Water Babies

Yes we signed her up for swimming lessons so that she would learn an important, vital skill that could one day save her life or earn her a college scholarship. These classes also provided the perfect opportunity to buy her the cutest darn swim suites (and matching cover ups) ever! 

Stay tuned for photos of this weekend's ensemble! Too cute!

PS - Her swimming partner and buddy, Cooper, is also sporting a handsome get-up!

They were the most stylish kiddos in the pool.

PSS - They both did a great job during class. It was the mommies getting in trouble for not paying attention to the teacher! Imagine that!

Remember When?

Remember when you wanted to dress up just like your mom? You wanted your shoes to "click" just like hers, and smell just like her? For me, I wanted to brush my teeth just like her! Weird, I know. 

Lily is in full dress-up mode these days! Here are a couple of photos of Lily dressed in my shoes (really high heels!), sunglasses, purse and the stroller. Hysterical! 

I hate to break it to her, but she looks more like Nicole Richie than her momma!

Busted!

I found Lily helping herself to fruit! At least she left the wine for me!

Right Answers Right Now

Two steps forward and three steps back. That is how I feel. 

I found a supply of fantastic paper....great quality, beautiful texture and the right price. I bought an armful and came home so excited to print out some of my designs. 

Break open paper. Load printer. Pull up favorite design. Print............. Pull off printer. 

Ugh. Sigh. Damn.

Freebie printer from Apple store sucks! That's not fair. It is a jolly good printer. We are blessed to have it for all of our printer needs - EXCEPT the important stuff!

Gosh. Back to the drawing board. Still working with some local printers. I just don't think they are going to be the best solution long term.

I need about $2,000 to buy a mac-daddy EPSON digital printer. 

Oh, a girl can dream:) 

So I drift to bed in a bad mood. But these photos make me SMILE!

TGIF

I am so glad it is Friday! My body is slowing down - put, put, put. The house has been a buzz this week. Themed activities at Lily's school. Jammed packed week at work. Buck, too. And we have been moving full steam ahead with Sincerely. Paper samples came in today. My account is set up. I sketched out a series of potential designs. Samples are up on the blog.

The big news is that Lily is hooked on The Wizard of Oz. Anne and Mary Poppins are so yesterday! We are doing a lot of singing and "yellow-brick-roading-ing". Dorty and tu-tu are the new heroes at our house. So funny - she calls the movie "za-za". Sounds like Oz - sort of.

Swimming lessons start on Saturday - so no rest for the weary. But who would want it any other way!

Have a great weekend.

Old Rules Are Still The Best

This is THE GREATEST site I have come across in a long time! A must read for parents with boys. It got me thinking that I should start a list of rules for Miss Lily! Send thoughts.....I will start a list for us to share with our youngest generation (who, I am afraid are living with very few rules).

Gotta click:http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/

Two-way

I know all you moms will totally understand what I am trying to articulate in this post.....the deepening of your love for you child. Isn't it amazing how it continues to grow and grow? I feel like a new chapter is starting. The connection and bond I had with Lily during her infancy were initially based in my ability to meet her needs for survival and comfort and acclimation into this world. It was an amazing role to fill - totally humbling and miraculous.

This new thing I am feeling is closer to relationships I know now -- a two-way relationship where we both contribute and give and receive and evaluate and change and compromise. Like a friendship. Like a marriage. Like mother and child, I guess.

I honestly laugh as hard with Lily as I do with my best friends. We have conversations now (about snacks and animals and crayons - but i am good with that). We know each others buttons - and push them. We want to make quick amends with each other - and we do what it takes to make things good. I can tell she gives consideration to my feelings, just as I do for her.

I know this is different than friendship. I do understand that I can't be lily's friend right now. But it is the closest thing i can compare it to.

I would totally seek her out in gym class. I would totally want to be her friend. And I think she feels the same way. We generally really like each other. She is one of my very favorite people - and I get to hang out with her every day. How cool is that?

Here Goes Nothin'

Hi friends. Could I tempt you to check out a new addition to the Happy Stone blog family:

www.sincerelydesignshoppe.blogspot.com? 

