Harper and the hippo.

ELEVEN MONTHS...exsqueeze moi? How am I already planning a 1st birthday party for this bundle of sass?! It's not just a river in Egypt, is what I'm saying.

Oh that mischievous little look on her face says it ALL about 11 months. She very much understands the word "no" and very much does not like to hear it. She has the BEST b*tch face and if she didn't put on such a show every time the cameras came out, I'd have a photo of it here to share with you. (Diva,  I'm telling you.) Want a mental picture? Imagine Grumpy Cat but that face above. That's as accurate as I can get with it.

Other notable updates include a TOOTH! She's got one rogue little chomper coming through on her bottom gums and if her crankiness and fondness of chewing on everything of late is any indication, there's a whole set of dentures to follow shortly.

Also, she thinks she can walk...and while I admire her persistence, the reality of the situation is that she cannot walk. Hence the recent meeting of her forehead with the business end of our kitchen cabinets:

One thing is for certain: this girl is confident if nothing else. Where Alex was a shy, reserved and quiet baby, Harper would like everyone to know she's in the room and to pay attention to her always. I suppose she gets that from her Dad? Ha.

Happy 11 months, our sweet girl! Your bright eyes and sweet smile continue to brighten the world, our world.

P.S. - Here's Alex at 11 months for comparison.

A tribute.

A week from today, this smart, handsome and confident little boy starts kindergarten. I'm so proud of him.

 

Among other things, he tells me he can't wait to play on the playground, pick out his lunches and learn from his new teacher.

The key word there being "new," because he's had a teacher for the last 5 years and she is wonderful. Beyond wonderful, in fact. It's funny that most of my emotions around Alex going to kindergarten aren't centered around what he's going to; they're focused on what he's leaving.

I've raved more than once about how incredible Mrs. Davis' Daycare is, but it's also important to acknowledge that it's so much more for Alex. For Joe and me, it is a place where we knew he was safe, he was learning, and he was growing. But for Alex, it was his world. It's where he made his first friends, and learned how to BE a friend. It's where he learned to read and write his name. It's where he learned how to wash his hands and to be polite. He was encouraged to pray before meals, to honor our country and respect all people.

Aunt Jane (and yes, even Uncle Tom) have been much, much more than "just a daycare" for us. They're part of the village that has helped to shape and mold our Alex into the smart, creative and eager boy that he is. And for that I'm eternally thankful.

The wonderful news is that this isn't "goodbye" to our Aunt Jane, because Miss Harper will still be at Mrs. Davis' Daycare. I've half joked that she can stay there until she goes to College, but each day the idea sounds more appealing.

Welcome, Daniel Isaac!

On August 18 at 9:37 am, little Daniel Issac joined the party at 21 inches long and 8 lbs., 14 oz. He's sweet as pie and is so loved by many already, but it should be noted that I spent >20 hours in a car to meet him, so I feel like "Best Auntie" was an earned title. Note: I still loathe toll roads, all of Canada and public restrooms. But this boy? Love him.

In related news, I recently started having a love affair
with hot rollers. Best life idea, ever.

Harper and the Hippo.

Hello lovelies! Long time no see. So much has happened since we last chatted. We went on a special Alex-only trip to Chicago to celebrate Kindergarten and on Monday Alex and Harper got another new cousin! More on both of those later...

Let's chat about this little spark of sass, shall we?

She's 10 months old and all up in errybody's business. Still nary a tooth in sight (le sigh) but she's learned she can gum anything to death and pretty much eats what we eat now. And all the people said, "amen!" 

At her 9 month well visit we finally saw some growth outside that 30% mark, which I think is due in part to little Miss Piggy eating entire chicken breasts for dinner, but no matter. She's much more confident in pulling herself up on things and has really started to interact with her toys more. Her personality remains that of a 13 year old, and I've resigned myself to the fact that she's basically a carbon copy of me and I should accept the circle of life.

Truly, she's a joy. It's impossible to be around her and not smile or giggle right along. Additionally, she's hardcore winning at life in the hair department and her eyelashes are nothing short of unfair. I'm so proud to be her Momma.

"Oh, herro dere."

"Who, me?"

Such sweetness.

A true capture of the moment.
Girl's got places to go and toys to find!

P.S. - Here's Alex at 10 months. I CAN'T WITH THE TEETH.

Life, death and woodchucks.

