(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

We've been hard at work on practicing our catching skills!
On Monday, we had an impromptu visit from Uncle DKR and Shay (who was sadly not feeling well, but I am happy to report is doing 100% better now!).
MH definitely gets her athletic skills from my brother Uncle D and DH's sister Auntie P.
And Uncle DKR is always too happy to play with MH, no matter what request she throws at him. Their adoration of each other is most definitely mutual!

Here we are, ready for some action! You may notice that we are never at a lack for accessories!

Uncle DKR helps show her how to hold those arms out and close in for the big catch

Well done, Mad Hatter!

Even Shay was blessed with a little lei-action. And even feeling as lousy as she was, she handled MH's full-on affection like a total trooper!

I am still totally in love with my new camera. If only I could find the time to read the manual, I'd probably love it even more! And for those of you who have asked for details, I apologize for not getting back to you. I promise I will post about it soon - it's just been a crazy week around here!

Happiness is . . .

A leisurely family trip to our fave ice cream spot after dinner.

The kiddie size is equivalent to a large anywhere else.

The MH likes hers pink.

There is nothing better than watching her try to maneuver a huge cup/cone of melty, sticky, strawberry soft-serve and loving every last driplick of it.

Or laughing when it starts to rain and hubby gets the great idea for all of us to finish said ice cream in the car.

And on the way home, MH exclaims: "Oops! I had a little accident . . . I spilled some ice cream on my dress!"

And getting home to find that not only is it on the dress, but all over the back seat (along with the gazillion napkins I have handed her along the way now covered with ice cream and EVERYWHERE) and her carseat.

And not really caring because we had such a great time.

And feeling just a tiny built guilty because I indulged in said "kiddie size" cup of soft vanilla with hot peanut butter topping. Heaven.

But not too guilty because before we know it, summer will be over, and these impromptu trips will be a thing of the past until next summer.

And the fact that hubby had more ice cream on him than anyone (eating a cone and driving are not a great combination for him)!

OK, off to whip hubby's butt at a little Wii tennis.

That counts as exercise, right?

What's making YOU happy right now?

Top 5 Tuesday - Blog Me, Baby!

Once again, it's that time of the week!

For this Tuesday, Dana over at Supernanny, Where Are You? has asked me to think about why I blog.

Seriously. I ask once again. The list can only have 5? I could give you 50!

So, here goes.

And as always, they are in no particular order.

1. I have so much to say that my brain would explode (and I'd have no more friends) if I didn't find somewhere else to help get it all out!
2. I have always loved writing, and with such a tough couple of years of back pain, and then 2 surgeries in the last 10 moths, I have found it quite therapeutic.
3. I love being able to capture all of the funny little things that MH does and says, and document them along with pictures, since I know that years from now I will have long forgotten some of the day to day stuff. I love the fact that there are companies who will take all of this "documentation" and turn it into a book that I will be able to order and cherish for years to come (and have for MH to read when she is older and can really appreciate it).
4. Comments in my inbox make me do backflips. OK, we all know I can't do backflips. On a good back day. But, seriously, it makes me so happy when someone has read my writing and takes the time to say something about it! I still do a little happy dance each and every time.
5. Blogging allows me to reach out to anyone and everyone who wants to hear about me, my family, and our happy little life. My 83 year old grandmother who lives in Florida 9 months out of the year (and who rocks because she can do email AND read blogs!) can check in daily to see what's going on with all of us MH. My dad can pass along the link to his work clients and brag about his only favorite granddaughter, who he likes to refer to as the "dividends" of being a parent himself. And I can share my thoughts, stories, and mommy-pride with tons of amazing other women just like myself, who are blogging for the same reasons. I am making real connections with people who are like me in some way or another. I am finding such a strong and unique community, and I love it.

OK Dana, I know I kind of pushed it with number 5 there and it might count as more than one of my reasons, but I just couldn't stop myself!

Now hop on the bandwagon and make a list for yourself! You can either add your list to my comments, or write your own post and go link it at Dana's blog. She's got Mr. Linky, which makes it a snap!

Thanks again Dana for an awesome Top 5 Tuesday topic!

How Old Are You?

I'm that mom.

The one who does not want her baby to grow up.

I'm the mom who never rounds up.

If she's going to be six months old tomorrow I'll tell you just that.

I'm pretty sure most normal moms would just round up.

The thing is, I have a hard timed handling the fact that time passes so quickly.

Recently, I've loosened up a bit.

A couple of weeks ago, as we were on our way to the bathroom at the beach, an elderly couple stopped us to comment on how adorable she was. Who was I to deny them the pleasure? When they asked her age, I replied "She's three and a half".

As we walked away and continued on to the bathroom, I was surprised to receive a very indignant little "Mommy! I not fwee and a haf, I fwee!"

Could it be? A sudden role reversal?


8/8/08 - My sweet little Mad Hatter actually turned three and a half.


I decided that a little celebration was in order.


There's a bakery near us that sells fabulous cupcakes.


MH loves them because they are adorned with Disney Princess rings. And lots of frosting.

After a fairly simple explanation of how we were celebrating the fact that she was now three and a half, how birthdays work, how many months are in a year, and the concept that this day was exactly halfway between the day she turned 3 and the day she'll turn 4, she seemed to get it.


That, or she just wanted the freakin' cupcake already.


I lit a candle, Sweetheart and I sang, and MH nearly caught herself on fire reaching for that ring!

ahh, behold the glorious frosting . . .

simply delish! (and wearing my new ring makes it that much sweeter!)

