Life with Belly & Syd

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2006-06-28T22:08:00.000-06:00

But in case you aren't.... http://thisismylife.typepad.com/this_is_my_life/ Cheers.

Bye Bye Blogger...

2006-06-23T16:14:00.000-06:00

You have eaten my post for the last time... http://thisismylife.typepad.com/this_is_my_life/

Jungle Fever...

2006-06-06T22:25:00.000-06:00

Thank you Mimi and Papa, for giving us our jungle. This isn't even ALL of them. But I do love them. I just hope I won't kill them...

I had my last day of work today, and I was sooo busy, in a good fast kinda way. Received our first Wedding Present from my boss and his wife, a beautiful Crystal vase. People are so generous, it is amazing.

Poor Nana is on her way up. She has been super ill the last 3 days with food poisoning. She is halfway here, having made her first flight today and is overnighting for her flight tomorrow. I wish she had put off her travel for a day, but she wanted to come now as everything is all booked. It's too bad that my house will make her even more ill when she sees my measly attempt at cleanliness. I didn't fully realize to what extent not "deep" cleaning for a few months will do to a place, yikers.

Daddy has been a "stay at home Mommy" for the last days, and has fared pretty darned well. I did interrupt a few "catnaps" with my "rude" whatcha doin' phone calls, but the kids are still alive, and were clean and happy when they picked me up after work.

Sydney and I will be visiting the doctor tomorrow for a quick ear check up. She is so hard to diagnose with infection, that I hesitate to leave her tugging a wee bit with Nana for a week. Then I have a waxing appointment on Thursday, and a hair trim and final tanning appointment on Friday. Otherwise I will be cleaning, laundering, packing and making lists for the next 3 days. have I mentioned that we are leaving on Saturday, for A WHOLE WEEK ALONE?? Yeah, we are.

The holiday game..

2006-06-04T20:12:00.000-06:00

Do you do this? I do this all the time. "Hey hon, do you know what we'll be doing at this time next week? We'll be landing in Las Vegas..." "Hey guess what, next week at this time..." And then of course when we get back it will be; Sigh. "Last week at this time..." sob, sob... Can you tell that I am getting REALLY excited for our trip? No? I AM. I wanted to get so much more done this weekend than I actually did. I spent more time just hanging out with the family then cleaning and organizing. Oh well. 2 more days to clean-up before Nana arrives. Rather, 2 more nights as I have this pesky interruption in plans called "work". Chris is taking tomorrow and Tuesday off to look after the girls, and I am off Wednesday morning on. Have I mentioned how SUPER EXCITED I AM?? Even getting on a plane, without a child to lug, feed, and entertain sounds like a dream. To be a grown-up, not a Mommy, and read my own books, and maybe have a glass of wine, on a plane. Neato. My dress has been altered. I will be held into this thing with velcro and double sided tape, but I will be in it. Now I only need shoes, a small clutch purse for my "things", our rings, Chris's entire outfit... yikes. But my dress is done, and that's all that really matters.

This weekend, we sat nice on the couch together...Had some Ichiban..

Had a tea party..

And practiced our dirty looks.. This one says "Don't grab your camera fool! Help me out of here!!!"

I have you all!!

2006-05-30T22:27:00.000-06:00

So, It looks like I blog more.. when Chris is busy. And when I have stuff to say to someone, you all get me, yay!!!! And guess what... he's busy... I've realized one important reason tonight, why having kids really sucks. They make you sick. No really, they do, at least me. I've had how many colds, how many flus and bugs and god knows what else in the last 6 years. Currently I am shielding from a battery of sneezes and coughs directly in my face from 1 year old, and getting coughed on my person from 6. And I have the stomach flu, thank you Isabella, sweetheart.. for bringing that one home. It's not that I think it's their fault for bringing them home, I do feel sorry for them but hey, they're kids, who wasn't sick? I on the other hand am BUSY. I do not have time for this. I don't have time to feel sorry for them either. But they feel sorry enough for themselves, so that's ok!! Actually, Syd is in a pretty good mood the last few days. Chris has been zerberting (blowing) on her belly, and if her deep laugh wasn't cute enough, she will try to zerbert herself which makes us laugh really really hard. God she is cute. And a huge performer. Poor Isabella will be loosing her Mimi and Papa in 2 more sleeps. Their house is packed, they are hoteling it, and will be driving out very, very soon. I feel so bad for her, as I know she hasn't grasped the afterlife of the "Mimi and Papa move away" show. I'm really going to miss them too, I talk to Mimi on a regular basis, but we can do that long distance too, no problem. It's the spending time with them for Belly that will be sadly missed. I guess that's life too, I didn't live near my grandparents at all that I can have memories of. At least she had 6 years of memories. Poor Bella.

