It's Coming

I see the weather turning. I feel the chill in the morning. I put little feet into little striped socks and I make sure that the long sleeve shirts and jeans are in the dresser drawers.

Autumn, late arriving as always here, seems to finally be coming to the front lines.

I wait with eager anticipation for the smell of other people burning wood in their fireplaces and I browse the soup recipes and bookmark bread making ideas for once the weather turns the rest of the way (perminantly) and I can turn on the heater and pack away the last of the sandals until next year.

I look at my Halloween decorations and take a deep breath of the Autumn scented candle burning on top of the piano and I know that soon the colors outside will make those inside and I can take Layla to pick apples and to gather leaves for craft projects.

I satisfy the overwhelming desire to stand outside in the rain and listen to the windchimes whipping in the night air by watching yet another movie from my collection of favorites and planning the Thanksgiving menu on my laptop.

I know it's coming... I can sense it... I can feel it in me... it feels like coming home.

Night & Day- Peek a Boo Version

When Layla was little I would cover my face and pop open my hands like shutters and say "PEEK a Boo!!" and she would laugh, kick, giggle and SQUEEL...wash/rinse/repeat. Good times. Fun game. The height of tiny person entertainment.

Also, with Layla she had a lot of tummy trouble from being a premie so we fed her baby mush for a long time. She was probably 9 months old before table food made regular appearances instead of being sneaky bites from people when they thought Mommy wasn't looking. She loved to eat baby food. When we switched to soft table food she loved her mashed potatoes and hated most of the sturdier cooked foods.

So now it's Anyah's turn and I cover my face and she gives me this (what on earth are you doing that for look- see above) and then I pop my hands open and she sighs. But, unjaded I try "PEEK a Boo!!" and she makes bitter beer face and cries.

So I bounce around and play and tickle until she laughs and think... ok she didn't know what to expect maybe I scared her so I'll try a softer approach. Dude- We.Can.Do.This.

I cover my face with her birdie blankie. She whimpers. I say "where's Anyah-bean?" and I start to pull it down (the whimpering continues) and when my face is revealed I say "there she is!" and she twinkles her eyes for about half a second before the single tear escapes her little eye.

I wait 2 weeks. Wash/rinse/repeat.

This baby HATES peek a boo.

She also hates mashed potatoes. This last weekend while at lunch with my mom she got to witness the 'mashed potato face' which is similar to the bitter beer face but with sound effects like a hair ball. Amusing...yes...practical...no. (Least you think it's the table foods so early...she munched down some spinach, a little brocolli and some mushed up pasta-ness and her tummy -and the rest of her for that matter- are just fine).

Today I asked her if she was confused and perhaps thought she was Canadian because everyone likes mashed potatoes. She laughed. I think that's a no.

I honestly believe she is concerned for my sanity when I ask where she is when I clearly know she's right there. I also honestly believe any game where people pop out from behind things is not going to be popular in this house for a long time because the little one...she so doesn't like suprises.

Going Places

Layla is in the "I go too" phase of little kid-hood. So imagine her suprise when she discovered the play area at the mall had little cars that you could pretend to drive. Even better, they had a "Nannie Blue Car" which she immediately recognised and asked me to take her picture in.

She's full of imagination this one. She pretended she drove to the store and got out and asked me if I wanted to walk or ride in the cart. Hopefully, that's a trait we can keep incouraging in her.

Because having imagination and being able to think outside the box isn't something I want my child to grow out of any time soon...preferrably never.

Do you see it?

For the person who asked...yes her hair on top is long enough to do a Fraggle Rock Pony Tail.

(Although, she hated it and I had to take it out pretty quickly but we'll work on that)

Turn Turn Turn

The life clock is ticking away and I find myself grasping for little moments in time trying to hold on to them as tightly as I can only to realize that time is slipping away from me no matter how much I try to catch it.

Layla had her 3 year old pictures this week. She's a totally different kid. Actually that sentence sums up the change...she's a kid now. KID.

Anyah has her 6 month check up next week. SIX MONTHS. Wtf? Didn't we just have a baby like yesterday or something.

Today I went yard sale shopping and out to lunch with my mom and both girls. Anyah sat in the high chair through the whole meal...that was a first. I fed her things off my plate (we live to break baby food rules) and Layla was an absolute pleasure.

I could get used to this. I took pictures to remember. My iPhone ate them.

Tonight Layla was scared to go to bed in her room. Last night right before Jon came to bed something happened (we don't know what) that scared her and she slept in our family bed (4 people + 1 bed= entertaining). Anyhow, tonight he took her upstairs armed with lanterns, glowing pumpkin flashlight, a glow worm doll (the only doll she likes by the way), a few stuffed animals, favorite blankets and best pillows and layed (still fully dressed in work clothes) talking and playing pretend with her until she was comfortable enough to stay in her room alone. I married the perfect man. Yes. I. Did.

Instead a studio picture from Layla earlier this week will have to hold you over. I am off TWO DAYS IN A ROW...be still my heart... tomorrow I might actually get to finally clean the upstairs bathroom, or perhaps do some cooking/baking with my lovely little kid and if that falls through...I'll blog. Because as eager as I am to catch moments and log them here for all of eternity for my children to see...

I'm more eager to just have those moments.

Guess what?

75 Days Until Christmas

I guess I should start shopping for the kids now, right?

Guess What I'm Thanking About

I find myself wondering...pondering really...

What will Layla be willing to eat this year?

Will Anyah like the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce?

Should I make one chocolate cream pie for Jon or two?

Yeah... daydreaming about cooking food for a month from now...totally something I do.

Cajun Turkey, Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage & Apples, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce (this year instead of Cranberry Relish), Deviled Eggs, Green Beans with Bacon & Onions (instead of that same old Green Bean Casserole), Homemade Rolls and pies... oh pies... I love to hate pies.

This year I'm cutting back the number of dishes. There are so few of us now and I always over do it. Plus I have 2 kids and I'll be working the graveyard shift. The menu... it's reduced to the best stuff... well what we think the best stuff is.

We'll save the ham, candied sweet potatoes, two extra veggie dishes and the cranberry relish that takes 2 hours to make for a change...instead maybe we'll actually have some room left in our tummies for 2 pieces of pie...

then again maybe not.

Last Straw

Sometimes the worst picture ever is the greatest picture ever...

this is definitely one of those times...

Can I eat that?

