[not for the squeamish - don't say I didn't warn you]

It really is amazing what makes a mommy happy.

Lately, it seems the one place Sophie actually wants to sit on a toilet is in public. The first time she did this was about a week ago and it completely took me off guard but since I don’t want to deny her and have her avoid telling me she has to go, I go with it and just hope she really does have to go and is not just bored wherever she is. So far, its been about 50/50 that she either really goes or just sits there. And when she does go, its NEVER poop. She seems to prefer pooping in her diaper (I will never understand that).

Then last night, we decided to eat dinner out. After dinner my husband gets up to use the restroom and I am boxing up the left overs. At that moment, Sophie decides, “I need to go potty” which was really bad timing because then we would be leaving the table alone. I don’t want to try and wait until my husband gets back so instead I track down our waitress and explain that my husband is in the restroom and I need to take my daughter but we will be right back. In other words, we are not skipping out on the bill – and please don’t throw way the leftovers.

I was not sure last night if she really had to go or if she wanted to follow daddy to the bathroom but I went along with it and I am so glad I did because my little girl actually went poopy in the potty. In PUBLIC! She was so funny. I lined the seat with toilet paper and sat her down. She hates going poopy in the potty. She started getting nervous and telling me that she did not like this toilet and that she wanted to get down. I told her to wait one second with me and then she will be able to wipe her bottom and flush. I did not let her get off. And all of a sudden IT HAPPENED. I started clapping and saying WOOHOO! I was so happy that I did not even feel the slightest bit wierd about what I was cheering on. The things you do for your kids…

 She then got really proud and when she finished, I wiped her and then she wiped herself. We put on a new diaper and she says, “I want to see the caca”. Then looks in the toilet, jumps, and said, “Ewww! Mommy, I don’t like caca. I need to flush it! I need to flush it!” It grossed her out – which was pretty funny considering its been going in her diaper for 2 years and the idea never bothered her before. We then washed our hands and left.

I was so proud!!!!! I still am.

They are everywhere…and they listen. I am learning this the hard way.

Exhibit A:

On Halloween day we were on our way to the local mall. Sophie was in the back seat in her carseat, my husband was driving, and I was the passenger. My husband had to come to a sudden stop due to a car that cut him off and also came to a sudden stop. It is times like this that its easy to forget that we have a two year old with a growing vocabulary, within hearing distance. My husband had a few choice words to say about the driver of the sudden stopping car when from the backseat we hear giggles and more giggles and finally Sophie says, “Ooooh, Dada [as in, you silly silly man], that is not an idiot! That is a CAR!”

I have gotten really bad about putting pictures on the same computer that I use for blogging and if I continue to wait for that then I will get even more behind on my blogging than I already am so…forget the pictures for now! I have a few of Sophie in her Halloween costume that I can share from her daycare parade and party but none from Halloween day and night which were soooo much better.

Having said all that, Halloween weekend started on Friday. Sophie’s daycare holds an annual Harvest Festival which includes a parade of all the kiddos in their costumes and a little carnival. I don’t have too many pictures of Sophie marching in the parade because even though I tried to hide…she saw me and screamed bloody murder until I went to stand with her. I walked a few feet in the parade with the other two year olds before I felt silly and just went to stand around with her until the parade was over.

So instead of having this great photo of Sophie in full bumblebee cuteness, I have this photo of her complaining about the noise the other kids and parents were making. See? This explains why I waited so long to blog.

Here is the stinger and wing view of my little bee:

Overall, it was a great Halloween. The night before my husband and I took on the task of carving our very own pumpkin. It was no easy task. I figured we were better than the usual first timers and went with a semi-difficult face – lots of angles and curves – instead of the traditional triangles. Two hours later we had a fabulous Jack-o-Lantern lit on our kitchen table. I promise to share a picture. Sophie did not pay too much attention to it and absolutely would not help me clean the insides out. Then again, neither would my squeamish husband. So it was all up to me to wipe the inside clean of guts and get it ready for a face.

Halloween itself was filled with fun and family. We did arts and crafts with my nieces. I brought them over so the kids could paint Halloween pictures and then we all went to lunch and to a local mall for some daytime Halloween festivities. That night my parents came down and went trick or treating with us. My parents are ever festive and actually dressed up! My mom was the Cat in the Hat and my dad wore a huge body suit of a very politically incorrect redneck. I was kind of a pirate – and my husband dressed as himself.

Sophie was really the highlight of the evening and had a ball. She loved giving out candy to the trick or treaters. One of my favorite parts is seeing all of the kids in their costumes. This year was huge with Princesses (as usual) and Transformers. I loved the little boys dressed up as Transformers.

