 am these past few nights (in her bassinet), so that has been amazing!!!! I feel so bad for that typical 2nd baby stuff that everyone comments on: how we let them fuss longer, hold them less, etc. I have so much guilt but can't help it because Rhowan keeps me so busy during the day. When it was just Rhowan I could hold her all day and God forbid I heard a peep I went running. I guess that just means Harloe will be a much better self soother! :)

Sadly, we had to give our dog Jada back to the breeder for a better home. I just couldn't walk her like I used to or give her the attention she needed once Rhowan came. Now with two I needed our backyard back so Rhowan could play with her set up back there and she was deadly scared of Jada and Jada was so hyper she would jump on everyone not being good for having little ones running around out there. It was very difficult (thank you mom and dad for taking her) but I know in the end she will be happier and Rhowan is already loving her backyard: her slide, her fishie pool, her jump house and even wants to help mommy get the back yard in shape with gardening (as you can see in the pictures I've posted!) It has been really nice just sitting out there so Rhowan can play or leaving the door open and being able to see Rhowan out there playing and having fun. Cheap and easy entertainment and Rhowan LOVES to be outside.

I have decided to take the extended 6 week disability for bonding time, being I am still feeling very unsettled and not ready to go back to working. I am not going to stress about anything right now but focusing on my family and being a good mommy and will worry about it when this 6 week is up again! :) TJ is very supportive, having loved that I was working and we had two nice incomes coming in to do all the extras we wanted and never having to worry about money like we used to but just enjoying our time and doing what we wanted when we wanted (to a certain degree of course!), but to me it is more important to raise our children and be here for them than daycare raising them. With TJ gone so much for work, he is a work horse, I feel like I need to be there for them that much more, you know? I can go back to work when they are in school, we can stand to be on a tight budget and one income again for at least another 4 years! That is unless we decide on more kids???? That's for another blog later! LOL.

Well until next time that is about all the updates I can think of for now, so I hope this finds all of you in great health and happiness and keep checking for updates on our growing two little babies! :)

Much love,

The Bruce's