Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails vs sugar and spice and everything nice

This afternoon I had my lipstick samples out because I was helping my sister pick out a new lip gloss sample that she wanted to get. While we were doing this Isaac wanted to try some on. Before I really thought about it I told him that lipstick was only for girls. Well at that age you all know what came next: the question "why". Once again I spoke before I thought and told him that little boys didn't need it because they are already perfect. Looking back I wanted to kick myself because I pretty much told him that girls need to change to be good enough. I know he is only 4 and this probably won't scare him for life. More than anything it was an eye opener about how hard it is to be a parent and how little ones are always learning.

My other half

One of the things I have really noticed this past month is how much I really do depend on Eric for so much. I am living with my parents so there are people here in the evening with me so I am not alone here any more than I was in any other place. But there is something about the husband and wife relationship that means so much to me. It goes beyond just missing him I truly feel like half of my energy source is gone. Just knowing that Eric is coming towards me at 70 miles an hour is giving me more energy. I truly feel like he is my other half.

When Eric and I are together we spend a lot of time being quite and just being together. With being separated we haven't had that. Talking on the phone allows us to stay in touch and connected but it doesn't strengthen our relationship at all. I know I have blogged a lot lately about Eric and our marriage but it has really been on my mind.

Only 3 more nights

February has been one of the fastest months of 4th year and also one of the longest. I have loved being here with my family. I will admit I make plans to get stuff done but then someone wants to hang out and knowing that I am leaving in about a week makes me want to ignore my to do list. This has been the reason February has gone so fast. The reason it has gone by so slowly is that at the end of the day I go to bed alone. Eric has been in New York on a rotation. After the craziness of this year I am really looking forward to stability of fourth year. Granted it will be stable chaos.

Why doesn't anyone stay in one place anymore

Okay I'll admit it, I haven't been very good at blogging lately. I have pictures from when Eric and I were in NYC and when we went to Hoboken, NJ to visit Carlo's Bakery (site of Cake Boss from TLC) but haven't found the energy to get my computer and my memory card together yet. Plus Eric has been in Kingston, NY for the month of February so I spend a lot of time filling him on my days that it feels redundant to me to then post it here.

I am in Iowa staying with my parents. While I am really enjoying the time with my family I am also really missing Eric. Props to all of you who go much longer than a month without seeing your significant other. Some of the highlights of the last two weeks are:

~Packers won the Superbowl!! (My family are all huge fans, Jenn and I were born in Green Bay)
~My niece Leah turned two and had a penguin themed party. Jenn and I even made penguin cupcakes for her party
~I met my nephew Adam Taylor who was born on Jan 6
~Found out my brother and sister-in-law are going to have a little girl in June
~had appointments with the eye doctor and dentist

I think that rounds out the fun times here in Iowa for now.