Favorite Part of the Day

Big and Small

2010-03-18T21:08:00.003-04:00

Diving home tonight Tate was watching all the houses that went by and called them out according to size.
Giant
Giant
Super Giant
Super Giant
Super Giant
Giant
Super Giant
Giant
Giant
Super Giant
Small (we had pulled into our driveway)

Filling the seats

2010-03-09T21:22:00.003-05:00

Sitting at the dinner table the following conversation occurred:

T: There are two empty chairs.
M: Huh?
T: At the table. Two empty chairs.
M: Oh yeah.
D: A chair for Corbu and a chair for Matisse?
T: No. Not for the cats. FOR TWO MORE BABIES!
M & D: NOOOOOoooooooooo.....

Young v. Cheap

2010-03-06T20:54:00.002-05:00

I got carded at the liquor store today!!

Was it because I looked so young? Or was it because I was buying two really cheap bottles of wine?

Lessons on Parenting

2010-02-26T21:46:00.004-05:00

I have learned a very important lesson tonight.

Two days ago I brought Tate to the pediatrician's office for his 5 year check-up. All was well until the doctor checked his throat and said, "Oh. He's got some red dots in there. If he gets a sore throat or fever or throws up, you might want to bring him back here right away." I ask why. Doctor says it could be strep throat. Oh. "Ummmm... he threw up a few days ago. But only once and was totally fine right after. No other symptoms and was eating and bouncing off the walls the rest of the day." Doctor looks at me. Looks at Tate. Gets the throat culture swabs out. Positive. Crap. I bring in a symptom-free kid for a well visit and I walk out with strep throat, antibiotics and a 24-hour no contact order.

The lesson I learned tonight is... do NOT wake up Tate to give him a forgotten dose of medicine. After talking gibberish, flopping over and finally seeming like he was awake enough - he took a small swallow, then took in the rest of the dose, swished it around his mouth like mouthwash (uh oh...Tate swallow it.... swallow it) and then promptly and expertly spit it out. All over clutchie. He lied back down and closed his eyes and will not remember it even happened in the morning. He'll be awfully surprised when he sees pink all over clutchie tomorrow.

Oh no no.

2010-02-25T22:20:00.003-05:00

I mean really?? Why would she sleep all night two nights in a row? Why would she give her tired, worn-out and very loving mother a break? She decided last night that 12:30am would be a good time to say hi. I think I'd been asleep for 45 minutes when she woke me up. It was very disheartening. Now, I really didn't expect her to sleep through again, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit there was a tiny, teeny shred of a glimmer of hope that she might do it again. But I expected more of a 3am wake up. Not 12:30am. It's the total inconsistancy that is doing me in. This is the worst part of babies.

Now the best part of babies... so cute, sweet smiles, silly giggles, warm and cuddly, witnessing growth and watching them master a challenge, and the relief you feel when they finally and consistently sleep though the night - pure heaven.

My tired, sorry ass.

2010-02-24T21:56:00.006-05:00

I don't really have anything else to say other than....

SHE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!

I awoke at 6am to the glorious realization that I had indeed not been woken up during the darkest hours of the morning to drag my tired, sorry ass out of bed and gather up a warm, sweet, cute baby for snacking and cuddling. Then came the very awake anticipation of forthcoming cries to indeed drag my tired, sorry ass out of bed to gather up the warm, sweet, cute baby for breakfast and cuddling. Her demands did not surface until 7:30am!

What are the odds she can muster up a repeat performance?

Encore... ENCORE!!!

Oops

2010-02-23T21:51:00.002-05:00

Hmmm... missed a few days. I blame the party-action happening over here. It's been non-stop. Emily's birthday party, Valentine's Day, my birthday, Tate's kid party, Tate's family party, Tate's birthday and then Tate's party at school. This weekend there is still a family party to celebrate my birthday and my mom's. It's been fun, but tiring. Add to that Simone's move into Tate's room, which requires me to get out of bed once in the middle of the night to feed her, as she has decided that she still enjoys a late night snack and cuddle. Oh and then there is the damn Olympics and late night coverage. Sometimes you just cannot tear yourself away. Time to get back on schedule - with blogging and with life.

Daily Joke

2010-02-19T22:00:00.003-05:00

Tate: Why did the chicken cross the meatball?
Me: I don't know. Why?
Tate: Because he wanted to get to eat the meatball and he was hungry!!!! hahahhahahaha

Yup. They are all this bad.

Mom's Birthday

2010-02-18T23:06:00.002-05:00

Birthdays used to be all about me. Totally selfish. Whatever I wanted. Then I went and had some kids. Not only that, but I had one kid only 4 days after my own birthday. I remember 5 years ago on this day - I was 11 days from my due date and Dave and I went out to dinner (Redlefsen's for all you RWU graduates) and I sat there soaking in the very last dinner out we would have before our lives changed forever. We relaxed and really enjoyed it, although I was secretly scared that I would go into labor right then and there.

So today, on MY birthday, I spent most of it getting ready for Tate's birthday. Cleaning, ordering, planning, shopping. I didn't even get to go for lunch where I wanted to. However, Dave came home with Thai take-out and sweet, sweet cake and they sang to me, then Tate and I got lots of cuddle time on the couch. The day may have been more about him, but I got everything I needed today as well.

* blog title will live on

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
T: eating cake
M: Tate and Dave singing

Do I need a new blog title?

2010-02-17T21:17:00.002-05:00

When I started this blog Tate and I would spend a few moments each night talking about our favorite parts of the day. After a while he started telling me his favorite part of the day was "cuddling with you right now." I know... melts the heart huh? It melted my heart for the first several days. Then after three weeks of the same answer - even after we'd done some really cool, fun things that day - I realized he was just being lazy. Sweet. But lazy. I'll ask him tomorrow again and see what he says. If he says "cuddling with you right now" I may have to change the name of this blog.

Tired

2010-02-16T23:14:00.002-05:00

Just really tired tonight. Simone awoke at 1am and kept me up until 2:30am then thought it would be really funny to wake me up again at 6am. In an effort to keep Tate from glazing over on the sofa in his underwear playing Wii all day, I set up two playdates for him today. So we were going from 10am until 3pm. Then I decided that I needed to start getting ready for his party this weekend, so I made 80 meatballs and a vat of sauce. And to top it off, after putting the kids to bed I headed out in the cold and snow to Target to begin shopping for party stuff and other house essentials (Just a side note here... don't drop your 12 pack of toilet paper on the driveway in the slushy snow. Kinda ruined.) So why I am still up? Damn Olympic skating.

Taste of summer

2010-02-15T22:01:00.003-05:00

Usually around mid-February I start to get really anxious for winter to end and nature to begin to green outside. I've had enough of the snow, enough of the cold, enough of bulky winter coats. So seeing as a trip to the Bahamas was not in the cards for us this winter, I did the next best thing. I packed the kids in the car and drove to the Botanical Gardens in Providence. It opened in 2007 in Roger Williams Park and it's two large greenhouses filled with lots of tropical green things. We walked in and were immediately hit with heat and forced to take off our coats - ahhhhh. A few more steps in and the smell changed to summer - just like that it felt and smelled like summer. We saw tons of different palm trees, huge cacti, flesh-eating plants, orchids, banana trees bearing fruit, a koi pond and water fountains. The place was practically empty and not very big so Tate was able to run free and explore, as well as throw coins in the fountain. It was blissful.

