Lilies and Sunflowers

Happy Birthday Sunflower!

2011-04-03T21:24:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe my baby is a year old. This past year flew by so quickly, it felt much faster than Lily's first year did. I knew this was my last first year and how fast it goes, I tried to pay more attention and slow it down, but life just keeps speeding up.

At 1 Sunflower is still a little peanut. At just 17 pounds, 11oz she is below the 5th percentile for weight but her personality is huge. She runs the show around here with a voice that can out yell and boss around her big sister. You would never know it by her size but her appetite is bigger than most full grown men and she only likes food that is full of flavor - spicy black bean soup is a particular favorite.

She has little interest in her baby toys, she prefers to play Barbies and My Little Ponies with her sister. She took her first steps before her first birthday, but still prefers to be carried around while she points to where she wants to go.

She is a snuggler when awake and and gives the sweetest hugs. She is still shy around new people and will bury her head in my lap while sticking her bum up in the air, but once she is comfortable with you she is a little ham. She loves peek-a-boo and has an infectious laugh.

Thinking about Trying Cloth- Here is your chance!

2011-02-07T20:16:00.003-05:00

Today is a great opportunity to pick up one of our favorite pockets for a steal. Mother Of A Sale has some slightly mis-sized Fuzzibunz Perfect Size diapers for just $9! These are marked as a large, but are actually sized between a medium and a large. Sunflower is currently 17 pounds and fits perfectly in a Medium, but was wearing it (slightly bulky) since about 14 pounds, so I'm sure this would fit great at her size.

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size pockets are a great intro diaper to try. They have a stay dry liner, snaps to keep older babies from streaking through the house diaperless, they are easy to wash and fit great. You can check out Mother of a Sale on Facebook or go right to their website to pick up your Fuzzibunz in lots of great colors!

Mother Of A Sale is a great online, deal site. Their goal is "to bring you the best brands at the lowest prices ALL THE TIME!!!! Enjoy savings of up to 80% off your favorite brands and products." My first order from them was also Fuzzibunz, they were running a great deal of 2 diapers and a gift certificate to Agoo which we used to purchase Lily's amazing rain suit. For more information about MOAS, check out their "About Us". On top of the great brands they already have, they will soon be bringing two new to North America diapers to the market. No idea what kind they are yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out!

The First Lost Tooth!

2010-12-12T22:56:00.006-05:00

I was having a hard time adjusting to how much older Lily's new haircut made her look. Last night she lost her first tooth, adding to the big girl appearance. It's amazing how much one tooth can change how old they look, whether it was Sunflower looking less like my newborn and more like a baby when she got her first one or Lily looking less like my little girl and more like a big girl when she lost her first one.

The tooth has been wobbly for a couple of weeks now, she first noticed it when she bit into an apple at school and it started to hurt her. While she was brushing her teeth it loosened up the rest of the way and was just hanging on by a thread. She was a little nervous to loose it, but not as nervous as I was at the thought that I would have to pull it out the rest of the way! Luckily nothing really phases Lily and she reached in and gave it a quick tug, depositing the teeny little tooth in my hand. She must have noticed me trying to hold back tears, gave me a big hug and told me that she is still my baby.

We put the tooth into her little fairy pouch, read her story about the tooth fairy, then placed it under her pillow. The tooth fairy came overnight and left her $5 (since it was the very first tooth, and the tooth fairy wasn't quite prepared since it wasn't that loose earlier in the day!)

Who is this big girl?

2010-12-11T17:03:00.001-05:00

Before

After

ETA: I didn't know when I posted these that they would be my last photos of Lily with her full smile, a couple of hours later she lost her first tooth!

Go Check Out These Giveaways

2010-12-11T16:18:00.000-05:00

I have been very lucky building up Sunflower's diaper stash. I have won quite a few giveaways, giving me the chance to try different brands of diapers to find out what works best for us without having to spend a lot of money on diapers that didn't work. 29 Diapers is currently hosting a giveaway a day for 29 days. Most of the prizes are cloth diapers, wonderful for anyone who already diapers or would like to try it, but there are also some wonderful prizes for any parent, all natural laundry detergent, diaper rash cream, and gift cards to parenting stores.

Today's giveaway is my absolute favorite, knit wool longies from sustainablebabyish/sloomb. I still have to post about our great visit to Sloomb, Lily's new love, and Sunflower's amazing longies. But trust me, these are the most amazing things I have ever put on her, cloth diapering or not. They make a great diaper cover for her fitteds, but they are also just a super soft, breathable, warm pair of pants over disposables as well. As much as I hate the extra competition since I really want to win this one myself, you should head on over to 29 Diapers each day and check out what is going on.

Conversations

2010-11-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

Lily is the best big sister. She dotes on her baby sister and always wants to be where ever she is. Sunflower is currently asleep and Lily just asked me,

"When is Sunflower going to be awake? I miss her face."

I Love Fall

2010-11-07T14:28:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy fall. Kindergarten, a 5th birthday for my first baby, 5 more birthday parties to attend, apple picking, school, Girl Scouts, Halloween, etc. So the blog fell behind for a little bit. But I'm back and hope to catch up a post or two at a time while staying current. In the meantime, here are a few fall shots of my two favorite flowers.

Kindergarten!

2010-09-07T23:06:00.000-04:00

Today was Lily's first day of kindergarten. She was thrilled to finally be going back to school and all her friends and could not wait to be one of the big kids upstairs. She started off the day with a nice breakfast with Sunflower and a phone chat with Nana and PopPop while she told them all about the big playground she would get to play on in the mornings now too.

She let me snap a few photos, insisting on one with Sunflower, before dragging us over to the car to get on the road. She remembered the long drive to and from school and did not want to be late and miss anything.

When we got to the school, Lily's new teacher, Mrs. L met us at the car. There is no drawn out goodbyes or wandering around the school, they know it is harder on the parents than the kids scoop them off before we can start to cry. Mrs. L did pause just long enough for me to get 1 picture. She actually had to stop Lily for me who was ready to take off without a second glance.

Sunflower wasn't too happy though, she continued to look around the backseat for her big sister until she finally fell asleep and throughout the day would look around like something was missing.

Lily bounded into the car at pickup time, ready to continue our tradition of the park after school. She was in a wonderful mood, excited about her friends, the turtles in their room, and the lessons they had on turtles and fish that day.

This is my new comparison picture, I have decided to take one in front of the fence at the beginning and end of each school year to see how much they have grown.

The Last Normal Day

2010-09-03T23:58:00.000-04:00

Normal is about to take on a whole new meaning for me. For the last 4 years and 358 days, normal has meant having Lily by my side. Last year she started full day school, but it was only 3 days a week, so we still had normal days in between. I loved those weekdays with her home, we had parks and entertainment places to ourselves, playdates with friends, and the freedom to travel on easy days.

Today was our last day of "normal". Tomorrow is the weekend, Monday is a holiday, and Tuesday Lily starts Kindergarten. She will no longer be home with me all week, or even the majority of it. I will drive her to school and drop her off for 6 of her waking hours 5 days a week. I'm in tears just thinking about it. For our last day of normal we left Sunflower with daddy so we could run to the store together to pick out fabric for new crumbcatchers, took some pictures, had some "tea", took a walk, went to the playground, and picked up dinner so I could just put Sunflower to bed and spend some extra time with Lily.