Anyah is officially in the "is this edible?" phase... which is interesting for me as a parent because Layla really didn't put things in her mouth...so now it's not "Anyah's first time on the swing" so much as it's "look what Anyah did when I put her on a swing for the first time".

Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Today after Jon and I got off work we headed off to the local (ish) Corn Maze & "pumpkin patch" at Fantozzi Farms in Patterson. Layla had never been to a corn maze and I wanted to let her pick her own pumpkin (even though Nannie brought her "the Great Pumpkin" last week (seriously folks I think that pumpkin weighs 50 lbs).

I must say the corn maze part was fun, even for Anyah who kept bouncing about in the stroller (she was asleep when we got there so I opted out of the sling which would have been less bouncy). She laughed away as we bumped and dodged around the smallest corn maze following Layla and Daddy.

Layla loved the corn maze but was more impressed with the train which was decorated like a cow. I think if we could have just rode that over and over she would have had even more fun. She tried everything once though, the corn seed pit, the tricycle races, climbing the hay bale pyramid... everything but the hay ride, which really didn't look that fun.

It was another item off our Autumn List and I am glad it was. Although next year I think I'll put in a real trip to a different pumpkin patch in addition to the Corn Maze because their pumpkin area left something to be desired...like... the general feel and enjoyment of a pumpkin patch. Stick to the corn maze, no really, stick to the corn maze. Still a fun little family outing, if I do say so myself.

Version 3.0

I swear to you I didn't talk about it for awhile because I didn't want to curse it but it's been a few weeks now and I am quite impressed. Literally, the day after Layla turned 3 she woke up older. She is more independent, more confident, less inclined to argue or throw fits. She is more accepting of her baby sister. She is more willing to try new things. She stopped acting out in the potty department. She decided she can use her words.

She's branched out into a new level of independence where she wants to pick her own clothes, have a say about her own lunch and determine exactly how many times you're going to be reading that doggy book before bed. She decided she sleeps on her futon in her room not her bed, for instance.

But, if that is the price we pay for this brilliant little girl to stay brilliant and happy all day... then let the opinions roll because Mommy and Daddy were SO DONE with terrible two's.

Now....let's just hope it sticks.

Remembering

She laughs just like him when she thinks you're making an ass of yourself. She smiles like him when she is being a goofball. She sticks out her tongue a lot when you try and take your picture, just like him. As the anniversary of his death gets closer... I am reminded of him in a thousand little ways but mostly I am reminded that he will always be a part of me, a part of her... because she was born on his birthday and he's obviously keeping an eye on her...because she's a stinker... just like he was.

Autumn List

Half asleep in September watching Halloween Movies and having popcorn (she didn't want my caramel popcorn) Attending the Fall Festival in Newman and watching it's parade

Feeding the ducks at Donnelly Park in Turlock (no picnic but we brought a snack and had that)

Making Bread with Mommy on an Autumn Day...

Remember the Autumn List? Well in case you forgot it... just wanted to point out the things we've done off of it so far...

And later this week we have plans for the pumpkin patch/corn maze..

I Wear You

Because my hands are full but not as full as my heart. I wear her. Because she feels me breath and she knows she is safe. I wear her. Because the day is long and tasks are many. I wear her. Because my eyes glance over her head at my older child running as fast as she can and I know that the confidence to be an individual who takes risks is born from knowing that someone is always willing to hold you if you fall. I wear her.

I wear her because I wore her sister. I wear her because for centuries we have carried them... on our sides, on our shoulders, in our arms, on our backs and in our hearts. I wear her because there is no path I could walk that hasn't been walked before me and the women who choose this path have also created beautiful little souls.

I wear her because I am a citizen of the world and I want my child to go out into it and experience it...safely.

I wear her because there is no safer place than Mommy. And, as I grow as a mother... my confidence in standing up next to those I am proud to call my own has grown.

So I wear her...

And I am not alone.

**If you are a babywearer, or you've ever been a babywearer, or you want to be a babywearer some day I highly recommend Adventures in Babywearing's Call to Action for Babywearing awareness**

Wednesday

Today, due to rotation, I am off work. Today is my Saturday. Ironically, Sunday is my Sunday. So the split week...it has it's ups and downs. The upside is you have a day mid week to do things occassionally. The downside is when that happens it's several days until you're second day off. Not having two days off in a row, often times feels like you didn't have any days off. Losing this problem is one of the many things I am looking forward to about changing my job.

Today, the girls woke up VERY early. Anyah woke up when Jon left the house at 4 am for work. Layla only slept until 6:20. It was an early day. We stumbled downstairs in the "still darks" and we snuggled under quilts with the front door open (Layla insisted) and watched Olivia in the dark.

Eventually, we crawled out of our warm and cozy cuddles to try out a new roll recipe and make home made bread. Yummy! It worked out pretty well but we'll have to triple the batch for holidays and I want to practice it a few more times before Halloween.

Then we laid on the floor and played together. Me, my girls, and a pile of doggy treat shaped graham crackers... it was quiet. It was lovely. Eventually, Anyah took a nap in her crib and Layla got dressed. There was lunch...which Layla made for herself. Then Layla took a nap and Anyah played on the floor.

I talked on the phone to one of my girlfriends. I texted with people. I played words with friends. I had a long talk with an old church friend. Naps ended. I shared a Pepsi with Layla.

We put our shoes on. I took the girls to the craft store to get a feather for my "indian" costume for work tomorrow. Layla spotted a witch (a lovely woman in goth attire, with a tattoo and jet black hair). She yelled "a witch, mom, a witch, a real witch, look a witch" while pointing. I didn't die from embarrassment, I made her apologize for yelling at someone. She said sorry. Ironically, she wasn't being mean, she loved the witch. She probably would have let her come home with us. I would have let her come home with us. She was a HOT witch and she was hella cool. She was a bigger girl and she was beautiful. I hope she knows that, I wish I had told her.

Then a girls day at the park. We fed ducks salt free saltine crackers. Layla called the geese "giraffe ducks". We ran on the grass. There was a multi-school track event at the park. We watched other people run as we walked all the way across the park to get to the playground from our parking spot in hell the sun. I wore Anyah in the sling. She chewed on my braids and made happy noises at kids running around beneath us on the big wooden playground. She stared into the trees. Layla yelled "it's so fun" about 11 times at the top of her lungs. She hugged another little kid who then proceeded to chase her up and down a bridge at least 12 times.

