Potty Training {Day 1}

"Hooray!" my ass. More like, "How in the name of all that is holy, did tinkle get on that?!"

A very merry, happy, joyous...

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend filled with fun, family, and all the love you can handle. xoxo Husband, Pie, and me.

* Forgive the photo quality. For some reason I don't have the file for the card at home, so this is a picture of the print...not the best.

Some of my favorite Christmas things...

This little alcove by my front door is one of my favorite places to put decorations. Only the most special ornaments go here.

This little tree is from Walmart a million years ago, but I love how rustic and home-made-y it looks. And yes, that is totally a real word...

This angel is from Big Sister and I love her (the angel and the sister). If she weren't holding a Christmas tree I'd probably leave her up year round.

Santa is a must of course. But this Santa in particular is special because Husband and I picked it up on a trip that was like our second honeymoon. A trip that we spent a lot of time deciding we may never have children and we needed to be okay with that. A trip we returned from and within two weeks found out our little Pie was on her way. It was a very special trip and this is a very special Santa.

This little guy does stay up all year. It's so pretty and festive. It came from Big Sister's Mexican honeymoon (along with some amazing hand-blown margarita glasses). 

Tree Update: Despite Pie's terror, we managed to sneak the tree in while she was sleeping. It was a little rocky to start, but she's gotten used to it for the most part and generally ignores it. But we didn't know how it would go, so we only put the lights, topper, and a paper chain we made on to decorate. No million ornaments. Just sweet and simple. Easier to take it down that way if need be.

Well, I take that back. There is one ornament on the tree. Pie's new, incredibly sweet, dinosaur. He's front and center and she touches him every time she walks past.

The girl loves her accessories

...and is so fashion forward too. I see a new trend...bucketheads. And of course her new love "meee-mo" in the background.

Inside the Actor's Studio...yeah...James Lipton

I'm hooking up with Northwest Mommy for Monday Listicles. This week's theme is

the 10 questions that James Lipton ends his interviews with on Inside the Actor's Studio. I love these...

1. What is your favorite word?Hate to be so expected...but without question it's mama.

2. What is your least favorite word? Moist. Just typing it makes my stomach turn a little. Gross.

3. What turns you on?
Humor. I love a good laugh and I love somebody who doesn't take themselves to seriously.

4. What turns you off?
Opinions based in ignorance. If you have an opinion and are fully informed and can make a coherent argument then fine. If you're just spouting an opinion you've been told is correct then I'm not the girl you want to talk to.

5. What sound do you love?
Again, I have to go with the expected here and say Husband and Pie laughing together. Greatest thing ever. 

6. What sound do you hate?
The alarm clock. Good lord do I hate that noise. To the bottom of my soul it makes me angry.

7. What is your favorite curse word?
This changes constantly, but the winner for quite awhile now has been balls. But said with great emphasis...BALLS!

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Artist. But one who could actually support herself, not the starving kind.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Anything with child services. I can't deal with people who mistreat kids. I'd been in jail in under a week for beating somebody down.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Well played you.

An Evil Tree, Toddler Pimp Cups, and Santa is NOT My Homie...

Apparently Pie is terrified of trees. Not in passing, she likes to point them out and talk about them. But in hand-to-hand combat range, it's an ugly scene. As a result, our Christmas tree continues to hang out alone in the garage. Poor tree. It just wants to be accepted and prettied up with lights and ornaments.

I'm not sure who decided this was a well designed product, but it is without question a toddler pimp cup. And Pie will be using it to keep her pimp hand strong. Ya heard.

And for the first time ever my little Pie just completely lost it during picture time. She's usually as happy as she can be, but the minute her little bumper hit Santa's lap and I stepped away...bad news bears.

I mean, just look at Pie's face...or even worse...Santa's.

The List {wink wink}

I'm picking the prompt, "If you HAD to marry a celebrity...who would make your top five list and why? (Let's just pretend you're not actually already married mkay?)"

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This really shouldn't be that difficult, there are many a dude that I could manage to be with if I had to...in no particular order:

Ryan Reynolds - I mean really...do I need to explain this one? Didn't think so.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Scruffy, big dude, completely melted my heart as Denny on Grey's Anatomy. Sigh. Plus his smile is fantastic.

Dave Matthews - Another scruffy dude. Plus funny, plus amazing musical ability. Okay, I'm sold. No. Really. Where do I check out?