Next week my baby leaves me for school and turns 5 all in the same week. I know it's a cliche, but the time really has flown. Half the time I think I still imagine her as a 2 year old who needs mommy for everything, not this independent girl who can do so much for herself, be a big help to me, and has already started worrying about what her friends will think . Some days I feel like I am dealing with a teenager. One day she will ask me how I know everything, the next she will tell me that I am wrong about everything.

Right now I am just hoping to make it through the drive to school and drop off on Tuesday without tears, at least not until I am back in the car and out of view of the school. I will think about how to adjust to the new normal after that.

5 Months Old

2010-09-03T23:44:00.000-04:00

She loves:

Her Toes

Spitting
My water glass

Sitting up

Being outside

Going for walks in the stroller

Standing up

Being worn in the Baby Hawk
Watching her diapers dry on the clothesline

Reaching for everything

Forster, Max, and Molly
Sleeping on her belly now that she can roll

Her big sister

Yelling
My knuckles

Her knuckles

Her pacifier at bedtime
Watching the world out the car window

Her fingers

Waking up Daddy in the morning
Peek-A-Boo

Laughing

Chewing on anything that gets near her mouth
Rolling over

Scooting around

And did I mention her toes?

Lilypad Likes: Cow Patties Cloth Diapers

2010-08-28T23:41:00.002-04:00

We have been a cloth diapering family for just over two months now. In some ways I feel like I am a pro now; I have figured out good wash and storage routines and figured out some diapers that work well on Sunflower and which ones I wouldn't buy again (and what about them would make me stay away from others like them). In other ways I still feel completely inexperienced; there are so many different types of diapers never mind brands within those types that I have tried only a tiny fraction. But despite my inexperience, I have already stumbled onto our perfect nighttime diaper.

One thing I have learned about the cloth diapering community is that everyone is very generous. There are multiple diaper giveaways on Facebook and blogs everyday, and winning a giveaway can be a great way to try new diapers without blowing your budget. I was lucky enough to win a Cow Patties Famous Pocket Fitted diaper in a giveaway from the Cloth Chronicles.

The Cow Patties FPF is two layers of organic bamboo fleece (OBF). It has an OBF insert that folds to provide 10-12 layers of protection. The outside is a cotton knit, so if you want a completely waterproof solution you will need some type of cover. There are also no closures on this fitted, so you will need a Snappi, pins, or a cover to keep it on.

My first impression of the diaper was of how soft it was. The OBF is amazingly soft and stays that way even after repeated washings to prep it. I was joking around with the long insert and wrapped it around my neck like a scarf, LP Dad thought it was a shame anything that soft should be pooped on. I can only imagine how nice it must be to have just that super soft OBF touching her skin, especially when the reflux is acting up and she is starting to get a rash again.
(The insert is folded in half here.)
When I originally pulled out the insert I thought it was going to be a very bulky diaper. But I was wrong, despite all the layers when the insert is stuffed, it is still trim. It fits well between her legs and can't imagine that it will be too bulky or cause any issues when she is more mobile. Because there are no snaps, you can use a Snappi or pins to get a perfect fit around the waist. And no velcro means nothing to snag in the wash or look messy.

The first time I put it on Sunflower was during the day, I won't use anything overnight that I haven't already tried during the day so I have some idea of what to expect. She spent 4 hours in this diaper, without a cover, and the outside of the diaper never even got damp. So I decided to give it a try overnight the next time. I don't like to change Sunflower overnight because then she thinks it is party time, so I need a diaper that can hold for up to 12 hours. I have found that fitteds with a cover work best, but they are completely saturated in the morning and I need to wash the covers as well. The Cow Patties FPF is barely damp on the outside of the diaper even after a full 12 hours and the cover can be used again after a short air dry. This is now my first choice nighttime diaper and I would really like to get 2 more and make it our only nighttime diaper.

The only negative I have found with this diaper is the black knit fabric faded quickly during the prep washings. But I would expect that of any dark fabric that goes through multiple hot washes. There are so many fabrics to choose from, both sold as in-stocks or as a custom choice that I can easily find something lighter for the outside next time.

Cow Patties Cloth Diapers also offers Covers, Pockets, AI2s, Fitteds, Wipes, and Babylegs along with the Famous Pocket Fitted. I am hoping to give an AI2 or Pocket a try as well soon. If they are anything like the FPF I know I will love them. You can find in-stocks available now in her shop on Facebook or check out the Cow Patties blog for more information, sales and promotions and to find giveaways of Cow Patties diapers.

It's a bird, it's a plane....

2010-08-27T09:53:00.000-04:00

It's PopPop!
(Can you find him in this photo?)

Big congratulations to PopPop who got his Sport Pilot license last week. The plan was for him to fly to the beach house for the end of our vacation, but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we had to come home before he could make it. But yesterday he finally got a break from the storms and made his way out east in his little (and I mean LITTLE) StingSport.

We decided to surprise Lily and Sunflower, so I didn't let them know that he was making a layover in the little county airport the next town over. I told Lily that we were going on a Letterboxing hunt (there is one at the airport that we have been waiting for until just this time), packed them both into the car, and started giving Lily the clues. She solved the clues I have her to narrow it down to airport and restaurant and got out of the car ready to hunt.

While she was pulling her letterboxing bag out of the car, PopPop walked up behind her and said something. She turned around with a puzzled look on her face, it probably took about 30 seconds for her to realize what was happening before she launched herself on him for a big hug.

First we headed out onto the tarmac for a look at PopPop's new toy, um I mean plane. Lily enjoyed climbing up onto the wing and looking into the cockpit but when we told her she could get in and be a pilot she told us it was too small. Too small for a 4 year old but PopPop just flew from Oklahoma in it? Well, judge for youself.

I guess when a plane isn't twice as tall as a 4 year old it is a little small!

After checking out the plane we headed into the restaurant for a little ice cream and a letterbox hunt. We enjoyed spending an hour with PopPop before he had to take off again for the final leg of the trip to the beach and Nana.

Lily ran along the fence waving goodbye as far as she could, then she, Sunflower and I all watched as he took off into the sky until we couldn't see him anymore.

Peek-

2010-08-26T23:30:00.000-04:00

A-Boo

I See You!

Generations

2010-08-26T22:46:00.001-04:00

One and Four

Two and Four

Three and Four

And the Winner Is....

2010-08-19T11:46:00.006-04:00

Sorry for the delay in picking the winner. We are on vacation and I wasn't able to log into my blogger account from my phone. I finally made it to the library to access a real computer.

To make the drawing fair, I put the numbers 1 through 60 into the random number generator at Random.org. The first winner was #29 unfortunately that person commented as Anonymous and did not leave me any way to contact them or verify who they really were if they contacted me.

So I had to draw again. Again, 1-60 into the random number generator and came up with number 59.

Congratulations to Diane! (I removed her email from the comment) I will be emailing you in a little bit to get your contact information for Tina.

Thank you to everyone who entered. I hope that some of you who have never seen Tina's work before will have found something they loved to add to a holiday or birthday wish list.

Love Touch Pendant Giveaway

2010-08-10T01:17:00.002-04:00

If you have been a reader for a while you have already read at least 1 post from me about the beautiful fingerprint jewelry created by Tina Steinberg. I received a gorgeous Round Up Your Love pendant from Lily and her Daddy for Christmas 2007.

