A Dental Documentary

Who doesn't bring trains into the cleaning area?

He's thinking, "Maybe if I charm the hygienist, she'll opt not to clean my teeth?!"

Learning about the different tools...

Look at how big I can open my mouth!

Not quite sure about it all...

No problem!  This dental gig is beyond cool.

TGIF!  Hugs and God bless!!

Did You Know?

Today was picture day.

Isn't our little man the handsomest?

I was smitten, for sure! :)

Reality Bites

M: Mommy, look, there's your tummy. There's going to be another baby soon!

Oh Lordy! :) lol.

The Taskmaster

We've been getting a kick out of M's newly learned hide-n-seek game lately. He has adapted his own set of rules to make the game more "fun" for all involved.

Hide-n-seek Rules (from the mind of a 3-year-old):

1. The 3-year-old "Taskmaster" is in charge. No arguing.

2. Mommy/Daddy have only 3 counts to hide ("Give us at least to 10!" we cry. No way. :)

3. Mommy/Daddy can only hide where the Taskmaster tells us to.

4. Mommy/Daddy must count to 10 while the Taskmaster hides.

5. The Taskmaster will hide in the same place every time--underneath the side table, covered by a pillow.

6. The Taskmaster will giggle excessively as Mommy and Daddy "attempt" to find him.

7. The Taskmaster reserves the right not to hide at all, but instead come running at the counter after counting is finished.

8. All players must shriek upon the game's ending.

lol. This is too fun. :)

God bless you today!!

The Next Starbucks Generation

Today confirmed what I'd been fearing all along-- my kids are becoming the next generation Starbucks addicts! All because their mother loves it so. :)

At lunchtime, we pulled up to our closest and dearest Starbucks as M jubilantly stated, "Let's get some coffee!" Then, as we drove around to the drive-thru window and the lady handed me my drink, M shouted, "I'd like Americano too." The lady cracked up, to which I replied, "Yes, I've officially influenced the next Starbucks generation." My love of a nonfat, decaf Americano with two Splenda has rubbed off--M loves it too!! Lord, help us! :)

There is just something about pulling up and placing my order; something about the feeling of the cup in my hand; something about that logo that makes me feel stupendous and ready to take on the world! lol. Oh commercialism--together we've already ruined my children! :)

Oh well, I guess in this journey of motherhood, there are far worse influences than a cup of joe. The only thing I'm dreading is the price tag of two future Americanos! :)

God bless you today and God bless Starbucks!

Toddler To-Do's

M coaxed me into playing a music game with him today.
In this game, he would run over to the lights/music infant toy we have, push a button, and then backtrack quickly to begin drumming to the beat of the music on his toy drum. I was then to follow, sometimes being allowed to drum on the drum with him and other times encouraged to drum on some metal bells. It was all pretty cute. We were our own little music band. Quickly, though, the music would end and M would abandon his drumsticks, head back over to push another button, and the fun would ensue again and again--"work" in a toddler world. He was having a ball.

For the next task, he dropped his drumsticks, but this time headed over to the computer, where in a "manly" little boy's voice said, "I have to get to work. Work on the computer." He bent in half while attempting to mount the computer chair (a beautiful sign that he is *thankfully* still too little for our big people's world). After he finally made it up, he busied himself "typing" away on the keyboard. His first order of business he told me was to "check out Thomas (the Train)". Oh yes, important things to do in his big little world.

All this got me thinking... Here is our precious little boy, already enslaving himself to some imaginary task; already committing a precious moment in time to the dreaded four-letter word--work. Have we conditioned him to assume that's "what big people do" or has he been hard-wired like the rest of us to want to accomplish a mission or task, anything that will bring him self-satisfaction and reward? And will his future work be really satisfying in the end? I pray so! How much I pray this for all of my children--the they find their life's passion and ultimately, their God-given happiness upon pursuing it!!

Yet my precious little boy, don't go to work yet.
You'll have plenty of that when you're older.
Stay young with your mama a little while longer...

A Day to Party!

While the world might think they're celebrating Fat Tuesday today...

They're really rejoicing in our little M's third birthday!!!!!!

Happy Birthday M! We love you so much!!

Three years ago yesterday, I was teaching away happily, presuming to have another month to go before delivering our first child. I started feeling "funny", sick to my stomach with a headache. After having my blood pressure taken by a colleague (who also happened to be an EMT; what perfect coincidence!), we thought it best to have me go and check in with the doctor.