"This is my super special magical ring!"

And I am so very proud of it!

Friends, that cupcake was licked clean of all visible frosting. To my major dismay, MH has not yet learned to behold the wonder that is cake! I am sadly reminded of this every time I spend money on one more beautiful cupcake. Here's what happened as I (in slo-mo, running hobbling towards the sink) yelled "Noooooooooo!"

You see, the Mad Hatter has become quite the little helper in the kitchen. When she's done eating something, she brings it right over to the sink and heaves it right in. Normally, I give her a big kudos.

But - I must say - I was ready to kill her slightly disappointed this time.

That's right - I'm that mom too.

The one who would have scraped off the part she'd slobbered all over devoured, and eaten the perfectly good cake that was left.

Happy half-birthday my beautiful little princess.

Each and every day of the last three and a half years has been one big adventure with you, and I wouldn't trade it for a thing.

Except maybe the rest of your cupcake (although you are far sweeter and more enjoyable than even that!).

Oh, and since our little party?

Go ahead and ask her how old she is.

She will pause for just a second or two and proudly proclaim "I fwee and a half!"

From the mouth of my babe . . .

Recent conversation with the Mad Hatter:

Me: (giving her a huge squeeze) Oooh, I just love you, love you, love you!
MH: (in her most adorable little voice): Why do you love me so much?
Me: Because I do! You're just so CUTE! You're my little peanut!
MH: Oh.

a few seconds pass . . .

MH: But mommy, boys have that!
Me: absolute hysterics.

Maybe we need a little more work on our comprehension of anatomy.

Intervention Required

I think it is quite possible that I am an addict.

Yes, we've all chatted about it in one blog post or another.

The blog addiction.

Reading. Writing. Doing the happy dance when receiving comments.

Making and learning about new friends.

Yes, I have made no excuses for my blog addiction.

I am perfectly okay with it.

However . . .

Until recently, my computer addiction was limited to blogging, emailing, and web surfing.

No interest whatsoever in any of that MySpace or Facebook BS.

Who has the time?

Why bother?

I have a husband and a beautiful daughter.

I have great friends and manage to stay in touch with them.

I love my life.

These places are for the late teen, early twenty-something girls who babysit for MH.

College kids.

Post-college kids who haven't grown up yet.

To be honest, I've peeked at some MySpace pages.

If you have one, please take no offense when I say that some of them just plain seem like a waste of time.

Yes, some people use them as a way to update friends and loved ones about their lives. Great!

(I like my blog for that).

But some of them just seem "pimped-out". And silly.

Do I need that?

I don't have any more time to wastespend on the computer than I already do.

Or do I?

I happened to receive an email from my alma mater Ithaca College the other day.

Ithaca College - We're On Facebook!

There is no logical explanation for what made me click the link right then.

But I did.

And I needed an account to see the page.

And all I had to do was give them an email address and my name.

Could it really be so bad?

Let's just say that at about 2 full days later, I am a self-professed Facebook "whore"***.

At first I felt devious. Like I was stalking people.

Do I post a picture of myself in my profile? Any of my family?

Is it odd to email someone after not speaking to them for 15 years?

Is there really a point?

Well, I say . . .

STILL FINDING OUT!

I will say this - I now have a serious Facebook addiction. I have it bad.

I have found people I haven't spoken to in forever.

Will we become great friends?

I doubt it.

However, there is an amazing little thing about Facebook.

FRIEND FINDER.

So now I've connected with some old peeps, and Facebook is giving me a list of other people I might know!

Technology. It's unbelieveable.

And then there's the giddiness of people finding you and requesting that you be their friend.

My friends, it's kind of like the comment happy dance.

It's not so much about where it's coming from, it's that someone is interested in you!

And so, for the past 2 days I have neglected my blog so I could spend every spare moment checking to see what new requests and notifications await me.

And randomly thinking of people who might be on there and who I might want to get in touch with, just because I can.

And of course getting all giddy when new people write to me and ask me what's going on in my life.

And even giddier when I find that we have a mutual friend, and figuring out what the connection is.

Remember the post where I told you about my 16th birthday being one of my most favorite memories ever?

I was on a cross-country teen tour.

A friend from that trip 17 summers ago found me through a mutual friend we share here in RI.

And, her SIL and BIL live in Providence!

So there is definitely something to be said for all of the hype - I was and am still floored!

I will say this - I don't want to be the mean girl.

A girl I went to high school with sent me a friend request. I barely knew her, but accepted.

She keeps trying to send me "gifts", and asking for "food", and other things I don't quite get.

I keep hitting the ignore button.

I'm thinking that people like her are the reason I resisted Facebook and the likes in the first place.

My guess is too much time and not enough to do on her hands.

And although I did get a little caught up in taking a SATC which girl are you quiz (Charlotte), that's about as far as I go.

Besides using it to reconnect with old friends.

However, there is only so much time in one day.

And soon, Fall TV is coming.

I have a feeling that I'm going to have a new addiction very soon - time management skills.

So friends, I have eaten my words, caved and joined the revolution.

And I'll be looking for you on Facebook!

***Mom, (Dad - not that you really need it), and Grandma - I use the term whore as a current pop catch-phrase, please forgive me as I know you're cringing right now.

(Not Quite) Wordless Wednesday

Last Friday, Daddy took the day off and we went here.

After a trip there last summer, we decided this would have to be an annual visit - it blows our zoo out of the water!

All pictures are courtesy of my new birthday gift.

I am LOVING it!

And I did not even edit any of the photos yet!

A great time was had by all!