For Christmas I received a little packet of clay along with instructions and a package to mail everything back.Together we all sat down to make a mold of Lily's fingerprint, which was a very easy process after a little practice with some playdough. We packed it all up, dropped it in the mail, and two weeks later I received a beautiful silver pendant with Lily's tiny fingerprint preserved forever. You can read about my initial impression and see more photos in my first post about it it here.

Three years of constant wear later, it was still beautiful and in perfect shape. I will be the first to admit I am not easy on jewelry. I never took it off, I showered, slept, worked out and even sometimes swam with it on. You would never have known by looking at it. A little silver polish every month or so kept it looking brand new. I received countless compliments and questions about it and was always happy to direct people to Tina knowing they would be as thrilled as I was.

Earlier this summer I lost my pendant. My chain broke while I was out (not a chain from Tina, one that I had before getting the pendant) and I put it into my purse until I could get home. Somehow it must have fallen out along the way and I am heartbroken that it is gone. Lily used to love to put her finger into the print to see how much she had grown. I used to love to touch it whenever she wasn't with me, feeling a little closer to her whenever I missed her.

I had already planned on purchasing another Round Up Your Love pendant for Sunflower, but now I haven't decided yet whether to replace Lily's with another single and get a new one for Sunflower or to get one double pendant with both fingerprints now that I have lost the first one. Tina has so many more beautiful designs now it is even harder to decide than during my initial search. Besides my favorite Love Touch Collection she also has gorgeous lockets that you can fill with tiny fingerprints, names or tiny treasures and a Spirit Collection that gives "sheer empowerment and a dose of good juju on a chain".

Giveaway

Tina Steinberg has graciously offered to give one reader their own Love Drop Pendant (valued at $120). The winner will receive a kit from Tina to create your own fingerprint mold which will be used to create the sterling silver pendant. This pendant is the size of the fingerprint plus 2mm around and 4-6mm above the print. It includes a 1 word inscription on back and a jump ring, but does not include a chain.

To enter the giveaway you must visit Tina's website then come back and tell me what your favorite item is other than the Love Drop or Round Up your Love pendants.

You may earn one additional entry by "liking" Tina's Facebook page and by following my blog. Post an additional comment letting me know that you did both.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, August 16th.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any money or products in exchange for this review and giveaway. The opinions are all my own based on my experience with the product that was purchased.

Some Changes to the Blog

2010-08-10T00:20:00.000-04:00

I have finally gotten around to making some changes to the blog. When I started the blog, Lilypad Princess was the focus and I planned the theme around her. Now that her baby sister has joined us, I wanted to make it inclusive of both girls.

The day she came to the hospital to meet her new sister, LP nicknamed her "My Beautiful Sunflower". So instead of trying to find a nickname that would fit into the Lilypad theme (if she had been a boy I had planned on calling him Tadpole) I decided to shift to a Flower Garden theme. For the girls I would could continue to use Sunflower and just shorten Lilypad Princess to Lily. And so our little lilypad has become a garden.

4 Months Old!

2010-08-03T10:40:00.000-04:00

I can't believe Sunflower is already 4 months old! She is rolling in both directions, scooting around when on the floor, "chatting" up a storm, and has just discovered how to blow bubbles. She is still waking up to eat overnight, but has started off the night in her crib this week. She still ends up in the bassinet or my bed by morning, but is quickly outgrowing the bassinet and getting used to her crib. Her favorite toys are baby, zebra, Sophie, and of course, her big sister.

Lilypad Likes: Unpaper Towels and Dispensers

2010-07-28T00:32:00.000-04:00

We have been making a real effort to be more green at the Lilypad. I have switched to vinegar and water for cleaning, environmentally friendly laundry detergent, reusable snack bags, stainless steel water bottles, even cloth diapers. The one place where I have to admit I am far from green is paper towels. We use them for cleaning up spills, napkins, wiping down counters and tables, pretty much everything. I try to remember to grab a dishtowel instead, but the drawer just isn't as convenient as the paper towel dispenser on the counter.

That's why I love these unpaper towels and the dispenser from Made In The Red Barn. The unpaper towels are made from a single layer of birdseye cotton fabric and are similar in size, shape and weight to paper towels. The dispenser would look wonderful sitting on the counter in place of the paper towel holder, making the unpaper towels just as easy to grab as a paper towel. There isn't even any extra work involved other than throwing them in the washing machine, the dispenser is designed for easy filling, you just put the washed towels back in unfolded.

You can see more styles on their Etsy site or find them on Facebook. I'm going to bookmark their site to come back to soon.

image belongs to madeintheredbarn.com

The Simple Things in Life

2010-07-25T23:01:00.001-04:00

Clean diapers hanging on a new clothesline

A nap in the shade on a hot summer day

A few bright colors for entertainment

Who needs modern technology all the time? Sometime the simple things in life can just make you feel good.

2010-07-22T23:36:00.000-04:00

First Day of Preschool

Last Day of Preschool

Storytime

2010-07-07T22:57:00.008-04:00

Sunflower loves storytime. And Lilypad Princess is her favorite storyteller. Yesterday while trying to pack us up to head from Grandpa's house to the beach, I asked LP if she could keep an eye on Sunflower while I got the diapers out of the dryer. When I walked into the bedroom about 2 minutes later, LP was "reading" her favorite story to Sunflower. When I went to pick her up, LP told me she wasn't done and could I leave her there. So I was able to finish packing, shower, and pack up the car completely while LP read Sunflower the entire stack of books that she has there.

On A Roll

2010-07-06T22:49:00.007-04:00

Sunflower is rolling. She has had a few random rolls that surprised her, but yesterday and today she made herself roll from her back to her front multiple times.

100 Degrees

2010-07-05T00:19:00.001-04:00

What do you do when the temperature actually hits 100 degrees? If you are LP you cool off with a few runs through the sprinkler!

Grandpa pulled out the sprinkler today so LP could spend some time outside without having to worry about the heat. She had a great time running through, getting a drink, trying to beat the water to the other side, and getting us a little wet.

Sunflower was happy to watch her big sister, but seemed a little concerned about the water. And she was NOT happy to actually get wet.

Best Friends

2010-07-05T00:10:00.000-04:00

There is nothing more fun than laughing with your best friends.

A Visit

2010-07-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Sunflower made her second visit to Grandpa and Nannie's house this weekend. She was a little worn out after the party and the late night, but she still managed to smile and laugh at Grandpa and loved wandering around the house with Nannie checking everything out. The yellow flowers on the table were the favorite. She managed a nap on Grandpa's lap for a while to catch a second wind before heading out to watch LP play.

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T23:18:00.001-04:00

The girls and I had a wonderful day today catching up with family and old friends. My cousin Lee and her boyfriend John threw a great bash with tons of food, lots of chatting, and of course, the pool. I think LP spent about 1/2 an hour NOT in the pool the entire day. It didn't matter that she was purple and shivering, she was swimming. Clara moved from Lee, to Eka, to Auntie Diane, to my cousin Christy, to her new favorite person, Christy's boyfriend Patrick, and back around the circle again throughout the day. I will have to add pictures later unfortunately, I left the camera at the party last night!

Sisterly Love

2010-07-04T00:58:00.002-04:00

Favorites

2010-07-04T00:57:00.000-04:00

A few of Sunflower's favorites at 3 months old.

Her Sister

Her Baby

Her Hand

Kicking Her Feet, Sticking Out Her Tongue, and Zebra

How did that happen?

2010-07-03T00:32:00.000-04:00

How can I be three months old already?