I met GG at the hospital, where they began monitoring my bp. We planned to head home afterward and go out to dinner with friends later on... OR NOT! My blood pressure continued to skyrocket, yet with no signs of pre-ecclampsia. It had yet to evolve! By the time my bp reached 180's/106, we knew we were done for. "You're not leaving this hospital without a baby..." was what the nurse told us. Oh my goodness! We weren't leaving the hospital without a baby!!! GG and I couldn't believe it. We were going to get to meet our little man a month early!

12 hours of induction later, I was in the throes of labor with pitocin on the way. At 2:38pm on Saturday, February 5th, our little guy arrived in full glory, weighing a nice 5lbs. 5oz. and measuring 18.5inches. He was a little peanut, indeed, and one we adored immediately... How blessed our lives have been because of him.

We had the chance to celebrate his birthday with some friends on Saturday. It was a fun, low-key kind of party (totally my style!), and M had a great time with his best buds. The kids romped around at an indoor playground, while the parents sat and drank coffee--perfect! I added some shots below to capture the event for the memory books...

Today we celebrated with doughnuts and balloons for breakfast. M brought brownies to his preschool class to share with his friends. A day to party, indeed.

Thanks for rejoicing with us! God bless!!

Our Budding Photographer

One of M's favorite gifts this year was a digital Fisher Price camera--a far cry from my own youth FP camera with roll film and attached flash (incidentally one of the best cameras in our household for a long time!:)

Let's just say the little man has "taken" to his new toy. Initially, he was quite insistent on looking through the front shutter and taking shots (only of his face). After wading through much ridiculous toddler stubbornness, Mom and Dad finally convinced the guy that a real photographer looks through the viewfinder and *lo and behold* the pictures come out showing what you're looking at!! Oh my goodness... What glory for a 2-year-old (and for his parents)!

Now, it's not unusual to see little M running around with a camera to his face. It's really adorable! Here are a few of his first shots, including some of his pics from time at a local farm today. Too cute!

God bless you in this Christmastide.

One of the first eye shots--pretty artistic!

Capturing Daddy being silly

Cow shots

Loves to take pics of Uncle C, taking pics

A donkey, from a 2-year-old's perspective.

Peacock rear shot

The group from afar...

Having Too Much Fun

B-mama: Is Papa a boy or a girl?

M: GIRL! (laughter from the peanut gallery, including Papa)

B-mama: Are you a boy or girl?

M: GIRL! (more laughter)

B-mama: What about mommy, is she a boy or a girl?

M: GIRL!

Hallelujah!
That's right and that's all that counts :)
God bless you today!

[Gingerbread house-making pictures on the way (in my incredible packing, I forgot the downloading device for our camera--oops!)]

Dear Santa

Dear Santa Clause,

I'm just now beginning to acknowledge your (feigned) existence and I hear that you're the guy I need to ask for particular Christmas wishes. It must be pretty cool to be the one who gets to give everybody what they ask for (I do this to my little brother often.)

My mommy will attest to my constant pleading desires for "James", the Thomas the Tank Engine red engine #5. I love him and he's my very favorite Thomas character. I've even learned the number five faster than all the rest because I love James so... Could you please bring him to me for Christmas (and lead-free please)? You would make me the happiest little (yet well-written :) boy on the planet.

I've been a very good boy this year, with only a few (cough cough) infractions of which to speak. I help my mommy feed the dog every morning and night. I guide my little brother on the straight and narrow (and usually push him in the right direction.) I had my first successful day today in big boy underwear (with James on it, worth mentioning) and only had one accident while playing at the mall (what was my mommy thinking taking me there on my first day in underpants? I claim complete innocence.) Overall, despite my occasional lapses, I think I'm a pretty good kid (and my parents usually agree, also worth mentioning.)

On a side note, my little brother is pretty naughty. You should think twice before granting his Christmas wishes... Today, for example, he poured an entire canister of Comet on his lap (while my mommy was right there!) and made a huge mess. I thought my mommy was going to spring a leak, she was so angry. Definitely think twice about that little boy...

I digress. Please consider my wish, dear Santa Clause, and I would be ever so grateful if you decided to grant it.

Thanks a lot,
M
(way ahead of the curve in letter composition and sentence construction:)

Ipsy Bitsy

As Gasperini-Ville prepares to head nearby for a family-filled Thanksgiving, here's a little serenade to put a smile on your face just in time for the holiday! God bless you today in all your feasting preparation...

Faking it

Not too shabby, eh? :) God Bless you today!