We went hunting for shapes and much to Layla's suprise ended up back at the car (I'm a tricky Mommy) then we strapped up and went home to make Daddy dinner while Layla sang a song about ducks and slides. Anyah managed to get her hands on her socks and pulled one off. No one cried...we left the park and NO ONE CRIED. Parents everywhere just gave me 2 thumbs up.

At home I made tacos and we all ate dinner. Jon tinkered with the desk top computer. I downloaded pictures from my phone/camera. Anyah went to bed. Then I took a shower. Then after some Animaniacs and gold fish crackers Layla went to bed with her little lantern. The dishes got done. The floor didn't get redone (we just did it 3 days ago but those darn goldfish are everywhere).

The door is open and the candle that is burning smells like fall. I am excited to think that Christmas shopping, turkey leftovers and twinkling lights are going to slowly start making appearances in every day life. I don't even mind that I have to work a half day on Saturday because I know when I get off I am taking my big girl to the corn maze.

I find Autumn to be refreshing. I find the cool air stirs up things inside myself I almost forgot to acknowledge. And I day dream... not of things far off that I'll never get...but of things near by that I never want to forget...

Like how just another Wednesday could be the perfect day.

Day & Night... months later

This little one, she's usually quiet. She hates being cold. She doesn't like having her feet covered. She sleeps on her side. She loves warm water. She hates change when she's already content.

This one, she is always talking. She loves running through cold sprinklers and playing in pool. She likes big fuzzy blankets that cover her from head to toe. She sleeps sprawled out in one of 30 different positions that can make 37 inches of human cover an ENTIRE queen sized bed. She loves playing in the bath so long the water gets cold. She is a state of constant change/ perpetual adventure and constant motion.

My girls they keep us on our toes. Then again we did buy the big one skates all on our own...so perhaps we just like being on our toes.

But it's so cute when she says Skapes instead of skates... how could we not?

And the baby...she's just all sorts of cuddly lately. She may grow out of that someday so I am enjoying it as much as I can...

Plus it's so cute when she giggles when she knows you're gonna lay down with her in bed... how could you not?

To Layla at 3 Years Old

Ohh Laylabug,

At your 3rd birthday party we all gathered around the cake and sang "happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear layla bug happy birthday to you" and then you puckered up and attempted to blow out your # 3 candle (and then blew it out with help from your friends/papa)... it took all of 3 seconds for you to stick one finger up in the air over your hair and yell "ONE MORE TIME"... and we did... one more time... because who can walk away from such a beautiful request for celebration of life. One more song, one more candle, one more hug, one more kiss, one more silly dance, one more minute to cuddle in the morning, one more moment to marvel at what a beautiful little sense of what you love you have already developed.

I hope that your vivacious nature never tames itself. I hope that you always have enough joy and confidence to throw your hands in the air and scream at life "ONE MORE TIME".

You're smart, funny, imaginative, alert, confident and oh so loving. If this is the path you manage to stay on for your life you will be one of the most brilliantly beautiful people I've ever known (both inside and out).

I hope you are always this sassy. I hope you are always this honest. I hope your love is always this pure and that your heart stays open to loving every person you know well. I hope that you never learn what it is to doubt yourself for no reason and that you always love the image of beauty that God has created your body & soul to be. I hope that you know what you want and you go get it and that if you ever find that you don't know what you want you're not afraid to try a few things out and see where you land. I hope you have a give um' hell attitude...at least when it really counts.

Daddy is your favorite person on earth. I think the official earth ranking tally is Daddy, Nannie, Mommy, PopPop and then Anyah. In fact I think Daddy would be your favorite thing on the whole planet, except you discovered Doggies...and now he has to settle for a close second. You love Doggies. You get that Doggy love thing from Nannie. Just like you got your sense of adventure from your Daddy and your love of the kitchen from your mommy.

You are developing into your own little person now and while you take little bits of each of us. You are already uniquely you. You love chocolate milk, movies with music in them, finding letters/numbers/shapes in random places (signs, etc), dancing, playing outside, water, running as fast as you can, playing doggies, playing in the mud, books, flash cards, blocks, trains and drumming. Oh boy the drumming, that's another thing you got from Daddy. You dislike green beans/peas, watermelon, hot concrete in bare feet (who doesn't), the sound of wind outside your window, cats, being forced to sit still, tight clothing, long periods of silence (you talk, talk, talk which I suppose I must admit you got from me), people who put things away in the wrong place, time out, having your hair brushed and having to go home from the park early. Then there are the things that you are still feeling out of which I suppose you haven't decided if the pro's outway the con's on. Much to her relief Anyah just came off that list. You've decided you like having a baby sister. Although having to share blankies and pillows-- that part is just ridiculous.

Tonight your Daddy had to work late. Usually Daddy puts you to bed but tonight because he isn't here I had to struggle with putting both you and your sister to sleep. As I took you into your room to put on your jammies Anyah (or Awnie Sister as you call her) woke up and began to cry in the other room. Your tiny little urgency light bulb went off and you took off like a rocket to her side.

"Oh sister, don't cry" you told her as you patted her tummy (which she hates by the way unless you're the one doing it) and attempted to (a little zealously) stick a bottle in her mouth. You're so protective of her all the sudden. It's like the sibling instinct kicked in with your 3 year birthday. Suddenly, making her laugh or making her stop crying are a top priority for you several times a day.

I can't wait to see what sort of a big sister you are. As brilliant and awesome as you are just as an independent and wonderful little person, I am amazed by watching you grow into someone who learns about having relationships with other people. You're very empathetic for a 3 year old.

In the beginning people compare things about little kids. There is this long list of milestones you check off one by one (she rolls, she stands, she walks) and they tell you that those things are important. Then your child gets a little bigger and there is a list of things to learn and you watch (the list of colors, words, numbers, letters, shapes), an endless supply of vocabulary words will tumble out of your toddler and people will tell you that those things are important. And they are...

But, me... I personally think that now we are getting to the important part of your life, little bug, that part where we nurture you're loving acceptance of others, your sense of adventure, your development of personality, your use of the skills God gave you. Now, that part where we start to see who you will really be. Well that's the important part... and it's the longest part of this adventure.

There is a W. Feather quote I have always loved that says "One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure" and I think you're life, little girl, is going to be very full. Because you view every moment, every game, even nap time as an adventure unfolding right before your very eyes. Any life that filled with excitement, wonder and your Mommy & Daddy's give um hell attitude is going to explode across the horizon for you some day.