So the Botanical Gardens will have to suffice for me until we win the lottery and I can spend every February vacation on a tropical beach. It's just as good, right?!?!?!

Happy...

2010-02-14T22:44:00.006-05:00

...new room! Simone did great last night in her new room with Tate. Tate did equally as well. One wake up for the girl which only woke up Dave. Both Tate and I slept through it. I had no idea she was up until Dave was at the side of our bed holding Simone saying "Wake up!" So I fed her, put her back in the crib and I awoke at 7am to the sounds of Tate sweetly talking to her through the baby monitor.

...Valentine's Day! Everyone got a homemade card. Tate got chocolates and lollipops. Simone got a new rattle, chew toy. Everyone got lots of love.

...Chinese New Year! Gong hay fat choy!! (I think it's spelled that way - but what do I know, I'm not Chinese.) Simone got to wear her beautiful outfit - handed down from Tate - that Auntie Ali got in Thailand (is that right Ali?) Doesn't she look beautiful?

Kicked to the crib

2010-02-13T21:01:00.004-05:00

For 5.5 months Simone has slept beside me in our room. Sometimes peacefully. Sometimes not. But always right next to me - she was always there. Which is a problem in itself... she was ALWAYS there. We were prisoners in our own room. Forced to brush our teeth in the kitchen, fear rolling over in bed, and damn that dog should she have a dream and begin whimpering and barking in her sleep. I was in constant fear of making noise and waking up Simone.

Tonight she has been kicked out. She spends her first night in a crib in Tate's room - now their room. I am sad. I am happy. I am still fearful that a noise will wake her up. But I will go to bed tonight after brushing my teeth in the bathroom, washing my face again, maybe even reading a few pages of a book before turning off the light, and making as much noise as I want getting settled. No... I'm still just sad. She's growing up.

Five guys, seven moms, eleven kids and one baby.

2010-02-11T22:28:00.002-05:00

After school today we gathered some of the kids and moms and headed over to Five Guys Burgers for lunch (made famous by Barack Obama), where it seems they pride themselves on how unhealthy their offering is. Unhealthy, yes. But, oh so tasty. We took over a large section of the restaurant with our entourage, set up a couple of kid's tables and ordered up burgers, hot dogs and fries. Those kids were so good and so excited to be having lunch out all together. Tate sat next to his bestest girl and told me that he hopes Obama does not come in for lunch, because he doesn't want to run into any Presidents.

Valentines

2010-02-10T21:34:00.004-05:00

During our "major snowstorm" that cancelled school today even though we could still the grass through the snow at 3pm, Tate and I made Valentine's for all his friends at school. They have set up a post office and each kid has a mailbox (decorated paper bag) and they will deliver their Valentines by matching the name on the box with the name on the Valentine. Last year we did the store-bought perforated variety and so this year I felt we needed to step it up. Tate drew one picture, wrote Happy Valentine's Day and signed his name to it. We took it to the office, scanned it in, printed 18 of them, cut up some red paper and then sat down to glue. He did one, then I did one. Then he got up to change the character on Wii, then I asked him to come sit back down and finish gluing. He glued one and then got up again to set up the next MarioKart race. He glued one more then got up again and picked his race car. When I asked him to please come back and finish, he said, "Mom? Can you just do it so I can play Wii?"

I guess I'm lucky I got him to do the one drawing and sign his name.

Dream maker...

2010-02-09T22:11:00.003-05:00

Conversation on the playground.

Other mom: So last night Victoria* told me that yesterday at school Tate wanted her to sit next to him and someone else sat there instead and Tate got whiney and said, "But I want Victoria to sit next to me!!" So I said, "Well that must have made you feel good, that Tate wanted so badly to sit next to you."

Victoria: No mom.

Other mom: No?

Victoria: It made me love him even more.

*name still changed - but let me tell you, she is a doll!!!

Shims

2010-02-08T21:41:00.005-05:00

When I was pregnant for Simone, one of our concerns was how Tate would deal with a new baby in the house. He was used to being the king, the one and only, the master of his parents attention. Now he'd have to share.

So, along comes Simone, with all her crazy-haired, wide-eyed cuteness and let me tell you.... that kiddo Tate took to her like a fish to water. It was like she'd always been here. He smiles, she smiles. He giggles, she giggles. He always wants to see her and she lights up when she sees him. He constantly says, "Oh look at that Simoney. She's soooooo cute. Isn't she so cute Mommy?" He has a new nickname for her. Shims. And I'm sure there will be plenty more to come. He loves everything about her.

Just don't ask him to help change a diaper. He goes running into the next room screaming, "Noooooo.... I hate the poop!!!!!!"

What if?

2010-02-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

Tonight as things were very crazy in the house, Tate acting up and being cranky, Simone not napping and crying instead, dinner trying to get made and work attempting to be done, Dave said the words, "What would we be doing if we didn't have kids?"

So we thought for a bit with small, knowing smiles on our faces and really contemplated this scenario. We decided that we would have been contentedly sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in hand, cheese and crackers on the table, a really nice dinner in the oven, maybe some friends over and watching the start of the Super Bowl. Sounds relaxing, doesn't it? It really does. But then I thought how sad I'd actually feel with an empty house and no kids... like something really important was missing. So we started on a new dream.

Both kids as teenagers and wanting to spend as little time at home with us as possible. And we would be sitting on the couch, glass of wine in hand, cheese and crackers on the table, a really nice dinner in the oven, maybe some friends over, watching the start of the Super Bowl while texting Tate and Simone, "Sure you can stay out an hour later. Just don't wake us when you come in."

To the future! Cheers!!

Failure

2010-02-07T09:55:00.004-05:00

Oops. Failure to post yesterday. Two demerits for me. I'm making up for it with a really cute picture and a promise of a real post later today.

Wrap it up.

2010-02-05T21:07:00.002-05:00

Simone was all swaddled up and ready for a final feed before going off to sleep tonight. She nursed for a few minutes then started looking around. Then nursed a bit and fussed and nursed and fussed and nursed and fussed. So I burped her with no results. Laid her back down and she nursed and fussed and nursed and fussed and then popped out one of her arms from the swaddle. Then looked around and watched Tate, stared at Daddy, fussed, looked at the TV, fussed and nursed. Then fussed some more and smacked me in the face, clawed my face, listened to Daddy read books to Tate, nursed and fussed and nursed and smacked me in the face a few more times. Then fussed and nursed and fussed and smack and fuss and nurse and look and fuss and smack and smack and smack and fuss...... Are you tired of reading this? Imagine the frustration of living through it for the hour it lasted.

As she is a bit over 5 months now, I've been wondering when I should stop swaddling her at night time. She always seems happy to get into the "baby burrito" and be cozy and warm. But I know that at some point she will want to be free.

