The Sassy One

the one with cake

2012-02-09T18:45:00.003-07:00

a short cake story, written for her birthday invitations.

Sister wasted no time digging into that baby, but she only truly appreciated the pure delight of all things sugary until bite three. And then she wanted to smear it all over the floor by crawling off. She was really quite thrilled when Jimmy helped her back to her position (this can be noted: bottom row, second picture from left).

I'm crossing off birthday things with good reason. My calendar is filling up quite rapidly with friend meet ups, weekends away, a Favorite Things party (part deux), photo sessions, and other miscellaneous social events. I haven't been this busy since college; I think I'm handling the social calendar well at this moment.

I had much needed time with a sweet friend this week - mind off of mundane daily things while getting things done in the same time span.

For now, I am nearly completely beside myself with giddy anticipation. Jimmy and I are going away for the weekend. Hockey games, food, shopping, and quiet time await. We have never left the kiddo (or kiddo!) to get away. I have never been away from Eisley overnight - my mom probably needs all of the prayers she can get for our little tornado....and for her sleep.

Me on the other hand? Not carrying a purse/diaper bag plus an actual twenty pound diaper bag, all whilst holding one heavy baby and practically dragging a toddler? Sleeping without interruption? Eating dinner while it's still hot? This might be my mom's initiation into the overnight thing.

I have ten tons of things to pack. Remember? I pack for the masses...just in case. Also, I'm allergic to packing until the day before. Or something.

Real quick Rubyism:

Last weekend, my mom and sister were playing cards. Ruby sat in my mom's lap and loudly said, "That's a lot of Qs!" Card games are no longer safe around her.

Also - Ruby has figured out how to operate the computer mouse - Reading Eggs has roped her in and held her attention for various word and letter activities.

And my first Eisleyisms (!!):

Today, Eisley found Ruby's Tag Reader and drug it over to the nearest book to make it work. (Impressed).

Also, coincidentally, I asked Eisley if she was precious. Without hesitation, she said, "Yeah."

weekend memories and Kahlua Lava Cake (oops).

2012-02-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, after some all-star procrastinating, I was frantically packing up things for the girls and I to stay overnight with my mom and sister. I can't figure out how two small people require so many things, but combining that with fleeting of thoughts of a possibly apocalypse happening, I like to be prepared. Because likely, extra burp cloths, outfit changes, and diapers will do a lot of good in a situation like that.

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time - we met my sister for shopping and a movie. We took Ruby to Beauty and the Beast in 3-D. It was mostly an excuse to eat my weight in extra buttery popcorn and candy, and to relive the magic of my eight year old self.

Prior to our fifteen minute wait in the theatre concessions, we had lunch at a place I know well. I can't say just how many times I ate there when I was pregnant with Ruby. It's embarrassing. The pretzel place in the mall, where workers all have holes the size of small people in their earlobes, and I'm never certain they have worked there for more than a day. Two toppings on the pretzels = massive confusion. The only table left in the entire food court was one of the fun size variety.

We found ourselves at Kohl's and eventually out for sushi - we had the best time!

After dinner, where Eisley generously decorated the floor with yakisoba noodles, we headed for Meredith's quaint college town for a girl's night in away from home. Cards, food, and a midnight order of pizza. Sock buns, puking baby, and teasing. It was much needed, and a night full of memories.

Post Starbucks run and Antique shopping full of many Um...wow? moments, we left for home, and shortly after found ourselves at such a fun Superbowl party, reminiscent of junior high where the boys are on one side, the girls on the other. Eisley was sort of less than thrilled that we weren't spending the entirety of the night in bed somewhere where she could have me to herself. I think I ate my weight in football truffles and sub sandwiches. Such a fun night with sweet friends.

Six interrupted hours of sleep caught up to me by midnight, when I started speaking deliriously and Jimmy insisted I go to sleep now!

I had to get up early, anyway, to try a new recipe. Is Kahlua Lava Cake not a suitable breakfast?

Kahlua Lava Cake

8 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 c. unsalted butter
3 eggs + 3 egg yolks
1/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Melt butter and chocolate chips in small saucepan, stirring often. As soon as the mixture is smooth, remove from heat and allow to cool. Place the three whole eggs and three egg yolks in mixer with sugar - mix on high for about eight minutes.

Prepare six ramekins with oil and flour - place on a cookie sheet.

Add vanilla extract and cooled chocolate. Gently add flour in increments.

Fill each ramekin about half full - place in preheated oven for 7 minutes. You can place whatever treat you'd like in the semi-done cakes - I used Hershey's Drops because I can't stop eating them and knew they'd add an extra chocolate element in my cakes. Use chocolate chips, white chocolate, caramel candies, kisses, etc. Or do nothing at all!

Place back in the oven for 6-7 additional minutes. Pull each dish out and allow to cool.

Kahlua Chocolate Sauce
1 c. whipping cream, divided
1/2 c. granulated sugar
8 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips
4 tbsp. Kahlua

Bring 1/2 c. whipping cream and the sugar to a boil in a small pan. When it is boiling, add chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Remove from heat, and add the remaining 1/2 c. of whipping cream. Stir in the Kahlua. The Kahlua is definitely an added flavor - feel free to skip if if you prefer.

Make a slight indent in the top of each cake - serve with the hot chocolate sauce.

Eat for breakfast - it will definitely start your day off on the right foot.

Dear Eisley

2012-02-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

Love Bug,

I have no idea how it's even possible to be writing your second to last monthly letter, but here we are. Eleven months old - it seems so much longer and so much shorter at the same time. I have said several times in your short little life that I have no doubt you have been in my heart forever. I feel like your smile has always been a part of me; the way you light up when you see someone you know seems so familiar.

You are all over the place. You aren't walking, but you have mastered pulling up and do so on anything. You cruise furniture and think about standing without assistance, but you're not quite ready. You have mastered crawling the stairs which is a frightening experience...right along with you standing up in the bathtub. You are going to give your sister (and my heart) a run for her money.

You are a go-getter. You have bruises and bumps and scratches from tables and floors getting in your way. Had you told me six months ago you wouldn't be walking by now, I wouldn't have believed you. It has actually been funny to see a little bit of nervousness show up in you - this has happened around Ama and Papa's big dogs, when I sit you on the counter, or when you stand by yourself with nothing near to hold onto.

It probably won't be funny forever, but you make me laugh when you know you shouldn't be doing something. You smile a knowing smile and continue to do it or you crawl away giggling as I chase after you.

Your sister elicited so many reactions when you lived in my belly - that trend continues. You love your sister, you live for the moments that she plays with you and includes you, and you love to wrestle with her. You're lucky she's overly tolerant and blessed in the patience department, because she probably has half as much hair as she could have. We're still working on the whole be gentle! thing.

You recently said your first word: "Hi!" complete with a wave. You also say "dog" with meaningful purpose. You make sounds like "Da Da" but I'm not convinced they're connected to Dad. That, or I'm in denial.

You are still deciding whether or not you should make any kind of transition to table food. You continue to nurse like a three month old, so anything else is considered extra and generally a source of entertainment (throwing at the dogs or massaging into your face). True to your genetic form, you love you some carbs. You like noodles and we have recently discovered how much you love cinnamon or other flavored breads. You also like string cheese, pears, yogurt, oatmeal, and dried fruits. Tooth number seven made its appearance this week - I love your gap-toothed, dimpled grin almost as much as I love you.

You are not quite as snuggly and still as your sister was or continues to be, but you sure prefer to be held closely while you sleep. I wouldn't have it any other way - falling asleep beside your steady breathing and waking up to your grins are some of my favorite moments. Sleep was a rare commodity around here for the first ten months of your life; dare I say that you are becoming sort of good at it now? You aren't sleeping through the night by any means, but the sound of a flipped light switch no longer wakes you either. Holding you while I attempt to do other things is satisfying to you, you have always loved to see all that I am doing - we are still quite thankful for babywearing which allows for multitasking. You continue to be very touch oriented and would prefer to have me as close to you as often as possible.

You are very into bath time with Ruby - I think you two would play in there for an entire day if I allowed it. As it is, you usually play in there until the water turns cool and your fingers and toes are completely wrinkled.

Other favorite pastimes include opening drawers and cabinets and flinging things out, reading books, playing with all of big sister's toys which are naturally much more fun than your own (games and puzzles, and markers, mostly), petting Pippi (smacking, really), being sung to, tearing up things at record speed, coloring on the magnadoodle.

You have next to no patience. You don't like to waiting for snacks, waiting to be picked up, or being told no. You despise having things retrieved from your mouth, and you are not a huge fan of having your diaper changed - you'll tolerate it with me and scream with Daddy.

You are a momma's girl through and through, and while it's rather endearing most of the time, I would looove to be able to leave the room without you screaming your disapproval.

One year ago, I was beyond anxious to meet you, to know you, to love you with all of my heart. I couldn't have pictured our future, our lives with you, or the way our lives were about to change. You are such a light to us, and continue to just fit with our family. We love you - your bold yells, the way you so obviously like to perform for others, the way you love your sister, your zest for life and discovery.

Life is precious with you in it, sweet girl.

XOXO,
Momma

of hearty marshmallows

2012-02-02T11:37:00.006-07:00

Groundhog day, Puxatony Phil sees his shadow, promising six more weeks of winter. Ironically, it begins to snow today - something we haven't been accustomed to this winter.

Good thing I have these festive marshmallows to dump into hot chocolate while I continue to snuggle two sick girls and get nothing else accomplished.

Pinterest fueled my desire to try homemade marshmallows - I finally got around to it last fall, and continued experimenting yesterday. Yesterday nearly killed my KitchenAid.

I used to give Jimmy such a hard time for his love for Alton Brown, but the man knows his stuff. I have grown used to his quirkiness and embraced his knowledge for various recipes - I have never been disappointed.

He explains marshmallows in a video and easy to follow recipe here. You will never buy marshmallows again!

Daring to be different, I replaced the vanilla with peppermint extract...and things got a little tricky. This stuff is seriously sticky. I sprayed nonstick spray on my hands and found that to be the best way to spread the marshmallows into my prepared pan. Because I wanted them to be a swirly festive pink for Valentine's Day, I didn't add the food coloring in the mixer. I used my hands and barely kneaded it before pressing down evenly.

After they sat for several hours, I cut them into heart shapes.

Conclusion:

Peppermint marshmallows = serious love

Heart-shaped peppermint marshmallow = irresistible

My kitchen = not suitable for company

You can bet I'll be trying s'mores with these. Chocolate and peppermint can do no wrong in my eyes.

---

Just as I imagined.

oh hi, February...and cracker candy

2012-02-01T22:09:00.001-07:00

it's a dog's life...with a full mini bar and three foot tall waitress

Seriously with the sickness again? This episode of The Sick has swung by with its best friends; moody children, night terrors, throwing up from coughing, and as you can likely imagine, little to no sleep for mom.