And no matter if you succeed, or if you fail. No matter if you take the short path or the long one. Even if you get confused some day on what blessings really matter or what life lessons shouldn't be toyed with... we will always love you. We will love you in ways undescribable with grace unimaginable because you will always be our baby... so we'll help you in any way we can and if that doesn't work (no matter how old you are) Mommy plans to just look you in the eyes, throw her hand in the air over her head and yell "ONE MORE TIME" because it worked pretty well the first time she saw you do it.

Love,

Mommy

Crazy Times

When this posts I'll be at work. I'll be at least knee deep in ringing phone lines, paperwork, forms and computer databases. It's my life. I accept that sometimes I'll have to work when I don't want to be there.

On Saturdays, my little people stay with Daddy or Nannie (depending on the weekend) and I trudge off to miss the best parts of the day. My body says sleep in (even though it hasn't really done that since we had kids) and my mind says leave on your jammies but instead I drag myself from the land of silly socks and songs sung by cartoon characters dancing next to giant primary colored shapes...and I get the job done. I'm even able to say with reasonable confidence that I am pretty good at going to work.

But, I am better at being home. So earlier this month I was offered the opportunity to take a job change and flip our entire existence up side down. I discussed it with my husband. I discussed it with my mom (Nannie Playcare) and then I jumped in with both feet...

And my new job will work all night long. It will be exciting, new, and better paying. I'll come home in the morning (wearing jeans & crazy socks-no more dress code) and I'll eat breakfast and snuggle my babies. Then I'll take a nap, or two, or maybe three if I can swing it.

But I'll be home if someone needs me. I'll see Anyah's first steps and I'll get to take Layla to dance. I'll still be tired. I'll still be working. I'll still be mommy and wife and employee every single day. But I won't be trudging off during the best part of the day.

I'm blessed that I'll have people helping me get through it so I can sleep if I need to or take a break if I need to. I'm also blessed that I know I get have an adventure in every day life... one that someone will actually pay me to go on.

So the question gets asked daily. How can a mom of two little kids go to graveyard shift? The answer: How could I not take the opportunity to give my children more of me...even a sleepy me... if that was an option.

Wild Ones

I've never been fond of people telling me what to do. I've always been stubborn. I've always walked my own path, while beating my own drum and usually singing something at the top of my lungs. It's in my nature. I tell it like it is.

It's in her nature. The way her hair ends up in a wild frenzy 10 minutes after you brush it out. The way she drums on every surface around her, how she makes up songs with words that sound perfect to her own little ears. She's stubborn. She stands in her own path, a hand on each hip and tells you exactly what she thinks about what you're trying to do to.

I don't stop her from expressing it, the wild side, because I know penting it up will only make the urge to let it out twice as compelling and that release is twice as dangerous. I don't hush her or tell her that what she fills isn't valid.

If she says she is sad. Then she is sad, whether she should be or not is irrelevant because she is.

If she is happy, then she must be happy and who am I to tell her the face of happiness doesn't dance around in the walmart wearing shoes on the wrong feet.

It's important to me as a mom that she know I respect who she chooses to be. And while part of my job is to teach her to be mindful and respectful of others when it's appropriate I also take huge responsibility in teaching her to be mindful and respectful of her own nature so that hopefully someday she won't feel ashamed of the silly, smart and confident person she's growing into.

To Anyah @ 5 Months Old

My Little Anyah Bean,

You hear people talk about their children sometimes...they will say... it is like she's wise beyond her years... like she's been here before. You are that baby. My little people watcher. My quiet one. The snuggler. The baby who knows exactly how to get people to relax. The baby who just knows when things are not okay, or when they are going to be.

I was worried when I went back to work that we would lose some of our closeness but you light up every day when I come home and it makes me feel loved. You do your best baby gymnastics to try and flip yourself around to see me and you proceed to cry every time I leave your sight until the next day when I leave for work. It warms my heart the way you grin ear to ear when you know your whining and pleading has broken my resolve and I am in fact going to take you upstairs where it is quiet and let you roll around on the bed while playing with my hands and my hair.

You still love a lot of the same things... watching your sister play, pears, bananas, your own toes, purple elephant, jingle baby, sleeping next to mommy, warm baths, the wind chimes, breezes in the trees, snuggling, watching people, and sleeping while riding in the car. You've added a few things though... rolling over (your a big fan of the process but not the actual landing on your tummy), trying to grab the spoon before it gets into your mouth, the jumperoo (bounce bounce bounce), singing songs, and watching the puppy be crazy.

Your dislike list...well it's smaller but it's still the same stuff... cold in any form, loud/sudden noises, rollercoaster type games (you don't like moving too fast), the exersaucer, laying on your tummy. New to the list...peas and green beans... you're just like your dad on that one. It's ok though, there are lots of vegetables in this world and as long as you try them all... mommy has no food rules.

Right now you're crashed out on the couch which is amazing for many reasons, (1) it's not nap time, (2) your sister is singing at full blast and dancing to the Huffalump Halloween movie, (3) you don't normally sleep on the couch but mainly (4) I am typing something. Good Lord Child if you could calm down about the Anyah vs the Laptop battle I would greatly appreciate it. I guess you're so observant you've figured out when the laptop is out someone (mommy) is going to ignore you. But, geez, the instant freak out makes it hard to get pictures of your adorableness up on the website for your family who lives in other states.

This month you and your sister became BFF's. That's probably mommy's favorite change so far. I was worried there for awhile that she was going to resent you forever but alas Tuesday while I was getting ready for work you woke up and Layla had already moved into Daddy's spot because she accidently woke up when he left the house. So I went into the bedroom fully expecting her to be torturing you and making you cry. I must say I was shocked that instead she had pulled your blanket back up and stuck your bottle in your mouth. When I walked in she said "sister a crying, I fixed it, you go now". So I finished getting ready for work. You were quite smitten with her helping you out with your wake up process.

Halloween is coming and when it does there will be much love for your puggy little legs sticking our from your pumpkin costume. You have the cutest little thighs. Your long and tall though so your still going to be a very stemy pumpkin. A watchful and curious pumpkin, for sure, because you've already taken a lot of interest in the Halloween decorations I put up around the house to welcome Autumn (and entertain your sister). The thought of you and your sister sharing holidays from now on makes me happy.

Dennis Waitley says “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude” and that is what your daddy and I are trying to teach you and your sister about life. But, I have a feeling that you already know that... something in the way you watch the people you love. I guess only time will tell that story.