Well after all the smacking, fussing and fussing for an hour tonight, she took her free hand, grabbed at the tabs of the swaddle blanket and pulled hard. Hmmmmm.... So I unwrapped her wrapped up arm, she stretched, smiled and then rolled over, closed her eyes and nursed herself to sleep.

I think she has just told me it's time to stop swaddling her. "BABY BURRITO BE GONE," the queen commands.

You're a...heartbreaker.

2010-02-04T20:21:00.006-05:00

Conversation at the playground:

Other mom: So last night Victoria* said she loved Tate. I said I'm glad you like him.

Victoria: Nooooo mom.... I LOVE him.

Other mom: Oh. Why do you love him?

Victoria: Because he's handsome, smart and nice.

All the other moms: Oh.... you are in trouble Michelle. He is quite the ladies man! First Hope*, now Victoria... where will it end? ha ha ha ha....

Me: I'm so screwed.

*names changed to protect the reputations of the innocent young loves of my suave 5 year old son

Pants on Fire

2010-02-03T22:20:00.005-05:00

Wii rules in this house. And so we have created Wii House Rules. One of the sacred rules is…

NO Wii until you have eaten breakfast.

Playing Wii is such a strong motivator for Tate that it has really helped diminish the challenge of getting him to eat breakfast. We have had a few great weeks of getting a solid meal into his belly to start his day. This helps Dave and I in the morning, as Dave usually gets him breakfast while I’m still in bed. By the time I get up with Simone, Dave had left for work, Tate has eaten, cleared his plate/bowl and is playing Wii. Great!

A few days ago, I got up and Tate was playing Wii and there was no plate/bowl on the table. I ask, “Have you eaten breakfast already?” “Yes, mommy,” was his reply as he barely looked away from racing down a mountainside in the form of a bad ass, spiky turtle on a motorcycle. Great! I sit down with Simone and we play with chewy toys and watch Tate rack up Grand Prix trophys. About a half hour later I venture into the kitchen to get my own breakfast and I see this on the counter…

We now have a new Wii rule…

DO NOT lie to mommy about eating breakfast so that you can play Wii.

One hell of a day.

2010-02-02T21:43:00.003-05:00

Rotten. Crappy. Miserable.

That sums up today. Awoken too early by baby. Too many errands while Tate was at school. Broken down car at grocery store. No good naps for Simone. Zero work accomplished. Headaches and stress. Tate meltdowns at the end of the day. And still a crying baby right now who won't go to sleep.

But... Tate zipped his own coat today!

If I wanted to look on the bright side, I guess today wasn't so bad. I'm just not sure I'm bright side material today. Maybe tomorrow.

Blog-a-Thon

2010-02-01T20:49:00.002-05:00

Was thinking that I should do another month long blog-a-thon, and what better month to do that in than February!! Only 28 days.

So 28 days - 28 posts.

And yes, this one counts! I even added a cute kiddo photo to make it more legit.

7 Weeks Old

2009-10-18T22:58:00.003-04:00

Welcome Baby Girl!

2009-09-13T20:40:00.004-04:00

Simone Phaneuf Rizzolo

August 30, 2009

10:56am

8lbs. 14oz.

Hello Due Date!!!

2009-08-29T14:45:00.004-04:00

Open Letter to "Yet to be Named" little girl:

WHERE ARE YOU??? I know. Your still in there, but you are so supposed to not be! Today is your due date August 29th. Your not late. But I feel as if you are. There is much anticipated, anxious waiting for you from our house to NYC to Point Lay, Alaska. People are being updated with phone calls, Facebook and satellite phone texts messages (that's your Unkie Dan, he's above the Arctic Circle right now doing research...you'll meet him soon, he's very cool!) But still you decide to stay where you are. We were going to try and force you out today, but a hurricane is sweeping off the coast right now and causing all sorts of OTHER women to go into labor, creating a back-up at the hospital. And so we have been bumped to Monday, when we will then try and entice you out with fun drugs and stuff! However, we are all hoping that you decide to make your own unaccompanied appearance, say... today... or tomorrow.... how does that sound?

Let me know. I'm right here. Just waiting!

Love,

Mom

39 Weeks

2009-08-23T17:19:00.002-04:00

Waiting. We didn't have to do this with Tate. He was one week early and we were n0t ready for him. I still had an unfinished client project, Dave was still building his custom furniture, and his clothes and cute little baby things were unwashed with the tags still on. And suddenly I was in labor, yelling "Oh shit!!" We needed more time.

Well, this time here we sit, one week before her due date and all client work has been finished for 3 days, her bassinet and dresser with clean, untagged clothes in it has been set up for 2 weeks, the house is clean (thanks to yesterday's crazed cleaning jag), dinners are waiting in the freezer, and bags are packed. And we wait.

But I am relaxed and unstressed and even made cookies today! I think I like waiting rather than running through the house yelling "Oh shit!!"

Idle Threats

2009-07-30T16:25:00.002-04:00

"I'm ever not coming up here again!! hmupf"

…and storms down the stairs.

What a threat from such a small child.

UPDATE: 1 minute later

T: Hi mommy, can you open my yogurt for me?

M: I thought you were ever not coming up here again?

T: {smiles}

T: Well, I was unhappy. But, now I'm happy!

What wonders one minute will do for such a small child.

8 Months

2009-07-29T22:19:00.002-04:00

Her due date is August 29th. Today is July 29th. We are exactly one month away from the impending birth. I've been frantically trying to complete client projects, and as some get finished, new ones come in the door! I think my clients are panicking over her impending arrival too. All seems under control on the work front, even though I'm working most days and nights trying to get it all done - I see the end is near, with a small buffer of time that was unexpected. Now I just need everyone to cooperate with me. Including this baby. So far so good!

We've also been tackling the baby "to-do" list. Which is really a baby "t0-get" list. I think we were lulled into a false sense of security by having had a kid already and thinking "Oh, we've had a kid already. We've got EVERYTHING we need!" NO. NO...we don't! I forgot that baby needs diapers, wipes, new pacifiers, new little fuzzy rattles, diaper rash cream, lotion, shampoo, her own clutchie, plus clothes that are made for girls... among other things that were not in the best shape from Tate's usage... like socks, hats, bibs, burp cloths, changing table covers... need I go on? But I think that we are covered as Tate and I went out last week and conquered the "to-get" list rather efficiently and he even picked out for her a clutchie of her very own!

Things still need to be done like, set up the bassinet, install the car seats, pack the bags. Oh... and the most important... decide her name!

32 Weeks

2009-07-06T21:26:00.002-04:00

And there is no more room at the inn!! She's packed in tightly so that there is usually a foot in my ribs, a shoulder in my hip and a head banging into my bladder. But it is fun to watch my whole stomach twitch and shift as she relocates her baby body parts. Tate still insists that she be named "Brother Lauren" even though that is his cousin's name and he's fully aware that he's getting a sister!

A boy hanging upside down on the monkey bars...

2009-06-29T17:35:00.002-04:00

...is what he drew on his chest with a green marker, while I was upstairs invoicing my clients.