Going Green with Cloth

2010-06-24T16:42:00.001-04:00

Before Sunflower was born I decided to be more environmentally conscious this time around. The thought of cloth diapers and all the laundry they would generate was a little daunting so I decided to give gDiapers, an environmentally friendly hybrid a try.

With the gDiapers I realized that cloth isn't really that scary and decide to try real cloth full time (using the gdiaper disposable inserts when traveling, at the beach, etc.) I purchased my first cloth diapers yesterday, some unbleached Chinese prefolds and Thirsties covers. I have also been making my own cloth inserts for the gDiapers with a little serging help from Uncle Michael next door.

While checking out all the options at the store yesterday it was easy to see how cloth diapers can become addictive but difficult to find a place to start. A great way to try out some options to get started would be to win them. Maria at Fitteds and pockets and snappis, oh my! is giving away her three of her favorite cloth diapers. Maria was kind enough to contact me after I posted on another one of her blogs and offered me suggestions on getting started. I am really hoping to win her giveaway, but head on over to enter as well, and good luck!

There is Nothing Better

2010-06-12T22:26:00.003-04:00

2 Months Old

2010-06-03T23:03:00.003-04:00

She smiles, coos, and laughs already.
She squeaks like a little mouse.
Her sister has nicknamed her "My Beautiful Sunflower."
She loves to watch her big sister and ceiling fans.
The only time she wants to nap is in the car, the rest of the day she's afraid to miss anything so she just takes 10 minute catnaps.
She wakes up in the best mood of the day, I hold off on getting out of bed just to watch her.
She has the most intent, concerned stare with her eyebrows all wrinkled up.
She loves to have her diaper changed.
She has already formed an attachement to her Waldorf doll.
She hates to be swaddled.
She has been holding her head up on her own since day 1.
She wants to move and keep up with her big sister and friends.
She never stops moving, her arms and legs are in constant motion when she's awake.
She prefers to lay on her tummy, especially across my lap.
She enjoys bathtime.

Blast Off!

2010-05-31T21:42:00.000-04:00

First Daddy shows her how it works.

Then she shows him how it's really done.

But sometimes just playing in the water is more fun than all the toys.

Sisterly Love

2010-05-30T23:59:00.000-04:00

LP is such a wonderful big sister. She doesn't like to see Sunflower cry and will try to make her smile, pick her up if she is fussing, and entertain her when we are busy. One morning at the beach she sat and read to her while we got ready for company. It made my entire day to peek in the room and see this.

Old & New Friends

2010-05-29T23:10:00.002-04:00

While we were at the beach, the Potsy family took a day trip down to visit us. With the addition of Sunflower and Princess Potsy, we have had a hard time getting together. So it was great to finally meet Princess and see Mini and his parents again. LP and Mini had a great time playing under the tree and at the playground, Sunflower and Princess enjoyed their stroller rides and a little blanket time on the floor, and the grownups all enjoyed a wonderful meal, catching up, and some really entertaining games after the kids went to bed. Hopefully it won't take another 6 months (more actually) to get us all together again. Thank you very much to Daddy and Mommy Potsy for dinner, it was a really special way to spend our anniversary.

Australia here we come

2010-05-25T22:51:00.000-04:00

Sunflower was sitting so quietly in her rocking chair while I got LP's breakfast, I should have known something was up. When I walked in LP exclaimed, "Look at Sunflower, she looks like an Aborigine!"

They are learning about Australia in school right now, obviously the Aborigines made quite the impression on her.

Smile!

2010-05-22T23:38:00.001-04:00

I love toothless baby smiles!

When?

2010-05-19T23:26:00.000-04:00

When did my baby grow up on me? I thought it would be gradual, but it was really very sudden. In the 3 days I was at the hospital with Sunflower, LP grew up. She is no longer even a little girl, she looks more mature, acts more mature, and even stopped sucking her thumb the night Sunflower was born. As much as I wanted her to stop sucking her thumb for the good of her teeth, I don't think I was ready to lose my little girl so completely overnight.

I am so proud of her though, she has been so understanding and helpful. She tries to make Sunflower smile when she's crying, runs around the house to help me by getting things, is better about cleaning up her things, and has only had one moment of jealousy displayed towards Sunflower. Before Sunflower was born she would rub my tummy whenever I was sick or uncomfortable to make me feel better. She has been so gentle with me since the c-section and hasn't argued about anything when I haven't been able to do it. She has always been a Mommy's girl, but now she's my little sidekick and helper.

Kindergarten Screening

2010-05-18T22:54:00.003-04:00

How is it possible that my baby is almost old enough for kindergarten? LP had her kindergarten screening this morning and passed with flying colors. She amazed the language evaluator with her knowledge of the letters and the sounds they make, make the physical skill evaluator laugh when she took her very seriously about throwing the ball back, and couldn't be tripped up naming colors even when she and the evaluator raced. am so proud of her even if I am a little sad that she is so grown up.

A Little Flashback

2010-05-18T18:18:00.000-04:00

I am usually behind the camera instead of being in front of it. I realized once I had passed my due date that I didn't have any belly shots from the pregnancy. The day my labor started we headed out into the backyard to get a couple of pictures before the chance was gone.

Expressive

2010-05-04T15:52:00.002-04:00

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard at a series of pictures after uploading them to the computer. What do you think she is going to think of them when I pull them out to show her boyfriend in high school?

4 Weeks Old Today

2010-05-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

4 weeks old
Originally uploaded by erika8602

2 Weeks Old

2010-04-17T22:56:00.001-04:00

It's A Girl!

2010-04-17T21:54:00.003-04:00

Born April 3, 2010 at 4:49pm.
7 pounds, 7 ounces, 19 3/4 inches long.

We are all in love.

Big Girl Hairstyle

2010-03-29T10:41:00.002-04:00

It has been a little more than 2 years since the first trim and a little less than 2 since the first official haircut. But at 4.5, it was time for a big girl haircut. LP has been trying to put it off for a while, she wanted to keep her long hair and was afraid it would hurt. I had put it off as well, I was sad to finally lose the last of the baby hair with the curl and the white blonde ends. But it was definitely time so last week Lilypad Dad, LP and I headed off to the salon. She was definitely nervous when she first sat down in the chair, but once she realized that it didn't hurt, enjoyed the results and the cookie that came after.

My little girl aged about 2 years in the 15 minutes she was in the chair. She looked so much older with a few less inches of hair, it was so hard for me to not cry. But we have had no more tears in the shower, with the hairdryer, or in the morning, it is such an easy haircut and her hair is smooth and healthy again.

Before:

Nervously waiting for the first cut:

During, you can see how long it was:

Almost done:

After(when it is washed and dried it gets a perfect little flip out at the ends):

Enjoying the cookie:

Apparently she learned that cutting hair does not actually hurt. This morning she woke me up with a story about getting dressed, taking her own temperature (she's been sick this weekend), and a casually thrown out as she walked back out the door, "Oh yeah, a bug flew into my hair so I had to cut it out."

The one thing I wanted to avoid was bangs, she does not like hair in her face and I didn't want the hassle of having to keep up with them or grow the out. She cut a thick patch of bangs on one side of her head. Luckily it is the side that tends to be pulled back and she left them just long enough to catch them up in a thick headband.

