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.

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?