Meant to Be...The Lee's

This Little Piggy

2012-01-24T22:47:00.002-04:00

Christmas Concert

2011-12-24T13:33:00.002-04:00

Cow Girl(s)

2011-10-31T23:27:00.012-03:00

We had a very fun Halloween...except for Todd being sick. He was a trooper; well, really, he was a lobster catcher per Gracie's request. We really appreciated that he joined us for pictures and trick or treating. It wouldn't have been fun without him.

Surprise, surprise - Gracie wanted to be a Lobster AGAIN...this was her 3rd Halloween being a lobster - yep, 3 out of 4 Halloweens - she's been a lobster...yes, she is her father's child! Gotta love the girl for getting every possible wear out of one costume.

(And I can't seem to get blogger to let me upload any more pictures...guess that happens since I rarely update this thing anymore). Anyways, I've got a few cute pictures of Gracie too...but I'll have to save those for another time when I can get them uploaded!

I couldn't find another lobster costume just like Gracie's for Delaney to wear too...so I tried to get creative and went with the next best thing. I went with a cow for Miss D. (and I'm really proud of myself for sewing her horns & ears headband and cowtail).

Introducing the Surf & Turf Sisters.
Here's sweet D'Belle!

Peek-a-Boo

2011-10-08T09:17:00.002-03:00

Walking

2011-10-07T09:47:00.004-03:00

Miss D is on the move! She took her first steps mid-summer when she would walk behind push toys and move along the side of the furniture. Her very first steps, all on her own, happened on Labor Day with Todd right beside her! I'm so glad she took those first steps when he was home.

Sorry it's taken me so long to share her cute wobbly walk...between remembering to charge the camera battery, to trying to record the video without a cameo from a cute big sister, to hoping the star of the movie would actually cooperate and walk...it's been a real task trying to capture these sweet little steps. Nowadays, Delaney definitely prefers to walk versus crawl but she still stumbles when she gets going or if she's been walking too long. I love watching her waddle with her arms out and her wide leg stance. She's just the cutest!

Dancing D & Giggle Ride

2011-10-04T20:13:00.002-03:00

Happy 60th PaPa!

2011-09-28T18:07:00.002-03:00

Summer '11

2011-09-21T22:57:00.002-03:00

D's 1st Year

2011-09-10T13:43:00.002-03:00

One

2011-09-02T23:01:00.000-03:00

Our sweetheart turned one today!
We love you so much Delaney!!!

The Little Gym

2011-08-23T22:31:00.008-03:00

Gracie started taking a gymnastics class in February...and it's been a great experience. We've had a few days with some tears and she isn't big on participating in the big group activity at the beginning of class. In her second and third class she got knocked down while the kids were running in their circle and she's never gotten over it. But she has come a long way...she used to sit out with me until after the group time was over and would then join in for the stations. Now, she goes in and sits and watches as all the kids run around. Todd and I wish she wasn't so easily overwhelmed and intimidated by certain situations...but honestly, I'm really proud of her for taking it all in and for not being one of the super wild and crazy kids. We are so impressed with how she listens, waits her turn, and is willing to try new things! She does a pretty mean forward roll (we used to call them summersalts when I was growing up). I think this has been a wonderful experience and hopefully she'll transition easily into preschool and continue to have a love for physical activity and sports.

This was the last day of her spring semester...and we were invited inside the gym to watch the kids show off all the skills they had learned. It was adorable.

They form trains to move from each station.

Here she is not at all digging the group activity.

D loved being inside the gym.
We usually watch from the glass door in the lobby.

D and Ellee

Her best indian chant.

Medal time!

Her teacher Miss Corrine.

Because...

2011-07-28T17:19:00.002-03:00

Because it's FUN and makes clean-up after a messy meal really easy!

Contentment

2011-07-21T23:34:00.003-03:00

This is what content looks like..

Without a doubt!

Happy. Snuggly. Loved!

Mac 'n Cheese

2011-07-21T23:29:00.001-03:00

Buy stock in Kraft. My girls eat Mac 'n Cheese at least every other day. Delaney is following in her sister's footsteps. This girl LOVES mac 'n cheese.

1st Dance Class

2011-07-21T14:56:00.004-03:00

Gracie has been going to The Little Gym since February. She usually attends an hour gymnastics class once a week. I've really enjoyed the program and I think she has too. It's been a good experience for her to be around lots of other kids, to listen to her teachers, to be away from me (while I watch through the windows), to wait her turn, and just play. The gym has a wonderful staff and I think Gracie is really benefiting from all the activity.

One of the other things that is neat about the program...is that when she had to miss a few classes, like when we were away on vacation, she could make them up in another age-appropriate class. We tried a dance class (15 minutes each of tap and ballet and then 30 minutes in the gym) and I think she liked it.

How cute is she in her tutu?

I bought her a pair of tap shoes for future classes but Gracie sat out for the 2nd make-up class. It was a pirate theme and the new teacher was very animated and "in" character which all the other girls seemed to like...Gracie wasn't so sure about it all. Oh well...she's easily overwhelmed and cautious. I'm glad she a little more reserved in new situations. I definitely don't want her to be scared and I hope she's trusts me enough to know I only want the best for her.

She does things when she's ready!

1st Teeth

2011-07-21T14:52:00.003-03:00

Delaney got her 1st tooth...the bottom left tooth broke through on Memorial Day. Just before she turned 9 months old. Her second tooth is half way in on the bottom right. I haven't been able to get a picture of those new teeth just yet but she's already taken really good care of them!

I'm gonna miss that gummy smile!

Squeaky Clean

2011-07-20T22:46:00.000-03:00

Little Baker

2011-07-20T22:34:00.005-03:00

Gracie still loves to bake...and she finally sampled the goods! I was beginning to wonder whose kid she was because I ALWAYS have to swipe a few licks of the batter. I hope she'll always want to help me in the kitchen.

This was taken the end of May before her haircut in June.

D Crawling

2011-07-19T22:56:00.003-03:00

Delaney is on the move!!! She started crawling in May - around 9.5 months old - my apologies to her and y'all for just now posting this adorable video!

She has a unique way of getting around...she crawls on her left knee and pushes off with her right foot.

She is so cute, so happy, and we could not be more proud or more in love with her!!!

1st Swimming Lessons

2011-07-19T21:50:00.007-03:00

Gracie had her first swimming lessons in May & June. Going into the 1st class, I told Todd that I didn't have huge expectations for this round of lessons; I just wanted Gracie to feel comfortable getting in the water with the instructor and that she was willing to try the skills. Her teacher, Ashley, was really nice and incredibly patient; she also had the sweetest voice. Gracie surprised us and did really well in two of her four classes...she walked down the ramp and into the pool all by herself while Todd and I watched from right along the side. She was a very good listener and tried everything her teacher asked her do. We were so proud of her!

