First Boo-boo

And the winner of the 2011 Bad Mommy Award goes to...

So this past weekend little Miss was having a grumpy puss day, finding more wrong with what was going on than right.  However she found a bit of her playful self when she grabbed her dog's toy and took off at a fast crawl trying to make her get-away.  As she scrambled across the living room floor with frogger in hand, BonBon quickly caught up to her and put a halt to her get-away by placing a paw firmly in the middle of little Miss's back - plastering her to the floor.

The screams ensued, as did the crocodile tears, the sniffles, sobs, gasps and the choked up breathes kept on coming. After Daddy lifted her off her belly and off the floor we did the cursory injury check. A red bump on the head and no scratches on her back...nothing serious, so what's with all the tears? Since she's still in the quasi clinger phase, to mommy she came.
So what does Mommy of the Year (me) do? I try to distract her...then we have "the talk" where I tell her that she's fine and that she needs to suck it up...be a big girl...this won't be the last time the world (or the dog) stomps your butt into the ground...still crying...seriously kid - get over it...how about some food...food always makes things better (when kisses don't work)...

So while shoveling some much appreciated yogurt in her face I notice a piece of skin hanging off her chin. And what do I do? I try to pick it off...screaming again...not good.

Could be that the missing patch of skin on the bottom of her chin hurts a little? Her face plant on the hard wood floors managed to peel a layer of skin off the underside of her chiny, chin, chin and mommy never noticed! So here I am giving her the big girl lecture and she's missing some flesh.  Well needless to say I felt lower than the dirt stuck to the dogs paws. I quickly hauled her out of the high chair and proceeded to kiss and love her - as well as clean up her chin...we now have our first official scab - lovely.

Way to go mommy! Next time little Miss...if you're howling I'll be sure to look you over a little more closely. For now I'll be hosting the Bad Mommy Awards after party. Heal quickly...we don't need people thinking you're abused. Gammy & Papa already supplied you with phones listing the child abuse hot-line...that's all we need!

There will be no pictures posted of this incident as little Miss does not want any negative publicity or any "head-shots" that aren't Vogue worthy. We'll be postponing all picture taking until after her chin has healed up.

Our First "Time Out"

Auntie Cindy's chair has become our new "time out" location...not that we need a time out yet but little Miss has been stretching the boundaries a little more lately and I have a feeling this chair will be used frequently in the coming years!
For now when she gets grumpy she crawls down the hall and has herself a good "sit".  As seen here we're testing it out with the look of - "leave me alone to think in peace."

Someone's Spoiled...

What baby wants baby gets - that used to be my husband's slogan for me...it has very quickly become Abbey's.  We NEEDED a pink Yankee's hat...we ASKED Papa for one...we GOT our very own pink Yankee's hat...and oh boy do we look cute in it!!

We're not spoiled or anything...really, we're not.

There will be more photo's to come as this hat has become a favorite alreay!

Could Everyone Please Stand-Up

I've been saying it for at least two weeks now but little Miss has to be mere days away from taking her first steps. Though I have no delusion that I'll be able to have a video camera handy when the steps are finally taken we did manage to capture her standing up on her own...though I'm sure she's also done this at daycare before now, it was the first time Michael and I got to witness it together with an iPhone in hand. 

I don't consider my little Miss to be some baby genius by any stretch, as there are plenty of kids who are running around and saying full sentences by 10 months (over achievers) but I'm so proud to watch her growing and gaining command of her world. As scary as it will be when she walks and then runs, it will still make my heart soar to see her conquer self propulsion. 

For now we'll enjoy standing without help...

A New Ticker for the Old Man

As we come down off the high that was Daddy's Day, I am now facing my father's continuing saga of health issues. For as long as I can remember he's had a bum heart. Maybe it's because he's used it so much over the years? Let's hope hearts don't wear out from providing too much love otherwise I'd better get Michael on a donors list now!!

People, like animals, are sometimes born with inherent health problems and my father surely has some "inherited" problems. As much as I love him I'm grateful that he's my adopted Dad and that I don't share his DNA cause man did he draw the short straw! He suffered his first heart attack at the age of 41, which means that since 1985 he's been in the hospital more times than Elizabeth Taylor was married.

He goes back in the hospital today to have his pace maker replaced one more time. I guess energizer didn't make this battery, either that or he got the dollar store brand? This new pacemaker that he's having "installed" is said to last 10 years.  I'll believe that when he makes it to 2021 without issue.  Scientists may also discover how to make pigs sprout wings by then... I do try very hard not to be pessimistic about the entire situation but that's often easier said than done. After burying my father's mother this year; my father's sister, Kathy last year; my grandma Joyce the year prior; and my mother the year before that I feel like I've already reached my quota of one important person per year so my Dad should be just fine for at least the rest of this year.

