Brodogg Blogg

How to Avoid a Huge Line at the Post Office

2011-10-02T21:47:00.003-04:00

So my little girls are usually wonderful little cherubs when we go out in public. Well, "usually" may be a little stretch of the truth, but you get the point. They don't throw huge tantrums at the store (I am knocking very loudly on wood right now) or throw their food across the restaurant, or pull other kid's hair at playgroup (I think I just broke my desk I am currently knocking so hard on wood.). Then one day , that all changed.
We had to go to the Post Office and I decided not to take the stroller in because it was going to be quick trip, and when I drove by I could see thast the line was very short. Well, anyone who has young children knows that you need to add about ten minutes to your trip for each time you need to take you children in OR out of the carseat. So, it was no surprise by the time I opened the door to the Post Office, there was a huge line. I should have just turned around and went on my merry way with my lovely children. But, given the history I just spoke of, them seeming pretty happy, and me having a deadline to make with the package I had, I decided to go for it. As soon as I got in line my children turned into gremlins! Fiona wouldn't let me hold her, Zoe ran around the corner to the PO boxes, Fiona followed her, and no one would come back when I called them. After giving up my place in line, I grabbed them to get back in line. They started acting like I was killing them, so I let them go in embarrassment. I repeated this about three times and then I just gave up. They proceeded to run laps around the post office, screaming and laughing at the top of their lungs, hanging from every countertop ledge they could reach and pulling down all of the packaging products. They WOULD NOT STOP. People were staring. People were laughing. Most people were rolling their eyes and giving me the "if that was my kid..." look. My children were going postal. I wanted to cry. There were still about 4 people in front of me. And then it happened. I must have looked so pathetic and so beat down that ALL FOUR OF THEM actually let me go ahead of them in line! I didn't know what I felt more - thankfulness or pure shame.
Luckily for my sanity, my children have yet to be that obnoxious in public since, but I sure as hell have not brought them to the Post Office again!

Something is wrong here..

2011-10-02T20:57:00.003-04:00

So there I was sitting at Barnes and Noble, sipping on a latte, leisurely tasting my delicious veggie quiche, skimming quietly through a few books I picked up....and then my brain kicked in:

I'm forgetting something! Do I have an appointment I'm missing right now?

Nope, nowhere to be.

Something is missing! Is it my purse?

Nope, that's right here.

I had that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt like I was missing a limb. And then it hit me. I was alone. I didn't have either child with me. And not because I forgot them somewhere, but because they were both at playgroup! And I didn't have to pick them up for two and a half more hours! The sick feeling in my stomach quickly was replaced by outright giggling and the enire cafe was now staring at me. I couldn't stop smiling as I looked around and people watched, read my books, and relaxingly ate my breakfast without one person needing anything from me. No whining, crying, diapers, playdates to clean for, laundry to do,or work to complete. Well, at least none of that stuff while I was in Barnes and Nobles for that one glorious morning.
This what what I had dreamed about for the last 3 and a half years! But then, about an hour into my freedom I was stuck. I didn't really know what to do with myself. I ate all my food, coffee was gone, and books were skimmed. I made myself sit there quietly and just savor the moment. But I just started with the To DO lists in my head. Then I made myself browse some more. I kept looking at the clock. I just couldn't relax. I felt like I should be doing something productive! I kept arguing with myself to enjoy my time, but it was an actual fight in my brain. My body just didn't remember how to just BE. After a while I just gave up and went to the grocery store and picked up a few things that we needed. I figured I had plenty of time to re-learn how to "chill" and I was really looking forward to it!
That was two months ago and I haven't had another chance since. Oh well, maybe in three more years!

Is it worth it?

2011-08-22T21:11:00.005-04:00

I was having a difficult moment tonight. It happens. Sometimes frequently. Thinking about one crappy thing lead to thinking about another crappy thing, which led to thinking about another crappy thing. Isn' t that snowball effect freaking awesome? Finally, in the span of 20 minutes I was involved in a full on pity party, and I was the guest of honor. Waah me. I asked myself the usual question -

"Is it all worth it?"

All the money we owe, all the shit that needs to be done to the house, all the times I was really pissed and had no one to call, all the laundry to do, the slaps to the face in the middle of the grocery store by my toddler, all the places the car needs repair. All the times I fought with my husband about the god damn cat box, all the time I don't get to spend time with said husband because we have to work opposite schedules. All the friends and family that we love that are too far away, all the family that doesn't give a shit about us. All the times I don't get that birthday present or get to give that birthday present. All the times you have to deal with the outside world and you just wish you could curl up and hide for a while.

Well, pardon my french but -

Heck yeah, it is all worth it.

I don't believe in the "it's all wonderful because love conquers all" crap. But that is exactly how it is. I love my girls so stinkin' much that it hurts sometimes. I catch myself looking at them and have tears in my eyes thinking that they came to be only because of me and my husband. No one else could have made them. It is absolutely fascinating to me. They are wonderful bundles of life and joy and energy and sweet, tangled love. My life is better because of them, I am better because of them. No matter what happens, they have changed my path, my being, and are forever a part of me. I would not want to live without that part. Because without them, it is not worth it.

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-19T22:03:00.005-04:00

Daddy's new shirt we had made for him - Because he always tells us he loves us

"As Big as the world, as big as the sky", (forever and ever and ever!)

(be sure to turn up the volume - the little microphone icon under the picture, for some reson it defaults to mute)

Daddy got a new pair of shoes, a special breakfast, a new shirt and an afternoon of boating. In his words - "best father's day ever!" Love you Keith for being a great daddy and loving your girls...

AS BIG AS THE SKY, AS BIG AS THE WORLD, FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!

thanks for being my babies' daddy!

No shoe didn't - Yes shoe did.

2011-06-12T22:07:00.003-04:00

First, let me start with a quote that I find particularly fitting:

In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul. ~ Lisa T. Shepherd

I share this because this picture is an example of why mothers like myself can identify with this quote. If you notice, this is a picture of a large pile of baby shoes - AND NOT ONE OF THEM MATCH. There are 10 shoes here from Fiona's shoe storage box and they are all different. In my house (or possibly car) at this given moment is the match to every one of these shoes. Yet somehow it is possible that when I am looking for two shoes that match to take my child out into the world, there are only ten shoes that - and I repeat -DO NOT MATCH!!!! This is a perfect example of why mothers often feel like they have lost their mind. Luckily for us, the second part of the quote usually comes into play quickly enough to keep us somewhat sane.

