P is for Pirate

Layla has joined her first sport team. She is a Pirate on a tee-ball team of 3 & 4 year olds. Chuck and I made a bet on whether or not she would participate. Judging from Mia's frequent breakdowns on the soccer field, Chuck was betting that Layla would not do anything more than stand on the field and cry. I had more confidence in our little one after going to a Brave's game and watching several on TV, she always appeared so excited about playing baseball. Just like the guys she cheered for and chopped for. I brought the camera for proof I was so confident.

First, I grabbed the team's uniforms which she insisted on putting on immediately. I took that as a good sign!

She seemed a bit apprehensive. Keep in mind, we haven't even done a game of catch with her before this moment.

But she got into it. First they practiced "scooping" the ball up. Unfortunately, unless the ball was directed right into Layla's glove, she had no chance. Poor kid did not understand that you have to move to catch the ball. Nope, she was just going to stand there and watch it roll by and then run after it. Every time.
Then it was time to hit! She was not happy about the helmet but I promised that she could take it off as soon as she was done hitting and that she wasn't allowed to hit unless she was wearing it, so on it went!I was afraid that perhaps simple photos would not be enough for Chuck to believe that our child actually participated. And did not cry! Not one tear! And so for your viewing pleasure - I bring you Layla's first hit!!

I loved proving him wrong. I loved it so so so so much! He is right so often, it's infuriating. But yesterday he was wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong. So wrong in fact that Layla is still wearing her uniform. She even slept in it last night.

WRONG.

Wearing them out!

Hello Blog readers! Long time no see! I've been busy and lazy lately which is a wicked combination!

Layla has recently decided that only babies nap. She turned 3 in December and therefore has decided that she is NOT a baby and will NOT nap. An issue that wouldn't bother me as a working mom but kills me when I pick her up and she's tired. Tired in a 3 year old translates to whiney and rude. And since my 6 year old has decided that stomping her feet and screaming at me is going to earn her extra play time, my afternoons are just as soothing as they can be.

So I have a new plan. I can't control the weekdays since I don't have her but the weekends - oh boy, I'm going to wear her out on the weekends! On Sat we spent 4 hours walking around the zoo. Our friend had a stroller. Did I let Layla rest a bit in the stroller? Nope. She was walking. Now, I'm no tyrant and did occasionally carry her or put her up on my shoulders but not for long. The Altanta Zoo has 2 playgrounds. We let the kids run around on both. Now it amazes me that Layla is "too tired" to walk from the otters to the pandas but show her a playground and suddenly she's Usain Bolt. (you know, that dude from the Olympics? The fast one. Right. Him) Ten minutes into the ride home and she was conked out. I dumped her on the living room couch, not risking a walk upstairs and had a peaceful hour and a half to read. It was amazing! On Sunday, the only active thing we did was go to the grocery store and she was still so worn out from Sat that she fell asleep watching cartoon at her Papa's house. Thank goodness for the family pass b/c now whenever I have a good book to read, we're going to the zoo first!

Go Ball Go

Well, here's the video. As you can see, it's sideways. I keep forgetting that while my camera automatically rights sideways photos, it has yet to figure out when I'm retarded and filming sideways. Facebook lets you rotate but not Blogger. So tilt your head and enjoy!

Coming soon to a blog near you....

Wow, I have been neglectful. Sorry to my few dedicated readers. It's not time, I don't think I'm any more busy, just lazier. I'm doing better here than my poor baking blog which hasn't been updated since October.

This weekend we discovered that Mia & Layla can handle Wii bowling. I have video and will post it tomorrow. Layla's form consists of a feeble attempt at "throwing" the ball and then yelling "GO BALL GO BALL GO BALL" as it rolls down the lane. It's hilarious, I promise. I also have plans to include a weekly Layla photo post but since her camera is still in the box and sans batteries, that will have to wait a bit. But when it happens, it will be awesome. What could be better than a 3 yr old's view of the world?

To keep you occupied until I get my stuff together, visit this site my sister sent to me. It is one of the greatest gifts the internet has offered since the Lolcats.
http://garfieldminusgarfield.net/

Ice Skating

I mopped the floors to celebrate our puppy finding a new home. Layla discovered that she could glide around in her socks after I did that. This spring I'm enrolling her into dance classes because she cannot keep her feet still. We watched the new Muppet Christmas special this year and every time they broke into song, Layla broke into dance. This is her favorite activity recently, singing and dancing in a circle:

P.S. Layla got her own digital camera as a bday present so look for blog posts by Layla coming soon!

Merry Christmas!!

