Thanks Bub

My seven year old already thinks he is way too smart for his silly mother. He overheard me telling someone about how Annie is not a great sleeper at night.

When we got home, he looked at me very seriously, blinked a few times, straightened up his little glasses and said, "Mom, Annie is just nocturnal, that means she doesn't sleep at night."

Thanks Noah, Yes I am aware of what Nocturnal means.

So does that mean if she could sleep hanging upside down from a tree branch like a tiny fruit bat she would sleep? Hmmm... OK you know I am just kidding, well pretty much...

Awesome

I'm pretty sure I am a ROCK STAR and didn't realize it...

Why...you ask?

My room is often trashed (albeit by sippy cups and toys) but trashed no less

There could easily be a broken lamp or table leg thrown in the mix

I am followed by a group of (tiny) roadies who will scream or cry for my attention if necessary and often cheer when I enter a room

Said roadies emulate everything I do...dress like me, wanna wear my makeup, etc etc

You can often find me in the morning with blurry blood shot eyes, tousled hair, toting a ridiculously large coffee mug

Last but not least

I am often up till the wee hours of the morning "rockin" with a little party animal who has no regard to the noise level that is appropriate for that hour of the night

See? Rock star...

Now...where's my entourage?

PS...the first one of you who leaves a comment referring to the fact that I am also 30 and refusing to cut my ridiculously long hair...you're off the list...HA!!!

So Glad to Know...

I'm not the only Mommy who uses her remaining brain power for really important things like making up stories and playing tea party...and doesn't waste her remaining brain cells on things like remembering where she parked her car.

Why you ask?

I am the proud owner of a Silver Honda Pilot. Which yesterday happened to be parked directly across the parking lot from another Silver Honda Pilot.

I came out of the store and stood at my vehicle pressing my unlock button repeatedly and wondering why it wouldn't unlock and where did that license plate come from.

Ironically enough, there was another Mommy across the parking lot, pointing her key ring at MY silver pilot and wondering why it wouldn't unlock.

HA! We realized what we were doing at the same time and shared a good laugh.

Two words...Mommy brain

FYI

Did you know that in the amount of time it takes to answer the telephone a three year old girl can scale up a shelf in the pantry and retreive an entire large container of HOT PINK sparkling decoration sugar and proceed to spill the ENTIRE contents on the kitchen table and hardwood floor?

Did you also know that you would still have sugar crystals stuck to your feet even after you have swept, vacuumed, and mopped?

Did you also know that such sugar attracts ants? Also before said sugar is cleaned up, mysteriously mandarin organge syrup would be dripped down the steps.

Yes, it's a fact. A mess that takes 10 seconds to make can take a day and a half to clean up! HA!

Why yes, it's been a fun day here, why do you ask?

Good night all! Just keepin' it real!

Help me Out...(Pretty Please)

Hey friends...
I went to a great photo seminar in Nashville the other night and we did tons of new baby stuff. Problem is I need to print a few new ads with the new baby stuff and I need some newborns (less than 7 days old!) to do some quick sessions to use for a fall baby ad...

which brings me to the help part...if you are interested in your baby being a model for the ads, and would like to participate and you have a newborn or are due to deliver anytime before mid September leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send you some info.

I promise I will make this worth your time and effort! (hint..free stuff)

Second favor (sorry last one..I think) While at Nashville, I picked up a couple new backdrops and one I am wanting to do some sample shoots on would be perfect for a little boy less that 3...denim, cute hats, barefoot, easy peasy...no fancy outfits, just a few minutes of your time and it will be fun.

Thanks a million guys, and please only respond if you are OK with me using your child's photos in some email newsletters and some postcards (obviously their name, etc. will not be used!)

Annie is One!

Ann Elizabeth turned one last Sunday on July 24th and we celebrated with a little hot pink and zebra party. She had a fun time at her party and did eat a little bit of cake...not much mind you, too messy, but enough to say it was her birthday cake.
Because of the other kids and the history of severe food allergies, we start new foods with Annie very very slowly, and up until now she has not been exposed to cow's milk, so I made and decorated her cake with no milk, no eggs, and no nuts. She tolerates soy fine so we made substitutions using soy milk and the cake was great.
Annie has not had her 12 month checkup yet so I"m not sure on all the statistics but here are a few facts about Little Sis at 1 year.

Annie wears some 9 months clothing and some 12 months.
She has 6 teeth and 2 more cutting through (four on top two on bottom)
She is very petite, and wears a size 3 diaper.
She still doesn't sleep through the night.
Is still exclusively breastfed, and also is starting some table foods. (PLain veggies, cereals, crackers, etc)
Did get to try out a plain hamburger from McDonalds and though it was delightful!
Says Mama, Dada, Bubby, Kitty, something that sounds like Lilly, git, byebye,
Is very timid and tenderhearted
Is scared of many animals and several stuffed animals.
Looks very similar to Noah at 12 months but is much smaller than he was.
She still has a few issues with eczema on her elbows, wrists, knees, but not bad at all.
She is a generally happy sweet baby, and loves to be held and rocked and packed and spoiled!
Loves her brother and sister and is very interested in everything they do.
Loves Daddy but is very much a Mommy's girl at heart.

Summer Fun

We got to spend a little time at Uncle Scott and Aunt Kelli's new pool last week when they had the family over. Needless to say, the kids LOVE it. Everyone had a great time and after much coaxing even Lilly went down the slide.