I've heard the last rights read to to him on 3 separate instances and he's come back fighting every time so I have faith that this surgery will be no different. He may have some complications, an extended stay at Albany "Club" MED, and then he'll be on his way home again till some other part of him breaks down.

So my thoughts are with him today, the man who taught me to tie my shoes, ride a horse, drive a car and most importantly - appreciate every day we have, for we never know just how many that will be.  Daddy, Although I've said it before, it bares repeating, I expect you to be around when your grand baby graduates high school so get your shit together because no one has time for these shenanigans! PS., I love you.

 Grandpa Monroe with Abbey Sept 2010

 

Dad and Kelly Oct 1986

Spider Monkey

I know those of you who haven't seen "Wedding Crashers" won't get the humor here - and if you haven't, go watch it already...but for those of you who have, read on.

So my little Miss, who has always been a happy, go to anyone, love everyone kinda girl has recently become what I loving refer to as my Spider Monkey and/or my "Stage 5 Clinger". She just can't get enough of Mommy these days, to the point that she's breaking her Daddy's heart by crying when he tries to take her when she knows my arms are available.

As much as I love my Munchkin, I don't want one of those kids whose clinging to their mother's leg screaming when they try to leave them at daycare or worse yet, won't go to anyone...

(I would be Vince Vaughn in this scenario...I gotta "stage 5 clinger"!!)

My only real fear is doing the wrong thing when she's being all needy and I create a character like Isla Fisher in the following clip..."I find you" - seriously the term "bat shit crazy" comes to mind...I'm only having one kid I can't afford to screw it up :-)

I know that this is only a phase, one that I'm sure some mommy's just love...I however do not like this new needy, whiny, grabby, clinging, crabby, version of my little Miss. I hope this phase of her development moves quickly into the little Miss independent phase...though I'm sure that will break our hearts as well. You just can't win in this parenting game can you?

But man is she cute!

Devil In the House

This past weekend I helped my Uncle and cousin clean out my aunt's belongings. Not an easy chore nor one that I was particularly looking forward to but something I had promised to help with when they felt ready to take on the job.  A little more than a year has passed since my Aunt Kathy passed away but with her memories surrounding us we got to work packing up her personal belongings.

To my chagrin my Aunt had us in near hysterics with her quirky collection of dryer sheets found in every dresser drawer, between blouses, pants and underwear...there honestly had to have been 300 dryer sheets in the one dresser alone! I must say I always remember her smelling really "fresh" - now I know why! I'm sure she was up there watching the two of us getting a chuckle as we rummaged through her things in an attempt to make room for the future by getting rid of some of the past.

Besides the plethora of dryer sheets we stumbled across a pair of devil horns - clearly purchased for a Halloween gag of some sort but with the tags still on them the gag is apparently yet to come.  Without a moments hesitation I added them to the pile of memorabilia I was taking home with me as I could see these horns being a big hit in my house...

I proceeded to put them on little Miss the first opportunity I had, she was not in the mood for the Devil horns - either that or they just brought the Devil out of her!!

Can you say pissed off?

Daddy's Day

Amongst the firsts we've celebrated, Father's Day is sure to be in the top 10 (at least for me and little Miss)...I'll leave it to Michael to post his two cents later. I read an article he other day titled "7 Ways to be an Awesome Dad" and I'm honest to goodness not tooting my husbands horn or try and get a new pair of earrings or some other bobble out of him when I say that he is truly an awesome Dad. Like mine, he will not make it through her entire life without disapointing her in some way - but neither will she.

Like my father, Michael will be there for his daughter in ways which I as her mother cannot (though I will always try). Like my father, he will listen when she wants to talk, disseminate vital advise that she won't always take and he will be there to pick her up every time she falls...he'll even be there when she stumbles and doesn't think she needs his helping hand - but then some day when she's older she'll be thankful that she had it. 

Though there is no "owners manual" to parenting...there are however plenty of people, websites and even blogs like mine out there just waiting to tell you how to do it right, do it better, do it differently...I say, keep doing what you're doing - if your little one smiles at your funny faces, giggles when she hears you mimic her raspberry noises, cuddles against your chest when she's tired and her face lights up when she sees you sing "Ra ra Rocket" - you're doing everything right. And although there may come a day when neither Daddy or Mommy have he right answer, as long as we continue to love her and each other, the answers that work for us will be there when we need them.

For Michael's first father's day he didn't ask for much - just to spend the day with his girls so that's what we did. Little Miss and her big sister BonBon woke Daddy up in the morning with smiles, kisses and giggle/barks. There is truly nothing better than starting the day with the whole family in bed, sun streaming in the windows and a fresh fun perspective on what the day has to offer...if everyday could start this way, oh what life would be like!

