More Birthday Gifts...

a few more gifts from us! Oh, my...they were a HUGE hit!! We could have skipped the farm completely and just got her some princess plates and dollie bunk beds!! She was so excited she was "jumping out of her skin!" Then tonight, as I was tucking her in, she & daddy had placed the two doll beds next to eachother on the floor by her bed. She walked over to them all on her own...bent down and kissed them both...said "goodnight baby...goodnight Sophie" "you have nice new beds" "sleep tight!" It melted my heart!!

***Nothing like an ugly red mop & bucket in the background of all these photos!!

Barbie Cake...

Homemade icing...4 batches, and then two cans of store bought pink frosting, three cake boxes, two different cake pans, and over 4+ hours in the kitchen = A Barbie Cake!! Was it worth it...???

YES SIR...when a little person came in the kitchen and pulled up a chair and said, "Mommy, it's beautiful...you are so good!" TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! Then, it happened...I wanted a good picture. So, I went and set it on my desk and put a SOLID WHITE photo album behind it for a "backdrop!" Well, just guess what happened next...YEP...it fell on Barbie. Did I want to cry, YES...instead...I used a few "choice words" that hopefully won't become part of Fayth's 3 year old vocabulary!!! How does it look now...FINE...the back had some alterations is all!! Who the hell cares, right...it's the back!!! It's not like we're staring at J LO's butt...now that's important!!!

Birthday Celebration #1

Today we met up with Miss Dana, Alan, and birthday boy Max!! Max's 2nd birthday is tomorrow and Fayth's is on Monday. Unfortunately, due to scheduling, we had to have the kids parties on the same day...pretty much at the same time!! So, today we headed to the More Cafe for a birthday brunch celebration!! I took along a few decorations to make it festive and we exchanged gifts, had cookies with candles, and sung to the kids!! They loved it!! Fayth got some great books along with a new Color Me Wonder! We were in desperate need of that...she loves em' and all her pages have been colored! It was a great early celebration! To our friend Max...happy 2nd birthday buddy!! Have a terrific party tomorrow~~Hugs, all of us

Happy Almost Birthday, Fayth!!

Can't really believe it, but our "baby" is turning THREE!! She has brought us more joy than one can even explain. Everyday, she puts a million smiles on our faces and we thank our "lucky stars" that we have her!! As you all know, or the ones that are parents out there, life is just so much more sweet when you can share it with a child(ren)! I remember my every move from my first contraction, to the drive to the city to give birth, to the "party" that we had at NorthWestern & our revolving hospital door all day. I can play back the day minute for minute. It happens to be the happiest day of my life!! The funniest part...I had to have lipgloss on and we had to stop for a coffee and diet coke!! Other funny part, five seconds after giving birth...I demanded the camera so I could photograph the ENTIRE family oohing and aahhing over her as she was getting cleaned, weighed and checked!! Fayth, my best buddy and daughter, THANK YOU, for making me the luckiest mommy on the planet!! Your daddy and I love you so much!!

Now...happy birthday!! Present #1...the patiently waited for FARM!! She loves it!!

Great Minds...

or 'GREAT' grandmothers think alike!! We've all heard the saying a million times...Well, today Fayth received some birthday cards from her Gammy & Gramie & Papas. Yes, they know her well. When Jon and I saw the envelopes we just started to laugh! We thought they'd be the same ones but they weren't! What they were though...ALL DISNEY PRINCESS ONES!! Do they know her or what!! She LOVED all of them!! Let the birthday party begin!! It will be a four day celebration!! Happy Happy and let's start to party hard!! :-)

A Great Morning Workout

This morning after Fayth headed to school and Jon to work...I met my friend Zeina and we headed to the beachfront for power walking!! It was a little piece of heaven!! So beautiful out and a wonderful, soft track!! It may become our Thursday ritual!! There were TONS of others on the path working out, boot camp taking place on the beach, people riding bikes, roller-blading, and doing various exercises outdoors. It was more fun & beautiful, of course, than the same old treadmill at the gym!! Another reason I am loving this experience!! I mine as well take FULL advantage while I can, right??? Thanks, Zeina...see ya same time same place...next Thursday!! Bisous!! (He he...I've learned a little French!!)

Cutie Frames...

Robin's friend in Milwaukee, Marieta, makes these adorable frames! I received one when Fayth was born from Robin and fell in love with it. I ordered a few from her for presents just a few months ago and two for us. I picked them up at Christmas!! I think they are just too cute. She hand paints them and they are all very unique. She has over 70 designs. I've had her make them before for us for "welcome" baby gifts. I keep telling her to get a website and start selling them online. She just mainly does them by word of mouth and for friends & family. Anyway, YIPPEE...a baking picture from today has a new home and one of my favorites from this past Christmas. Fayth with her best buddy and cousin, Chloe!! I LOVE pictures!!

Early Birthday Baking

The morning was spent with KellyAnne helping us bake cookies for Fayth's 3rd birthday party on Saturday. We are having a get together, here at South Ridge, in the Free Function Room in tower 4. It's great because it has an indoor playland next to it for the kids. So, this morning while Ryan ran around and played, Fayth would pop in to help us every so often and then decided being with Ryan was more fun!! She wanted butterflies and flowers to match all of her "party plates & decorations" (thanks again RA...gotta love DEALS $$) so we were lucky enough to find a few new cookie cutters at Waitrose. I was happy to have KA around not only for her help but so Fayth and "mommy" could be in a baking picture together. I'm always the one behind the camera when we bake...but not today...we got some shots together. I just adore her new embroidered apron, yet another ADORABLE Christmas present!!! It totally matches mine which I've had for years!!! So 70 cookies in all...a few sent home with KA and a few for Jon...who might I add asked if we could make him his own special batch! NOT! and the rest...will be wrapped up and hidden for the party on Saturday!! Thanks KA for your help!! It's a LOT easier, quicker and obviously more fun with 2 (sometimes 3) in the kitchen. Christmas killed me, and my back, standing in the kitchen for seven hours!! You're the best!!

***Stay tuned*** More to come in the kitchen later this week. I'm attempting a Barbie Cake and cupcakes of course!!

It Was Sure Quiet!!

I was wondering what was going on when I hadn't heard a peep from a little lady for awhile?? I quietly crept into her room and she was busy feeding her Polar Bear a sandwich. She loves all of her new Christmas presents and has been spending hours playing with them! I love that she can finally play all by herself, ALONE in her room! This doesn't happen too often but when it does it's a "treat" for mommy!!

What the...

He (double hockey sticks??) is my child doing??? I walked in to check on her at nap time today and guess what...Was she in her toddler bed? NO! Was she in her King sized bed? NO! Was she playing and not sleeping? NO! She made her dolls a bed next to her toddler bed and then made herself a bed on the floor!!! I think I am going to hurt someone!! When I asked her, "What the heck are you doing?" Her reply, "Oh, just having a sleepover with my "aminals" on the floor!!!!! We do have furniture, you know!! I know we are living like college days, less is more, but come on...you've got two beds for crying out loud!!

She was out cold until she heard the camera go off and saw the flash! She is seven days shy of turning 3...the question is...will she make it or not??!! She is giving us a run for our money!! She has a great comeback for everything!! Sometimes I just want to laugh!! Nuts to terrible twos...they were great and she was good...HOWEVER; this 3 thing...it's going to wear on my last nerve!! Jon just a heads up...My "beauty shop bills" just went up...so put it in the budget! The gray is coming out louder than ever!! I normally don't "VENT" or try to be negative in my posts but I just had to post this tonight!! HELP...is this normal????????????????????? I believe the age 3 is all about independence and testing everything!!