lyza hearts rachel

You know those moments in life when you just sit back and say "that was so neat!" As a mom I have loved having those moments but instead of them being about me...they are "neat" things that happen to your children. Well last week at lunch Lyza got to have one of "those" moments. Here's how the story unfolded....

We met my mom and dad for lunch at Pei Wei's and while we were standing in line Lyza said, "Mom, Rachel is behind us." I turned around to see Rachel Coleman from Signing Time in line behind us with her husband.

(Side note... we started Lyza on Signing Time when she was 4 months old and she has loved it ever since. She is a great signer and absolutely loves Rachel, the creator of Signing Time. When she was younger she would actually talk to Rachel, while she was on T.V., like she was her best friend. )

(Back to our lunch)

So being the person that I am...(the kind that doesn't ever want to bother anyone or interrupt them, or make a big scene, etc.) I acknowledge to Lyza that it was Rachel, but just tried to distract her with something else. So we get our food and eat our lunch, and the entire time Lyza's eyes are pretty much glued to Rachel. She would keep saying, "Where's Rachel? Is Rachel still eating?, etc."

It just so happened that we left the restaurant around the same time as Rachel. By the time we gathered all of our stuff and got out the door Rachel and her husband were in their car. At this point Lyza said, "Mom, I didn't tell Rachel goodbye?"

Alright, this was my moment to shine as a mother...I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and fulfill this wish for my daughter. I needed to put my anxiousness of having a possible awkward moment aside and make my daughter happy. I need to make this meeting happen. So what did I do...I told my MOM to run out with Lyza and catch up to Rachel. Hey, in all fairness I was packing Seth up in the car seat.

My mom and Lyza walked by the side of their car as they were about to take off and Lyza waved and yelled, "Bye Rachel."

What happened next has made me a life long friend and fan of Rachel and Signing Time. Here is the dialogue:

Rachel: (as she is rolling down her window) "Do you know who I am?"

Lyza: "Yeah, your Rachel."

Rachel: (Now her husband has stopped the car and Rachel has gotten out and is kneeling down in front of Ly Ly) "I can't believe you recognize me without my (Signing Time) outfit on?" "Hold on just a moment I have something for you."

Rachel went back to her car and brought out a card with all of the Signing Time Cast on it, and a black magic marker.

Rachel: "Tell me your name."

Lyza: "L-Y-Z-A"

Rachel: "Okay, spell it for me that is even better...that helps out."

Me: Rummaging through my purse and praying so hard that I have put my camera in there somewhere...I have to capture the look on my little girls face. Looking, Looking....Oh, thank you there it is.

Rachel: "Thank you so much for saying Hi to me, that makes me so happy."

Lyza: "Your Welcome."

Rachel: "Can I have a Hug?"

Lyza: "Sure...where's Alex?" (a boy from the show)

Rachel: "He's at home"

Then Rachel picked Lyza up and gave her a big hug and let me take a picture. She thanked us again for saying Hi and then got back in her car and left.

Lyza was is heaven and has not stopped talking about it since. She tells everyone that she "had lunch with Rachel."

Thanks so much Rachel. You are as sweet in person as you are on Signing Time, and you made a 3 year olds day.

priorities

This is so my Lyza. I turned around in the car the other day and found her fast asleep, however please notice the "purse" still attached. If you ever visit us or see Lyza, odds are in your favor that she will be holding one of her many "handbags." She is my own "Louis Vuitton" when it comes to purses. She can't have enough of them or have enough in them. I am glad to see in this picture that she has her priorities straight. Even in her sleep she is "clutching her clutch." Is there any question she is all girl?

come on...

Seth 2 months old

"Come on...don't you just want to kiss me?"

beauty salon

If you know Lyza...you know her hair! She is 10% body and 90% hair. She just has this hair that looks like it should be on a teenager. It has been like that for her from the beginning. I actually have a entire post that I want to put together to document her amazing hair for posterity. Because I know that one day she will come home with it cut all the way off and dyed black!

