Friday, November 6, 2009

Friday Night Leftovers

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  • Party planning is underway... dips are being mixed, cake is being baked... Mommy is going crazy. Stay tuned.
  • Aunt Roni is here and helping. Woot woot. Hang in there for a little more on Vera Verita...
  • Tot and Bean's new baby cousin was born on Wednesday night. My brother and sister-in-law welcomed my adorable niece into the world just an hour and a half before Bean's birthday. More details to follow...
  • Bean had cake on her birthday. More ended up on her head than in her mouth. Pictures coming soon...
  • Bee has decided that if one of us gets sick with the H1N1 flu, we should all go down together. He thinks allowing each of us to get sick one at a time is ridiculous. He has even suggested sucking Tot's thumb in order to sufficiently spread the germs. Hopefully no follow up on this will be taking place....

Next week, I'm going to try to do a little Mr. Linky so that we can all share our leftovers with one another. Still working on that button and link....

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Bean

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Dear Bean,
I cannot believe it has been a year since you entered our lives! It has been an amazing year of smiles, cuddles and pure bliss. From day one, you've been my little cuddlebug, snuggling up and burying your little cute face in my neck. You have an easy going, yet determined personality and I know that you're going to give us a run for our money with your mischievous attitude. We have watched you learn to roll over, crawl and walk in this very short year. You've learned words and gestures and have your own set of very funny "tricks." You adore your big sister, giggle at the dogs, love bathtime and hate having your hands washed.
I cannot wait to see what the next year will bring, although I hope that it goes by much slower than this past year. I think you're going to be contemplative and thoughtful, but fierce with your little temper. I know you're already smart as a whip, and your cuteness factor is off the scales.
On this day, our little Bean, we wish you a very Happy Birthday!
Happy 1st Birthday Bean!
We love you,
Mommy, Daddy and Tot

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Year Ago Today

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A year ago today, we were one day away from becoming a family of four. It was on this day that Tot gave us this very memorable performance. I don't remember too much about this particular day outside of the election. I remember voting and watching the election results, but beyond that, it's all a blur.
Of course, I do remember a fair amount about Bean's birth, both before and after and I spent some time this week looking back at the story of her birth. Time does amazing things to memory. You know... destroys it?!
What I realized in my story telling was that I had forgotten two details of her birth that continue to stand out to this day. I don't know how I neglected to share this after Bean's birth, other than the fact that I had just given birth to my second child, was sleep deprived, had an infection and probably wasn't in my right mind. I know, excuses, excuses.
One thing I neglected to share was the story of Bean's beautiful pink and white crocheted blanket from the hospital. You can see it here next to her little cute face in the last photo. Apparently, all the cute little babes who end up in the NICU get a fashionable crocheted blanket, compliments of some master crocheting volunteers. And, since Bean was, and still is, super cute, she was gifted with a very fashionable blanket. While all the other average looking, non-NICU babies were lying on hospital issued white blankets, our girl was sporting the crocheted pink and white variety. I'm hoping that Bean doesn't think that this privileged beginning of life is going to be an indicator of a life full of silver spoon treatment. One crocheted blanket does not a privileged life make.
The second little story that I somehow neglected to share was that of Bee's unintentional lockdown of the entire birthing floor. Yes, Bean, you read that right. Your father caused a lockdown. Again, while you are indeed special, you were not born into privilege.
The NICU where Bean spent her first thirty-six hours (or so) was located right next to the entrance doors to the maternity floor. Because no child shall be carried anywhere in that hospital, Bean was in her little rolly tray cart thingy and was finally able to come to the hospital room with her mommy and daddy, like all of the other new little babes. At the exact same moment that Bee was rolling Bean out the door of the NICU in her rolly tray, someone on the other side of the maternity floor door pushed the magic button, opening the door. Bean's leg (and hospital arrest ankle bracelet), was positioned just close enough to the open door to set off the "Emergency Emergency SOMEONEISTRYINGTOSTEALABABY Alarm" It was all a matter of timing, but Bee (and Bean) did set off the lockdown mechanisms, shutting down the entire floor. For almost an hour, no one could come in or leave thanks to my darling daughter and delightful husband. I think it was just Bean's way of stealing the attention away from any new babies who might have been trying to steal her cuteness thunder.
So, here we are. A year later.
What an amazing year it's been.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Spooktacular

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And now, it's time for the long awaited Halloween photos of some super cute mini Twix candy bars. Bean was subjected to the leftover monkey costume that Tot wore when she was much older (although, obviously, not much bigger). We strolled the babe around the neighborhood since this was her very first Halloween. But, it was Tot who totally got into the holiday spirit. I think that if we would have let her she would have trick-or-treated until sunrise. It wasn't so much that she wanted the candy, although it was surely a wonderful bonus, it was that she wanted to socialize. The little social butterfly thought it was completely fabulous that she was able to venture through the neighborhood, knocking on everyone's doors, talking to every person she saw.

