A Year of Firsts

Very First Picture

First Halloween

First Matching Outfit with Amanda

First Independent Sit

First Time in Jail : ) hehe

First Swing

First Trip to the Fair

How old are you today?

Yummy cake, Mommy!!

My Big Girl

Amanda is now at the ripe ol' age of 3, so she has been insisting on me calling her a "big girl", instead of my "little girl". With that being said. . .

This week she started her second year of preschool. Last year we definitely had our ups and downs. To start with, on her first day of school last year, her baby sister was also born. Quite an eventful day for this little family! Definitely an up, I would say. On the downside, we would frequently run into a problem when it came to dropping her off. She would be VERY excited for preschool while in the car and approaching the school, but once at the door to the classroom, not so much with the excitement.

This year has started off quite different from last year. On her first day, we got ready and drove to school. As we approached school, I asked if she knew where we were going and if she was excited - she definitely was. I got a little nervous as we approached the classroom to drop her off, just waiting for the drama. I had my hands full that morning with carrying Taylor in with me for "the big day", and of course I had my camera handy. We found Amanda's hook on the wall for her backpack. I asked her to stand there for me so that I could take a picture - just then, one of the teachers opened the classroom door, and before I even knew what was happening, she was gone! Apparently she WAS excited to go to preschool! She did come back out and give me a quick love before darting back into the classroom for a couple hours of fun with the other "big kids".

I was very proud of her - she's definitely becoming a big girl these days.

What To Do, What To Do

I know that there are lots of people out there who love to fly by the seat of their pants, so to speak. . . but I am definitely not one of them. I make lists for everything! I have lists for the grocery store. . . my relatively short term "to do" list of miscellaneous household things that need to be done. . . my long term list of things I'd like to change in the house. . . a separate shopping list for Costco. There's more, but I won't make you read my entire list of lists. : )

The crazy thing is that I am continually working through the lists, but somehow I never seem to get everything done on all of the lists. I'm constantly adding new things to my lists - currently my "short term" list contains 34 items! Of course, some stuff takes just a moment to get done (when I get around to getting it done, that is), and others take a little more effort. Maybe I'd actually get more done if I spent more time doing things on the list instead of making the list. Ahhh, hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Am I the only one who's this crazy about lists? I doubt it. I'm curious what other people make lists for. Not only will this make me feel more sane about the whole list-making madness, but maybe it'll give me more ideas for future list-making.

Happy Visit

Amanda has had her first official visit to the dentist. I was worried about her laying back in that big chair with that big light shining down on her and having her freak out. But she did wonderfully!! She listened and did what they asked of her and even walked out with a few new stickers (which we even use at home for bribes) - a big success!!

She is cavity free at this time and apparently her spacing looks good for when she gets her adult teeth later on. She even sit through letting them brush on the fluoride. YIPPEE!! I was such a proud Mommy as I watched her get checked out and she was so well behaved. I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that our baby Amanda has gotten to be quite the big girl.

Our Mini Me's

Well, my hubby and I are the proud parents of two beautiful girls (if I do say so myself). Since the day they were born we've been looking at them and deciding which parts of them look like each of us. We can see each of us in both girls, but each of the girls definitely resembles one of each of us - our Mini Me's. Amanda has my smile and eye color and Taylor has Daddy's eyes and cheeks. See for yourself.

Chris as a little guy, playing in the fireplace

Me, after a bad haircut I had performed on myself

(Mom was REALLY happy about this one!)

My Little Beauties

Me

Daddy and Amanda

My Latest Toy

I know that lots of people out there are in love with their ipods, but I'm not one of them. I've heard some mixed reviews of them, so I have gone other routes when choosing my devices. For Christmas, my wonderful hubby wanted to get me a new mp3 player to replace my Sony Walkman bean - it still works great (he uses it when he works out - even though it's pink), but the website (SonicStage) that you used to purchase new music was shut down a few months ago. Anyway. . . he couldn't get the new mp3 player that I wanted, so he got me a gift card. In early January I was finally able to acquire my NEW Sony Walkman. I was so excited! Fast forward 6 months - by the end of June, I was on my 3rd, yes 3rd Walkman. I had sent it in for repair on two different occasions, just to have them send me a new replacement instead of repairing it. By the time the 3rd one went kaput on me, I was done with it! I was able to return it to the store for a full refund. YEAH!!

I shopped and shopped for a new mp3 player. This time I was going to make sure that I got something that had gotten great reviews, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it. I love my electronics, but I'm really not much of a techie. So. . . I purchased a Creative Zen. I've only had it for a few days now, but so far it has been wonderful!! I highly recommend it. I can put pictures and videos on it. It has a built-in radio. It even has an organizer on it (which I have yet to get set up and use, but anyway. . .) It's great!! So, if anyone out there is looking to buy a new mp3 player, you should at least check this one out - it's worth it!!

Alright, that's the end of my shameless promotion of my new toy. I need to set up my new organizer and (hopefully) get myself organized.

What Makes Me Smile. . .

I can barely remember what life was like for me before having my girls. I know that I spent a lot less time cleaning. . . I could sleep in on the weekends. . . I could have phone conversations without the "Look at me, Mommy" interruptions. . . I carried a small purse instead of a big diaper bag. . . My memory was much better back then. . . and assorted other things. But what really makes me smile on a daily basis is my girls. They love to play and smile, and no matter what kind of day I'm having, seeing their little faces always seems to make everything better. Now, I can't imagine life without them. Maybe they'll brighten your day, too.