About one role.

My role as a student ended nicely. I got another A before year's end. I decided that I should just TAKE IT EASY and really enjoy the graduate school journey. I was trying to double up, finish this time next year. I do this all the time and I miss out on the essence of what is really going on around me. This upcoming year I am vowing to do my best and TAKE IT EASY. I am much to critical and hard on myself. Who else do you know that works, cares for toddler, runs business, and writes while in graduate school and still earns A's in each course?

I am grateful.

And this is what HAPPINESS looks like. A pic from Spring this year. I'm one heckuva mom!

the thing about toddlers...

There's no one "thing" that makes them irresistible. I must confess that it was working around this age group of kids that tugged on my heartstrings to have a baby of my own. Part of the "melt-my-heart-ness" for me is the chubbiness and rpundness of their little faces and bodies. They are in between babies and little ppl in the world. I love their assertiveness and growing independence. I enjoy cutting up food into bite size pieces. The teeny toys that they play with using their pudgy hands. Those hands and faces sure do get sticky at every meal. The daunting task of potty training along with their beeming pride @ every success. They already have their own sense of humor and will CRACK UP at the oddest things. The giggle of a tot is priceless. Don't even get me started on the toddler aisles at the store. All the sippy cups, suuction cup bowls.little bitty cutlery because they can't yet maneuver the tools we adults use to eat. And with toddlers, you can still get away with baby clothes like onesies and one piece outfits. My little one's artistic expression is awesome. She is meticulous about everything she does. Each embellishment has a place.

Embracing the joy of toddler-hood is the only thing keeping my positive emotions afloat. My Cassie will only be One year old for 4 more weeks. I am graeful for her health and all she has learned. She will always be mamahs baby. And I know she will be a toddler until age 4 unlike the baby stage that only lasted about 2 yrs :( There are times I wish I could put a drrop in plastic liner into a playtex bottle and feed her formula then burp her. Those days are long gone. Now I have vegetable wars and meat protests of a toddler lol.

the perfect book for the mood is "I Love You Stinkyface". And yes I love my little Stinkyface Cassie

toddler stocking stuffers

*drumroll please* and now the best ornaments for toddlers as promised.
1- spf chapstick. I bought lipsmackers sports edition. I like that they can be clipped on a necklace.
2- band aids. We're going to need them anyways. This is usually around the time you begin to run low.
3- banditos/zani bands. This is not coming from the child development associate. In fact please note that they are intended for other children. Our problem is that "C" puts her hair bands on her arms. I figure the bandito fad is less likely to cut off her circulation. Now I just have to keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't put them in her mouth.
4- mini Disney princesses. They cost 1/3 of the price of the Barbie sized ones and I think Cassie's toddler hands will maneuver them much better.
5- veggie puffs. They have a hint of fruit juice to sweeten em. She still is not fond of veggies so this helps get some of those nutrients she refuses in raw veggie form.
6- stickers.
7- hot wheels cars. I bought girlier colors if there is such a thing. I wanted her to have unisex toys. She has taken an interest in vehicles. I can't wait to hear her "vrooom vroooms" on Christmas Day.
8- peel off nail polish. "C" picked out a deep purple hue. And of course I'm wondering if that means morado is her fave color hahaha. Probably not.

well that wraps up my list. Hope this helped. Happy holidays.

Plan of action- Christmas

If you have a toddler @ home like I do then you proably want xmas to be hassel free. Here is what I am doing in an effort to make xmas seamless this yr. #1 - opening up plastic covers and losing all plastic ties on gifts. #2- hanging clothes on hangers for easy transport to her closet #3- putting batteries in toys that require them #4- big items that require assembly like easel and dollhouse will be assembled and standing instead of wrapped inside their boxes #5- waste basket for wrapping paper will be in the living room. #5- not getting caught up in the hype of "most popular toys" but instead focusing on things my child already enjoys @ other friends' homes or that she has requested or that I know for sure she would play with #7- buying practical things that I would have to buy anyway such as sleeping bag and step stool of appropriate height for her bathroom. I hope this helps. Stay tuned for my list of great stocking stuffers for toddlers!!!!!