Learning to Give Back

2010-03-11T22:12:00.005-05:00

I have been trying to come up with ways to help LP understand what it means to help others. She is too young to really understand the meaning behind a monetary donation, so I wanted to find a way to have her dedicate time and work in a volunteer situation. After adopting Max this winter and seeing what a wonderful animal rescue we have just down the street, I thought it would be a great place to start. In a recent magazine I found a project for making catnip mice and decided to give it a try. Alessandro and his mom joined us for the project, the volunteer orientation and the donation.

The kids did a great job making the mice with the stuffing and ear gluing. They filled the toes of the socks with catnip, stuffed the rest of the sock with fill and a little more catnip, then handed them over. I tied them closed and Dori and Uncle Dave colored most of the faces because the sharpies were a little dry I think, the kids were having a hard time getting them to really color on the socks.
(Click on any photo to see it bigger.)

A bag of 10 pairs of 6-12 month socks from walmart was less than $7. 20 socks was more than enough for them, they got a little tired of stuffing when there were 4 left. But LP found a bunch of her smaller, mismatched socks and made more for our cats over the next couple of days.

Saturday we took the kids back to the rescue for volunteer orientation. We spent about 45 minutes learning all the rules of the shelter, including which dogs are safe to walk, how to enter and exit rooms and buildings, where to go to talk to the horses and donkeys, and how to act around the dogs. After the orientation we took one of the dogs out for a walk, visited the donkeys for a while, then headed home because the cat house wasn't open yet.

We took the kids back to the rescue today to deliver them. There were 5 different rooms with cats, so we left 5-8 mice per room depending on how many cats there were. Most of the cats were a little skittish of the kids, but there was at least one in each room that started playing with it right away. Max's sister Violet and mother Vivienne are still there. We spent the most time in that room because they weren't afraid of the kids and had a great time playing with the mice and kids together.

A Mischief of Mice

2010-02-27T16:16:00.003-05:00

As LP gets older, I have been trying to find ways to teach her the importance of volunteering. A recent edition of Family Fun magazine had a great Catnip Mouse project that I thought would be perfect. I contacted the head of cat adoptions at the rescue that we adopted Max from to see if they could use some cat toys and invited Alessandro and his mother to join us.

We spent this morning picking up supplies and then came back to work on making the mice. One package of baby socks made 20 mice, which LP and Alessandro did a great job stuffing with catnip, filling and more catnip. They put a lot of hard work into the mice, and next weekend we will attend the volunteer orientation at the rescue. After that they will be able to volunteer their time with the cats and will bring all their mice to hand out to the kitties still waiting to be picked out by their families like Max.

Snowed In

2010-02-26T11:36:00.003-05:00

5pm Yesterday
11am Today
5pm Yesterday

11am Today

Snow Day

2010-02-10T23:13:00.004-05:00

LP's school was closed today for a snow day and it was just the two of us. After a lazy early morning, we filled the afternoon with fun and memories. Here is a photo essay of how we spent our snow day. (click on any photo to see larger)

eating snow, catching snowflakes, throwing snowballs, playing in the snow

trying to sled down our little hill, building a snow reindeer (she did this all by herself while I was shoveling the stairs)

bringing some of the snow indoors to enjoy with syrup and give the cats their first experience with snow

napping

baking cookies and making cookie sundaes

enjoying those sundaes while watching A Charlie Brown Valentine, cuddled up on the couch together

Happy Birthday Auntie La!

2010-02-10T21:43:00.000-05:00

We hope you aced your exam (sorry for calling while you were in the classroom) and we hope you were able to get out and enjoy the rest of your birthday when it was over!

Fit for a Princess

2010-02-06T17:31:00.002-05:00

After Christmas, LP decided that instead of sharing a bedroom with the baby, she wanted to have her own special big girl bedroom and move into the library. We have been clearing out our things, slowly moving hers in, and are working on choosing a paint for the tiny bit of wall that isn't covered by a desk or bookshelves. She has been happily and comfortably sleeping in there since January and loved her big girl room. Today, LP's daddy and Uncle Dave rewired, cleaned, and hung a very special light fit for a princess. This chandelier used to belong to LP's Great Grandma Gladys, her PopPop's mother. She had given it Eka, who in turn gave it to LP. LP loves how it sparkles and shines in her big girl bedroom. Photos of the entire room will be posted once we are done with it.

Grandpa's Pool

2010-02-06T17:12:00.002-05:00

LP has a very specific routine she follows whenever we go to visit Grandpa and Nannie. First she must ring the doorbell, even if they are already at the door. After big hugs and kisses, she runs around the house to make sure everything is where it should be: Spooky sleeping under the covers, jewelry box, blue bird, stuffed cat and dog, quarter jar, toys, crayons and books. Then she removes the non-slip mat from under the rug in front of the kitchen sink (I don't know what her issue is with that being there!) She has to drag a chair over to the decorative phone in the kitchen to have a long chat, although the person on the other end of the phone changes each visit.

This winter she has added another routine to the visits, swimming in Grandpa's personal "swimming pool". It actually took little miss afraid of nothing a while to get comfortable in the hot tub, the first time she looked in she was spooked by the bubbles. Over the course of a couple of visits she went from just looking, to fingers and toes in, to walking around then swimming (no bubbles) to now requesting bubbles for a minute or two during her swim.

Ice Skating

2010-02-04T20:54:00.002-05:00

Today LP finally got one of her wishes from the past year, she got to go ice skating. She has been begging to ice skate since last spring and couldn't wait for summer to end so she could try it. Unfortunately, LP Dad does not skate and I am unable to this year because of the pregnancy, so we haven't had a chance to take her. But she was invited over for a playdate at Maggie's house this week and was invited to bring skated since they have a pond in their backyard.

LP had no fear of the ice, she took right off holding onto Maggie's mom's hand with perfect balance. She started off with tiny strokes of her skates, quickly learning you have to push and glide instead of picking up your feet. She has amazing balance, I was surprised how easily she was able to catch herself and straighten out instead of falling even when she wasn't holding onto anyone.

The girls enjoyed a little bit of skating on their own, making some numbers and letters in the snow with Maggie's mom, and most of all, sitting on the ice eating all the snow. It was a beautiful day to be outside enjoying the winter sun and we both hope to do it again soon.

New Year's Eve Snow

2010-01-29T22:03:00.002-05:00

I'm definitely behind on posts. So I'm hoping to catch up on some of our fall and early winter highlights as I have a few free minutes. Lilypad Dad was home for New Year's Eve this year, and much to LP's delight, we got snow. It was a great day to play in it, warm enough to not even need the outer shell of LP's jacket. While LP Dad shoveled, LP posed for me in the snow so I could try out my new Christmas present, made some snow angels, and ate lots of the fresh powder (her favorite part of winter).

Beyond ABC's

2010-01-28T20:18:00.003-05:00

I am constantly amazed by the things LP comes home from school talking about. A couple of weeks ago it was the painting Starry Night by "Visent Vango". After learning about about the painting, each child painted their own version of it. I cannot wait for LP to bring hers home.

Yesterday she taught me about the water cycle, I want to try to get her to tell me about it on video because listening to her pronounce evaporation, condensation, and precipitation melts my heart a little more each time. Her proudest achievement right now is doing the decimal layout all by herself and getting to ring the bell for doing it right, she is counting by 1's, 10's, 100's and 1000's.

image from the Museum of Modern Art website

Expanding

2010-01-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Due to make his or her appearance sometime around March 30th.