After opening his hand made cards and his gifts we watched as little Miss and BonBon had their own fun in the pile of used wrapping paper strewn all over our bed. Normally I would have been snapping pics trying to capture every smile and laugh but somehow that morning was meant just for the four of us.

After gifts we had an omelet breakfast, a favorite of Daddy's followed by a nap for little Miss and some much needed relaxing for Mommy & Daddy. We spent the afternoon sipping margarita's at Gammy & Papa's house while little Miss yet again napped...it was tiring watching Daddy open his gifts...took it right out of her.

After some lovin' from family and play time in yard with cousin Kerrie we headed back home for a relaxing and leisurely dinner...another favorite was served...meatloaf - I know, I know...I'm a lucky lady...my husband is the easiest man to please in the food department. Most men want some fancy meal that they can't normally get...not Michael...meatloaf was on the top of his request list.

PS - Sorry about the clothes line...I'm sure Gammy has some better pics...and some of Daddy and his girl...I'll post an update later...

Rainy Day

I know most people prefer bright sunshiny days on the weekend but every now and again it's nice to wake up to a gray day and the sound of rain pouring down.  If nothing else it forces you to relax. Most weekends are filled with the hustle and bustle of life, attending parties, visiting friends & family, running errands, going, going, going. A rainy day cancels most plans (at least for me), no running errands in the pouring rain, no yard work for the hubs, no parties or outdoor activities to attend, just a lazy day, catching up on the art of spending time.

The spaghetti dinner was little Miss's first and something she enjoyed immensely...

Saturday morning we started the day off with a candlelight breakfast of omelets, home-fries and toast. Little Miss was fast to drift off to dreamland with a full belly to the lullaby of showers outside her window. Snuggling on the couch, reading books, some piano playing, an afternoon nap (for everyone), spaghetti dinner and a movie made up the rest of our rainy day activities.

Sunday was a little less rainy but was spent relaxing none the less. We were visited by Gammy & Papa who started our day off with our favorite apple cinnamon buns...which are now little Miss's new favorite. We spent the rest of Sunday reading books, playing with our iPad and rocking out to the latest AC/DC concert which has convinced us that little Miss is destined to be a rocker girl...they'll be no classical piano recitals in this house! 

Since the next few weekends will have us all on the go this was a much needed "pause" - I could honestly spend every weekend like this.

We've Got the Clap

Again, people seriously - this is a blog about my kid...

We've known for awhile now that little Miss can clap (her hands people), but it wasn't until recently that I had witnessed the fact that she would clap "on command."  While watching her, watch her video, I noticed that she now mimics much of what she see the children in her "Your Baby Can Read" videos doing. She would see/hear "arms up" and her arms would go up, the little girl in the video would say, "Lauren has her fingers in her mouth" and Abbey's hand would end up in her mouth...then came the clapping.

When I told Daddy the good news he had to see it for himself. He promptly broke into a chorus of "if you're happy and you know it clap your hands" and little Miss did her Daddy proud, clapping at the right moment - you would have sworn someone handed the man a million dollars in small unmarked bills! I'm sure my face was approximately the same when I saw her in action the first time, but to see the reaction on his face just made my day!
Since we love to share our wonder and amazement of our daughters accomplishments with the masses - the following is Abbey's third time through a chorus of "if you're happy and you know it, preformed for Mommy & Daddy!

We Love Grass

If you thought this was going to be about that kind of grass you're reading the wrong blog...sucked you in though! So now that you're here...

There's something to be said about taking time to appreciate the simple things in life (still not talking about that kind of grass). As I spent the day working from home to keep an eye on my little Miss's fever I got the chance to spend some of those simple moments with her. Between the temperature spikes and mood swings there were moments of pure happiness. 
I decided to take Abbey outside to get some fresh air before the temperatures outside climbed close to her internal temp. Mostly I wanted to get out of the house because the dog was beginning to drive me nuts and I can't leave her to her own devices in the back yard for more than five minutes because she feels the need to dig her own grave...
Once outside, it occurred to me that it was Abbey's first time playing on the lawn. It's always been too cold, too wet, too hot, or too buggy to set her down on the lawn to explore. As soon as I sat her down she started to giggle and run her hands over top of the blades of grass. As it tickled her toes and hands she smiled up at me and I fell in love with our lawn - not in the way my husbands loves it, but for being able to give me that one moment where my sick unhappy little one could find her happy place, smiling and snuggled into me while she continued to reach out and run her hands over the lawn as she cooed and giggled.

The following are a combination of pics...the first, for your viewing pleasure were taken by Daddy last weekend in our new/old lawn ornament...JP eat your heart out :-) the rest were taken by me on my iPhone during our time hanging out on the lawn... you'll know the difference...