Was all that mediocre-but-far-better-than-usual sleep a joke, January?

good thing I love baby snuggles and messy houses. Er..

You know Eisley is sick when she is more still than she was at the size of a poppyseed in utero. That, and it doesn't take thirty minutes of nursing gymnastics, rocking, and other methods of shushing to get her to sleep, but rather, she crashes sitting up.

Tooth number seven is here, finally. Waiting on the eighth and then we get to jump into the molar party? Yessss. More restless sleep.

Eisley said, "Hiii!" last night. She added a wave to hers, while repeating after me, so I'm fairly certain she knows precisely what it means. She continues to say "Da-da-da-dadddd" and vehemently refuses to say anything beginning with an Mmm sound; she actually goes so far as saying "Daa" when I request otherwise. I know how I rate around here.

I have a faux fur vest and faux fur boots waiting in the wings for sister's eleven month photos; we are now waiting on sick eyes, rosy cheeks, and church chair inflicted bruising to disappear.

There is big city talk around here. The big city!!

My planner is filling up at a pace that makes me equal parts excited and anxious. So many things to look forward to, so many things that take up time.

Heart-shaped peppermint marshmallows made a smoldering entrance into our household today. That, and cracker candy, which should just be called crack candy. A)I'm in serious denial about "baby weight" (can I still call it that?) and B) I have a baking addiction, and love trashing my kitchen every single day, and C) Weight Watcher's is great with results but dieting is just not for me. Neither is lifestyle changing.

Rubyisms:

The other night, in a sleep talking revelation, Jimmy rolled Ruby over to put her in her bed, and she loudly announced, "But, I know my ABCs!" She gets the whole talking in her sleep genes from me as Jimmy was quick to remind me.

Ruby is very into making excuses as to why she can't eat her dinner. Once she told me that her grandpa told her she didn't have to, but the other day she said, "But I ate dinner yesterdaaaaaaaay." Funny thing about dinner...they happen every day.

---

Okay, the cracker candy (crack). I'm really sorry, but I have to share the joy. This is the easiest candy you'll ever make. I like instant gratification - this is okay with me.

Cracker Candy
1 package of saltine crackers
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 c. chocolate chips
1 c. white chocolate chips
1 c. finely chopped almonds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a jelly roll pan with tin foil; squeeze as many saltines as you can on there (I used about one sleeve of crackers). This is the hardest part of this candy...not including the waiting to eat it.

Melt the butter and brown sugar in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, start a three minute timer, and continue to stir. Remove from heat, pour over the crackers; spread to even. Place in preheated oven for five minutes.

Pour all chips over top of the caramel layer. Allow to sit for a minute or two, and then spread with a spatula - don't be afraid to spread until all chips are completely melted as this won't disrupt the caramel layer.

Top with almonds; gently smash them into the chocolate with a spatula.

Chill in fridge (freezer if you are totally impatient like me) for three hours. Break into pieces.

Store them in the fridge.

Don't blame me when you eat it all.

apple doughnuts

2012-01-31T20:09:00.002-07:00

I love a good doughnut. Actually, I love all doughnuts. I have a certain affinity for all things carby; frosted or streuseled, and I have zero self control. Throw in a mini doughnut pan, and the scale starts playing hide and go seek.

Seriously, what is with the attraction to miniature desserts?

I couldn't completely discriminate; I made regular-sized doughnuts too. And sampled plenty of both.

Awhile back, I made apple streusel muffins and accidentally ate ten of them. I turned them into mini doughnuts. Big doughnut instructions follow; I hate to discriminate.

Apple Streusel Mini Doughnuts

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c. shredded apple

Streusel Topping
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients in small bowl. Beat together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour mixture. Stir in apples.

In separate bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In your greased mini doughnut pan, fill each ring about 1/3 of the way full (I find this easiest by using a plastic bag to pipe it in). Top with streusel.

Bake for 4-6 minutes and allow to sit for several minutes in the pan after pulling them from the oven. Cool on wire rack.

For bigger doughnuts, topped with a cinnamon glaze:

Using the same batter, fill each place in your regular doughnut pan about half full. Bake at 425 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Doughnuts should spring back when touched.

Remove from the pan and allow to cool.

Cinnamon Glaze
1/4 c. milk
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Dip each doughnut in the glaze.

Valentine's Day Whoopie Pies

2012-01-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

If there were ever a world's cutest baby, I'd have to say it'd be the offspring of Red Velvet and Whoopie Pie, which also happen to be one of my oldest best friends and my newest best friends - where have you been all of my life, whoopie pie obsession?

I got the cutest little whoopie pie pan for Christmas, but I decided these festive circles of GLEE! needed to be the gigantic versions. Plus, bigger whoopie pies means more frosting, which means more surface for sprinkles. And because clearly, I have the excitability of a five year old...that matters.

If you don't have whoopie pie pans, don't you worry your pretty little head - these are very simple to do with parchment paper, a cookie sheet, and an ice cream scoop.

Also? I may have sinned by leaving the cream cheese frosting out of this (I know, I know!) but the cream filling meant for traditional whoopie pies begs to be made every single time I see the marshmallow fluff in my pantry!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. butter, unsalted (room temperature)
1 c. granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. buttermilk
1 tbsp + 1 tsp. red food coloring.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Cream butter in stand mixer, until smooth. Add sugar, mixing until smooth, and then add egg and vanilla.

Place red food coloring in buttermilk and stir.

With your mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk.

If you have a whoopie pie pan, grease well, and fill the reservoirs about half full. If you are using an ice cream scoop or just a tablespoon, place a heaving tablespoon amount on your parchment paper lined cookie sheet, two inches apart (they spread!)

Bake for 6-8 minutes in your preheated oven.

Cool your pies on a wire rack.

Filling

1 cup salted butter, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 cup marshmallow creme

2 teaspoons vanilla

Cream butter in your mixer; gently add the sugar in two additions. Add the marshmallow creme, and then the vanilla.

When pies are completely cool, pipe your filling onto one half and place the top on. You don't have to pipe but the filling is very thick and the cakes like to crumble - I find it easier. And you can just take a plastic bag and snip one of the corners - no one sees your piping job!

Sprinkle with festive pieces if you insist.

the perfect cookie

2012-01-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last summer, I found a picture circulating on Pinterest - it was a way to determine what you were doing wrong with your cookies based on various flopped appearances. I was fairly skeptical because if a cookie tastes good, I don't consume myself with how ugly it is.

Boy, was I wrong. I decided to start the Easter cookies a little early this year (oh, how I love a good deep freeze), and these cookies were probably the best I have ever made. Several of the steps found here are quite different than the steps I normally take.

As it turns out, I have been too light on the flour for all of these years. High altitude might have played a roll in this.

Go make them - you won't be sorry.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. unsalted butter (one stick), room temperature
1/2 c. Crisco
2 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar (I used dark; they call for golden brown)
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (I used M&Ms)

Mix the butter and the crisco together using the wire whisk attachment - mix for a few minutes. While that's combining in your stand mixer, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.

Change to the paddle attachment. Add sugars to the butter mixture until well incorporated. Add eggs and vanilla.

Add the chocolate chips/other candy, and mix. Gently add the flour mixture and leave mixer on just until you no longer see white flecks - do NOT overmix.

Now touch the dough - it shouldn't stick to your finger (who knew?!) If it is still sticky, add a bit more flour (2 tbsp). When the dough is ready, roll into 1 or 1.5" balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place the chilled cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet, three inches apart. I stuck additional pieces of candy on the tops of mine, because I like the look. And I like candy. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until they are just slightly golden.

Leave them on the pan for an additional couple of minutes after pulling them out - cool them on a wire rack.

I heard this trick awhile back - keep some balls of frozen cookie dough in the freezer in the case of unexpected guests or a fall back dessert. They are easy to pull out and stick in the oven with no mess and no work!

of scents and shopping

2012-01-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

The brilliantly random painted walls, the hippie-esque feel, the collected witty bumper stickers. The smell, oh the delicious smell wafting to the street. I had a much-needed day out with my precious Ruby. We delivered coffee to Jimmy and my mom at their respective work places.

And then we stopped at our local natural bath and body shop - overwhelmed with so much variety, we picked up a little bit of everything in there.

I had a cleansing of sorts today. And I did it. After over four years, I was able to let go of my nearly full bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance. Other than you believing that to be a thoughtless waste - it was something I did with tears streaming. I got that for Christmas in 2007 and wore it every single day until January 6th when I lost our baby. Smells are a sensitive nostalgia-triggering sentiments for me; always have been. That smell, though making me sick with sadness, was something I held onto as if it were the last remaining physical connection to my baby. I knew exactly what it smelled like, but haven't opened that bottle or even touched it since that day. I opened it today. And because I knew I cannot possibly ever wear it again despite my hopes to be less sensitive to it with the passing of time - I threw it away. The fragrant notes are etched in my mind and nose in a punishing way.

--

In much less disheartening news, I accidentally found KnitPicks.com. Then I accidentally found the most delicious rainbow yarn. And then I accidentally filled my cart with other yarn of the softest variety. It was in my best interest for the free shipping. Then I accidentally submitted my order. The end.

I have decided that when I can shop from my home, things become dangerous. But when you can shop from your phone - in the comfort of your bed! - well, then things get ridiculously sticky. And regrettably comfortable...or uncomfortable, perhaps, if you are the wallet.

Also, accidentally, I ordered thirteen boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Unfortunately, Girl Scout cookies are not officially endorsed by Weight Watchers.

Neither are chocolate chip cookies that call my name from the kitchen.

What a shame.

of glee-filled things

2012-01-23T17:31:00.006-07:00

The carafe is filling for the first time today; it's nearly 5:00. I long to sit in front of a fireplace watching fluffy flurries hurry past windows, in quiet company of my snuggled girls and a book, maybe a crochet hook or two. The only evidence of any winter is the remnants of a snow piled by the plow in a random corner of the neighbor's yard.

Instead, we busy ourselves with scissoring our way through hundreds of pieces of construction paper, eating cinnamon raisin bread pretzels, baking, and playing game after game of Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. Books on tape have become a new obsession as they allow for some multitasking at an all time serious high for me (with two small children underfoot). Evidence of paper cutting, felt ornamenting, wreath creating, and picture taking lie in heaps around our bedroom. That, and my unfounded fear of laundry being something similar to lethal, showcased with a rapidly reproducing pile of clean laundry.

Much to my dismay, Eisley has mastered the stairs. With promises of toddling in her near future, she has figured out how to pull herself up on anything, including the fridge and the knobs of various kitchen drawers. Some part of me longs to put her down every time she does this, because how can my teenytinybaby! be this big already? Soon, she'll be running with her sister. Tooth number seven is working on making an upcoming appearance, and my sleep has hardly taken a hit. (Can I get an AMEN! of epic intensity?) I knew when she was still turning breech daily at thirty-seven weeks gestation, that she would be the one to master the way to stop my heart at regular intervals throughout her life; standing up in the bathtub would be one of those instances.