Where does the time go? Lordy, I don't' know how my mom survived with a job, three toddlers and two teenagers back in the day. It's two days before Christmas and we have yet to wrap a single present OR even get our tree up!! It's so so sad. Between hospital visits, birthday parties, Christmas parties, and plays I've done very little to prepare for this wonderful holiday and it saddens me. I mean, I've only watched A Christmas Story once and haven't even touched It's a Wonderful Life! It's a crime!!

Here's what we have been doing lately:

Visiting Santa Claus!

Chuck did a painting for his dad for Christmas. It came out beautifully! Of course I forgot to take a photo of the finished product but here's the work in progress:

We celebrated Christmas a bit early with Chuck's dad since they are in Puerto Vallarta this week (lucky dogs!) Layla was actually happy that she got this Disney Princess Calendar but not that I wanted to take a picture of it.

Mia's class had a small holiday party at school. They sang Raffi's "Must Be Santa" which was awesome since when my siblings were much younger, we hear that song ad nauseum. I actually started singing along by reflex until Chuck elbowed me in the ribs. So I let the kids have the glory.

I love the snapping.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!

I need a nap.

Houston, we are go for poop

One of the most daunting tasks of parenting is potty training. It is frustrating and messy. I made the decision to stop fooling around with the pull ups already and get down to business on the long holiday weekend. Why didn't I try this sooner?! Layla took to it almost immediately. Seriously, one day of accidents (thank you GOD the one at my in-law's was outside!) and she was all into being a big girl! She argues about wearing a pull up to bed but I draw the line on washing sheets more than 3 times in a week! Not to get all graphic but going number 2 is a bit difficult for the little ones. Layla seemed to wait until she got her nap diaper to go. My dear, loving husband found this out the hard way. We had just sat down to dinner and she said she had to go. I, luckily, was trapped in bench seating and he was at the head seat so he got up to help her. He took her to the bathroom, yanked her diaper down and *plop*, a nice present landed in his hand! For all the mothers out there you know what a moment this is! This is retribution for all the stinky diapers and throw up and runny noses we have ever had to clean up. I could barely choke out a "sorry honey" as the tears rolled down my face.
She has since mastered that aspect and though she still has an accident here and there, they are getting fewer and farther between and I am proud to say that I bought my last package of diapers!

Hi, remember me?

I'm the girl with the blog. I've been busy/lazy and not updating for - jeebus - one month! Sorry to my loyal 3 readers. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I missed my VA family as I nommed on dry turkey and strange yellow gravy. It tasted right but looked off. However, yellow gravy does not top the myserious green potatoes of '89. I can eat yellow gravy, I could not find it within myself to sample Nana's potatoes.

In the time between now and my last blog. We've been busy! The girls enjoyed trick-or-treating very much!

We went to a neighborhood that goes all out for the holiday and though many houses scared the crap out of poor Layla, many were like this Hollywood home - very cool! There was a Wizard of Oz house that was handing out full tins of hot chocolate mix. It was a lot of fun. Although Layla still complains about the monsters to this day.

In other news, they are preparing for Santa's arrival by studying toy catalogues and asking for different things everyday. Chuck prepared by cashing in extra leave hours and buying a huge a$$ TV! I have to admit, it is an awesome television and we have enjoyed it immensly. Especially when LOTR came on this weekend and Aragon was in 42" of high def!

So, we are all still alive and well. I will leave you with a Mia-ism. Last night we were driving home from my father-in-law's and Mia asked, "Mommy & Daddy, can you get me & Layla some stock bonds?"

Psychic Daughter: Part 3

Mia keeps displaying her amazing talents of clairvoyance. Please enjoy this conversation after a recent jewelry class she is taking at school:

Mia: I don't know why the teacher didn't get mad that I didn't do a pattern
Me: Well, you don't have to do a pattern, it's ok to do whatever you want; it's your necklace.
Mia:But she said to do the beads in a pattern but when she looked at mine, she didn't say anything.
Me:How about next week you make a pattern?
Mia: No, Layla doesn't like patterns
Me: How do you know that?
Mia: I can read her mind.

Foto Friday

A couple of weeks ago, my sister was in town. She's started a tradition of taking a photo of herself w/ my girls on each visit. They LOVE it!

More love for fall

Another thing to add to my list of fall loves - the sunsets. During Mia's soccer practices, Layla and I take walks around the soccer field. Last night I had to take her picture while the sun was setting. The lighting was just too perfect to resist!

