Old Photo Friday

My Sweets in the ruins of Hoare Abbey with the Rock of Cashel in the background. Taken during our trip to Ireland with Darlene + Tom G. back in August 2001.

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss turns 105 on March 2. In celebration, Buby's class made green eggs + ham today. And, of course, these stunning striped hats. More on Monday. Have a fabulous weekend!



P.S. I am slowly on the mend. My Sweets is not quite.

Create. Play. Recycle.

That's the motto over at Creative Toy Shop. They have the coolest cardboard toys around. The large size tree house was on Buby's list before Christmas, but we picked up the wooden stencil kit and Connectagons from HearthSong instead. Considering how much he plays with his Little People, constructs houses out of nothing, and loves to paint... I think this would make a perfect Easter gift for Buby.

10 Months

Today. Wow. That was fast. Happy sort of birthday Bleu. Here's a little look at YOU right now.

• You are a happy chick.
• You rarely ever cry.
• You have the loudest cry in the world when you do.
• You like grownup music.
• You clap and babble and cheer.
• You show signs of empathy.
• You are a magnet to the guitar.
• You watch everything your brother does.
• You are always on the go-go-go.
• You are so smart you scare me sometimes.
• You love your books, but you eat them.
• You put everything in your mouth.
• You glance back right before testing me.
• You crawl up stairs at lightening speed.
• You have no idea how to get down.
• You look so sweet in light yellow.
• You use sign language to tell me that you want "more."
• You scratch the back of your neck when you're tired.
• You rub your nose on my arm when you're tired.
• You arch your back when you are in protest.
• You still barf from GERD, but not as much.
• You answer a compliment with a big smile.
• You bury your head in my shoulder when you're shy.
• You have a tall upper body.
• You are solid + unbelievably strong.
• You have the most gorgeous eyelashes.
• You like to hug back. Finally.
• You climb over instead of walking around.
• You stand on your own without realizing it.
• You crave carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and broccoli.
• You love brown rice, oatmeal, rye, and organic os.
• You are allergic to peaches.
• You are not a picky eater.
• You have never had formula.
• You like to sleep in.
• You sit on my left hip, never the right.
• You elbow me to get down.
• You still love to nurse day + night.
• You practice drinking water from a cup.
• You only want me when you wake at night.
• You do laps around the playroom with your Bleumobile.
• You can say "mama" and "dada" to the right person.
• You gave up your thumb :=(
• You have just two comfy things besides me.
• You snuggle with your purple blankie from Nicole.
• You wake up clinching your miYim bunny from Grandma.
• You like to be barefoot.
• You always have something in your right hand.
• You are a super fast crawler.
• You are a super slow hair grower.
• You sit like you're warming up for a track meet.
• You take showers AND baths. Yes, you love baths again.
• You have good rhythm and like to shake it.
• You laugh at our silly Buby.
• You are toothless at 10 months.
  
• You tolerate a lot of noise and chaos.
• You nap twice a day on good days.
• You think you are 3 years old.
• You get changed standing up. Always have.
• You poop less than other babies. Always have.
• You travel well.
• You are determined and feisty about getting your way.
• You gravitate toward things you can't have.
• You never fall asleep in the stroller.
• You are a size 4 shoe; your left foot is chubbier.
• You wear 18 month clothes, and some are even tight.
• You laugh when I brush my teeth in front of you.
• You like Buby's trains + trucks more than any "girl" toy.
• You fit in the Bjorn for the last time on 2.22.09.
• You start swim lessons next Saturday.
• You are attached to us in the most wonderful way.
• You are loved to pieces in this house.

Snow + Sky

Snow Fall on Blue Sky by Buby. Dated: Feb '09. Origination: Preschool. Note: I cannot figure out for the life of me what material he used for the snow. Buby says he painted it on, but it's like a dry squishy foam now. I'll have to ask Miss Cathy, because I love its 3-dimensional qualities.

Insanely Cool

I shot these yesterday. We had just choreographed a smashing routine to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. We would perform it for My Sweets after dinner. I know. I know. I'm such a dork. And I'm taking this cute little boy down with me. But something tells me that despite adopting several of my scariest dance moves Buby remains insanely cool.


