8-12-10

Lily woke up and nearly immediately requested ella's deli. Since we haven't been in a while and Lily was due for a carousel ride, we went.

Charlie liked all the fun distractions, and their neat "for babies under 1" plate.

OMG ELLAS DELI OVERLOAD.

8-11-10

Charlie and I went for a walk down to Liliana's but it was really hot!

Apparently heat gives charlie extra chins?

8-10-10

We aren't big on scheduling our kids around here. With the unpredictability of Daves work schedule and mine, we've found it best to take each day as it comes.
And let's be honest, lilys first year, when i was figuring out what to do with my little bundle of joy, we were building a restaurant, so really, we've just been playing catch up since then.

Anyway, there's a lot of literature on scheduling of children. Sleep schedules, food schedules..how much to feed, and when. Structured play..what activities, for how long and at which ages we should introduce which skills and activities!
From just babies!
We just don't. My babies eat when they are hungry, and sleep when they are tired (let's put charlies refusal to sleep alone in the back burner for arguments sake) and they explore and try things and sometimes, out of nowhere, they have a new awesome (or terrifying!) skill.

Like this today:








And he takes the stairs about as fast as lily and i do. This falls under the "terrifying" category.

Anyway, the reason for this post about schedules is to praise my kidlets. I've heard a lot of moms complaining about a ruined meal out/outing/vacation because their kid wasn't doing well "off their usual schedule". Also being stuck to a nap schedule so rigid they can NEVER attend an activity that hits that time.
Not to say there's no good in it. I know a lot of moms are getting a lot more sleep than I am because they sleep trained their little one. And routine IS good for kids.
But thank you, my lovely little ones, for letting me be flexible and spontaneous. For embracing the more important routines of hug and cuddles and books and rest and play whether we are home, on a beach, at a fine dining restaurant, or on an airplane. For not ruining everyones day if you are a little tired, or if we don't eat lunch till 3:30 sometimes.

Thank you for sleeping when you are tired. Wherever the mood strikes you.

8-9-10

here's charlie, demonstrating his primary form of communication, tthhhpppbbbbbtttt-ing.

8-6-10

I expected this blog to do a couple of things.

First and foremost I expected it to help me feel more connected to family and friends.

Wrong! There is no feedback! I sort of vaguely know you are reading (Hi Nainie, Hi Mom! Hi Grandmama, and others!) I'm mostly just sending thoughts and photos out into the universe. I love that it's making you all feel more connected to us, though!

I also expected the novelty of it to wear off and become tedious and annoying.

Wrong! While I do miss days frequently, it isn't annoying or tedious, so that's good.

As it turns out, this blog is serving a purpose I didn't expect.

It's kind of a nice little good-mommy barometer. If I don't have any pictures to post it's generally because I'm spending most of my time grooming dogs, working in the office at Liliana's or our house is a mess and I don't want pictures of it.

This afternoon I cancelled the sitter (because Charlie is SO sad with his little cold) who I usually use so I can go get work done at Liliana's, and I took Lily and Charlie with me to run some errands.

Faxed some documents,

Stopped at the bank,

Thrifted at the thrift store (can't believe it's time to stock up on fall clothes! for a FOUR year old!)

and then

Off to target for some odds and ends.

I was surprised how beyond thrilled I was to be running LEISURELY errands with my kids. I thought about it more and honestly, I've been in a rut of working both businesses and strange side projects and managing the kids and the house and just getting by and not enjoying.

Ive got to keep a balance. I need to learn that when life is busy and stressful and demanding, I have to push harder for those most important Little Things. Those sweet and so important moments where I find a way to relax, accept that I'm doing the best I can, and enjoy these little blessings for exactly who they are (even though the little one was a sad booger-coated blessing today)

8-5-10

Oh Thursdays. Daddy's day off.

How we love you so.

Even though we almost never get anything done we need to (hello messy garage, couch that needs to go to goodwill, to do lists a-plenty...we'll see you next week i guess!) we have so much fun. We love our daddy!

8-4-10

ok..im really awful at keeping up lately!

here's some super stealthy sneak pictures i caught of my little miss swiffering the floor in high heels and undies.

how cute is this!?

in review: tami left us on saturday (sad!), and we've been busy with stuff at the restaurant and spending time in the pool. also starting to plan the kids birthday parties, a trip home to california, and getting excited about my favorite season, FALL!