Fairbanks II - Day One

2009-05-21T20:24:00.005-04:00

Oh, Day One. Travel Day! Well, it was not nearly as bad as I expected it to be. Tate was fantastic! He was well-behaved, calm, watched DVDs and ate snacks. He dozed from DC to Seattle for about 1.5 hours and then was raring to go in the Seattle airport. He rememebered as soon as we entered the terminal that this was the airport with the train! He slept pretty well from Seattle to Fairbanks so was refreshed when Unkie Dan met us at baggage claim... here they are playing in the sand pits in the Fairbanks International Airport.

I was more comfortable than I thought I'd ever be traveling that far and that long at 6 months pregnant. The worst for me was bending over to retrieve items from the seats in front of us and then the last leg of the trip where Tate was lying with his head in my lap, ultimately pinning me in place. I couldn't get comfortable and my tailbone was killing me! That was the worst of it.

We landed at 1am AK time (5am RI time) and damn it, it was still kinda light out! That sorta dusky light that feels like night but is not really dark. Amazing! Our heads were on the pillows in the hotel by 2:30am for much needed additional sleep.

25 Weeks

2009-05-19T23:42:00.006-04:00

Things I Can Still Do:

- rough house with Tate

- wash a 52lb Boxer in the tub

- vacuum

- see my toes

- stay awake all day long

- run up the stairs and not be winded

- play baseball

- cook dinner

Things I Probably Shouldn't Be Doing Anymore

- rough house with Tate

- wash a 52lb Boxer in the tub

- run up the stairs

Things I'm Looking Forward To Not Being Able To Do Anymore

- vacuum

- stay awake all day long

- cook dinner

We are at 25.5 weeks... only a scary 14.5 to go! She's quite active when I am at rest and if she kicks hard enough I can not only feel it, but see my stomach move too! It's cool and kinda freaky all layered into one "Oh my God. I'm having another baby!" parfait of pregnancy fun!

Peace...

2009-05-12T19:32:00.003-04:00

...and quiet!

He is so beautiful when he sleeps.

After a weekend of being sick (high fevers) he is well again, but still tuckered. This is him asleep on the couch in my office upstairs. He's never fallen asleep here before!

Suit

2009-05-02T21:16:00.002-04:00

Tate is very excited to wear his new dress clothes for unkie Dan's wedding. He tried to wear them to bed last night, wanted them on first thing in the morning and then while at the park informed me that we would all wear our "fantastic new clothes" to the airport, on the plane and then to Alaska.

He thinks he looks like a dancer in his "suit" and last night led a conga line through the house. He plans on one for the wedding reception too. But we all have to dance crazy like him... so be ready! Oh and he wants the instruments too!!

Ice Packs

2009-04-27T21:18:00.004-04:00

After dinner I went upstairs to do some more work. 20 minutes later I was called downstairs to apply ice packs to both father and son. Apparently, a game of "tickle spider" went awry and resulted in a serious head butt and a split open lip. Luckily no one needed stitches - it was iffy for a while. Poor guys!

Of bugs and m&m's

2009-04-26T19:44:00.004-04:00

We walked to the beach after dinner tonight to plunk rocks in the water. Shortly after arriving there a ladybug landed on my shirt.

M: Look Tate! A ladybug!
T: Where?
M: Right here.
T: Oh. Can I touch it?
M: Sure!
{Tate gently touches the ladybug}
T: Hey!!!!! It feels just like an m&m!!!!!

Artists at Large

2009-04-09T21:19:00.003-04:00

Lauren is spending the night again (no school tomorrow...yeah!) They spent the evening before dinner creating their own masterpieces with cray-pas, paint and water. Just a bit of paint on the floor. It was worth the quiet and contentment.

They are now currently giggling in bed and keep getting up to ask us things, like...

"Is it going to be cold or warm tomorrow?"

"Can I have my salamander?"

"Cousin Lauren is giggling, I can't sleep."

"Tate is talking, I can't sleep."

Would you like to guess what time they will finally fall asleep? The winner gets both kids for the night! Enter now!!!!!

Backwards Day

2009-04-01T22:09:00.002-04:00

Tate has been resisting naptime lately. And on days he takes a nap, he doesn't fall asleep that night until after 10pm. I know it's probably time to stop the naps for him, but it's the time I get the most work done, so it's been a hard sell for me.

The past few days I've let him go no naps and he's been sleeping better at night. Today was a no nap day. I told Tate that I had to go upstairs and work for a while and if he needed me to call or come upstairs. He played, relaxed, watched TV, used the bathroom... all independently and happily. I came down about an hour and half later, sat on the couch and took one look at him and thought, "Hmmmm... that wasn't like that when I went upstairs!"

What is wrong with this picture?

18 Weeks and 31 Posts

2009-03-31T22:37:00.002-04:00

We are at 18 weeks now and expanding. Lots of great little, soft kicks throughout the day. Although they can't be felt from the outside yet. She spends most of her time pressing on my bladder and making me have to pee constantly. There are many joys in pregnancy... having to pee all the time is not one of those joys.

I am at 31 posts for the month of March!!! I have to say I rather surprised that I did it. Yeah for me!! Hope you enjoyed. Let's see what happens now.....

Cooker Lesson #4

2009-03-30T22:22:00.005-04:00

Today we made cookies. We've been talking about making these cookies for weeks. We've had the ingredients to make these cookies for at least 8 days now. Finally, I was so burnt out from working everyday for the last 3.5 weeks that I said, "No more work today! It's cookie-making time!"

We made Oatmeal, Dried Cherry, Chocolate Chip Cookies! And today was the first time Tate dared to use the electric mixer. Usually he runs and hides when I turn it on, but today...oh today, he was BRAVE. He did great. Kept it in the bowl, splattered nothing and did a great job mixing. Here's the proof...

After all that work and bravery, he decided that he does not like cherries in his cookies. I now have to eat all the cherries out of his cookies. Not a bad gig if you can get it!!

Shut Down

2009-03-29T21:27:00.005-04:00

So I had a great post planned with a video of Tate squirting paint into a bowl and making farting noises with the tube of paint and then laughing hysterically at the noise. But the video won't load. It was really funny. So just take a moment and imagine it for me..... imagine the squirts.... the farting noises.... the hysterical laughter.... your imagining it, right??

Funny, isn't it??

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
D: eating cake from Sin
M: completing and then emailing coloring book concepts to my client
T: cuddling with you right now

Tired

2009-03-28T23:41:00.002-04:00

In an economy like now, I'm very surprised to find myself overwhelmed with client work. Projects keep coming, I keep saying yes and happily add jobs to my forecast. Then I have to do the work. Well, I'm exhausted. I've been working just about every hour I can put aside the responsibility of motherhood... "Let's put in a DVD. Mommy's going to run upstairs and work for a few miniutes, OK?" This includes after Tate's in bed and on weekends too. The house is a mess, dinner's been pretty uninspired lately and the dirty laundry is piling up.

I need a housewife. I'm taking applications until 5pm next Friday. Interested?

