it's the little things...

Hubby had a work meeting in Vegas this week and we decided to capitalize on that. We went out on Saturday for a few days of kid-free leisure. We stayed at the Encore, which was just as nice as the Wynn. There was some napping, some tv watching, some reading by the pool. We also stuffed ourselves with good food and wandered around the strip. Went to the wax museum. Saw David Spade--Kevin Farley was one of his opening acts. All three guys were quite funny. And saw the phenomenal Elton John. So, so good. And we squeezed in a gondola ride at the Venetian. Yea! We had a real Italian scoot us around and sing lovely songs to us. It appears I'm on a Life List roll. Who would have thought?

Y'all. I'm studen loan free. I could have paid them off awhile ago but the interst is so low my financially-brained husband convinced me to let them linger. But they got low enough that I thought, "That's it. I'm paying them off this year." Weee! And it's well before I start paying for college for the next generation. Next up? The house. Just kidding.

One thing I never really expected out of this whole motherhood gig is how my amount of empathy would increase exponentially. It's crazy. Someone gets bad medical news? I immediately think of her kids. And how she must be feeling (also probably thinking about her kids). And I think of my kids and how much the whole situation just sucks. I cry at Olympics commercials. When that girl coasts over to her mom and hugs her? And they put their foreheads together? Gah. And I go to school plays and see those kids up there? And I'm just so. freakin'. proud. And I don't know a single one of them. But they're amazing and they're someone's kid and I think what they're doing is just awesome. Everyone is suddenly just a person. Who was once a baby. Who still is someone's baby. I hope people look at my kids that way. Honestly, we should look at everyone like this--it lets you cut people more slack and be happier for them and realize that we're a...

Buns! A year and a half! You are my favorite son ever. I'm surprised I haven't suffocated you with snuggles. I'm not sure if it's because you let me more than your sister did at this age or because you're a boy or because you're the baby. Whatever. I'm taking full advantage. So other than super cuddly, what are you like at 18 months? You still have a really deep voice but you say words now! Some are pretty clear to others but some only I understand. Off the top of my head: Mommy, Daddy, doggie, plane, nudie, no, bye bye, cheese, all done, help, armie (for arm), book, Maggie (garbled), Daisy, Tessa, milk, mummy (for gummy), and Scarlett (it varies but kind of like "Carleh"). I know I'm forgetting some. You can tell me what sounds most animals make. You know what we're saying now and respond to commands. You know some body parts. You still love water and baths. You really love reading these days. You were a little slower t...

Chicken, last week you turned 3 years old. How did that happen? It's been a pretty good year. Mommy is finally getting the hang of parenting two children so things are less stressful around here. What are you like? Well, you can do pretty much most things physically. Walk, run, climb stairs, climb up the "rock wall" of the playground equipment, climb onto all sorts of things, walk backwards, march, dance, jump, stand on one leg. You don't yet ride the tricycle, pump your legs while swinging, or have a good grasp on kicking balls. You continue to grow taller. We don't have your annual doctor's appointment until next week and I'll update things then. (Update: Weight=32 lb 11.2 oz or 70th%, Height= 38" or 65th%.) Your hair is perfectly highlighted blonde (natural, of course). It still curls up at the end. You had your second haircut recently but it's still super long. It gets all ratty and tangled underneath but we've figured out how to (mo...

Happy 2014! Last year, I wrote this to recap the previous year and lay out the goals for 2013.  Those were: Find the perfect coconut cream pie recipe.  No progress.   Finish the bulk of Baby #2s baby book.   Done! Find the perfect mac and cheese recipe. Again, no progress. Weird since these should be easier. Add to the Life List.    Added 3--and completed 1--item(s) in January. Eat lunch with someone one day a week.   M aybe about 1/3 of the time? Accomplish more on the house (kitchen and landscaping).   Kitchen mostly done and dining room done. All house trim painted (while we were on vacation--even better!).  Had foyer and front porch lights installed.  Front yard done for now plus work completed in 2 of the backyard beds.  Guest bath finished. Living room painted, started re-staining furniture, hung gallery wall, rearranged furniture. Ripped down the wallpaper in the kids' bath.  So basically blew this one out of t...

It was a light year on the reading front. But here's what little I did stuff in my brain. 1-4. Some of The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Toddler 411, I Know This Much is True, and And Baby Makes Three. I'm retiring I Know... but will probably dabble in the others in 2014. 5. Smokin' Seventeen 6. Explosive Eighteen 7. The Happiness Project 8. A Mother's Love: Inspiring True Stories From the Animal Kingdom 9. Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral 10. Fifty Shades of Grey 11. Fifty Shades Darker 12. Fifty Shades Freed That is nearly 100% fluff. Perhaps that's a clue re: the state of my mind these days (or lack thereof).