Love,

Mommy

7 Random Things

1) I got a promotion and just about everything currently dealing with my job will change in November, thusly, so will our ENTIRE lives.

2) Layla is starved for attention and totally regretting being a big sister. Plus, she hates that I went back to work. So now... she's acting out in the usual ways... sigh.

3) I have a Dr's appointment on Wednesday regarding MRI follow-up which I really wish I could reschedule because I have so much that needs to get done this week.

4) Layla's party on Sunday... it's going to be EPIC... you know why? Because her Mommy and Daddy love a challenge.

5) I blogged 4 pages of photos to the girls site tonight, which *almost* got me caught up to the end of August.

6) Anyah rolls over more in her sleep than any baby I've ever met. It keeps me on my toes when I should be snoring.

7) I don't have time for a real post but I do have time for really cute kids...see...I attached pictures...so you forgive me right?

Shapes & Colors

Layla learns almost everything she sees on TV. Which means we are very selective about what we let her watch. We do let her watch most learning shows though. She just recently discovered Blue's Clues. She loves Blue because he's a puppy. She can watch him at Nannie's House on TV, at our house on DVD and in desperate times when distraction is needed we have been known to let her check out an episode on someone's YouTube iPhone application.

Blue's Clues has taught Layla a lot. The DVD we have is on shapes and colors. She now knows about 14 colors and all her shapes. (She knew about 6 colors before and 4 shapes)

So this week we have spent a lot of time looking for shapes in every day situations. The ball is a circle. The sandwich is a triangle. The blocks are a square. Eggs are ovals. You get the point...shapes...they're everywhere.

Then I got this idea. Let's make cookies that are shapes and we can mix frosting like Blue mixes colors on Blue's Clues. I said it on Saturday, by Sunday morning it was all Layla could talk about.

Layla helped me count the scoops of ingredients and mix, mix, mix.

We used a tupperware to make squares and triangles (cut in half). We used biscuit cutters to make circles. I own a star and a heart cookie cutter. We used the circle to make crescents and the parts left over to make ovals. Then Layla cut up some rectangles out of other shapes.

I made 3 colors of frosting. Red, blue and yellow which we then mixed to make orange, green and purple.

Good times.

She frosted all the cookies but 1 herself. And they are tasty. Yummy tasty. I love learning with food.

Toothy

This cutie... she's got the tooth thing going on... it's a good thing she's cute because let me tell you...people who never sleep during the nightime...they are not amusing.

On Puppies, Birthdays & Adult Life

First things first, Layla's party is a puppy theme, because as you can see, she is still totally into pretending to be a puppy. She even licked Anyah... who has informed me...she is not scarred for life. Good times.

The birthday party invites didn't go out until Monday because mommy has a J-O-B and sometimes she doesn't have the time/money to run to the post office and buy a gazillion stamps. We never mail anything. I don't own stamps. It's 2010, the only reason Layla knows what a letter looks like is because Blue's Clues gets mail.

Today was my day to sign up for health insurance benefits and like every adult before me I got to weigh the difference between PPO and HMO. After that was done I had to fight the moral dilema between double insurancing or just having Jon's health insurance and my dental/vision. I went with option two because 1) my MRI was good and 2) I don't plan on having more kids. So for now we'll have one insurance like everyone else.

This week is schedule bidding at my work. On the 18th of October my work is changing their hours and everyone is bidding for new work schedules based on a rank determined by all sorts of things. My rank is pretty not awesome due to having a baby and being sick from having a baby. That's ok. There are no awful schedules just different ones then my first pick. I'll adapt. It's crazy stressful to think about change for me though so I am dealing with that part...poorly.

Anyah has decided that she doesn't like to be put down this week. Something about her mouth being invaded by giant teeth...honestly I didn't hear the exact explaination she was giving me because it sounded like SCREAM whine whine whimper SCREAM. Poor kid...

And that is that... 2 days down on the oh so normal work week.

Another Monday

This week will be a long one at my house. Jon works Monday through Thursday (long days every day). I work Monday through Saturday (a long week because of rotation). Despite the long work weeks we have a shockingly rare week with nothing out of the ordinary planned.

There will be dinners to make, baths to splash around in, clothes to fold and dishes to clean. You know... we'll be adults living the dream life... being parents...holding down jobs... watching TV at night before bed and feeding our addiction to scrolling through the internet on our iPhones.

Maybe this week I'll finally have time to get some pictures up on the girls website. Maybe this week I can actually try a new recipe or actually read a chapter of the book I bought in April and have yet to crack open. Or maybe... just maybe... I'll slip off into the quiet moments watching my girls learn to love each other, watching Autumn come to the Central Valley, watching each day roll into the next until finally it is Sunday and I can snuggle with my girls in bed in the morning.

Vertigo-Mommy

So back in October I was pregnant and sick...very sick...as you might well remember. I was so sick that I ended up with pneumonia by the end of winter. I was dizzy all the time and they told me it was probably an inner ear infection. I was ok with that diagnosis because dude I was pregnant and sick.

Then as the pregnancy got worse my vision kept getting worse and worse. Eventually, I started having vertigo and depth perception issues. I had preeclampsia and I was sick again so when they told me it was pregnancy related and that I was going on bed-rest I was ok with that.

Then I had a baby and my blood pressure went down and I got new glasses to correct my vision...but still I was haunted by the vertigo. I was on a cruise ship no one else was on. I was never dizzy... I am never dizzy. I was never light headed...I am never light headed. But I am very subject to spells of vertigo. That earthquake that only I feel...it's annoying.

By the time Anyah was 4 months old. I went to Anyah's check up and I mentioned it again to my Doctor. Doctors don't like it when you have vertigo for long periods of time, especially with loss of vision and loss of hearing only on one side. My left ear has always had worse hearing than my right.

So he checked me for all the chemical things... diabetes, thyroid, cancer, etc. When those results came back clear I got the news that I was going to need to have an MRI.

The Doctor was worried it was a tumor on or near my inner ear. He thought it might be a balance disorder or mineire's disease or perhaps even something like MS that affects your vision. He scared the shit out of me with maybe's and I agreed to the MRI.

I spent an hour last week in a tube listening to whirls and clicks and thunks while strapped down to a little table.

My Doctor is AWESOME and got the results back to me a day and a half later.

It's not my brain it's my eyes.

