Happy Thanksgiving from Marlie and Me! #WordfulWednesday

Happy Thanksgiving from my little butter ball:

Wordful Wednesday: Bathtime Then & Now

Bathtime is the only time they don't whine or fight. Bless these 10 minutes of peace. 
 

June 2012

November 2013

Wordful Wednesday: Halloween 2013 #Costumes

You know I love dressing up my kids in themed costumes for Halloween. And I'm going to keep doing it for as long as I can get away with it! Here is Marlie and Desmond as Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Get ready to be overcome by the cuteness!

Minnie Mouse Costume: Etsy; Mickey Mouse Hat: Etsy, Black Onesie: Amazon, Red Pantaloons: Ebay

Our neighbor came out to take pictures of the cuteness

They have their pumpkin baskets and are ready to go trick or treating

We went to the Fairy Land Jack o Latern Jamboree with our friends

Desmond found another Minnie Mouse to flirt with

What are your kids going dressed as for Halloween?

The Kids Stay in the Picture #WordfulWednesday

The fall season kicked off this week, and I miss summer already. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Autumn... cranberry-colored leaves, juicy nectarines, pumpkin pie, Halloween costumes. It's all good! But I just had to give summer one last salute in a pictorial (with words).

Clockwise: (top left): Marlie celebrated the BIG 0-4 with a cowboy western-themed party and pony rides to boot! (top right): Marlie on an urban hike with her dad. (bottom left): Desmond in the bathtub using ducky to cover up his bits. (bottom right): Desmond is thriving at his new preschool. His favorite activity is art. He is a budding Picasso!

Wordful Wednesday: A Party to Remember

Here are some snaps from Marlie's 4th birthday party that she shared with her classmate. It was a Toy Story-inspired theme with cow-print balloons, red bandanas, and boot-shaped mugs for all the kids. The icing on the cake were the pony rides in our driveway and petting zoo in the backyard. The kids had a truly good time and the parents enjoyed watching their kids go gaga over Sugar, the pony. I really wanted this party to be memorable for her so I went all out. Before you think I spent her college book fund on a party, let me assure you that the whole event was deeply discounted by daily deals, coupons, and prize winnings...never pay full price is my motto! Plus, we shared the costs with another family. Take that savings tip to the bank : co-parties for your kids' birthdays!

Happy 4th Birthday Marlie

Dear Marlie,

Yesterday was your 4th birthday! Sorry I am late with your annual birthday letter. It seems like everything gets done a day later since I went back to work. Have I thanked you lately for the grace you exhibited during this transition? Change is not easy, but you have handled my new working-mommy hat with the poise of someone 10 times your age. I am proud and grateful for that!

I think I am more excited than anyone that you are turning 4. I have heard great things about 4. I hope year 4 is awesome because year 3 was a doozy. It's wasn't like you were a demon-child, not at all. It just took time for me to get used to you coming into your own. And, boy did you ever assert your independence!

From getting dressed to eating breakfast, you had an opinion about everything and your own way of doing it. Beware the person who gets in your way. They are in for the dress-down of their lives. I can tell you won't be somebody who suffers fools. And I admire this quality in you.

I learned to tolerate your sass to a certain extent and teach you to know where the line is drawn. I am glad that I found the right balance between letting you speak your mind and being careful to redirect you from being rude or disrespectful. It's a balancing act on a thin tightrope, but we got there through trial and error.

You're feisty spirit remains tempered by your kind nature. You possess a mature compassion and are quick to offer help. Your love of creatures and animals warms my heart. It's also been a joy watching you become a truly remarkable big sister. You really look out for your little brother and you are so sweet to him, even when he is being not so nice to you. I love that you make him laugh and teach him things like how to eat ice cream. I promise he is going stop biting you (and me) once he stops teething.

I have to admit that your budding geek/nerd gene was the most exciting part of your development this year. You talk robots and superheros with your daddy like a true fangirl. Then you ask me a million questions about the Earth, moon and stars and expect answers. Your inquisitiveness is getting more complex and it keeps me on my toes. I look forward to nurturing your curiosity.

Marlie snacking on tomatoes. She is weird like that.

I love our talks on the way home from school (I really need to start posting Car Talk with Marlie again because you drop mad verbal gems). Today, you asked me how we can see fairies. I told you I didn't know. But you came up with a great idea, which I won't share because it's a secret. 

Thank you for another great year my firecracker, my shining star, my ace. Thank you for being unapologetically you. 

Love, 
Mommy

 

Missed Me?

Hello friends!

Sorry I went off the air. That's not entirely the case. I was posting some reviews and giveaways, but I promised more life posts and I've dropped the ball. Sorry 'bout that.