The funniest part of the evening came when it became apparent that Sophia had not quite figured out the difference between giving out candy and receiving it. She started stopping other kids on the sidewalk and trying to give away her candy! But then when we tried to help her with the pumpkin holding her loot she told us, “no” and held it possessively close to her. Such a funny kid.

There is something about seeing Halloween through Sophia’s eyes that made it so much better. I could not ask for a better one and it was, without a doubt, my favorite Halloween to date.

In an effort to catch up an a few weeks of no blogs I need to rewind us all back to mid-October.

The hubby and I had our first trip away from Sophie and what better way to spend it than with wonderful friends. The main event that made us book our flight to San Francisco was the marriage of our friends Alison and Alan in Napa Valley. We booked this flight months in advance knowing that we would be away from Sophie (who would be 2 years old when we left) for almost a week. She, on the other hand, would get to spend a week vacationing at Nana and Abueno’s Resort and Spa.

The trip was wonderful. After that initial belly ache at the thought of leaving our baby – the anticipation proved to be harder than reality. Everyone said it would be but until you experience it for yourself you just don’t know. I will admit that while my husband and I usually both love the whole part about flying in an airplane, the worry was greater this time because of the precious cargo we would leave behind if something happened to us. Yeah, sure, a little morbid, but those thoughts do go through your head so why not mention them?

A short summary of the trip itself is going to be hard but I have to try. We spent only a brief time in San Francisco itself and only got a “taste” of Napa Valley because the focus on the trip was all about friends. Friends we get to see on an annual basis, if that much. You know who you are! The last time I was with most of them in one room was at our wedding almost 4 years ago. That was way too long. Getting to hang out together as couples was amazing. The best way to share this will be through photos which I promise to post soon but suffice it to say without giving too much up – I have a spectacular group of friends. I know, I know – a lot of people say that – but I really do. *wink* It was a fun, beautiful trip – a sensational wedding – and worth all the fuss.

No, we did not forget about Sophia while we were there. In between the wine tasting and wedding festivities, I was regularly checking Facebook for updates on our kid. I think Facebook is one of the best inventions of this decade (or whenever it was invented) because all I had to do was snag my husband’s I-Phone and see that my daughter was on her way to the beach with her aunt or get an update on how the potty training was going (or not going). It was FABULOUS! There as actually a whole day that I did not call at all. We knew she was going to have a great time at Nana’s house but little did we know how much we would not be missed. I got worried for a day that she would not want to come home with us at all! I think my mom actually had to bribe her about the cats to get her excited about returning to her own house, her bed, her PARENTS! But really – what more can you ask for than for your child to have a great time, not cry, and be thoroughly comfortable with the people you leave her/him with?

Final Verdict - We missed our kid but thoroughly enjoyed our time with our friends. I really think each couple needs time to themselves to enjoy and remember what its like when it’s just the two of you. It took us 2 years to do it and a) I don’t regret waiting that long and b) I am so happy we went.

The last two weekends have been those where you run around like a crazy person and then when Monday comes you are trying to figure out how it got here so quickly. Hence, the lack of blogging. I am a busy mom of a toddler who also works outside the home so I am going to stop apologizing for the lack of blogs one of these days. I promise you!

Sophie turned 2 on September 26th. We spent a glorious but miserably hot day at the Miami Metro Zoo. We were joined by my parents and my best friend and her kiddos. We rented a four person bicycle cart thing that should also fit two kids in the front. Somehow, we fit 5 adults and 4 kids on that thing. I still don’t know how we did it but I do know that we scared the other patrons of the zoo that day by travelling at break neck speed and frantically ringing the bike’s bell lest we run over some unsuspecting zoo patron. Oops. We obviously like to live dangerously. By the end of the day the bell was replaced by the three kids sitting in the front yelling, “move it, people!” Luckily for us the other people visiting the zoo (who were surprisingly quick to get out of the way) seemed more amused at our clown car impersonation than annoyed at almost being run over. Fun times!

The real celebration came this past weekend at the previously blogged about Dora the Explorer themed birthday party. We enjoyed a beautiful day, gorgeous weather, and many children of all shapes, sizes, and ages. From my vantage point, everyone had a great time. We kept it simple – there was pizza and other easy to pick foods. Soda, juice, water. Our guests were able to enjoy any of the three swimming pools at the clubhouse. There was also a playground for swinging and sliding, should one decide against donning a bathing suit. Good times! There is something so awesome about putting on a party and seeing not only the birthday girl enjoying herself but hearing laughs and good natured shouts from everyone else. It was a perfect day.

I will blog with many pictures soon but wanted to share just one today. My birthday girl.

