Conversations with my lil sweetie

- While lying in bed calls out: "DAAAADDY! Come 'ere! I'm sweating my butt off!"

- Found a hole in one of her shirts and says "Momma, get your fix-it machine." (Huh?)

- "Momma, come 'ere. You gotta wisten to me. I gotta tell you a story...Once upon a time dere was a magic prince." (Um, OK Lily, what happens with this magic prince?) "he gave his heart away" (Oh. Is that story from a video or a book of yours, Lil?) "No, it was from my heart."

- While sitting in her chair eating dinner, she looked out the window to see a squirrel sitting atop one of our garbage cans just staring at her. "Hi Spurrl!" Then the squirrel went into the garbage and came back out munching on something. "What's he eatin' mommy?" (I don't know, it looks like a pizza crust or something) "He must be reedy hungry for pizza bwusts...Hey Spurrl, I'm eatin' noodles!"

- Started crying one evening, out of the blue..."I'm sad. I got tearbwops on my face" (Why are you sad, Lily?) My fwend Maggie has a burn and she misses her famiwee"...that one made me have tearbwops. I had only shown her Maggie's picture once to tell her that Miss. Gwen was going back to China to bring her home to join their family...

My sweet girl. I love the conversations we have. As she would say "I talk a wot. You talk a wot. We have good talks...we nice to each utter."

Sleepless night and sparkly teeth

So, I finally got on the stick and scheduled Lily's first dentist appointment last week. She was excited to go and talked about it non-stop for days leading up to her appointment. THEN, the night before we were set to go - she decided that she really didn't want much sleep. She was up more times than I can count and insisted (at 5:30am) to go watch a video. She finally fell back asleep on the couch and I had to wake her up to get her ready to go. She was NOT thrilled about this. She was crying and whining and making her overly tired momma extremely upset. I told her I was going to have to cancel her dentist appointment if she couldn't pull herself together...this caused more crying..."I want to get my teef cweened!!!" So, off I go with one extremely agitated toddler. We pull up to the office and I am terrified that this first appointment is going to be a nightmare, but I suck it up, wipe the tears from her face and we walk in.

First thing Lily sees is a fish tank and she goes running up to it and begins squealing "Momma, wook, dere's fishies and seaweed and wocks... where are da seashells? Can I have some fish food?" (Insert big sigh of relief from me at that point) The appointment could not have gone any more smoothly. They told her if she was a good patient she would get a special treat, to which she replied, "Whatcha got?" The nurse complimented Lily on her bow and asked if she could wear it. Lily replied "No, you're too big". She let the nurse clean her teeth without any resistance. She sat still and I snapped pictures like a lunatic. When the doc came in he also complimented her on her pretty bow..."We bought deese bows in Tennessee!" (thanks again, Becky! They're obviously a big hit). I was just so proud of my girl. On the way out, she grabbed her loot (a pinwheel and a ring) and we were outta there. She kept saying "Momma, my teef are cween and sooo sparkawee!" On the car ride home she asked if we could get out the gween stwiped bwankie and have a picnic with sawami and chips. So, that is just what we did! (a porch picnic - our favorite kind). She inhaled her food and was left with orange fingers, from her veggie chips. I told her I was going to run inside and get her a napkin. She said no, so I asked her what she was going to clean her fingers on and she said "I'm gonna wick 'em"...

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, NO CAVITIES

Thank you, Kimberly!

For those of you who don't know: Kimberly holds the sweetest on-line baby showers EVER. She held one for my dear friend Gwen - who is waiting to travel to China for her daughter Maggie. I was lucky enough to win a prize, which came in the mail the other day. Lily loves her new book. Thank you so much!

She's always a ham on video...she ended by saying "Hello sassy. goodnight, buenas noches"...but she DOES love the book (and she enjoyed the butterfly card as well).

The friendships we've made "online" are incredible! I am very thankful for all of you!

Did I do that!?

Does anyone else remember Irkel (sp?) from "Family Matters"?

A new favorite?

Our weekends have been jam-packed with fall fun these past few weeks.

We've hit fairs, carnivals, and the Cider Mill and I am beginning to wonder if summer is gonna take 2nd place to fall this year. I'm enjoying the cooler air and a change in the routine. (although this week is back to 80 degrees.)