The overalls she is wearing were a battle. They're pants. Layla didn't want to wear pants, she wanted to be a princess. So when the snaps came undone and I tried to fix them, she started yelling "No, don't fix them - I'm a princess!" Even at bedtime, I undid all the crotch snaps to change her diaper (come ON potty training!) and she insisted that not only do I leave them undone to give the illusion of them being a dress and thereby being worthy of a princess but that she wear the outfit to bed so she could sleep as a princess. I felt mildly justified this morning to see that she had shed them at some point during the night. Rogue snaps aren't so comfortable for princesses.

I Wii, You Wii, We Wii!

We had my family over for dinner last night since my sister was in town from VA. I decided to introduce her to Rock Band and Mia insisted that she teach her auntie how to hula hoop on the Fit. We haven't played with the Fit in over a month with the girls and I had forgotten how addicting it is. At 7am this morning they were both begging to hula hoop and yoga. Mia loves the yoga and I can't figure out why since I can barely tolerate yoga and only do it because I know it's good for me and I need to improve my posture and muscle tone.

So this morning we Wii'd until it was time for school. Layla is not heavy enough to hula hoop; it doesn't read her movements. So she just mimics on the side.

Doggy Do's and Doggy Don'ts

On Saturday we watched the UGA Bulldogs triumph over the Arizona State somethings. I don't pay that much attention really. But I put on a good front, wear my 'G' hat and deck the girls out in cute Dawg paraphernalia. On the way to the restaurant to watch the game, Mia & I tried to teach Layla the cheer for when the Dawgs kick off (or is it when they are receiving? I really should pay more attention.....) The cheer is "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! SICK 'EM! WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!" It's pretty awesome coming from a toddler. Layla wasn't getting it, she kept skipping the "sick 'em" part and going straight for the barking and who can blame her really? It is the most fun part when you think about it. When all of a sudden her eyes lit up and I thought, "she's got it!" She looked at me and started singing "Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof woof woofwoof!" Oh. Crap. How does she even know that song?! So that got Mia singing it and I was stuck with the world's worst ear worm! Until Chuck got to the car and gave me this:

Foto Friday

OMG the weather has been unbelievably gorgeous this week! We went out and bought some sidewalk chalk to celebrate and Mia created her own version of hopscotch - this one goes to 12, that's even better than 11.

Layla spent her evening blowing dandelions.

Who's bad?

This is Layla's "I'm being bad now mommy" face.

She tries really hard to be a cranky 2-year-old but it just makes her more adorable, I think. I may have mentioned it before but it's seriously like someone just informed her of the phrase "Terrible Two's" and so she feels she must play the part. She's starting to throw some temper tantrums but mostly she just scowls and says "I'm bad." But I know the truth.

Cheetahlicious? Really?

Last night we turned on the TV to relax before bed time. It was already on the Disney Channel since the girls had been watching Jo Jo's Circus or something that morning. The Cheetah Girls 2 was on. Gag gag gag. Much to my horror, Mia jumped up and said "Cheetah Girls?! Jennifer & I used to sing all their songs at school!" Wha wha what?! NO! We're too young for this debauchery. I timidly asked her, "So you want to watch this movie?" "YES!" and then she proceeded to dance around the room. Layla looked at me and said, "I want Elmo." Me too Layla. Me too.
Yesterday my friend Katie sent her daugther off to Kindergarten and cried her eyes out. I was about to do the same. My baby is growing up and God help me that seems to involve mind numbing, bad acting, cheap looking teen comedies. After about 5 minutes of the movie when I was trying to decide if I wanted to cry or vomit, Mia asked to watch "The Goodnight Show" which is a toddler focused program. And the heavens opened up, a light shown down on us, and life was normal again. I know it's just a stay of execution but I'll take it. I need all the time I can get.

Foto Friday

I have a dream that one day I will not have to change a diaper. As Layla fell asleep clutching her new Little Mermaid panties, I can only hope she had the same dream.

And on that fateful day when she gets it I will shout, free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I am free at last!

Filter: Not just for your cigarettes

Conversation at the gas station:

Random woman (with her son so I assume she's a fellow mother): Oh, look at her, she's so short. *points to Layla*

Me: Yeah, she's a tiny little thing.

Woman: Oh no, she's not tiny. She's just short. She's got big bones.

Me: Uh. Ok.

Thank you lady for saying I have a short "big boned" (code for fat to most people) daughter. Who does that?!

Foto Friday

I miss these little monkeys

Make a Wish

We introduced Layla to the wonders of making a wish on dandelion fuzz. She didn't quite get the hang of blowing but had fun with them anyway. The girl loves to pick flowers. I never have to pull weeds because she does it for me.