Beckham: Fun At Gymboree

I don't love Gymboree, HOWEVER, Beckham does! He runs around like he owns the place. He twirls when the familiar music plays through the speakers, he waits for the bubbles, and runs away from the parachute-I think he is a little scared of that thing. I watch as he has obviously learned certain routines that the teacher has set in place. I watch proudly as he demonstrates for other little 1 somethings how to slide down the slide, climb up the slide, roll balls down the hill, walk up the big tube-y thingy... the list goes on.

I actually, get misty eyed when I see him do things that I didn't know he could. I know this is only a kid's gym where they play and interact with other kids, but to me, that 45 minute class bonds up together as mommy and baby-forever linked in this big world of people, experiences, and things, both good and bad. I really and truly adore you Beckham. You make me smile every single day!

Gratitude Journal. Entry 1.

Oprah says to keep a gratitude journal next to your bed, so at night you can reflect on your day and write about what you are grateful for. I LOVE this idea...I have loved it for years. I have NEVER done it though. So here is my first entry in my Digital Gratitude Journal, if you will. I will limit my entries to 10 so I don't sit here all night trying remember everything about my day:)

I am grateful for...

• ... that box of frozen waffles in the freezer.
• ...my cold tall iced green tea from Starbucks. (and more economical than the tall, non-fat, iced mocha no whip). It is a $2 difference people. That is HUGE. Less fat too!
• ...Nice Nurse Stacy that helped Kelly and Lily's doc office visit a little more endurable.
• ...finding Peyton's green Tinkerbell shoe with a pom pom on it just in time. (Before impending meltdown...whew, that was close, wiping brow).
• ...scrambled eggs in my fried rice from Pei Wei...YUM! Is it weird to be grateful for food;0
• ...quick return on ultrasound results. Hemangiomas are not a bad thing...they are just internal kisses from heaven-yeah Read more about this at http://babyhutcheson.blogspot.com/
• ...a17 minute emergency phone call to a friend regarding a house decor emergency question-thank you, J. I really appreciate you:)
• ...car keys being where they needed to be this morning.
• ...Lost season finale!
• ...finding the one dollar bill and quarters needed to buy the second thing I was grateful for;0 I forgot my wallet at home.

Grateful Girl

Family Fun

Family Trip to Busch Gardens...more pics to follow:)

Mood: Sad

I don't know why for sure, but I am feeling blue. It is Tuesday night, 10:59 pm. Everyone is in bed, my house is oddly clean. I am getting a chance to catch up with things...things meaning picture posting, blogging, emails,...:) Yet, I feel unsettled. I usually don't post things like this, but why not? This is, after all, my digital diary. "It's my blog, and I'll bitch if I want to." (singing that to the tune, "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To."-can't stop singing now;0)

Nothing is wrong. Actually, everything is really good. The kids are healthy, I love my new house, my husband, my friends,...I think I know why I am in a funk. This happens every year around this time. We are leaving Naples for the summer. In less than two weeks, we will be gone again. Don't get me wrong, I lOVE going to Michigan. My family, oldest friends, family vacations, BBQ's. I love it all. It is just that, it is hard to leave your home for that long. I am leaving my teacher friends, who, of course have the summer off in which time I will miss the get togethers. I am leaving my house, that needs a lot more TLC. I am leaving my routine. My comfort zone...the kids' comfort zone as well. My sanctuary. Damn, still singing that tune:)

Transitioning from state to state is hard for me. It is hard to leave home, yet exciting to see family. Then, after an exciting filled summer, I will say goodbye to family. It will then be hard to come home.

I guess after living here for 9 years, Naples has become my home. It didn't take that long;0
Oh well, I guess there are more important things to worry about other than my freedom to go away for two months. I'll suck it up and really enjoy my last two weeks of summer here in Florida!!! It will take me a few days, but I'll get into the "move" one of these days. D7 here we come!
I'll miss my friends here tho...love you guys!

Wordless Wednesday!!!

Can you feel the love?

Kinda corny, but I had to go there anyway:)

Beckham is so funny!

I love baby tooshies, bums, bottoms, so I had to post this picture of him. He ran away from me and started riding his horse instead of following me into the bathroom for his bath time;0 I walked in the living room and found him like this just laughing away! How cute is he?!
Is it wrong that I want him to stay this size forever? He is the most lovable and sweet little guy. He is such a little love. I love how happy he is all the time. I just love everything about him. I love that he wants me ALL the time.Ilove my little guy.

Old Friends...

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."

- by John Leonard

(at Chrissy's baby shower in Michigan)

test...trying to make pictures bigger:)

Scrappy Obsession!!

An exceptional person...

I see a beautiful woman. I see strength. I see creativity. I see a woman who expresses who she is with her heart, her mind, and her soul. I see a mother. A wonderful mother who makes the most ordinary details of life, seem extraordinary in the eyes of her children. I see an amazing sister. I see a friend. A loyal, loving, and kind friend that inspires others to be the best they can be. I see someone who is making good decisions for herself and family. I hear the positive when you speak. I see an exceptional person. I love your strength. Your heart. You.

I know you are hurting. Thinking of you.

Beckham's First Page!!!!

Beware: Digi-Scrapping is Extremely Addicting! After accidentally deleting this page after working on it for an hour and a half, I reluctantly went to bed and started reading the Microsoft manual. No dice, so I decided to turn the lights out. When I couldn't stop thinking about finishing my page, I got out of bed and did this. Uh oh, I think I am in BIG trouble...I LOVE digital scrapping!!!!

