At a glance....October

I feel so behind lately, but I guess I'm always behind. So, for the sake of catching up - or at least trying to - I thought I would combine what would have been several posts into one slightly longer post. Are you ready?

October was a great month for us! We:

• saw Nanny and Papa when they flew in for the weekend. It was a very memorable trip...Nanny, Papa and Captain Crunch all got food poisoning! Thank goodness Cocoa Puff and I didn't eat the shrimp!

• celebrated Cheerio's birthday with Gigi, Papi, Mommom, and the monkey aunt and uncles! We had a birthday brunch with the yummiest pancakes, fruit, and scrambled eggs. After brunch we had Gigi's from scratch cake....mmmm! Cheerio loved it so much she had to have a bath.
  
  
  
  
  

• went on our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with good friends. The kiddos got to dress scarecrows, run around in a maze, go on a pony ride, see real Indians and hear them talk about their culture, and play instruments at a Jamboree! It was a great day.

• went trick-or-treating not once but twice! The first time was on Friday morning at a local Elementary school. We had a great time.
  

• were invited to several great Halloween parties! Cocoa Puff found out that she loves zombie marshmallows! And Cheerio realized her love of bouncy castles!
  
  
  
  

  




• went trick-or-treating, AGAIN! What a great month....November has a lot to live up to, but with Thanksgiving, I think it'll make it!
  

And last, but not least it's time for Obsession and Confession!

Obsession: Taking the PERFECT Christmas card photo and sending my Christmas cards out on time this year. When I told Captain Crunch that this was my new goal/obsession - he laughed! Argh. I'll just have to show him! Ha. I'll let you know what happens.

Confession: I check my email at least three times a day. I'm sure you're thinking...um, why? Sometimes I wonder the same thing. It's not like I get time-sensitive emails from my bosses..they can't read or write yet (I'm sure I'll get emails as soon as they can. hee hee). I guess I just love the anticipation of getting new mail even if it's only an email from facebook, Ellen DeGeneres, or Martha Stewart. Sometimes it's an email saying I have a new comment on my blog! Wow...I heart those emails! So, show me some love and comment on my blog...but only if you want to...I would really love it. No pressure. My day would be so much happier if you would comment...okay, okay, I'll stop now.

Until next time....

Fruit Loop

Then and Now

Cheerio Then

less than a week old

Cocoa Puff and Cheerio

Cocoa Puff and Cheerio - Now

Five Question Friday

One of the blogs I occasionally read hosts a Five Question Friday...I thought I would participate this week. I know it's Sunday, but I still thought I would post. You can go over to My Little Life to check out Mama M's post.

1. What is your dream job?

Stay-at-home-mommy! AND...photographer and crafter and woodworker and teacher and about a zillion other things. I have to stay busy :)

2. What song could you play over and over again?

Just one?! Hmm? Well, I LOVE Dave Matthews Band - Crash might be my all time fave, but right now the CD that is getting the most play in the car is Augustine - love that CD.

3. Do you prefer to talk on the phone or text (or email)?

I am definitely a talker. Texting drives me CRAZY! I do like to email though - especially since I stay up so late...there's really no one to talk to at one in the morning...so I email!

4. What is your must have beauty product?

Lotion? Does that count? I try to put some make-up on everyday, but somedays I'm just doing good to shower and get out of my jammies. I do love mascara too....what a difference a little mascara makes.

5. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?

Man in the Mirror or Black or White

Catching up...It's really been a year!

I was reflecting today that Cheerio is a year old..plus a few weeks. A whole year! It really flew by and I'm trying to catch up. I was chatting to a new friend on Friday about the anxiety I felt when I was pregnant with Cheerio. "How could I ever love another child like I love Cocoa Puff?" I found myself thinking maybe Captain Crunch and I made a wrong decision...one was enough? Of course the moment I saw my sweet baby girl I knew I had enough love in this heart of mine.



I took longer than I thought to get situated as a Mommy of two...much longer in fact. It was hard. But with the help of Keith and great friends (some even far away in Washington who called a lot to make sure I was okay - thank you!), I would like to say that I am good. And Cocoa Puff and Cheerio are great...the best daughters this Mommy could ask for.



So, what is Cheerio up to now?



Cheerio - One year old (and a few weeks)

• You weigh 27 pounds!
  
  
• You're 30 1/4 inches tall - and growing taller everyday.



• You are wearing a size 4 diaper, but we have the 5's already to go...I just don't want to waste any 4's...too expensive :)






• The wardrobe in your closet ranges from 12 months to 2T....you have the cutest thighs ever, but they don't really fit into pants so much.