Photo's that wouldn't work last time...

2006-05-30T20:01:00.000-06:00

Poor whittle Maggie and her poor whittle paw... Whas at? Lookin' outside... The End.

No picture update

2006-05-28T23:00:00.000-06:00

So yeah listen, I want to apologize to the few readers that I have managed to keep around for such a loooong absence. You are still out there right!?! RIGHT??? So.. the last few weeks hm... Maggie moo has graduated from sleeping in her kennel, to sleeping on a pillow at the foot of our bed. (yes I am starting the first update in weeks with my dog). She ripped a nail off her foot, had to go to our overcautious (overpriced) vet and came home with one less nail, a whole wack of anitbiotics and a cute little bandage on her foot. She limped, she whined, she pouted, and we felt sorry for her. She then figured out how to take of the bandage (rip it off of course!) and sure enough the limping, whining and pouting stopped! Back went the bandage on her foot, and pathetic feel sorry for me moomoo was back. We figure it wasn't pain that was making her limp etc., it was the feeling of the bandage on her wittle paw. Awww... Sydney... What a darling (not) child (more like devil). She is getting older, yup it happens I guess. She is super smart, will point to what she wants now (froot loops, strawberries, crackers) and will nod yes or no to questions. She is into every.thing. She tried opening the oven door tonight, with food cooking inside. Ouch, hot! got her attention. She has added a new word to her vocabulary (2) .. baba. Dada and baba and that's about it.. But she nods! and points! And runs.. really fast. She lurves her Daddy, and will give me free hugs and kisses all the time. I wish I was so lucky. She'll kiss the dog before she kisses me, sniff sniff. Isabella is an artist in training. She is making pictures and drawings, and they are all really good. She amazes me with some of the stuff she comes out of her room with. She is looking forward to school ending, and summer starting. She is smart, witty and charming (when she wants to be of course..). Me, well I'm BUSY. Chris and I leave for Vegas in less than 2 weeks, can't believe it. My dress is being altered, everything is set up and ready, and we can't wait. Now I just have to clean my house for Nana, eek! Weather here has been the shits the last few weeks, although I know I shouldn't be complaining as summer isn't officially here yet. We (Chris) have done alot of work outside regardless of the weather, and I must admit our yard and house are looking pretty spiffy. Well, that's about all for now. Not a hell of a lot new, just busy, with life. No promises on a next post, but I wil certainly try to update again before I leave. Tata!!

15 Months Old

2006-05-08T21:06:00.000-06:00

Dear Sydney, Today, you are 15 months old. Where do I begin. You are very independent. You have to feed yourself, with a fork. Food gets in your hair on a mealtime basis now, which means more baths, which means a win win for you, as it is still.. your favorite passtime. I will let you stay in your bath until it is freezing cold, and you still scurry to the far end of the tub where I grab your leg and haul you over kicking, crying and screaming to get out. You LOVE watermelon, alot. You walk around with a piece in each hand, slurp slurping away, leaving pink fingerprints on everything 2 feet high. You refuse to sit in your highchair for longer than 2 minutes, which makes mealtimes a pleasure. You only say one word clearly, Dada, and you refuse to give kisses now, but will blow kisses on command. You can clap your hands, wave bye bye, say hello sometimes, and love strangers (great!), as long as they don't touch you.