I am losing vision in only one eye. With that loss of vision I am losing depth perception, night vision and because one eye hasn't learned to give up the ghost... it's screwing with my life. Eventually I'll lose enough vision that I will have to choose between being pretty much blind in one eye or have corrective surgery.

Until then it's a party cruise around here...the boats a rocking...

But it's not a tumor and that alone makes whatever else they tell me is AWESOME.

It's Gonna Be Fun

I'm running late getting out her birthday party invites. I'm running late booking the bounce house. I'm running late on getting favors together...

But you know what?

It's going to be EPIC! Because she's two and she's gonna be three. When you're three... any party where there will be cake, bouncing, people you love and hot dogs... EPIC!

So what if the week before her birthday I'll have to run around like a crazy person. So what if financially this isn't ideal for the adults...

So what...

BEING THREE SHOULD BE EPIC

After all, you only do it once...

Love

Four years ago I got married...well four years and a few days... because I am running late getting this posted.

Four years ago I got married. Then we had two crazy kids. We learned a lot in four years. We learned what we are patient with and what we have no tolerance for. We learned that love feels much different than it looks on Wednesday night after a full day at work and an evening with the kids.

The thing about being married is that it isn't going to be perfect. We don't always agree. We don't always have the energy we did before we got all wrapped up in adult life. But in four years, you know what, we've still only ever had one real fight. We still end each day with an "I love you" and we are stronger as a pair then we would have ever been as two single people out in this world.

We've changed homes, finances, plans and and lots (and I do mean LOTS) of diapers. We've opened ourselves up to plenty of new experiences and we've held the outside back with nothing more than a give um hell attitude and a lot of respect for our other half.

So we've made it four years and it's still only the beginning of a great adventure... but I can honestly say if I have to go on a life long adventure... I am glad he's going to be the one driving my car.

Growing Up Together

I was insistent that there had to be two. I was sure their life would be more...better...safer... if there were two of them. It's amazing watching your children grow up. Watching them determine what they like, and seeing what they don't like. It's brilliantly entertaining to see them start to learn the limits of what they will and will not do. I am amazed by the way my girls are the same, the ways they are different.

I wonder about the places they will go. I wonder about the things they will do. I watch with eager anticipation as they experience a world that I thought I knew. I watch as they teach me things I didn't know I didn't know. I see things anew through their love and grace. And I grow up with them...even though there was once a time I thought I was all grown up.

In the last week

Layla finally decided that having a little sister is mildly entertaining. Her sudden interest in tickling, feeding, helping, playing, tormenting, attempting to carry and soothing the baby is down right adorable.

This change in perception seems to be brought on by the fact that the tides have settled from Mommy going back to work and Layla is finally over the 'jealousies'... but also by the fact that Anyah has jumped a few development milestones of her own in the last week making her much more interactive, able to play sitting up or standing for longer periods of time and all around more pleasant about her play time on the floor.

Helper Layla has had a few traumatic big sister experiences... she tried baby food and gagged, for example. But, she's decided that tickles and kisses get her just as much attention as Anyah and so she's spreading the love on pretty thick.

The last two weekends we haven't gotten to do much on our to-do list. Jon's birthday resulted in the adults going out twice while Nannie stayed home with teething Anyah and sick Layla (bless her heart. We missed Kylie's birthday and then this weekend we ran to the Fall Festival where I experienced the most trying 3 minutes of my life and resulted in 2 days of recovery time here at home. I did manage to get some great pictures of my mom with the kids at the parade (it was her BIRTHDAY). Good thing it was Labor Day weekend and I had an extra day to try and put myself back together... but I ended up canceling all my plans on Monday because emotionally it was draining.

I'm still super nervous about the MRI this week. Our Anniversary is 2 days away and probably will get some sort of honorable attempt at adults going out to dinner after payday on Friday. Going back to work full time is trying emotionally and physically just like it was last time only this time I have a toddler, a health issue and we're financially stretched thin so it's all about STRESS and SCHEDULING here at the Jeffery house. Jon's being a trouper about the fact that I talk his ear off several times a day in an anxiety riddled mess.

Good times.

No really, some of it is really good times.

You appreciate them more when you have to find them wading knee deep through bullshit.

Baby Steps

At some point I'll get caught up. I have *almost* all the pictures from July posted on the girls photo blog now. Which sounds impressive until I point out that tomorrow is the first day of September (our busiest month of the year) and that I have all the pictures from the many things we did in August still to post. So coming soon to a photo blog near you there will be the following posts...

• Park Playdates
• Mia's First Birthday
• Jon's 30th Birthday
• Our trip to the Sacramento Train Museum
• Anyah's First Baby Food
• Our trip to Turlock Lake
• The Girls 1st Bath together
• A Lazy Saturday at home the first weekend after Mommy went back to work
• Layla & Nannie's Puppy
• Anyah rolling over
• Anyah's first time in the Bumbo
• Anyah's first time in the exersaucer
• The girls playing with Emily and having ice cream in Nannie's Yard
• Adorable pictures of Anyah finally laying on her tummy
• The Washington Cousin's Birthday Party
• At least 3 videos of various children doing adorable things

(AND THAT'S JUST THE STUFF I DOWNLOADED FROM MY iPHONE THERE ARE STILL ALMOST 100 PICTURES I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT ON MY CAMERA!!!)

So being as we're doing a post in bullet points, why don't we talk about things coming up this month (in no particular order)

• It is both open enrollment for health benefits and schedule bidding season at my work which means it's busy even when you're not busy
• Anyah is teething & rolling...the combination of which keeps everyone on their toes
• Layla is sick, I think she has a UTI (which will be confirmed with a test tomorrow at the Dr's) but needless to say a 2 year old with UTI has a lot of accidents and cries ALOT
• It's Labor Day Weekend this weekend which means the Newman Fall Festival (because of the 2 bullet points before this one I might not make it but I am still going to try)
• My Mom's Birthday is this weekend (stop by on her facebook at give her some love)
• Our Anniversary is halfway through next week
• My MRI is on our Anniversary right after work
• I need an MRI...that's it own post so I am sure it earns it's own bullet point (most of the people who cared sent a text, called or messaged about this so I am not in a hurry to write this post but it will be a long one)
• Layla's 3rd Birthay is coming quickly
• Layla needs 3 year old pictures
• Layla's party invitations need to be addressed and sent
• Layla is having a party...that's also a big thing

(AND THAT'S JUST THE BIG TO MEDIUM BIG STUFF)

So I'm sorry if I don't have time for much this week. This post was written entirely while my iPhone did a sync it's needed for over a month and then I'm going to write back to the 8 emails I've not had time for and head to bed where my baby is all snuggled in without me.