Well, that was until her third lesson...but to her credit, there was a wild boy in her class that wasn't listening and he was splashing around like a crazy person. I know you're probably thinking...SPLASHING, hello? It's a pool...and OK...I get it...it's a pool - but really...he didn't have to splash that much during a LESSON...it wasn't freeplay, people. This was the lesson for VERY beginners. His mother made a futile attempt to get him to stop, sit quietly and wait for his turn with the instructor...however, when he continued to splash like a maniac...his mom gave up and sat off to the side TEXTING. Uh, really? Nice parenting!!! Give me a break. The teacher couldn't get him to stop either...and that bothered me. I taught lessons during the summers while I was in college and I always did my best to keep control of my class. Bottom line, that kid pissed me off! He made Gracie not want to get in the water and that later lead to a major tantrum in the parking lot...and I'm not ok with her full-on, screaming at the top of her lungs tantrums that last for 30+ minutes. So when it was time for the 4th lesson...she didn't want to go and I didn't push it because I didn't want a repeat of the fiasco from the 3rd lesson.

WOW - that was a LONG story. Do ya think I'm a little bitter about that kid and her 1st lesson experience? Yes, but...I'll get over it and hopefully she will too. Now, on to the pictures from her very 1st lesson:

Here's what D thought about it!

I can't wait for the day that G & D love to swim!

Happy Birthday Ellee!

2011-07-19T09:27:00.001-03:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Brooke's Bachelorette in NOLA

2011-07-18T22:22:00.006-03:00

The end of April I flew to New Orleans for Brooke's Bachelorette Weekend. Brooke's sister, Blaine, planned a fabulous trip. I was a little worried about leaving Miss Delaney...only because she wouldn't take a bottle...but she survived on baby food, lots of yogurt, water from a medicine dropper (at the time, that little stinker wouldn't drink out of a sippy cup either), and lots of love and attention from her Daddy, grandparents, and her big sister!

I had so much fun that weekend...it was my first weekend away...without Todd or the girls in over 4 years. Crazy! I definitely missed my family but it was kinda nice to be by myself ~ I got to know Brooke better, the other girls were so much fun, and exploring New Orleans was wonderful. NOLA really is beautiful. I wish I could have spent time on Magazine St. with all the shops and restaurants, or wondered around the gardens, or seen the famous cemeteries, and I wish I would have taken more pictures! I big thank you to Brian, Todd's BFF, for driving over from Baton Rouge - he was our taxi driver on Saturday afternoon...we got to see the lower 9th ward, drove down Magazine St., went around the locked cemetery, and saw more of NOLA's beautiful homes and architecture. I loved seeing all the beads hanging from the telephone wires from past parades. NOLA is a fun and absolutely beautiful city!

We had a blast on Bourbon (day and night), checked out the French Market, ate beignets, wore beads, drank hurricanes and hand grenades, had a yummy southern dinner, and just enjoyed our time there and together.

Brooke & Brienne

The Bachelorette

Blaine & Brooke

Late night pizza after LOTS of drinks.

Todd's BFF Brian drove over from Baton Rouge.

FUN TIMES!

Dinner Music

2011-07-17T22:44:00.008-03:00

I am so far behind posts - Oh wait, what? Am I telling you something you already know! Well, I'm going with the excuse that I've been busy with the girls, traveling, and just enjoying each day with my family; and, by the end of the day, after I've checked email, Facebook, online window shopped and looked at other blogs - I'm just plain exhausted.

Well...I'm back in my blog posting saddle. Better late than never, right? Bear with me as I catch up.

This video was from the end of April when we were eating dinner in our dining room which Gracie (and now the rest of our family) calls it "the diner". The girls provided the music and entertainment...

My, my, my how our quiet, romantic dinners have changed and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Sleepy Head

2011-06-17T08:44:00.003-03:00

Sweet little D after crying herself to sleep.
Poor baby.
Have I mentioned how much I HATE crying it out.
Why is learning to self-soothe so hard?

Reading with Grape

2011-06-15T23:19:00.000-03:00

1st Catch

2011-06-15T23:12:00.002-03:00

PaPa got Gracie her 1st fishing pole, bobbers, and tackle box...and their 1st fishing adventure was a success! They caught 8 little fishes in the pond behind their house.

I'm not sure who had more fun...
Gracie or PaPa!

No Bugs Allowed

2011-06-10T11:21:00.003-03:00

After putting Delaney down for her morning nap, I came downstairs at my parents' house to find Gracie "forted" underneath their kitchen table.

Me: "What are you doing under there?"
Gracie: "I don't like that bug."

A fly was in the house and she most certainly didn't like it.

So...she took matters into her own hands...and she decided where she and her favorite toys would be safe and sound away from that pesky bug. I love her creative problem solving abilities.

And of course she needed to have a snack while she was hiding out in there. Ya never know how long you might have to ride out a buzzing fly.

Catching Up - April Edition

2011-06-06T23:15:00.019-03:00

Slowly but surely, I vow to catch up!

The first batch of pics is from the sip 'n see for my best friend Ashlee and her cute little girl Sullivan.

The Pittmans
Travis, Campbell, Ashlee & Sullivan

Loving lunch with the ladies!

Elizabeth and Reagan

Sulli-Grace

Adorable cake

Diaper cake

All things girly
Accessories Cake

Reagan, Elizabeth, Ashlee, Sullivan, me, and D

BFFs
3 month old Sullivan & 7 month old Delaney

This next round is from when Delaney and I spent a weekend with my brother, Jeff, and his fiancee, Brooke (their wedding is just a few weeks away - YAY).

Grady

And then Ashlee, Campbell, and Sullivan followed us back to Beaufort to spend a night and morning with us (thanks for making that trip Ash...we had so much fun with y'all).

Gracie got to play with Mason.
And I love watching these sweet moments.

Running to each other.

Hugging.

Kisses.

Bubbles.

And baseball.

And we added to our family!
Please meet and welcome..."Swim" to the Lee Family.
Gracie's beta fish.

Sorting the green and blue crystals for Swim's bowl.

BeBe loved on the Littlest Lee quite a bit.

and Gracie enjoyed watering plants a lot!

Lots more pics and updates to come!

Beach Babes

2011-05-26T22:42:00.002-03:00

Front Porch

2011-05-19T16:12:00.013-03:00

Can't resist a B&W.