The Sleeping Bee

2011-05-07T20:30:00.008-04:00

****This post written by the blogger's Mom,

otherwise known as Gramma*****

One sunny morning recently on our porch, Zoe noticed a bumblebee lying underneath our table.
She asked me why the bee wasn’t moving, and I told her the bee was probably “sleeping”, which has been my Son-in-Law's way of avoiding the death subject.
My daughter told me it was okay, as death was now being discussed with little Miss 3 Year Old. So, I told her the bee was dead. She got down on her knees and tried to BZZZZZZ at it and it didn’t move.
The discussion went to “Gramma, why doesn’t the bee move?” I stumbled and told her that when you died you can’t move…..after many “why” questions, including “Gramma, why won’t he open his eyes?”, I finally resorted to the, “because God made it that way” answer to a few questions, much to the dismay of my daughter.
Zoe asked if she could touch the bumble bee - we decided not to touch but to look at it. She got down nose to nose with the bumble bee and just watched it for a long time, very, very quietly. And then said, “Gramma, the bee still won’t wake up “– so Gramma said, “Zoe, do you want to sing the bee a song?” I thought we would make up a little ditty about a sleeping bumblebee on my porch, when very quietly, she began to sing to the bee…..”The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout……….” The song I sang to her every morning when she was a baby…..

-Gramma

Easter 2011

2011-04-30T16:13:00.001-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Pitstop between Errands

2011-04-15T15:34:00.003-04:00

Fiona and I were running some errands while Zoe was in school today and ended up stopping at the beach(that makes errand so much more tolerable!). We hadn't been since...well...she probably doesn't even remember being at the beach it's been so long, I'm sad to say. But we can so we did today! She was totally freaking out about her toes having sand stuck on them and wouldn't stand up for the longest time. Just kept saying "uh-oh" and "feet". (The video doesn't give her original reaction justice!)Finally she was OK with it and we ran around looking at the ocean, birds and beach goers for a while. It was lovely!

Blankey and Baba

2011-04-11T21:39:00.005-04:00

Fiona has a "lovey". It's a blanket that she really wasn't interested in until a few months ago. Zoe never had one, and that was kind of weird to me because I thought every kid had one(though I don't remember having one, so I don't know why I thought that). She isn't obsessed with it or anything, she just likes to chew on it when she's tired. Maybe "chew" isn't the right word- she practically stuffs the whole thing in her mouth at once! I like it because it's made of organic cotton and satin. I wonder how long she'll love on it - I know a certain someone who still has his and he is over 30 years old:)... I am also having a hard time getting rid of her bottle ("baba"). She definitely wants it when she wakes up and when she is tired. I think it's hard for me to get rid of it because I feel guilty about stopping breast feeding when I did. She was OK about it then, I just feel like maybe I should have waited longer, until she stopped. Plus, I'm sure part of my reluctance to stop this baby stuff is the whole "she's my last baby wah wah wah". I'll get over it - I guess... it's just this motherhood thing/taking care of my own babies is kind of nice. I'm finally getting the hang of it and now they aren't babies any more!:(

"Being grateful takes time and energy"

2011-04-06T23:06:00.012-04:00

I'm feeling particularly grateful tonight after I tuck my cherubs into bed. Maybe it's because we had an active, but not tiring day. Maybe it's because I got lots of cleaning done (relatively speaking, of course). Maybe it's because I have plans all week to look forward to. But, most likely, it's because I have a lot to be grateful for. Period. I have two healthy, charismatic daughters who I get to spend most of their developing moments with. I have a husband who works as hard as he loves his family. I have family members who care about me. I have friends who love me no matter my moments or how much time has passed. I have a wonderful house, a place that truly feels like my home, that I am very proud of. I have the ability to actively take part in my life and the world around me. I am thankful. I am hopeful. I am grateful.

Meet Chuck

2011-03-29T21:14:00.003-04:00

World, I would like to introduce you to my youngest daughter, "Chuck". We've decided to name her that because ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THE CHILD TOUCHES ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR. There is no ill will or ill intent. Just the ol' "hold and throw". The fork in the picture - on the floor. The peas in her plate - on the floor. The cup in the car - on the floor. The book in her room - on the floor. People laugh out loud at us as they walk by our table in restaurants because of the pile under her highchair (don't worry - I try to clean it up before we leave). It's gotten a little ridiculous. The best part is when she looks at you and says, "No, no, no" as she does it. So until this so called phase passes, Fiona will hereby be referred to as Chuck.

Stop Titan and save my Babies!

2011-03-19T15:02:00.011-04:00

So I'm really excited to be more involved in a group that I have been supporting for years now - Citizens Against Titan. I have been taking the girls to protests, community events and writing to every polititcian who I can get an email address for. Titan America(a cement company) wants to set up shop near our community and without a doubt (with tons of scientific data to prove it), will completely contaminate our air and environment with toxic pollutants. As a mother, as a community member, as someone who cares about the environment, and lastly, as someone who will be breathing this air, I cannot tolerate this. So I have become involved with the new Parents Against Titan group and am excited for the education and inspiration we can bring to families in our area. I hope that I can convince some more parents to fight the good fight because not fighting this particular fight is the passive equivalent of poisoning your own children. Join our group on Facebook to show your support -
http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_210672762279814&ap=1

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

2011-03-15T21:19:00.007-04:00

Is that a hole in a tree or a fairy house?

Santa, leprechans, fairies, talking cartoon dogs, magicians....

All the things that make childhood different than adulthood (and way better!).

Pushing your sister, not cleaning your room, not washing your hands...

All the things that you lie about when you are a child and what your parents frown upon.