It's gonna be a long month... Mommy needs her sleep.

Big Daddio

I married him because he was just enough long haired hippy that I knew we'd be a perfect match. I watched him grow as a person, as a father, and as a technology junkie. I have been honored to experience many things with my husband, not the least of which was his 30th birthday last week.

He is a man of many talents with the heart of an all American Good Guy and the soul of a long haired rock drummer. He is handsome, charming and now that he's seen this post probably just a tiny bit more cocky than he was when he got up this morning.

Happy Birthday Jon! We love you *this much*

The Places We'll Go - Autumn Edition

The weather this August in California has been mild. Very mild. So mild that the last two times I have taken the girls to the park in the morning (we do that sometimes on the weekend so Daddy can sleep in) I've had to leave early and drive them around in the car with the heater on to get them all warm and toasty again.
So with the end of summer slowly trickling off behind us and my return to work hitting us hard last week I am totally glad that I once made that list of things to try and do over the summer and that we managed to check off most of them... so that got me thinking...

We go to the park. We go to Nannie's. We go to the grocery store. We go to the library. I go to work. Jon goes to get the mail. Every day we go somewhere... but it was really nice to have some ideas on hand of places to go on the weekends or on our days off when the free time was blankly there staring at us in the face.

So where will we be going this Autumn?

Well the first three things on the Autumn list are three things left over on the Summer list that we never got to (it wasn't bad really we did all of them but 4- one was a summer only activity) and then I thought up some new fun adventures we might try.

• Go to the SF or Fresno Zoo
• Paint Pottery at Color Me Mine in Modesto
• Visit the Stockton Discovery Museum
• Go to the Corn Maze & Pick out Pumpkins for Halloween
• Picnic at Donnely Park & Feed the ducks before they are gone for winter
• Go visit Pa at the Ranch and let Layla ride a real horse
• Attend a Renaissance Faire with my husband and kids *this item has been removed frmo the list due to scheduling issues-until next year*
• Go to the Newman Fall Festival (Labor Day Weekend)
• Take the kids into the mountains to hike around in big trees
• Have Layla help Mommy make bake bread on an Autumn Day
• Gather a leaf collection and press them in a journal
• Go apple picking & make a Pajama Party Apple Pie or caramel apples
• Pick Halloween Costumes, attend a carnival and go trick or treating
• Watch all our favorite Halloween movies with the girls & eat caramel popcorn
  

So that's a sample of 14 things you might catch us at this Autumn. Of course things tend to get added and subtracted from the list but it's good to have some ideas up your sleeve. I don't know how many we'll actually get done. September is a SUPER busy month for us every year...but darn it...we're gonna try.

I can smell the apple cinnamon candles and feel my warm fuzzy blanket on a rainy day already.

**this post has been/will be edited as things are done on the list **

To Anyah @ 4 Months Old

(sorry about the iPhone picture for your monthly post baby but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when you give people this look)

My darling Anyah-bean,

Let me tell you four months with you seems like a lifetime of love. The other day I went back to look for an old picture of myself taken while I was pregnant and stumbled into some pictures of your sister from April before you were born and the folder seemed empty without some pictures of you in there with the pictures of her. It's like you've always been here.

This month you've progressed from newborn to baby. You sit up in your bumbo, swing, exersaucer, jumper or on the couch without help (ok not so much on the couch but you're working on that one). You've decided you're finally ok laying on your tummy to play (but only with daddy). You've started eating rice cereal because DUDE you are ALWAYS hungry. It's crazy!! And you have started actually playing with people and things. You still love rattle baby but you've also decided the purple elephant your sister used to love is amusing.

The thing that amuses you the most is definitely your big sister. You giggle while she dances and you stare at her while she plays rolling from side to side so you can keep an eye on her. She's recently decided you can be entertaining to. Before this month she was all about "oh no baby crying" and dragging us to your side. Now she's all about getting you toys, bottles, and pacifiers and making you life while your hanging out on the floor or in your exersaucer.

You still roll from your back to your tummy but you haven't adventured to roll the other way yet. You've also started putting your own pacifier back in when the mood strikes you. You have crazy hair and you have mastered the Jeffery stare down (pictured above) which you give people when they are doing something mildly amusing that is more annoying to you than pleasing...you know... like singing off key. That picture above was your first spoonful of baby food. It took me 6 minutes of stupidity to get your to laugh and open your mouth so I could get that spoonful in there.

You are a rock star of physical development. You sit better than some 6 month olds I know. You already push yourself up to standing position and can hold up your weight on your legs...you do that over and over and over.

So your likes include (but are not limited to)- soft jingling sounds, cuddling while being rocked to sleep, watching people do silly things, sitting upright, bubble baths (that switched lists), trees dancing in the breeze, co-sleeping, puppy kisses, and being talked to. Dislikes include (but are not limited to)- cold things, loud noises, daddy sneezing, when mommy leaves for work in the morning (oh yeah I went back to work this month), when sister tickles you (which isn't very soft and gentle yet), hats, extended tummy time, being held by people you don't know well and the rash you got from cat dander.

As far as personality goes you are the opposite of your big sister. Where she is sassy and playful and loud you still remain peaceful, content and observant. You guys make the perfect pair though, balancing each other out and playing off of each others strengths. Good times. I enjoy taking you both out to fun outings and watching how you process things differently. Her running around trying every single thing she can think of while squeeling...you grinning shyly, watching intently and trying to take in every little detail.

So we enter month four with a wide variety of new things ahead of us... I mean your eating things, you napped in your crib once, mommy went back to work so you are getting to know Nannie and Daddy better, you're moving around more, your rocking your punk hair, you love your sister, you live in every moment this most aware and peaceful breath of fresh air.

Four months... and you've changed the way I look at everything... because even though my heart feels like you've always been a part of me... my soul is drinking in the newness of your tiny little life.

Love,

Mommy

Getting it Together

This was eye level in our closet under the stairs last week.
The stuff was stacked eye level high from the very back all the way to the door.

Two days ago we went on a mission to clean out the closet and get it put back into some sort of order. It didn't take long once Layla was at Nannie's house and Jon was alternating between helping me with the closet and helping me with Anyah.

