my kiddos > i'm kinda in love...

my lucy > when did she grow up?

A late night almond snack...she insisted getting herself into the high chair...in nothing but her dance tights.

my lucy > she finally smiled just for me

my kiddos > sweet potato sillies

We are on day 2 of sweet potatoes...thank goodness he is not like his sister (she could never hold 'em down).  Everyday gets a little more fun around here.  With every new giggle or milestone, Lucy loves on him just a little more.  I love watching the love grow!

I give Lucy all the credit for the photos she is not in. She said she wanted to take pictures of Theo because he is soooooo cute!

my kiddos > bathtime

current obsession > drawing

In the last month to date, Lucy has drawn more than she has her entire life (3.6 years).  I am so exhilarated its finally happening! I thought there was no hope that my daughter would be an artist...then my hope lessened when I thought she disliked art all together... But now...!! I realized I don't care how good or bad she is, she is at least into it.  And just in case this is fluke, a short time fling, I am going to soak it up as much as I can.  This I could get used too...

Oh, in case you couldn't tell - That's Lucy (her first self portrait) and Theo on the left.  Mommy is on the right with Daddy in the corner.  We are all in the grass, by the water...with some really big belly buttons :) And those two circles on dad... she said it's a hat...

...So all those coloring books that we stocked up on with maybe one page scribbled in...are almost completely filled in..with both hands...although, she stays much more in the lines with her left.  Not sure what made the switch, but a little bit of me thinks she saw her very artistic cousin, penny drawing in tahoe, and somehow it clicked...or she wants to be just like her?  Her baby has since been named penny.

One of those child comments you will never forget...

Penny: "Lucy that drawing is really great!!"  Huge Smile.

(Her eyes looked over to me with a sort of.."you know I'm just saying that, right?!")

...later in her room alone with her mom...

Penny: "Mom, Lucy isn't a very good artist...I was just saying that to be nice!"

Well, whatever you did or said penny...I kind of give you credit for the push :)

my theo > his version of tummy time

in the moment > spring cleaning cuddles

We finally got some sun here after all the rain... and we are taking full advantage.  All 3 of us went to bed with some major rosey cheeks :)

my theo > first foods

 

Baby food. Meh. I much more enjoyed the jello mom put in my mouth much sooner than she should have. 

in the moment > hair pulls and laughter

I see the light.  Play has begun.  I see the near future... and I am in love.

in the moment > total crash

I woke up to find we all crashed missing the second half of Willy Wonka.  I gotta say it felt good.  It was also at that moment I realized I was freezing. All I wanted was a blanket.  I just stared around the quiet room. Then I realized it's almost 5 o'clock and I have nothing for dinner.  All we had today was donuts and chocolate milk after church. 

We survived.

replay > santo and johnny > sleepwalk

We are on day 2 of what looks like 10 days of forcasted rain.  Lucy's current obsession is making anyone play any one of her imaginary skits (ie. frozen, house, school, police officer, wizard of oz, etc...I even played our neighbor Joe as Lucy was their dog Annie) She tells you who you are, who she is - and go! Each act could last 20 seconds to 5 minutes before she re-does the same one with change of characters, or a complete sudden change of reenactments.  It's beginning to feel like a revolving record.  When I was staring out the window today playing Ana for the 500th time, this song came on.  I have found that I have memorized each of Lucy's skits - it's a bit like I'm sleep walking.....

my lucy > my entertainment

The day is always better when she [and I] gets dressed, and hair is combed. We need to get on this train more often!

in the moment > my theo

my theo > starry eyed

outing > alameda flea market

She bartered for her first time.  As Queen of Manipulation & Negotiation...I knew she would be fine making the deal on her own.  And she did just that.  For the rest of the walk through, she sewed her heart out in the fort she made out of the stroller :)

(...her eyes somehow got bigger.....)

move me > her eyes are big even behind that mask...

Major improvement in one week's time.  Last week, she never moved once on her own...

my lucy > toy story nightmare

I had plans to have a beer and some pizza with my parents one night in Milwaukee.  A new spot was chosen.  I arrived first.  Little did any of us know, it was a kid zone.  I searched for the bar (I don't even remember if there was one.  Which means if there was one, I sucked one down - and if there wasn't, I was in true hell).  When they finally showed, which seemed like forever (remember my parents didn't own a cell so communication was sit there and wait) I had the fear of death look on my face.  They quickly escorted me out of the twilight zone. The only way for me to describe the wait to them as we headed toward a well known bar joint was that I was one of the little aliens inside the claw in the Toy Story Movie.  Staring out.  The insanity! 

Well here I am today.  I'm living it.  An alien staring out.  Here she comes! Miss Lucy.....

my theo > stay put.

Thank you changing pad for your curved sides.  I'm not ready for his rolling over just yet...

move me > first day of ice hockey...

...and she loved it.

my theo > hanging on by a thread

In time do you think Lucy will cause his head to fall off too???  Not sure how many more surgery's Baby can endure.

my lucy > trains, lips and hair wisps

A break from the rain carried us to the Oakland Zoo. For the first time ever - Lucy actually noticed the animals...

my theo > midnight closet light

instagram repost. i love this light.

my lucy > It's time to say goodbye...

It's been a long time coming... 3.6 years to be exact.  Her pacifiers have been a huge part of our lives:

Mom (or Dad): "Do you have The Pacifier"?

Dad (or Mom): "No...I thought you had it"!!!! 

One of us: "Where did you last see it"??

And the frantic search would begin... 

She had it while she slept. She had it in the car. She needed it when she was hurt.  We needed it when she cried.  

It hung from every shirt.  It collected dirt on every floor.  It was her comfort. It was her best friend.

Looking at these photos makes my heart melt...I actually kind of miss it.  And her twirling her hair when it was in her mouth was always the sweetest. This video fills my heart (captured in a bottle).  

And then she got older, and the twirls turned into knots.  Along came the dread of combing her hair.  Attempts were always made to save the twisted strands of hair, but eventually the knots were almost always ripped or cut out. We now are left with a very uneven hair style.  Suddenly the unimaginable happened...without her pacifier, the twirling stopped.  

It stopped.

I am so happy there is no more pacifier :)

XOXO

ps. I thought the removal would be a nightmare - but she adjusted over night.  I guess everyone out there telling us it was time to get rid of it was right.  Thank You.

...I predict Theo to be a thumb sucker....