I am struggling to find the time to maintain this blog. Truthfully, I am doing social media stuff all day at work and it's been hard to summon the power to post on my personal site. Plus work is time-consuming and I find my "free time" divided between family and chores. Aw, balance (post on that coming soon!).

Here is a few updates: I was featured at Mom Meet Mom this week. Mom Meet Mom is like Match.com for the mommy set. One of a my favorite bloggers Christa of I Know How Babby Is Formed, is the visionary behind this movement. Please go check it out!

Marlie's sass meter is off the charts. She likes to argue and thinks she's smarter than you so she tries to justify talking back. Now, I'm all for encouraging my child to use her reasoning skills and powers of persuasion, just don't be rude! I told her I was sending her to law school so can turn all that back talk into billable hours. She learned to snap her fingers recenltly which she enjoys doing while watching Michael Jackson videos on YouTube. She calls him "Michael Jack" and she asked me why his nose looks different in Blame it on the Boogie and Bad (she's very observant). She turns 4 next month and the birthday party is all planned out. If you follow my boards on Pinterest then you already know the theme is Toy Story Western. I can't wait to share photos! This fall we will take her on kindergarten school tours because the public school system has school choice option (it's really a placement lottery). We will also visit a couple of charter and parochial schools. I am trying not to freak out about it.

Desmond had a huge growth spurt and is already more than half Marlie's height. People comment that he is going to be taller than her. They may be right. He clocked in at 75 percentile for height at his 15 month wellness check up. He weighs 20 lbs so he is going to be long and lean. He has taken to school like a fish to water. He likes stacking and sorting. He even stacks and sorts things around the house. Too bad we have to transfer him to another school because we can't afford to keep him at Marlie's school (long story). He is also talking up a storm: nana (banana), hair-to (here you go), du (dog/duck), baba (Marlie), mama, dada, and oh-oh.

Me and Damon went through a rough patch recently. Lots of arguments and nights on the couch. After a particularly nasty day of exchange barbs and hanging up on each other, we put the kids to bed and talked. It was a huge breakthrough. Things are on the mend and just in time to have a happy 13th wedding anniversary on July 15.

My Robot Girl #WordfulWednesday

Marlie is so imaginative when it comes to pretend play. Last week she made a robot costume out of a box and colander.

Her costume shows creativity and inventiveness

Watch out Maker Faire 2025!

Anatomy of a Sick Day #WordfulWednesday

This morning I pulled up to the children's preschool at 9:00 am on.the.dot. and Marlie starts to complain of a stomach ache. I try to gauge if it's from gas by asking if she needs to poop. She just repeats that her tummy hurts. I ask her if she wants to try to go to class and have the teacher call me if she still feels bad, but she insists she has to go home because she is "not feeling well" (her words) and she starts to cry. She never wants to skip school so I figure she must really be sick.

I unstrap both kids and drop Desmond off at his class. Back in the car Marlie asks if we can go by the store to buy some "corn on the stick" because it will make her feel better. O_o . Okay. At the store she helps shuck four ears of corn and I am starting to think that I have been had.


Back home she literally watches the pot boil for the corn on the cob. I decide to go ahead and fricassee some chicken breasts for lunch. She eats a whole chicken breast and two ears of corn. So much for the tummy ache. I think she was just hungry. Then she asks to watch TV until I remind her that she is sick and should be resting. She starts to whine. It's only a little after 11 am and I need to think fast. I tell her to grab her tea set and we make "tummy tea."

By noon she is "well" enough to do a craft project and play outside. Miracles! I get to watch most of General Hospital in peace which is important because they finally revealed the identity of the mystery man lurking about town. >>It's Franco<<

At two o'clock I throw in the towel and let her watch television. It's only for an hour before we have to go pick up her baby brother anyway.

How do you spend sick days with your kids? Does yours also make a miraculous recovery when the get home?!

The Kids Are Alright #WordfulWednesday (PHOTOS)

The sporadic posts are driving me crazy! I miss blogging but this mama is busy trying to get a job, which is a full-time job. The bad news is that I am still unemployed. I didn't get that job I was interviewing for. The good news is that I have an interview with another organization next week, one better aligned with my experience and interests. Say a little pray for me! Once I am settled into working, I am going to figure this blog thing out. Meantime, I wanted to share some recent photos and updates of the kiddos. They are blossoming like spring buds.

playing rocket ship

 

Marlie is busy with preschool, gymnastics, and working her parents last nerve. She has added some new gear to her Terrifying Threes toolbox included stomping with her arms crossed, staying up until 10 pm every night, calling her daddy stupid, and telling me she hates me. Oh, that last one cut me deep like a stabbing to the heart. I didn't go off on her or punish her because she was obviously repeating something she heard and wanted to see my reaction. I don't believe she is fully aware of the emotional consequences of that word. I responded like any other time she says something that is not nice. I didn't want to overreact and unintentionally give that word power less she start using it on a regular basis as a weapon to hurt people.

