could it be...4 months?

Could it be...you are actually 4 months old? You have decided that you're not going to stay little forever?

But don't you remember little man a few months ago? It was the middle of the night. You and I were the only ones awake. We had our little talk, a heart to heart, and you specifically promised me you would stay little forever.

You promised that you would always let me rock you and cuddle you. You said that you would stay little. That you wouldn't wish that you were 5 like your cousin Halle. (You know I hear this statement every day from your big sister Lyza) Little man, I remember our conversation very well. If only you remembered this night as well.

I guess we will just have to have our talk again. See you tonight around 1:00 am.

a month in review

Lyza on her first day of preschool age 3

Where did this month go? How did the date on the calendar get to say the 25th? Slow down "Father Time" I can't take it all in. My children are growing , I am getting wrinkles, and my 401K isn't what it used to be. I want to take it all in. I want to live in the moment.

Speaking of moments...here are a few of the highlights from this month.


Lyza had her first day of preschool. She absolutely loves school and would be happy going everyday if we let her.


We ate the "fruit of our labors" (or veggies of our labors) when our garden came into full bloom and produced more "produce" then we could ever dream to eat in one month. But oh was it good!!

We visited the dentist and to our amazement...NO CAVITIES! (not even mr. bull) Lyza did great in the chair and let the dentist count all of her teeth.

We had tummy time. This is an activity the Seth has not found the love for yet. We keep at it but it usually only last a few minutes before frustration ensues.

We went swimming with our cousins. The children and daddy's had so much fun going down the slides and keeping all the little heads above water.

Lyza opened her first bank account from money she had saved up for about a year. Funny story that the bank, she opened her account in, closed their doors only a short 2 weeks later. I guess it is never too early to have an open discussion about the Economy with your 3 year old. Lucky her entire $22.00 was FDIC insured.

Shalice, Ave (3 months), Seth (4 months), me

Best of all, we spent many happy days with family and friends. These are the moments we remember always.

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.