She's really cute in color too.

Motorboat face.

It looks like I'm playing favorites since
all the pics are just of Delaney & Tucker.

It's because, lately, this one
frowns and adamantly objects.

But every once in a while I catch a sweet smile!

Beaufort Waterfront Park

2011-05-18T19:26:00.005-03:00

The girls and I went to Beaufort in mid-April to visit with my family and so that I could go to 2 parties. A Sip 'n See shower for my best friend Ashlee and her beautiful little girl Sullivan; and the other was Buffie's gorgeous wedding (pics soon).

No trip to Beaufort is complete unless we shop downtown and play at waterfront park!

XOXO BeBe & PaPa

2011-05-17T22:53:00.003-03:00

Cherry Blossoms

2011-05-16T23:37:00.007-03:00

We ventured to the tidal basin along with a hundred thousand other people to see the cherry blossoms and all the other beautiful blooms in the district the 1st weekend in April. We happened upon this gorgeous little park called the Haupt Garden. It is situated between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue. It was beautiful!

Ben, Laura, and David (the guys are my cousins)

Dave flew in from Denver for work.
He was in Baltimore to inspect Cirque De Soleil tents.
Pretty cool gig.
Last time I saw Dave was at my wedding - 6 years ago.
It was fun seeing y'all! Thanks for meeting up with us.

Snapped these cute pics just
before Gracie ran around on the grass
then we were told we weren't allowed on the grass.

Dang...Gracie.
Be cool when we're breaking the rules.

But rules are rules! And I totally get it...
but I wish I could have taken a few more pics.

Gracie fell asleep after running around the garden.

Delaney got to see her very 1st Cherry Blossoms!

I love living here! There's so much to see and do!

Fort Lee

2011-05-16T23:05:00.004-03:00

Gracie loves playing in Delaney's crib and Delaney is usually happy with whatever. This is the first of many forts I'm sure.

Ummm....don't let Delaney fool you. She still has NO ability (?) or interest in drinking from a bottle or sippy cup. If you're wondering, we have tried so many bottles and cups; and different people have offered them to her and she could care less. All she does is gum it or toss it.

I even went out of town for a whole weekend - I went to New Orleans the end of April for, my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Brooke's Bachelorette Weekend (a future post).

Delaney didn't take a bottle or sippy the entire time I was away. She made due with rice cereal, baby foods, baby yogurt and water from a medicine dropper...oh, and she slept that Saturday night while I was away from 7 pm until 5 am. WHAT THE...?!?!

She's still waking every 2-3 hours at night...which I KNOW is totally out of habit...but I don't have the heart to make her "self-soothe" which is really just a fancy word for cry it out.

Good thing she's so cute and good during the day.

Bye Bye Binky!

2011-04-22T10:33:00.008-03:00

Gracie stopped using her binky on Friday, March 18th. I was convinced it was going to be a struggle but to my surprise it wasn't a major ordeal...
THANK GOODNESS.

The last day for her binky went like this...she was really busy playing with several friends on what turned out to be THE DAY...so I went with this strategy...I told her that she didn't need it while she was playing that morning and later when were driving over to another friend's house I "forgot" to take it, mostly because I didn't want her falling asleep in the car at 3 pm. She played and played all day with her friends and never asked for it and once it was time for bed, that little ole' green binky sat on the back corner of her nightstand. If she would have asked for it or made a fuss at bedtime - I probably would have caved and given it to her. But she didn't ask...so bye bye binky. The next morning, she asked Todd for it but he managed to distract her with other things. She only asked a couple more times during the day and that was that...the end of her binky!

We told her how proud we were but we didn't make a huge deal about the binky being gone. We took her to Toys 'R Us so that she could pick out a very special big girl toy. I was pushing for one of the power wheels cars (I had always wanted one) and after she test "sat" in every power wheels car at least three times...she opted for something else. She is her Daddy's girl because she chose a cost conscious sports set. She got a soccer, lacrosse, hockey set & goal. She absolutely could have had the power wheels car because I certainly would have bought it for her - while I said giving up that binky was no big deal...to me, it really was a big deal and I think she deserved a BIG present in return. But really, to a 3 old year, it wasn't about the best or most expensive toy...it was about us just making her feel special and loved.

It was a very bittersweet transition for Todd and me. While we could not be more proud of her, we're also a little sad that our baby is not a baby.

She's...a big girl!

M Train & Circus

2011-04-22T10:09:00.005-03:00

The end of March we rode the "M Train", which is what Gracie's best buddy Baynes calls the Metro, to see Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Circus at The Verizon Center in DC.

Ann Colter, Baynes' mom, and I met while touring preschool open houses. I am so thankful for her friendship. Her husband, Rob, and Todd hit it off & now play golf together. Baynes and Gracie are such good friends. They're in the same gymnastics class and always love our playdates. Ronan, Baynes' sister, and Delaney will hopefully be besties too.

NICE! We might need to work on picking in private!

My cousin Ben and his wife Laura.

Delaney got tired of the Greatest Show on Earth.

M training it back home!

Ummm...Hello!?!

2011-04-10T23:34:00.004-03:00

Sorry for not posting anything for weeks! I promise I'll catch you up soon. I have lots of stories and, in my biased opinion, very cute pics of the girls. More to come by Tues!

Until then....here's the girls with the Easter Bunny!

Lee Little Lephrechauns

2011-03-25T13:21:00.010-03:00

Power Wheels on St. Patty's

2011-03-25T12:25:00.004-03:00

On St. Patrick's Day, we visited with our good friends The Haleys. Gracie had a blast playing with Gabriel...they were so cute together and played really well. I loved when they played hide-n-seek upstairs - it was so funny to listen to them counting, searching and giggling! I held 7 week old, beautiful Isabel Grace - I can't believe I didn't get a pic of her sweet face. She's so cuddly and has a head full of gorgeous dark hair. I think the highlight for Gracie was taking a ride around the block on Gabriel's Power Wheels Truck.

Gabe is such a good driver.
He steered around newspapers and
drove straight on the sidewalk.

Gracie loved the real FM radio.

Gabe was cringing because Gracie wasn't steering.

Caution: Student Driver

Gabe's
Driver's Ed Training School

Taryn --- thanks for having us over and for feeding us lunch! We definitely have to get another playdate scheduled soon!

Well Check-Ups

2011-03-25T09:11:00.011-03:00

The girls had their well exams on March 14th.