 

Desmond has finally stopped crying when I drop him off at his class. This is a huge milestone. It is also wonderful to and see him smiling when I pick him up. He has two more teeth coming in and he's been using his chompers to pick a chicken leg clean and bite all of us. He's been capitalizing on being the baby of the family. He likes upsies and following his sister around. She sometimes indulges him by letting him play pretend with her like rocket ship or mailman.

Marlie at the top of Lombard Street, the most crooked street in America

We've been taking advantage of the sunny California weather every weekend...sightseeing in San Francisco and backyard pool parties!

Pool party, baby! It was a cool party!

The Kids' Log: March 24-30, 2013

HAPPY EASTER!!!  

My sister came to town on Wednesday and we've been enjoying the highs and lows that having a house guest brings. I have taken full advantage of having an extra set of eyes and ears and hands on deck by scheduling a flurry of appointments and tasks that would have been impossible to complete while schlepping a baby around.

Isn't it funny how a visit from a relative frees moms to make trips to the eye doctor and car wash instead of the hair salon and spa? It's not all been business though. We took her to Jack London Square yesterday to see the famous author's log cabin and walk by the waterfront. I was hoping to take a tour of FDR's floating White House that is docked there (USS Potomac), but it was closed.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 32 Weeks Old

Jack London's cabin

Marlie and her auntie getting a closer look

Marlie has been enjoying her auntie's company (and the extra attention). This includes staying up until midnight for the past three nights because she is entirely overstimulated. She came down with a cold yesterday and I spent a couple of hours napping with her after the fever wiped her out. It was nice to snuggle with her for a change. It's been so long! She's usually going a million miles per second and I usually have Desmond attached to my side like a koala bear. I'm glad we got those couple of hours even if it was caused by the sickies. We all eventually succumbed to the same cold. Damon needs to stop bringing home his public transit germs.

Baby Log: 50 Weeks Old

Desmond eating chilli and cornbread

In two more days, my sweet littlest one will be one! He seems to be racing to leave babyland behind. This week he learned to stack blocks and he's been developing his taste palette. He loves scrambled eggs and meatballs and chilli. Having those upper incisor to tear food has awakened the foodie in him. His first day of school is tomorrow. Wish us luck!

The Kids' Log: March 17-23, 2013

You may have noticed my absence this week (or maybe not). It was on purpose. I needed a break from blogging, but I'm back and ready to share especially about the prom fashion show I attended yesterday at Macy's! Look out for that post tomorrow, and I'll be visiting all you lovelies to catch up on what's going on in your corner of the world.

If you are reading this around 9:15 am Pacific Time, please send me some cheers as I will be starting the Oakland half marathon. My goal is to walk the 13.1 miles in 3 hrs 30 minutes. Thanks for your support!

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 31 Weeks Old
It was a typical week in the life of my fair lady. We took a trip to the Marin Headlands last Sunday, had a picnic near the old ramparts, and then hiked to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. She has been telling everyone about the "light up house." cute.

Baby Log: 49 Weeks Old
The front teeth are making their slow decent and that makes for a super cranky Desmond. He's been in a bad mood all week. I hope they finish coming out before his birthday!

The Kids' Log: March 10-16, 2013

I curse you to Daylight Savings! I have a note from my mommy excusing my tardiness because Daylight Savings is screwing with my internal clock and mind.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 30 Weeks Old
Daylights Savings affects Marlie differently each time. We just wait and see how she'll handle it. This cycle, she's up until 10 pm and wakes up close to 8 am creating a morning panic that she is oblivious too since southern molasses runs in her veins.

Baby Log: 48 Weeks Old
Desmond is all welly in the belly again. With his appetite back, we've been working on fattening him back up. He was 20.1 lbs before the sickies and now he's 18.8 lbs. We're feeding him ice cream and doughnuts! Just kidding. It's more like buttered noodles, avocados, and Greek yogurt.

The Kids' Log: March 3-9, 2013

The stomach bug that the outbreak monkey brought home eventually got everyone under our roof. Even Teflon baby couldn't avoid The Contagion. I am so tired from cleaning vomit and diarrhea and not getting enough sleep that I almost forgot to write this update. Better late than never, right?