You love being outside. You looove walking onto the road. Without holding anyones hand. You take gravel from the front and drop them in a neat pile on the lawn. Back and forth, back and forth. And you love the breeze in your face, and the grass, rocks, and dirt in your mouth. You are daring and brave, and know how to get what you want. I have knicknamed you whiney winnie. It suits you. You don't talk yet, as you need to perfect the art of whine. But, you redeem yourself, by still loving your bed, and will close your eyes the second I lay you down. When you have trouble sleeping, you will talk to yourself and play in your bed for an hour sometimes, before I know you are still awake. I.ronic.

You love cuddling for a few seconds at a time, then it's off to see what you can get into. You are cute, and you know it. You love trouble, and the dog is your biggest fan. She loves trouble too. Your hair is becoming longer and curlier everyday. People ask me where you get it from, and I honestly don't know. Your sister had the same cute curly 'do' at your age, see? It's the straight in the front, curly in the back mullet! That's our mullet style!

Speaking of your sister,

she's great too. She is reading, and writing, and being so smart and grown up. Riding around the neighborhood with her 'gang', and doing little (slow) jumps on the (tiny) "ramp" in the street. Way to funny. She's really looking forward to Nana coming to take of you and Sydney, when Mommy and Daddy run off to Vegas to get hitched.. Yes, finally. It's going to be so much fun and I will miss you guys alot (not at all really, ok maybe a little).

Most of all Syd, you are a happy girl. You smile all the time, and already take moments to enjoy this new world around you. You are loved by some pretty special people, and it shows.

Love,

Blank, as you STILL, won't call me Mama.

As you can tell, this is my monthly letter and update rolled into one. Because I am still entirely too lazy. And busy. And lazy.

Spring has sprung..

2006-04-30T21:13:00.000-06:00

In pictures... Because I am too lazy and tired. Again. The End.

Chop chop

2006-04-23T20:27:00.000-06:00

After a few (ok more than a few) comments about Sydney's hair (tossed salad, mullet, etc.) I decided to take it upon myself to give her alittle trim. It was quick, painless, and only a wee little tear of sadness from Mommy. My baby sure is growing up.. What... a... ham... More wordy updates coming soon...

Video View

2006-04-16T20:15:00.000-06:00

Er, I know the last few days (weeks) have been sparse in the blogging department. Please don't give up on me yet. In the mean time...

Better than nothing??

2006-04-10T22:02:00.000-06:00

I am so behind right now. In everything. So sorry. Good stuff coming soon. In the meatime, here are some pics from the birthday hoedown at the pool. Smella Bella.. Sydney whimpy no swimming baby.. Sydney LOVES cheezies.. Lovin' the presents.. Such a big girl...

Smella Bella turns 6

2006-04-05T20:28:00.000-06:00

To my firstborn baby, my darling big girl, Today…you are six. SIX years old. I have been shouting this into the faces of everyone I have seen today, but they don’t seem to generate the same enthusiasm I have, including your Daddy as I stood on the bed and shouted this morning. It is hard for me to fathom having known you for 6 whole years already. We recently chopped off all your hair, which makes you look so much older. You like your new cut, or rather I thought you liked it, until I overheard you crying to your Papa that night on the phone about how Mommy “cut off all your hair”. Silly girl, the hairdresser did, not Mommy (and of course your Daddy who just couldn’t resist taking a snip the night before your appointment). You are really starting to grow up fast now, becoming so smart and witty and “cool”. Your appearance is becoming important to you now, asking for real make-up (never in a million billion years kid, or at least not until your teens, and no, not even for play), spending long amounts of time in the bathroom with the door shut, new hair ties, clips, you name it. And the clothes, oh God the clothes. Personally, I love your mix and match color/stripes/pattern ideas, not so sure about the rest of the viewing public. Seems you got your fashion sense from your father… You are curious, talkative (oh God can you talk) and love to dance and sing. You are at the perfect age to tease and get you going, to which your Daddy and I like to take advantage. For this, I am sorry. No, not really. We figure that deep down inside you enjoy it, especially your new “rapper nickname” of Smella Bella... (I dare you Internet readers, to say this name out loud without laughing). Your little sister adores you, as does your puppy, your teacher and everyone else who spends any time with you. Thank you my baby, for being so lovable and kindhearted. You make me want to be a better mother, person, and friend. Edit: Pictures are not posting properly, this is the only one that would work!! More B-day pics to come soon..

We say..