Our Little Princess...

(click to enlarge)

xoxo

Kelly, I don't know what you did, but I LOVE IT!!! Thank you so much:):)

Happy Birthday to someone special...

Linnie,
Has it really been a year since we partied out on the deck with family and friends, watching Beverly sing karaoke while Peyton charmed us all with her choreography? Time is flying! Thank you for being the person you are. You enrich the lives of all those close to you. We love you, Linnie!
Sito, thank you for the treasure hunts. I know we have lots of them, but you are so good at picking just the right treasure for Beckham and me. Also, thank you for letting me make a mess in the kitchen because I really love to cook with you. I learn so much from you. We love you, Sito!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

This is what 5 hours of learning got me...I LOVE it!

Thank you to my scrap teach, Kelly :):)

Peyton is Growing Up!

(Heavy Sigh) My little baby girl is growing up. I see it happening everyday. I see it when she chooses her own clothes to wear. I see it when she puts on her 'sparkly' shoes, I see it when she tells me how she is feeling when she is sad, I see it when she turns my cheek to kiss instead of my lips (Oh, yes she did!), I see it when she lovingly protects her brother (on good days);I see it when she looks at herself in the mirror, smiles, and dances; I see it when she remembers to brush her teeth; I see it when she goes potty all by herself; I see it when she asks me for a pedicure; I see it when she talks about her friends at school calling them by name to share an important story; I see it when she does her own hair; I see it in her face when she asks me a question and when I answer her, her face changes as she computes to understand what I just told her; I see it when she says what she wants for breakfast with conviction; I see it when she says she wants to hear Ingrid Michaelson's I Am Me or Fergie's Fergilious on my Ipod or in the car; I see it when she picks up one of my US Weekly magazines and picks out her favorite outfits; I see it when. I see it everyday. It makes me happy, proud, sad, but mostly curious. Curious to see what kind of girl, teen, and then young woman she will turn into to. I know she will extraordinary:)

Watching your babies grow up is nothing short of bittersweet. Her first day of kindergarten is there, looming in the very near future. I HATE the thought of her going to school. I know she has a year and half to go, but I know that time will fly by us. It is with these thoughts that constantly run through my mind, that I have learned to appreciate the smallest details of my life: making breakfast and struggling to make it fun and healthy so they will eat it; changing endless poopy diapers; first finding, then filling ANOTHER juice cup; combing Peyton's hair 20 times a day so it will look neat (I vowed along time ago that I would never have one of those children with messy hair and kool-aid stained upper lips-well, I will admit that I like the look of Peyton and Beckham's wind blown hair); doing laundry non-stop (liking this chore a little better because Peyton and Becks love to help me); having tea party after tea party; making beds; playing in the Africa heat because Beckham can say, "Outside!"

Sometimes I complain about the monotony of SOME of my days, but to tell the truth...I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the whole world. Watching these babies grow into kids is a blessing that I am not going to take for granted. I love them so much. I am so lucky.

Beckham Love

I love my Gido! I especially love it when he swings me upside down.
I love my Keens because they are just like my daddy's.
I love sneaking snacks into my mommy's bed and watching Diego.
I love to cuddle. My mommy calls me a cuddle-bug :)
I love to golf in the front yard with my sister.

Cutie Pie

Do you like my 'Beckham' tie dye shirt? My mommy's friend, Lisa made it for me. I love it! She made dresses for my sister, and my cousin Sophie, and for Little Lily Pie, and Lainey Love! I can't wait to take pictures with all of my friends!!! Check out her beautiful items at www.fliggity.com

Wordless Wednesday!!!

Spotted today in Delasol: A Dancing Fairy and Beautiful Princess!

I love it when Peyton disappears for awhile and turns up later in head to toe feathers, sparkles, tiaras, high-heels, wings, or anything princess. It makes me laugh. She knows the moment I see her I will make a big commotion out of how cute she looks. Immediately, I will run over and give kisses, hugs, and comments on what a big girl she is to have dressed herself. She may say, "The shoes match my dress, mommy???" I will assure her that she did a great job and her proud smile will spread across her little face.
She will also get big smiles from Beckham (he thinks it is hilarious when Peyton dresses up). Beckham will then run for the dress-up chest to find...yes, a pair of princess shoes to wear for himself! Please note: I did not include pictures of this for fear Jeff would FREAK OUT:) I immediately break out my camera and snap away. Like I said, I LOVE it when she dresses up and I hope she does it for a long, long time!
PS This is my first real digital scrapbook page!!! Kell, thank u for all your good tips. It makes it much easier:)

Pretty in Purple Peyton

Just playing around with Microsoft software. I am trying to learn how to digital scrapbook. Not coming to me very easily, but I am sure I will catch on eventually. It will all be worth the learning curve when I get my first page done. Can't wait!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Making the decision to have a chiid is momentous.
It is to decide forever to have your heart
go walking around outside your body.
Elizabeth Stone

To my hearts...I love you both eternally and feel so blessed and lucky to have you both as my babies. Thank you for being so perfect and all mine. You both fill me up everyday with your love, laughter, and innocence. XOXO Mommy

Here Comes the Sun!

Cooking with Peyton

I love that Peyton loves to cook with me. When she sees me in the kitchen working on preparing a meal, she can't wait to offer help. She watches me closely, waiting for me to stop chopping so she can put the herbs in the pot. She loves to put things in the oven (with my help, of course) and watch her little concoction cook. In this picture, Peyton is making homemade and delicious pasta sauce. It turned out great!