That's what little _______ are made of.

2009-03-27T22:20:00.008-04:00

Among my friends there are 9 children. All 9 are boys. That's a lot of boys. It seems inevitable that all the kids will be boys. There are all boys now... there will be all boys in the future.

Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later...

It's a GIRL!!!

Hey Tate!

2009-03-26T22:24:00.003-04:00

A few days ago Tate came with me for a client lunch meeting. He was good, told jokes and showed off his new blue-teeth-staining mouthwash. I rewarded him with ice cream.

Tate's at a sleepover tonight with Nana. I left them this afternoon while they were exploring an old shoebox packed tightly and filled to the top with Dave's old matchbox cars.

I miss him! Good night Tate. I love you!!

Brushy-Brushy Time

2009-03-25T22:14:00.006-04:00

M: Do you want to tell daddy it's brushy-brushy time. Do you want mommy to tell daddy or do you want daddy to tell daddy?

T: I want to tell daddy.

{gets off couch and walks over to table where daddy sits and says in a 4-year-old's fake British accent}

T: Daddy? It's brushy-brushy time... Your Majesty!!!!

{while bowing with dramatic flair}

Habits

2009-03-24T22:14:00.003-04:00

Is March over yet?? This is a lot of blogging. About 10 days in it was a chore. 24 days in it is now habit. As routine as checking my email, brushing my teeth, or telling Tate to go back to bed at least 5 times each night. Maybe I can make some more new habits... like cleaning the house, getting Tate to school on time, or figuring out what to make for dinner?

Nope... too lofty those goals. I'll just stick to writing about my messy house, Tate being late for school and never knowing what to have for dinner.

Easier.

Guest Blogger - Tate

2009-03-23T21:52:00.006-04:00

Oval eye! I've got a joke for you.... Why did the chicken cross the kitchen? To see what snacks there were!! Hahhahahahahahahahaaaaa. I'm a blogger and a Tater.

Quote of the Day

2009-03-22T21:25:00.003-04:00

"I've got magic balls!!"

Dive Bomb!!!!

2009-03-21T21:51:00.003-04:00

From the bed onto the blow-up mattress! What a morning they had after deciding that 7:30am would be a GREAT time to get up... "It's morning day!"

Bickerers

2009-03-20T22:46:00.002-04:00

This just about sums up the day!

We surprised Lauren at school, picking her up and bringing her to our house for an impromptu sleepover. Wow, was Tate excited. They were really good... well sort of. They bicker like siblings! She tries to boss him around and he puts up with none of it! They yell at each other, then play happily, then yell again, then play, then yell... well you get the idea. It's rather amusing to the innocent bystander (that would be me) who is upstairs working and listening to the downstairs goings-on.

They are now asleep. All is quiet. Until the morning, when the bickerers awake and I begin to giggle and referee again.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
T: eating graham crackers and cuddling with you right now
L: having you and Tate pick me up at school
M: lying on the driveway and being outlined in walk-chalk-chalk
D: playing ball with Tate and Lauren

Mod

2009-03-19T22:09:00.006-04:00

The day began earlier than usual. Got Tate up, dresssed, breakfasted and out the door by 8:30am. Then to the bakery to pick up a tasty breakfast treat for a meeting, to the bank to make a deposit and then drop Tate at school. I zoomed back home for the client meeting I was hosting, made coffee and sliced the treat as she was pulling in the driveway. Successful meeting ended after an hour, then upstairs to work for an hour, and off to pick up Tate. We drove to my studio to meet a possible new co-op member and then it was lunchtime. Where should we go....hmmm?

The Modern Diner!!!

I think we were the only ones eating actual lunch food at lunchtime. We should have just had the pancakes.

Cooker Lesson #3

2009-03-18T22:30:00.002-04:00

I was too tired to think about dinner tonight...what to make, is it in the house, go to the store to shop for it. So I emailed Dave begging for help with the culinary decisions this evening. He came home with potatoes, green beans and pork chops. With mac & cheese for Tate. I set to work cooking with my little helper.

He washed beans, snapped off their stems, poured bunny shaped pasta into the boiling water, mixed the cheesey sauce and incorporated all the rabbit macaronis in! I explained how to steam, boil and mix all while making sure no one burned themselves on the stove. Success!

Interesting enough, he happily ate LOTS of food tonight with no prompting whatsoever. Could having him help cook dinner make him more interested in eating said dinner?

I could have something here.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
T: cuddling with you right now
M: cooking dinner with you tonight

All work and no play...

2009-03-17T22:21:00.002-04:00

It's all about the playing today.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
M: wathcing you play on the playground with your friends
T: playing with Eli, oh and cuddling with you right now

16 Weeks

2009-03-16T17:19:00.004-04:00

Hmmm.... I still fit in my more stretchy regular clothes. And I do believe that I've started to feel some tiny, whimpy, soft little kicks. A few times a day I feel something and think...."WHAT WAS THAT??? Was that a kick? I think it WAS!!"

A Tale of Two Climates

2009-03-15T17:17:00.003-04:00

It was warm enough today to play soccer outside and have a picnic lunch on the lawn, yet afterwards have a snowball fight with that final big pile of die hard snow!

Which I am pleased to say is now finally gone.

Ahoy There

2009-03-14T22:50:00.002-04:00

Pirate party!!!

Today was finally cousin Joey's pirate birthday party. Tate has been looking forward to this for weeks. He woke up yesterday morning and barely awake told Dave, "Tomorrow's the pirate party!"

Wow, what a party! There was a large pirate ship to climb into and slide down on the super fast slide that launched kids into the crash mat. There was a bucking bull inside a giant bouncy house. Basketball games and fun large balls to throw and kick. And activities!!! A treasure hunt, bull riding, airplane decorating and launching, tug-o-war, pinata whacking and of course food and cake. The kids then left with a balloon and fresh-made cotton candy! Tate was digging into the cotton candy during the ride home after being told he could not eat it in the car. He sadly stopped eating in the car, then gladly finished it off at home with blue fingers, blue lips and a blue tongue.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY
T: Joey's party
M: Joey's party

Lights On!

2009-03-13T22:08:00.001-04:00

Driving home we can see the bridges across the bay and I always ask Tate which bridges he can see. He always says, "I can see the Bristol Bridge. And I can see the Newport Bridge."

Several nights ago we drove by and I asked which bridges he could see. "I can see the Bristol Bridge. But I can't see the Newport," he said. Sure enough one bridge was lit up and one was not. Well, I had just discovered that my friend Stacie's father now works as a toll taker on the Newport Bridge. So I promptly blamed Mr. Perry..."Oh Tate, Papa Jim forgot to turn the lights on tonight!" "Oh," he says.

Last night we drove by again. Tate announced, "I can see the Bristol Bridge. And Papa Jim remembered to turn the lights on the Newport Bridge tonight!! Yeah!!!"

Mr. Perry, please remember turn on the lights every night. There is a 4-year-old boy in Barrington keeping tabs on your job performance!