This is what this week is made of at our house. Monday I go back to work. I already had a conference call with work this week and the reality of "oh my god I'm leaving my baby at home" has finally sunk in all the way.

I think I am ready.

My mom is staying with the girls here at the house every day until Jon or I gets home from work. That is a HUGE blessing. I love leaving my girls with someone I know loves them enough to always do the right thing for them.

But, I don't want to leave her here in chaos. So closets have been cleaned out. Bathroom cabinets organized, dishes put back where they are supposed to be, pantries sorted, baby clothes have been put in right drawers for easy access.

Mainly, I am trying to get my shit together so I can hopefully spend a few days feeling like my shit is together before it all changes back to working mom chaos.

I am blessed to have a job and to have had 5 months at home (1 with just Layla and almost 4 with both girls). Now if I could just keep that perspective while I hyperventilate about Monday.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

A nuclear warcloud of family drama hit here a month ago. If you are reading this then it hasn't resolved itself because I am writing this post and setting it to post on 8/8 which will be three weeks after "it" happened.

I'm fighting the same battles only now instead of people being understanding and saying they are going to do something about it... now they'd rather say things they can't take back and leave.

Lesson learned on both parts...

You probably learned not to ask why someone is pissed unless you're ready to deal with it.

I learned that sometimes people can't love you enough to choose you over something else.

So if you're reading this it's been a month and I'm sure the yelling was followed by a long period of silence because everyone is pissed and we all should be. I am watching something/someone drive a wedge between me and my father that hurts so much I can't even look at it anymore with an objective eye.

What would you sacrifice for love?

God I hope I don't have to answer that question...because you shouldn't ask yourself questions you're not ready to deal with.

Let's Pretend

My Laylabug has a HUGE imagination. She's currently sitting on the floor playing with her doll house, the Mommy & Daddy doll have been taking turns kissing the baby and putting her to bed.

This week we busted out the dress up clothes that got handed down last year (but were a little too big at the time) and Layla spent the day bouncing from princess to princess, sometimes combining them to make her own princess.

Last week she was a doggy most of the time because Nannie got a new puppy so now she's got more stuff in her catalog of doggy behaviors to mimic.

She takes her fingers and pretends they are people on an adventure, walking her fingers up her arm and pretending it's a slide to slide back down.

It's amazing to watch a little person come up with this stuff all on their own.

It's also sort of fun to get in on the action. I think I'll go have a pretend juice and some cake made of blocks and served on tiny dishes now.

Splashin' Good Times

Layla and cousin Faith playing in the water...
Jorie was nice enough to hold Anyah for awhile so she could watch everyone splashing about...
(the baby in the background is Brooke, none of the pictures of her that I took came out well)

The girl cousin's from Washington have birthday's that are remarkably close together. Mel & Garratt decided to bring the girls down for Faith's 3rd Birthday and Brooke's 1st Birthday so that they could celebrate with family.

There were sprinklers, kiddie pools, chalk and cake...all the makings of good times when you are little. Layla loved seeing the girls and talked about it the next day.

Happy Birthday Girls...

Sacramento & Trains!

Alternate Title : Why I married Jon...

So yesterday I had big plans which fell completely apart in oh I don't know...4 minutes... right about the time I got up.

So today I got up and immediately asked Layla if she wanted to go to the park (so daddy could sleep in) and let me tell you...never before in the history of the world as a toddler wanted to go to the park more. There was jumping around, there was speed style hair brushing and dressing and off to the park we went.

With a small detour to the local Starbucks first of course...

So two small children and I found ourselves at the park just before 8 am armed with sugary goodness and the play commenced. After an hour being trapped by the park sprinklers in weird areas of the playground they finally let us free to play where-ever we wanted and a few other kids from the neighborhood wandered in and out to play (without parents) and were all wonderful to my overly excited 2 year old.

After 2 and a half hours we packed up and headed home (but Layla wanted to drive around and look for a train first). While looking for a train on a track in Turlock Layla had a potty accident so we went home (to her dismay) and we woke up daddy (with the loudness of her dismay) and he suggested we take her to Sacramento to see real trains.

Ok his suggestion was "too bad it's already 10 we could have taken her to Sac to see the trian museum" and my answer was "that's a great idea we could eat lunch at Joe's Crab Shack first"

and that's all it took...

In 30 minutes Jon was showered and dressed, all little people had been prepped and packed for travel and we were on the road to Sacramento (with a brief stop for more Starbucks of course).

The kids were great in the car, Layla talked about trains the whole way and we prepped her for "first we'll watch boats on the river and eat lunch then we'll see choo choo trains". When we arrived I slipped Anyah in the carrier and we went to lunch on the outdoor patio and watched some boats and ate yummy things.

Then off to the train museum for a few hours before Anyah (who napped in the carrier) decided she was hot and she had had enough. Then back to the car with a choo choo train for home and back on the road.

Always marry someone with the same level of get up and go as you have...

Today we had nothing... except for that quick trip to the park and the road trip to AWESOME followed by a trip home to play with new things...

I can't imagine how boring life would be if we *always* had a plan.

We're hot but we're here

Wow when things get busy around here they really get busy. We've been to the fair (pictures included in this post) and we've got a birthday party this week and another one next week. Jon's 30th birthday is coming up at the end of the month. I go back to work in 2 weeks (well more like 1 and a half now). It's busy busy busy. And I have so much to blog about but I keep writing half of blog posts and not finishing them and I have a few I REALLY need to finish so hopefully I'll get to that soon.

So a few small updates to hold you over.

Anyah is laughing, rolling over, holding her head up, playing in exersaucers, grabbing toys and shaking them and eating...boy is she eating...which means she's growing like a champ. Other than an intense dislike for loud noises and being VERY attached to Mommy she's a very content baby. And right now she is teething (or at least it seems like she is teething) so she's had me very busy with lots of cuddling, bouncing and walking in circles.

Layla is potty trained and we don't really have accidents at home anymore. She's very into puppies (Nannie just got one), ice cream, drawing/painting and acting like a silly crazy tiny person. She really enjoyed the fair and was a good sport about rides until it was bedtime and then she was done and ready to go home. She's a tiny bossy little thing which is amusing since both her parents are also bossy so we just all sit around being stubborn and waiting to see what happens next.

Family life is good. Busy... but good. Birthday's to attend, birthday's and anniversaries to plan, jobs to get back to and a busy hubby work schedule too...

We're blessed to be stressed around here.