Desmond got accepted to the same preschool as Marlie to start April 1. That is six months earlier than I had planned, but it is one of the very few affordable, flexible and high-quality daycare options in this area. I do not want to defer which means accelerating my job search. It might sound like I am putting the cart before the horse, but I could not wrap my brain around getting a job and then stressing about daycare or, heaven-forbid, enrolling him at a different place than his sister. I can do this. I just need some confidence and a little luck. Let's not even discuss how I am freaking out about the morning rush, the drop-off/pick-up, handling sick days, school breaks, coordinating vacations, etc...We'll cross that bridge when we arrive there.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 29 Weeks Old
Patient zero is all better. I sent her back to school on Monday. She has been more defiant than usual this week. Or maybe I have a shorter fuse because I am exhausted from caring for two sick littles.

Baby Log: 47 Weeks Old
Poor Desmond was the last to come down with the stomach virus and he was sick all week. I got scared on Monday when he threw up so much that bile was coming up. Then it worked its way into his gut and I was changing diapers on the hour. He looks like he lost about two pounds which is a lot for a baby. He was able to eat some food last night without it running through him so I think he is almost over it.

The Kids' Log: Feb. 24-March 2, 2013

Sickness descended upon our house this week like some kind of vengeful Biblical plague. Damon came down with the flu or a severe cold. He only took Monday off and dragged his butt to work the rest of the week. Me? I caught a milder version of what he brought home. I didn't have a fever though. I did have aches and chills so I thought it was flu, but that only lasted a day. We both have lots of chest congestion and a sore throat and a bad cough. Marlie picked up a stomach bug at school and was blowing chunks for three days straight. She'd seem fine and and eat but would throw up as soon as she drank any water. I did my best to avoid her germs by wearing plastic bags to clean up, washing my hands obsessively, and disinfecting every surface in the house but there really is no germ preventative for a preschooler who coughs in your face. So I also developed a pinch of her stomach flu. It wasn't full-blown, just enough to knock me on my butt on Friday with fever and stomach cramps that had me begging for mercy. The worst part of it all was the righteous weather this week that we couldn't enjoy because we were stuck inside. By they way, someone needs to write a caregiver manual on how to care for a sick child and a well child when you are sick too.

Teflon baby was the only only who escaped the sick fairy (three cheers for breast milk antibodies!)

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 28 Weeks Old
I may have mentioned once or twice that Marlie is not a typical sick child meaning that she doesn't curl up in bed and convalesce. She bounces around like a bunny on uppers and that is what she did for the past four days. She turned the house upside down between whining about wanting water (which acted like syrup of ipecac) and asking when she was going back to school. Saturday rolled around and she didn't vomit all day so we let her ride her bike around the block. She looked so happy being outside again.

Baby Log: 46 Weeks Old
I can't believe this boy is going to be 1 years old in a month! He suddenly looks less like a baby and more like a little person to me. His new thing is to walk around in a circle, get dizzy and fall to the ground laughing. It must be a boy thing. He is certainly a boy's boy, all rough and tumble and mischevious. He favors the basketball and trucks at playtime. Lucky for us we have plenty because his sister likes them too. His new favorite snack is sliced and quartered bananas. He acts like a big man when he's eating them and pushes my hand away if I try to help him pick one up. Yesterday I noticed an upper incisor breaking through. Finally!

The Kids' Log: February 17-23, 2013

I hope you enjoyed your President's Day! Damon actually had the day off, which surprised me since he did not get MLK Jr Day. We made the most of the holiday with a trip across the bay to San Francisco. We originally planned to take the ferry, but they were on holiday too! So we took the train and then walked through Chinatown and Little Italy to Coit Tower. From this high point we could see the span of the bay, including Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. We walked downhill through Filbert Gardens and back to the Fisherman's Wharf where we had lunch at Pier 23. I ate fish tacos made with charbroiled snapper that was oh so good that I am going to try to recreate the recipe today.

The remainder of the week was the usual. Chauffeuring Marlie to and from preschool and gymnastics and play dates.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 27 Weeks Old
Poor Marlie has inherited my calamity gene. First, she pulled out a nice chunk of her with a comb meant for one of those stupid pony dolls. I found bits of her hair all around her bed and freaked out. I might have gone a bit overboard with the admonishment, but I had already warned her once not to use that comb on her own hair. SIGH. Yesterday, she woke up with a huge sty on her left eye. She looks like Rocky after two rounds with Drago!

Baby Log: 45 Weeks Old
Desmond called me Mom yesterday! It sounded more like maam, but whatever. He is developing so rapidly as he approaches his first birthday. My sister is flying in to help celebrate. I am not planning a big party, just a family outing somewhere like the shore.

