Gobble Gobble

We did Turkey day just the 3 of us this year. I had to work, so we kept it simple. Betty was so funny that day. I told her "Happy Thanksgiving" and she replied "Happy Thanksgiving to you too Mom". She doesn't use full adult sentences like that much. Then during the feast I asked what we were grateful for. She said "daddy" and then we all took a turn. For the remainder of the meal she would go in order (Betty, Daddy, Mommy) and ask "what are you grateful for"? It was a great Martin Thanksgiving.

Then at 11:30pm, we had a sitter come over and we headed out to Black Friday shopping. Toys r'us & Disney store until almost 3am. in which time my friend Meggie went into labor, but still managed to text me her Disney store wants!! I then headed back out at 5am to Target ( I can't resist Target). All in all, we got some good deals, had fun, and maybe spent to much $$$! I almost love Black Friday Holiday as much as Thanksgiving. It really makes me giddy for Christmas. 25 days and counting

You make them laugh

Betty,

Your preschool teachers told Daddy today you make them laugh, everyday (or Wednesday). I wish I could video you with them. See you in school, painting, running, reading books. You come home each week with a piece of art. You seem to love painting. At night, you say "you have to do your homework" and you go through your yellow school folder and pretend. I can't believe how big your getting.

• You are bossy. Your the boss in the house. From the way we eat our oatmeal , to where your binki has to be when you pick it up, to how far up my coat needs to be zippered, to what you want to wear to church. You even boss the dog around & get mad when he doesn't obey. When Grandma Whitney visited you took a break from bossing mom around and made sure Grandma got an earful of bossy Betty.
• Dress up, oh how you love to dress up. 1st thing in the morning to last thing at night. When you are in character, we have to call you by that name. i.e. "I'm Aerial mom, say okay Aerial".
• You love your mommy. It is becoming harder & harder to get to work. You need 1 more hug or kiss, or just scream and cry at me. Some mornings the first thing out of your mouth is "You can't go to work Mommy". You always adjust and when I get home are super excited to see me, even if it results in a whine. At night you cuddle me and tickle my face as if you are the adult trying to get your 2 & 1/2 year old to bed. Last week you told me I was your favorite, something I have told you and daddy for years.

Thanks for keeping us on our toes & making us work to be your parents. Your a tough boss but the best one I've ever had.

Halloween 2009

Tinkerbell pushing a tired Hulk to bed.
The Wilsons cousins were in town and we had a blast! Betty really loved this Holiday, so much that she put her Tinkerbell dress on, 1st thing the next day. The weather was perfect and we had a great Halloween.

Spa Diva

I am a Spa Gal, by trade and hobby. Since age 16, I have worked in the "beauty" business in some aspect. It seems I have passed this trait genetically to Betty. Her toes were painted her first week of life, she has had baths in gourmet spa products, she's been lathered in luxurious body creams; but she had never had a real spa treatment. That is until last week. While her oldest Whitney girl cousin was in town to visit, Betty joined her for a afternoon at mommy's spa for kids. (I run 2 spa's; 1 for adults & 1 for kids 12 & younger)

Betty outside Scooops Kid Spa, age 2

Awaiting her Chocolate Covered Cherry Facial

She loves the mirror....hmmm she must see me admiring it a bit too often!

Covered with the Organic Chocolate maskHer cheeks smelled like chocolate for hours. Sweet & yummy, couldn't stop kissing them

Time for an Ice Cream pedicure

Her nails are painted hot pink with silver "Tinkerbell" sparkles

I long await the days when we leave dad and future brother on the golf course for a mom and Betty Spa Day.

Betty 2.5

Many times a day I but heads with my 2 and a 1/2 year old. She is head strong and stubborn. Her way or no way. At the end of the day, it always makes me smile, but in the thick of it I feel more like screaming. Tonight was a bad night to be Betty's mom. Before I forget her at age 2.5 I wanted to blog about it & have a laugh someday.

• She has to have her own Pilate's mat and do it with mom. (above)
• She hates to say "I'm sorry" so when we tell her to apologize she says "you say sorry".
• Everything is "me do it"; car seat buckles, shoes, socks, etc.
• She tells me "don't be that way"
• At Target I tried to buy her some brown boots but she wanted the pink ones. She wouldn't even let me put the brown boots in the cart.

• Lately she tells me I can't be Jill, I have to be mommy. Tonight she made me take my hair out of a ponytail because I needed to be mommy not Jill.
• If you tell her a plan (we are gonna go to the gym, then target, then Costco) she will hold you to that plan. Don't even try to deviate from it. Worst part is, she knows how to get to those places so if you don't drive the right way, she'll make sure to tell you.
• She negotiates. "1 more show" "Not done yet" and anything she can say to get a little bit more out of something.
• She has to have her own umbrella when it's raining.

• When I got home from work yesterday, she ran into the garage and began yelling at me because I did not pick her up from school (daddy did).
• She won't give up her binki and when I say she is a big girl & doesn't need it, she says "not a big girl". She has 2 binkis; pink & white. The white is her favorite and she tries to match things to it. She'll pick out a shirt with white in it and hold her binki up to it and say "Same".
  

Everyday there is more ways she amazes me & frustrates me. What can I say, she has learned from the best!!!

September

Betty started (or re-started) preschool. She goes each Wednesday at Creative Learning Center (same place we tried last year, but she got kicked out due to crying). This year has been a success. They take a nap after lunch and I think it is her favorite part. She is sometimes the last kid to wake up!

Easton & Betty.

Easton goes to the same school, same day, but he is the much older, much cooler, handsome 5 year old.

Friends.

Kaiya, Easton, Betty, Maura. All the girls are in the same class.

Labor Day 2009...Fort Worth Zoo

September was filled with playing with our friends...

Betty & Saylor

Saylor, Easton, Betty.

*What a busy month. My dad turns 62 tomorrow & it worked out that all his kids could be in Denver together on the 19th for a surprise party. Betty got to stay with her grandparents all week, while I attended a trade show in Las Vegas for work. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa and all our CO. cousins for taking such good care of Betty. She keeps saying she will go back tomorrow!!

Happy Birthday daddy, you are the best, I am so very lucky.

What I now understand...

After a few years of marriage and a child I now understand:

• What Ralphie from the Christmas Story meant by "My mom hadn't had a hot meal in 8 years" (or however many years).
  
• That reading 20 minutes of a picture book can sometimes feel like forever.


• That Dora the Explorer is actually not so bad (not as good as Backyardigans though).


• That taking 5 minutes at the end of the night to brush your teeth and wash your face, is not always worth it!


• Your current events becomes how many times did she pee or poop, when was her nap, and did you wash her hair?


• You can really block out your own name (or mommy) when it's being said repeatedly.


• You cannot live without Tivo to watch your shows when the kids are sleeping.


• That getting a 2 year old to sleep can be so exhausting.


• How handy wipes are for almost everything.


• How you can live, love, and see your husband all the time; but never "talk" to them. (i.e. you have plans with your girlfriends in a few hours & you've known about it for weeks, you just haven't told your spouse or someone in your family either had a baby over a week ago and you haven't talked about it or even told him).
• That driving in the car by yourself is fun & weird all at the same time.