Delaney at 6 months

Weight - 15lbs, 10 oz (35th percentile*)
Height 27 in (85th percentile)

* Delaney's weight percentile has been decreasing with each well check. Dr. Caplan said the growth chart is based on a formula-fed not breastfed curve. When he plotted her on the W.H.O. (World Health Org) chart which is based on breastfed babies - her percentile curve is less sloped. He's comfortable with her weight, said she's doing great and to keep doing what we're doing!

She's still not interested in a bottle and wakes up 1-2 times a night...and while it's taken me awhile to accept...I really am okay with our routine! She's only this little for a short time and if I have to be up a few times at night or the only one to feed her...then that's just how it's gonna be. I love holding my baby girl, even in the middle of the night!

Gracie at 3 years old!

Weight 37 lbs (91st percentile)
41 inches tall (94th percentile)
BMI - weight to height ratio (58th percentile)

which means she's the right weight for her height.

Such a rag-a-muffin!
She scored perfect on a cognitive computer test,
was able to draw a circle and has 20/20 vision.
Dr. Caplan said she's smart and healthy!
We're so proud of (little) big girl!

Let's EAT!

2011-03-25T08:49:00.003-03:00

We tried starting Delaney on rice cereal in mid January when she was just over 4 months old.

She loves her highchair.

Eating was definitely a new experience!!! Bless her sweet, little cross-eyed heart, she had no idea what to do with her tongue but gave it a good try!

The rice cereal had her constipated for a few days so I decided to wait until she was a little older and sitting up before re-introducing it.

Here we are in March progressing with solids!
So far, she's had peas, green beans and carrots.

Carrots seem to be the favorite!

When she's had enough she'll blow raspberries
or motorboat bubbles of food that she's all done.
So cute but so messy!

Sitting Up!

2011-03-18T11:08:00.007-03:00

Linda & Delaney

2011-03-18T10:55:00.001-03:00

I think Delaney might have a touch of
red hair from her Great Aunt Linda!!!

Baltimore

2011-03-12T21:45:00.006-04:00

On March 7th, the girls and I drove up to Baltimore to see my Aunt Linda (visiting from Colorado) and Ben and Laura, her son and daughter-in-law.

Gracie had a blast throwing toys down the stairs for Miss Delilah to fetch and was intrigued watching her do all kinds of tricks. Lila is so sweet and smart!

We had a quick lunch at Potbelly Deli and then ventured to the National Aquarium. We watched a wonderful 30 minute dolphin show, that we all LOVED - especially Gracie (video to be posted soon) and strolled around the exhibits for 3 hours! The girls were so good and everyone had a great time. We're looking forward to going back to the Inner Harbor again soon...such a neat area!

What a FUN day!

Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice

2011-03-04T08:59:00.008-04:00

that's what the Lee Girls are made of!!!

Gracie loves to help me in the kitchen...
and it looks like Delaney does too.

One chocolate chip mini for Gracie.

One chocolate chip mini in the bowl.

And if you're wondering - YES!
It took FORever to put every other chip into the batch.

Of course my child likes to lick the bowl!

*these pictures were from Tuesday...both girls are now sick with yet another cold which has them both very grumpy and snotty. Poor us!

Happy 1/2 Birthday Miss D!

2011-03-02T13:45:00.014-04:00

6 months old...already!

Little Bed Bug

Delaney is a happy, smiley, sweet, giggly girl!
And we love her so very much!

Here's what she's up to these days...

Loves:

her family
the tubby
Sophie Giraffe
her Pink Night-Night Blanket
being outside and stroller rides
being picked up in the am & after her naps
gadgets - the remote, Daddy's iPod, & phones
putting everything in her mouth

Likes:

her carseat
the jumper
getting her diaper changed
rice cereal
her binky
naps
bedtime stories

Dislikes:

sleeping through the night
when Mommy is not at home
bottles
putting on long sleeve jammies or shirts

Wears a size 2 diaper & 6-9 month clothes.
She's up at 7 am every morning.
Takes 3-4 good naps a day.
Goes to sleep easily for naps & after her evening bath with her binky & pink night-night blanket by her face.
Wakes at night - usually 9pm, 11pm, 1am, 4am'ish.
Rolls over from her belly to her back.
Sits up but needs a little support.

Go, Dog. Go!

2011-02-26T08:53:00.011-04:00

Reading stories is part of our bedtime routine. Usually, Gracie picks out 3 books for us to read to her each night. Sometimes she wants us to help her choose the books and after I make a suggestion she usually says, "no, not that one". Humph! She also tries to pick out more than 3 books depending on how successful she is at stalling bedtime. Little stinker.

Gracie does really well during story time. She sits still and listens and asks questions. For the past several months when I read a story to her I'll pause and she'll fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase. So cute! To our amazement, just the other night, she said SHE wanted to read "Go, Dog. Go!" to us and SHE DID! Our little smarty pants has memorized the story and actually "read" it to us. We could not have been more proud of her!!! It's obvious that she loves books and I think she's on her way to becoming a great reader!

Here's a video of her "reading" - the book is "Go, Dog. Go!". The 1st time she read it to us the other night she was very focused and serious about reading the story. However, in this video, she knew I was filming her and she was definitely being a little silly. Todd says it's not her best read but it's still really cute!

Thank you Ashlee for giving her this book - I will forever cherish it as the 1st book she read out loud.

Clemyjontri Park

2011-02-25T10:00:00.007-04:00

With a sneak preview of spring weather last Friday we ventured out to our favorite park - along with almost everyone else in Northern Virginia. We had so much fun on Friday, despite the crowd, that we wanted to go back over the weekend so Todd could enjoy it with us. We all had a blast!

1st Swing

1st Slide

Happy Napper!

2011-02-24T09:23:00.005-04:00

When Delaney wakes up in the morning or from a nap she either cries or "talks" but always keeps her eyes on the door waiting for us to come get her. When we make eye contact with her she flashes the biggest smile and just squeals with excitement. This is one of my most favorite moments during the day. I look forward to seeing those big blue eyes sparkle, seeing that gummy smile, and hearing that sweet squeal each and every time. Oh, how I love this girl.

Let's Face It...

2011-02-23T10:46:00.005-04:00

She's just too cute!

The chewing on her fingers face.

The squealy face.

The Popeye face.

The kiss those cheeks face.

Airing our Dirty Laundry

2011-02-22T21:01:00.017-04:00

So contrary to what Todd believes -
there is NO such thing as The Laundry Fairy,
unless he wants me to start wearing wings.

So I ask you, is having your child sort the laundry -
child labor or a learning opportunity???

I vote that it's a learning opportunity. At least for now.