The Kids' Log: February 10-16, 2013

Please don't take notice of the conspicuous lack of pictures again. This week was kind of ordinary with the exception of a few instances of some extraordinary things that happened to me.

First, I applied for a job! This was one of the to-do things on my homework checklist. Another parent happened to mention an opening for a Communications Manager at a local private school so I submitted my resume on Monday. I am so proud that I was able to quiet that little voice of self-doubt and go for it.

The second cool things that happened is that I won a $50 gift card to REI which I used to buy gear for the marathon (now a half marathon). I bought two pair of walking socks with padded heels. They cost $30 but they are so worth the price because after I wore them on my 14-mile training walk yesterday my feet did not feel like pulverized meat for the first time since I started long distance walking.

The third nice thing that happened was our first date night since moving here. We set up a babysitting swap with our neighbors where we watched their girls on Friday night and they watched our kids on Saturday evening so both couples could enjoy a Valentine's outing. I'm not going to lie folks, it felt weird being out after dark. It hit me that I rarely go out at night anymore and that made me a little down. As Krissy said, we need to get a life! That's why we are going to try these date night swaps with our neighbors more often.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 26 Weeks Old
Miss Social Butterfly attended two birthday parties this week, one last Sunday and one yesterday. She has a busier social calendar than me. I really, really need to get a life. I am happy to report that she was not kicked out of gymnastics class on Friday. She walked up to the teacher and told her she was ready to listen. She had a good time an was rewarded with a stamp. I also took her for cupcakes afterward.

Baby Log: 44 Weeks Old
Desmond came down with a cold earlier in the week. This was on top on the teething, so he was extra miserable. I spent most of the week wiping his face. It was hard to tell where the snot ended and the drool began. LOL!

Convos from the Backseat #5

I'm still experimenting with this meme inspired by my conversations in the car with my chatterbox in the backseat. I really want to make it a link-up too, maybe once a month so we can share our best talks with our toddlers/preschoolers.


on the way home from preschool last Thursday, Marlie decides to start talking about color (as in race). Out of the blue, She blurts out...

Marlie: Mommy, I'm black 
Me: Okay (followed by laughter). 
Marlie: Why are you laughing at me? 
Me: I'm not. I am just surprised and happy that you know that. Where did you learn that you are black? 
Marlie: I saw a wormy squirmy today. 
Me: (Now I am confused, but I want to stay on topic). Is the wormy squirmy black? 
Marlie: No, he's slimy! 
Me: Okay. Is daddy black? 
Marlie: Yes. 
Me: Is mommy black? 
Marlie: No. You are yellow. 
Me: (doing a double take). Mommy is black too. 
Marlie: No! I want you to be yellow. 
Me: If you say so (shaking my head. no sense in arguing with her at this ages because apparently she thinks I am a crayon)

...to be continued

The Kids' Log: February 3-9, 2013

Welcome to another week in our lives. A lot has happened in the past seven days. We lost another buyer (Dallas house) and another quickly sprung up. Let's hope this one sticks! I have been diligently working on my homework. Some days I could only get around to brushing/flossing and praying but I'm making progress on reclaiming my joy.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 25 Weeks Old
Last Sunday Damon took the kids to a play date with Marlie's classmates at a farm. Her daddy didn't see fit to comb her hair before leaving the house. I bet no one even noticed. They were all probably like, what a wonderful farther he must be to bring both little kids to the park by himself! I would have gotten side-eyes if I took her out with her hair looking like that. LOL!

Marlie got expelled from gymnastics class on Friday. She ran off twice and the teacher had to chase her down while she shouted "you can't catch me!" Marlie was shocked that she was sent home and cried so hard. She said she just wanted to play with the teacher. I did my best to explain that the teacher was trying to teach and needed her to listen and do the exercises. I could tell she was having a hard time processing it. I told her she could go back and try again next week and work on her listening skills. This is what worries me about her play-based preschool where the teachers routinely engage the kids in chase, tag and hide 'n seek. She doesn't seem to understand the switch between instruction time and play time.

In better news, I finally started planning her 4th birthday party. I am off to a late start, but preparations are officially underway thanks to a super-sweet daily deal for a mobile pony party and petting zoo! I am leaning toward a Toy Story Woody/Jessie color scheme for her cowgirl festivities.


Baby Log: 43 Weeks Old
Baby boy has been keeping us awake all week and his daytime naps are sporadic. His appetite is off and he wants to nurse round the clock. Sounds like more teeth are coming, but they've been threatening to break loose for weeks and nothing. Oh, and did I mention he caught a cold this week too? Fun times!