Decorating Dilemma

I have been trying to decorate a bathroom for Sam and Ava for months now. I just can't figure it out - it is so hard decorating for a boy and a girl. Of course, Sam could care less right now and Ava will be happy with anything pink (more about that later!!), but I want to do something that will last a while. Now, one problem is that I have an unhealthy obsession with Pottery Barn Kids and I am trying to go cheap on this bathroom. However, I do believe I found the ideal bathroom (from Pottery Barn Kids) and I am going to try and get this look on a budget.

It will be pink butterflies and flowers on Ava's side and green bugs and frogs on Sam's!! I have already found several pieces on ebay and I may have to enlist the help of my creative sister (hint hint)!!

On a side note, Ava did something today that has me very worried for our future together. We were at the photographers picking up Sam's 6 month pics and he asked if she would like a lollipop for the ride home. Well duh!! Does Ava want a lollipop - of course!! Now when he offered her the bowl to choose and said "What color would you like," she replied, "pink." Well , there were no pink lollipops so I suggested purple. Ava said, "NO, PINK" - Are you kidding me? She refused a lollipop because it wasn't pink. The nice photographer dug through the bag for a pink and all was well!!!

On this day...

One year ago


Our trip to Wye Mountain with Papa, Mimi, Erica and the kids. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will make another trip very soon.

It was fun while it lasted...

I am behind on my blogging because we have been spending so much time outside in this beautiful weather. Today it looks like we are not going to be so lucky. I took some pictures on Sunday - I could not get a normal picture of Ava because she wants to say "cheese"!!!

A flower for Mommy

Look at that cute litte smile!!

My little model - already posing with the lips!!

Sam enjoying the golf cart ride

James and Ava stopped to look at the water - James thinks he is going to take her fishing there this summer - HA!! Good luck with that!!

A week of firsts

Ava has had an eventful week!! We have moved her from the high chair to the big table and we have started potty training! Well, at least we bought a Dora potty. She has no interest whatsoever though. I just had a moment last week where I think I changed 15 diapers in a day and I swear every time I turn around I see a diaper - it makes me crazy!! To say the least, I am very motivated to get this potty training thing started. The only thing I am scared of - PUBLIC RESTROOMS!!!! I will keep everyone updated on our progress.

As you can see, she loves sitting at the big table.

Also, Sam had his 6 month checkup today and shots (poor baby!). He is 18 lbs. 6 oz. and 27 1/2 inches long. He is in the 75th percentile in both. He is doing great - the dr. could barely hear his heart murmur - YAY!!

Happy 6 months Sam!

My little Sam is 6 months old today. I can't believe it. It is so crazy because when you bring them home and they are crying and staying up all night and eating all the time that seems like it will last forever and then you turn around and they are 6 months old!! Now he never goes by Sam at home - we have many names for him - Sam-Sam, Sambo, Sammy-Sam, Sammy (I know I said I wouldn't), friend (this is Ava's). He is such a precious boy and we are so blessed to have him in our lives. Some of my favorite things about Sam-Sam

--I love listening to his deep little boy laugh

--definitely his cute knee dimples

--Every night at bath time we play peek-a-boo, and he laughs like it is the first time he has ever played

--I love how genuinely excited he is to watch Ava and how his face lights up when she plays with him

--the way he plays with my hair while he is eating

--his little giggle when he gets kisses on the neck

--I love how he goes to sleep by himself - I didn't think it was possible that one of my babies would do that

--I love the way he contorts his entire body just to get a glimpse of me

--that sweet smile

--rocking him to sleep

Sam - 9/18/2008

My favorite flower

The kids and I went to a wedding shower for my cousin over the weekend. The shower was at my Aunt Olga's and near the end of the shower all of the kids ended up playing outside. I was standing with my aunt, Erica and Andrea and we saw Ava running to us with a wild flower she had picked. Now Ava is the type of child that loves EVERYONE and when we are with a group of people she usually wants nothing to do with me. And on top of that she loves Erica and Andrea. I wondered who she was going to give the flower to, I knew it wasn't going to be me!! And she ran right past everyone and brought me the flower!! I could have just melted into the pavement. It is definitely one of my favorite memories so far and it is my favorite flower that I have EVER received!!