Rotten to the Core

2009-03-12T16:36:00.004-04:00

Yes, folks... she is spoiled rotten to the core! That is the dog, in our bed, having made a nest of pillows for herself upon which to snooze the afternoon away. And I allow this??? Well, yeah, I do. It all began when she arrived from the rescue program and promptly fell ill. She required lots of extra care, pampering, love and rest to be able to fight for her life and win. Most days I didn't really think she'd make it, so little things like her sleeping in our bed were not concern for longtime bad habits. But here we are, six and a half years later, with a very spoiled yet alive dog.

It's OK, she can sleep on my pillows. She deserves her life of luxury after working so hard to keep it.

Helpful Reader Suggestion

2009-03-11T21:04:00.002-04:00

It was suggested to me by a self-appointed "loyal blog reader" that if I didn't really have anything to say that I should just stick to my blog title, report on our favorite parts of the day and be done with it! This is a great suggestion. (Turns out that telling people to "suck it" is a great motivator to getting blog entry ideas!) But, why did I not think of this myself? It might be the tiny 16 week old fetus that is quite sucking the life out of me, could be. Or it could also be laziness. We'll never know. But I do know that I need more blog entry ideas... so suck it blog readers!!!

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

T: umm... I have two tonight – getting me a new airplane – then, cuddling with you right now!

D: the aftermath of fudgisicle

M: telling my loyal blog readers to suck it!!

Hi!

2009-03-10T22:08:00.003-04:00

I'm tired tonight. And Dave's chomping at the bit to get his computer back. So that's all you get!
Good night.

The Kitty Series

2009-03-09T20:15:00.004-04:00

Tate was drawing on his magnadoodle and I glanced over and thought, "Wow, that looks just like a cat." A few minutes later Tate says, "Mom, look at my kitties!"

Well done, Tate!!

Boys are...

2009-03-08T20:04:00.003-04:00

gross - Part 2!

M: Tate, get your hand out of your pants.
T: Nooo...hee...hee....
M: Tate, it's not polite to walk around with your hand on your butt-butt.
T: Yes it is!!
M: Tate, please get your hand out of your pants.
{puts other hand down the front of his pants}
T: Now one hand is on my butt-butt and the other is touching my peener!! Ha...ha...hee...hee...
M: Oh my god!!!

Boys are sooooooo gross!!!

Dancing Fun

2009-03-07T20:56:00.003-05:00

I brought my camera to the party, but the batteries were dead! If they had not been dead you would have seen pictures of a crazy dancing Tate, Aidan and Coleman. They were nutty and had us all rolling with laughter! Also you would have seen Tate's first time pumping gas! Yes. Dave let him get out of the car and "help" in the vehicle refueling. He looked SO proud of himself!

But since I don't have pictures of any of that I leave you with an old picture not yet witnessed by the masses....

This was from a very loud music making session last summer... oh the headache!

Guns & Roses

2009-03-06T23:01:00.004-05:00

Conversation at lunch.

T: Mom, can we go to the grocery store and get those guns? {squirt guns}

M: Ummm... no...

T: But I really want the guns!!!!!

M: Tate, no. You do not need guns.

T: Yes I do!! I need them to water the flowers!

Lame

2009-03-05T21:46:00.003-05:00

I've got nothing to say tonight. Sorry. I think I'm too tired. Nope nothing. But I posted. Lame? Yes. But I say it counts as a post for the day! And I make the rules on my own blog. So suck it!

The Power of Observation

2009-03-04T20:48:00.004-05:00

I'm reading a great book by Barbara Kingsolver about her family's commitment to eating locally for a year. During this year, as much as possible, they eat only what they grow or can buy from other local growers and producers. Therefore, they are eating only what is in season as well as eating whole foods vs. processed. I'm not far into the book and have learned way more about asparagus than I ever wished to know, but it is also making me very happy about our decision for the past 3 years to join a local CSA and making me look forward to this June when the crops are in again - oh the husk cherries, salad greens, heirloom tomatoes, raspberries and local cheeses!! Oops, I've digressed from the real point of this post.

The real point is that last night while reading, there was a recipe listed and after that recipe the note that if I wanted more recipes I should go to www.AnimalVegetableMiracle.com. I thought, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle? Oh that's interesting they did a different website for the recipes. Wait. Why would they do that? That doesn't make any sense!" So I turn the cover over, really look at the title of the book, and lo and behold, the book I have been reading for the past week and referring to in conversation as Animal, Vegetable, MINERAL... is not actually entitled that, but indeed entitled "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"!!!

So you are now aware that as much as I love books and reading, I obviously don't really pay any attention to what a book is called. Although in my defense, I've talked about this book with several other people and I believe that they have all called it, unprompted by me, Animal, Vegetable, Mineral as well!! You know who you are!

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

M: long, much needed afternoon nap (maybe now I can pay attention to details)

T: playing broken daddy

Short

2009-03-03T19:45:00.004-05:00

{conversation this afternoon in his room}
T: Mommy... I have a joke for you.
M: OK, what is it?
T: You can ask the waitress for another drink, but you can't ask her for soap!
T: {lots of giggling and silliness}
M: Ummmm.... OK.

I think the loss of his hair made him weird!

Happy birthday to Ama!!!

14 Weeks

2009-03-02T20:15:00.002-05:00

The baby bump photos begin. We didn't do this with Tate and I really regret it. But I'm surprised at how quickly this baby has popped my stomach! I didn't look like this with Tate until I was close to 20 weeks.

14 down... 26 to go!

What?!?!

2009-03-01T19:30:00.006-05:00

Imagine my surprise when I spent the day at school with Tate last Tuesday for his special birthday celebration and all of a sudden the lights switched off and on, off and on, and 19 preschoolers jumped into action and began to pick up all the toys! Children crawling under tables, scooping up blocks, placing scissors and crayons back into the right buckets...it was mind boggling for a mother who cannot get her boy to even pick up his clutchie that is two feet away from him. But to my greater surprise, my boy was also part of the action earnestly picking up and putting away toys that he didn't even play with!!!

Well, as if that wasn't enough for this over-worked mom...at snack-time, the children waited calmly for all their other friends to be served before digging into their special Tate-birthday ice cream treat and upon finishing asked if they could be excused and then picked up all their cups, napkins and spoons and ceremoniously deposited them into the garbage can.

Preschoolers clearing the table!! Manners?? Damn, this school is teaching them something!

Now, Tate did all this at school, but won't do it at home. Barrington, we have a problem!

Today I looked at the house and was overwhelemed with the amount of toys strewn all over the living room, dining room and into the kitchen. I thought about preschool. And then with happiness in my voice, a sparkle in my eye, and energy in my body told Tate we were going to clean up. We tossed balls in the right bucket, ran to get the broom, squirted windex and with laughter and fun cleaned the house with no complaining, no whining and with full, excited cooperation.

My house is clean! Damn, I think this school is teaching ME something!

:: I'm condering posting everyday in the month of March. Just considering. This is no promise. We'll see what happens.

Ouch!

