Littles second birthday is Wednesday.

Wednesday already? wow. I'm feeling particularly sentimental lately. See Little was the culmination of a dream for me. If I had custom designed a child she was it.

I don't want to give the wrong idea here. Having her took nothing away from Big, he will always be my hearts new beginning. I will always see the world fresh through him. Having him restored my tarnished faith. I adore him with all that is in me. The circumstances of his birth were just so very different then hers. I was young and awkward when he was new. I was living day by day, I questioned the stability my relationship, and I never felt content in the moment. I was always waiting for the next thing. The wonderful thing was, that like all mothers I grew with him. Our relationship is more precious to me then any worldly treasure, and I am only the woman and mother I am today because God trusted me with him.

But, Littles journey into our lives was soooo different. She was our honeymoon baby- the place where all my dreams came true. We were secure, committed, and ready for her. I had faith in my parenting and could not wait to see Big interact with her. People often saw me with her and thought she was my first. Not because I handled her with kid gloves, but because I knew better this time. I wasn't scared to get my hands dirty with motherhood. I stuck to nursing, I hand-made her baby food with fresh farmers market produce, and I wore here.

Oh how I loved the feeling of her near me. Her warmth would radiate through me until it filled my heart with complete contentment. In this picture she was a week old. We were at the park by our house. There I sat, with my new baby girl snuggled in close; watching the men in my life play tag. They were laughing, she was sleeping, and I was smiling. This moment...so calm and serene... this was one of those perfectly warm mommy moments you want to cling to forever. This was bliss. In this moment my life made perfect sense.

...and now that same little baby is turning 2 in five days.....wow.....cue the tears.....

....finally I have a moment to sit and type. I'm sorry if I've been MIA, I hope to catch up to everything in bloggy land soon. I've had sick children to tend to. Since it's been awhile I thought I'd share some photos from our Valentines Day.

It's so hard to find a sitter for 3 kids so Jay and I scrapped the idea of a couples date and instead we loaded up the kids and went to Studio Grow. It was so fun! Here's our day in photos:

Little liked playing in the playhouse area. She's such an Ate mommy. This is Littles's tiny baby in a BIG bed....LOL


While Little played House with Daddy. Big and Tiny explored these gears....what a fun lesson in cause and effect, and mechanics! Tiny was so fascinated by them.


After playing block, puzzles, pretend, and gears we hit the dance floor.



Look at that wonderful blackmail picture! LOL He's so my child.


After they were done shaking their tail feathers we headed into the play area. They had this great play structure, ball pit, rocking toys, basketball hoop, and more balls they you could count.


Tiny feeling oh so proud of herself for going through the tunnels.


Little always makes being cute look easy....gahhhhh.....


There was also this roller coaster toy. It was a blast. I mean the face says it all.

Yes, this is the only picture of the three of them for the day. As you can see the big kids wanted nothing to do with posing. I can't say I blame them with all that fun surrounding them.

But, poor poor Tiny can't run away and I HAD to have a picture with the heart Dino. I mean common it was Valentines Day....and she does look divine.

After spend a HUGE chunk of time in the play room we checked out the art studio. They had these awesome Buddha Boards I feel in love with...but the price not so much. I think when we get our someday house I'm going to figure out how to make them.

Once they had their fill of playing chalk, dough, and painting we divided again.

Little went and played Dinosaurs. There were so many great shots of her roaring and playing but this one of her feeding the T-Rex a smaller Dino took the bloggy cake! LOL she's such a riot.


Big enjoyed playing with these shapes at the light table. He's always creating...my artistic soul.

Finally on the way out we stopped and played trains ALL together.....

... and from Tiny's POV....


LOL.

Only 2 more weeks until Little is 2...can you believe it?

This weeks Flashback of her is short,

(2.5 months If her top got any smaller her baby boobies would be showing)

sweet,

(11 months...she began her love affair with reading early)

sassy,
(14 months...getting used to a crying baby can be rough)

and FABULOUS!!!
(16 months and already dressed to impress)

Just like she's ALWAYS been.

...my happy thought today is from Dr. Seuss:

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

...Here it is for the world. I'm going to be a Home Educator...gasp.... yes that's right we are going to start homeschooling for the 2009-10 school year.

If you are shocked, so am I. I'm completely amazed- at my change of heart, by Gods works, all of it.. So amazed in fact-


drum roll please..... brrrrrrrrrrrrummmmmmp.....

I'm starting a blog about it! Who didn't see that coming???? Me and my many specialized blogs. Honestly though they help me sort out my many cluttered thoughts. So if you haven't already sneaked over there check out my newest bloggy baby Rough Draft. Visit and help me learn more about this process, or just support my efforts to do what is very best for my children.... or whatever. See you there!

Hugs!

I think February has become our "Tooth" month.

I've been so sparse in posting for a few reasons. One, is honestly that I've been READING so many great blogs during my limited me time by the time I wander back to my dashboard to write my own someone somewhere is desperate for my attention STAT.

