Friday, May 25, 2012

Smiles, Giggles and Shrieks of Joy

I'm certain there are few things better than watching your kids experience pure joy. Happy Friday!











Friday, May 18, 2012

The Linguist



Advanced doesn't begin to describe Claire's verbal skills. I worked with toddlers some at my last job and can definitively say, this girl is rocking her language skills. 

For example, the other day my almost two-and-a-half-year-old looked at a hang nail on her finger and said, "Ma, I got a nail problem." And when Grace was breaking the rules, Claire blurted out "Grace not supposed to do that." And the most shocking was this interaction:

Claire: What do we do now? 
Me: I don't know, what do you want to do?
Claire: (Putting a hand on each cheek) Let's think 'bout it.

Let's think about it?? Where does she learn this stuff?

Every day it's a new phrase or a new word (yesterday she told me that taking a warm bath was "nice and cozy.") So, because I always want to remember this time when she took on the English language and made it eat her dust, I'm starting a list of Claire sayings:

1. Ga-Beeeeeeeze: My all-time favorite. The pronunciation of "please" that started when she was about a year and she has yet to shake it. 
2. Kirkle: Circle
3. I want to Loooook
4. Headbands and Band-Aids: A wire or two got crossed when she was learning what headbands and Band-Aids were because she'll often switch the two. 
When she's skinned her knee: "Mom, I need a headband." And when she's found one of Bella's old headbands "Mom, like my Band-Aid?" 
5. Mike: Knife. As in, "I want to cut my biscuit with a mike."
6. I lub you, too.
7. Pewter: Computer
8: Cocoa, Mommy: Here ya go, Mommy.
9. Who di-di-di-dat?: Who did that?
10. Mom, I neeeeeeed you.: Heartwarming.

I'll try to keep this list updated as she continues to kick butt and take names. Also on the top of the do list: Grace's Vocab Victories. 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Bodyguard



Don't touch Mom's computer. 

Don't touch Mom's phone. 

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, don't touch Mom. 

Don't touch her clothes. 

Don't touch her drink. 

And seriously, I think I mentioned this already, DO. NOT. TOUCH. HER. 

This is our daily routine. Grace saying -- sometimes screaming -- at Scott (and others) to leave my stuff alone. If I ask him to look at my computer when she's around, the siren goes off "Ma's pewter! Ma's pewter, MA'S PEWTER!!!" 

Scott backs away slowly. 

She's always been protective of me. But we've reached a new high. Anything she's deemed mine is off limits to anyone else. 

Except her, of course.


Monday, May 14, 2012

Blogger Fail



I know 10 years from now -- shoot, probably five years from now -- I will look back at the last nine months and kick myself. There are so many moments that I've missed writing about -- so many stories I never finished writing about (see: birthday party and house renovations). So, I've decided to write a letter reminding myself why I failed to capture those memories. 

Dear Self, 
Let me first say, you're a rock star. :)

But since last fall you have — how do I say this nicely — totally sucked at blogging. Most of it was out of your control. Being a stay-at-home Mom and being a stay-at-home employee left you very, very little time for extracurricular activities. And since you wake up at 4:30 in the morning, most of the time, when you did get a break, you slept. 

That being said, get ahold of yourself, woman. Get more organized. Get a little structure. And write down these moments. Because honestly, the hilarity of your life right now needs to be publicly witnessed. 

So, get on the ball. And start documenting. 

Love,
Your very smart, beautiful Self