Swim Class

2010-01-20T22:14:00.002-05:00

LP resumed swim classes again in December. When we were asked to switch to an earlier time (the class the crowded) and found out that she would have Miss Nina in the new class, we jumped at the chance. Miss Nina knows how to get LP to work. While she was able to wrap the young male instructors around her little finger (she had one lifting her out of the pool because she said she was too tired to climb out) she wants to impress Miss Nina and will go out of her comfort zone.

In 3 short classes she made huge strides. She is now swimming without a bubble, swimming underwater, and even trying to touch the bottom of the pool. She really loves to swim, she had her dad in the pool for close to 2 hours during open swim. I can't wait to see where she will be at the end of this 8 week session and in the ocean this summer.

Best Friends

2010-01-20T22:04:00.001-05:00

Max is fitting in very well with our family. He is wonderful with LP, putting up with everything she wants to do with him (except for sleeping in her room, he insists on sleeping on my feet). And after a tough first week with lots of hiding and hissing, he and Forster are fast friends. After long days of chase and wrestling, they will curl up together for a little nap.

What do you do on a warm January day?

2010-01-17T22:52:00.001-05:00

Wash the cars of course!

Our Newest Family Member

2010-01-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Meet Max.

He has earned his name,

he is always making mischief of one kind

and another.

And yes, he LOVES water.

First Day of School

2009-09-02T10:24:00.004-04:00

Today was LP's first day of school. She is officially in pre-k, but it is full days 3 days a week. This is the school she is going to attend through 6th grade, so this was her first official first day. I miss her already, I felt like something was missing when I got back out of the car at home and didn't have to unstrap her from the carseat.

She has asked every morning for the past 2 weeks if it was time to go to school. This morning she greeted us at 5 am with a first day of school song. I managed to get her to snuggle in with us for a little while, but her excitement couldn't be contained long. After a quick breakfast, she dressed in the new dress she chose, reluctantly posed for a couple of quick pictures then she rushed us all into the car.

When we got to school she jumped right out and was ready to go. I had to ask for my goodbye kiss, she was already done with us. The directors of the school came over to greet us, and after correcting Mrs. C, "This isn't a shirt, it's a pretty dress," when she got her name sticker, she skipped off without a backwards glance for mommy or daddy.

So excited for her first day

Showing off her new backpack.

It's a long drive to school, a chance to recharge after an early morning.

Off she goes, a full day without me.

A Beach Photoshoot - Take 1

2009-07-27T18:56:00.003-04:00

Taken during our first week at the beach. Take 2 attempted this past weekend with Alessandro, photos to follow in a week.

(definitely her mommy's girl, look at the tongue)

Waiting

2009-07-21T19:45:00.001-04:00

Waiting
Originally uploaded by erika8602

Awake from her nap, watching and waiting for Alessandro to come visit at the beach house.

Fourth of July with Friends

2009-07-21T13:25:00.002-04:00

LP and I had a great Fourth of July this year. We started off with a nice lunch with LP Dad and Uncle Dave, then when LP Dad headed to work, we headed off to another town for a celebration. We met up with Buby and Bleu and their parents for some playground time, blue ice, and a little handholding. It was the first time we had spent more than 5 minutes with Buby in quite a while, and LP was so happy to spend the afternoon with her friend.

A Little Snack

2009-07-21T13:19:00.003-04:00

Lilypad Princess, Lilypad Dad and I took a ride to another town the other day looking for the great little consignment store I found last year. Unfortunately the store didn't have any of LP's favorite dresses in right now, but LP enjoyed her bagel with cream cheese at the little cafe next door.

On Vacation

2009-07-21T00:27:00.001-04:00

beach with grace.jpg
Originally uploaded by erika8602

We have been on vacation for the past week abd we are having a wonderful time. LP and I started off the vacation with a trip to Grandpa and Nannies to celebrate a belated Father's Day then met up with Lilipad Dad down here.

We have had a very busy week with family, Nana and PopPop have been here all week and we had visits from Eka, Auntie Diane, Lee, Auntie La and Karen. We were also lucky enough to get a visit from Grace and her parents for a day. The kids had a wonderful time together and now we are looking forward to a visit from Alessandro and his mom. I can only post from my cell phone right now, so photos and posts are limited but I have tons to catch up on in a couple of weeks when we get home.

Life Lessons

2009-07-16T23:27:00.010-04:00

Today LP was sitting on the couch enjoying a popsicle while I got our picnic ready. She called me over to ask me what heartbroken meant (I'm not sure where she overheard that). I explained that it was when someone was so sad it felt like their heart was breaking into little pieces.

She responded, "like yesterday when I stopped the ice cream truck but she didn't have my swirly popsicle left. I was heartbroken then." Yes, she was heartbroken when the ice cream truck didn't have her favorite popsicle. She went back in the house without anything but tears, too sad to even pick a different kind. But the girl driving the ice cream truck made it all better today. Apparently she fought for the last box of Hyper Stripe popsicles this morning, knowing LP would be waiting for one.

I can only hope that any heartbreak that LP will suffer will be so easily fixed.

Composer at Work

2009-07-10T00:22:00.001-04:00

Silly face
Originally uploaded by erika8602

Playing the piano at the beach house. This is the face I got when I asked her to smile. Apparently I was disturbing the artistic process.

Just Like Grandpa

2009-07-09T10:28:00.002-04:00

LP and her daddy went out for ice cream a couple of weeks ago. Our local ice cream shop has a mini golf course, a driving range, and batting cages. LP came home so excited to tell me about the hockey she played.

We went back earlier this week and she and LP Dad split another bucket of balls. She needs to remember to keep her eye on the ball, but she's already got a great little swing. Grandpa, she's ready to drive the cart when she goes with you too!

Touch a Truck

2009-06-15T22:38:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the United Way Touch-a-Tuck event in a neighboring town. Lilypad Princess, LP Dad, Uncle Dave, and I all headed over in the morning to check it out. It was a huge event, vehicles of every kind filling two large, government parking lots. LP had a change to climb in and check out police cars, excavators, giant tractors, trucks, fire trucks, motorcycles, school buses, race cars, and a ton more.

The highlight of the event for LP was getting to go up in a cherry picker basket with her daddy. She hung onto his leg for dear life, but had a big smile on her face the entire ride.
going up

They also had bounce houses for the kids and a few games where they could win prizes. LP played a hockey game and won a ballerina Barbie that she is very proud of now. And Uncle Dave surprised her with cotton candy, blue of course, her favorite color.

There's that tongue again, definitely her mommy's daughter.

We had a wonderful day and will definitely do this again next year.

Deep Concentration

2009-06-13T23:14:00.000-04:00

just like her mommy

For quite a while now, LP's favorite activity has been drawing and writing. She spends hours drawing and coloring with markers, pens, crayons, anything she can get her hands on. She has gotten very good at writing her name and now adds it to almost every picture she draws and signs her own name to cards. She also likes to pretend to write, she makes up stories in her head and "writes" them down. Her favorite thing is notebooks. Big notebooks, tiny notebooks, spiral notebooks, journals, blank pages, lined pages; she loves them all. I hope the love of art and writing and her imagination and creativity stay with her all her life.

Sleepover

2009-06-12T23:03:00.000-04:00

Lilypad Princess and Alessandro finally got to have a real sleepover. We attempted it a couple months ago, but had to cut the night short after the movie due to sickness. LP and I went over in the afternoon so the kids could play for a while then we enjoyed a couple of pizzas for dinner. Once dinner was done the kids headed out onto the back deck to play in the rain for a while, then it was time to get into pajamas and set up the sleeping bags. They wanted to finish watching The Little Mermaid since that was part of the last attempt and decided to watch it from inside the garage tent. They were so sweet side by side in the tent, LP actually slept the entire night there. Alessandro ended up heading upstairs to sleep and the very first words out of LP's mouth the next morning were, "Where's my Alessandro?"