At the Cider Mill Lily was able to make her own candle - she loved it and was so proud of her creation. She also loved her apple cider and doughnuts (but who DOESN'T)!?

She has just become a little girl who is happy to be out and doing ANYTHING. She doesn't care if it is a trip to the local grocery store or Home Depot...she just likes adventure of any sort. She rode ALL the rides she was tall enough to get on, and The Ferris Wheel remains her favorite. On the car ride to the carnival she was asking "Will dere be bawoons wike Arts, Beats, and Eats?" "Will we take a wittle walk wike Arts n Apples?" I love how she remembers the little details of our adventures and is always ready to try something new. She has come such a long way - from a baby who was scared of everything to a little girl who is afraid of almost nothing.

We are enjoying taking her places and watching her become so independent and fearless. It is a liberating feeling as her mom to know that she feels safe and secure in her world.

Still lovin' it!

Lily had her second dance class on Thursday night, and the smooth sailing we experienced the first class was NOT a fluke...she still absolutely loves it. She has no seperation anxiety whatsoever. She has discovered that TAP is even more fun than ballet. She tap, tap, tapped around the lobby before class (and fell a few times). She kept pointing at the bottom of her shoes asking "What are deeze, momma?" She was amazed at the noise those little taps allowed her to make. I still haven't gotten to watch her in class...only the last 15 minutes of the last week in the month is open for parents...believe me, I'll be taking lots of pics that day!

And, now that I'm able to post pictures again: I've posted some below of my new haircut. Stroll down if you wanna see the new me.

New "do"

Surprisingly, some of you are interested in seeing my haircut (or at least you said you are)...I don't know if you're just being kind, but here it is.

I like it...it is MUCH easier to do now. (Just so you know: my eyes are actually green...not red as they appear in these pictures.)

I had my second hip-hop class tonight. It was great, but I feel sooo uncoordinated! I mean, I took dance growing up and have never felt this way before, but the way they move is so different from anything I've ever done before. I just feel so stiff. I'm hoping I can loosen up here in the next few weeks so it isn't so painful to see my reflection in that giant mirror.

Sounds from the bedroom

It is extremely late, and I just got home. I went out with some friends after work tonight and now I can't sleep...I'm getting my hair chopped in the AM and all of a sudden I'm nervous. Anyhoo,

I'm having some technical difficulties so I can't post pictures of our fabulous Saturday at the carnival, or the new pictures of Lily at her 2nd day of dance class, or a funny video I took of her the other day. Instead, I'll paint a picture of my afternoon (after lunch and before work)...

While Lily was in bed -- she was supposed to be taking her nap -- this is what we heard:

Lily:"Ouch!" (whimper, whimper) "OUCH "(whimper, whimper)

"Spot makes me feel better."

"No! My turn, my turn!"

"Old McDonald had a dog and Bingo was his name-O, B-I-N-G-O"....

"Bingo, Name-O! Bingo, Name-O!"

"1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10...10 fingers."

"Mommy! I have to go POTTY!!!!"

Off to the potty (for the 3rd time since this so called nap has begun)...

"I all done...wook mommy I went lotta poopoo...they wook wike carrots and scwoos or somefing."

OK, back to bed.

silence for a few.

"Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mooooommmmmy!"

So, once again, I pop my head in.

"Mommy, come 'ere. go to sweep on me pweese."

Me: "No, Lily."

Lily: "Weed 'Underwears Do's and Don'ts' "(her new book)...

Me: "No, Lily it's not time for books. It's time for you to go to sleep. You're a big girl."

Lily: "Mom. YOU are a big girl. Way down and go to sweep on ME."

Me: "Goodnight Lily. If I have to come back in here I'm going to give you a spanking on your bottom."

Silence.

When sleep finally does come it is sooo sweet.

I'll be back with new pictures and updates...and btw, 2 days till hip hop! (and NO, there will not be any pictures or videos of MY dance class)!

Happy Monday - I'm off to get some sleep.

More Lil Tidbits

On the way to work the other morning Lily asks "Momma. Where is our beauty-full day?" To which I reply "Lily, it IS a beautiful day. It's just cloudy." Then she asks, "Where is da sun?" My answer: "It is hiding behind the clouds." Lily (getting a bit agitated): "Well, da cwouds need to move so we can see da sun. (Screaming out her window) MOVE CWOUDS! MOOOOVE!" I gently say, "Lily. I'm sorry, but that isn't going to work." So she adds, still with her head up against her window, "PWEEZE?!"