We have jumped into the chapter book pool with a splash of delighted laughter and excitement about "that big giant"; Ruby applauds Roald Dahl's The BFG nearly as much as she praises her daddy's giant impersonations. I'm not sure how we are in the land of chapter books already; time continues to yank me along. Ruby was in the 50th percentile for weight and height at her three year checkup last week. She passed her vision test using the shape chart, and she got a shot in the arm with the much anticipated sticker (bandaid) and sucker as an overshadowing reward.

current little bits of joy:

★ hearing Ruby introduce her lego people as Mr. Ruby to the other lego people.

★ morning baby snuggles

★ MY SLEEP

★ Hershey's milk chocolate drops

★ all things owl

★ watching my babies play together in their tiny pink kitchen of the vintage variety

★ house dreaming and the obsessive pinning that is required to go along with it
★ red wagon walks around the neighborhood
★ Eisley's kisses and her subsequent proud grin
★ in constant pursuit of nerdy word games, Scramble with Friends has become a mild obsession
★ pint-sized faux fur boots

Jimmy and Ruby had an imaginary pinata in the house - a ribbon blindfold and leftover Halloween candy. Ruby could have done it for hours.

a tall cookie tale

is this crazy?? This morning, this picture repeated itself after nearly eleven months. Unreal.

phone photo roundup

sea days (part 5)

2012-01-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

Coming in at exactly a month after this actually happened; post holidays and with two children under food, I'm going to consider this a small miracle. As it turns out, I'm still packing cruise weight, so the timing seems perfectly relevant.

The last two days of our weeklong cruise were spent at sea. There was something wrong with the stabilizer during our day in Jamaica; I was hoping they'd have to wait a week or so for the part to be flown in, extending our cruise or something. No such luck.

So instead, we spent a lot of time at the pool, eating copious amounts of frozen yogurt (Ruby loved the poolside, self serve yogurt), playing mini golf on the top deck, and eating. Eating. And a little more eating.

Also, Meredith and I turned the life jackets into runway statements. Or something.

doughnuts were a daily breakfast treat; for Ruby, it was more like chocolate frosting for breakfast.

I have the cutest mom in the world, doing cruise dance routines like a professional.

dining room staff

Jimmy eats four lobster tails just for his entree.

Uncle Corey entertains the girls with his funny tricks.

The start of Ruby acting slightly famous with photo ops around the table:

That chocolate thing? Heaven. It tasted like solid hot fudge. I didn't have a bad thing all week but that sticks out (among escargot, strawberry pavlova, fruit soups, and Berrymisu)

It should be noted that the following pictures are positively not the result of any alcoholic beverages. Scout's honor. We're just that cool.

Meredith was the only one in our group solo. Here she is with her invisiboyfriend.

Towel Monkey

sister bug had her fill of cheese and assorted carbs (bread! and noodles) and fresh fruit

doughnut, after Ruby got ahold of it.

On the last day, they did a cooking demonstration on the pool deck. This German chef was really fun to watch - they made seafood and chicken paella. Yum.

There was a fun parade in the promenade before dinner, but regardless of how much we shook Ruby and promised her a near future full of sparkly people and confetti, she just couldn't keep her eyes peeled. And the week caught up with her - she slept for about three hours, straight through dinner.

Ronnie is behind the American Flag, and MJ is on the left side of it, in the front.

We returned from the comedy show to pack and toss our stuff out the door (this was tricky with two little ones who require lots of belongings and just in case things)

We went to the late night comedy show and came home and crashed. The last night is always so sad. Mostly because I knew we were coming home where I was the stateroom attendant, the cook, and the entertainment.

The disembarking and customs process was rather painless, thankfully. We made it back to Houston, said goodbye to Eric and Megan, who stayed in Houston for one last night, and then went through the airport. Exciting moment for me: Jenny Finch and her sweet little family were right behind us going through security (you didn't know I was a softball girl did you?)

After a traumatizing visit with Mr. Clause himself, we made it to our gate.

Then said goodbye to Uncle Corey and Genny.

I have no idea how parents flew with little children before iPods.

It was really rude to come into single digit weather after a week in the eighties.

I'm figuring out the next soonest cruise. Europe?

life.

2012-01-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cruise entries and Christmas-related things have stalled my normal blogging appearances and my girls seem to be making the most enormous growing strides in life. One little sits beside me, tossing countless pieces of food to the floor. The other little sleeps late after the big Broncos letdown last night.

Monday night, unwinding before bed, found my brain running on overdrive. The thought of referring to my baby in terms of a year rather than months is coming in six short weeks. Ordering owl things of all shapes, sizes, and colors commenced promptly, and I feel slightly better about the birthday itself. The emotional side of it all won't be conquered that easily, but I'm learning to embrace life at it's energetic speed.

Maybe it's because I watch Ruby in such awe. She has taken imaginative play to a whole new level. She writes words, spells things out loud, and counts things in her sight. I will never tire of her little voice so gleefully saying, "Good morning, Eisley!" Every single morning. The smallest of things elicit a thrill from her - so humbling. The kid would color, paint or otherwise craft all day long if I let her. With a request to go to the park too. Her drawing skills are unreal to me.

a giraffe - sometimes she says she doesn't know how; Jimmy and I have gotten into the habit of asking her what parts something has; as she lists them off, she finds she is able to draw them. This was one of those times, but her drawing was done completely on her own.

Eisley has turned a corner in the sleeping world; as it turns out, all it takes for her to sleep in is to overstimulate her until midnight. This sleeping revelation hasn't come a moment too soon given that the bags under my eyes are likely permanent by now.

squeeeCURLS!

Sometimes I can't believe it. I sit next to both of them and can't believe they're mine. I can't believe that I'm a mother. I can't believe that parenthood is so fun, so rewarding, so daunting and utterly terrifying.

Blessings abound; I'm so very thankful for my family. For my life. Fast as it may be.

Things I learned this week:

Bad football games are bad on the wallet. As much as I adore Tebow, the Broncos game warranted erratic shopping behavior and I bought faux fur boots on ebay for Eisley.

I can beat the husband at darts. I'm even better at darts when he taunts me.

Making cards or the attempt of anything productive with two children is nearly impossible. One should be awarded with copious amounts of cookies if anything at all is accomplished under these circumstances.

Ruby singing made up songs about Tebow is one of the cutest things ever.

Rubyisms:

Ruby shouts in her sleep, "I'm SO TIIIRED."

From the bathroom, Ruby yells, "Moo-ooom, my bottom is wet. My poop splashed." TMI, Rubes. T.M.I.

As she slid down the stairs at my Mom and Dad's house, she said, "Is this a good idea?"

She got to ride the "CRACKER!" to plow snow with Papa. (tractor).

Should you have something Ruby might want, prepare to hear, "You can share if you want." And really, you have no choice after such a profoundly cute statement.

During this bath together, Ruby said, "Me and Eisley are best friends." I hope they are best friends always. Hearing laughter come from the two of them is one of the most special sounds in the world.

two words

2012-01-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

TIM TEBOW.

smile, mon (part 4)

2012-01-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

Falmouth, Jamaica - it was pronounced Fal-myth and Fal-mouth; the second one holds true for some of the vendors there, so that's what I'm sticking to.

We stepped off of the ship after breakfast of champions (not Wheaties, fyi) and were greeted with three people on stilts in all of their patriotic clothing (read: traps for tourists with cameras and money). Before I knew it, he had picked Ruby up and out of sheer determination to get her down from 10 feet in the air, I snapped a photo, threw five dollars at him, and left. She did end up with a balloon animal which she dutifully carried around with her for the remainder of the day.

For the record, Jamaican people really do say Mon after everything. They also say things like No worries, Be Happy, and No Problem. Also, blonde haired, blue eyed little girls are apparently not common - Ruby got more attention than a celebrity while we were there, and we were told numerous times about how beautiful she was (and that we should take great care of her). Eisley used our day in Jamaica to catch up on sleep, where she took the best nap of her life and woke up happy as a rastafarian.

We walked in and out of a few shops before finding a marketplace where the vendors were crafting hats, wood carvings, dolls, and various Bob Marley tribute memorabilia.

Here is where we made a huge wrong turn. We walked down this walk with information boards about Falmouth.

I could have sworn I saw many touristy people and very fun shops back that way, but the minute we stepped across the street, the walls closed in and we felt very uncomfortable. I couldn't see anything except for the four Jamaican guys in our faces wanting us to a) take a bus, b)buy some marijuana, c)start his morning off right (I didn't dare figure out just what he meant by this), or d) buy some hand-carved wooden rattles that miraculously went up in price after he carved them.

We made up some line about returning to our ship immediately due to cranky children (small white lie), paid for the Love for Eva rattles and hightailed it out of there.

We went back to the jerk chicken stand (yuuuum), where we tried that and some festival bread (think corn bread breadsticks; amazing), and it was here Eisley conked out for the afternoon.

We headed back to the marketplace to wander leisurely.

Blue Mountain Coffee frappucino and latte = total heaven.

When I took this guy's picture (I need a picture of a legitimate Jamaican man with the dreads and the hat), he asked me to take a picture with him, then proceeded to hand me a political card with him and Barack Obama. We couldn't decide if it was photoshopped or not. And I still have no idea who he is.

Remember the part about people going crazy over Ruby?

We bought cokes from a small little cart on the outside of the square (where they play extremely loud music and encourage the tourists to embarrass themselves), and these people played with Ruby and gushed over her for a good ten minutes. High fives, dancing, laughter, and they even fixed her balloon animal.

To go along with her balloon friend, Ruby got a doll very similar to one I had when I was little. She's reversible, and Ruby loves her.

After a few souvenir purchases, we bought a coconut because a) we're tourists and b) I have never had coconut water. It was..interesting. Not what I would have imagined. Good, overall.

We never ventured to this part of the island (after the lesson venturing taught us earlier in the day), but this is a view from the top deck of the ship.

We had a fun, relaxing day in Falmouth. Looking back, I would probably have taken a bus to Montego Bay, because hellooo? I can't believe we were that close and didn't go see it.

the one with the little phyllo cups

2012-01-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

I'm still carbin' it up over here; I'm covering lost Christmas cookie ground now that I'm home and surrounded by innocent ingredients.

I had this phyllo dough in the freezer; after some searching around for various things I had in mind, I decided to wing in and put together a summery appetizer.

So easy, and so good.

I used one roll of phyllo dough (let it thaw first) - I cut it into squares to fit my mini muffin pan. I greased my muffin pan and placed three layers of dough into each cup. I brushed the tops with a bit of butter before placing them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes - they should be just golden brown around the edges.

One rough of dough easily made 48 mini cups.

Then I made lemon curd which I have been known to make before and eat by the spoonful. I added a packed of unflavored gelatin to make it slightly more jello-like, so it would hold it's form.