So when is a lie OK? When it's convenient? When it makes someone else feel better? When it's a white lie? A grey lie? Where do we draw the line? I know I don't tolerate lying from anyone in my life - my husband, my family, my friends....or even myself. I am brutally honest - to the point of uncomfortable sometimes. I assumed I would be the same with my children. But then Zoe was old enough to know about Santa...and that was so fun! And the Easter Bunny... and now Leprechans and on and on. "Mommy, how does Santa get here?" Why does the Easter Bunny hide eggs?" "I learned about Leprechauns at school today". Yes, I could tell the truth and say that it is all pretend. She is starting to grasp the concept of "pretend". But there is nothing magical about that...and that is truly what I loved the most about my childhood. I was one of that last holdouts in the world of make believe and I believed in everything magical with all my heart. I believed that my dolls came to life at night and played while I was sleeping. I believed that Santa did get my 6 page wish list and considered each choice with care. I believed that there were fairies in the trees and that my dog could understand me. I had a wonderful, happy, magical childhood. No, believing in Santa was not the only reason for that, but that mindset was a big part of making being happy with the world so easy. So I guess i answered my own question. We tell stories to make childhood a wonderful place. When we stop telling those stories, life becomes boring and ugly. So here's to keeping the magic going until you can't anymore and at that point may the truth in life be a place that you can live because your heart is still filled with magic. And sometimes, just sometimes, you look twice under that leaf because you swear you saw pixie dust.

Rare family photo

2011-03-07T21:29:00.002-05:00

We rarely get the four of us in a picture these days, so I'm happy when I can grab a quick one - even if it's not fancy photo shoot style!

Get the sugars out

2011-03-07T21:14:00.002-05:00

For some reason, since I started helping Zoe brush her teeth over two years ago, I call it "getting the sugars out". I have no idea why other than I'm trying to impart that sugar is bad for your teeth and will give you cavitites, so you have to get them out every day. Fiona has gotten to the age where we are trying to teach her to brush her own teeth(we still go behind and do it for both of them). I came across these really cool toothbrushes with suction cups on the bottom and if you look closely at the picture you can see how Fiona likes to brush her teeth - with the brush suctioned to the sink!

I guess sometimes I'm just going to feel like a crappy Mom...

2011-03-07T20:18:00.003-05:00

See these two little angels? Usually the epitomy of cuteness. Today, not so much. We had a playdate at the house (two kids about the same age) and my little cherubs proceded to spend the entire three and a half hours attacking our guests. Now Fiona was being sweet about it and only wanted to be near the other baby, but ended up just harrassing the crap out of her until said baby would end up crying. Zoe , on the other hand, had a master plan. Since she has a history of being a little too "hands on" with this particular sweet girl, I tried talking about it ahead of time. I focused on the positive about keeping hands to ourselves, being a nice friend, etc, but apparently I sealed the deal when I mentioned "no pushing". Immediately Zoe decided "yes, pushing" was going to be the theme of the playdate. She proceded to push this child at every opportunity - even when they were sitting down eating lunch! I tried talking about it, time outs, suggesting maybe she needed some quiet time by herself, and even to the point of telling her no one would want to be her friend if she was not nice. I know it's a stage and developmentally it's normal, blah blah blah. But I have to admit, it's a little embarassing being the parent of a kid who is aggressive. I know I get pissed when another kid is aggressive to my child, age appropriate or not. So anyway, I totally was stressed out during the entire playdate and just felt crappy for the rest of the day because I couldn't get it out of my head that I must be a bad mom. To me, that is the worst thing I could be. So, yeah, I know tomorrow is a new day and I'm sure they'll do something to totally warm my heart a million times, but today was just not that kind of day.

Happy 3rd Birthday Zoe Pearl!

2011-03-06T21:36:00.004-05:00

We had Zoe's birthday at home this year and it was blast! First of all, I love the fact that we can stick to a basic "birthday party" birthday theme because she has never really had a "theme" before and she totally loves the concept of balloons and cake! Add our trampoline,swingset, tunnels, sand and water table and a few balls and you have the entertainment for every kid aged 1-12 at the party! The parents got mimosas which went over just as well! There was a great turnout because now Zoe has more friends because of school and it was just craziness galore. We booked the ice cream man as a surprise because she LOVES the ice cream man and that was huge hit, too. I would like to thank my friend Holly (who is an awesome party planner) for accidentally guilting me into making this party a special event. It was actually fun to plan and it turned out pretty good for someone with very little party planning experience - I might have to try something bigger and better next year! I am very excited to say that 90% of the party was purchased from the dollar store and I don't think anyone was the wiser. The goodie bags were even pretty decent (i think that is the funnest part for me to plan!). The important thing is that Zoe really seemed to have a great time. Most of her favorite people were all in her backyard playing with her at the same time and that was the best present she could have asked for! Love you Zoe, our biggest girl! You are the best!

PS A special thanks to Uncle Dave and Daddy for really helping get this party great!

March of Kindness

2011-03-02T09:48:00.003-05:00

I posted a link on the side of the blog about doing at least one kind thing per day for the month of March. I really like this idea, and I think we all could use the reminder. I am really tryng to teach Zoe and Fiona the importance of kindness - and if I had one goal for their life, it would be for them to learn to be kind. For true kindness leads to peace, inner health, happiness and an intersting life which are all of the other things I wish for them as well! Through teaching them, I am refocusing on my own kindness and trying to rekindle that focus in my life. I recently read somewhere that teaching something to someone makes it really become a part of you. Here's to us all being a better person!

My stay at homies

2011-02-03T13:47:00.005-05:00

Two things make it possible for me to stay home with my girls - my sweet highly overworked but not underloved husband and our family accounting business
For that I am truly thankful!

Mama's last baby

2011-01-21T21:31:00.002-05:00

Obviously, Keith and I made the choice to have the girls pretty close together. We also chose not to have any more children after this. Initially, this choice seemed like a no-brainer. But now, I will say that the idea of never having another baby again is kind of sad to me. It's exactly like everyone says - it goes by soooo fast! That is why each step of babyhood that Fiona passes through makes me sad. Every time I put away another baby toy in the For Sale bag, or put another box of baby clothes in the attic, it is another pang of the reality that I will have no more babies in the house. It's hard for some people to understand this and I know it is my own thing, but it is very real to me. I just have to remind myself to cherish every cuddle , every babble, every giggle, every sleeping baby and look forward to the next steps of these precious lives I am so in love with...

Snow Day

2011-01-21T21:26:00.003-05:00

It rarely snows in Wilmington, so when it does it is lovely!

(As long as you don't need to go anywhere!)
We don't have snow clothes for the girls - because it never snows here, so playing outside is not an option. Instead we filled up a bowl with fresh snow and Zoe played with it in the tub!