Our Cute Little Monkey

The monkey waiting for the fun to begin

"Can we go yet?"

The Princess, The Daddy and The Disinterested Monkey

No, not a Southern Belle, just rain.

Prediction: The first of many, many princess Halloween costumes.
Oh, and don't think that Halloween was any different from any other fashion disaster day. The girl wore her purple shirt under her yellow dress and accessorized with flowered shorts, purple socks and brown shoes.

On with the begging for candy.

The hoards of treaters (including way too many non-neighbors).

Monday, November 2, 2009

Apprehensive Proclamation

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A few weeks ago, I posed the question, "Is this a curl?" Not on my stick-straight head of hair, of course. Or on Tot's, but, on Bean! The only reason this is such a big deal is that I have always, always wanted to have curly hair. Although Bee's family has a curl here and there, I never figured that we'd win the curly hair lottery.
Tot, sadly, lost that roll of the dice.
But, Bean just might have won.
I'm still a little reluctant to proclaim that what I think I've seen is a curl. Some days it's more obvious than others and for the longest time I've been chalking it up to the fact that her bib rubs against her hair, creating a curl.
But, on more than one occasion, I've noticed IT after bath time. Maybe IT is the coveted CURL!!!!
Of course, it has taken me two weeks short of eternity to get a picture of this little swirl. Do you realize how hard it is to take a picture of the back of a squirming, inquisitive child's head? Just try sneaking up behind a little nosy pineapple and getting that shot.
I finally managed to get two pictures, one focused and one not so focused. But, I think that the little curl is pretty obvious, at least for now.
Come on little curl, keep on curling.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Weekly Winners 10/25 - 10/31

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Don't forget to visit Lotus, our gracious hostess.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween

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We're ready for the trick-or-treaters, kids and adults alike.
Hopefully the rain will wait until we're done.


And, no, that's not her Halloween costume.
It's her "hairband."
(Not to be confused with all of Bee's favorite high school and college music and the source of his infamous tattoo.)

Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday Night Leftovers

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  • Okay, who wants to play "Friday Night Leftovers" with me? I made a cute little button and everything (that I have no idea what to do with exactly.) Let me know if you want to play. I'm not sure what "play" entails, but you know you want to. So, comment and we'll all share our leftovers. Now... onward....
  • Recently Tot discovered the movie Finding Nemo. She has been practicing speaking whale and it's hilarious. Actually, it's become quite the funny joke around here.
  • I would like to quote the following statement said in our house this week: "Don't you hate it when someone who you know you are smarter than tries to tell you what to do? I just want to challenge them to a puzzle or something."
  • I'm a little worried that I'm going to inadvertently make Tot develop a little OCD with all my recent talk about germs and hand washing. I'm so concerned about the girls getting sick that I've become a hand washing broken record. Look for Tot on the show Obsessed in about eighteen years as she seeks therapy for her obsessive hand washing that originated in the winter of the "Swine Flu" because of her mother's persistent insistence on washing her hands. Maybe she can lump that therapy into the rest she'll need just for being my kid.
  • I would like for someone to explain to me why Bean insists on pinching my arm fat on a daily basis. Is this a development milestone or does she just do it for pure fun?
  • This week Tot told me that cats are for holding and that she wants a cat so that she can take it on a walk. I told her that cats suck. (Okay, I didn't say that they "sucked" exactly, but I did say that they wouldn't walk. Or let her hold them. Or come when you called their name. Or look at you. Or offer anything redeeming.)
  • And, those, my friends are MY Friday Night Leftovers.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

*Ahem* May I Have Your Attention Please?

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This cute little kid? Is NOT your sideshow freak!
Nope, making her "perform" over and over and over and over and over again in the living room while snapping photographs, taking video and clapping like crazed loons does NOT make her a spectacle.
But, it does make her a walker.
(Even if she is mastering her Frankenstein impression.... just in time for Halloween)







Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Well Excuuuuuuuussseeee Me!

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(I arrive home from work while Tot is playing)
Mommy: "Hi Tot, how was your day?"
Tot: "NO MOMMY! I'm busy."

(Tot and Bean are swinging outside with Daddy)
Mommy: "Dinner is ready, come inside."
Tot: "Um, Mommy, we're busy. It's not dinnertime. We're busy."

(Tot and I return from the grocery store and Bee greets us in the driveway)
Daddy: "Hey Bubs, how was the grocery store?"
Tot: "Shhhh Daddy, we're busy. We're in charge and we're busy."

Apparently I'm not the only one who's feeling a little overextended lately. Either that or we have a parrot in the house.