When did this happen?

Not 6 months ago my girl was a baby. Today when we were on one of our adventures I looked into the back seat to see a little girl, sitting upright (I recently discovered the thing can actually sit upright...duh!) in her rocket chair singing and doing the hand gestures to Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Wheels on the Bus and If You're Happy and You Know It. It put a big smile on my face, but at the same time it made me a bit weepy to know they really do grow up too fast.

Hugh Mackay

I recently stumbled upon the author, social researcher and Australian psychologist Hugh Mackay and found a couple quotes that resonated with me.

"Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. People are irrational."

"Although we love the idea of choice - our culture almost worships it - we seek refuge in the familiar and the comfortable."

What a difference a day makes

Saturday

This was Saturday. Sunday was just as beautiful, until Monday. Oh sure, it's pretty, but it's also APRIL!

Monday

Happy Spring!

CiBaby and I ushered in the first day of Spring in our Springy duds and a trip to the Macy's flower show with G-Mama. That is a giant rooster behind us.

After perusing the flowers and running through the aisles - shoes and jewelery were CiBaby's fav (T-Daddy will be so pleased!) we went to lunch at Zelo. It was absolutely fabulous. We split the heirloom grain chopped salad and fettucine with asparagus, and we ate every bite.

What a wonderful way to start Spring.

Spring

First Crocus - by Christine Klocek-Lim

This morning, flowers cracked open
the earth’s brown shell. Spring
leaves spilled everywhere
though winter’s stern hand
could come down again at any moment
to break the delicate yolk
of a new bloom.

The crocus don’t see this as they chatter
beneath a cheerful petal of spring sky.
They ignore the air’s brisk arm
as they peer at their fresh stems, step
on the leftover fragments

of old leaves.

When the night wind twists them to pieces,
they will die like this: laughing,
tossing their brilliant heads
in the bitter air.

Common Link?

Do you know what the common link between the following is?

Treats our furry companions, FuzzyButt and FurryBoy, eat you say? You would be correct, however, you are missing one member of the family...CiBaby.

I have found CiBaby munching away, happy as a clam, on FurryBoy's treats several times in the past few weeks. She'll just nab them away from him and start chomping away. Poor guy just sits with sad eyes watching her down his treat.

Today CiBaby discovered a new bevvie...catmilk. She was innocently playing with the containers, stacking and restacking, when she brought them out to the living room and became deviously silent. You know that silence. I walked out to see what she was up to and there, on her little rocker sat the "drink box," top popped, dribbles on the floor and down her shirt, a nice ring around her smiling mouth and a good quarter of the box gone. Got CatMilk?

Boy, my grocery store list just got a lot shorter. Toddler snacks/pet treats - CHECK!

Amazing growth

Boy, I wish my stock portfolio grew as fast as my baby girl!

Since this past October CiBaby went from 17.5 lbs and 28.5" tall to 25.24 lbs and 32.5" tall!!! That's some darn good fertilizer we've been giving her.

The newest trend in water bottle holders...

Does my girl know dual purposing or what? Not only will these take you for over 2 weeks walking around in China they will also hold your water bottles. Genius!

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On a separate note, I finally found the camera connections so I've added a few new pics to the blog. I've posted the elusive CiBaby abode pics, a swimming pic and the CzaMama/T-Daddy pic under "About Me" when we were looking all snazzy a few weeks ago...aren't we cute?!

Heaven in a teacup

I have a "unique" habit of eating wonderful treats out of teacups at home. I love teacups, I don't use them all that often (when I make tea for myself I usually put it in a "Big Gulp" travel mug so it stays warm), they are a great size and I don't have little dessert cups.

The other day I had it in my head to make homemade vanilla pudding. (I don't think CiBaby is quite ready for chocolate so that will have to wait.) I stumbled upon a pudding recipe on the MS Living website and all I can say is that it's an easy way to heaven! I sliced a little "naNana" into the pudding and T-Daddy swears he saw CiBaby's eyes roll to the back of her head.

Easy peasy and delish!

My Sisters

Do you have sisters? I know I do. My sisters did not come to me through birth or adoption, but through my heart and by my choosing. I have big sisters and little sisters, old sisters and new sisters. My sisters give me sage advice, laugh with and at me and hold my hand when I cry. My sisters always give it to me straight and don't sugar coat the truth. Some of my sisters live close and others live far away, even other countries. No matter the distance or the time between each conversation I know they are there for me and I for them, and they are always always with me in my heart.

I love my sisters, you know who you are.

Wisdom from a Starbucks cup

the way i see it...

#283

"The most important thing in life is to stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will." Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities." - David Copperfield


#258 (this one was interesting and a bit thought provoking - and no, I'm not a conservative)

"Because true conservatives are pessimists, they are happier than liberals, for three reasons. First, pessimists are rarely surprised. Second, when they are wrong they are delighted to be so. Third pessimists do not put their faith in princes - in government. They understand that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. Happiness is an activity; it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness." - George F. Will - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist.

Another First

We've done first teeth (to us), first crawl, first airplane rides, first steps, and first English words...now we have first amusement rides! (G-mama will be thrilled to have a riding buddy)

T-Daddy and I took CiBaby to our local indoor amusement park (hey, it's March 1 on the Tundra) for a little 20-month birthday adventure. She didn't quite know what to make of the merry-go-round, and almost started a sympathy cry for another little girl, but once the horse started moving and the wind started whipping through her hair she enjoyed it. I would have shown y'all some action shots, but the only clear picture you would have seen is a picture of the arm of the child standing next to me that was waving at her kin...every time they came by.