When her hands got too cold, we took the leftover snow and added chocolate syrup and cherries!
Yum!

This year's Christmas card

2011-01-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

I tried to be cute again with this year's card and it was pretty low budget, so we did what we could. We took about 200 pics and most of them resembled the second picture here while one, and only one, actually looked cute (see the first pic above). I guess you only need ONE cute picture for a chirstmas card, anyway...

Zoe can use chopsticks!

2011-01-11T21:45:00.003-05:00

( We go to this local chinese american chain called Mama Fu's (which Zoe calls Mommy Fu's). The girls love the tofu and edamame there. It's the only place we can go where the kids actually eat a meal's worth of food. The way we got Zoe to eat even more was to let her eat with chopsticks. She would just stab her tofu and eat eat it that way. One day, the waitress used rubberbands and fashioned the chopsticks so Zoe could actually use them for real and she was soooo excited and proud of herself! For Christmas I got her "trainer" chopsticks and she will eat anything I give her as long as she can use them! So cool that my two year old knows what edamame is, likes tofu and uses chopsticks!

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-01-11T21:37:00.002-05:00

Santa hooked our girls up! He loves making girly presents!
Putting out the reindeer food so Santa will use the back door.
(Daddy is wearing his new christmas jammies even though he hates them!)

Christmas eve the girls get new jammies and get to open one present.

Fia is just excited to rip the paper!

Happy Birthday Daddy - The Big 4-0!

2011-01-11T21:33:00.001-05:00

As already stated in the previous post, Keith's birthday was a little side tracked by Christmas on Ice. He got to stay home with Fiona all day and she thanked him by throwing up all over him at the bookstore. We had to cancel our dinner plans and stay home and order in with a sick baby. Party time. We at least got to have cake and Zoe loved helping him blow out the candles:)
Happy Bday, Daddy - we'll make it up to you, I promise!

Christmas on Ice

2010-12-26T21:22:00.003-05:00

Feeding the very friendly ducks at Broadway on the Beach
The biggest christmas tree EVER!

Three generations of happy girls!

Zoe and the Lion (and her cute little special outfit-she was so excited to wear tights!)

Gramma took me and Zoe to see Christmas on Ice at Myrtle Beach and it was so fun! We started out with some hot chocolate and a walk to see the ducks and get our wiggles out before the show. Once inside, Zoe was in awe with the people, the pretty decorations and the excitement. When the show started,she was very nervous because we were only three rows back, but she got into it once Santa came out. She loved the dancing, singing, and ice skating and thought the jester in between acts was hilarious (she kept asking when the "funny man" was coming back)! Afterwards we went to lunch at Planet Hollywood because Zoe was fascinated that the building was an actual globe shape! She fell right alseep from all the excitement on the way home. It was so wonderful to have such a memorable experience with my mom and daughter. I can't wait to make it a yearly event! This is what happy childhood memories are made of!

****Please note: this is an offical apology to my sweet hubby who's birthday was the day of our all day outing without him. He knows why and was such a good sport about it. He will do anything it takes to make his babies happy - that's why we love him!

Mommy's Little Angel/Devil

2010-12-26T20:59:00.003-05:00

I am the first to admit that Fiona was an easy baby. And so far, a good early toddler too - most of the time. There definitely are days, though, when I feel the strong urge to jump out the stinkin' window. The other day was one of them. Fiona single handedly destroyed every shred of patience I had, even my extra secret stash. The morning was OK, other than the fact she dumped my coffee all over me (don't worry, it wasn't hot because I never get to sit down long enough to drink my coffee when it is actually hot). She didn't take an afternoon nap because she had a late morning nap (I won't even get into the crazy trip to the grocery store that caused the late nap) and that is when the oh-so-fun action took place. She was running around the house getting into absolutely everything she could reach. She tried to put her finger in every socket, eat every crumb on the floor, drink the dog water, pull the cats tail, and figured out how to get out the front door. Not to mention the above pictures which were just too much for words. Some of you may wonder how all this could happen if I actually watched my child, and trust me I do. She is never out of my sight for more than a few seconds, but that afternoon I was trying to multi-task way too much and she was not having it. So that is why, sometimes, just sometimes, mommy really needs a hole to climb in (because that is a way better option than the window idea I spoke of earlier).

Princess Fiona

2010-12-26T20:54:00.002-05:00

Fiona is definitely a girly girl! She loves wearing jewelry, headbands and carrying purses. It's not like she's modeling after Zoe or myself, she just started doing it on her own. It is so adorable - she will find anything to carry or wear!

Nursing my Puppy - I mean, My Baby

2010-12-16T16:45:00.003-05:00

I am still nursing Fiona. With Zoe I had to stop at ten months, so nursing at this age is a whole different ballgame. First of all, Fiona doesn't just lay there all cuddly like you see in some pictures. She is all over the place, going from side to side, forward and sideways, and every which way. She also has started panting loudly when she want to nurse. Yes, I said panting. Like a dog. I have no idea in the world why she would do that! I have been calling it "nummies" since she was born, and just assumed that was what she would call it. I cannot stress enough how I have NO IDEA why she does what she does. It is kind of embarrasing yet kind of funny at the same time. We don't really nurse in public much anymore...it's just harder for me when she is all over the place like that, so I doubt anyone will notice her "requests", but it makes me laugh. I'm not sure how long I will nurse her, my goal was one year, the World Health Organization says at least two years. She's eating all solid foods now, so it only happens a few times a day around sleeping times anyway, so I guess I'll let her figure out the details. Hopefully she's done before she can actually tell me why she pants when she wants her "nummies"!

The Christmas Cookie Monster!

2010-12-16T16:39:00.002-05:00

Papa made cookies with Zoe again this year. Well, he made the cookies and she "decorated" them. It was kind of grossly hilarious. She would put the frosting and sprinkles on the cookie, then smear her hand across it and lick her whole hand! Then she would happily start on another one. Each one she would ask, "I eat this one?", and we would say No, and then she would procede to lick all of the frosting and sprinkles off of it. Don't worry though - if we gave you any cookies this year, it was a batch she didn't "help" with!

Gramma and Papa are HERE.