2006-04-03T20:37:00.000-06:00

Someone recently turned 30, which prompted me to jokingly ask her if she was feeling old. She replied with a few thoughts on what makes her feel young and old, and I just had to share them with you, as they are so reflective on my feelings as well, and I am sure some of you can relate too... She said.. I feel older then when I was twenty. I feel old when I do 5 loads of laundry in one day (or when I look at the hamper when I haven't done any laundry in 5 days...ugh...nothing worse). I feel young when I walk into American Eagle and still love all their clothes (although the super skinny jeans are now going out the window with my ass). I feel old when I turn on Much Music and I hate all the "new" music (seriously what the fuck is up with the music on that channel?). I feel young when I go to pick up (s0n) from his school and every Mom is a least 15 years older than me (of course they are all rich as hell or I am seeing their nanny's pick up their kid). And then I said.. I feel old when I see a cute 18 year old guy, and think more like their caregiver than their peer. I feel old when I can remember my mom at this age. I feel young when I think about Isabella's age, I have memories from being that age, and remember how it felt.. I feel old when I think a new technology is stupid, and the old way of doing it is “better”, and more “simple” too.. But mostly I still feel pretty young. I don’t think I am going to mind being 30. I feel better, more confident, smarter and am happier the older I get. How about you Internet??

Short Vid of Syd

2006-04-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hangin'...

2006-03-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realize I left some of you wondering what happened to my "exciting" upcoming post to look out for, but I am glad now in retrospect that I didn't post it after all. After witnessing the blowout on some other blogs that posted on this particular "hot" issue, I decided that the hate comments, and angry nasty e-mails just weren't for me right now. Thanks for the reminding me guys, I didn't forget ya!! When I initially started this blog, it was to keep my family and friends updated in a nice picture friendly word happy environment. There have been a few times, that I have wanted to post on some issues that are not so nice, not so friendly, and certainly not so happy. I just don't know if this is the place for that stuff right now. I have contemplated starting another blog, anonymously, so that I can be alittle more honest in my thoughts, feelings, issues, you name it. I guess I'm just too paranoid that people that I know in "real life" will have intimate knowedge of my thoughts and that I will be judged. And I've also thought that maybe I should just do that here instead, and say F**K it, who cares? (see, you didn't know that I can swear like a city worker now did ya??) Now, here are a few nice happy pictures for your viewing pleasure... Yes, that's licorice. She would take a bite, chew on it for a minute, spit it out for the dog to eat, repeat.

When you gotta go... go further??

2006-03-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

It's 11:55am, and my phone rings at work. Blah, blah, blah, me speaking? "Hi franny, it's (the babysitter) calling.." My first thought of course is, oh great, Sydney is sick/has a bum rash/God knows what else... Me: "ahah?..." BS: "Isabella isn't home from school yet, and I keep looking for her at the window but I don't see her?" Me: "Ok, I'll swing by the school on my way home from lunch, I'll leave right now.." I don't panic at this point although she is now 20 minutes late, as I know Isabella is the second SLOWEST person in the world, and is probably playing in the schoolyard, taking her time. I call Chris and ask him to swing by the school as he is a few minutes ahead of me. Halfway home, and 12:05, I call the sitter. Still not there. Getting a little bit worried now. Chris phones right as round the corner and I can see the school.. Him: "nope, didn't see her.." I am starting to get alittle bit more.. panicky. Me: "ok, I'm going to go into the school then, and.." Him: "woah, woah, I see her. She's at the church (a few blocks in the opposite direction from the sitters).. " I can hear Chris yelling at her from his truck, "ok, we'll meet you at home". What in the world????? Her story is... She had to pee. Instead of going right to the sitters, which is right off school property, she decided to walk all the way home, where there is no one, the door is usually locked, and she is sopposed to be somewhere else. How can I make sense of the logic of a 5 year old? Obviously I cannot. Was she scared? Alittle, yes. Did she think she was on some grand adventure? I think so, yup. Did she find her way home, crossing numerous streets (people stopped and let me cross!) stopping midway to see if her Mimi was home? Yup again, she did. She came home, peed, and was heading back to the sitters when Chris found her. We have decided not to punish her, but have had several strong conversations regarding why it wasn't such a great idea, as did our concerned sitter after I dropped her off. Chris and I are now laughing about it, in private of course, but still... she could have gotten into alot of trouble wandering around by herself.. Can't say she got her smarts from her Mama...