After two birthday cakes, two weekends in a row I fear that my little cutie will think that birthdays are an every day, every weekend thing. There seemed to be nothing she loved more than singing happy birthday, blowing out her candles, and running around with her friends. No amount of exhaustion that her father and I felt the next day could possibly erase the pleasure at seeing our little girl really enjoy her dream, Dora the Explorer themed birthday party.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sophie!!!!!!

Yes, you heard me – Sophie is turning TWO next Saturday and we are throwing her a party! We had not originally planned to. Since we went through such great lengths to throw her a spectacular first birthday my plan had been to keep #2 low key and just family. Yeah. We changed our minds. A big reason is that Sophie “gets” birthdays. She “gets” birthday cake. She sings the Happy Birthday song entirely – how could we not do something fun for her and include her friends?

And so the planning began. We were going to keep it small. The “small” part lasted until we started putting together the guest list and realized that we could not really keep it small and invite those nearest and dearest at the same time. We just like too many people….and Sophie has made too many wonderful friends at daycare to leave them out. Which is how we ended up with a Dora the Explorer (surprised?) pool party at our development’s clubhouse for about 50 (plus) friends and children. Wow. Originally the party was going to fall on her actual birthday and be held at our home but due to a yard mishap (which in hindsight I am so happy about) we had to postpone it to the weekend after and relocated it to our clubhouse.

We are keeping it cheap simple and serving Little Caesar’s Pizza and Birthday Cake. Oh okay and the odd appetizer here and there. Last year we went the barbeque route and, quite honestly, my husband spent the whole party sweating in front of the grill instead of enjoying his baby’s party. This time we are bringing food in so that we can all have a great time and spend 4 hours having non-stop fun.

So basically what Sophie ends up with is two birthday weekends. One for her actual birthday and one for her party. All at the tender age of 2 years old – when every day is a party anyway. Is that the life or what?

…WITOUT SOPHIE!

<gasp>

It is strange but I admit that I am 50% excited about leaving my daughter for almost a week, flying to California with my hubby, and getting some majorly overdue time with friends and each other. The other 50% feels this big knot in my belly about being away from my baby for that long. Its the first time that we will be away from her at the same time and the longest either of us will have ever been apart from her. He has been away from Sophie weekends that I have visited my family without him…and I have been away from her for up to two days on annual business trips. Thats it.

Luckily, Sophie is really really really talkative right now. Her vocabulary has been expanding by the day. I read today that a toddler learns a new word every ninety minutes. I have learned with Sophie that if I can say it, she can repeat it, and remember it. She also is learning to talk on the phone and does so regularly to her grandparents. She had a nice conversation with my mom yesterday on the way home and my mom got the gist very quickly and understood what this “baby” was telling her: that she was in the car with mama, that she wanted to see dada at home, and that she got timeout at school that day for climbing. All the important highlights of her day.

This obsession with the phone could not have come at a better time – because in a month those short conversations are going to be a lifeline for my husband and I while we enjoy our time away. Those little conversations will be our “fixes” in between the spurts of fun we plan to have in San Francisco and Napa.

What goes without saying is that while my husband and I are apprehensive and slightly concerned about how we will do without her (we realize that she will be perfectly fine) my family is waiting impatiently for their first long stay with Sophie – without her mom and dad around. She will be with my mom all day at my mom’s in home daycare, she will see my dad every evening, and I have even given my sister the heads up that she can take Sophie on an excursion on the Fridays she has off while Sophie is there.

I guess it also goes without saying that my Sophie is one loved and wanted little girl.

I started a new job and birthday season started….so I have neglected my blog. I will remedy that! I promise!

Sophia recently had a blast touching and playing with wild animals at a show held at her daycare. In this photo she is holding a little fox named Scamp. It was certainly love at first sight for her and I had to share this smile with all of you!

Welcome to our Team’s Homepage

When I join a cause I think is worthy, I tend to shout it from the roof tops. I have done the Walk for the Cure, I have done the March of Dimes. At the time, it was just for the cause itself. Neither charity hit close to home. Light the Walk, my current cause, is a walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and this time it hits very close to home because our friend Gary was recently diagnosed with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma and is currently undergoing treatment for it.

Visit Gary’s blog, where you can follow the real ups and downs of living with cancer and undergoing a very experimental treatment for a very rare form of Lymphoma.

Visit his wife, Samantha’s blog, where you can follow what its like for a working wife to support and watch her husband undergo treatment for cancer – all while raising their little boy.

Visit our team page. Follow our cause. If you can spare a few dollars, please donate. Take it from me, you never know how important a cause is until it touches someone you care about.

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