2010-12-04T22:09:00.004-05:00

At Fia's Bday Party.

Taking Zoe to her first play.

On Fiona's actual birthday.

Many of the last few posts I have blogged about are about big moments in our lives and the special people who were there to celebrate with us. I want to be sure to point out that though they are not in any of those particular pictures, my Mom and John have been to every single important and not so important family event we have ever had. They are extremely busy with the family business, but they are always working the girls into their schedules, day in and day out. Just wanted to be sure that they knew we still appreciate their love for us and our girls and we absolutely don't take that for granted!

The Florida Crew come for Thanksgiving

2010-12-04T21:56:00.003-05:00

Dancing with the Macy's Day Parade
Cousins times 2!

Cousins times 4!

The girls:)

Making knudel with Aunt Eva.

So, the "Florida Crew" came up for Thanksgiving this year. We had a blast! We played games, shopped, cooked, ate, laughed, drove golf carts - you name it! I loooooove having so much family around. It reminds me of when I was little and everyone was together at every holiday and the kids were totally oblivious to all the adult drama that later just messed things up. These are the best, most loving group of family one could ask for. They love my girls and show it all the time! We all wish they lived closer!

Afternoon Delights

2010-12-04T21:40:00.002-05:00

My peeps who I love more than anything!

The Birthday Girl Birthday Party

2010-12-04T21:29:00.002-05:00

Cool as Ice!
More cake please!

Sassylicious.

Fiona had a nice party this weekend. Unfortunately there was not a big crowd, but the people that mattered were there! When everyone sang to her, she would stare at us like we were crazy, and when we were done she would break out into the biggest, most genuine smile ever!!!!!

Happy First Birthday Fiona Louise!!!!!!!!

2010-12-04T21:21:00.003-05:00

Fia's first birthday cupcake. Yum!
It's been a year since our family has been complete and we have all grown so much. Fiona is turning into the sweetest, funniest, most easy going person. She goes with the flow, loves her sister more than anything, and already has a sense of humor. We are so lucky to have her and we love her more and more every day! I wish for my baby girl the happiest life imaginable.

Sisters

2010-12-04T21:19:00.000-05:00

I just flat out love this picture!

Play with your food

2010-11-17T22:49:00.002-05:00

Zoe has become quite the picky eater these days. I finally gave in and made a lunch like this and sure enough she ate it! It's actually kind of fun anyway and she also likes to help me make the faces. It's no bento box, but it works in our house....

Sit down and be counted

2010-11-17T22:36:00.003-05:00

Fiona's new favorite thing to do is climb onto a chair and sit down.
It is quite the effort and takes lots of squirming.

But after the right angle and swivel.....

She gets to that perfect spot and is so proud of herself!

Daddy's helper

2010-11-17T22:33:00.002-05:00

Zoe is getting to that age where she wants to help with everything. She is even starting to actually be a help sometimes, too!

Happy Halloween 2010!

2010-11-04T14:31:00.004-04:00

The Halloweeners!

Let the "Fricker Freating" begin!

Spider Girl (or as Zoe says, "Fider Firl")saves the day/candy!

This little piggie went Trick or Treating

Zoe at school with her friend Wren

Zoe with her teacher

Aunt Sandy and Aunt Margaret Visit

2010-11-04T14:24:00.002-04:00

So we are pretty happy that these two lovely ladies went way out of their way to come visit us on their way home from Florida to Canada! We don't get many family visitors and to have them make a special detour just to see us means so much! We all loved the company and it was nice to just hang out and relax with people who love you. I can't thank you two enough for coming and for the beautiful things you made for my girls! I hope this can be an every year occurance!

Poppy was here!

2010-10-29T21:21:00.003-04:00

My Dad came to visit us for a few days and it was sooooo nice! It was great to just hang out and let him and the girls get to know each other and for him and I to chat into the night after dinner. He's been too far away for too long, and now he is closer so we can all do this more often. We are definitely ready to have more Poppy in our lives - we have some hugging catching up to do!

Pumpkin Patch #2

2010-10-29T21:14:00.002-04:00

We went to another pumpkin patch with friends and the kids loved it. It essentially was a family farm that they opened up to the public and have a few fun things to do with the kids like hay rides, slides, animal petting etc. I love all these fun activities we can do now that the girls are becoming more interested in the world outside of their direct existence. I was happy to support a self-sufficient family in the mean time (and even decided I want a few chickens of my own - though I'm pretty sure the rest of the compound would disagree).

Pumpkin Patch Pics 2010

2010-10-15T22:16:00.001-04:00

In last year's pumpkin patch picture Fiona was still in my belly! So happy to have our complete family together!

Wow! Airplane!

2010-10-15T22:14:00.002-04:00

Took Zoe to a playdate at the observation area of the airport and this was the expression on her face when she saw the first plane land. SO priceless! Love those moments...

Farmer's market

2010-10-15T22:08:00.002-04:00

We love going to the farmer's market up the street on wednesdays. Today was the first cool day so we got to break out the sweaters and sweatshirst. Yay for fall!

Sissy and Sissy

2010-10-15T22:05:00.001-04:00

Just a rare shot of unprompted sisterly love!

Breastfeeding is not Obscene!

2010-10-15T22:01:00.002-04:00

Me and the girls went on a walk to support Breastfeeding. I am proud to raise my girls to stand up for what they believe in!

Goodbye for now, My love

2010-10-15T21:55:00.002-04:00

Some of our best friends in Wilmington moved away this month and we are very sad to see them go. Zoe doesn't really understand this, but that means that her first true love, Ian, is gone as well... She still completely idolizes him, but he is getting to that age where he is totally too cool to notice (so it's probably a good thing he's not around to break her poor little heart during this phase). We wish Laurel, Nate and Ian immense peace and happiness in this new phase of their adventure and are happy to still call them friends!

Standing room only

2010-10-15T21:53:00.001-04:00

Fia is really pulling herself up and trying to get around now!

Baby's First Fireworks

2010-09-10T21:50:00.003-04:00

We took Zoe to see her first fireworks display down at Carolina Beach. She waffled between looks of awe and hiding her head thrughout the show. I think she didn't know what to think!

There is a whole carnival set up down there all summer, so Keith and I took Zoe on a night that they had the fireworks as well to kill two birds with one stone. She had a blast!