Lately, Alex has been VERY into questions and learning all about everything. It sounds super weird and morbid, but his latest fascination is death. Not particularly HOW people die (i.e. I'm not talking to my 5 year old about murder and guns and blood and gore), but what happens after you die "because you're old" ..and what it means to go to Heaven and to have your body die and be buried here on earth, but your spirit and soul in Heaven with Jesus. We covered a lot of that last week, talking specifically about his GG (which he can relate to and where most of the questions stem from because he knew his GG before he died--of old age--and understands his death and that GG is in Heaven but his body is buried on Earth in a cemetery).

Last night on the way home from daycare, he was very quiet. This is unusual, so I asked him, "Whatcha thinking about, bud?"

Right away, he responds with, "If GG's body is in the ground, but his Spirit is in Heaven with Jesus, how did it get there? How did they separate?"

Oh boy.

I know. He's five. FIVE. Being his Mom is hard sometimes because he thinks everything through. Thoroughly. Most kids would have been totally satisfied with the standard "body goes in the ground and spirit goes to Heaven" answer, but he has to know HOW that happens.

We spent the next few miles talking about that--him asking more questions and me giving the most honest, sensible answers that I could for his mind to grasp. I'm into reality as a parenting style. Judge away. He seemed completely satisfied with my answers, so I asked him one last time, "Bud, do you have any more questions for Mommy? I'll answer anything you want."

Giggling from the backseat, he asks...

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

And that, my friends, is how we do in the VeeDub household. Deep, meaningful conversations about the afterlife straight into silly, unanswerable tongue twisters.

But if you were curious, the answer is: about 700 pounds on a good day, with the wind at his back.

Harper and the Hippo.

We've hit the "out as long as she was in milestone." NINE MONTHS, y'all...and someone is super excited about it.

This girl. She's...ridiculous. She's very nosy and social and must be the center of all the things at all times. If you are paying even the slightest bit of attention to the smallest of things...albeit the tomato plant across the patio or the laundry that needs folding, she's all, "Exsqueeze me? Please pay more attention to me. I am the cutest ruler of this household." And so it goes.

Still no signs of teeth, but she'll nom anything she can get her cabbage patch paws on to death until it's a mushy mound of swallowable goo. Bananas are still a menu favorite, but she's also keen on avocado and watermelon. As noted above, her personality is enormous, and people stop us everywhere we go to comment on her: a) smile b) eyes 3) laugh and d) all of the above.

And yes...if you were wondering, she's totally rocking her Heelarious high heels from Aunt Caitlin. Diva, right here.

"These are very fancy."

"My contractual obligations are up!
I'm outta here. Have your people call my people."

P.S. - Here's Alex at 9 months, for comparison.

Hey girl, hey.

Ooohh weee! Things have been rather quiet around here lately, haven't they? Well, I promise it's not because I'm hiding any life revelations or grand secrets, but more because I've honestly just been bizzy as a bee and loving every minute. (And also, if we're being totally honest, I've done what most every other blogger on earth has done and transitioned a lot of my random thoughts/pictures/musings over to Instagram. Join me?)

What a summer we've had! I took a week-long trip to DC for work but also rather coincidentally got to spend time with my bestie for 7 straight days. We haven't done that since high school and it was kind of amazing.

I also had Lasek surgery back in May, and have threatened more than once to blog about it. I'm sure I'll never actually get around to it, so rest easy knowing that 1) I can see; b) I don't regret it; and 3) I still reach for my glasses every morning out of sheer habit.

Last weekend, we had a family reunion for my Dad's side of the crazies family--the Talicska clan.

We even made shirts for the occasion, which might seem confusing to normal people but they totally make sense to us. I'm uncertain as to whether or not that hotel will have us back, but it was a great weekend!

And, as you know, my brother and SIL had their sweet baby boy, Michael, in June and we're planning our next trip to Connecticut for when my sister has her baby boy in August. BABIES. BABIES EVERYWHERE.

My own children continue to be the cutest things with two legs and eyeballs on earth, and it's hard to believe that Alex starts school in the fall. (Hold me.) We're taking him on a very special trip to Chicago this weekend in preparation. Just him and us. Special requests from a 5 year old include: taking the train, hotel with a pool (on the roof!) and a trip to the beach. I also think I'm going to blow his mind with a taxi ride. Being a parent is the funnest.