Happy Second to my Second who is Second to None.

Happy birthday, my sweetest girl! I just finished working, and I am winding down hoping to catch a few hours of sleep before heading in to work tomorrow for the shortest work day that I can possibly pull off, because, so help me, this is not a day for working – this is a day for Daphne! Today you turn two. Today you require two fingers! Today. Today you are two.

Two is so much older than one. True, today is just one day more than yesterday, but I can no longer call you my baby, because now you are my toddler. My toddler who will ALWAYS be my baby. And what a wonderful toddler, what a wonderful two, you are. There is so much you packed in this two. You do everything with gusto – you run “so fast” (well, you THINK you run “so fast”), you jump “so high” (without leaving the ground), you take bites that are “so big!” even though they are the smallest bites on your plate. Everything is “so!” You are SO! So beautiful. So hilarious. So tender. So fierce. So exuberant. So snuggly. So independent. So curious. So smart. You are so… everything.

You even sleep hard.

Your Mommy’s little angel and have Daddy so firmly wrapped around your little finger. It’s almost frightening how much we love you. Even though you are a bit of a toot. You follow me around and any time you see my hands full, you insist on “Mama Bup!” You must be next to me, often demanding a spot in my lap at dinner in lieu of sitting in your own seat, but at bed time when it is my turn to read you books you scream at me and say “NO, DADDY DO!!!!” You both break my heart and fill it up completely all the time. Welcome to life with a daughter. The other day I came home from work, and Steve said to you “Tell Mama what your name is” and you said “Daph-a-nee” and Steve said “Yes, but tell Mama your other name” and you smiled, exposing that lethal dimple, and said “Pwincess.”

Indeed.

When something doesn’t work, it is “out of ink” – a perfect example of you both knowing so much more than you should at your age and you totally not understanding a single thing that comes out of your mouth.

You are a bit of a pathological liar. For example, you had a scrape on your leg, and when Daddy asked you where it came from, you told him that “Mommy bit” you. I mean, really, Daphne. No one believes you (just like we don’t believe that Penny, Clementine OR Mommy went pee-pee in your pull up, despite your protests that it wasn’t you and your tendency to name anyone and everyone else that comes to mind) and it is just a little bit disturbing.
Fortunately, it is also a lot bit hilarious.

By far, if your dad and I had to pick a favorite Daphne-ism of the moment, it would “Comemom, mom” (or Dad, but I am writing, so we go with Mom). Always said with a hand up in the air, already one step heading in the direction we are to follow. It is sweet. It is bossy. It is confident. It is certain. It is Daphne.

My wishes for you on this day is joy. May your day, may this life, be filled with joy. For you deserve that which you give, and you have given me more joy than I deserve.


Happy Birthday, Love.

Girl Time (featuring Cooper)

Because everyone loves a good photo bomb.

What's Up November?

Hey, November. When did you get here? You weren't really invited, but, since you brought a turkey and some birthday cake, we will let you stay.

Yes, the "chilly" months have arrived. See, tights:

And with that, BASKETBALL SEASON!!!

No, it isn't that we now rely solely on fairly crappy iPhone cameras to take photos now that makes these pictures blurry, it is that he is moving SO FAST...

Perhaps my favorite picture this month, courtesy of the nanny about 10 minutes after I left the house:

She looks slightly crazed, completely appropriately only in a diaper - only SANE people wear pants. He looks like he is totally humoring her, but is silently pleading with his eyes GET THIS CRAZY PERSON OFF OF ME! Yep - that pretty much sums it up.

We took advantage of some amazing weather and hit up a flea market, complete with carnival rides (a very NICE flea market).

And have hit up the outdoors BIG time. Cruising in style.

And pedaling away.

Halloween!!!

First of - we have the BEST NANNY EVER! She totally rocked our house out in Halloween style.

So this whole tradition I have insisted on of making my children's Halloween costumes... Yeah, all works find and well when said children are young and impressionable and I can just gently persuade them into what to be, and make sure that it is something within my limited abilities, and within the budget, and within the time constraints.

This year, Cooper couldn't be persuaded. And he COULD NOT MAKE UP HIS MIND!!! And knowing what a little "me tooer" Daphne is, I couldn't very well make her costume and then have Cooper be something totally different because I KNOW HOW THAT WOULD END (blood...tears... mine).

Finally, 2 weeks before the big day, I pinned him down.

"Cooper, what do you want to be?"

"....."

"Cooper you HAVE to pick something"

"... I want to be a blob monster"

"...No." (How would I even DO that???)

"Ok, I want to be a ghost"

"DONE"

While this could easily be the EASIEST costume ever, I did try to fancy it up by making them glow in the dark and painting their faces and hair.

Fortunately, both of my littles are easily impressed!

Daphne totally insisted on walking everywhere "SELF". Which, I mean, great, I am glad she is so independent and all, but, I mean, you know, little lady totally cut the amount Cooper could haul in half.

Fortunately, even a smaller than could have been haul is WAY more candy than anyone in this house needs!

Recent Seasonal Happenings.

So... yes... it has been a while.

It has been so BUSY, I just cannot even begin to explain!

But - there have been happenings! So, I will take advantage of this quiet early morning hour and post some pictures! pictures! pictures!

A few weeks ago Cooper's school had a field trip. This would be his first school sponsored field trip. He could have ridden the bus, and I wasn't required to chaperone, but YEAH RIGHT like I was not going to be there. (It was one of those things that I didn't want to miss, but also, oh my gosh he is still so LITTLE and I just couldn't picture him getting on a big old bus with all the other munchkins and then being in this BIG OLD PLACE with LOTS of other strangers without me there. The mere thought of it gives me anxiety even after the fact).

Anyway, the field trip. It was at a farm. There were lots of activities,

I was SUPER proud of my little guy. His manners are amazing and he was so patient and so kind when the class would move from activity to activity. Part of me wanted to be like "Yo! Cooper, dude, that guy (those 10 guys, actually) just totally cut in front of you. NOT COOL DUDE!" but he was all like, "oh, this is new and fun! I am excited we are here together! I don't mind being last, that just means more time to talk to you about whatever it is I am about to do!" I could stand to take a page...

All in all, the field trip was a success!

Now, as for Daphne. What's new with her... oh nothing really. Just a little something about the change of seasons that we all know and love called TIGHTS!!!!

Um, yes, adorableness.