Dancing together is an afternoon staple for us. Our boogieing can be classified an extreme sport, very high energy. Lots of laughing and sweating and stomping and swinging. It's awesome. We've been doing it since Buby was about six months old and bonkers for Johnny Cash. Bleu used to watch from the safety of her stationary entertainer, but lately she's right in the thick of it. The girl loves music + dance as much as her brother, if not more.

How We...

Photo taken 2.17.09.

Survive a boring trip to Sam's. We hit the book section first. The kids read as I run them up and down the food aisles. We always put the books back before heading to the register, and they never fuss.

i heart

this week



i love the sight of: the big one sharing with the small one {because it isn't always so}, Bleu dancing + clapping whenever there is music, Buby + I racing on our hands + knees... while Bleu works it with her Bleumobile

i love the sound of: "i'm yours" by jason mraz on repeat, geese returning north, Buby rising every morn + shouting "Mommy... Daddy... I was dry all night!"}



i love the taste of: grilled chicken, steak, fresh fruit smoothies, tomato-cucumber salad, pure maple syrup, big family breakfasts, Hershey chocolate almond bars

i love the feel of: knowing i won't be sick forever, finding my "Sevens" for only $30 at Marshalls, wet snow falling as the kids + i went for a long winter walk {no strollers}, having a good tax guy, St. Pat's and Easter right around the corner

Marvelous Mugs

What an incredible honor it is to be here with them. To raise this boy + this girl {from scratch} with my best friend and one true love. I'm thinking that. Even as I jump out of bed 5xs after midnight. Even as none of my wisdom from #1 works on #2. Even as I'm sick as a dog and it hurts to move {I'm on day 9, and My Sweets just joined the party}. I look up at these marvelous mugs and know there's no place in the world I'd rather be than here with them.

Party of 4

My Sweets got home early on his birthday, around 7. The table looked pretty. The babes were napped and ready to rock. Our dinner included turkey kielbasa sauteed with onions, peppers and rice, steamed green beans, and garlic red mashed potatoes. We listened to Chris Cornell. Buby helped present our gift, a new guitar. The boys had a little jam session. Okay, an extensive jam session. Bleu clapped and danced. We ate dessert. Carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes with the most refreshing blueberry/ blackberry/ strawberry sundaes. We rocked out some more. We read. We divided and conquered bedtime. We fell asleep ourselves, happy + full. It totally felt like a weekend, and I love that.



P.S. Buby painted this guitar-shaped pencil holder for his Daddy's office. It fit our theme perfectly.

In the Hot Seat

Danielle cutting Buby's hair on Friday.

He Said

Buby is right there anytime candles need blowing out.




Who: Me + Buby. What: An interview. Where: Hair salon parking lot. When: Friday after preschool ~ we were 20 minutes early and Bleu was asleep. Why: Because I love to record Buby's random thoughts, especially on his Daddy.



Buby: I love my Daddy.


Me: What does Daddy do that you love?


Buby: He plays. He reads. He plays games. He plays cars. He plays my trains. Painting... I like painting with Daddy.


Me: Cool. Have you ever painted with Daddy?


Buby: No, but I really really want to paint with Daddy.


Buby {still}: I like to eat bananas {as he eyes the unopened banana next to me}.


Me: Does Daddy cook anything special for you?


Buby: Uh. Meat. And potatoes. And broccoli. And cucumbers. That's a lot of things. Grapes. I like grapes. And blueberries. And apples and bananas. I like all of those.


Me: What does Daddy look like?


Buby: A shaped head and one neck and a body and his legs and his foots and circle eyes. He has a little bit of white hair and a lot of black hair.


Buby {still}: That's all I want to say about that.


Me: Do you know how much Daddy loves you?


Buby: Sooo much. Like THIS so much {arms wide open}.


Me: How old is Daddy?


Buby: 7 months? I mean 45? 44? 46? 48? {yikers! sorry, babe}.


Me {laughing}: What does Daddy do?


Buby: He goes on a train. He lives in his office. Far far away.


Me {a wee bit heartbroken}: Well, he lives here. Silly. He just gets home after bedtime sometimes. He thinks about YOU all day though.


Buby: Yeah. It's hard.