We stuffed ourselves with candy, ice cream, cheese sticks and all of the junk you are supposed to eat at these kind of things. She never had so much sugar in her entire life! I justified it to myself by thinking that she needed the buzz to keep her up late enought to see the fireworks at nine:)
We did carnival games, rides, sightseeing, dancing to the band and in the end saw the fireworks on the beach. Such a fun night- This is the kind of thing childhood memories are made of!

More Carnival Pics...

2010-09-10T21:44:00.002-04:00

So much yummies!

Zoe got a basket and WON!

Zoe and Daddy on the Ferris Wheel.

Carosel Time!

The girls

2010-09-10T21:42:00.000-04:00

Piggie Tail Cuteness!

2010-09-10T21:40:00.000-04:00

Couldn't resist!

Gramma and Papa and Zoe go on a Date

2010-09-10T21:35:00.002-04:00

Gramma and Papa took Zoe out for pizza the other night. It was so sweet! Zoe loved all the attention and the grandparents got to focus soley on her. It was a win-win situation! I actually consider it win-win-win-win because Keith and I got to stay home with Fiona and got a lot done!

Our new swingset!

2010-09-10T21:29:00.002-04:00

I got an AMAZING deal on an almost new swingset last week (like, mind-blowiwng amazing deals!)! I'm not sure who is more excited, me or the girls! It makes outside time a whole new world. It definitely satisfies one of those you-aren't-a-real-family-till-you-have-a-swingset-in-your-yard kind of feelings!

Mommy and Zoe's Playdate

2010-09-10T21:18:00.003-04:00

The other day, Zoe and I went on our first official "date" since Fiona was born. It was a long time coming! I never realized how much we needed it until we were there. I mean, every day I carve out special Zoe Time (usually when Fiona is napping) and we play and do whatever child led activity she wants. But I guess I am always distracted - either by laundry or cleaning, or waiting for Fia to wake up or whatever. During this "playdate", as Zoe called it, I realized what TRUE one on one time really is. And it is BEAUTIFUL!! It was just me and her having fun at a sign language concert in the park and we had a blast! I am determined to have these more often with EACH of my girls. We all deserve it!

Zoe's First Dentist Appointment

2010-08-18T21:34:00.002-04:00

Zoe had her first dental appointment today. She was an angel(of course). I think that really surprised the dentist! It was a really cool place - a pediatric dentist - don't think they had those when I was a kid! Look Ma - No Cavities!

Ice Cream - You Scream

2010-08-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Sisters sharing sorbet:)

Momma's helper

2010-08-18T21:28:00.003-04:00

I was redo-ing this bookshelf the other day and Zoe was quick to jump in and "help". She likes to help me clean her room, get Fiona a toy, and empty the dishwasher. With her "help" it usually takes me five times as long to get anything done, but it is very sweet. And anyway, I'll take all the help I can get!

Somebody is proud of herself!

2010-08-18T21:26:00.002-04:00

Once Fiona started crawling, she very quickly learned how to pull herself up in her crib. She will pull up and sit down, pull up and sit down, pull up and sit down....

Baby Toes Times Ten

2010-08-18T21:24:00.002-04:00

I love it when Fiona gets up on her knees and all you can see is the bottom of her baby toes!

PS - These baby toes are already 9 months old!

Gramma and Papa save the Day, well actually, most of the Summer!

2010-08-11T23:16:00.003-04:00

We've been living with my Mom and John for almost two months now. Our air conditioner broke and the warranty company (2-10) sucks and is giving us the worse runaround ever. They don't feel that no A/C in North Carolina in the summer with two babies constitutes an emergency. Did I mention they suck? I don't know what we would have done if it wasn't for Mom and John. We have totally overtaken their house, their fridge, their bathroom, their bedroom and not to mention every last second of their free time. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS!!!!! Not all relatives would be so helpful and understanding. We have no idea what we would have done without you and couldn't be more thankful!!!! As usual, you are the best!

An open letter to Mothers

2010-08-11T14:42:00.006-04:00

Lately I've read a lot about motherhood. From Mommy bloggers getting their own reality show, to the stay at home vs. working mother conflict, to supermodel moms claiming to know what is right for all, to facebook rantings, to news reports on moms in crisis. One last thing I read was an opinion piece about an article that claimed motherhood was not that hard.
OK, I get it. Moms are people. Some people are easy going and some people are assholes. Some people are smart and some people aren't. Some people are go-getters and some people are lazy. That's why moms have a million different views and opinions. I really believe that the one thing that ties us all together so strongly is the fact that we are Moms. Everyone has one. It's undeniable. Maybe you don't like yours. Maybe you think your's is the best. Maybe you never met her. Maybe you wonder if you are going to end up exactly like her. But the fact is you were someone's baby. At some point you were carried in someone's womb and they thought about you. Chances are they thought about how much they loved you, or wondered how you would change their very existence, or wondered what their life would be like with or without you. After you were born, they became your mother for the rest of your life. Some mothers couldn't take the responsibilty so they gave their baby to someone who could,who then took over the role of mother. Regardless of how one becomes a mother it always involves strong feelings. This goes back to my whole "mothers are people" idea. Strong feelings give some people the courage to take on life. Strong feelings scare some people and make them unsure. Strong feelings get some people talking. Strong feelings shut some people down.
My point is that being a mother is wonderful and tiring and energizing and scary and a million other feelings all at once on any given day. So depending on when you catch us talking about it, it may come across as such. So let's try not to judge each other. I don't think any mother out there starts her day trying to be a bad one. I think it is helpful if we all try to support each other and remind ourselves that we all are mothers and we all are someone's child.
I want to be a good mother. I read somewhere that every second that passes you get a second chance to do it right. That sounds like a Good Mommy kind of place to start to me.

Daddy and his Girls

2010-08-10T15:56:00.000-04:00

These girls both looooooove their Daddy!

Sister Act

2010-08-10T15:55:00.000-04:00

Momma's girls!

Zoe's Bounty

2010-08-10T15:53:00.000-04:00

Veggies from our garden that Zoe loves to eat raw!

Around the Way Girl

2010-08-10T15:46:00.002-04:00

Fiona is getting around on her own these days. She started "crawling" which looks more like a military style shuffle (on her elbows and tummy). She also has been trying to pull herself up. I found her sitting in her crib the other day after nap too. When she goes, she is like a woman on a mission and is really fast and totally focused on her target!