I took some pictures of the kids at the shower - Ava and Haven played all day!! Ava was especially happy with her gift from Haven - JELLYBEANS!!

Look at this handsome little man - I love this outfit with the hat!!

Sam is Sitting!!

My little Sam can sit up now for about 10 - 15 minute stretches. Isn't he the cutest thing!!!

You can hide anything!!!

I receive Reader's Digest as a gift from my parents every month. I do read it and this month there was a really interesting article titled How to Hide Anything. I wanted to share some of the better tips.

HOW TO HIDE FOOD MISTAKES (of which there are quite a few in this house!!!)

Sticky Noodles - Drain and cool immediately. Then return the pasta to a saute pan, add at least one tablespoon of olive oil, and toss while reheating.

Burned Bread - Scrape off the worst, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with parm cheese, and present as crostini.

Oversalted soup - For clear soups, add some uncooked pasta or a raw, peeled potato to the pot. The starch will absorb much of the salt. Discard the pasta or potato after 15 min.

HOW TO HIDE FROM JUNK MAILERS!!!

--To stop pre-approved credit and insurance offers, call 888-567-8688 or visit optoutprescreen.com (you will be asked for social).

--To reduce # of catalogs, visit dmachoice.org.

-- To stop delivery of unsolicited phone books, go to yellowpagesgoesgreen.org

HOW TO HIDE ANXIETY WHEN SPEAKING IN PUBLIC (for my friend Jennifer, who never reads my blog!!!)

While speaking, massage the pad of muscle between your thumb and index finger. It is an acupressure point, and no one will notice.

HOW TO HIDE YOUR SCENT FROM A BLOOD HOUND

You can't - they track you through shed skin cells and your exhaled breath - there isn't anything you can do!! (I just thought this one was funny)

Golf Cart Rides

We had such beautiful weather this past weekend. It is so nice to get outside with the kids during the day - I go a little stir crazy otherwise. And Ava loves going outside - she just runs from one thing to another. One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go on golf cart rides around the neighborhood. We stop and let Ava play a little golf too. I know we should be walking, but we are LAZY!!! And besides Ava thinks it is so much fun. Sam doesn't know what to think yet, but he enjoys watching his sister!!

Pinkalicious

I found the cutest book for little girls on our trip. Ava loves it and we have already read it about 25 times!!! Now since I am usually the last person to find out about all of this stuff, most people probably have heard of this, but I had not. The book is Pinkalicious - it is about a little girl who loves pink and eats so many pink cupcakes that she turns pink!! Like I said Ava loves it and while we are reading she keeps looking at her tummy to see if it has turned pink yet. Funny!! I highly recommend it and I am going to buy the sequel - Purplicious!!

Napa Trip

We are home!!! We had such a great time in San Francisco and Napa - the pictures don't do it justice. How did I do without the kids? Well, I won't lie - it was pretty hard for me. I really had to stay busy and not think about how far away we were, but I know it was good for all of us. And the one that I was most worried about, Sam, adjusted better than anyone!!! And I have never thought James was sweeter than on this trip - San Fran and Napa are DEFINITELY not his cup of tea (or wine), but he was so willing to go everywhere with me (wine tastings included) and I owe him a trip to wherever he wants to go next.

We went down to Chinatown on our first night there and had dinner at a great little Chinese restaurant!!

We spent one day walking around the Wharf - if you look closely in this first picture you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. It was cold and rainy for our entire trip - it didn't stop us from having a good time though!!

Something that was very exciting for me was checking out Michael Chiarello's store and restaurant (Easy Entertaining on Food Network)- we had dinner there our second night in Napa. I watch food network ALL THE TIME - so I am a little star struck (OK a lot) and I was so hoping that he would be there, but he wasn't. The food was delicious though. The store manager told us that he lived about 15 seconds from where we were staying - I tried to get James to drive around and try to find his house so we could see, but he wouldn't go for it.

We spent most of our days in Napa touring the vineyards - neither James nor myself are big wine drinkers so it was definitely an educational experience. I think this picture of James is really funny because he was such a bull in a china shop - he never found a wine that he liked!!

We will probably never go back, but it was such a fun place to visit. Both San Francisco and Napa have such a unique character.