Sunday, January 25, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Obama, Baby!

While Emmylou was at school today, Miller and I went to Emily's house for her Inauguration Brunch. We had a great time and the food was so yummy!

Here's a photo of Miller and Em with our new president in the background!

Grammie was ever-so-festive in her American flag sweater (and look at Miller trying to hold his bottle already!):
Obama cookies!


As usual, Em's house looked so cute so I thought I'd take a couple photos of her kitchen and living room for those who haven't seen the renovation she did. I think she did an amazing job!


Will work for boots

Here's Emmylou helping PawPaw carry a chair I spotted on our street for Spruce (it's bulk collection week in our neighborhood). He came in for dinner last night and to give Emmylou a new pair of pink cowboy boots since she's already outgrown her last pair. Looks like she's gonna love these just as much as she did her old ones!

Le Petite Artiste

Most of you know I started college as an art major, so you can imagine how excited I was to see this:


Emmylou's first representational drawing!

Those lines on the "cheeks" are ears, natch. Then she added whiskers and made it a cat:


Brilliant!

Too bad she did them on a Magna-Doodle so we can't save them and make a fortune when she turns out to be a famous artist.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Babysitting Fail



The real fail is that I refer to any time Gary has to care for his own kids as "babysitting."

Digit confusion


Also, the other day when Emmylou showed up from Grammie's with painted nails, Gary asked her what was on her fingernails. Her response: "toenail polish."

Friday, January 16, 2009

First imaginary friend

Emmylou asked me to take a picture of her new parrot, Squawky. She says he sits on her shoulder all day and she likes to share her food with him. His favorite? Why, Pirate's Booty, of course, but he also likes to eat goldfish.
Isn't he an adorable parrot?

Speaking of goldfish, I should report that Daisy (# 2) is no longer with us. According to Emmylou, last week she "stopped swimming." In fact, she stopped swimming for a few days while Mommy waited for Daddy to remove non-swimming Daisy.

Today when Tripp was over and he asked Emmylou where Daisy was, she said, "in the potty." [Cue Elton John belting out, "... and it's the Circle of Life..."]

Putting the moves on

Last week Miller was really putting the moves on his girlfriend Tate. She looks a little apprehensive but he seemed to think there was nothing wrong with showing up in his jammies and getting friendly on the couch.

Those crazy kids!

Oh, and here are the original lovebirds:

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Catching up

Dear Miller,

Happy belated 4 month birthday! I'm so excited to see you really growing and changing these days!

You are ALL boy. Strong and feisty, you are already 'walking' your walker around and ever since you turned over for the first time the other day, you can't stay on your back for more than 30 seconds without flipping over. You grab everything with gusto and try to force whatever's in front of you straight into your mouth.

How else are you all boy? Well, the other day when Grammie was changing your diaper, you really let one rip. Then you immediately started cracking up. You also LOVE football. Other than your Baby Einstein DVDs (aka 'Baby Crack'), only watching football will have you calm and happy for long periods of time. We've tried other sports but football seems to be The One.

You are still spitting up so much that I wish I'd invested in a ShamWow a few months ago, but I think your acid reflux is pretty much under control now. You are a sweet, happy, snuggly little guy who loves to talk and laugh and be in the middle of things.

Miller, when I found out you were coming along, I was a little nervous having never been around baby boys before. What would I do with you? I only know girls! But now that you're here it seems so natural and right. I think we're managing just fine. You make me so happy and I couldn't imagine my life without you.

Love always,
Mama


XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO


Dear Emmylou,

Time flies! It seems as if I was just writing you your last monthly letter! Wait, I was... Okay, so maybe not much has changed in the past couple of weeks except that your personality seems to keep getting dialed up a notch with each passing month, even when I think it's impossible. We are definitely way past 11 by now.

You are all about dressing up and still love wearing your cowboy outfit the most. Boots, ballet shoes, tutus, boas, hats, scarves and gloves: you can't get enough of them. You still really love to play and sleep in your tent but you're also really starting to like games and puzzles more now.

Lately you've been super sweet to your brother. You love to kiss him and make him laugh, which is easy for you to do. He is so happy when you're near him, unless of course you're screaming and waking him up.

As you get older, I can't help noticing how much more sophisticated your speech and language are getting. Now the only sound you really have trouble with is the typical "r," and your language is so complex that it stops me in my tracks at times. You like to explain things by telling me, "well, sometimes things like that happen but not..." You are always telling me how things are different or the same and it kind of cracks me up how you love to scream answers at Diego or Dora on TV when they ask you a question or tell you to say something in Spanish. Cute. Smart.

In short, you are a HANDFUL. But by now it shouldn't be a surprise to hear me say that. It's fun being your mom and I couldn't love you or be more proud of the sweet and spirited little girl you have become.

Love you, Babe.
Mom(my)



(I love the look on M's face in this one)

Five minutes ago...