2009-02-27T15:49:00.006-05:00

1 deeply embedded splinter +

1 doctors visit +

3 pairs of tweezers +

1 very thin needle +

15 minutes of earnest digging +

2 feet of gauze +

1 prescription of anti-bacterial ointment +

2 lollipops +

1 teddy bear (courtesy of the pharmacist) +

0 tears =

1 VERY brave boy!!!

Baby Conversation #5

2009-02-05T22:04:00.003-05:00

T: I don't want to sit next to you Mommy, I might get on your stomach and squish the baby.

M: Oh honey, you won't squish the baby. It's really well protected in there.

T: Oh?

M: Yup, the baby is swimming in a pool of water that cushions him/her... kinda like baby bubble wrap.

T: Oh, it's swimming in a pool?

M: Yup.

T: Mommy, we need to buy the baby a pair of goggles so it can swim in it's pool.

M: Ummmm...ok.....

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

T: sitting with Daddy and cuddling with you Mommy right now

M: going to the candy store to buy Pez

D: tickle-saurus

Two Reasons I Know I'm Pregnant

2009-02-02T22:14:00.002-05:00

1. The only thing that I wanted to eat today were Mallowmars -- so I bought some.

2. I need a spandex belly band to hold up my pants that I can't button anymore -- so I bought one.

I wonder if I hadn't bought the Mallowmars would I have needed to buy the belly band?

Very Grinchy Indeed

2008-12-24T22:19:00.005-05:00

Christmas Eve dinner was a very....ummm..."traditional" Mexican feast of chicken, bean and cheese enchiladas, mango salsa, guacamole, cheesy corn bread and tortilla chips. Followed by a dessert of christmas cookies and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas cake!!

Capped off with a viewing of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Here is Tate reciting the story word for word.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

M: watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Unkie Dan: watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Nana: the Grinch cake

Grandpa: the Grinch cake

T: watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Almost there...

2008-12-23T22:47:00.003-05:00

Oh we are so close to the big day! Tate has been telling everyone who will listen what he wants Santa to bring him for Christmas... Shake 'n Go Dragsters and Shake 'n Go Crash Up Speedway. Thank goodness "santa" has purchased these gifts that are now wrapped and await arrival under the tree!

Tate had a Christmas party and performance at school last Thursday. It was complete with class made cookies, song and dance! Here is Tate, Max and Matthew doing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. We have it all on video for your laughing pleasure.

More Christmas goodness to come....

'Tis the Season

2008-12-11T16:29:00.003-05:00

Tate dictated a letter to himself last night. He began...

"Dear Santa Claus and Toys R Us...."

After that, it really doesn't matter how he finished it - he has taken quite a liking to consumerism.

Hi!

2008-12-10T19:57:00.002-05:00

I've been feeling very stressed in my everyday life and therefore the blog has been suffering. I apologize. Writing cute things about Tate actually lessens the stress... so therefore I pledge with new dedication a more regular posting schedule. Please stay tuned...

Boys are...

2008-12-01T14:34:00.005-05:00

...sweet!

This afternoon while driving home from a client's photo shoot and then lunch out, Tate said he had something to tell me.

"Thank you for having such a nice lunch out with me today!"

Boys are sooooo sweet!!

Boys are...

2008-11-30T21:43:00.002-05:00

...gross!!

Tate called me into his room to tell me something tonight. In I go, even though he supposed to be sleeping to see what he wants.

"You have to smell my feet!!"

Boys are sooooooo gross!!!

Pupperversary

2008-11-17T20:51:00.003-05:00

Six years ago I wanted a dog. Dave didn't. He didn't want to be tied down with the responsibility and more importantly he didn't want to pick up poop. I worked on him. He gave in. We began looking for a dog. Boxer rescues were our choice - where you actually do not get a choice.

Six years ago I filled out the 50 line item application. Had a phone interview. Our references were called. The program director visited our house with a dog. Then, only then, did she say, "We've got a dog that I think would be a great fit for you - her name is Sheba."

Six years ago we drove to New Hampshire to meet Sheba. She was sweet. A bit timid and seemed confused. She won our hearts.

Six years ago we packed Sheba into our car. Drove her home and into our lives.

Six years ago today Sheba became Eames. It was the best choice we never made.

Official Auntie Alli Birthday Proclamation

2008-11-10T20:15:00.004-05:00

M: Hey Tate, it's Auntie's birthday today.

T: Can we have a cake for Auntie's birthday?

M: Well, she's not going to be here. She's in New York.

T: New York City?

M: Yup, New York City.

T: But can we have cake for her birthday?

M: Ummmm...sure why not!!

Happy Birthday!!

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

M: eating Auntie Alli's birthday cake

T: hey, that's my favorite part of the day too

D: coming home from work

Weekend Round-up

2008-11-09T20:20:00.003-05:00

Chocolate chip pancakes.

Saturday morning cartoons.

Sleepover at Ama & Papa's.

Productive trip to pottery studio.

Peaceful shopping at Whole Foods.

Dinner date with Dave.

Sleeping in until 9:30am.

Brunch at CAV for ED's 40th Brithday!!

Pick up Tate (who is pretty cranky having gone for 2 days without a nap.)

Playing trumpet. *see above photo

Nice cuddle time after books and tubbies.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

T: sleepover at Ama & Papa's

M: brunch out with friends

D: playing airplanes with Tate

Bandage Boy

2008-11-07T19:56:00.002-05:00

With every teeny, tiny little cut, scrape or bump there can sometimes be lots of drama... fake drama... that emits from the mouth, heart and soul of one usually calm, sweet, happy Tate. Upon such occasions Dave and I say, "I think we need the giant bandage!!" Which immediately stops all the fuss and begins a new fuss, "NOOOOOOOO....... not the giant bandage!!!!" Imagine our surprise the other night when he ran around the little table wrapping himself up in the dreaded giant bandage. And I wasted money on a fireman costume for Halloween. He could have just worn this.

A day out with friends.

2008-11-06T19:45:00.003-05:00

Tuesday was a busy day. We had a phone conference with Tate's teacher (she said he is as sweet as can be - tell me something I don't already know!) Then we voted, hit the library and helped rescue a stray dog. We went to the cat's vet to get food and medicine for the little buggers and Tate fed the fish. Lunch was at Stanley's and then finally it was time to meet Aidan, Coleman and Auntie Stacie at the Children's Museum for the Annual Election Day Outing.

They had a great time with the old stuff and the new. And Stacie and I even had a chance to talk! I took a very tired boy and a very tired me home that evening!!

It's a beautiful day.

2008-11-05T16:41:00.002-05:00

It's 67 degrees out with a light breeze.

It's a relaxing day for Tate and I.

It's heavenly to play "walk chalk chalk" in November.

It's finally time to say... President-Elect Obama!!!

Vote 08

2008-11-04T21:11:00.002-05:00

Tate and I voted this morning at 10am. While we waited in the long line we were surrounded by neighbors and therefore had fun and caught up on the happenings. For the first time in any election I've voted in, I was moved, proud and genuinely excited to vote for the candidate of my choice. Today I, along with many others, made history by voting for the first African-American presidential candidate and I couldn't have been happier to have Tate by side to witness this event.

