~3-Year-Old Princess Party~

My baby is 3... My baby is 3... My baby is 3.....

Such a profound moment for a Mother to realize on her child's birthday that the child is actually getting older and bigger...

We had a small family get-together BBQ with a pool that Katelyne could not stay out of! She jumped in at 3:15pm and we MADE her get out and have dinner, then right back in until 8:30pm!!!! She had a blast! We also had a fun sprinkler... Still not sure who had more fun, the kids or Roxy!!!

Days before we had a hard time picking just 1 Princess cake, so Daddy let us have all 4!!!

Katelyne had the Tinkerbell one.... Made with blue frosting! Yummy!

It was amazing to look at my Little Girl on her 3rd Birthday. She is such a giving, caring, loving little person with a huge heart, she even has a little sass thrown in for kicks... I can sit and have a real conversation with her and she and I understand each other. She seems to be coming into her own - what with independence, confidence and a tad bit of fear. I have to say I pat Eric and myself on the backs as we didn't do too bad (so far) with our trial run.

Just an amazing girl.

Happy Birthday Princess Katelyne!!

~Have You Ever Been So Mad...?~

... That because you were told to go to bed, when you refused to stay in bed you had to find a place to hide in case someone came looking for you - and then you fell asleep?

Katelyne did.

~What-Cha Lookin' At?~

Tyler is starting to figure out that he has hands at the ends of those chubby-whubby arms. And recently started to grab everything in his reach. Today he discovered his new BFF the monkey that dangles from his car seat that seems to follow him everywhere... I decided to take Mr. Monkey off of the car seat and let Ty play with him - you know, up close.

I now recognize that Tyler saw Mr. Monkey as a threat to his own cuteness. He was "talking" to Mr. Monkey in a not-so-cute tone and was looking at him very sternly in the process... I believe there was something to this effect going on...

Tyler's inner monologue: "Look Dude, this is my space, my Mommy, my time... basically - My Show. I am not quite sure what you are doing here or what you are trying to prove, but I am bigger than you and cuter than you could ever hope to be. That being said, please take you place back on the car seat... we'll talk next time we go out... Get it?"...

And just to be sure Mr. Monkey understood that Tyler meant business, he gave him a little nibble....
Hopefully, Mr. Monkey took the point...

~First Hair Cut~

So, what started out as a week of huge milestones has yet to finish, but up to this point I should share my Little Princess' HUGE "Big Girl" moment.

For those of you who know me, you know that I have been terrified to cut my baby's hair. It is just beautiful as it is - flowing, ringlet curls at the bottom, perfect highlights - I did not want to mess with Mother Nature in changing that... With the exception of her bangs, there was never so much as a snip before Tuesday. Then my "Big Girl" decided that she did not want me combing, brushing or to even think about fixing her hair. Me, being the Mom, and being waaaayyyy smarter, decided that I would "scare" the brush to her head.

Our conversation went like this:

Me: "...if you don't let Mommy do your hair, it will get really tangled and if that is what you want we should just cut it..."

Katelyne: "Ok"

Me: "Are you sure? Then you may not have these pretty curls at the bottom..." (A little shakey)

Katelyne: "Ok"

Me: "Alright then, we will cut your hair - are you sure you want too?!?!!?"

*Please say no, please say no, please say no.....*

Katelyne: "Yes Mommy"

So, we did:

Brother watched amusingly....

yes, I cried.... DOES SHE NOT KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVED HER HAIR?!?!?!?! What about me?!?!?!?! Why isn't anyone concerned about Mom?!

In the end, I had them cut about an inch. I chickened out and I really was in denial that my little one would call my bluff! I was traumatized! And look how big she looks! They gave her Princess Braids with a pretty purple ribbon and glitter.... I failed.

Why couldn't she be like every other kid and run scared of a hair cut?

~Lessons From Big Sister~

Before I was a Mommy, I was always told several things by people that were parents already.
*Get your sleep now...
*I hope you have a strong gag reflex...
*You think life is crazy now?.....
You know, the things that come along with parenthood.

But, the one thing I heard over and over after I had my daughter and was pregnant with Tyler was, "...when you see your kids playing together, you will melt..." and I did.

The other night while I was cooking dinner, I suddenly heard Katelyne talking so softly and sweetly to Tyler saying, "push the 1... good job!" I look over and she is holding his hand "helping" him push the '1'... and then she says, "this is how we call on the phone." She was so kind, gentle and loving toward him. It really was a melting point.


Then my Ty-Ty got hungry and took matters into his own hands... I am guessing he was hungry - he could have made a prank call and been doing some heavy breathing into the phone! Maybe?


But, at the end of the day...prank call or teething, he is adorable...

And the love that was in my kitchen that evening while I cooked was amazing. My two little ones, playing together and enjoying each other. Everyday is just that...amazing.

Bring on the teenage years!!! I got this!!! >:-)

~4th of July Camping Fun~

Fourth of July weekend we headed out West... well, not really so much West as North West. Our destination was Fernwood Resort in Big Sur California. Camping with Grammie and PopPop! We were nestled in the redwoods of the coast, with quiet, starry nights, cool summer days and TONS of fun. Everyday was constant play. Daddy and Katelyne took to the rapids of the river...


Katelyne played on shore looking for an endless supply of rocks to toss into the river...


Tyler napped... when it was time for dinner and Tyler was sleeping so soundly, we have to improvise as to where to put him.... who hasn't slept cozily in a tote???

Every night ended with a roaring fire compliments of PopPop and Daddy. Katelyne had her first taste of s'mores. Yummy!!!

We had a blast! Eric and I have such fond memories growing up and camping with our parents, that we just sit and smile at all of the similar memories we are building for our kiddos. Being out together, with no television, no cell phone and really nowhere to go, gives us the chance to talk, play and enjoy each other to the fullest...


Thanks for the opportunity California - Happy America Day!!!