watch out michael phelps

Lyza was ready for her first year of swimming lessons. Correction...daddy was ready for Lyza to become the worlds best 3 year old swimmer! Mr. Bull grew up in Southern California with a pool in his back yard. He and his brothers were jumping off his parents roof into the pool by the time he was a young boy. So anything less then that for our daughter was going to be unacceptable. Except for the fact that our daughter screamed in horror in the bath tub anytime the water would get near her face.

Not a problem Mr. Bull decided. He would remedy this with a quick couple of swimming lessons and she would be on her way. Even though we found the most amazing swimming teacher, it turned out it was going to take much more then wishful hoping to make our little blonde beauty an Olympic swimmer. (a.k.a. even put so much as her chin in the water.)

We sat through a couple of rough lessons. And when I say rough I mean, rough for Miss Loni (a.k.a. the worlds best swimming teacher.) She was so patient with Lyza and just kept at it with her.

Along the road of those first few rough swimming lessons we did hear quite a few "classic" comments come out of Lyza's mouth. (see next picture)

Lyza: "Miss Loni I want to go back to the stairs...I've had a rough day."

Lyza: "Miss Loni, my swimming suit is all sweaty." (really just wet)

Lyza: "Miss Loni, if i jump in right hear I'm going to crack my head open."

And my all time favorite...

Lyza: "Miss Loni, if you let go of me...I'm going to FREAK OUT!" (who knows how she even knew that word???)

But somehow I think Lyza could feel her daddy's anxiety, she could feel him almost willing her to love to swim. Because all of the sudden during the 4th swimming lesson the light switch went on. Our little Michael Phelps was born. She couldn't get enough of the water. She was swimming with her face in, jumping off the side, and even jumping off the diving board. It was seriously the craziest thing to watch.

Miss Loni you are incredible! Oh, and you're pretty incredible too Ly Ly!

I posted 2 videos below...this is the swimming lesson that it all turned around. One moment she wouldn't have anything to do with the water and seriously the next she was doing this!

Lyza (age 3) first day of jumping at swimming lessons

Lyza's (age 3) first jump off the diving board

Olympics here we come!!!!

happy birthday mr. bull

Dear Mr. Bull:

Today was your 31st birthday. We didn't have a big "to do" or huge surprise party like you gave me. (You told me that we didn't need to spend that money on you, we should save it for something else...So like you to say that.) However you did get to spend the day cleaning out the "Out House" at the cabin you love so dearly. Somehow only you could turn even the most disgusting tasks into fun. Somehow only you could say that your birthday was great even when nothing spectacular happened. One year we will have a big celebration no matter what you say. Until then blow out your one white candle in your Flan from El Pollo Loco.

Happy Birthday Mr. Bull.

all my love,

Dee

steven is in love!

If Steven didn't already love his daughter to death...Lyza has now sealed the deal completely. Lets back up a bit...

One of the things Steven loves is picking skin. He picks his arms, nails, heals, face,anything. If there is skin hanging off something, he wants to pick it. One of the things I despise is picking. I can't stand picking things off of other people. Even the sound of picking pretty much drives me crazy. I don't mind "peeling" skin after a sunburn but that is about as far as I go. Steven doesn't believe it, but I actually start feeling "car sick" or "motion sick" when I have to focus in and pick at something. Thus we have a problem in our relationship.

Fast Forward 3 years...PROBLEM IS SOLVED! Lyza not only is our first born and the apple of our eye, she has single handily solved our picking dilemma Lyza LOVES to pick. Today she sat and picked at Steven's feet for 20 minutes. (This is 19 minutes longer then I usually last picking at his feet) While it pretty much grossed me out and I told her she had to wash her hands 3 times after she was done, I am glad that she and her daddy have yet another activity that bonds them together.

HAPPY PICKING YOU TWO!!

hello mr. bobblehead

Seth 3 months old

I love the "bobble head" stage of babies. Ok lets face it I love any stage of "babies", but right now I love the bobble head stage because that is the stage that my little man is in. He is such an "orange on a toothpick" right now. He can get that head up to look at you and then it just bobbles and bobbles until he gets a hold of it again. Plus an added bonus to the "bobble head" stage is that while his head is bobbing up and down...he is leaving is neck completely exposed. And lets just face it, that is another one of my weaknesses. So while he is bobbing, mom goes in for the neck kisses. Oooo, doesn't get much better than that!!