Then I put a spoonful in each cup, topped with a quartered strawberry and proceeded to eat about seventeen of them. At least they're mini versions.

The lemon curd can be kept for future consumption in the fridge - ice cream, cookies, cheesecake, by the spoonful. The possibilities are endless.

cheesy garlic buffalo rolls

2012-01-09T15:31:00.001-07:00

I have eaten more carbs in the last twenty four hours than I should probably have consumed in all of 2012. Clearly, my body has a carb deficiency; it would be wrong to deprive it of its obvious needs.

Remember when I poured my heart out regarding all things buffalo-flavored? I can't tell you how many times I have made that bread after coming up with an amazing combination of three of the best things on earth.

This time, I found a way to put it all into a cute little roll (rosette if you want to be accurate; however buffalo rosettes seems like an oxymoron).

Bread machine recipe, which means no painful kneading! Place these ingredients in your machine (in this order) and put it on the dough cycle:

Place ingredients in order that they appear:

1 1/4 cup warm water
3 Tbsp. hot sauce (I used Frank's wing sauce)
3 Tbsp. ranch dressing
3 cups of flour (I added an additional 3/4 cup after the kneading cycles, so 3 3/4 altogether)
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 cloves of garlic
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

When the bread machine has finished, take your dough out, punch it down, and place in a greased bowl. Flip dough once and cover; allow to rise for about an hour. If dough seems sticky, add additional flour.

After dough has nearly doubled in size, split it in two and divide each section into 10 rolls. Roll each section into an eight inch rope.

Tie a knot in the middle.

Then take one end of the knot and wrap it underneath the roll, and the other end on top of it. Slightly pinch the two ends together in the middle of the roll.

Place on greased baking sheets, cover and allow to rise for an additional thirty minutes. In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 degrees, and melt 1 tablespoon of butter.

Brush rolls with butter, place in preheated over, and bake for 12-14 minutes.

Serve with buffalo spread (it makes the roll!):

Whipped Buffalo Cheddar Butter:

1/3 cup butter or margarine; use your preferred bread-buttering spread
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon buffalo sauce

Whip together using hand mixer.

If you consider butter to be its own food group like I do, then double this recipe.

I'm sorry to your waist ahead of time.

white chocolate cranberry biscotti

2012-01-08T14:57:00.003-07:00

Okay, I have to say I have always sort of had this problem with biscotti. I don't like dry cookies; why should I have to dip this biscuit into my tea (coffee)?

After playing around with various ratios, I have finally come up with something I can eat all the time, liquid dipping assistant or not.

Have you heard of the food processor for pie crusts and cutting in butter? It will be your new best friend.

Gather 2 3/4 cups flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 3 teaspoons baking powder, and a teaspoon of salt - toss that in your food processor with one cup of cold butter. You can also cut your butter in with a fork or pastry blender.

Mix one egg with one cup of heavy whipping cream in a separate bowl, and then add to your food processor, while turned on. Continue until everything is just combined, then stop.

Pull out the mixture and add 1 cup of dried cranberries and 1/2 cup white chocolate chips- fold in by gently kneading a couple of times.

Shape mixture into flattened loaf, and cut into 1/2 inch slices.

Place slices on greased cookie sheet, leaving two inches of space between each one.

Place in preheated 350 degree oven for 18-22 minutes - don't over bake them, or they will end up dry and crunchy.

The end result is such a buttery, nice combination of flavors that I don't have any left. And I didn't have to dip any of them.

White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, chunked

1 egg

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter using food processor or pastry blender. Combine egg and whipping cream in a separate bowl, and then add to dry mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not over mix!

Place mixture onto cutting board, place cranberries and white chocolate chips in the middle and knead just slightly to combine. Shape into flattened loaf and slice into half inch pieces.

Place onto greased cookie sheet, leaving plenty of space between slices.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes. Don't over bake!

under the sea (only not really) (part 3)

2012-01-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

Grand Cayman. Land of British accents and chickens. I briefly wondered if chickens were held as some holy entity until I watched two roosters waltz right by a boldly advertised chicken butchering establishment.

The last time Georgetown, Grand Cayman was a cruise destination, the waters were too rough to be tendered into port. Eisley fell asleep on the tender boat, despite the wind and the water across our faces. Our first stop was a cute candy shop, where Ruby chose two lollipops, and we found some of our favorite Japanese candy. Jimmy soon realized his sunglasses were left on the ship - nice excuse for some shopping, huh? He's learning quickly from me.

We shopped at a few shops along the ocean before heading off for our excursion.

We drove along on the wrong side of the road, with the driver on the wrong side of the car, and with people standing scary close to the side of the road - but driving along Seven Mile Beach was gorgeous.

We ended up here:

And directly across the street, we found ourselves here:

I'm sure I have Dora or Diego to thank for Ruby's dream of swimming with dolphins. I have to hand it to her - she pegged the timing. From the time I told her we would be going on a big ship, she kept insisting we would be swimming with dolphins. We found a great deal where she and Jimmy could do it together and I could watch.

As it turned out, I had an incredibly feisty baby, and I briefly contemplated feeding her to that lizard. Instead, she shrieked and yelled and made the the video camera of the lady next to me (sorry for that unexpected souvenir).

Ruby and Jimmy swam with a dolphin named Alegria. They pet her, waved to her (she talked in response), fed her, danced with her, played ball with her, and kissed her. And she even took Jimmy for a ride at the end of the day.

By some miracle, both kids fell asleep on the bus back to the dock. We pretended to be on a secluded island sans children with a trip to the most amazing gelato place I have ever been to - we had wedding cake, mediterranean sea salted caramel and chocolate hazelnut.

And then it started raining and we had to get on the last tender boat.

We went for dinner, where I ordered multiple appetizers, main dishes, and desserts (fine, this wasn't the only night; I did that every night). There wasn't a show on this night, so we spent time after dinner playing cribbage and then we went to the Love and Marriage game show (so fun).

not planned; the stroller just spices things up a bit.

model faces.

the fourth year.

2012-01-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Four years ago; a lifetime
I have never felt so empty;
An emptiness I haven't known since,
but one that hasn't completely disappeared
and one I most certainly won't forget

It's impossible not to wonder
Who you would have been
Who you would have favored
How our lives would be different

It seemed so unfair
We struggled to understand
The pain isn't any easier
but despite the heartache,
we were blessed again.

Your flame dances brightly as I know you do
And despite the inability to see through the tears,
I know you are nearby,
and so does the hole in my heart

You were too good for Earth,
we think of you as our angel
and we will always consider you ours.
Until we meet again, dear one.

More here.

kid free.

2012-01-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

I'm making my list and checking it twice. And I'm sure to forget something. Still. But I can't be bothered to be annoyed, because I'm about to run errands sans children. If you see someone grabbing things in Target and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, it's because I can't figure out what it's like to shop without feeling like a) you're going for a record time, b) you're an entertainment show for the littlest tot and c) everyone is staring.

Nonetheless...sushi and a movie, plus shopping? There's a chance I will accidentally not make it home at a decent hour; I'm not sure I remember what it's like to leisurely shop or eat. Forget the fact that I may fall asleep by 6:00 given the amount of vomit and tossing and turning last night. For the record: potato soup did not please baby's tummy.

In other random news - I have never seen something as cute as my mom playing with new iBestFriend. Tetris on her iPhone on the couch = classic. Also cute? My sweet as pie Grandma calling me this morning to tell me thanks again for her Christmas gifts, as she was eating part of it.

The ABCs have become quite the theatrical sensation around here - sometimes opera like, and sometimes just plain rap. Always with a RUFF! at the end to match the style of the song. Ruby has also started writing all of her letters and doing connect the dot activities this week. I love that I can be here to watch her putting all of these pieces together - I have two amazing little girls.

Can you tell which of my children is most likely to sit still and be clothed (well, decent)?

Also...Grand Cayman cruise entry coming soon (unless I decide Target by myself is so wonderful I move there).

wordless wednesday: cousins

2012-01-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

For the record:

Five kids, three and under? Pictures are nearly impossible. (You should have seen the circus; spotters, entertainers, and photographers).

Also, I have the cutest little God children ever, festively adorned in Christmas jammies beside my own two.

Dear Eisley

2012-01-03T18:55:00.001-07:00

Peanut,

Happy ten months! You celebrated your first double digit birthday by sleeping until 9:30 which is something I consider a miracle of giant proportion. You have been going to be slightly later than you used to, and you are beginning to learn that your two naps a day are a great thing.

You have now been in this crazy world longer than it took to grow you - that it sort of mind blowing. Ironically, this seems to be the month when you have blossomed the most - seemingly, all of the pieces have started being fit together and you are becoming quite expressive.

It's so strange to see you with a mouthful of teeth! You use your little chompers primarily for eating dog food at the moment. I try to keep you out of there, yet I think you are there at least once a day. I can't figure out why dog food is so appealing when you can't be bothered to eat much else (except for microscopic pieces on the floor). You have tried several things this month, and you to appear to be broadening your horizons, but you'd much rather throw your food on the floor. You do enjoy cheese and pasta - something we are quite familiar with in this house. You also like bread and other things you can feed yourself.

You have a special fondness for wrestling with Ruby and find it particularly hilarious if the two of you bounce around on a bed while doing so - it's so funny to see your different personalities - I think you two will bring out some unique traits in each other. You graduated from the baby bathtub and give me regular heart attacks (trying to stand, crawling around) - you and your sister could play with blocks and the assortment of rubber duckies for hours if I allowed it. You two have started interacting in play much more this month - watching sisters play, laugh, and talk together is something I will treasure for all of my life.

Your projectile vomiting days are far from gone, but they are rapidly diminishing, and my laundry-hating self thanks you. You have only done so twice in the last week which is a huge improvement. Although it's frustrating to feel incompetent about the whole thing in regards to what is causing it, I have my suspicions - it generally comes at night when you have snacked and snacked. You also have a poor latch which causes air to be trapped in your belly. I can't decide if I think you have a dairy sensitivity on top of those things.

You know the word no and often challenge it with squeals and dimpled smiles, but mostly you listen. If it happens to be something you are extremely passionate about, a small fit will ensue which makes me quite scared for what future fits will look like with you.

You are a master crawler, but want so much more. You pull up on furniture and legs, but you aren't cautious enough to remember that jumping with excitement afterwards isn't a great idea. Especially on hardwood floors.

You have also mastered signing for milk, clapping (this can usually be prompted by a YAY!), giving slobbery kisses, and waving which is sometimes directed at yourself. This month has been especially fun for watching the little wheels inside your head turn. Two days ago, you had something in your hands but wanted to stand, so you put the magnet in your mouth so you could use both hands to pull up.

This month, you made your thoughts about Santa extremely loud and clear, you traveled to Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica, as well as to Missouri for your first Christmas. You are a pretty easy going kid as long as the staples in your routine remain the same.

Your dark blonde hairs have grown a lot in the last little bit - that's not to say you have a lot of hair. The back of it has been caught curling - we'll see if we're two for two in the little blonde curls department.