Lil has always been part sugar/part spice, and that is what makes her both a pleasure and a challenge to parent. Lately she will occasionally hit me. Well, I have NOOOO tolerance for this whatsoever. In the past when she has done something that I didn't approve of, I've simply pulled her aside to have a "chat" with her and that usually takes care of it. Well, I decided when she hit me that I needed a different method of discipline. So, I tried a "time out"...lotsa people do this, right? So, I made her go sit on my bed and told her I'd come back in a few minutes to see if she was ready to be a good girl. She resisted the first time I did it...she seemed to be distraught that I was upset with her. It broke my heart to hear her cry, but we both got over it and by the time I got back in there she had settled down and said she was ready to behave. So, it seems to be working. Actually, last night she was ignoring me and I said "Do you want to listen to me, or do you need a time out?" She answered "I need a time out." So, off we went. This time when I went back to get her she said "Tank you for giving me a time out mommy. I need to be a good wistener."







She is a singin' fool right now. Non-stop la la la'ing. And, it makes no difference to her if we are at home, or in the car, at the mall, or grocery shopping...she will sing at the top of her lungs. Her favorite tunes right now are "Bingo"...She starts it 'Old MacDonald had a dog and Bingo was his name-O...' and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and she will sing all 3 verses, but they all end 'his fweece was white as snow'...







This afternoon she was at the kitchen table rearranging her 9 pennies to create different things. She kept making a "rocket ship" and a "comet" (a real space theme with her lately)...then she said "I need my puppy so I can be sweet" so I went and grabbed Spot for her. She began to pet and cuddle him saying "I'm so sweet with my puppy...I'm gonna show him my comet...(looking at Spot and pointing out her creation) Wook Spot, wook at my comet!" Then she looks over at me and says "He doesn't talk."

That's all for today's installment of Lil tidbits...hope she made you smile.

The view from here (and then some)

I'm playing a little catch up on things I've been "tagged" for...I apologize to you gals that I have kept waiting. For the rest of you: this post has almost nothing to do with Lily, so you might wanna move along to the next blog on your list.

OK, here goes: Christine wanted to see the view from my front porch, so here it is in all its glory. Yeah, I had to wait till Lily and her daddy were outside mowing the lawn before I snapped the pic...you know I have a hard time doing a post without her in it! And you get a bonus glance at what I drive. The white Equinox parked out front is "how I roll".

Anyhoo, I live in a cute, little bungalow in a cute, little subdivision. I really love my neighbors and am very happy here. We are about 5 minutes outside of our downtown area where we spend much time (especially in the summer). We are minutes from 3 major expressways, so it is easy to get places quickly and Jay LOVES that. Lily will go to the Elementary School that is 2 blocks away...how cool is that? Lotsa trees and parks. That is where I live. (Oh, and Lily can now tell you where she lives-address, street, city and state.)

Secondly, Dannye tagged me for the middle name meme. I'm not posting the rules and regulations (I know, I'm a rebel)...it's pretty self explanatory. I just list one fact relevant to my life for each letter in my middle name, which is Renee. Ugh. That's a lot of E's.

R. Restaurants. I have worked in the restaurant business since I was 19. I met my hubby at work. I STILL wait tables 4 shifts a week. Sometimes I kick myself for not doing something with the Communications Degree I worked so hard (and long) to get, but for now it works perfectly for my life as a mom...I am a stay-home mom who also happens to have a job. And most days I really like it. The people I work with are more than friends - they have become my second family.

E. Energy. At times I have a ton of it. I love it when I am hyper and talkative and go-go-go. When I am in that mode, I am a firecracker. Unfortunately, lately I have lacked this energy. I'm hoping to be revived by my hip-hop class...do you think I'm expecting too much from poor Dustin? (our instructor)

N. Nurturer. That's me. I love tending to the needs of those around me -- especially my baby girl, of course. But, not only her. If someone is hurting, I like to help. Except for my hubby...I make him suck it up and take care of himself. I'm horrible. I'm also kidding (kind of).