My greatest hope is that Tate is always as excited to vote as I was today.

My greatest fear is that he will vote Republican... or become a priest... or like country music.

Leaf Burning

2008-11-03T22:14:00.004-05:00

Dave and Tate raked the yard. Hard working boys were rewarded with leaf pile jumping and KitKat's.

I read the Sunday paper. Relaxing mom was rewarded with rakuing firing and cake at Charlene's!!!!

Cooker Lesson #2

2008-11-02T20:15:00.004-05:00

Tonight for dinner we made butternut squash soup and cheesy cayenne biscuits. Tate helped make biscuits and made his own dough too... there was water, milk, flour, salt, way too much pepper and fresh sage. He measured, mixed, poured, stirred and tasted declaring it was good! He then ate four bites of the real biscuits and forced down one spoon of soup for dinner. Maybe mine wasn't as good as his??

Beam me up... Tatey!

2008-11-02T00:15:00.002-04:00

After the finish of Saturday morning cartoons, NBC aired a episode of Star Trek. Conversation ensues....

T: Mom, what's that?

M: It's Star Trek, honey.

T: Is that a boy show?

M: That is undeniably, positively, totally a boy show.

T: Oh.

T: I need my space ship!!!

{Finds a car, rips off wheels, flies chassis around house while "shooting" the decapitated tires at all the furniture}

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

T: eating a giant candy bar

M: sleeping in late

Happy Halloween - Finale

2008-10-31T19:50:00.002-04:00

7:47 - "I'm all done!" Costume, shoes and socks are off. Candy consumption has begun in earnest!!

The loot: 3 muskateers, sour patch kids, lollipops, kit kats, m&m's, reese's peanut butter cups, a gummy finger tip {yeecccch}...even a full-size candy bar! Not bad for a few houses. Maybe next year we'll get him to the other side of the street. Maybe?

Happy Halloween - Part 3

2008-10-31T19:40:00.001-04:00

7:37 - Tate back. He made less houses than last year! But he did get Swedish Fish for him, me and daddy! How thoughtful.

Happy Halloween - Part 2

2008-10-31T19:28:00.003-04:00

7:29 - Tate not back yet!! Already doing better than last year.

On a side note as I man the house and pass out candy, I'd like to point out how grabby and greedy some kids are! At least say "trick-or-treat" you sugar-crazed little demons!!!

Happy Halloween - Part 1

2008-10-31T19:00:00.002-04:00

6:20 - Pre-trick-or-treating dinner (chicken nuggets and apples)

6:30 - Attempt to get Tate back to the table to finish eating dinner and not candy

6:40 - Dinner done? Not really, but it's all we'll get in him.

6:42 - Transform Tate into Fire Chief Rizzolo

6:50 - Practice run at our door

6:52 - Head out with Dad for the real-deal, trick-or-treat neighborhood blast

* Post trick-or-treating update to follow.

Open Letter to Daddy

2008-10-29T18:55:00.003-04:00

Hi Daddy,

I miss you. Hope you are having fun in the Bahamas. Wish I was there to go swimming. I LOVE to swim. Anyway, I ate a terrible dinner. Well, I know I'm supposed to eat a good dinner, but really... there was candy in the house. How does mom expect me to eat real food when there is chocolate and lollipops staring me down? I don't know about her sometimes! Today me and Ama made paper airplanes and I asked mommy to help me decorate one. I told her what to draw and she drew it...

See there you are on the plane working on your laptop. And Auntie Alli, Unkie Dan and Tia Adrian are all with you and they are all working on their laptops too! I don't know how I think of these things... I just do!! So have fun, get your work done and see you in a few days. I'll try to save you some candy, but I'm not promising anything.

Love, Tate

Let's go get messy!!

2008-10-27T19:51:00.003-04:00

I needed to finish some vases today in time to get them bisqued for this weekends upcoming raku firing. So Tate and I headed to the studio this morning. He's been to the studio many time before, but never to play with the clay. I figured he was old enough now to not eat the clay, get too crazy in the studio or commit any other heinous acts with my sharp studio tools.

We made fish. Then I let him make whatever he wanted while I finished my vases. He cut, stamped, slapped, mushed, rounded, mounded, pressed and watered his clay and then said...

T: Ta da!!!!! A cop.

M: A cup?

T: No, a cop.

M: Like a police officer?

T: No, not a police officer. I told you. A cop.

M: A cop.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

M: playing clay with Tate

T: I don't have one

Weekend Round-up

2008-10-26T21:38:00.002-04:00

Saturday morning cartoons...all morning long.

Party at Aidan and Coleman's... playing, cake, dancing by the light of the bonfire.

Muffins for breakfast.

Baseball and soccer in the front yard.

Playground fun after lunch.

Candy!

Smiles, laughing and fun, fun, fun!

Self Aware

2008-10-23T16:36:00.002-04:00

"Mom can you shut the door all the way so that I don't sneak out?"

Was what he said to me this afternoon a half hour into his nap and after he already snuck out of his room once where I found him sitting on the sofa looking out the window.

He knows his limits and when temptation is too big!! Pretty big stuff for a such a little guy.

I admire that in a 3-year-old!

Four Bridges & a Pony

2008-10-20T22:35:00.005-04:00

Bridge #1: Mount Hope Bridge

A day in Tate's life is only complete when he can say he's been over the "Bristol Bridge" or well...he's even happy if he can see it from our beach. Columbus Day began with a ride over this much loved bridge on our way to meet Stacie, Aiden and Coleman at Grandma Pat's in Jamestown.

Bridge #2: Newport Bridge

Closer, we are now closer to the first of the day's destinations.... but oh no!!!! What is that pack of cyclists doing?? Why are there so many of them?? Why are they going so fast and heading in the same direction that I'm going to turn?? Oh sh#t... f*%k... they are going to get right in front of me!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Can I pull out in front of them???? Can I make it????

Nope.

So we follow the pack of riders slowly up the road. The long road. All the way to where I finally turn into, greet friends and say "What the f*#k was that??"

Annual island road race.

Stacie and I set up boys with lunch, kiss them all goodbye leaving them in the very capable hands of Grandma Pat and go have a peaceful lunch by ourselves overlooking the docks downtown. Ahhhh.

Bridge #3: Jamestown Bridge

Pack up boys. Head to horse stables. Knock on door. Get pony rides!!!

Pony #1: Duke

Since seeing the saddled at the ready, happy horses at Chena Hot Springs in Alaska, all Tate could talk about was going for a "pony-tail" ride. We obliged. He looked serious and told the lady leading Duke through the trail that she could NOT talk to him. Sometimes he does that. She obliged. They boys had fun. Stacie and I had many laughs. We were all much obliged.

Bridge #4: Providence River Bridge

We managed to make a complete circle around the state by going home via Providence. Tate was excited to know that we were hitting yet another bridge that day. However, he was so plum tuckered from the day that he only experienced it from slumberland.

FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY

M: peaceful lunch and coming home to a clean house thanks to Dave... thanks!

T: finally a pony-tail ride!

*see more photos here