Saturday, January 31, 2009

January 31, 2009 - Day 31

An unseasonable pretty day for January 31st. 71 degrees! We played at the park after Marley's 4th birthday party. I couldn't get any photos of the birthday girl, but GG was happy to say "cheese" over and over : ) while she was joyfully hunkered down into her comfy swing.

Friday, January 30, 2009

January 30, 2009 - Day 30

Our godson, Andrew's 4th birthday party! It is a family tradition on my husband's side for the birthday person to take the first bite of cake. It is also tradition for someone to push the birthday person's face into the cake. But Andrew? oh, no. He VOLUNTARILY launched his face into that cake when mom turned to get a knife (see her covering her face?) Hilarious.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

January 29, 2009 - Day 29


Today was "Visitor's Day" at school! Grandma wanted to be there, but Daddy was just as excited to be able to hang out with Jack for a while. You guys enjoyed lots of fun stuff like this peg board, the rice pouring table and the garage with cars. (side note: Jack is wearing his favorite fleece hoodie that was only supposed to be worn to and from school with his puffy vest. But Jack refuses to remove it when he gets to school and insists that it be zipped all the way up. too funny)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

January 28, 2009 - Day 28

We had a playgroup at the museum today with LLL. Jack finally got up on the horse. GG was on and off, but never long enough to capture a shot.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

January 27, 2009 - Day 27

okay, just about every photo is of Jack or GG, so I thought I'd show an image of another staple around here. Coffee. I can't afford to throw away the coffee that I don't get to when I get super busy, so I usually refrigerate it and put it over ice later. Lately, this little piece of kitchen gadgetry has been my best friend. I whip up my coffee with some ice and it becomes an ice-creamy treat. It's a great pick me up at around 1am when I've got just a little work left to go before I can head for bed. I know there's lots of other things I can do with this Magic Bullet, I hope I can make some time to find out. The hubby bought this a couple years ago when I was making baby food all the time. It IS pretty awesome.

Monday, January 26, 2009

January 26, 2009 - Day 26

I had a feeling she would understand earning a sticker for picking up now. And she did! As soon as I asked her if she wanted one for picking up, she ran to the drawer and pointed where they were and she wanted to pick out her own and put it on by herself. She was so excited. I didn't even have a chart for her yet, so we borrowed one of brother's. Big girl.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

January 25, 2009 - Day 25

GG took a nasty header into the train table yesterday. I saw the whole thing like it was slow motion but could not catch her in time. She hit her face full force, all her weight into the edge of the table. I seriously thought for a little while I might have to take her in for a scan. Her nose swelled up, split from the base where it's attached to her face and bled just a little inside, too. She did the cry where nothing comes out and she just shook all over. It was horrible. This was her first real blood-drawn ouchie. She was over it within 1/2 an hour and she didn't even have the black eyes I thought for sure she would have after her nap : )

Saturday, January 24, 2009

January 24, 2009 - Day 24



*Spoiler alert*: this is going to be a little longer than usual : ) and I do know how to spell refridgerator, but you won't see it here.

I happened to notice tonight that I still had GG's birth stats on the dry erase message board on our fridge. As I stood there looking at our fridge for a minute, I realized what a story this picture would tell. I'm sure it will change in the coming years, so I thought it might be fun to do this every year as the kids grow. 3 years ago the only thing up there would have been the calendar and the message board with the week of pregnancy I was in with Jack. That's it. I remember the day that fridge was installed. I thought it was glorious. Our first real fridge. Our first new fridge. It certainly wasn't the most expensive one, but it was the least expensive stainless steel-look one. I thought then and there, "it will ALWAYS be clean, it will NEVER be cluttered". Oh, how "life" takes over like a hurricane. Glad I'm supposed to be limited to one image per day, because I wasn't planning on taking a photo of the inside : )

I go back to the little message board on the top left. This is so telling about where we're at in our lives. GG's birth stats are still there from when I was afraid after we brought her home that Pepe might forget them when he was on the phone with well-wishers. (he never did) She's 17 months old. (guess we've been a little busy since then) It also has guidelines on storing and using human breast milk for when we would occasionally bottle feed. Erasing that will be heartbreaking, I can't believe she's not a baby anymore. She hasn't had a bottle for 8 months and never took them well. At the bottom is their daily routine and nap schedule, which has changed since then.