E. Emotions. Holy cow am I ever emotional. My poor husband. Being married to me must feel like a daily trip to the amusement park. Can you say roller-coaster!? But I am much better now than I was when I was younger. Now I'm pretty bearable 3 weeks out of the month anyway. My mom used to call me Mary Melodrama...and Lily seems to be following in my footsteps. I might be in trouble.

E. Man, another E. Um, I guess I'm Easy. And before you take that and run...I mean, I am pretty easy to please. I don't need a whole lot to make me happy. Don't need lotsa money and gifts, etc. I just want to love and be loved in return. (although now that I mention it...I wouldn't MIND some more money and some gifts. he he)

OK, that's that.

Oh, and I had my first hip-hop class tonite and I LOVED IT!!!! It was sooo much fun. I am already sore and I sweat my butt off...really feelin' my age! It is gonna be a challenge but I am up for it! I am so glad I signed up. Five of my girlfriends signed up too -- so that makes it even more fun. I am more excited about this than I have been about anything in a long time. I needed something just for ME.

Rockabye Spot!

My Funny Ballerina/Builder

I am so glad it's Friday. This hasn't been the greatest week for me. Nothing has gone wrong, really, I've just been in a funk. The cloud is lifting, though, or maybe I'm just pushing it off me with all my might. Anyway, Lily has helped keep my spirits up. She has been especially hilarious...Jay and I have spent a lot of time swapping stories of her little antics. The picture is of Lily and her new birdhouse. While I was at work Wednesday night, Jay took Lily to Toys R Us to purchase this (disassembled) so they could have a project night. They then came home, got out their tools and assembled it. She is now in the process of coloring it with markers. This is the conversation that she had with her daddy while building their birdhouse.

Lily: "Daddy, we need gwoo for da wood dowel" (she was referring to the little wood piece that is the bird's perch. It isn't on yet cuz we still don't have any glue in the house. Why she calls it a wood dowel? Not sure. Jay just says she likes 'em.)

Jay: "Daddy will buy some glue, Lily, don't worry."

Lily: "Will the boodies wike da bood house we make for dem?"

Jay: "Yes, Lily. They'll love it. They'll say 'we love it Lily, thank you for making us such a great birdhouse!'"

Lily: "No dey won't daddy. Dey'll say pweet, pweet, pweet."

So, my sister came over for lunch yesterday and Lily was showing off the birdhouse and the conversation went something like this:

Lily: "Aunt Jody, dis is da boodhouse and da boodies fwy and get sticks and build da nest and go in da hole and say pweet pweet pweet we yuv it!"

I guess she decided that maybe the birdies would love it so much they WOULD express it with words and not just their usual tweet, tweet, tweets!

She cracks us up!

Last night was our little comedianne's first night at dance class. I took a couple pictures of her before class, she was spinning around the lobby saying "hi" to anyone who would give her the time of day. But I have no pics of the class itself. Parents are only allowed to watch the last week of every month. I really wanted to know what was going on behind that closed door, but when the hour was up she came skipping out with a huge grin on her face..."Mommy, I go to dance bwass! Now I det a sutter"...and off they went to get suckers from their teacher Miss. Amanda. I'm sure there will be MANY ballerina pics on this blog in the coming months. Happy Weekend everybody.

Our Labor Day

Our weekend consisted of work, work, and more work, so Monday I was soooo excited that both Jay and I did NOT work and we could spend the day together as a family. We took Lily and met some friends at "Arts, Beats, and Eats" -- a huge gathering in a nearby city with lots of food and fun for all ages. It was incredibly crowded and hot, but we had such a great time. They had a mini-carnival for little ones, so we spent the majority of our time there. Lily went on all the rides, including her first mini rollercoaster and the ferris wheel (not so mini) and she LOVED every minute of it. Who knew this kid would be fearless at age 3, when at age 2 just about everything scared the junk out of her!? Well, I just got so much enjoyment out of watching her in her glory. I took about 30 pictures and I'm sharing a few of my favs. We, of course, couldn't leave without her getting another tattoo! (Elizabeth, I think you'll like the design she chose this time.) We ended the day with a BBQ at my parents' house, which was nice (as it always is)...I ate too much and we were all in bed early. It was the perfect way to end a long weekend.