Daddy's Girl

Miss Maya is such a Daddy's girl, it's not even funny. I get a little jealous throughout the day.

She wakes up in the morning, calls for me to get her. I go in, pick her up and the first thing she says, "Daddy."

We have pictures scattered on shelves, walls and the fridge. She goes around the house throughout the day and finds pictures of Buddy, points and says, "Daddy" to each one about 8 times. Each.

She sees a GMC truck out and about and says, "Daddy." Never a Chevy, Ford or Toyota, just GMC. Smart girl.

We went to the grocery store and were by the hot dogs. She starts yelling, "Daddy!!" She's pointing to a package of hot dogs with the Arizona Cardinals symbol on them. Buddy has a bunch of tees, hats and a jersey that he wears often.

Also at the grocery store today. Walked by the Bud Light display. You got it, "DADDY!!"

Now, does she do this when I am not home? Buddy has yet to answer yes to that question.

Mission: Maya's Room=COMPLETE!

I have had an itch to re-do Maya's room for a little while now. I didn't want to do a complete overhaul, cuz I still liked the color. I just wanted some minor changes. Last week I finally came up with something; a new crib skirt. Upon completing that on Thursday, it wasn't going to be enough. So, I made window panels and a valance, did some stenciling (which I do not recommend on textured walls, UGH), threw together two pillows and a mini pillowcase, put some bling onto the stencils and re-did the vinyl phrase above her crib. What I ended up with I love!! It turned out so cute. Plus, it didn't cost much at all!! The black fabric was leftover, I had just enough to do everything you see. I only had to buy the yellow (only a yard) and the pink (3.5 yards), the stencil templates and the curtain rod. Not too shabby!!!

This is before:And after!:
The border is gone and I added stencils on each side of the mirror and a light pink one underneath. Hard to see, but it's there.

Blinged up!

Pillows and pillowcase. The pillowcase is only 16x12 and is little and adorable.

Cribskirt that got me going! Love it!

I started with just the panels and felt something was missing. I added the valance. I wish it was just a hair wider, but I didn't need to get more fabric, so I am good!

I could not find a better phrase for above her crib. I looked, but kept going back to this and it is PERFECT!!

Now, I am on the lookout for a cheap-o lamp that I can vamp up and a few little accessories. Other than that, I think I done ok. :)

Quiet Please

I'll set up the scene:

I am watching 30 Rock and Hayden is playing his DS with the volume UP. Buddy is in the chair eating ice cream and really nothing else.

Me: "Hayden, will you turn the volume down please?"

Hayden does, but minimally.

Me: "Hayden, please turn it down more, I can't hear what I am watching."

Hayden: "Fine, I will."

Still not enough.

Me: "Ok Dude, please turn it down more or go get your headphones. I can't hear what I am watching."

Hayden: "Well, go upstairs and watch it in your bed then you won't hear it at all."

Laughter all around. Little stinker.

Who is this kid?! I like him...ALOT!!

I don't know what has happened to my son the past few days. Since Sunday, something has changed. He has been a complete delight! We didn't realize it until Sunday evening. Buddy and I were just sitting there and he says, "Man, Hayden has been so good today." I was in total agreement.

Monday morning I was upstairs getting ready and I heard him get up and start down the hallway. I said a "good morning" and went on to tell him to go back to his room to get ready for school. His clothes were laid out and ready, he just needed to change. I dread this every morning he has school. It's always a 25 minute process of whining, complaining, not wanting to wear that shirt or those pants. This morning, he brought his clothes into my bathroom to get dressed and just did it. Not a peep, not a frown, just did it. Huh. I thinking, "did we somehow drug him yesterday? Cuz this isn't my kid. No way."

The day progressed beautifully. He was just such a nice kid. Talking nice, being nice, playing nice, listening, eating, just being a gem.

Tuesday came in much the same. He put up a minor stint in the bath and then the shirt I picked wasn't cutting it. But, after a very brief talk, it was over. Again, a perfect kid. What the?

Today was the same process getting ready for school. Easy.

I don't know if he's just realizing things and a lightbulb went off in his head, but this kid is just wonderful. We are doing the stickers on the calendar again this month and his reward will be a new DS game. So, maybe that's sinking in? I don't know, but I am keeping this guy!

He's been just the quietest mouse and then out of no where, he's all, "Mommy? I just love you." Seriously!! The last three days he's said this to me and Buddy. He's having fun conversations with us. Playing so good with Maya and cleaning up without a complaint. I am wracking my brain, trying to think of everything he ate, touched, or smelled to find the source of what entered his body so I can KEEP IT COMING!

