Sunday Funday

We actually had a whole long-weekend of fun days this past weekend when Tim and Krissi and the kids came up.


We started with making cookies with the girls in the morning. I thought I had muffin mix, but a sugar cookie in the morning never hurt anyone, right?


Enjoying the fruits of their labor.


Then we went to a bounce house place nearby. I think the guys had more fun than the kids, but I also think they *may* have broken more than a couple of rules in the name of competition.




Luke wanted in on the action.





That afternoon, the four adults went to the Bulls game and watched the Bulls stink it up while Brooke's Aunt Jamie (really confusing to Lexi who has me as her Aunt Jaimie) watched all three kids single-handedly for the whole afternoon. You are my hero!



The next day we did some shopping, which is always a good idea with 3 kids 3 and under and a grown man (Matt) who whines almost as much as they do. Everyone enjoyed their naps that afternoon then we went to watch Tim and Matt win their YMCA basketball game.



The next morning we just hung out at the house.



It was a great weekend but I think everyone was tired by the time it was over.

Daddy/Daughter Date

For a little while now, anytime Matt "babysits" Brooke during a meal, they call it a Daddy/Daughter date. Typically, they go for BBQ, because BBQ restaurants gross me out and Matt's hoping to brainwash Brooke into liking it before I can brainwash her into not liking it.


I had heard stories of dads who used Valentine's Day to really make their daughters feel special and to show them how they should be treated by future Valentine's Day dates. I mentioned this to Matt and we thought it would be a fun tradition to (try to) start. While he didn't always make a big deal of it on specific days, my dad was a great example of showing me how I should be treated and I really can't thank him enough for that.



So, on Valentine's Day night, Matt and Brooke headed to Chuck E. Cheese, because this wasn't a run-of-the-mill Daddy/Daughter date. Brooke was talking about it for a couple of days before and seemed to have had a really good time. And Matt claims he didn't get hit on by any lonely single moms who were there.


We're trying to really treasure this time and keep in mind what a limited time we have with Brooke when we'll be the most important influences in her life. Which is why this song reduces me to tears EVERY time I hear it. (I would put the video on the blog but it takes too long to upload.)

Mommy's Little Helper

It's happened. We've entered "Witching Hour" territory. It usually starts around 5:30, or as soon as I head into the kitchen to start getting dinner ready (Yes, we've become early eaters. Judge if you must, I sure used to.) It can entail stomping, crying, leg-clutching, etc. All for no explicable reason, except that I'm in the kitchen and unable to give her my undivided attention. I blame it on the sixth sense that kids seem to have...and the fact that she's two.




About a month ago, it dawned on me to have her "help" me make dinner. This obviously lends itself better to some meals than others. And considering my husband's refined palate and my extensive culinary expertise, it's taken some creativity. Salads are a favorite of hers to make. And the other night while Matt was out of town she and I made pizza. Worst case, I give her the pint of blueberries and raspberries and have her make fruit salad. I'm just happy to have found something that seems to distract her - for now.


And I've also been able to parlay this into other times of day. She's really into helping with the laundry. She's *this* close to folding better than Matt already. She's also still into cleaning. If I give her a disinfecting wipe, she can stay busy for quite awhile. I'm not advocating child labor, but I do value effeciency. Clean house + tired toddler = happy mom.

Brooke Lately

*I'm tempted to start this post complaining about how I'm still getting used to my new phone and its camera features but realize that will make me sound 20+ years older than I am. Instead, I'll apologize briefly for my lack of new photos of Brooke lately and will say in my defense that I don't think it's entirely my fault.*

Disclaimer aside, I don't have an over-arching theme for this post and instead just wanted to make some notes of what Brooke's been up to.


Overall, she continues to be a pretty compliant and easygoing toddler. Who's two. Of course, the times that she chooses to assert her independence seem like they're always in the hallway at church or while we're out to dinner where lots of people can see. She's in her bed about 12 hours a night, but we often still hear her talking or singing to herself as late as 10 or 11. I think this may have started in Florida when we shared a room with her and would let her get up and play at that time. She's just so much fun when she's slap-happy! Her afternoon naps usually last between 2-3 hours. We'll see how all this changes when we put her in a toddler bed in the coming weeks.