Gracie loves to sort. I mean, she REALLY loves to sort.
She sorts anything that can be sorted.
M&Ms, crayons, candles, diapers, coins, etc.

So when our closet floor was
overflowing with laundry.
I asked my expert sorter to help me.
Gracie was thrilled...she loved sorting the color piles.
And I, of course, loved her help.
Now...if I could just teach her to fold.

Here's a video of us keeping it real.
Life isn't always smiling faces, cute stories,
and a kept house.
We have our share of dirty laundry too!

*This video is kinda boring but kinda cute*
I also want to have it for later when Gracie tells me
she doesn't know how to separate her laundry.

Ohuh! I give up.

2011-02-21T09:27:00.006-04:00

This little silly goose really cracks me up. Just after she rolled over for the first time, she started to drop her head down when I would put her on her belly as if it was just too hard for her to even try to roll over. I couldn't stop laughing and she would keep doing it. I'm so glad I got a few seconds of video of her dropping her head down because she hasn't been doing it anymore. Now she just rolls right on over...I guess she's an expert roller now and doesn't feel so overwhelmed! I'm so proud of her for accomplishing and mastering this milestone but sad to see that my baby is growing up too quickly!

Gigglin'

2011-02-20T08:56:00.007-04:00

I think Todd was a little disappointed when I initially posted this video and didn't give him props or credit on the blog for taking this cute video of Gracie making Delaney laugh!

So...Todd - I love that you caught this adorable interaction of our girls laughing! Thank you for being a such a great Daddy!!! I love you!!!

To nap or not to nap?

2011-02-18T09:28:00.004-04:00

Nap time has definitely been an issue, or non-issue depending on how you look at it, around here for the last few months. I think Gracie still needs a nap but she doesn't agree; or should I say...pretty much insists that she does not want a nap. I echo my friend Katie's statement; in that, I wish someone would insist that I nap and offer me the uninterrupted time to take one a day.

Most days Gracie really is fine without one and goes to bed easily between 7 -8 pm. Then other days she just crashes usually because we've had a busy day or if she's exhausted from not napping several days in a row. The late naps, around 3:30 or 4 pm, are tough for me because that then means she's awake until 9:30 or 10 pm. On those particular days she definitely needed a nap (I just wish earlier in the day) and I don't have the heart to keep her awake or to make her wake up...I know how much I need and enjoy my sleep when I'm that tired. The plus side for days with late naps and late bedtimes means she gets to play with Todd after he gets home from work...and they both love that time together!

Now if I would have posted this awhile back, I would have asked for suggestions on how to get your toddler and preschool children to continue napping. I can't lie, I am envious of those of you with children who are blessed with the gift of napping and all night sleep. However, I've changed my perspective and, thus my approach. I'm resolving to accept that this is just who Gracie is when it comes to not napping, who Delaney is when it comes to not sleeping through the night, who I am, and that this is just how our daily life works. And quite honestly...we're happy! I always want the best for my children and family but that also means that I'm assuming that everyone else is doing it better and that their grass is greener. I am reminding myself daily that what I am doing IS what's best for us and that our life, our situation, our circumstances are OURs not someone else's. What might work for y'all may or, more than likely, may not work for me/us.

Yep, I guess I needed to write all that, not that you necessarily needed to read it, but this blog is mine. I, of course, use it to share pics and stories of our family but I also use it to journal our life - a sort of therapy for myself! Enough said...on to the pics - probably the real reason most of you check in on us.

Crashed one afternoon.

After a nap.

She's a great napper and is getting to be a better
nighttime sleeper with longer stretches between feeds!

Sassy's Back

2011-02-17T10:24:00.008-04:00

It seems like it wasn't that long ago that Gracie was jumping in this thing and now baby sister is in it!

I put the sassy seat jumper in our bathroom doorway a few weeks ago (yep, still behind on posting our pics). Delaney seems to like it...at least for a few minutes or just long enough for me to put on my make-up.

She's getting so big!

(almost 5 months old in these pics above)

Flashback:
Gracie at exactly 4 months old.

Playing with Flour & Chicken Marsala Recipe

2011-02-17T10:06:00.006-04:00

While I was making Chicken Marsala (see recipe below) one night for dinner - it's one of our favorites and usually a weekly meal - I let Gracie play with a cake pan full of flour. She had a blast making designs in the flour with her fingers. Next time, when I'm not busy cooking dinner, I'll use a cookie sheet and sit down with her to teach her how to write letters, make shapes, and numbers. It's such a fun way to play and learn. After each design you can shake the sheet, like an etchasketch, to start over.

Chicken Marsala - Recipe from Craig James (Todd's friend)

Ingredients:

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ - 1 cup flour (depending on #s of chicken)

Salt and Pepper (1/2 – 1 tsp each)

¼ - ½ cup Olive Oil

1-2 shallots

1 large or 2 small onions

1 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

1-2 Tbsp. butter

¼ - ½ bottle Marsala Cooking Wine

Directions:

1. Pound out chicken breasts until thin, season with salt and pepper

2. Dredge chicken in flour until coated

3. Sauté chicken in olive oil – make sure pan is hot and cook until golden brown on each side.

4. Chicken does not have to be cooked all the way through – hold chicken on a plate

5. Reduce heat to medium – add shallots and onions. Add more touch of olive oil if needed. Cook until onions are translucent on the edges.

6. Add mushrooms and butter, cover for 5 minutes (stir occasionally) until mushrooms begin to weep.

7. Deglaze pan with marsala wine. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen the fond.

8. Add chicken breasts and any juice from the plate.

9. Add more marsala wine to just slightly cover the chicken breasts.

10. Cover and cook 3-5 minutes.

11. Remove cover, increase heat to high and reduce wine down until sauce forms.

12. Season accordingly.

13.Serve by itself or over rice, egg noodles, or angel hair pasta.

We love this recipe and hope you will too.

The Frog Hat

2011-02-16T15:53:00.008-04:00

I went to my 1st Boutique Warehouse Sale a few weeks ago. My friend and neighbor, Rachel, invited me to go with her and we both had no idea what to expect. The sale was held at the George Washington Masonic Temple from 9-4. We stopped for breakfast at Starbucks - have you tried their egg sandwiches...if not, you should - they're so good!!! But that's where we made a mistake....by the time we got to the temple - at 9:10 - there was already a LONG line to get in...who knew? Not us! SO we waited an hour to shop but had a great time chatting in line and wondering what we would find inside!