He's been a joy again today. Went to Target and he never asked for a thing. So, we got Starbucks. Me a coffee, Maya a water with a straw (can't leave her out) and him a "special" chocolate milk in a Starbucks cup with ice, whipped cream and a cardboard sleeve.

I am just breathing sighs of relief and enjoying this new little man. Cuz, who knows, he might be gone tomorrow.

Maya, Miss Maya

I made Miss M's 18 month appointment today. Where did the time fly off to?! Almost 18 months and simply the sweetest, cutest, hilarious curly-topped little girl.

Miss Maya has brought smiles to our faces every day. Whether it's a horrendous, crappy day or just an ordinary one, she as this ability to just look at you and make you smile. It could be her just walking away and you watch her little bowed toddler legs move her forward. Or it's her little head tilt to the side with her blue eyes just piercing your heart. Maya starts her days with a smile, literally, and typically ends them with one too.

She's starting to talk more and it's glorious! I ask her questions and she can answer yes, more of a YA, but it's the same. She has begun saying "no" and shakes her head at the same time. I carried on a conversation about her lunch today and every question was answered. She happily says puppy, alot. Puppy to the tv, books, Prada (our pup) and any four legged creature that goes in front of the house. Buddy has begun the task of teaching her names of cars. Ferrari has been the only success thus far. "Mommy and Daddy" have long been in her vocabulary, Mommy being her first I must say. Hayden is getting more of a "dada" word, but I know who she means. She was saying "Grandpa and Grandma" when they were here. Grandpa was more of a "bumpa" and that is perfectly acceptable. "Done" is a big one, but it sounds more like "un". Love the talking and her pronunciations. Hayden has "lost" alot of his cute ways of saying things, so starting again is wonderful.

Miss M has taken a very strong love of purses. As I type, she is carrying around a rather large faux Louis V that she found in the closet. She has a couple toy purses she does like, but most of her time is spent with the "real" thing. She inherited a purse of my Grandma's as we were cleaning out her apartment. This is her go-to bag of the moment. I tell her to get her purse and that's the one she gets.

The purse fetish is not her only. She's a shoes girl. Before she knew where her nose and ears were, she knew where her feet were. I kid you not. She cries when shoes are taken off her feet in stores after trying on. She hasn't mastered the word, but tell her to find her shoes, she knows the location. She is for sure her Mommy's girl!

She dances to anything. Commercials, my singing, football game music (did that make sense?), in her carseat to the radio, to whatever is coming through the iPod, basically to any form of music she hears. Even when it's silent she breaks out the moves. I say she's dancing to the music in her head.

The best thing I love about her is how much she has wrapped her daddy around her little finger. Hayden and Buddy are buds. They can play Wii, wrestle, work in the garage and talk cars together. Maya and Buddy are complete. Had Maya been a boy, I don't think Buddy would feel the completion I see when he watches her. We say every day that she couldn't be any cuter; in her actions, looks, personality, playfulness. She got a tea set for Christmas and I undid the packaging. Buddy played with it with her. She looks at pictures throughout the house ALL DAY and points and says "Daddy" over and over and over. We were doing laundry this morning, a load of mine and Bud's stuff. All the shirts she saw that were his, "DADDY" was proclaimed! There is a song by Carrie Underwood, "All American Girl" that I cannot sing outloud in the car because I seriously tear up and start to cry when I hear it. I think of Buddy and her. Seriously, I tear up!! The song isn't how our life with children has gone, but the meaning behind the father/daughter relationship is wonderful.

So, my little baby is one month away from the big 18 months. She's happy 98 percent of the time, only crabby when hungry or tired. Her laugh is adorable. Her hair baffles me every day. Her cheeks are still pinchable. She dances perfectly. Her blue eyes are envious. Her personality is amazing. I am so FREAKING LUCKY to have this beautiful little girl as MINE!

Tickets, get your tickets here!

Hayden asked me yesterday if we could go to Minnesota to see Grandma and Grandpa. I said yes, someday. He wanted to go TODAY! I explained to him that we don't have tickets and we needed to buy tickets in order to go on the plane.

Hayden: "we already have tickets."

Me: "nope, we don't."

Hayden: "yes we do. When Daddy and I went to the Cardinals football game we used tickets. We have those tickets. They are tickets so we can use them for the plane."