Chicken Spots

2009-06-10T22:59:00.000-04:00

While I was in cleaning the kitchen floor after LP finished cleaning the produce, she got to work with the markers. She called me into the living room explaining that she was sick and needed to lay on the couch with a blanket and tv. She said she had chicken spots.

Helping Out

2009-06-10T22:54:00.000-04:00

I heard LP dragging her chair around in the kitchen, then the kitchen sink turn out. I thought she was getting herself a drink, even though she usually uses the fridge, so when she didn't turn the water off I headed into the kitchen to see what was going on.

She was helping me by washing the vegetables we picked up at the farm that day. She was scrubbing the kohlrabi with water and my dish scrubber. The cucumber was already scrubbed clean. That was the cleanest produce I've ever seen when she was done with it. And it was delicious!

Fresh From the Farm

2009-06-09T14:20:00.003-04:00

Today was our first Farm CSA pick-up. Uncle Dave and I went over alone today because I wasn't sure what to expect and it has been raining all morning. We got a bucket filled with gorgeous greens and strawberries. Uncle Dave and I took a few minutes to pick another 4 quarts of strawberries that is included in the CSA. We may go again on Saturday morning to pick another 4 quarts, or I will just take LP with me for the next pick-up. I know she will love to go pick her own strawberries.

We purchased one full share and we are splitting it with Dave and Michael. Our half of the first pick-up is:

a large bunch of spinach
a large head of red leaf lettuce
a small head of green leaf lettuce
dill
2 kohlrabi
a cucumber
3 quarts of strawberries (2 self-picked).

Now I'm off to hide the strawberries before LP eats them all and figure out what to do with the kohlrabi. Has anyone every tried it? Let me know if you have any good recipes!

It's Official

2009-06-07T21:18:00.003-04:00

Summer is here! We took our first trip to the beach house this weekend to open it up and kick off our summer. It was a short trip, a day and a half and 2 nights, but it was worth the drive. LP has been begging to go to the beach house for the last 3 months (I think she started the day the snow finished melting) and LP Dad and I were ready for the relaxation we feel there to hit us. Despite the short trip we got a lot in, I'll update with more pictures tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Eka!

2009-06-02T21:52:00.001-04:00

She has a black cat named Lucifer (although Auntie La might argue that) and a magic garden that leaves presents. She lives at a pond (actually a lake) and has a cane that makes a great Mulan sword. She shares her popcorn and is always quick to offer a hug or help when it is needed.

Happy birthday Eka, you are an amazing grandmother and great-grandmother and deserve to have a wonderful day. We love you!

Reading a Story

2009-06-01T07:43:00.001-04:00

I shouldn't have interrupted, they were reading so nicely together before I went downstairs. She always turns the book over when we get to the possums who hand upside down.

Meet the Teacher

2009-05-31T21:07:00.003-04:00

We got to go to LP's school last week to meet her teacher and check out the classroom. We went with Alessandro and his parents and the kids had a great time playing on the playground while Miss Erika introduced herself and the classroom to the parents. The kids came in to check it out and LP got right down to business trying out some of the work. On the way back to the cars, LP and Alessandro had to stop to say hello to the chickens and they took a moment to pose for me.

Silly Faces

2009-05-31T20:59:00.002-04:00

Waiting on the bleachers for swim class to start.

Ready for Summer

2009-05-31T20:53:00.001-04:00

We are now officially ready for summer. Thanks to a wonderful anniversary gift from Nana and PopPop, we purchased a new patio set for the backyard this weekend. We enjoyed our first meal of burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad on it that night, now we are ready to have friends over for a big BBQ. Who is up for it?

Brownies

2009-05-26T09:47:00.001-04:00

Last night as I was snuggling with LP in her bed, she asked me to pat her head. The head turned into her cheek, her nose, her other cheek, her forehead, her mouth and her brownies. When she asked me to pat her brownies I repeated it and she started laughing. But she asked 2 more times for me to pat her brownies. Then she said, "these things, my brownies Mama" as she rubbed her eyebrows.

Sydney

2009-05-25T13:48:00.005-04:00

You chose me in January 1999. I only went to the pet store to get a carrier and litter box, planning on getting a kitten the next day. You followed me around the gigantic cage (all the shelter cats were in a large multilevel cage) pushing your head against the bars and purring. The woman running the shelter was amazed, you had been there 6 months and had never shown any interest in anyone. She asked me to sit with you to see how you would respond. Half an hour later, as you were still curled up on my lap purring, I asked her to pick out a litter box and carrier for me since I couldn't leave you there even overnight. Obviously you had been waiting for me long enough.

We had a few rough nights of no sleep, I even thought maybe you missed the other cats and would be happier in another home, but you quickly settled in and became the most loving, best behaved cat ever. You were never happier than when you were being petted, although you could never stand still for it. You always stood up and walked laps as soon as anyone touched your head. If we took your walking as a sign you were done and we were wrong, a tap of your paw would let us know. I would even wake up to you head butting my hand, trying to get it on top of your head so I would pet you in my sleep.

You loved to sleep in the sun, finding any little patch to stretch out it even if it was on the hard tile floor. You loved to carry your toys around the house (and LP's stuffed animals too) making the funniest talking sounds as you carried them up the stairs and into the bedroom to drop them on the bed or on the floor next to me. I'm glad those were the only presents you ever brought me.

You tolerated so many changes that I put you through. The addition of Lilypad Dad, Forster, and even LP. You adjusted easily to 3 moves, from the apartment to the condo to our house. You managed to win Lilypad Dad over, he thinks you are the reason that he and I ended up together. You took care of Forster and became a surrogate mother when I brought him home as a terrified kitten. You taught him the rules of the house and kept him in line, playing chase with him even through last week. You watched over LP when she was an infant, snuggling right up to her on the pillow the day she came home from the hospital. You learned to keep your distance during her rougher phases, but you were so good with her lately even when she carried you up to her bed and dressed you up.

For the last 10.5 years you have been by my side through everything. You knew when I was sad and needed a warm, purring body on my lap. You made me laugh when you were in a playful mood. I was never lonely because you were always there with me. You made friends with everyone who walked into the house, friends, family, repairmen, even people who claimed not to be cat people. You showed everyone love, and you were very loved. We will miss you Sydney.

Ready to Go

2009-05-24T16:41:00.002-04:00

We picked up a present for all 3 of us this weekend, a Schwinn Runabout. Lilypad Dad hooked it up to my bike today and we took it for a trial run around the neighbor's yard. Lilypad Princess was a little nervous on the initial run, she kept telling me to slow down, but quickly got used to it and started yelling at us to pedal faster down the big hill. We can't wait to use it this summer at the beach house, all three of us will be able to take trips into town together.

First Lemonade Stand

2009-05-19T23:23:00.002-04:00

Lilypad Princess had her first lemonade stand today. When we went in from playing in the backyard to get a drink she asked to make lemonade (even though she still only drinks water). So we made a little pitcher of lemonade together which I was going to drink. When she heard the neighbor kids outside she asked to set up a stand. So we mixed up a little more lemonade, set up a table and she was in business. She handed out 5 glasses of lemonade to the neighbors and even sold a glass for $.50 to a couple walking down the street looking for their dog.