You are still one of the most ticklish people I know; your laugh and your smile warm my heart like nothing else. Nuzzling the tiny, soft spot of the back of your neck comes in at a close second. Chubby feet, feathered lashes, and dazzling two-toned eyes tie for third. You are one sweet, sweet girl.

Love you to the moon.

XOXO,
Momma

I'm picking up good vibrations (and diamonds) (part 2)

2012-01-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, we were docked in sunny Cozumel. After another embarrassing breakfast full of carbs, frosting, and grease, we gathered our stuff and disembarked. Ruby and Eisley donned matching seersucker dresses in the hopes of finding some sort of beach retreat for a photo op. What I hadn't anticipated in my vision of picture perfect paradise was Eisley's reaction to sand:

Not far off from her sister's initial thoughts on sand, though slightly more dramatic.

Briefly, after our encounter with the unbelievable blue hue of the water, Ruby and her Daddy dance to a song being played at nearby Senor Frog's, as Jimmy tells her it was one of Grandpa Larry's favorites.

After the circus of an attempted beach photo, we ventured to the touristy part right off the dock. We browsed quickly, but every store had cutesy and irritating little poems illustrating the simple point: You break it, you buy it. For some reason, this caused a little shopping anxiety with a monkey-armed baby, and a busy Ruby. I did buy my favorite vanilla (seriously, I can't do the imitation any more - it's just not fair to the cookies), and we taxied downtown.

We met the rest of the familiy at Carlos'n Charlie's; home of drinks by the yard, creepy clowns making really excellent balloon hats for tips, and great music. After a menagerie of Mexican food and just enough of a fruity drink to be dangerous, we left to shop a bit more and head back to our ship.

Tiki Starbucks?! We had no choice but to try (possibly one of the most delicious peppermint mocha frappucinos I have ever tasted). Conveniently, Diamonds International was right across the way; it actually would have been frowned upon for me to not at least look.

Look I did. I actually am quite fluent in Diamond, and one particular ring practically begged me to take it home with me.

Merry Christmas to me! Poor Jimmy - all he wanted was a frappucino. He should have known better. And we were rewarded with cookies - what a deal!

For his husband of the year efforts, we got another frappucino before catching a taxi and heading back to the ship.

We found ourselves doing this as we set sail:

I happen to be exactly the same mini golfer that I was when I was five - really excellent, that is. I only hit the guy touching up paint nearby twice. It's times like this when I can most relate to Happy Gilmore.

We ran into Meredith and Genny playing basketball on the same deck.

As always, getting ready for dinner was a grand time; overtired Eisley, Ruby practicing ballet moves in the tiniest of spaces, and having far too little time (and room).

We made it to dinner and the show was done by the ship's dancers and singers.

~~Pizza, pastries, and soda might have been inhaled for the third night in a row.~~

new year

2012-01-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Tiny hairs thinking about curling, married with noodles and cheese from lunch. Giggles in response to the singing of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.

Crackers haphazardly shared with the furry one; not far from the girl and puppy sharing an ice cream cone visual.

Songs reminiscent of the Caribbean trail through my house as Christmas gifts and luxuries are put into their places.

Butter warms in the windowsill in preparation for the most epic whoopie pies.

Pictures of my girls in Jamaica make me smile. Big.

New Year's Resolutions but more like life adaptations are pondered and realized. Plans and blessings scribbled; home is organized.

Ruby does connect the dots and practices her letters on her own accord, while chubby-cheeked baby sister looks on admiringly while snacking.

I can't believe this life is mine. I'm so in love with everything.

I'm ready. Bring it on, 2012.

in the middle of the sea, sea, sea (part 1)

2011-12-31T14:31:00.001-07:00

December tenth found seven of us piled messily into the car and on our way to the airport, Houston bound. Carseats are unfair to travel with, both taking up massive amounts of room in a car and becoming even more inconvenient and awkward to carry through an airport (and be cursed at by TSA officials at security).

This would be Eisley's third flight, Ruby's seventh. We beat the pre-holiday rush and breezed through security, leaving ample time to have a sit down lunch before boarding.

Aside from Eisley choosing a most inconvenient time to projectile vomit, covering me, herself, and her blanket; the plane ride was completely laid back. Ruby watched Sesame Street on the iPod, and Eisley slept. Luckily, I had a sweatshirt on and could slip out of it to somewhat mask the vomit smell. Later, I would find myself using hotel shampoo to wash our clothing and her blanket. Washing clothing with shampoo in hotel sinks is becoming a lost art; this is something I became talented at in even the tiniest of bathrooms (read: stateroom bathroom on board the cruise ship).

We met up with Corey and Genny at the baggage claim in Houston; later Eric and Megan arrived, and we headed out to classiest of all restaurants in Houston. Let me just say, thundering club music with nearly naked waitresses wasn't exactly what any of us had in mind when searching for dinner. Throw an over tired baby and a toddler into that, and you have mother of the year wearing a robe of guilt.

The following day, our new home for the week teased us as we suffered through security lines for a terrible length of time. Due to illness from the group before us, they had to completely sanitize the ship from top to bottom which prolonged the time they allowed guests on. Had Eisley been a little more understanding, it wouldn't have been too bad, but any parent knows small children have a knack for choosing the most inopportune times for such behavior.

We sanitized our hands twice before boarding, thus beginning our weeklong forced obsession with the hand sanitizer.

We were forced to attend the lunch buffet as soon as we got on. We were also forced to go back for seconds. Thirds, fourths, and fifths. I'm actually thinking about pressing charges for bodily harm with all of the irresistible foods.

the royal promenade (excellent place for people watching).

We found our humble abode on deck eight, and met our stateroom attendant, Randell (bless this man; he was amazing....and changed our sheet numerous times thanks to a twenty-something pound little Miss who has the ability to trash anything within ten feet in about five seconds).

After a misunderstanding of some sort when we booked for eleven people, we struggled to find seating in the dining room together, but the maître d' pulled it off. Here, we met our waiter, MJ from Jamaica, and our assistant waiter/one man circus, Ronnie from the Philippines.

Ruby discovered her staple dinner for the week - mixed fruit in which she never ate the cantaloupe or honeydew, macaroni and cheese, with chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, and a biscuit for dessert.

my mom and sister.

my brother Eric and his sweet girlfriend, Megan.

We caught the tail end of the sail away parade celebration in the promenade, and cured our woes with a waffle cone dripping with Ben and Jerry's.

After a short-lived, but extremely funny production from Sam Griesbaum, we visited the promenade cafe for empanadas, pizza, and pastries. Our spacious bed lured us in far earlier than the others in our group; me met up with them the next morning at the pool.

After inhaling french toast, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, an embarrassing number of pastries and donuts, we found the crew by the pool. Ruby swam with Meredith and Genny; Mom played cribbage with the boys. I did a lot of convincing Eisley that it actually wasn't too hot outside and it was indeed a great idea to keep her hat on over her bald head.

One o' clock rolled around and I was embarrassingly still f-u-l-l (this would be a weeklong trend). We mosied (waddled) back to our room to exchange swimsuits for clothes in preparation of the ice show.

I have never seen Eisley so fixated on something (aside from her sister) - she watched the ice show intently until the end when she just couldn't keep her little peepers open any longer.

Time managed to slip away all too quickly and after a brief tour of some ship areas, we hurried back to get ready for formal night. FYI, formal night with two small children is sort of less than charming to prepare for in a tiny stateroom. I straddled small suitcases while looking in the mirror and babysitting the wee vacuum and twirling three year old (also while looking in the mirror).

the girls

my brother Corey, and another sweet girl in our family - Genny.

I wish I could remember dinner this night...all of the carb-inhaling, sugar gorging, meal madness just sort of runs together in the form of a muffin top at this point.

Ruby's new best friend Ronnie turns her into a napkin version of the Statue of Liberty

and then makes napkin swans.

Meanwhile, Randell has created a Bunny in our room, where we come to gather ourselves quickly before heading off to see The Unexpected Boys which are completely breathtaking with their singing ability and tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Country tunes by The Mickey Utley band entertained us this night before we hit the sheets in preparation for Cozumel.

a little piece of awesome

2011-12-29T19:53:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Just Dance, for the amazing dance moves showcase.

Can you spot:

☐ Pastasaurus
☐ Hedgehog hat not on its rightful owner
☐ mad dance face to accompany mad dance moves
☐ chunky monkey (2)
☐ heads dangerously close to being impaled
☐ wardrobe change

christmas catch up

2011-12-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

In case I have a mid life crisis and decide to take my problems out back with some cigarettes, I will have to remember the Christmas I spent feeling like I had smoked for eighty years. Fiery lungs and the inability to take a deep breath for days is not something I ever want to experience for a long period of time. On a bright note, I think I'm right on the verge of those six pack abs I've always wanted.

Christmas can be summed up by one fitting word: germy. I have never been surrounded by such illness: stomach bugs, head colds, sore throats. With a sinus infection. Cheers!

I am about to test the durability of my washer with the sheer amount of clothes and things it must disinfect. Coincidentally, I'm also testing my sanity with some really cheery kid tunes on repeat (thanks, Great Grandma Shirley!) and...um, the whole laundry thing. Have we ever discussed the amount of hatred I hold for laundry?

--

While I continue to organize thousands of pictures in which the Caribbean becomes mixed with gift and other Christmas pictures, and I sort through respective memories worthy of keeping forever, know this:

In two and a half weeks, roughly 2,220 miles in the car, 1,870 miles in a plane, 2,860 on a boat with two small children...I'm still alive, with only a possibility that there are more a few more gray hairs sitting atop my head. As it turns out, I'm fluent in shopping language in three other countries, I am quite good at nursing gymnastics in a moving vehicle, and I have nearly perfected the art of catching projectile vomit to minimize the mess.

An unfairly quick summary of the last week: I think Eisley will have a Kleenex complex for life, I will be mastering the art of whoopie pies in 2012, there is nothing cuter than cousins in their Christmas jammies...except for big cousins trying to wrangle their smaller siblings in the name of a good picture. We are incredible spoiled, I am able to taste food again for the first time in a week. My teeth don't feel like they are rotting out of my head, and I'd be happy not to get in the car again for two months. Driving through the night with the wind, ice, and blowing snow to keep you company is unfair. Eisley claps, waves, and is the proud owner of six pearly whites. My family is amazing.

Oh, and I have a wicked obsession with aviator hats for the time being.

How is she so big?!

I'll be back in time for great intentions in the form of hopeless New Year's Resolutions. I'm mostly full of it. I hope to be back before then.

Christmas

2011-12-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Five thousand thoughts scrambled, this is all I got:

[so very, very thankful for these two beautiful girls and for being surrounded by my precious family this year.]

teaser.

2011-12-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

warmth, sparklies, desserts, cute kiddos. That's what vacations are made of.

resurfacing briefly.

