Only Big Smiles Allowed: September 2006

Who needs Ballys?

Here is my own personal weight loss plan:

1. Buy a bi-level home.
2. Put your child in a big girl bed at 20 months.
3. Have another child 2 months later.
4. Get a job that requires time spent at home computer.
5. Put the computer in the lowest possible level of your house.
6. Plan to do your computer work during "nap" time.
7. After several months, trust your child to stay in their room and remove door lock.
8. Rather than sitting down and doing work, spend 45 minutes a day doing the "stair climber" right in your own home.
9. As an extra bonus - leave the house without remembering to eat atleast twice a week.

Not Always Big Smiles...

Sometimes there are big tears instead of big smiles. Fortunately, for my family, we have each other to share those with - and, hopefully, we will find big smiles again soon...

Faces of Amelia

This girl makes me smile like noone else can. We laugh together like good friends and she is always there for a hug when I need it the most. I love you babe!

Love Affair with a Cheese Puff

With 6 chompers come free reign with most foods. I am hoping you can find cheese puffs on the food pyramid because they have become a major food group in this house. Leo looks at them longingly and then dives in. I have tried to get a good shot of the teeth, but I have to be kissing him up to get a full on smile and, as Amelia says, "I only have two hands." Everyday I look at this kid and pinch myself. The other day, Danny commented on what a happy baby Leo is. I responded with, "wouldn't you be if you got to spend the day with Amelia and me?" Kisses all the time, songs by request, a sister that runs in circles just to make you laugh - what else does a growing boy need? Yes, I know...lots of cheese puffs!

Plans - an exercise in futility...

Plan for today:
9-10:45am - Teach Hebrew School
10:45am - Danny picks me up with the kids and takes me to a bridal shower - we meet my mom there
11:30am-1:30pm - Danny has lunch at the mall and spends time with the kids
1:30pm - Danny and the kids pick me up, I feed Leo, and both kids fall asleep in the car and I get some peace and quiet for an hour or two

Reality:
9:00-10:45am - Teach Hebrew School
11:00am - Becca drops me off at the house because Leo didn't seem to like the three outfits that Danny chose and threw up on each one, making that threesome very late to pick me up
11:30am - Meet my mom at the Bridal Shower
11:31am - My mom informs us that we have the flattest tire known to man
11:45am - Walk in to Bridal Shower with two kids and lots of apologies while Danny calls AAA
11:45am-2:30pm - Enjoy a wonderful lunch with a kid on either side of me while Danny waits for the AAA guy in the pouring rain
2:30pm - Mom drives the kids and me home...Amelia follows directions and goes to sleep - Leo does not
3:00pm - I get Leo to sleep in his crib - yay!
3:15pm - Amelia is "ready to wake up"
4:00pm - So is Leo...
5:15pm - Dinner with the entire family to celebrate Uncle Gar Bear's birthday
9:15pm - Ready to fall flat on my face

My big girl...

Amelia starts school next Tuesday. Granted it is only 2 days a week for a few hours, but I already know how much I am going to miss her. I also started teaching Hebrew School yesterday, which is also on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so those days will basically pass us by each week. Who will I discuss Charlie Brown's friends with? or the whereabouts of Ari and Noah? Who will ask me if I am OK? or if I want one or two grapes? When I realized that I will have no time with her on those days, I asked Amelia if she would stay up late to play with me. I can't wait to spend those nights snuggling and chatting about our days. Knowing how much I am going to miss her now, I can only imagine what that first day of Kindergarten is going to be like.