But here was our fun evening out together at our good friend Lezlie's salon. We love Lez and she is a fabulous stylist.

Lyza did a pretty good job of sitting still for Lezlie during the hair cut. Please notice the "Steven Bull Fight Face" she is doing. This is a face we named after my husband. It is a look he does all of the time when he is concentrating. His eye brows are all tight and it looks like he wants to "fight you." Well don't worry it is the dominant gene in our family. Both Lyza and (don't worry) Seth have the look.

Tons of hair!

Great job Lez...we love ya!

a blessing...

Last Sunday was Seth's blessing day. As I thought about the big day and the significance of the event I kept thinking...isn't it funny that today is the day that Seth is given a blessing by his father. But in all reality it is a day that I will celebrate what a "blessing" this boy is in my life.

Ever since the day he was born, when I think about Seth the first word that comes into my mind is peace. He brings peace to our home, he brings peace to my heart., he has a peaceful personality. (Stay tuned for my post in about 2 years when as a toddler he is not so peaceful anymore.) There is just something about him. I know all mothers must feel this way, but he is definitely special.

The blessing day was perfect. The actual blessing was so nice, Steven did a great job. And the lunch afterward at the house was so much fun. Here is a picture of the center piece on he bar.

Some more of the decorations.


pictures of all of the food we had! Thanks everyone for helping out!

My favorite the dessert table!

Lyza, Halle, and Sami waiting for food on the little table stuffed in the corner...so cute.

What a good little boy. He had a fun but crazy day.

Love this picture. He was starving, but I just HAD to get a couple of more pictures. Pretty much he is saying, "I'm done mom!"

Seth, you are the blessing in our lives. Thank you for coming to stay with us for awhile! We couldn't imagine our family without you.

Love you little man!

can't leave dad alone with the baby

I leave "daddy" alone with Seth for a minute and look what happens! "No darling, the baby can't eat red licorice yet!"

Seth new exactly what to do with the "candy" as soon as it was in his hand he headed instantly for his mouth. Good thing mom intervened!

a first

So today was a first....today Seth got his first bottle. As a mother I have mixed feelings about this day. On one side I am always thankful when my child is able to take a bottle. Because I work a couple of days a week, I need my babies to be able to switch back and forth from nursing to a bottle depending on the day. Thankfully both Lyza and Seth have been able to do this with no problem.

On the other side...I feel a bit of sadness when they do take a bottle. Up until this point in their short life...I have provided literally everything for them. This included being the one to feed them. Up until now feeding them was something only I could do. I love that feeling of being needed from my child. And for some reason when they take a bottle it feels like their first step toward not needing me as much. I know that for 75% of the time I am still the one feeding them, but for some reason their first bottle always makes me a bit sad. I guess I just want my babies to stay "needing" me for as long as possible.

this moment

I don't have a picture to post right at this moment. I am so far behind on my blog it is not even funny. But for some reason right now I don't even care....because right now my little blonde beauty is fast asleep, my husband is at the gym (good job babe), and I am listening to music, and staring into the face of the cutest little boy I have ever laid my eyes on. Every feature on his face is perfect, the smell is almost irresistible, and all I know is that he is mine. I am grateful for this moment. I am grateful for my life and family. I am grateful for peace right now because that is what I am feeling. Love you little man...stay little for me!

independence day

Happy 4th of July!! Popsicles all around. Lyza and Braden enjoyed their share of the traditional 4th of July "holiday treat." I love this picture...pure enjoyment of children!

We had a family BBQ at my parents and then did some fireworks. All of the children (and Shalice) were banished to the yard to eat their messy treats!

We had a ton of the "poppers" for the kids to play with.

And a terrific fireworks show thanks to Brandon and Steven.

Nothing like watching fireworks on a blanket. So much fun.

Braden has a front row seat...love you buddy!

Lyza was in heaven. She didn't ever want the fireworks to end.

Holidays are always so much fun. They are a lot of work and by the end of the day everyone is exhausted, but there is nothing like a holiday. Great memories for all.