2011-12-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am baaaack. Seven and a half pounds heavier too. I'm detoxing and having serious withdrawal symptoms which include the sheer horror of watching new places jiggle.

There is something rude about scenery changes over breakfast; I went from oatmeal and glistening waves to oatmeal with a side of gigantic snowflakes. Lets not forget the service. Why has no one picked up my oatmeal bowl yet?

We were welcomed home with less than inviting weather, a round of sore throats, a dead fish, and eighty bazillion loads of laundry to do before we turn around and make the Christmas trek across Kansas.

Eisley welcomed two teeth and the ability to clap and pull up in the last nine days. She had her fill of fruits, bread, and cheese while big sister filled up on crazy amounts of macaroni and cheese and chocolate ice cream covered in chocolate syrup.

I have well over a thousand pictures to look through and words to scribble next to. If only I still had room service and dinner service. And bar service. And cooking service. With Ben & Jerry's access and pizza with cute little pastries twenty four hours a day. And a side of warm weather.

Time should just stand still for a little bit. Time should also let me travel backwards. Being in 80 degree weather so close to Christmas made things a little wonky. I am down to hours to finish everything now.

I hope to resurface again soon.

How's this to tide you over?

wrapping paper scraps

2011-12-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

I hate throwing wrapping paper away.

OCD fun was a plus with this - I always choose wrapping paper that matches my tree.

then...

weather and news of various kinds

2011-12-05T22:52:00.002-07:00

First of all, let's get something terrible out of the way:

I would like Christmas to be snowy without the negative temperatures, if anyone is taking requests.

There's something most special about my girls grasping hands over top of me as they wind down for bed. It's something we do every night; books, snuggles, and sometimes we fall asleep together before Ruby moves to her own bed. I can't get over the love my girls have for one another; the way their chubby hands grasp, their little feet intertwined.

Last night, Eisley fell asleep, and it was sort of like a slumber party for me and Ruby; so many giggles. She told me stories about Larry the Bird. At one point, she looked at me very seriously and said, "What's that on your eye?" I knew what was coming. She said, "You have the TV on your eye!" Funny enough, I remember being her age, telling my grandma the exact same thing about the reflection in her glasses; only Modern Family was an ancient nintendo baseball game. I can remember my grandma's chuckle from that moment so clearly.

Saturday evening found me the sickest I have ever been in my life. From what I can only assume, I had the beginning of mastitis, which knocked me completely off of my feet so fast it was slightly scary. I have never felt so awful and briefly pondered if I was on my deathbed. I never want to feel like that again. Four comforters and freezing, unable to walk or even pull myself up in bed, aches like I have never known. Did I mention I was home with both kiddos by myself? This is actually not the first time that I had this aching feeling turn into a painful handful of hours, but the other time wasn't half as bad. Eisley's latching issues have caused some serious issues; I'm not sure if I can point the blame on her, but it sure seems so.

In fun news: we had fun with sweet Abigail this afternoon:

Eisley will probably not have that much hair until she is three - I love that they all look so different.

In amazing news: my dermatology results are finally clear (third time's a charm). So glad to have that off of my shoulders.

In random news: I cannot stomach avocados. Still. I fought the gagging urge hard, but I just can't do it. Thank you, pregnancy.

Tanning appointments are booked, suitcases are haphazardly filled with necessities and summer clothing. Ruby can't talk about anything except for the big ship, and after tonight's performance from Eisley at the athletic awards banquet...I'm slightly nervous about the airplane adventures. This could get really fun. And by fun, I mean, a lot of dirty looks shot my way.

scenes from Friday night; hardcore Ants in the Pants.

Rubyisms:

The other night when I was so sick, Ruby was really concerned. She said, "I love you everrrrry day. I love you so much every SINGLE day."

Her alphabet song generally skips e, f, and g.....ellla ellla elllla p.....P, U, V. And at the end of it all, she always throws in the most random...WOOF!

She has started drawing faces which thrills me. Today, she drew a "mountain goat" with about eighty legs:

These are exhibits of various "boys":

(and an obvious "e and l")

We spent today running errands, delivering treats to special people in our community, and scheduling various appointments. The to do list is dwindling. So are my allotted hours of sleep.

Christmas is nearly here, Caribbean sun is nearly here, and then it will be 2012. Unreal.

Dear Eisley

2011-12-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sister Pants,

Nine months! It feels like the last big milestone before you hit the one year mark, and I cannot believe that is only three months away.

Your teeth that have yet to make an appearance have been teasing us and taking hours off of our sleep for months now. The ridges of your top left (looking at you, it's the right side) tooth broke through for the second and final time three days ago. I can see the one right next to it beneath the gums, but it hasn't come through just yet.

Despite the other three teeth that seem far less eager to make an appearance, but have made their imminent presence known, sleep has been grand the last two weeks. And by grand, I mean the best it has been since you gave up the sleeping thing at a month old; you only wiggle around 12 times at night, instead of fifty. You seem to be sleeping just a little more soundly. I think I would give my right arm to have this continue. I'd give my energy, or my eyeballs, or my well-rested self, but those were taken long ago.

And while we're marking improvements down: your car riding tolerance has improved vastly...under two conditions. The car must be moving and the music must be playing...loudly. If it were completely up to you, you would have the driver singing to you at all times. I can only make this happen if there is no one else in the car. We'll be putting your sit still tolerance at an extreme test this month with a car ride to the airport, a plane ride, and then your first cruise! I'm not as nervous as I was with Ruby's first plane ride (and this is your second!) because you broke me in on the whole kid having a meltdown while shopping and in crowded public place thing. It happens.

You have a strong preference for me over anyone else, and if anyone else has you, you insist that they be moving at all times. You have a bit of an issue with strangers getting too close to you if I am not holding you (grocery cart or stroller), and you're quick to pout your lip and start the waterworks.

You are quite quickly (and rudely!) joining the ranks of your sister. Pictures are about to be a thing of the past, because you are far more interested in exploring the world around you. With that devilish grin, the one that says catch me if you can, you and your dimpled smile are off as you squeal in anticipation of someone catching up with you. You can crawl on all fours, but the wood floors inhibit your desire to-so it's usually a quick sliding caterpillar motion instead. You often like to rock back and forth on your hands and feet, and you stare at the couch and other possible assisting furniture with longing. You want to pull up and stand, but you haven't quite fit it all together just yet. You can go from a crawl to a sit, a sit to a crawl, and you can just about maneuver however you wish to get something you want.

You occasionally sign for milk; this usually happens when you are most distraught and your little fists join your tears for a last resort. (Because you are staaaarving.) You have also waved bye-bye but don't enjoy doing it on command. Your daddy taught you how to stick out your tongue, but you first must remember that your tongue is actually in your mouth by pulling it out with your fingers.

You have had pasta, bread, fruit, cheese, and puffs this month. You also ate part of a meatball. Well, and dog food but I didn't mark that as your favorite in the baby book (though I should have!). You like to finger feed yourself solid foods, but remain pretty anti puree foods. We're working on your sippy cup skills, too.

Along with the food in your mouth, you put everything else that you may possibly find on the floor in there. We're talking microscopic things that make me question my sweeping skills.

We're in a transition with naps - you really think you only need two, but your body isn't quite ready for it. You take a short nap around 11:00 each morning, and then you take a much longer one around 2:00 (this is new...and exciting!) You are trying to get rid of the one right around dinner, which is going to throw me for a loop again. I think I would rather you take one and go to bed later, however, you seem to sleep deeper through the night without one.

You continue to be happiest while being held, nursing, and screeching new vowel sounds, or banging on something in your vicinity. You have enjoyed the Christmas decorations, especially the jingle bell reindeer ornament. You have also successfully broken one of them.

Other things you love: bedtime stories, pulling Ruby's hair and anything else connected to Ruby, making people laugh, using your walker, eating paper, and getting into the dog food bowl.

I can't stop thinking about our lives a year ago - so excited for Christmas, but I was so anxious to meet the baby that I shared my body with - and now you are here, ready to celebrate your first Christmas. We have so much joy and so much to be thankful for this season. Thank you for lighting up our lives - you are such an amazing addition.

Love you more than words can say.

xoxo,
Momma

quick.

2011-11-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

One tooth has almost broken through (again). I'm looking for someone to trade me something to sleep with. Up for trade: screaming toddler, restless, fussy baby, snoring husband, and puppy that burrows. I think I would sleep with an alligator over that combination.

I'm on an organizing mission of the most serious kind; nothing will get in my way. Not even peeing your pants, stuffing the toilet full of a half roll of toilet paper, or tearing various summer clothing out of your closet to layer in the most fashionable of ways.

I can't believe the next time we wake, we will be in December. Cruise, Christmas, and family.

Eisley is certain she can walk Mowgli style and becomes frustrated when she realizes she isn't quite there, nor is she quite able to pull herself up despite her persistent desires. My favorite is when she hears me coming and laughs and laughs and she tries her best to crawl at a personal best pace. She is a clown, delighting in the smiles and reactions from others; I'm so curious to watch her personality continue to unfold.

Rubyisms:

After taking her headband out, "My hair is tired."

"I'm not three anymore." What are you? "I am four."

on sleep deprivation and other developments.

2011-11-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Between night terrors and teeth that are s-l-o-w-l-y breaking their way through, I may never sleep again. If you haven't dealt with night terrors, please stop reading this and count your blessings. It's stressful and terrifying and exhausting. We're trying something a little new tonight, and the bags underneath my eyes are desperate for it to improve things. I think I finally know why older people always get up so early (this used to boggle my mind that people would get up so early for no reason at all). It must be because their bodies were so used to no sleep for so long, they no longer need to sleep in in the morning. That's so going to be me one of these days. In like eighteen years.

Miracle of all miracles, the camera allergies have disappeared and I managed to get one good picture of both girls looking. Not necessarily both smiling, but they are both looking without appearing to be in pain, in tears, or Eisley's monkey arms blurry. Before I changed my mind, Christmas cards were put together and paid for. Along with some calendars and kindle deals at prices I couldn't pass up, I'd say I did a small amount of retail therapying today.

I also made fudge...and added some homemade marshmallows. And I'm totally going to eat some before bed.

A very girly inspired package of accessories arrived from a dear friend; a get together in the works with another; a road trip or two in the near future. It's the little things that matter most; I hope to always keep this in perspective.

My to do list is dwindling, and I'm finally feeling ready. Ready to let loose in the cruise world, in the sand and the sun, and with people most dear to me. Clothes are slowly being piled, first aid things, paperwork, and other necessities. I can't believe it's finally approaching.

Fudge calls my name. So does a long, hot shower with my favorites from Lush.

worn out.

2011-11-27T19:50:00.001-07:00

The arrival of Sunday brought candy cane oreos for breakfast, the desire to cross Christmas photos (and cards) off of my list and the subsequent realization that it's a great thing I started this now, because there is a strong possibility that it will take me until next June to get a good one. ONE.