Zoe can (kinda)swim and Momma has a heart attack

2010-08-10T15:21:00.004-04:00

When Joelle was visiting we stayed in a hotel in Raleigh that had a pool. Zoe hadn't been in a pool since last year. I bought some arm floaties from the dollar store just to try out with the toddler sized life vest I got a few years ago at a yard sale. Not only did she love it, but she caught on really quickly to the swimming motions (doggie paddle style). She loved to jump off the side right into the water with no one catching her!

Fast forward to a birthday pool party a few weeks later...

Zoe was down to just swimming with the arm floats and was really loving it. Now mind you, she obviously was with one of us with her at all times during this "swimming" she was doing. It was time to get out of the water and have cake, so we were all drying off. I was holding Fiona and Zoe was walking around the pool with me. Until, that is, she decided it would be a good time to jump right in - and then totally sunk to the bottom of the pool!!!!!

This is where the slow motion feeling starts and a few seconds feel like a decade...

To my later dismay, I think I instantly froze for a split second before I started yelling to the people in the pool to get her. They all had their backs turned and had no idea she was there.

My false sense of security...

I always expected if a child fell in the water there would be a lot of splashing around and loud gasping for air and everyone would definitely notice. Not even close. It was a split second of total silence and she was under. The people two feet away would never have even noticed (especially because it was a pool party and there was a lot of commotion, but most pools are like that anyway). She was quickly scooped up and was totally fine, but I was a wreck inside. I always knew you have to watch kids around water, but now I really feel the urgency of the possible situation. There is no letting your guard down. Ever. All of those people who think, "oh, they'll be fine" have just been lucky up to this point. I do not want to be one of those parents that has to say "if only I paid attention just a tad more"...

Joelle was here!

2010-07-22T22:46:00.003-04:00

Our cousin, Joelle came for 11 days this month. We had a blast! She is 9 years old and is the sweetest, smartest, most responsible kid I know. She was an amazing help with the girls and very fun too! Zoe is in love with her and I think the feelings are mutual. We did so many things and it was so great to spend time with real family! I am so glad that Joelle came - I hope she will come every summer, I know it will be something the girls will remember forever:)

Uhhhh-Ohhhhh!

2010-07-03T21:53:00.003-04:00

Fiona has a first word! She says "Uh-oh"! Gramma taught it to her when she plays that oh-so-fun baby game of throwing everything on the floor - over and over again! It's a good thing she didn't catch on to what I say when she plays that game or her first word would be something like, "Gimmeeabreak" or "Notagain" or "Ifshethrowsthatthingonemoretimei'mgonnna".

Shameless Plug

2010-06-30T16:22:00.003-04:00

Check out our family business! We work hard to make our girls proud!

http://johnizzocpa.com/

Aquarium

2010-06-28T20:33:00.003-04:00

So I was telling Zoe that we were going to go the aquarium to see sharks and crocodiles. She looks at me with this look of fear and exasperation and says, "Mommy - BITE!" Obviously I couldn't explain to her that we would not be touching these things and that they would be safely caged away. She was fascinated when we got there. It's so cool to watch her explore the world and figure it all out for herself!

Tired of toxics? Give Congress a jingle

2010-06-17T15:41:00.001-04:00

Click on the link below to do your part in reducing the toxins in our food and environment. Zoe and Fiona are counting on you!
Thanks!
Tired of toxics? Give Congress a jingle

2010-06-13T22:12:00.002-04:00

"Will someone please cut my hair!!!"

Independence

2010-06-13T22:01:00.003-04:00

Fiona is already learning to play independently. I love to watch her. She will entertain herself for up to 20 minutes at a time sometimes. Zoe never did that. Though to her defense we never gave her 20 seconds to herself, let alone 20 minutes! ! If I knew then what I figured out this time around I think things would have been a lot different - or at least easier for me. But thats what makes it so amazing parenting more than one kid - you learn so much about YOURSELF! I hope they both will benefit from the way I was a different Mommy to each of them. I don't think I have scarred them for life - yet!

Swinger #2

2010-06-13T21:55:00.002-04:00

So we are getting better. We (me) didn't let Zoe on a playground till she was almost 10 months old (see dec 2009 blog posts). This time we caved in at 6 months. Fiona already had a cold so I didn't have to worry about her catching one..though I guess that makes me a bad citizen for spreading my child's germs at the park;). Oh well, can't win 'em all...but at least Fiona had fun!

Family Time

2010-06-13T21:39:00.003-04:00

Love me a day at the park with the whole family! I know I've said it before, but I just love it when it is the four of us and we are just doing regular old family stuff! It's not about excluding the rest of the world as it is more about just being together. No rushing to go somewhere, no work, no appointments, no playdates...just US time. We've only been the "four of us" for a little over six months now, so it is still new to us and we all love every minute. I hope I never take these moments for granted and hope you don't either...

"Best Friends"

6 months!

2010-05-27T23:20:00.003-04:00

Fiona is already 6 months old! In my mind there is a big difference between a 5 month old (an infant) and a 6 month old ( a BABY!). She is sitting up, giggling, getting our attention, and reaching for us. Love this stuff!

Pretty Baby Toes

2010-05-27T23:16:00.001-04:00

Reason number 1,234,199 why I like having girls!

Second Children

2010-05-22T03:33:00.003-04:00

When new parents only have one child, they wonder how they could possibly love another as much. Until, that is, they have a second child, and then there is no question!

Tip-toeing through the Tulips

2010-05-14T23:16:00.001-04:00

Gotta love a field of flowers along the highway for that ever so perfect photo-op!

The illustrious Sand and Water Table!

2010-05-10T20:06:00.004-04:00

As a preschool teacher I have become very accustomed to sand and water tables. They are a great way for kids to get very messy in a very confined area, all the while learning math and science concepts and having tons of fun! It's hard to tell who is more excited about the table, me or Zoe!