We found a few good deals. I got a Simpatico #42 Reed Diffuser for half off. It smells so clean and fresh...I love it and want to get another one for our upstairs! I wish you could come smell my house! I also got a handknit fuscha shrug (this pic) and an adorable frog hat (see the cuteness below).

Rachel and I decided we'd definitely go back next time - we'll just have to get our Starbucks a little earlier and definitely to go.

Delaney modeling the frog hat!

Sweethearts

2011-02-16T10:37:00.010-04:00

Our Valentine's Day was filled with lots of love and we hope yours was too!

The girls and I did a little shopping - I got them adorable matching shirts and jeggings!

Gracie picked out her own Valentine's gift at Target - a Little People Barn. I guess I'll have to keep saving Candyland and Chutes & Ladders for another occasion - it's always good to have a few "surprises" tucked away somewhere, right?

Delaney got a pink fleece vest from REI and new bottle - I'm still trying to find "the one". BUT,drumroll please...dare I say, we may be having a "sleeping through the night" breakthrough - I'll post about it tomorrow if tonight goes like the last 2 nights...fingers crossed because this mama likes her sleep!

We got Todd a wireless garage opening keypad; if you didn't know, he's a gadget guy. Gracie - with her Daddy's help - picked out and colored Valentine's Day cards for me and Delaney all by herself - so sweet! She also got me a big bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups...my favorite, she (or he) knows me so well!!! Todd ordered us a new double stroller. We can't wait for it to arrive next week!

Always remember to tell the ones you love that you LOVE THEM!!!

Gracie's Cake & Pinata Videos

2011-02-15T10:59:00.005-04:00

Three!

2011-02-14T22:59:00.007-04:00

Gracie's favorite color is GREEN. So...when we asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday party she, of course, decided she wanted to have a green party. We celebrated her 3rd birthday with just our little family...with lots of things green, a turtle cake as she requested, and fun gifts from our family. I think she really enjoyed her green birthday!

She came downstairs on the morning of her birthday to find lots green balloons and a turtle pinata from Daddy! She was adorable and said..."I LOVE IT!"

Kissing the pinata before smashing into it!

Stuffed with "chocolate mint patios"
(a.k.a. York Peppermint Patties)

Homemade Turtle Cake

She melted my heart when she said...
"I love my turtle cake".

Showing us how many fingers old she is...

Hummm....

Almost got it.

Yep, that's it...THREE!

WOW! How is she already 3?

Her birthday dinner request -
Cheese Quesadilla, chips and milk from Chipotle!
(we loved our burrito bowls too.)

No, Delaney...we said wanna eat a Burrito;
Not eat your TOE.

We don't have any matches...
so we improvised with our kitchen torch.

Happy Birthday Gracie Girl!

Attempt at a family photo.
(I'm only posting it because we don't have any pics
of the 4 of us...I don't like how large my face looks.)

This one will be three before we know it!

The Girl-Lees!

Everyone was tired by this point
& not interested in any more pics.

WE LOVE YOU G!
Happy Birthday!

Snow Angel

2011-02-10T14:22:00.004-04:00

This was taken on 1/27...she did it all on her own. Bless her heart - she's got the form but nothing to show for it. The snow was too icy and compacted.

Cute regardless.

And she R-O-L-L-S!

2011-02-09T13:56:00.004-04:00

Viewer Warning:
Encouraging, Super Excited & Proud Mommy Voice
You many want to turn down the volume!

Birthday Girl!

2011-02-09T10:43:00.004-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday Gracie Girl!

Todd's 35th Birthday

2011-02-08T10:17:00.013-04:00

Todd is probably not going to like that I've actually posted his age...but while he may not like the fact that he's 35, his birthday on Jan 31st was definitely worth celebrating! He's accomplished and given us so much with each passing year...he's a sweet, smart, successful, caring, and wonderful man that provides, spoils, and loves his family! I am so fortunate to call him my husband, best friend, and daddy to our girls!

We love you, Todd. Happy Birthday!

Gracie and I HAD to pick out the biggest balloon!

That's love...letting his girl open his gifts!
(Notice the tongue - Apple on Left, Tree on Right!)

Decorating the cake!
G started to sort the sprinkles
(she's all about sorting colors) but
I gently suggested that there might be too many!

Sprinkles on top???
Why not push them in instead!

Of course she HAD to lick the icing off her fingers!
She gets that from me!

More Sprinkles.

Very excited about Daddy's birthday!
She is such a happy girl!
Have I mentioned that I adore & love, love, love her!?!

Thinking about sampling some icing!

With a sweet face like this...
she can have anything she wants.

Melts my heart!

Forget starting rice cereal...let's go with icing!
(Yep, definitely more relaxed this time around).
Apple below - loved the icing...Tree taking the picture!

One sprinkle at a time was taking a little too long.
Let's go with a handful!

Hello, Apple!

Nothing better than a big pile o' sprinkles!

And the sorting & arranging continues...
with the candles!
This OCD she gets from me.

How about putting them here?

Me: "Okay, are we ready to light the candles and sing?"

G: "Not yet...just until I...do the candles."

"Just until I....fill in the blank."
Seems to be her trademark phrase these days.

and so is...

"But why?"

Patiently waiting!

Continuing to rearrange the candles
and sample some icing.

Me: "Ready?"
G: "Not yet, Mommy...just until I...get these in."

Me: "Now?"
G: "Not yet, just until I..."

Me: "That looks perfect. Let's light the candles & sing!"

Make a wish!

YAY!!! Happy Birthday!

The Invisible Mom & The Cathedrals

2011-02-07T12:48:00.016-04:00

Forwarded emails...we all get them. Some forwards make me laugh out loud, others I just want to delete and wish I wouldn't have wasted my time even opening it, and then...on rare occasion, I get a message that I love so much that I read it over and over again, I tell Todd about it, and then I continue to forward it on to my select friends and family hoping they'll appreciate it as much as I do. Below is one of those rare, forwarded messages that I have to share.

----------------------------------------------------------------

"It all began to make sense -- the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids would walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'

I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?'

I'm a taxi for order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock? Where's my phone? What's for dinner?'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . She had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.

It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it.’ And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

‘No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.’

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend,
he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dedicated to my mom, Bev - Thank you for all you did, for the sacrifices you made, for your guidance and support, for your unconditional love and for continuing to build me each day!

To Gracie and Delaney - Always know...I love all that you will be and everything that you are!

To my friends who are moms - I can already see the greatness of your work! Keep building!

Snow much fun

2011-02-06T09:30:00.003-04:00

Couch Cuties

2011-02-06T09:09:00.001-04:00

Pizza Par-Tay!