After some snapshots that significantly raised my gray hair count, I decided to can the idea and start laying things out for the cruise. I am most undecided on one dress that I really want to love, but I'm afraid it does not want to love me back. I'm either going to get really brave and attack it with my sewing machine, or I'll save it for the skinny girl in my future. This is code for the girl who isn't sustaining a baby in my future. If my brave ego gets the best of me, I'll toss up a prayer and wing it with some serious tape, and then hope no one bumps into me.

So, newfound camera allergies aside, I have still managed to get nothing done. Things are about to start moving at a scary fast pace, and I'll be rudely thrown into 2012 and left to wonder where in the world 2011 went.Twinkling Christmas lights make our house a brighter place, but they don't hide the piles of laundry or the gifts to wrap, or the suitcases to pack and the paperwork to gather. I am determined to tackle all of it tomorrow (minus the packing; that's slightly ambitious) so I can sit down and relax.

Have I mentioned the random acts of kindness we have yet to complete, the scarf to finish, and the project I'm slowly working on? Thank you cards? Or how about the seven hundred pictures that are being sent my way and must somehow be organized after sending various groups off? The laundry? Working out? Instead, I daydream about calmer days, a new home, and what the future holds while I think about all that I should be doing instead of that. It's exciting anyway.

My nerves are shot. And thanks to a three year old who suddenly doesn't know volume control along with her sister's teeth wreaking havoc...my ears are also shot. Sanity is next; I hear my bed calling. No, more like yelling...and demanding. Must put monster baby to bed.

Also, it's nearly impossible to have baby fever when your baby is not quite nine months...right?

Right.

right at home

2011-11-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

After trekking all over the city, lugging twenty pounds and thirty two pounds of alternating children in wedge boots, searching high and low for dress shirts with normal neck size and not so normal length, apparently...I feel like I ran a marathon today.

Who needs weight lifting when these such adventures exist?

It did occur to me today that we are darn near the one year mark of the same city we visited in search of a new car, newly two year old in tow, and cute pregnant belly along for the ride (and the reason behind the vehicle search). Funny how time moves so quickly.

it's here!

2011-11-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Also...Cincy arrived in style tonight (pictured: upper left). He rang the doorbell and was placed on the shelf to watch the Christmas totes transform our house.

giving thanks

2011-11-24T21:37:00.002-07:00

When I stop to think about all of my blessings and all that I have that causes me joy; it's slightly unbelievable. I can hardly pull myself away from such things tonight as I sit down to think about it.

We celebrated in our smallest, most relaxed Thanksgiving gathering yet, with siblings unable to be here, and family members out of town. I managed to keep myself out of the tryptophan coma after indulging in the most yummy traditional Thanksgiving foods. I think Ruby's favorite food was the butter off of the top of her roll. Then it was back to the land of the Little People.

I managed to attack the remaining Christmas shopping as I allowed the food to settle, and with the exception of one thing to pick up and two things to order I am D.O.N.E.

As we venture into the Christmas season, I want to remember all of my blessings daily. Being a headstrong, type A, perfectionist, I am often not satisfied with my progress on various things, and I get caught up in laundry (not actually caught up as that seems completely impossible at this stage in life), how clean my floors are (or not), and the remaining hundred things on my to do list. It doesn't matter. What matters now, is the time I spend cherishing my girls, my husband, and my family. I am thankful I have laundry to get behind on; floors that aren't dirt, and the freedom to make a different to do list every single day. I'm thankful for a dirty house...because it's home. It's our home.

I am most thankful for the love and the support that surround me, an understanding husband who loves me, parents that are close by to shower me and my family with love. Most of all, I am thankful for the title of mom. I will probably never understand how I was blessed with two unbelievably beautiful and precious children, but I am forever grateful. And while I feel like I'm giving an acceptance speech for some music award (acting would actually be more realistic, though only slightly), I must say: I am so thankful to know Jesus Christ. It's an ever growing relationship of love, thanks, forgiveness, and understanding. My world is so bright.

And because it seems important: my long-lashed Roo Roo is probably most thankful for paper and scissors today; I can only hope that she never figures out the connection with scissors and hair. Doll hair or her own. My favorite part about watching her in her first encounters with scissors is that her mouth must be open to cut her very best.

She managed to drum up an original tune as she cut:

I like to cut.

I like to cut turkeys.

I like papers all the time.

I like to sing all the time.

Happy Thanksgiving; I hope you all have as much to be thankful for as I do.

wordless wednesday: giving thanks

2011-11-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

joys

2011-11-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ruby spins countless circles through the living room with her messy pigtails showing signs of the day's play twirling beneath her makeshift necklace crown. Giggles interrupt spelling her own name and various others'.

Pippi chases alien creature that she has never encountered as I try my best to dodge her pounces with each swipe of the broom. The girls find this to be the most hilarious comedy.

Ruby discusses naming her pending elf visitor Cinci, I ponder the chances of her being a closet Cincinnati fan. Or perhaps she meant Scentsy and has taken after my compulsive scent collecting (hoarding).

Purchasing new paper crafting things along with Lush goodies; I can only hope to use one of the two before the new year. Or within the next entire year.

Other random fun:

Christmas music
Ruby making up songs about how much she loves Jesus
Peace Tea
yarn, and the projects that come with it
Pinterest Recipes
Ruby's abstract self portraits and video blogs on the iPad.
Logic puzzles and the kindle while cozied up next to snuggly little ones.
Peppermint hot chocolate and lattes topped with homemade marshmallows

Rubyisms:

As Ruby adjusted what I assumed to be an underwear issue for the third time, I asked her, "What's wrong with your bottom?" She said, "There is a line in it." Is there a place in the baby book for discovery of the crack?

As Eisley fussed her disapproval at my feet, I asked her what was wrong. Ruby said, "She's sad because Boo Boo won't play with her." I have yet to figure out who Boo Boo is, but a) the mention of "him" (?) embarasses Ruby and b) I wish Boo Boo would come back to entertain Eisley.

Oh and the sick disappeared after a day of ugly symptoms. I'm sure it will be back shortly for me.

And I can see Eisley's top two teeth through her gums. Those can make their appearance any day now. I value my sleep.

the sick and other thoughts

2011-11-20T15:24:00.003-07:00

Bedhead, newly-updated hairs have been lazily tucked into a messy bun atop my sleepy head, while cozy clothes meant for a snuggly day drape my body, I listen to the giggles resulting from Larry the Talking Bird on the iPad, while a sleepy baby stalls napping by ripping through an old Better Homes and Gardens and a snuggly puppy sleeps next to me.

My most favorite dimpled smile has been stolen, and lamely replaced with an angry baby, runny nose cramping her style, and panicked signs for milk. Glossed eyes and cheeks of crimson seem to be the choice wardrobe of The Sick in my offspring. Sadly, we are two for two in terms of sick children, which means I am zero for one hundred in terms of my to do list.

My grand plans of all things Christmas sort of fell through today due to aforementioned germs so rudely taking over our lives. (And you know, I will most assuredly be sick on Thanksgiving; perhaps this is a blessing in the most disgusting disguise). Instead, the sparkle and joy of Christmas will wait to spread its cheer in our home until Friday where we are due for snow and appropriately after Thanksgiving. Instead of my intentions to celebrate Christmas a little longer beforehand, we'll roll with the punches and celebrate it slightly longer on the flip side.

I am down the last few Christmas gifts to purchase, and will likely not meet my Thanksgiving goal. I can't complain about the 95% that was accomplished, especially given the mad organizational spree that has happened in between. And the crafting.

Something that hits me quite hard, and leaves my thoughts on various matters in infinite motion:

Furthermore:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14

I am on a mission to raise kindhearted girls that love like a Christian should rather than so much of the Christian love we witness on a daily basis. I'm experimenting with thoughts and conversations from meaningful people. Perhaps when I have successfully raised Godly girls who love and give without inhibitions and ulterior, selfish, and shallow motives, I will pen my thoughts in a more professional manner. For now, the results of experimenting shall be recorded here.

Friends, do these words run true in your life? I encourage you to think about all others before yourself; especially as we are thrust into a greedy time of year where the meaning has very much been forgotten by many and replaced with material wants and selfish behavior.

-

As a random side note, Eisley has mastered the army crawl skillfully and quickly just as Ruby did. Our hardwood floors make all fours a difficult crawling position. With a snuggly day spent upstairs - on carpet - Eisley has been crawling on all fours in hopes of getting to Ruby's coveted musical iPad app.

PS - sweet Isabel made her world debut on Friday night and just as I imagined, she is sweet as can be. I'm thrilled to have another November birthday to add to our long family list, but I'm even more thrilled to meet that sweet baby.

random bits.

2011-11-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

I am very impatiently waiting the arrival of a precious new niece, due any minute. Last weekend, a fleeting thought insisted that she would arrive today - it's my late father in law's day of birth. What a reminder about the joys of new life and to help with the mourning of lost lives.

And speaking of the world's biggest blessings...take a ride with Ruby at night. We are blessed to live in a place where the stars shine brightly; exquisite diamonds in the sky. Ruby sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for half of the ride home on Wednesday night. She must have followed it up with a star-watching experience in her dreams, because she managed to sing the entire song in her sleep. I love that the little things light up her life.

Eisley becomes a bit more mobile (and thus, more destructive) and a bit quicker with each passing day. She can now go from a crawling position back to a sitting one. My days of leaving her on a clean, fluffy blanket while I got things done are long gone. Actually, I'm not sure who I am kidding, because a)blankets or anything within Eisley's reach have never been clean, and are covered with spit up, drool, and/or poop in a matter of minutes and b)I haven't really figured out how to get anything done since Eisley came into the picture. She's after Ruby at breakneck speed, and she has recently discovered how much fun supported standing is.

I love her smile more than words can say. Seriously, does it get any better than that?! She seems to be quite the charmer - I'm curious what her personality will fully unravel to reveal.

She stops whatever she is doing to listen to music, and just like it always has, it has an immediate calming effect. Singing to her in the car keeps her quiet, singing to her amidst sad tears will make her stop too; it places an unbelievable peaceful tone on her disposition.

I have a billion and one yarn projects in various stages of completion. I'm making myself crazy with this ADD behavior. I cannot wait to have space for yarn and other such creations. Someday.

While random thoughts come spewing out crazy o'clock (seriously - I haven't seen this hour in ages), let me just spout off about my newest diet (I mean, life change) destroyer...

Holy Heaven in my mouth, I cannot get enough of these. Unlike anything I have ever had before, but quite simply, you can't go wrong with caramel, chocolate, and shortbread.

You can imagine how well the cruise bod mission is going. I might be wearing a tent if I continue to pull just one piece out of the freezer. Five times a day.

ohh, bare feet and pajama-clad girls. Love.

(this is the illustration to mom showers, also known as not peaceful showers or rudely fast showers.)