2006-03-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

This is an actual conversation we had this past week, in which I walked away and laughed so hard I just about peed my pants. Certain things I like to be new all the time, pillows about every 6 mos, discloths, sheets, you get my drift. Obviously forgetting about these particular items... Chris: Hon, can you come here for a sec? Me: Sure, what's up? Chris: Just a quick question for you... (pointing to the item below) I make (so many lots of $'s a year) and this is what I have to dry off with?

He's right, and that's the funny part. Our towel collection is somewhat mismatched... and old. So I went out and bought 4 new big beautiful towels, 2 each, color coded and everything. So proud... so proud...

For all you chocolate lovers out there!

2006-03-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Just this one time, (well hardly every really, ok ok sometimes) I let Sydney play in the living room by herself. On this particular occasion, it was 6:30 in the morning this past Sunday, when Chris had just returned (see honey, you are HOME now) the night before. Just a few precious minutes, cuddling and talking, and we're just in the next room for God's sake, and I always always, I mean, this one time I proofed the living room really well, dropped some cheerios on the table and ran for the hills. But of course, she found the chocolate. The one tiny, little shiny wrapped easter egg forgotten the night before. On the couch perhaps, or even dropped onto the floor, but she had found it and it was all hers. She loved it for at least 10 minutes, obvious by the teeth marks in the teeny little chocolate left behind, little bits of wrapper all over the carpet, chocolate smeared all over my couch, carpet, and of course, her face.

Blogger bites my A**

2006-03-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Am having lots of trouble posting/posting pics right now, am waiting for a reply from Blogger Help. Interesting posts to come soon, haha PS Happy 100'th blog post to me...

The boo (wobbly) walks!

2006-03-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

I meant to post last night, really I did. Instead, I decided to reformat my computer, and it took/is taking FOREVER. I have no pics back yet, but I can tell you that one little boobear took her first steps tonight! From me to her Auntie Leah. We screamed and laughed, and she screamed and laughed back. Cute stuff that one. Her bum/cold/teeth are obviously better, as she was in a great mood tonight. Did I tell ya she's got some major molar action happening? Oh yeah, one completely through, not sure when that happened, and a few little pokey's in and about. Isabella is back in school, and we are all very, very happy. She is developing a real 'tude lately, and I think it comes comes out when she gets bored. She's been at the sitters all day every day for two weeks now, although they do activities etc., I just don't think it's the same. Variety is the spice of life, no? I have an interesting topic I want to blog about, stay tuned in the next few days..

Quickie

2006-03-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

So, boy am I ever tired. I think it's pretty close to "that time of the month", and I am tired. Let's see here, what's new around here. Well, Sydney has a cold, again. And oh, oh yeah. Another infection... down there. What in the H--L? I've heard stories of children who are sick for a few years, (straight years) after being hurled out of their house into the germpool of germpools, AKA Dayhome/Daycare/Babysitter. Good times. GOOD times people. Poor little thing. And once again, someone isn't around to enjoy with us the grand art of sickness in our house. Hm. I think he's got something there. I think next time it looks like a cold is going to come through, I'm just gonna go stay in a hotel somewhere. Let him do all the work. Sniff. Babycakes Sydney is still trudging along in search of her land legs, and finally, finally saying Mama. I really think so this time. She says it alot now when she is whiny and crawling at me with her head down at a hundred miles an hour. I'm pretty sure it means what it means. She still gets sooo excited when she sees me coming to pick her up after work. I can tell now when she's had a good day or not, as she will always be excited, but cry alittle too when she's not so fricken happy. It's cute, like she missed me that day sooo much that she was overcome with emotion and just had to shed a tear and stick her little plump lower lip out for good measure. Isabella and I are treading a fine line. She isn't listening very good this week, and like I said it's almost "that time". I'm alittle short tempered, alittle short fused, and a whole lot of counting to ten. She's good if I can pay %100 attention to her, but with Whiny Winnie and bad doggy MMM eating toys and getting into all sorts of good trouble, I just can't.... I have some exciting plan making coming up in my future, and I cannot wait to get started. It involves tricking scientists into finding more hours in the day. No, not really, I wish though. I can tell you however, that my OCD is starting to flair it's huge ugly head at me. Watch out world. Anyhow, thats a quickie from me tonight, off to bed.