Mother's Day Gifts

2009-05-19T23:15:00.002-04:00

I'm a little late posting photos of LP's Mother's Day gifts this year, but that's because we finally got together to celebrate this weekend. LP worked very hard on these and was so excited to give them. Her godmother, Auntie La, got a tote bag since she never cooks, but I forgot to take a picture of it this weekend.

Nana's Apron: LP told me that her Nana loves rollercoasters because they get to scream on them, so she drew a rollercoaster for her. There is a sun and raincloud and rain drops in the sky, flowers along the ground and a rollercoaster cart with people in it on the left side.

Nannie's Apron: LP drew a picture of Spooky, Nannie and Grandpa's cat. Spooky is black and white, but we didn't have a black fabric marker, so LP focused on the green eyes and pink nose.

Eka's Apron: LP drew Eka a large flower around her name with a stem going halfway down the apron, and apparently at the bottom is a person. I'm guessing all the spots are freckles or something?

Happy Birthday Jumpin' J!

2009-05-19T23:07:00.002-04:00

Jumpin' J we can't believe you are 2 already! Time has flown and you have grown from such a little baby into a wonderful cousin and friend. We hope you have a wonderful day and we will get together to celebrate soon!

A Family Weekend

2009-05-19T22:22:00.003-04:00

Lilypad Princess and I took a trip up to visit family this weekend. Auntie La had to have surgery last week, so Nana flew out so she and Eka could take care of her. We spent 3 days catching up and visiting with them, Auntie Diane, Auntie Lee, and some family friends as well. LP spent tons of time down at the beach with Nana, convincing people to feed the fish with her, checking out the magic garden, and napping on Nana's lap. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

LP and I spent the nights with Nannie and Grandpa. After her long nap on Nana's lap, she was ready for a late night of popcorn and the unicorn movie with Nannie. She got up early to play with Grandpa and snack her way through the morning. It was a great weekend getting to catch up with almost everyone, without anyplace we had to be or anything we had to do. We were all relaxed and just enjoyed being together.

99 Bottles of Wine on the Wall

2009-05-19T21:13:00.000-04:00

Bobu came over on Friday to help LP Dad get the hot water working in the kitchen sink again. He also brought a great present for LP Dad's birthday, a wine rack for our pantry. I don't think it will actually hold 99 bottles, but I think it will hold 40-50 so we're going to have to start stocking up!

Better Than Bear

2009-05-13T22:29:00.003-04:00

Ever since LP was tiny, she has had a habit of holding onto my fingers or thumb and digging under my nail. I don't know why she does it, but she used to do it while nursing, when she's on my lap reading a book, holding my hand in the car, etc. Tonight I went up to turn her stars off and found her still awake reading a book. I turned everything off and leaned down to give her a hug when she asked me for my hand. She told me that my nails are better than bear. I didn't think there was anything better than bear, especially because he feels like blueberries.

Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!

2009-05-13T22:21:00.002-04:00

LP helped me create a special celebration for Uncle Dave's birthday today. It was small, just the three of us for dinner, but it took the two of us most of the day to prepare.

Uncle Dave has been talking for months about a coconut doughnut that he is craving but can't find anymore. So LP and I set out to make a coconut cake to hopefully fill that craving for him. LP has been trying to keep the surprise a secret for him for two days, and didn't actually tell him that it was a cake until this morning (although she did keep telling him that there was a surprise for him, we have to work on surprises I think).

She was a great helper in the kitchen, cracking eggs, measuring sugar, and using the mixer, we had a great time working on it and I think the cake came out pretty good. I hope that Uncle Dave really enjoyed it, he has become an important part of our family and deserves a special birthday celebration.

Trike-a-Thon Success

2009-05-11T07:57:00.000-04:00

The trike-a-thon was a big success. LP happened to be snack helper and leader that day, so she got to start of the event as the first rider. Miss Marianne was smart about it, she waited until LP and Mackenzie got the hang of staying outside the cones and going in a circle before letting in a few more kids at a time, and they were pretty good about following the rules. There were definitely a few collisions and even a couple of tumbles off some of the tricycles, but the kids enjoyed every minute. They rode for the full 30 minutes, I lost count of LP's laps but she never stopped riding (except to pose for pictures with Marianna). After the ride she was very proud of having worked hard to raise money to give to sick kids. And I was very proud of her.

A Very Special Flower

2009-05-10T22:18:00.003-04:00

On Thursday, LP brought home a special Mother's Day present she made in preschool. I finally got to open it this morning and I love it. She made the card herself, painted the flower and added the stickers. This is one flower I will definitely keep forever.

My Mom

2009-05-10T21:50:00.002-04:00

My mom, my best friend. She has always been there for me, everyday as a little kid, as my excuse to not do something I was afraid to say no to in high school, to help me get ready to leave for college, to take my panicked phone call from Australia, to move me into my first apartment and my first condo, to take care of me when I had my wisdom teeth out, to stand up for me at my wedding, and to be by my side while I was in labor. I would be the woman or the mother I have become without her influence guiding me along the way.

She is just as amazing a grandmother as she is a mother. She has infinite patience with LP, reading the same story over and over, playing the same imaginary game, or tolerating LP's first ever temper tantrum (over a dress of course). She strives to make every moment with LP memorable, whether it's a special trip to a museum or zoo or reading her a story over the computer. LP has a wonderful role model to watch and learn from as she grows.

Happy Mother's Day Mom, we cannot wait to see you next week!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:44:00.003-04:00

Wishing all moms a very happy Mother's Day. Have a wonderful day with your family, playing, relaxing, visiting and anything else you choose to do on your day!

Lilypad Princess and I want to send special Mother's Day hugs, kisses, and wishes to Eka, Nannie, Auntie Diane, and LP's godmother, Auntie La. We will see all of you this week to celebrate.

Trike-a-Thon

2009-05-07T12:51:00.001-04:00

The trike-a-thon was a big success today. Photos and story to follow later, but here is a short video.

Almost as Good as Mom

2009-05-06T21:12:00.001-04:00

Reading and Listening
Originally uploaded by erika8602

LP was in a reading mood the other day. After we had finished a bunch of stories I had to leave her to her books by herself so I could make dinner. I heard a little banging around in her toy bins, then all was quiet. I walked back in to find her comfy on the couch with a substitute reader, her books on cd. I have transferred some of the stories onto her Fisher Price FP3 player from Eka and she loves being able to do it by herself. She looked so old sitting there with her headphones on.

First Cookout of the Season

2009-05-05T10:19:00.002-04:00

Last week Alessandro and his mom came for a playdate. The weather was beautiful and LP Dad was home for the day, so that playdate turned into the first cookout of the season. Burgers, lamb steaks, yellow squash, and corn cooked perfectly on the grill, while the kids helped LP Dad and Uncle Dave get the firepit ready. The kids were both great helpers, carrying armfuls of kindling and small logs.

After dinner was done the fire was lit and we pulled out the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. The kids had more fun toasting the marshmallows than anything else, Alessandro toasted all of LP Dad's for him and LP set her marshmallows on fire, made a s'more, took a bite, then passed it off to someone else to eat while she made another. We had a great night and can't wait to do it again throughout the summer.

Stop to Smell the Flowers

2009-05-05T10:13:00.002-04:00

But watch out for that pollen in your nose!