For the the fourth time in her life, Ruby is having a sleepover at Ama & Papa's after a grand adventure to watch Moo's basketball team play. I hardly know what to do with myself, though I can imagine just what I should be doing.

Sleeping for sure.

blog visitors and comments

2011-11-17T10:40:00.002-07:00

I have an awful lot of people that like to follow along with my stay at home mom blunders, my funny kid sayings, and...most likely, just the pictures. There are always the few that arrive here by extremely obscure google searches. It's surprising to me; the number of people and the number of countries represented.

I love to read the comments, but most of the time I am unable to reply due to settings in blogger. Sadness.

I promise, I don't ignore. Go fix your settings, quickly and easily:

Edit profile.

Show my email address (type your email address)

Save profile.

Stop by and say hi.

You're welcome.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am up to my ears in five different yarn related projects.

lifted weights and mom pet peeves.

2011-11-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

There are several bizarre things that happen to me on a regular basis. Things that I never would have anticipated prior to this dance through motherhood. Things like complete strangers stroking my baby's head, or worse, grabbing ahold of their fingers as the germaphobe inside of me loudly screams through all possible germy scenarios. You might as well stick your icky finger straight in her mouth. The thought of that makes me want to dry heave.

But one thing that continually blows my mind:

I am clearly not gifted in painting on computer applications. Or painting of any kind, really. Shopping cart full of groceries. Baby in shopping cart. A billion other parking spots. Car that has never had this happen to them sits with blinker on for ten minutes. Mom resists raising her fist (or worse) to cute little blue car. Onlookers give mom the eye like it's her fault for having a baby AND getting groceries (the horror). Mini parking lot jam is caused. The end.

Forget feeding the hungry baby before leaving.

Seriously, this has happened to me on countless occasions, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out the motives behind it.

Oh, and one more thing: bald babies ≠ boy babies. Also, Pink ruffles generally ≠ boy babies. And Eisley ≠ Isaac.

I have been waiting for today for a month. Not exactly looking forward to it, but looking forward to putting it behind me. After some red flags, I decided to get a second dermatology opinion, and went in for a surgical procedure today. Varying amounts of pain after the medicine wore off has left me promising that childbirth is more fun. The new doctor was an answered prayer, and I feel like a heavy weight was lifted, both for my own health and Eisley's.

Two months ago, a red mark appeared on Eisley's temple. After a week of debating whether it was a scratch, a normal baby skin issue, or petechiae, I settled on none of the above and decided it was a red mole. I watched it grow over the next month, at such a slow rate, I couldn't decide if I was making it up. When we visited the pediatrician's office, the doctor told me it was called a vascular birthmark. Ironically, that afternoon, it spidered out and looked very much like blood vessels. After some careful googling, I decided it was most definitely a hemangioma. That was confirmed today. It will likely continue to grow, though it is still considered so small they are technically unable to diagnose it as such. After it has run it's growth course, it will begin to shrink and will eventually disappear.

A visit with a very knowledgeable, compassionate doctor who carefully explained my options, the way he sees things, and the way to go about things, I left feeling high with relief.

On a quiet drive home with a salted caramel mocha at my fingertips, and music peacefully pouring through the speakers, reflections were made and thanks were given. There is always something to be thankful for. Always.

of joy and a girl's day out.

2011-11-12T23:44:00.003-07:00

If motherhood were boyscouts, I would have earned my poison control badge tonight. A terrifying and monumental moment, with the sweetest man on the other side of the telephone. As it turns out, an eight month old should not be playing with earring aftercare solution, should the bottle decide to fail and spill out under the cap.

And why do we have this in our possession?

After months of mom earring envy, Ruby's third birthday arrived; the significance of which was getting her ears pierced (along with the opportunity to hold up those three fingers while emphatically saying FWEEEE! when age-inspired questions were asked). I had warned her about there being a hard pinch in her ears to get the holes there, but then it would be over. She didn't flinch, no tears were shed, and she spent the remainder of our girl's day out inspecting her new sparklies in every mirror we passed.

Clearance racks containing summery clothing were a highlight, as we hiked our way through Kohl's (with a brief stop in front of at least five mirrors). Cold Stone, Puss in Boots in 3D, and a sticky hands venture at Sam's were the highlights. Fine, so the accidental theft of a DVD and the mortifying walk back into the store wasn't exactly a thrill.

I have been drawn to the green and white sign that emblazons my favorite coffee multiple times this week. Peppermint and mocha bring so much joy to my life, I passed it on and paid for the car behind me. Reflections on various things in my life make me realize how many blessings have been bestowed upon me. Sadly, there are things and people in my life that aren't great and full of joy; I'm purging and working to better myself in that regard.

And as if the donning of new earrings wasn't a big enough milestone for the baby book, we took the plunge and the scissors met the blonde ringlets for the very first time today. I took off teeny tiny amounts all over, and had to cut a chunk of her bangs, because the ends were dreadful. Yogurt, fruit residue, and granola bars don't do the area of her hair well.

In other random news:

- I am creating a giant purple elephant with the help of a tiny crochet needle, and um, the loss of my mind. And by giant, I do believe the size might be slightly disappointing given the number of hours put into the creation. I hope Mr. Claus is thrilled I am doing all of his work for him.

-I am fairly certain I have rather significant nerve damage leftover from pregnancy. Eight months out, and it's still here; I'm scared of the extensiveness.

-Monday will mark my third trip to the dermatologist for a) stupid mole that will not disappear and b) vascular birthmark on Eisley's temple to be thoroughly examined. Fun times

-I am 75% done Christmas shopping

-A move is in our future...and I cannot wait.

-I bought eight bottles of peppermint mocha creamer at Target. Oops?

-11:11 on 11/11/11 found me somewhere in the throes of nature, out gallivanting the countryside and feeding woodland creatures of various shapes and sizes for Mom and Dad, while they were gone. The second 11:11 found me dead to the world. A non-sleeping baby ought to do that to you.

-Eisley's gums continue to tease about forthcoming teeth, though there are none to show for their efforts. Top and bottom, I have seen ridges on the bottom, but they have since disappeared. It would be nice to get this over with.

Rubyism:

As Ruby wore her Princess crown and swung her wand around madly, she told Jimmy he was the king, I was the queen, and she was the princess. When Jimmy asked her what Eisley was, she very quickly and nonchalantly replied, "A pig."

--
Oh, however mean this may sound...can I just say how funny it was to hear Jimmy tell me how impossible it was to accomplish anything today while he had Eisley...? Should the thought ever cross his mind about how much work is done in a day, I think it will rapidly disappear. He didn't even have the other half!

Ruby is Three!

2011-11-10T19:35:00.003-07:00

Dear Ruby,

Three years ago, I never could have imagined the scene in our living room today. Two little girls; one hours away from being three, the other completely enthralled by her big sister. Hysterical laughter in the name of the game Ants in the Pants coming from both.

I can't get over how many changes came running in when motherhood took over my life, and I have no idea how I ended up with the sweetest little three year old on the planet, but I am ever thankful for having such a bright light in my life. The moment I laid eyes on you, I felt love so intense it's nearly scary. To be gripped with such raw, uncontrollable emotions is startling, but boy are they there for an amazing reason.

All moms say this, but you are so special. There is no doubt in my mind that God had you in His plans all along; after a rocky start to motherhood in which I lost a baby, I prayed like a broken record to be made whole again and to be blessed with a child. The way you fit into our lives so perfectly, the way you are such an old, gentle soul, the way you fit your name like none other we could have chosen. It's not something we take for granted, and it's no coincidence.

At three years old, I feel like I have known you all of my life and yet I wish for so many years in the future full of discovery, and that enchantment so partial to children. The smallest of things make you light up with glee, your favorite things are impossible to list concisely.

You are tender-hearted, reserved, observant, and crave educational stimulation. You love to learn about letters, you ask how things are spelled, and you absorb books, songs, and memories. You went to Vacation Bible School last summer, and you haven't stopped talking about school since. Your imagination is vivid, and we have welcomed an imaginary friend named Isa into our family, though her presence varies from time to time. You categorize your toys into groups of colors, size, and shape often and we tease you about being OCD; it's endearing now but I'm sure we'll be apologizing to a future spouse somewhere down the line.

You are the sweetest, snuggliest ("can you scuggle me?"), most well-mannered three year old I know. It's rare that you are not fun to be around, and when it is, it's nearly always because you are tired. You very rarely get upset about anything, and you are so laid back and patient that your upset is hardly startling to anyone around you. Recently, if you don't get your way, you have started going into another room to compose yourself, where you cry very quietly and quickly, and then return and let me know you are now in control.

One of the happiest things this year has been watching you with your little sister. I wondered about your reaction to your life being flipped completely upside down with a new baby, and you have handled it with grace like I couldn't have imagined. You love your sister with such inhibition, I wish all emotions were so strong and so pure. You are so helpful and so kind to her, it's impossible to put into words. I hope the two of you are always so crazy about one another.

You love to wear jewelry, and often ask to paint your nails or for curly hairs. Your hair has made a huge difference in your appearance this last year, and you always ask me to look at it when you are in the bath after the water weighs down the curls and allows it to lay halfway down your back. You tell me, "Look at my Rapunzel hair!"

You are a JOY to have in our lives. You are loveable, snuggly, agreeable, and happy. You are cute as a button, and I am forever grateful to call you mine.

Happy Birthday, baby girl! We love you infinitely so...or to the moon as I always tell you. I love your kisses, your hugs, your nose kisses, and every tiny, perfect detail about you. It is impossible to put into words the things I love about you and how much I love you.

XOXO,
Momma

the view from here.

2011-11-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

As I craned my neck to look at the street lamp the way I always do to measure snowfall after dark, I caught myself. A year ago, I looked out the window, hopeful for a vision of snow so thick I couldn't even see the light. I was so eager to have school called out so that I could stay home with Ruby.

Tonight, as I looked out at that light, I reminded myself how thankful I am to be at home. I'm not living for the weekends or the next break in the school year. I am not rushing home to get everything done, just to crawl in bed and not get enough sleep before doing it all over again.

I'm in a different world this year. I'm not just surviving the demands of life. I have exchanged that for the challenge of finding a stimulating atmosphere for Ruby, a happiness for Eisley, and a productive routine that works for all of us. It's not easy. I can't tell you how many times I have heard about stay at home moms having it so easy. For some reason, the stigma attached to a stay at home mom elicits ugly words. Words like lazy and unproductive. Even freedom is spit with bitterness; as if there is nothing for a stay at home mom to do but eat chocolates while being pampered as the maids scurry around to do all else.

Truthfully, this is the hardest job I have ever had. It's the most demanding, the least understanding. It's also the most forgiving, the most rewarding. The hardest job I have ever loved. I can't imagine being elsewhere right now.

And this year? The street lamp clouded with a million tiny snowflakes--that means snuggly mornings with mugs of coffee or an extra hour of reading while I listen to the laughter that fills my house. Life is so good; that fact is not lost on me.