Binky?

Mya has officially quit the binky.  She has gone two whole weeks without one day or night. Yesterday, things got interesting.  She found one in an old stroller and promptly ran to me with it in her mouth.  After choosing not to fight the battle I let her keep it.  She ran outside and hid in the back of the bushes against the fence and had quality time with her beloved.

After a HUGE fit after nap time, I promptly snipped the tip (Mean Mommy!).  And we were done.  She went to bed without crying last night and has not asked for it again.  

Enzo on the other hand has one but isn't MAD about it like Mya was at this age.  However, he gets creative sometimes with the puzzle pieces.

Surprise, surprise

Sometimes I take a picture of Enzo and am struck at how familiar it is.   He and Mya can really look identical!  You be the judge.

'Zo Man

Enzo has been given a few nicknames and Mya has taken to them very well, you never know which one she is going to call him. Here is the list:

'Zo Man

'Zo-'Zo

Enzo Baby

'Zo Baby

Boo-Boo

'Zo-'Zo The Baby Man

I can't believe how IN LOVE I am with this little guy.  I have to post these pics of his smile because I am just certain it is going to take him far.  

My Resume

Pulling out of the driveway today Mya told Enzo,  "Daddy go working in his office, Mommy drinks coffee."

Ouch.  She knows not what she says, I tell myself.

"Mya, does Mommy go working?"

"Ummm, yeah."

"What do I do?"

"You pick up Enzo and give him happy face."

I feel better. 

QUINN!

Our big excitement for the day was our new friend Quinn, Robby's little brother, being born.

Mya made all her bedtime calls and informed everyone of the special delivery.

Before heading to bed she lifted my shirt and asked, "Mommy, you got a Quinn in there?"

Congratulations, to the growing family!

So, Who Are You?

Uncle Bubba/Jeb is back living in the mid-west with Aunt Neezie/Annette while he is a Graduate student.  This was their first weekend home in a long time and he decided to explain a few things to Mya.

Mya loves a good explaination, as long as it isn't too long winded and you let her talk a little in between.  Here is what went down:

Bubba says, "So Mya, did you know that your Mommy is my sister?"

Mya says, "My sister?"

Bubba responds, "No, she's my sister.  I'm her little brother.  I'm your Mommy's Enzo!"

Mya corrects him, "No Enzo is my Enzo!"

Its Mya's world and we all just live in it.  

The Choices We Make When We are 18

I apologize in advance this is a lovey-dovey post, not so much funny.

Most of you know I fell in love with Antonio when I was 18 years old.  I frequently think of memories of that time and I hardly recognize the people we once were.  I am grateful for the growth we have achieved. I am even more grateful that the biggest decision of my life was not wasted on an immature notion that this boy would make an amazing man someday.

Phew!  Today that same boy is an amazing friend, support, father, and a man that is always good for a laugh.

Together we have made friends, lost some, travelled, been through heartache and now pure joy.

I love you, Tonio.  Thanks for not making a fool of that 18 year old girl, and for being an amazing father.  Happy Father's Day!

Safety Patrol

I thought that once buckled into the safety of your carseat that the little details of what is going on around you were insignificant.

Little did I know that Mya was watching my every move.

As we backed out of the driveway the other day she exclaimed, "Mommy, belt-seat ON!" I promptly clicked my seatbelt into place and we went on our way.

I quietly thanked my lucky stars that I have a child that safety checks and always makes sure her little brother is in the car with us.

Fast forward a couple of days and we are visiting Dindah. With Grandma/Dindah behind the wheel I was slow to buckle up. My mom, the original Safety Patrol, asks Mya, "What does Mommy need?"

Mya replies, "Lipstick."

Confession of a Stay-At-Home-Mom

My least favorite stereotype of a housewife/SAHM is that we sit around watching soap operas and eating bon-bons.

My confession is that recently I have gotten into watching One Life To Live.  And only sometimes do I do laundry while watching.

But I have no idea what a bon-bon is, do I get credit for that?

Sit down Little Man

Enzo is still only 6 months old and his physical abilities are amazing me every day.  For those of you who do not know, the doctor said it is extremely rare for a 6 month old to be crawling.  

I have a friend/strength and conditioning coach who I have all but signed a contract with once he promised he could make Enzo a Buckeye.

Now he is pulling up on everything and trying to move from one object to the next.  At first I kept trying to have him sit down for fear of chasing him everywhere.  