12 days of Christmas Left

We have been in Christmas spirit still. I love it. St.Nicholas Day was belated due to the sharing of "C" between households (pout). Here is a little lookie @ the 2nd ever ST.Nicky experience:










The "loot":

As you all can see based on the pics she enjoyed her pretty boots more than the loot! For those of you who don't remember or who weren't following our blog last year...St.Nicholas day is a German holiday that children celebrate by cleaning/polishing their boots and putting them on their doorsteps. If they are good children St.Nicholas will fill their clean boots with nice things. I learned of this holiday when I was a teacher. Two of my students and their mother created a wonderful St.Nicholas experience that I will never forget. It has become our family tradition to acknowledge the holiday which falls on December 6th of each year.

Here's what else we've been up to. #1 Eating these Christmas tree cookies that they sell at my fave...TARGET!!!! We keep finishing the boxes off and buying more. "C" asks for em in the store nonstop "unhhh cookieee, unnnhhh coookie mamaahhh" lol. I keep telling her, "we have to buy them first hunny."
#2 Singing Christmas songs, C loves to sing "Fa wa la la laaaa" it's adorable.
#3 Warm bubble baths. We don't participate in the bathe every other day old wives method. We're just high maintenance and we moisturize double in the winter to avoid chapped skin.
#4 I sent out my xmas cards!!!!! The postage stamps are truly reflective of the midwest this year. They have the cutest pine cone illustrations on them.
#5 Green eggs and ham with red grits breakfast. Yummmmyyyyy. I loved this meal way more than "C" did. Daggghhh oh wellll, you win some you lose some. I still made it with her in mind. I love nothing more than creating special memories for my only child. I hope she knows how much mammah loves her and tries to make her days and life special and memorable as we reach each new milestone.





Until the next time...

25 Days of Christmas

We are so super-de-duper excited that the month of December is finally here! C and I have been doing special "sumthings" for each day in December. I can hardly contain myself as I anticipate Dec 6th/St.Nicholas Day!!!!! Cassie has some Fancy-Schmancy boots to set out! I will share what we have done so far for each day in December.
Dec 1- Put up xmas lights, conversation about Abuelita's experiences as a little girl at Xmas (w/official orange tasting as a symbol), sorted red and green dark choc m&ms




Dec 2- Watched "Olivia" Christmas DVD collection with friends and ate Christmas tree cookies, Watched "Home Alone" with uncle Tae and Gave uncle Tae a personalized xmas card, purchased small gifts for friends,






Dec 3- Painted our nails Christmas colors with friends, Gave friends small gifts



Dec 4- Recieved a gift at Abuelita's house. New Barbie and first Barbie car!!! Picked out xmas tree and a few special ornaments from Meijer...Go Midwest!!!
Dec 5- Putting up our tree...can't wait for the unveiling this year. Wink Wink





I was really glad that "A" put up the tree for "C" this year. I think she felt really good playing with daddy and being in his shadow until the job was done.
Dec 6- St. Nicholas Day!!!!!

Time to spruce up

How do you create a dream home with little funding...one step at a time! The photos represent the newest embellishment to our home. I actually look forward to reaching my door because I get to look @ our new regal welcome mat. The previous one was left behind when we first moved in. I never liked it. Everytime we would bring someone by I'd cringe. It represented nothing about the interrior of our home. I also intended on purchasing a step stool for Cassie's bathroom. She loves it even though it doesn't really get the job done. I have to find her a higher elevated one. Nevertheless it matches the pink, black, and green decor.
What piece can you add to your home that will create positive emotion when you encounter it? A new clock or maybe a new soundtrack. We will begin blasting our holiday music today in honor of December 1st.