I Love You

With his great grandma on February 20, 1977.




A fantabulous night awaits us. My Sweets is on the early train. Both babes are napping. {Yes, even Buby.} How perfect is that? I am heading down to cook a big dinner. Tonight there will be fancy plates and candles. There will be carrot cake cupcakes and red velvet, too. There will be a gooey love letter written by me and a super special something painted by Buby. And music. LOTS of music. Happy weekend!



P.S. And Robitussin. And Vicks. And Vitamin C. And Puffs Plus. Because I also happen to be sick as a dog.

Old Photo Friday

February 20, 1981. Tommy's 6th birthday.

~ Things I Love ~ Thursday

Wish list for wee ones. Particularly, mine.



Left to right:

• City and Country Blocks. For a lifetime of learning. $56 for Step I at Kido NYC.

• My Creative Cookery Club. Wood kitchen. $130 at Giggle.

• Wooden Fun Drum Set. Natural wood with a non-toxic finish. $50 at Chasing Fireflies.

• Monogrammed Felt Hair Clip. Handmade for about $5 at FlashyFish.

• Biofino Petit Fours from Haba. Made of fabric. Temporarily out of stock. $14.99 at Moolka.

• Art by Patrick McDonnell. Book we've been wanting. $10.19 at Amazon.

• Recycled Metal Letters. Every one is different and amazing. 10"h x 6"w. $8 at Urban Outfitters.

• Cardboard Playhouse. Arrives ready to decorate. $49 at Garnet Hill.
  

Sweetness

Their first ~ and probs last ~ bath together. We have a big old tub off the playroom that never sees any action. Buby switched to the upstairs shower last year, and Bleu did the same around Thanksgiving. If you remember, she developed an intense fear and loathing of baths around 3 months. So for many months after that, it was an every-other-day nightmare for both of us, despite my bestest efforts to make it relaxing and fun for her. Since she started showering with me Bleu hasn't cried once. Literally, no more tears. Only happy giggles, warm waterfalls, and a squeaky clean babe.



So imagine my surprise last night when Buby {while sitting on the potty} asked me if he could take a bath. Perhaps because he was feeling all sluggish. While I leaned over the tub to prep things, Bleu crawled up next to me and started bouncing excitedly and banging her hands up and down. Huh? She wanted IN. There was no mistaking it. Buby was tickled at the prospect. So I grabbed my camera, stripped her down, and set her in the baby seat that we've had for 3.5 years and only used once. The two played and splashed and laughed and put stacking cups on their heads. Go figure. Not sure it will ever happen again, so I'm glad I shot it.

A First

Wednesday was the first time I let Buby use the PC. I'm sort of anti kids + computers. At least while they are itty bitty. They will have LOTS of time later on to fiddle with the high-tech world. For now I choose our books and music and imaginations over sitting solo in front of a screen. Even if it is educational. That said, yesterday was a sick day at home, and I made an exception after about the 40th time I heard "What can we do now?" I had an idea.

We've been loving our Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read program since Grandma DJ bought it for us last September. Buby's always eager to whip out the workbooks and flashcards. We do a lot with them. And it forces us to take a breather from the physical. But the Pre-K Edition also comes with two CDs, letter names and letter sounds. I popped one into the computer yesterday during Bleu's nap, and Buby + I made our way through several exercises. It was fun. At one point he pushed my hand off the mouse and took over. Incredible how fast they learn. And become addicted. I had to peel him away from it so that we could go cook dinner.

The Girls

Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite moments of the last week. My niece Grace asked if she could read me a chapter from Junie B. Jones' Mushy Cushy Valentine. Grace's Pepto pink room was the perfect hideout on V Day, and Bleu and I were the most captive audience. {Yes, my camera was around my neck, but I swear I heard every word.} Grace is in 2nd grade and such a smarty. I'm so proud of her. And relieved she thinks I'm cool enough to hang out in her room.

The Cousins, part I

We had a FUNtastic supersized weekend in Family Land. A good part of Saturday we spent hanging out with these cuties. My nephews Spencer + Parker and my niece Grace. Oh how we've missed them since Christmas. Why do kids have to grow up so darn fast? Here's a few photos I snapped.