Below the message board are a couple of my favorite photos, GG and those cute cheeks and bow at six months in her little "Kansas Cutie" dress when the Jayhawks won the NCAA National Championship last year. And Jack in the front yard at Easter in 2007 when he was nearly 12 months old. That was the last time my tulips looked really nice, before I had to give up gardening for a while. Scattered around those photos are two birthday party invitations, for my godson Andrew and another friend, Marley, both turning 4 next week. That will be a busy weekend, but typical with the size of our extended family. There are also a couple of stickers there from one of the children's doctor check ups that shows their weight and height, but I don't know how old those are.

Below that is our water and ice dispenser, nothing amazing there, except it kinda is to me. That damn thing wouldn't spit ice out for probably a year. At first, it wouldn't dispense, later it stopped even making ice. So we were back to making ice or buying it for a long while. He finally figured out what was wrong and ordered the part only maybe a month ago. THANK GOD. You really find out how lazy you are when you don't have an ice dispenser. We're so spoiled.

At the bottom left you'll see the clutter of magnets I thought would never exist for many reasons and Jack's schedule that we try very hard to stick to.

On the right door is our crazy "green" calendar and a post-it of meal ideas based on what is in the pantry, helps me to make what's on hand saving needless trips to the store. Then we have some of Jack's beautiful art work, he LOVES stickers. He brings so much home that the fridge went into overload, so I made an area on the wall in the dining room for his masterpieces. There, we can discuss them over meals and this helps keep the important stuff from being lost on the fridge front.

Jack's school schedule follows his sticker art and below that is a reminder about his "Guest Day" at school. This will be a really special day that Daddy gets to spend with him. My mother wasn't able to do it this year, so hopefully next time. I'm really looking forward to this for him. Next to the notice are the little animals that go with the Leapfrog barn. What is cute about this is that he's into the whole "matching stuff" phase so this is really a story about where he's at developmentally. It also shows how meticulous and organized he's just starting to become.

Below that are our House Rules that Jack helped make last year. I use those for the "bad guy" instead of saying "because I said" or "Daddy said" or whatever. It's just "the rules". I'm anal and show this to visiting kids that stay to play without their parents. We never seem to have an issue then.

Well, it's a far cry from what I had expected when that fridge was installed. But I still love it and I think it's more beautiful than ever.

Friday, January 23, 2009

January 23, 2009 - Day 23


Pure, unadulterated joy. All in one smile.
This is Jack's first "helicopter ride", and the first good little work out I've been able to catch in a long while. "Do it again, Mommy, do it again!" : )

Thursday, January 22, 2009

January 22, 2009 - Day 22


What can I say? The girl loves shoes. And the more personality the shoe has, the more she wants to have them! Typically, her favorite place to wear them though... is on her hands.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

January 21, 2009 - Day 21


Jack just finished the puzzle all my hisself for the very first time! Way to go, Jack!!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

January 20, 2009 - Day 20


Shared this historic day with my daughter (sorry for the mug shot, but I knew she wouldn't stay put for long. She couldn't say it, but Jack kept saying "ObAMa-Day".

Monday, January 19, 2009

January 19, 2009 - Day 19


We had the cousins over this afternoon to play and give Nichole a little reprieve. They had a blast making messes! (oh, and yes, princess GG was having another "tutu day")

Sunday, January 18, 2009

January 18, 2009 - Day 18


January 18, 2009 - Day 18
Originally uploaded by mommymirandamusings

Painted toast with homemade soup.
food coloring can be so fun!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

January 17, 2009 - Day 17


January 17, 2009 - Day 17
Originally uploaded by mommymirandamusings

Jack only asked for help on a few pieces, but he is putting most of his puzzles together by himself. Big boy!
(please excuse his mismatched outfit. He was warm and toasty in his pjs and it's awfully cold in the mornings so I didn't force him to completely redress when he woke up)

Friday, January 16, 2009

January 16, 2009 - Day 16


January 16, 2009 - Day 16
Originally uploaded by mommymirandamusings

Okay, so this is a great example of why I'm doing this Project 365 (and thank God for my iPhone). I know, some of you are going to think this is a completely inappropriate photo, but most of you moms will relate. My little girl wanted to sit on the potty for the first time today (and not just on the lid). Not only did she want to sit on it, she didn't want to get down! And not only did she not want to get down but she actually WENT in the potty later that night! She was so proud of herself that she was dancing around and giggling! And I WAS PROUD OF HER TOO!! big girl! When she has a baby girl she will understand why I was so thrilled to put this picture up of our 16th day of 2009, what a big and proud day : ) love you, GG!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

