SuperBowl Sunday 2012

Enjoying the game with Mama and Papa!

Dear Chocolate Chip (17 months old)

Dear Chocolate Chip,

Every month I start and don't finish a letter to you. This month will be different though! Today my dear son, you completed your 17th month of life. How quickly it's flown by! It seems like almost every day there is something new that I'm excited to tell everyone about.

There are some things that I want to remember about this past month, like:

-We began attending the playgroup at the library and you love the toys there! The kids are cool, but you're still spending a lot of time doing your own thing.
-You aren't speaking yet, but your babble lots and every so often you get something out that sounds like a definite word! Mama isn't worried, because you definitely understand us an are communicating with sign language and grunts and yells and beautiful laughter. The doctor says that it's because of the English and Spanish that you're learning simultaneously.
-You have an amazing appetite! Dried blueberries, fresh bananas and broccoli are some of your favorites, but you also like rice, pasta, oatmeal creme pies and potato chips (I try to limit your junky snacking though.)
-Not so nice, but worth remembering is that you have started fighting back against Stella. You try to head butt sometimes but you also scratch and slap her. She definitely doesn't like it and is often heard telling you to "SOP!" Much to my displeasure, you've picked up her habit of biting, but I always remind you that, "Our mouths are for kissing, NOT for biting." an follow up by having you give her a kiss.
-I try not to let you watch tv often, but you LOVE "The Fresh Beat Band", "Jack's Big Music Show", "Yo Gabba Gabba", and "Sesame Street". You recognize the sound of the tv or computer turning on even from another room and you know when iTunes or Netflixis open!
-You love music and dancing too. I turn on Dance Central and your excitement can't be contained.
-You are growing so quickly that ive started putting size 18 and 24 months on you already. You are lean, so the 24 months look a little baggy, but you are so long that you need it!
-Last but not least, you love your daddy so much! Even though you spend all day with me, your most excitement veins when you hear your father coming into the house. You rub to the door and want to play before he can even get his coat off. And guess what? He loves it!

I look forward to all of the joy that you bring into my life every day. I love praying with and for you throughout each day. I know that someday I'll look back on this time with plenty of wonderful things to say.

I love you!

-Mommy

Two teeth...

I just need to post to remind myself forever that I once had a baby boy with only two teeth (he's had only the bottom two for months now!) I just peeked in his mouth and noticed that he has FOUR white spots in his gums on the top!!

My baby is growing too quickly!

FICTION: Stay at Home Moms Have it Easy

Having been on both ends of this spectrum (well, kinda, since I'm technically NOT a stay at home mom since I do work as a nanny during the day) I must say that being "at home" with Chocolate Chip doesn't always make my life easier than it was for the few months that I went back to work after my maternity leave.

A few things that I thought would be easier (or didn't think about at all):

-I don't necessarily save money on breakfast and lunch since I'm so busy with the kids and sometimes I end up just running out and buying something, whereas when I worked in the office, I was MUCH better about making sure I'd bring lunch to work with me.



-There isn't "plenty" of time to clean up, especially since Chocolate Chip has now decided that the most interesting toys/books/etc are those that Mama has JUST put away on the shelf! Also, since I nanny until 7pm (or 7:30... or 8...) I barely have any time at all to clean at my house!

-Spending all day every day with Chocolate Chip really can wear me down, especially now that he requires SO MUCH attention as his curiosity has him doing things like climbing and putting rocks in his mouth...

-Money doesn't balance out just because I'm home and am able to cut certain things out of the budget. Somebody should have warned me about this, but I REALLY didn't cut out as much as I expected!

Would I make the same decision knowing all that I know? Absolutely! But I definitely see things differently now that I'm in this boat!

No More Carrots!

This is Ethan on day 3 of testing carrots for allergic reaction.  I think he's ready for a new food!

Good Morning!

This is one of the first things I saw upon opening my eyes this morning.

I couldn't have asked for a better wake up call ever!

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At Least SOMEONE Here is Sleeping Well...

Even though he has his own bed, he always ends up in bed with us somehow, and he obviously needs his space!

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Good Morning!

This is one of the first things I saw upon opening my eyes this morning.





I couldn't have asked for a better wake up call ever!

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2 Weeks Notice

Two weeks from today I'll begin my new job as a nanny for six month old S (bloggy name will be established soon).  After 4 1/2 years at the Centro it was not an easy decision to make, and I know that the days will come when I miss the office dynamics, but I eagerly look forward to playdates and play dough for awhile - oh, did I fail to mention that Chocolate Chip will be tagging along with me? Yes, I'm finally living out my dream of being at home with my baby boy! I'm sure this will be an adventure, but I'm looking forward to facing it head on!

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Just Lounging

*Please excuse my brevity and any typos as this message was sent from my Verizon Android phone and this thing has a mind of its own.*