2011-02-04T21:22:00.001-04:00

Delaney Emerson Lee

2011-01-28T18:48:00.003-04:00

Little Bugs

2011-01-23T14:20:00.001-04:00

Silly Bug.

Snuggle Bug.

BFFs

2011-01-08T10:54:00.003-04:00

Santa stuffed "Sophie" into Delaney's stocking...

and she's become Delaney's bestie!

Her face lights up when she hears Sophie squeak.

As soon as she is given Sophie,

she's busy gumming her legs and licking her face.

She loves her Sophie!

4 months

2011-01-07T22:00:00.013-04:00

It's a little hard to believe that this

sweet, little face is already 4 months old!

Delaney is in the 55th percentile for her weight.

And is 25 and 3/4 inches long - the 94th percentile.

Both girls were bored while we were waiting

to see the nurse practitioner for Delaney's check up.

At 4 months old

Delaney is...

A happy, smiley, giggly, cooing & loved little girl!

Likes to be held facing out.

Coos and "talks" all the time.

Loves to have her diaper changed.

Absolutely LOVES "Tubby time"!

Her face lights up when she sees us.

Loves her Sophie Giraffe teether.

Likes her swing & Bumbo seat.

Belly giggles when tickled under her chin and arms.

Likes to fall asleep with her Night Night by her face.

Is a good napper and falls asleep easily on her own.

We wonder if she'll be a finger or thumb sucker.

Holds her head up well; a little wobbly sometimes.

Likes to watch Gracie and smiles at her every time.

Has the cutest little pouty lower lip when upset.

Kinda likes a binkie but is not attached to it.

Is pretty good in her car seat but reaches her limit.

Sorta likes tummy time for short periods.

Hates to burp.

Doesn't want to take a bottle.

Does not like the cold or wind.

Isn't a fan of being strapped into her car seat.

Definitely hates loud voices or when G screams.

Not sleeping through the night (up every 2-3 hours).

Wears 3-6 or 6 month size clothes & a size 2 diaper.

I'm not sure how it's possible but

we fall more in love with her each day!

WW II Memorial

2011-01-06T16:20:00.011-04:00

My parents came up for a 2nd Christmas and to spend New Year's Eve with us! I'm so grateful that they made the trip...they spoiled both girls with their love and lots of gifts! Unfortunately, they forgot to bring a few storage bins to help me store and rotate older toys. I'm totally kidding; I appreciate their generosity more than they will ever know!

On New Year's Eve Day - me, my parents, and D ventured into The District with my new GPS - a Garmin Nuvi 1450 LMT (Lifetime Maps & Traffic). If you're in the market for one, it's awesome. Thanks Mom & Dad...I absolutely love it!

It was a great day to go into the city. It wasn't too crowded and the weather was in the 50s. I wish we would have started earlier so we could have seen a few more things. It so wonderful living here - there's so much you can see and do.

We went into DC to sightsee some of the monuments from my car and to walk around the World War 2 Memorial. It was a humbling experience to say the least. It reminded me of the sacrifices that service men and women, and their families, make everyday in order for the rest of us to be protected and free.

My Grandpa Jack, my mom's dad, served in WWII; he was in Europe for most of The War (Grandma - please correct me if I'm wrong) and then was about to go to the Pacific when the War ended. My mom said he didn't talk about The War much; but he did share a funny story. It certainly wasn't funny at the time, but after the fact (and the movie "Forrest Gump")...we can laugh about it now. He had a Forrest "something jumped up and bit me...right in the buttocks" moment... when he ventured out into the woods to answer nature's call and was targeted by a sniper...thank goodness that sniper wasn't a good shot!

I loved my Grandpa Jack and I miss him so much! If one of our girls would have been a boy - we would have named him - Jackson "Jack" Marshall - Jack, obviously after my Grandpa and Marshall was Todd's maternal Grandfather's middle name. Maybe we'll have a 3rd child...but don't hold your breath because the terrible 3s are hitting our house at the moment, both of our hands are full with our work/life balance, and our bank account isn't growing - kids are alot of work and really expensive but worth every minute and penny we have...so as for now we are a happy family of just 4 plus Tucker!

Back to the memorial...

Since I grew up as a military child and my grandfather served in The War, I have always had respect and admiration for the military; as a grown woman, I am so very proud of my Grandpa Jack and my Marine Corps Father, the work they did, and selfless service they provided to our country. I cherish my freedom and the am forever grateful to both of them and all service men and women past, present, and future!

The World War II Memorial is beautifully situated between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial.

I love my Dad & The Marines!

Semper Fidelis! Ooh Rah!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-04T23:38:00.017-04:00

As usual...and as you well know, I'm behind on my posts! Hopefully this really long post and photo montage will bring you up-to-date; that is...if you want to read it all and watch our holiday packed into an almost 9 minute photo slideshow! I'm forewarning you, it's a long one. There are just too many cute pictures that I wanted to include for the grandparents and for when I want to I go back years from now to remember Delaney's 1st Christmas and Gracie really enjoying the magic of the season!

Christmas Week in Review:

Todd was off work for over 2 weeks! YAY for him and us!
Katie, Todd's younger sister, flew in from Portland, Oregon. We all metro'ed to Reagan National Airport to pick her up.
We had some friends over for dinner.
We got our family room furniture and we ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. Thanks to Jimmy and Miles Talbott Furniture - for making our beautiful and really comfortable couch, chairs and ottoman! We got Shabby Chic designed pieces -the Comfy Sofa upholstered in Sunbrella Trax Wrenn and Dover Chairs upholstered in Sunbrella Wolcott Beige.
Went to 3 doctors' appointments. One with our dermatologist - a follow-up for Gracie's atopic dermatitis (eczema) and a skin check for Todd & me. Second appt was for me with our family practice. I was pretty sick (and still have the tail end of a self-diagnosed sinus infection). Third visit was for Delaney with the pediatrician, to check her ears (which were fine) because she had the sniffles too.
I really stressed about getting last minute shopping done and worried about all the Christmas details. I wanted everything to be perfect and I really wanted to start establishing Christmas traditions with Gracie this year. Ugh, but WHY did it have to be so stressful? Was it just me? Or is it because I have 2 small children and was sick? Please, tell me I'm not the only one that was stressed this holiday!
Todd and I went over to our neighbors for games and cocktails...that was so fun and definitely needed. Our neighbors are wonderful!
We stood in line for over 90 minutes on Christmas Eve morning to have our family picture with Santa - nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh!!! In my defense, we tried a few days before but the line closed at 4:30 because Santa went on break from 5 to 6 pm. Really? I really wanted to have Delaney's 1st picture with Santa on her 1st Christmas...so "we" stood in line, really it was just me & D, while Todd entertained Gracie in Pottery Barn Kids and LL Bean! But note to self - NEVER again will we wait until Dec. 24th to see Santa. The girls did really well during the long wait and we got a cute picture.
We all enjoyed a new tradition of building and decorating a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve day. Next year I'd like to eat the house after Christmas Eve dinner for dessert.
We made sugar cookies and I definitely need to thank Katie for cookie cutting and icing over a 100 of them all. They were delicious!
We loved watching Gracie "make" her reindeer food! A mixture of sunflower seeds, cheerios, and green/red/white cookie sprinkles! She was totally focused for 30 minutes whipping up that yummy batch for Rudolf and his friends!
Gracie wasn't ready for Polar Express this year. She watched the first 15 minutes or so. Maybe next year...Todd and I love that movie!
We opened Christmas Eve Pajammies...which Gracie still doesn't want to wear - oh well!
We were more than spoiled with all the wonderful gifts! Gracie was a little overwhelmed with all the gifts but once all the wrapping paper settled, she was asking for more!
We had a BIG Christmas Day Buffet - invited our friends and neighbors over. Lots of yummy food! We made too much and ate it for days!
Gracie loves all her toys and has been sweet enough to play with Delaney's too since she says, "she's too little".
Delaney is so precious and happy....her smile melts my heart and we love her so much.
I saw the WWII Memorial with my parents and Delaney. Todd and Gracie played at home.
We had filet and lobster tail for New Year's Eve dinner - thanks Dad!
A quiet New Year's - asleep before the ball dropped. Life certainly has changed but I wouldn't change it for anything.
We really enjoyed spending time with our families. A big thank you to Todd's family and my parents for traveling to see us so that we could enjoy the holidays at HOME with our girls!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas with the ones you love and I wish you all the best in 2011!

New this week:

I've finally decided that Delaney doesn't know how to self-soothe during the night and is unable to fall back asleep on her own. I've rushed in for every fuss or cry to feed her assuming she was hungry and to keep her from waking Gracie and Todd...so naturally she's become dependent on nursing to fall back to sleep - just like I did with Gracie when she was a baby.

So...I've made the difficult decision to start letting Delaney work it out on her own. Notice I didn't say "cry it out"; although that's exactly what she'll have to do. Todd and I hate hearing her cry but we ALL need a good nights sleep so it has to happen.

I guess you can say we've started Boot Camp for the girls this week - working on Delaney's sleeping/self-soothing and no more binkie for Gracie...fun times around here! Wish us luck and any advice or suggestions are appreciated! I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Little Sister

2010-12-27T23:21:00.001-04:00

Snuggling Sisters

2010-12-27T23:12:00.002-04:00

Every now and then Gracie asks to hold Delaney. She usually only wants to hold her for a few seconds or until Delaney starts fussing. I've taught Gracie to tell me when she doesn't want to hold Delaney any longer by saying, "done", so that she doesn't just push Delaney away. It was so cute a few weeks back when she held Delaney for several minutes in her little chair while she watched her cartoon. They both just sat there together. Such sweetness. Oh...how I love my girls!!!

Future Mardi Gras Girl?

2010-12-27T23:00:00.003-04:00

So one night after her bath....Gracie walked in to see me while I was getting Delaney ready for bed. I had to giggle when this was all she was wearing:

Yep, that's it!!!

A beaded necklace and high heels!

Yowsers! We've got our hands full with this one!

Beaufort Academy Reunion

2010-12-27T22:01:00.008-04:00

I went to a very small, private school in Beaufort. I, along with a few of my high school friends, planned an All Classes Alumni Reunion over Thanksgiving Weekend. We started planning more than a year in advance and thanks to Facebook we were able to invite over 400 alumni.

We had a meet-up at Plums, a local restaurant & bar on Friday night. There were lots of people there that night that could not make it to the party the next night. Then on Saturday, there was an alumni soccer game, which had 25 players, at the school with a concession stand and inflatable bouncers for the kids. It was a great turnout! Gracie was a little reserved at first but she ended up having a blast in the Tweety Bird bouncer.

For the party on Saturday night, we ended up with about 175 guests and I think everyone had a good time; at least, I hope they all did!

Like any party, there were a few things that I wish we would have done differently...like...it would have been nice to have had some kind of music. The stereo system at the venue didn't work very well and, after more tickets were sold at the door, we ended up having enough money that we could have hired a DJ or a small, local band. Oh well, I had to make that decision in advance, and at the time, we just didn't have the cash. Live and learn. All in all, it was a lot of fun. Everyone got to see people they hadn't seen in years. There was a lot of catching up, lots of laughs, a yummy dinner and lots of beer and wine!

The party was at Cat Island Grill & Pub.

Beaufort after Thanksgiving

2010-12-27T21:39:00.006-04:00

We went down to Beaufort over Thanksgiving Weekend to see my family and for my high school reunion. It was a quick, and very busy trip, but lots of fun. Here are the girls with BeBe and PaPa.

A special thanks to my parents for watching the girls while Todd and I did reunion things!

Baby BumbleBees

2010-12-19T09:52:00.000-04:00

Who's who?

Who's the baby?

2010-12-19T09:45:00.002-04:00

Can you find the real baby in these pictures???

And which baby is Gracie and which is Delaney?

Thanksgiving

2010-12-18T10:00:00.007-04:00

Yep, I'm that far behind on my posts...but better late than never!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Todd's family. Gracie woke up in a bad mood and was pretty awful most of the day (my apologizes to everyone). But the rest of us enjoyed the day - A special thank you to Mary Ann (Mimi), Shelley, John, and Jackson for driving up from Charleston to share the day with us & for the sweet gifts you gave to the girls!

Our Thanksgiving Menu:

Fried turkey, Grandma Phyllis' homemade dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, Christmas Eve rice, collards, Mimi's homemade sourdough bread (which I am grateful to now be making with her "starter"!), assorted fruit arrangement, key lime pie, and pumpkin squares! I'm hungry just thinking about all that yumminess!

Everything was so delicious!

Here's the grump!

Ringing the bell for dinner.

All of Us (minus Delaney - she was napping)

I'm reminding Gracie to share and be sweet.

and

Jackson is probably wondering why

his Mommy is holding another baby.

We love John!

Post Turkey Stroll &

hoping some fresh air will refresh Gracie.

Playing on the porch.

Sweet hugs for Tuck!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!!!