 

Abbey's New Friend Jacob

Just when I think I'm the only one in the world with the "one and done" mentality of child birthing I meet a kindred sole...as happy as I am for those parents out there in the world who are good with the chaos that comes with multiple children, it's refreshing to know that there are others like myself who are all set with their one and only little one.

Luckily there are lots of people in our lives who want big families so we can continue to enjoy that "new baby smell" and live vicariously through others - while being able to go home and get a good night sleep! The Poisson's recently welcomed their second little man into the world, Jacob Paul is an absolute cutie just like his brother! We finally made it over to see him and of course Michael got some great picks of all the little ones.

Abbey now has her pick of cute boys who live just up the road...though I do think she may have some competition from Makayla. Being a blond haired blue eyes cutie who can already walk gives Makayla a real advantage in trying to catch Thomas. Thankfully we have a number of years before any real chasing will go on - right now we're happy to just watch them all grow up together, sharing their sippy cups and toys!

So without further ado, here are some pics of all our little cuties during their most recent play date - hopefully their mommy's & daddy's don't mind me talking about their kids and sharing their pics publicly! If this blog disappears you'll know I'm censoring...for now enjoy these precious little people who know all too well how to put the smiles on our faces.

Miss Makayla is just too cute!!

Not to be outdone...Thomas is a ham!

Baby Bro, Jacob will surely be competing for most photogenic

 

Mommy & Jacob take the prettiest pair win!

Wait just a minute here...what about me?

Seriously, look at me? How cute am I?

(we're working on making her humble...)

Celebrating Life

This past weekend we were honored to celebrate the baptism of Myles Edward Vedder.  As I've mentioned in the past I am generally not Gaga over other peoples children but this little man is just too cute for words...I also happen to love his family so I can't help but love him!

I've said it before but I think it bares repeating... sometimes the most influential people come into our lives at a just the right moment to make an impression that lasts forever. Now I'm not one to claim divine intervention but I do believe that things happen when they are supposed to and for reasons that we are often unaware of.  My surrogate mom Ann was one such person to me. With the loss of almost my entire family she and her family have become my extended family. I've been blessed because I got to choose my family...something people don't get to do!

So it was with a humble heart and great pride that I accepted the appointment of God Mother in the life of little Myles Edward. Having recently chose God parents for our own little girl I know the thought, emotion, and care that goes into selecting the people you are appointing to be the spiritual guides of your child so I was and continue to be honored by their choice in me.

I hope that in raising my own child I can in turn prove to be a worthy guide for this beautiful little man. If nothing else I will always be in his life and will be there to listen to him and guide him whenever he needs.  My Godparents were a wonderful addition and guiding light in my life - my Godfather continues to be even to this day.

Fortunately I had our "family photographer" aka Daddy/Michael there to capture all the special moments...here's a little teaser from Myles big day, these and the others will be loaded to Kodack and shared with everyone...patience is a virtue people!

A Beautiful Church...

Moving Words...

Excited Parents and God Parents...

 

Blessed by the Father, the Son & The Holy Spirit...

 

Myles and Grandpa Gardner lock eyes in understanding...

 

Myles and Abbey have a little heart to heart moment

(My favorite pic thus far)

And after an exhausting Affair, Myles is loved and comforted by Aunt Amanda...

his favorite shoulder!

Sorry Grandma Gardner...you have to wait for the rest :-)

Baby Got Skills...

You all know how I just love to highlight my little Miss's new skill sets...lately we've had lots of new developments above and beyond just teeth. We continue to be on the verge of walking which, I must admit will be awesome to see, but is something I can wait awhile to see. So with independent footsteps looming I'm trying to focus on these little "achievements" - really this is the craziness that makes our days worth while regardless of whether these new skills are certificate worthy.

And even as I type I'm reminded of all those people that had children before me who droned on and on about their kids and I wanted to vomit in my mouth - and here I am documenting my child's every move...but I'm doing it here - where you the reader are coming to read it so your partially to blame...I do still try very hard to not make the subject of every conversation to be solely about Abbey's favorite cereal or just how much she loves Happy Monster Band.  But for now, since you're here...enjoy little Miss showing off her skills.

We Have Teeth!

Welcome Central and Lateral Incisors (top 4 front teeth)! We have officially broken through the gum line...Eureka!

You would think that Mommy & Daddy would be getting a break now that these little pearly whites have surfaced but no,  we're on to first year molars already...oh man...

Today I read that she'll ultimately have 20 baby teeth prior to loosing them for her adult teeth so I guess the fact their coming in 2-4 at a time is better for all of us involved. With 6 down, 2 in progress we've got 12 to go...I'm not lovin' the math yet.

Even with all the drooling, occasional grumping and sometimes down right miserableness little Miss Abbey finds time to look fabulous...The new sunglasses are really something.