John Krasinski - Tall, funny, generally adorable. Husband maintains that I only find him attractive because he's famous. That if I passed him on the street I'd just keep walking.

Robert Downey Jr. - Seriously. Gorgeous. He's a looong time crush. I mean just look at that face...the bod doesn't hurt either :)

Wordless Wednesday {Christmas Cookies}

Pie's contribution to the decorating...

And after a little prompting we had a taste test.

Then Pie decided she could probably do it on her own...

...icing first of course...

But she eventually managed to choke it all down.

And celebrated with a piece of chocolate.

What? Do I have something on my face?

 

Pie Takes a Call

...and hasn't really learned her phone etiquette yet...

...though I can't blame her. Those Montel paternity test episodes are nearly impossible to stop watching.

23 Months Old

Yes. That's right. Pie is 23 months old today...just one month shy of being 2 years old. Pardon me while I weep a moment...how has my baby gotten so big?! 

My Darling Girl...

I am sure you know this already (Dada and I tell you every day) but you are the best. thing. ever. Not a moment goes by that I don't love you more, that you don't make me laugh harder, that I don't want to scoop you up and cover your sweet face in kisses.

This past month or so  has been big for you. Your speech therapy is going so well. You try really hard and we are SO PROUD of you. Each day you say new things, or say old things more clearly. It's amazing to understand you and I'm so excited for the day when you can tell me what's inside that amazing head of yours.

We did a lot of travelling this month too. Mostly for sad reasons, but you were a rock star. You did so good in the car and at all the various events. And you, my baby girl, are so sweet. You didn't understand what was happening, but you knew people were sad and were extra lovey to them. It really helped.

We're getting ready for your 2nd Christmas and your 2nd birthday...so much in such a short time, but it should all be really fun. And the not so fun we're getting ready for is potty training. Yikes! You know the potty you like sitting on so much...well prepare yourself darling...it's not just for sitting. That's right...you tinkle in there. I know, I know. You're shaking your head like I'm crazy, but I promise it's a good thing. You'll like not having to change your diaper. The potty is so much easier. Plus, every time you go, you get to wash your hands...your favorite thing...playing in water!

You have been the most amazing thing in my life since the moment we met, and nothing has changed. You are sweet, quirky, lovey, smart, wickedly funny, beautiful, and all-around fantastic. I still feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure this hasn't just been the greatest dream of my life. I'm so lucky that I get to be your mama.

Happy 23 months baby girl. I love you to the moon and back.

xoxox,
Mama

1/4 of the way done

I did it. I survived my first semester of grad school. This past week was unbelievable...and any given point I think you could actually see my hair turning gray. But I'm done until January!!

I'm so excited to get caught back up with everyone and get back to some sort of normal life.

Hope you all have a great weekend! We're going to decorate Christmas cookies...so that should make for some sugar-induced goodness. All of which will be caught on film, of course :)

Dear Santa...

The prompt I chose this week is an "Open letter to Santa Clause"...

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My Dearest Santa,

I don't want to toot my own horn, but I have to say I've been pretty good this year. (Plus I think horn tooting is generally frowned upon.) I know you're super busy so I just wanted to give you a quick reminder of all my goodness:

• Despite really wanting to on occasion, I didn't smack anyone
• I held my tongue...mostly...well at least every once in awhile
• I swore ever so slightly less, like this one time I called someone an ass instead of what I really wanted to call them
• I only stole office supplies that I really needed instead of the ones I simply wanted
• And I never took the last cookie...not all of it anyway

So as you can see, I clearly deserve anything I ask for this year. I'll have to send that list separately. I needed more room.

Love and Kisses,
Sara

Wordless Wednesday {Shirts v Skins}

According to Pie, shirts are for losers. She has just learned how to take her shirt off all by herself and is happy to demonstrate the skill at the drop of a hat...

 Oh no...where's my shirt? Oh that's right I took it off!

We're back...sort of

Just a quick pop in to say we're back and I am in the middle of finals week. By Thursday I should be able to focus on things like blogging, getting a tree, decorating and basically anything other than the developmental stages of children.

I wanted to say thank you again for all of your support, kind words and prayers over the last week or so. It was lovely. And as difficult and sad as it has been, it was wonderful to know people were thinking of us and sending their good wishes our way.

So thank you. You guys are the best.