• Eating - tonight was your first dinner that you tried everything we ate! I made meatloaf (yum), mashed potatoes, and green beans. This is one of our favorite meals...and now, yours too! You loved the meatloaf and the green beans, but spit those mashed potatoes right out. Cocoa Puff didn't like them either until recently. In general you are a great eater, but you can be picky. You really like to feed yourself and get mad when you can't.



• You still prefer two naps a day, although you don't always get them. Night time is still about the same...you hold one or two press conferences in the middle of the night to make sure I still know that you're in there and that you're in charge. I try to remind myself that in 10 or 15 years I will wish I still had a monitor in your room to listen to your every move.



• Your little teeth are so cute! You have four on top and three on the bottom with another soon. You have handled teething much better than Cocoa Puff.
  


• Walking is becoming easier and easier for you....but I think you still prefer crawling.






• Peek-a-boo and chase are your favorite games! Oh, Daddy and I love to hear to giggle.



• You still like to tackle your sister and kiss and hug her. You also have a baby doll that you do this with...it's so cute.
  
  
• You have just recently started chattering all the time. And you look at us like we know exactly what you're saying.

I love you Cheerio!

"I've got a problem!"

Captain Crunch, Cocoa Puff, Cheerio and I went to Target last night. After stuffing our basket with all of the things we needed, okay wanted, we stood in line to pay for our goodies. The cashier has helped us before and she is usually very chipper. But last night she was not chipper at all...she looked really down. I asked her how she was. She answered fine, but it was just an automated response, so to say. Even though I knew something was wrong, I couldn't think of anything to say that would seem to help. Well, thank goodness for Cocoa Puff...she took care of it just by being herself :)

"Mom, I've got a problem." As I type it, I can hear how she said it, but you probably can't. She sounded very desperate.

The cashier immediately started giggling. Even if the the cashier's smile didn't last all night, I'm glad Cocoa Puff was able to get her to smile briefly.

Are you curious what Cocoa Puff's problem was? Well, I was too. So after we paid and were walking away, I asked her. Drum roll please.....Cocoa Puff needed popcorn! What a great problem. :) Just in case you're wondering - she didn't get any popcorn. We had just eaten dinner and she had ice cream after her dinner.

Obsession: Making people smile...why not? You should try it. If we all tried to make someone else's day better...wow!

Confession: We spent too much money at Target last night :) Who doesn't spend too much money when they go to Target?

Not Me, Oh, No, Not Me!

One of my favorite bloggers, MckMama, hosts a Not Me! Monday almost every Monday. So, I thought I would try it out this week...

I did not procrastinate last night and I most certainly am not procrastinating this morning by posting....oh, no, not me!


I have never told Cocoa Puff it was too dirty outside to avoid having to go outside...I would never keep a child from enjoying the great outdoors...oh, no, not me!


I surely did not start this blog, in part, because I wanted to participate in Not Me! Monday...now that would just be silly...oh, no, not me!


Last night, Cocoa Puff did not get out of bed and hide. When I found her she did not say, "I was just trying to get back in bed." Captain Crunch and I did not tickle her and get her even more riled up, because certainly she should have been reprimanded for getting out of bed four times instead of being tickled. I am definitely not that silly of a Mommy....oh, no, not me!

And lastly, I would never ever put Cheerio in her pack-n-play to keep her from removing the movies from the shelf a third time (in 15 minutes) just so I could finish writing a post for my blog...oh, no not me!

So, how did I do? Do you have anything that you have not done? If you feel so inclined to share, you can leave your "not me's" in the comments of this post or go over to MckMama's Not Me! Monday post...but make sure you have fun! Now, I'm going to go rescue Cheerio from her pack-n-play :)

Bloggers Block....

Wow, it's been awhile. This blog thing isn't as easy as I thought it would be! I am now really impressed with everyday bloggers...and it's not like they post just pictures! I am having bloggers block :) hee hee So, I guess I will just update you on what's been happening?

Cheerio turned one on September 26! Happy Birthday to her :) Her Mommy has yet to make her a cake....bad Mommy. She will have one this weekend at Gigi and Pappi's. On her actual birthday though, we went to dinner and had ice cream after. I put Cheerio's ice cream in a tiny cone, so cute, and she went to town.

At first, she was a little unsure of the peach ice cream.

And then she loved it!

I just love watching that video!

Cocoa Puff is great. Not much new with her. As much as she loves to please, I am starting to see more of the free will that I've heard about that happens at this age. I clipped a page from a magazine the other day and put it on my fridge. It says, " Celebrate your children!" What a great reminder for me....I saw it at just the right time.

Okay, really, I don't have any more...bloggers block is not fun.

Obsession: Finding a balance - so that I can do everything. Is it possible? Probably not, but I will still try!

Confession: I am 31 and I've just started making my bed - everyday. I love walking into the bedroom and seeing a made bed. :)