Her vocabulary is kind of exploding and she cracks me up daily with some of the things she says. Here are some examples:

"Torry, hon, I tan't pay white now." (Translation: "Sorry, hon, I can't play right now.") - this was said as she was 'talking' on her toy phone. Wonder where she heard that? Mom guilt.

"He haned up on me!" (Translation: "He hanged up on me!") - also said in reference to her toy phone. I think she got that from the times that Lexi has accidentally hung up on her.

"Don't taut to me yike dat!" (Translation: "Don't talk to me like that!") - said with her hand out and full attitude when I told her she couldn't watch tv. Matt and I will say that line to her when she's disrespectful to us. This comment from her was followed with an explanation from us about how Moms and Dads can talk to their kids however they want. And then we laughed pretty hard.

"Reyax, Ozzie, it's otay." (Translation: "Relax, Ozzie, it's okay.") Ozzie gets pretty fired up when there's action of any kind outside our windows and she's learned the magic words.

"It's otay. It an attident. No bid deal." (Translation: "It's okay. It was an accident. No big deal.") Said when she spilled her water when we were out to dinner the other night. She gets a little worked up about mistakes so I was glad to hear her self-calming.

"Tan we doe home now? I wat to doe home." (Translation: "Can we go home now? I want to go home.") Said right after above spilling incident. I think it was the first time I'd seen her embarrassed and aware of it. Seeing her grow up is so bittersweet.

"Is eweyting otay in hewe?" (Translation: "Is everything okay in here?") Said at a friends' house. The moms were in one room and the kids were in the other. Apparently that's my line of choice when checking on her and her friends playing.


We broke out the big girl underwear the other day, and while she didn't have any accidents in them for 4+ hours, she also didn't go in the toilet. Matt considers this "practically potty-trained", but I'm not so optimistic. My plan is to follow her lead for the next few months. Stay tuned.

We continue to be amazed with how lucky and blessed we are to have such a healthy, happy little girl and if it's possible, each stage of her growing is more fun (/challenging) than the next.

Here she is 'holding' her friend "Baby Evan" at the Super Bowl party. We'll work on her form in the next few weeks.

Sprinkles

Last Friday I was shocked to get not one, but two surprises celebrating our new Little Guy. In the morning, I went over to my friend Jen's house for a playdate with her and Joy and our kids to find that they had made me/him this adorable diaper cake (that Brooke has already dismantled).


That evening, I headed over to my friend Kristina's for a Girls' Night dinner only to find her house decorated for a "Sprinkle". We got some really cute things for the little guy, but more importantly, I was reminded of what great friends I have and how blessed our kids are to be surrounded by so much love and support.




Thanks again, ladies!

*I promise this will be my last Brooke-less post for awhile.*

Cabo

Matt's company had their annual Awards Trip the last weekend in January and he and I were lucky enough to get away for a few days to Cabo San Lucas, or "Cabo" as the jet-setters call it. Brooke got to spend the weekend with my family in St. Louis (thank you!) and had a blast, as well. *Shout out to my brother who took a 3 1/2 year-old, 2 year-old, and 10 month-old to the movie theater - by HIMSELF!*


We stayed at the One & Only Palmilla. I was thrilled to learn that it's the best celeb-spotting resort in Cabo, but a little disappointed that Mike Piazza was the biggest celeb we saw. I was hoping for at least a Real Housewife or two. (Thanks again to Grant for the amazing getaway.) Because Brooke wasn't with us, and I was 8 months pregnant and in a bathing suit most of the time, I don't have any photos of us (/me that are flattering enough to show in public). We did get some shots from our room.

It was whale season, so we got to see tons of whales in the ocean. We also had a visitor for breakfast one morning.

I'm always sad to leave Brooke, but I'll be honest - time with my husband, leisurely dinners where I can actually converse uninterrupted and long days spent poolside are nice breaks every once in awhile.