The other is teeth.
First, mine were KILLING me. My wisdom teeth are trying to stage a mutiny in my mouth. YIKES! For almost 10 days I was like the walking dead. We don't have the spare cash to get them pulled just yet, so with a lot of home remedies and tons of good old fashioned prayer they are doing better.

Then, Tiny girl decided she would cut her eye teeth. Hahaha she looked like a little vampire. It gave me fond memories back toBig as a baby because not only does she look SO much like him, but he also got his eye teeth before the top middles (actually he got his fangs before ANY other teeth). If that wasn't enough crankiness for you she has now added the top middles. So her tooth count is up to 6....where is the time going?

Finally Big and Little went to the dentist. See I really wanted to type the big bad dentist, BUT alas our dentist is a total doll. She's so great I just wanna squeeze her. Big got cleaned, and sealed. Turns out what we thought was a cheese-it stain, is a bruised tooth. Go figure. So unless we are loaded someday he's stuck with it. She said it was a cause of tooth trauma when he still had his baby teeth. I'm guessing it can be linked back to this. No cavities though, so minus the referral to an orthodontist (braces are in his future I'm afraid), and the stain it was a good visit. As for Little she did awesome. She loves being like her kuya...but we already knew that didn't we?

See what I mean? It's all about the teeth.

I really do have some fun posts I've been meaning to get to, so hopefully that will happen soon. Tonight I have a surprise "extra" post planned, so I'll see you then!

This week I've been feeling yucky....so when I went to decide what to flashback to these photo's of Little caught my eye. They are some of my very favorites, yet....

...Isn't that just about the saddest pleading face you have ever seen? Even now, when she gets sad those lips pooke out, and those 'Pearce' eyebrows furrow....

...the I give up face. See the tear... Priceless.

Ok Girlies,


In my quest to find like minded bloggers I ran across Homestic Affairs . I'm totally enjoying her blog BUT the reason I'm posting about her today is The Husband Project. I'm really excited to be doing this mini project, and so I thought I'd share it with you all in case you want to join too. Today is the last day to join in on the fun and the actual project starts tomorrow.

We all know our husbands would rather feel like our man, then get a card for Valentines Day, and she says it will be simple.

common join us you know you wanna!

...as the big number two and all the T's that come with it (terrible, tough, talkative, tiring, terrific, tender, thrilling) grows ever nearer; I thought I'd share a defining moment of my journey as a mother with you. The moment Big met Little.

This single moment was one that I had looked towards with both excitement and trepidation. I was so nervous to see Big's reaction to "the baby". Her sex had been a surprise. He had made his thoughts on having a sister crystal clear- He wanted nothing to do with the idea, and had announced just weeks before her arrival that if "the baby" was a girl he was moving out (I think he read something similar in a book somewhere). Great, as though I hadn't spent the last few months worrying enough. I worried he'd feel resentful and misplaced. I wondered if he'd feel a connection to the baby, or understand that I could and DID love them both very much.

Then he saw her. He saw his little sister and he loved her. He wasn't going to move because she was a girl. He didn't even think of all that silly stuff I had spent sleepless nights fretting over. He was her Kuya. He loved her the moment he laid eyes on her. When we placed Little in his arms I was finally able to exhale. Worry melted away, and a sigh of complete contentment left my lips. I felt so blessed...the moment Big met Little.

... This is a familiar cry in our house lately.


see Little's very FAVORITE pair of panties are wonderfully covered with the smiling monsters face. She just adores this particular pair of panties. (her Abby CaDabby ones come in a distant second) There are a few problems with this.

1. Once they are dirty, our ears are assaulted by wails in a pitch only toddlers can muster.
2. I can not seem to find a replacement pair in her size.... and even if I could I'd loose a valuable chance to teach her that patience is indeed a virtue.
3. Accidents are still a very regular thing so sometimes the coveted wearable time is only minutes.....then see reason 1.

...But in the words of a dear friend I digress...

The true reason for this post (that I am typing while those very laments are assaulting our dryer door) is that I can say she is potty trained*.

We have decided not to purchase another box of diapers, or even start using pull ups. I am so proud of her.

She's been doing awesome at home but the last few days have shown great improvement in her potty public relations. Yesterday, while playing at the park she stopped what she was doing, told me she had to go potty, and in all honesty tried to drop trowel. BUT I stopped her from stripping, gathered our things and rushed to the car where we have a portable potty (thanks Heather and Lynnie!). The miracle of it all is that she DID hold it! She stayed dry until we got to the potty.

Yipee!

Two down, one to go!


potty trained*- Mostly uses the potty. Is upset when she has a accident....but still has plenty of them. Most of them happen in route to the bathroom. Has been staying dry at night but waking around 2 screaming...needing to pee but not understanding that. Is now who-ha obsessed....hers, mine...Aubrees. Yesh, can you say no privacy.