Boring myself, and a Gratuitous cutie patootie..

2006-03-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Besides a deliciously overpriced brunch this morning, life 'round here has been perfectly... boring. Just the way I like it really, but it certainly doesn't help my content now does it. So, um, brunch. I stuffed myself sooo good, mmmm... Chris will be leaving again tomorrow for the week, so I will put myself into wino, musico, relaxo writo mood, and come up with some good stuff, promise. In the meantime feast your eyes on this kid, who by the way is starting to walk if you hold one of her hands and hold something in front of her like say, a cell phone. She's savy that one, and also very much enjoyed brunch today.

13 Month Update

2006-03-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today you are 13 months old. To celebrate, I took you out for a few needle pokes in your cute chubby little arms. You weighed in at a whopping 17pds, 7 oz with all your clothes and booties on, but still! You are barely hangin on to that 5th percentile in weight, your height however, has sadly taken you back off the chart. It looks like you may be your father’s daughter after all…

You still aren’t very interested in talking too much, we like to think you say mama, dada, and banana, but really… it all sounds like Greek to me. You seem to have your own little language, and can understand yourself quite fine, and that’s all that really counts. We can tell you understand what we tell you, especially the word “no”, as your blatant refusal to listen to us and in fact do the opposite, tells us so. I love the way you grin, hurry and do your dirty work faster when told ‘no’, I think you like getting into trouble already. You are still a very picky eater, although what you do eat, you eat a lot of. You like surprising foods like asparagus, pork chops and anything garlicky. You dislike.. no.. you detest Kraft dinner, spaghetti and anything else tomatoey. If we try and feed you anything you don’t particularly care for, you turn your head around in your highchair faster than we can say Linda Blair, and look at us like we are force feeding you rat poison. You will snack on crackers all day if we let you, and our day home sitter is somehow succeeding in “fattening” you up better than I could. You are starting to enjoy pushing your walker around the house, with your sister helping get you out of corners. You are quick cruising around the coffee table to get what you want, in particular my coffee cup, or your big sister’s hot chocolate. I don’t mind that you aren’t walking yet, as I can tell already how much fun that’ll be. You lift your play phone to your shoulder now and babble to yourself, you love to throw toys out of your toy box, diapers off your change table, pots and pans out of the cupboard and laundry out of the basket.

You will dance on command, and love to roll over on the floor with Daddy. We think you believe you are doing a summersault like your big sister, as you always start your rolls by standing on your head. You love to laugh and scream for attention, which you get, all the time.. because you are not only my baby anymore, you are all our baby. You have a special relationship already with everyone who loves you, including MMM, whom you hold close by the jowls and giggle, while she lovingly french kisses you. Yuck.

Love you baby.

Mama

Those damn March Winds

2006-03-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

We took the girls sledding today, and had a great ol' time. It was nice out, but windy. Chris mumbled "Those damn March Winds" as we were leaving the hill, in a 2 old men sitting in the coffee shop mumbling about the crap weather type of way. Personally, I don't remember any previous mention about it being particularly windy this time of year, but he swears he will produce proof. We'll see.. Anyhow, here are some sledding pics for viewing. Enjoy.. Sydney is still battling with a horrid diaper rash. Just when I think we have it under control, we don't. Thanks for all your advice and concern Internet! The only thing that seemed to make any difference was some Monistat cream, leading me to believe she has a yeast issue happening, which makes sense as we just finished a huge round of antibiotics for her ear infection, which I am not entirely certain is all that gone ps and by the way. I am going to make her an appointment with our doc for both. Poor kid. But she had fun sledding! She went down once with Chris, got sprayed in the face with snow, gave him a "this is supposed to be fun" look, and spent the rest of our time there in my arms laughing at Daddy and sister coming down the hill instead..