Transition

As parents, we reference transition a lot. We worry about how our children will transition into new settings and situations. If they are not sleeping well we think, "maybe it is a transition." If they are cranky, we trump it up to a transition.

Well, what about adults. I think the two adults in this house were transitioning this week - from singledom back to parent-status. Boy were we a grumpy house this week! 

So we are looking forward to a nice quiet weekend - with not so many transitions. Funny how the minor shifts in our lives can throw us for a loop. I am continually reminded that we share so much in common with Lily's experience. 

We are all transitioning - every day. New challenges. New people. New opportunities. The best we can do is work through our transitions with grace, patience, optimism and faith. A lesson for toddlers and adults alike.

Have a great weekend!

Reconnect

Before I go on to write about Easter weekend and how wonderful it is to have Lily and Izzy home with us, I have to take a brief moment to reflect on my week alone with Buck. When we agreed to send Lily to Grandma and Grandpa's for spring break, I have to admit, there was a tiny part of me that feared what it might be like to be all alone - just husband and wife - after two years of the best distractions I could pray for. 

Would we have anything to talk about? Would we just stare at each other and count down the days until our "normal" life returned?

So, I said to myself over and over - no expectations, only possibilities.

Turns out, the self soothing was unnecessary! We had a wonderful week - just the two of us -kicking around, enjoying the slow evenings, catching up, dinners out, jogging together, sleeping in a little late, letting dishes pile up, snuggles on the couch.....just perfect.

All the books tell us to take time out for our spouses, plan date nights and romantic escapades. Well I am here to tell you that I just don't get around to that as much as I should. It gets a little busy round here!

I'm lucky that my marriage is on solid ground. I try not to take that for granted, but I am lucky. that said, our week at home was really special. I am a smitten wife....feeling really great that I still like my husband - even when it is just the two of us starring at each other wondering what's for dinner. 

I still like him a lot.

Good Friday

A prayer for today and always:

Heavenly Father, today I choose to be anxious for nothing. I choose to set aside my worries and concerns. I thank You for Your faithfulness to meet every need in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Hump Day Inspiration

Not what you think......silly!

Mid week seems to be the time when I need a little boost to get me to Friday! I'm sure I am not alone. Today was ridiculous! I could not concentrate to save my life! So I have decided to post some of my favorite inspirations on Wednesdays. Or maybe just pretty pictures. I hope you'll like. Sometimes just a little eye candy is enough to refill your soul and put a bounce in your step. Or help you look at something in a new way. Today's candy:

Seeing Spots

Without Lily running around the house, I am having plenty of time to work on new designs. (I'd rather have her building blocks at my feet and singing The Wheels on the Bus!). 

It's quiet and I found some time this evening to finish my "inspiration board". I cannot escape the polka dots! I love them. So I am going with it until they work their way out of my system! 

No worries readers. Lily will be back soon. And I will stop bombarding you with my homework! 

Home Alone

Buck's roaming around from room to room. I dozed off for 20 minutes. We say we're going for a run - we'll see how that goes. Really, we just miss our little buddy. Lily is "spring breaking" with grandma, grandpa, Izzy and B this week. They have big plans! I know she will have so much fun!

We have big plans too! I just need to get used to the quiet. And, my roaming husband. This is a big shift from "all hands on deck". We'll let you know how it goes.

We miss you Lily!

I'm Sorry

Apologizing is hard to do. It's a lesson we are trying to teach right now.  Seems easy enough to do. But we, as adults, know just how hard it can be to utter these two very powerful words. Who wants to admit they were wrong? Certainly not me. And 20-month-olds are no different. 

I feel good that we are teaching her this lesson. It is kind and right and honest to acknowledge our actions when they hurt others. And a simple, but earnest, "I'm sorry" can be incredibly healing - for all. 

Sometimes Lily will apologize right away, other times it takes a little prodding. In all cases I know she feels proud of herself for "righting" a wrong. Her heart is so kind. "I'm sorry" is never enough. She always offers hugs and kisses. A nice touch.

And for Buck and I, we are taking in the benefits of teaching our values to her. It just reinforces them in us. We take a little more time now before speaking or acting. And, the apologies flow more freely from us. Followed by hugs and kisses. We learn from Lily, too!