[While putting Emmylou to bed]

Emmylou: "Could you get me one thing?"

Me: "Sure, Sweetie, what do you need?"

Emmylou: "Could you get me Gloworm?"

Me: "Yeah, I think it's in the living room."

I get up to leave and as I'm walking out the door, I hear:

"Thanks, Mom."


Oh my God, she's calling me 'mom'!!! I'm not ready for this!!!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Roly Poly

Roly poly, Daddy's little fatty...

Have you guys ever heard that song? I've had it in my head all day because Miller rolled over for the first time today!* He's been going from his tummy to his back for a week or two but today* was the big one: from his back to his tummy.



What a big boy! Way to go, Miller!


*Um, that would actually be two days ago when I originally wrote this entry (1/11/09). Seems that I'm just now getting around to posting it...

Picnic Time

Gary got in last night from the Consumer Electronic Show in Vegas just in time for me to throw the kids at him and head out the door for dinner at La Traviata and to see Carol Burnett at the Paramount Theater. I know, not too romantic considering Friday was our 10 year anniversary that we spent apart, but we'll celebrate soon.

Gary was so excited to see Emmylou and Miller and decided it'd be fun to order in some bar-b-que and have a picnic on the living room floor for dinner. Would most husbands think of using foil as a picnic blanket or just mine?



And here's a shot of Emmylou in her new frog galoshes. Gary and she had a day together last Sunday and she picked them out as a special treat.

She is such a daddy's girl.

(And yes, she is still insisting on wearing her Halloween shirt in January and yes, I am still choosing to pick my battles.)

By the way, Carol Burnett was hilarious last night. I remember loving her show when I was a kid but didn't fully appreciate the comic genius she is until last night. If you need a good laugh, I suggest clicking here.

Friday, January 09, 2009

SPRUCE!

Spruce is the featured seller on Etsy today! Click here for a link to their interview.

Congratulations, Lizzie and Amanda!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

In good company

Look who took an Ugly Doll with her on her first day of school...




Sasha loves them too! Click here for an article about it that also describes how Ugly Dolls were created. At least they're not still talking about the future first labradoodle!

Emmylou and Babo are still inseparable...

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Emmylou is 33 months old

Dear Emmylou,

No, I didn't forget! I know, I know, you turned 33 months about 2 weeks ago. Along with being sick and completely swamped with holiday errands and festivities around that time, I think I'm also in denial-- I don't want to admit that in less than three short months my baby girl will turn 3 years old! It just doesn't seem possible. But now Christmas has already come and gone and the new year has begun so I know it's right around the corner.

Here's what you're up to these days: first, you sure liked Christmas. This year was fantastic- you loved Santa and our elf, Birdie, and you really understood the whole Christmas concept. Christmas morning was absolutely perfect. You didn't get too overwhelmed like you did last year, although at one point mid-present-opening you went back to your bed and said you were just "going to take an itty bitty nap." You returned about 45 seconds later, completely refreshed.

Overall the pace of the morning was just right. We were all so happy and excited for you. Sometimes we had to remind you, but for the most part you gave everyone sincere thanks for their presents. You seemed to absolutely love everything you got and I'm sure you noticed me beaming whenever you used your good manners.

This past month has definitely brought one major milestone: no more diapers! Thankfully you have mastered the art of potty training and I am so happy to have fewer diapers to change. I also can't tell you how much I enjoy seeing you proud of yourself. You definitely realize that this is a big deal. Good for you, Big Girl.

What else? Lately you've really been cracking me up. You say the most hilarious things on a daily basis and your personality just keeps growing and growing. One of my New Year's resolutions is to keep better track of the things you say as I always think I'll remember them then never do. I'm hoping my brain will regenerate in a couple of years when you and your brother get a little older so that my memory (among other things) improves.

More tidbits this month: You only want to eat cold things. For example, cold scrambled eggs or cold Spaghettios (actually, you'll provide me with a rambling list of all the foods you prefer cold if given the chance). You still pronounce "Miller" as some weird variation of "Noah." You are all about dressing up or wearing your cowboy boots to inappropriate places. You won't let me brush your hair or wipe your face 99% of the time so you usually look like an orphan child. Why? I've settled on a new strategy: I'm picking my battles. I have to admit that a few weeks ago I was pretty down about how much I was either threatening you or bribing you to do what I wanted (mostly unsuccessfully). I was trying to stay consistent for your benefit but I think it ended up causing more power struggles than it was all worth. So now I'm not sweating the small stuff and so far we're having more fun and you haven't turned into a raving spoiled lunatic (yet). Maybe we'll make it through this phase after all?

Lou, I love you with all my heart every second of every day. Even when I'm angry with you or frustrated. I tell you that all the time. I don't ever want to crush your sweet, enthusiastic and inquisitive spirit because it's what I love most about you. Keep going, girl.

Love always,
Mommy