14:35

What is this you ask? This is a picture of two closed doors. This is a picture of two closed doors with two children behind each of these doors. This is a picture of two closed doors, with two children who are asleep at the exact same time. How often does this happen? NEVER! That is why this was so monumental. How long did this last...Exactly Fourteen Minutes and Thirty Five Seconds.

today...

Today Lyza will wake up and the first thing she will say in her monitor is "Mom, did I do good sleepers?." She will inform me that she wants to wear a dress today, (Shocking) not a skirt because skirts don't twirl as well as dresses do. She will want cereal for breakfast but get frustrated when I don't fill the bowl as full as daddy does. Today Lyza will play in her room for at least an hour talking to all of her "imaginary friends/audience" She will ask each of them questions and then answer her own questions in different voices. Lyza will ask for bubble gum from my bag at least 5 times before the clock strikes 10:00 am. Today Lyza will run to the "potty" all by herself and then shout to me "Mom, I went to the potty...I had that feeling." When I give Lyza her lunch plate today (which is, at her request, usually a burrito and carrots) she will ask me "Mom, are carrots healthy?" and when I reply yes, she will say "Are they Very, Very Healthy?" We will go through each item on her plate in this manner. Today Lyza will give me a hug and a kiss and say, "Your my best friend mom." Today Lyza will get mad at me because I won't let her do something and she will say, "Fine, then I am not going to be your best friend anymore." She will run to the garage door every time I open it during the day and scream, "Daddy's Home, Daddy's Home." Today Lyza will go out to the shoe rack in the garage and straighten up all of her shoes so they are in a nice straight line (a bit OCD). She will beg and beg and finally win out and get to watch a show or movie of her choice. Today Lyza will pinch, kiss, pull, rub, and even on one occasion lick her baby brothers cheeks. Today I love Lyza more than I have ever loved her before.

Today Seth will be an angel! He will kick his legs and arms so fast when I come to get him out of his bed. He will want to eat every 3 hours on the minute, he has a great internal clock. Today Seth will not be able to fall asleep for his nap until I put his favorite blue and brown blanket right next to his face. Today Seth's face will light up the second he sees Lyza even though he knows that his cheeks will be pinched, kissed, pulled, rubbed, and on occasion licked. Today Seth will lay right below my chin on my chest. This is "our" spot...we fit together like a puzzle on "our" spot. Today Seth will almost be able to roll to his stomach. He will try and try but he just won't be able to get that last arm out of the way. Today Seth will only cry once or twice. He will "belly laugh" when I tickle the sides of his tummy. Today I love Seth more than anyone could ever love a baby.

Today Steven will wake up happy. He will get to work early and he will get home late. Today Steven's cell phone will ring no less than 40 times. Today when Steven gets home from work he will spend every second with Lyza connected to him. He will put Lyza on his shoulders and go and check on his garden. Today Steven will say "Can I call you right back" whenever I try to talk to him on his phone. (Remember he has 39 other calls he has to get to.) Today Steven will tell me how much he loves our children. He will watch the SYTYCD finale with me and pretty much be dead on with his opinions of each dance. Today Steven will make fun of how slow I walk when we go on a walk around the neighborhood. Today I love Steven more than I thought I could ever love a person.

Today I will make a list of all of the things that "have to get done." Today I will kiss Seth over 100 times and rock him to sleep for every nap...you can't spoil a 3 month old can you? Today I will call and talk to one of my sisters. Today I will feel guilty because I have like 10 different posts that I want to put on my blog, but just can't seem to get to them. I will try on at least 3 different outfits and then get frustrated because nothing fits after having a baby. Today I will regret when I get upset and frustrated with Lyza. I remember after the fact that she is only 3 years old and for the most part a well behaved girl. Today I will worry if I am giving Seth enough to eat. This is always a worry for me when I nurse my babies. Today I will listen outside Lyza's bedroom door while she plays in her own little world. I will not be able to keep from smiling as I listen to the things she says. Today I will miss my husband. Today I will wonder what I want to be when I grow up. Today I will be thankful.