January 15, 2009 - Day 15

First pony tail ever!
I thought GG's piggies were starting to look pretty long, so I thought I'd give a pony a try and it fits (lilttle, but it fits)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

January 13, 2009 - Day 13

This was a big day! GG's first time without a safety seat! She was cruising all over that tub, having a great time, no fear whatsoever. (luckily I got one shot- in 80- where they were looking, smiling, and actually accidentally covering all their important parts! yay)

Monday, January 12, 2009

January 12, 2009 - Day 12

Just another tutu day.... accessories and shoes included.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

January 11, 2009 - Day 11












January 11, 2009 - Day 11, originally uploaded by mommymirandamusings.

Something different. I was picking up the bears tonight for bedtime and thought, "these guys have hung in there pretty well for 1 year, gosh, what will they look like in several more?" So I ran and grabbed the camera. I looked all over for a set of teddy bears for Jack and GG last Christmas to no avail. Either too big, too small, too hard, not soft enough, you name it there was something missing in all the expensive bears I was looking at. Then suddenly, only a few nights before Christmas, I spotted these at a Walmart I don't usually go to. They weren't at my Walmart. $5 each if you can believe it. They are the softest, most cuddliest bears! Both Jack and GG really love them. GG doesn't leave the house without hers and Jack cries if his falls to the floor in the middle of the night. (see image, GG couldn't stand to leave hers for even a couple of minutes to immortalize him digitally) We have a beautiful photograph of GG at 6 months seeing him for the first time, I call it love at first sight because they have been inseparable ever since. I wished I had bought a few extras just in case.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

January 10, 2009 - Day 10

Our friends, the Smiley's came over today for a short visit and lunch. Jack loves playing with Marley and talked about it all day the day before in anticipation.

Friday, January 9, 2009

January 9, 2009 - Day 9


You know it's time to put the decorations up when someone starts to think they're toys. It will be 7 weeks tomorrow. We're finally well enough everything is coming down. I love Christmas, but it will be nice to have my house back.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

January 8, 2009 - Day 8b

Couldn't get them both in one shot and both images are too funny to me, so I'm putting them both up, what the hey.
How 'bout that "do"?

January 8, 2009 - Day 8

The time honored tradition, passed down from generation to generation-- the bubble bath mohawk. GG wears it well, I think.
Note: still having accessory battles of will.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

January 7, 2009 - Day 7

It was tough to choose one picture for today since it was Daddy's birthday, but I think this image captures just how much Jack enjoyed it!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

January 6, 2009 - Day 6


I stopped today to just marvel at all the Christmas cards we received this year. (still have some late arrivals coming in) This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

I hate our camera. It takes the crappiest photos sometimes and it's hard to tell until you download them.

Monday, January 5, 2009

January 5, 2009 - Day 5

Jack gets a safety rail for his bed from the Three Kings. Wow! A big boy bed!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

January 4, 2009 - Day 4b

Daddy helping Jack and GG write their notes to the Three Kings. We decided to do this over the weekend instead of on the 6th (the Epiphany) so Daddy could be here in the morning.

January 4, 2009 - Day 4

Little shoes under the tree with notes to the Three Kings. This is an Epiphany tradition from Daddy's side of the family in Mexico.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

January 3, 2009 - Day 3

GG screeches for the tutu anytime she spots her closet open. She wears it over anything and everything for as long as you will let her. Try to take it off, and you've got a huge battle of wills on your hands.

Friday, January 2, 2009

January 2, 2009 - Day 2

Really excited about peanut butter and jelly. I try to do this every Friday now because I know they love em. Can't complain too much that it isn't good for them. We use organic peanut butter, sugar free preserves and whole wheat bread and yes, they eat the crust. Look how happy she is! (she refused to give up the accessories for lunch. This is happening more regularly now.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

January 1, 2009 - Day 1b

We turned on the jets again to fluff the bubbles. Jack was having a blast.

January 1, 2009 - Day 1




The kids were starting to feel better after their nasty bugs over Christmas so we all decided to have a fun bubble bath. You can tell by GG's face she still isn't completely over it. By now, I was catching it. Still, tried to make it a good time.