Look at all that hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-06T23:13:00.002-04:00

I always forget how much hair Fiona has until I go out and inevitably someone will say, "Look at all that hair!" She has so much more hair than Zoe did! It's thick, with red and blonde highlights, and pretty curly. I hope it stays that way, though, no matter what she's adorable - but I might be a little biased:)

"Momma, I'm a Big Girl"

2010-05-06T22:33:00.004-04:00

Though I've been kind of pushing it for about a year now, I think Zoe really is becoming a "Big Girl" in her own right. She has begun playing more independently, seeking out and asking for specific friends, requesting activities she likes, and initiating more conversations that others (besides me and Keith) can actually understand and take part in. It's so cool to see her personality continue to blossom and see her explore this crazy world we live in and figure it out for herself. I asked someone what I was going to do now that she was this whole new person and they suggested I get to know her all over again. I really like that idea...!
(This pic is of Zoe and one of her favorite friends , Ava, playing on their own at one of my Mother's Group's Playdates)

What could posibly be in here????

2010-05-03T16:20:00.003-04:00

One day, Zoe kept bugging me to go in the kitchen with her and lift her up next to the fridge. Once I did, she coyly asked me to open the freezer door and then locked her puppy dog eyes with mine and said, "Popsicle please Mommy" in the cutest voice you ever heard. I couldn't imagine where she learned that until I caught her and her Daddy doing the same thing the other day! The funniest part is how innocent she plays it off!!!!

Easter 2010

2010-04-12T21:48:00.006-04:00

This was the first ever Easter Bunny visit for both girls this year. We talked it up to Zoe the day before to prepare her and get her all excited. What we did not consider, though, was a two year old's perception of the world is a lot more literal than ours. You see, if you are a two year old and someone tells you you are going to see an easter "bunny" and all of your experiences in your life tell you that a "bunny" is a small, soft little animal that hops in the woods, you are going to be very surprised when you get to the mall and see this huge hairy thing with buck teeth and a bow tie. With this perspective in mind , you can totally understand the look on Zoe's face! She did NOT want to sit in this thing's lap - and I can't say I blame her. Fiona on the other hand, could not have cared less (even with her very stinky, full diaper - which we were hoping the Easter bunny wouldn't notice until after the pictures were taken!).

One..two..three...fore!

2010-04-09T22:20:00.003-04:00

Instead of just buying any toys for Zoe, I've been looking for things that are "activities". Things that we can do together, or things she can eventually learn to do by herself. It's more of an effort than you'd think! One fun thing we got her was a golf set. She's pretty good at sports in general (certainly didn't get that from me!), and catches on quickly once we show her a few times. After a few tries I hear the inevitable, "Watch this, Mommy!" and she shows us her new "moves"...

Easter 2010

2010-04-06T22:52:00.002-04:00

We had a fun and busy easter weekend. The girls sat with the Easter Bunny (story to be told at a later date), Zoe was in an easter egg hunt and rode a pony, and our garden was planted.

Cinderella's got nothing on Zoe!

2010-04-06T22:45:00.003-04:00

So I've put Zoe to work early on. She just turned two and already has "chores". She feeds the dogs and gives them water. She also "helps" me empty the dishwasher. That's why people have had kids for centuries, right? So someone else would have to do all the work! She definitely is still learning, though. Sometimes she'll eat the dog food, throw a glass on the floor, or dump the water out over the ledge of the deck. Practice makes perfect I always say!:)

Yummies

2010-04-06T14:13:00.002-04:00

Fiona ate real food for the first time today(organic rice cereal). She LOVED it! She has been eyeing and grabbing at our food for a while now, so I could tell she was ready. She ate the whole serving and I think wanted more! Even grabbed at the spoon to feed herself!

Peanutty Goodness

2010-04-06T14:10:00.002-04:00

Reason #143 Why not to leave your child near a jar of peanut butter while you check your email...

Sick Babies

2010-03-30T14:08:00.003-04:00

So the sick bug kicked the girls pretty hard this year. Zoe had what the doctors think was strep/ear infection and Fiona was in the hospital for two days with a virus. Sick kids never are a nice thing, but it is so much harder when it is your own babies that are the ones who are sick! Both girls handled thier illness like a champ though. Fiona was the most heartbreaking with her IV laying in this pathetic cage they call a hospital crib (the pic doesn't do it justice - it looked way worse in real life!). I am so thankful that my girls aren't plagued with illness and my heart goes out to parents whose children are!

*Disclaimer: The top picture was taken before we knew how sick Zoe really was-otherwise we wouldn't have had them so close together!;)...

Happy Bday Momma

2010-03-25T22:49:00.002-04:00

Let's just say that being 35 feels a lot older than being 34 for some reason. But I had a nice birthday with my family- had a yummy lunch, ice cream cupcakes, and kite flying on the beach. Even saw dolphins and that totally made my day! Zoe was cute and got really excited about giving me my present and ran to get it in it's hiding place as soon as I woke up! I think 35 is going to be a good year:)

Sing me a song

2010-03-25T22:46:00.002-04:00

Daddy sings to Fiona and she loves it. She just lays there and listens to his ballads...I must admit I like it too;)

Play Date #2

2010-03-25T22:39:00.003-04:00

We hosted our second playdate last week. (The first one was probably a year ago!) I think I can handle it now, so I'll be happy to do more from here on out. It was fun - I got to get out a little of the preschool teacher in me and planned an art project of making wearable butterfly wings for the kids. Moms were chatting, kids were playing - no one had a melt down or major injury- overall a very successful playdate!

Fit For Fun

2010-03-16T13:05:00.004-04:00

We went to a children's indoor play place today with a friend that has kid's the same age. Moms got to chat, babies got to look around, and little girls had fun playing dress up, painting, water table playing, and hanging out! Yay for friends!

Outside fun with Daddy

2010-03-16T13:01:00.000-04:00

"Best Friends"

2010-03-15T19:49:00.003-04:00

The other day, when we sat Fiona next to Zoe, Zoe put her arm around her and said, "Best Friends!" How sweet is that??!!! And often, when Zoe leans in to Fiona for a kiss, I will hear her whisper, "So cute", also!

Almost 4 months old!

2010-03-13T23:29:00.002-05:00

Fiona is really becoming a "real baby" now and not an infant any more. There is a big difference and I can see it more and more every day. She can sit up almost on her own, looks for people, recognizes voices, likes to be around us, and is getting her own sense of humor. I love watching a new person develop! It's cool - I wish so many of you weren't missing it....