I realized yesterday what I want for my son: Don't ever let anyone tell you to sit down!

(Unless it's your teacher, then you better sit, Mister!  Oh, or Jim Tressel...you do whatever he tells you to do.)

Where do babies come from?

With Mya's two best friends having little siblings in the same month she has been around a lot of growing bellies.  Yesterday Momma B, as Mya calls her, had Mya put her hand on her belly to feel the baby moving.  She asked Mya if she knew what was growing in there.  Mya, wide-eyed, had no response.  When B responded with, "Robby's little brother!"  She pulled her hand  away quickly and said, "Mommy, you touch it!"

After a VERY large dinner, Mya was getting ready for her bath.  She pointed to her surprisingly big belly and I said, "Wow, just like B! What's growing in B's belly?"  

She answers, "_____". (Sorry they aren't divulging the baby name to everyone)

I then asked, "What's growing in your belly?"

Mya says, "Noodles" and runs to the bath tub.

What's Your Baby's Name

Mya has several babies that she has been mothering for months now.  Their names were always Baby.  Recently she has slowly started naming them.  First there was Melva, after her favorite sitter at the YMCA.  Then Eva, after her best-girlfriend's baby sister.  Then last night on our way to get ice cream I asked, "Your name is Mya, what is the baby's name?"  She replied with "Zheek"  (to be read with a French accent, like Jacque).

I said, "Zheek, what a great name!"

Mya looks down at her baby and says, "Nice to meet you, Zheek!"

Stank

Antonio-isms, many of you know them, and love them dearly.  I plan to document as many as I can now.

Antonio looks at his friend, Nate, who is making a face after being asked to paint the trim on a house they were volunteering to paint.  Antonio asks him, "Is that your stank face?"  

He then goes on to tell Nate that he learned what that was from a show called So You Think You Can Dance.  

I'm pretty sure Nate laughed AT him.

The S@%T Hit the Floor

June 16th, 2009 was a crazy day for me.  It started out normal, although slow moving.  I never should have said out loud, "Man, today is going by so slowly!"  As a friend, staying home on paternity leave, offered to take Mya and his daughter to the park I was over joyed at the opportunity to talk about something other than sharing, why hitting is NOT something we do, or begging for the word please after every command.  

The toddlers were delivered back hungry and worn out.  We enjoyed a lunch together and they went on their way.  Time for naps!!!  Somehow in the hub-ub the front door blew open.  Sophie made a dash.  I did not notice she was gone until the door being wide open caused a breeze.  Mya and I rushed outside to find her and she was no where in sight.  I made the decision to get the kids asleep and then come up with a plan to find Sophie. 

Mya is now in bed, playing with her bears, but in bed.  Enzo is getting his pre-nap bottle.  Mya opens the door.  I instruct her to get back into bed.  "But Mommy, I poopied!'  My patience is wearing thin, "Is your diaper still on?"  Sweetly, Mya replies, "No."

I rush upstairs, put a screaming and still hungry Enzo into his bed, and find Mya standing in her doorway.  Her pants are around her ankles, no diaper in sight, a pile of poo on the floor, and extremely messy hands.  "Where's your diaper?" I shrill.  "Over 'der."  After hunting I find the diaper.  "Did you poopie in the bed or on the floor?!?!" still sounding shrill.  Mya looks at me like I am the stupidest person in the world and says, "On the floor, Mommy."  Obviously, where the pile is.  We wash up, Enzo is still screaming, I change her clothes, get the poop cleaned up, pause to wonder if Sophie has been eaten by an animal by now, and get Mya back into bed.  Enzo finally gets to finish his bottle and goes to sleep.  Silence.  

I call the dad-friend still on paternity leave who comes to sit with the kids while I try to find Sophie.  Luckily, I find some neighbors willing to drive around the neighborhood yelling her name.  They have success, finding her with a family of two little boys that wanted to keep Sophie.  I would love to hear her side of the story.

Copy Cat?

I have been inspired to create this blog by a very creative friend and the ever growing collection of quotes from both Mya and Antonio.  I can see it in Enzo's eyes that he can't wait to say funny things, for now I'll just write about his ever growing physical strength and what he manages to "get in to".  Sometimes my day as a stay-at-home mom is funny to many so I'll throw a couple zingers in as well.

So here we go family and friends, I hope this entertains you.