Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Daddy-O*

One of my favorite parts of parenthood has been watching the relationship between Daisy & J develop. There has been an instant bond since the moment they laid eyes on each other, and the highlight of Daisy’s day is when her Daddy comes walking through the front door in the evening. Typically, she progressively becomes more fussy throughout the afternoon and then, just as the situation becomes dire, her knight and shining armor comes through the door.

And just like that: HAPPINESS

I heard this song a few weeks ago while I was on a scout for some new children’s music, and the lyrics brought tears to my eyes.

daddy1

I had a great day full of friends and play

But my favorite part is always coming home to you,  

Daddy-O

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I did so many things, where do I start

Gonna tell you everything and not leave out a single part

Daddy-O

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D-A-D-D-Y, oh how I love ya

Oh, how I love ya

daddy4

D-A-D-D-Y, oh how I love ya

Oh, how I love ya

Daddy-O

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Riding our bikes through the park

Camping in the summertime

Walking to the waterfalls, Daddy-O

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You teach me things without saying a word

The time we spend together is worth more than all the silver & gold

Daddy-O

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D-A-D-D-Y, oh how I love ya

Oh, how I love ya

daddy7

D-A-D-D-Y, oh how I love ya

Oh, how I love ya

*Frances England, possibly the best children’s artist.

**Pictures of Daddy and his love were taken at Mesa Verde NP.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Letter to my love: 6 months

Today you hit the six-month mark. At six months you are 15.1 pounds and 25.5 inches long. This means it’s been approximately 182 days since my whole world changed, and the last month has been particularly exciting. We went on our first family vacation, you went to daycare, you ate your first solid foods, and you can now sit completely unassisted for short periods of time. You acquire new skills every day and the learning seems to be unending and you do so with this exuberant and contagious happiness.

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Your father and I constantly marvel at how much you learn about your world every day. Some days, you learn quite a bit – that a particular toy can make noise if you press a certain button or that you can flip the pages of a board book – and other days, your “learning” seems to be more developmental. As such, your dexterity has improved exponentially of late. You can now reliably pick up just about anything – big or small – and transfer it from hand to hand to mouth (where it usually stays!).

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One of the best parts of these past few months with you has been watching your personality burst forth. You are a very happy baby, Daisy, and you spend more of your time smiling or laughing. In fact, your mommy and daddy love to hear your belly laugh and will act as silly as a buffoon in order to hear it. Additionally, you love meeting new people, and will happily be passed around from arms to arms. This is important, because in addition to our first family road trip you also flew to Minnesota this past month to visit your extended family. And, Daisy, you have a lot, but you had so much fun. Your eyes grew so wide when you realized all the toys and the kids were there for you to play with. You eagerly watched them run and jump and laugh and play loving every second of interaction with them.

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In addition, to being a happy baby, you are also a wee bit stubborn, with I believe an independent spirit – and I’m sorry to say that I believe you got that from me. You refuse to let your dad hold the book when he reads to you, and when you ate your first bites of rice cereal last week you wanted to hold the spoon all by yourself. And God help anyone who tries to roll you onto your tummy.

You have also become much more vocal this month as well. You chatter endlessly to yourself, to Mortimer (the moose), or as your Mickey CD plays on repeat in the background. In fact, the Mickey CD saved our vacation. You see, anytime on our recent road trip you began to get fussy in your car seat, we would immediately press play and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” would ring in our ears. We’re not sure if it’s Mickey’s voice or because your name is sung over, but it always calms you down.

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Speaking of our road trip, you were perfect. You loved meeting new people, smiling and cooing at them, while they generally adored you. You traveled through new states, slept in new places, rode in an airplane and did so with unyielding delight. But, our favorite part was spending 12 days together as a family with limited outside distractions. However, you let us know when it was time to wrap up the hiking, or driving, or dining, or… I think you get the point.

You are, undoubtedly, the very best part of our lives. We love you sweet girl. We love you so very much. Happy six months! We can wait to see what the next six holds!

Love,

Momma

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Celebrating life

I don’t know how you go about celebrating something, but here in the California Stars house, our celebrations include champagne and pizza. We’re classy folks.

What are we celebrating, you ask? Well, for one, we are celebrating J’s new job – excuse me, J’S! NEW! JOB! – which was a long time coming and which we are both thrilled to bits about. Why are we thrilled you ask? Well, frankly because the new job is better. It’s a better position within a better company, with better opportunities, and better compensation. (Do you like how I was all PC there, using “compensation” when really what I meant was MORE MONEY?) and I believe, a better commute (eventually). He will also have the enviable title of Vice President, which I shall henceforth refer to only as Vice President!!! Because when you are a VP of anything, I think, you sort of deserve to have an exclamation point after your name.

(As an aside, I used to believe that Ticketmaster wasn’t a company but just ONE GUY, with the job title of “The Ticketmaster!”, who was in charge of all the tickets in the country, and whom you contacted when you needed to go see Bono at the Staples Center, or two field goal seats to a Patriots home game. I am not even kidding, and am rather embarrassed to admit this. But what a cool job that would be, right?)

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I am not sure what is going on in this photo, but I love the faces.

In addition, to J’s new job and my rather awkward confession, we are celebrating my graduation of my Master’s degree. Because I finished my final requirements a couple months ago the ceremony was a bit anticlimactic. While lacking the normal sweet relief of finishing a final exam hours before you hear the band playing “Pomp & Circumstance;”  it was nice to don the classic black robe and mortarboard, and my colored “hood.” And as you can see, no one really wanted to take my picture of just me in my get-up, but also with my sweet baby girl as well. She really did steal the show.

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As a side note, I was kept very entertained reading the background information on the “official degree hood colors” and I couldn’t help but be amused at “drab.” I have to ask, who came up with this color name & selection? Why drab? Why not call it tan? Is this some insight to the person’s option of accounting, business administration and commerce?

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Anyways, so yeah, we are very excited about these latest developments. But now, changing subjects to more important matters, I have discovered a new workout that is kicking my, *ahem* behind every single time. It’s called “The Daily Method,” except I go to a knock-off class that focuses on a bit more on cardio...aptly called “Cardio Barre.” It’s a bit of a cross between ballet and Pilates that harnesses the spirit of Jane Fonda and the 80’s. It’s perfect, because everyone knows that I long to be a ballerina - I just have the grace of an elephant. But, Internet, this workout is the best workout E.V.E.R. The first week I went, my armpits were sore. I mean, I discovered that after I crawled out of bed and popped two Advil because my hamstrings were sore, my abs were sore, my feet were sore. I had muscles sore that I didn’t even know existed. The good kind of sore, the kind of sore you get after a fantastic workout in where you don’t feel guilty for eating that extra slice of pizza because you know you burned a million calories with your crunches, Piles, and triceps’ dips. Although, I have to always warn the person standing next to me because I inevitably kick someone as I am fairly (ah, who are we kidding very) clumsy. And, I am the one who is always a half-step behind, with my Brisé in second position when the rest of the class is in fifth. Although, I have quickly learned to wear leggings, put my hair in a messy ponytail and exude confidence. Then know one will know that I’m the one the instructor is referring to when he barks out that someone is a half-step behind.