A Peek at Christmas...

First Words

Parker's Words at 20 months:

• Dada
• Mama
  
• EEEEEE (for Ellie. I guess that's not really a word...)
• dog
• bear (and a bear just says "Bear")
  
• hot
• hat
• Brrrrr
• meow
• woof
• Moo!
• Baaaaaa (sheep)
• Maaaa (goat)
  
• howwwlllll (like a wolf)
• Raaarrrr!! (Monster & Dinosaur)
  
• tweet tweet (birds!)
• Bird
  
• yeah
• ugh oh!
• no no!
  
• yuk
• yum
• ouchy
• that
  
• Ho Ho Ho (Santa!)
  
• ooh ooh ahh ahh (monkey!!)
• Joe (the cat)
• Grandpa
• Truck! Truck! Truck!
• Batman
• Mickey!
• Bubble
• Balloon
  

Quote of the Day: "Mommy, if you have another baby you should name her Peaches. That would be a lovely name for a baby...." ~E

Haircuts

The kiddos got their hair cut by my friend, Melissa.

They look super-duper cute.
But they still hate to have their pictures taken.....

Eliana got bangs. They make her look so grown-up.

And out of nowhere Parker is looking like a little man.
I mean, really, look at him in a sweater vest....

Outta the Box

I'm having a hard time with transparency lately. Writing a blog is a.) a great way for me to post stuff about our little life and the kids for our family who are all over this great US of A and the rest of the world, and b.) kind of annoying when you're a relatively private person who doesn't really like to offer too much and gets put off when she learns too much about other people's lives via the "interwebs," as Dan & Alisha like to call this whole internet thing.

Oh, technology and that whole love/hate/curse/blessing debate.....

One of my cousin's wrote a blog about Facebook stalking a while ago and how much time people spend peeking into the lives of complete strangers. And others I know both offer and find out way too much private stuff online. As though we are all "snowflakes" who need shout about our individuality All. Day. Long. (Note to self: Go watch Fight Club, again.)

So I criticize and yet I am a part of all of it. What a lame conundrum. So with that, here's some stuff about me and what makes me awesome!!!

Derrick and I hosted an "Out of the Box" wine party where we blind taste tested a bunch of boxed wines and crowned a winner: Fish Eye Pinot Nior. It was super fun with the super best of people. Wine, snacks and tons of laughs = perfect Saturday night.

Also, I'm loving this song. It's angst-y and silly and makes me want to be as passionate about life as I was when I was 20. It also makes me want to dance my face off.

Thankful

Sometimes you don't know what you want until you get something else....and that something is wrong. It feels wrong, it looks wrong, it's just wrong. Why is it that it can be so hard to be thankful for where you are in your life? In the moment. The here and now.

I'm one who focuses on the here and now. Don't get me wrong, I am also a planner, but I love individual moments and you have to kind of pay attention or those will pass you by without thought. And when I thought I'd return to work, on a part-time basis as I can't really stand to be away from the "babes" for too long, I thought it would all be great. And I'm sure there would be aspects that I would love. A girl can still enjoy the little things while being a grown up out in the real world. Such as hot coffee, the kind that is still hot...and not lukewarm and then cold by the time I get to drink it, and clothes that say "Hi, I'm amazing," as opposed to "Hi, I have baby boogers on my sleeve." You know, little things.

But when an actual opportunity was presented, it was wrong. And it made me think of all the things I would miss. And that I already had what I wanted. Even though I complain about it. Life is tough. On one hand, I like money. On the other, I love my kids. But we kind of threw the notion of having money out the window when we had kids...so I guess we just embrace the here and now. And dream about weeks long European vacations for somewhere down the road.

And until that day, thank you to everyone in my life who is so crazy as to support me no matter what I do and what I want. My amazing past-life co-workers (...and current great friends) who gave rave reviews of my professional life and my fantastic family who would do just about anything to help me achieve what ever it might be that I've posted on the docket for the day.....

Okay. I gotta go clean the house, take out the dirty diapers and give the kids a bath before preschool!! Hooray my life!!