Planking

Planking is all the rage in our house right now.  The safer toddler-version, of course.  I guess Millie just needs a little rest every now and then...she only stays down for a few seconds, then pops right back up.  Silly girl...

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Cayden!

How did I miss posting about Cayden's big first birthday party?!  It was on Saturday, July 14th(his actual birthday)...exactly one week after Millie's first bday party.  Yes, a whole month ago.  I completely skipped a whole set of photos from my camera, but I think it was because swim lessons were the following week and I got a little overwhelmed with all the chaos.  Anyhoodles...it was quite the party!  A Very Hungry Caterpillar party, to be exact.  Amanda did a fabulous job!

here we are getting ready to go

they live just down the street, so Mills gets to navigate

she loves it!

birthday boy!  if there was a thought bubble over his head, it would say "dat!"

Mills was rude and hogged the front seat of his new truck (check out the coordinating chambray outfits!)

he seemed fine to take the back seat...isn't he sweet?!

 this boy did some damage on that cake!

 and he also loved the shakers we got him ;)

 pat pat pat

this much clearer, much lighter pic was taken by the professional photographer there.  Cayden is showing his #1 (he's very good at showing how old he is)

Happy Birthday to Millie's very first friend...we love you Cayden!

Happy Birthday to Me! (Instagram Style)

You know who's 33??  This gal...

Yesterday was my birthday, and we went out for breakfast (which I LOVE to do).  Millie enjoyed some of my red velvet pancakes.  nom nom nom

Later that night we went to dinner, and afterwards Millie enjoyed playing at/in the fountains.  Yes, she's barefoot because she was splashing her toesies in the water.

Then JKK and I enjoyed some late night refreshments.  Thanks, JKK, for a special bday and making sure we had some champagne to celebrate.  smooch

I love my birthday.  I love how special I feel on my birthday.  I'm going to really enjoy making my kids' birthdays very special for them.  33...awwww yeah.

Mompetition

I've found a new blog to follow, and this post totally sums up how I feel about mompetition.  Click Here  I even love her suggestions with how to deal with these competitive mommies.    I don't have a very competitive nature.  When faced with these situations, I tend to usually downplay my child's skills or milestones or abilities.  I also do this with my own accomplishments...and my husband's as well.  I wonder why that is...I guess I go too far in the other direction to make sure people don't think I'm bragging and being competitive.  Or maybe not??  Maybe you've seen a different side of me than I'm describing. ;)  I just wish everyone would relax.  Ladies, let's give each other a break.

girl power

 Millie's two favorite things...Baby and Buddy

In a related topic:  we've all heard plenty about "attachment parenting" lately.  My personal feelings on the topic are that if you feel this is best for your child, then have at it.  As parents, I would like to think we all make decisions because we think that particular action is best for the kids.  However, I have personally witnessed a disturbing trend among my age group..."detachment parenting".  Not kidding...I read that term in an article.  This is where parents are going pretty much the opposite of attachment parenting.  Usually, the state of mind is "this is how I had it as a child, and I turned out just fine".  These people generally roll their eyes at any study or research telling them to do something that will require more work.  I have heard many times people saying things like "oh, he/she will be fine...if a loser like Octomom can do it [parenting], then so can I."  Um...I think we should all strive to be a better parent than freaky Octomom or the neighborhood drug addict or teenmom on MTv.  I don't even know why I'm talking about this, other than to just state an observation of late that has been bothering me.  I'm certainly not doing everything that the studies tell me I should...I guess my point is just that I've witnessed a lot of laziness that is being pawned off as a choice to NOT do something on purpose.  So while I'm not a super competitive mom and I think moms should stick together...I'm also worried about a large segment of my generation that is purposefully slacking.  What's that you say??  Interesting how I have a post that first includes my feelings about mompetition and then I turn right about and observe how lazy people are? :)  Hmmm...that is interesting.

Enough with the "observations"...check out this funny gal.

When it gets close to nap time, she sometimes lays down for a few seconds here and there.  You know, just wherever she happens to be...down she goes.

We've gotta get rid of that bink!

 

Random Update

I think most of my posts are just random updates, but this one particularly has no theme (if you don't count Millie, of course).

Mills plays spontaneous peek-a-boo...she'll be in her high chair happily eating when all of a sudden, she goes into peek-a-boo mode.  Then we have to ask "Where's Millie?!" over and over again...

 There she is!

Millie now brings us books to read; we must stop whatever we doing and read it to her immediately.  She's very fond of a book called Dear Zoo that is a lift-the-flap book.  Moo Baa La La La, Blue Hat Green Hat, Snuggle Puppy, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider are some other current favorites.

Finally ordered a sign from Etsy so that I could take the post-it note off our door.  Beansie goes bananas every time someone knocks or rings the doorbell...this sign may just spare her life.

 We've had some family pool time on the weekends...look at those gams!

She looks good in red, right?!

One afternoon last week, we were out back (fully clothed) watering the trees.  I had set the hose down for a minute, and little miss bear picked it up to get a drink...drenching herself.  So I stripped her down and let her go...

Sadly, these next pics are not taken on the same day...I guess I let her go sans clothing a lot in the summer.  JKK had to go on a business trip for a couple of days last week; this meant Millie and I were on dog duty.  pat pat pat the beans

Back at Hobby Lobby...we were frequent shoppers leading up to the bday party, but this time it was to have our new professional photog shots framed (adding to the shrine in the entry way).  Since we were there...I picked up some glitter spray to bedazzle Millie's wagon wheels.

Can you tell?  They look kind of grey until the sun hits them and then it's sparkle-mania.  I'll have to get a better shot.

We've been trying to fit in as many Cayden playdates as possible since Amanda goes back to work next week. :(  This morning we met for playground time, where Millie bit Cayden twice!  She's teething and tries to get anything she can into her mouth.  At least, I hope that's what it is...

Then they came over for afternoon playtime; Cayden retaliated with some hair-pulling.  Mostly, they do dog and/or cat watching by hanging on the side of jail.  In this pic below, Millie is poking Beansie through the gate.  Poor Beans also endured many toys being thrown on top of her today...such a good sport.

Cayden & Millie Video: Break it down

Happy 13th month birthday to our sweet girl!

Dog Days, Indeed

It's hot.  I'm sick of it.  Hurry up Labor Day so we can begin the temperature decline...
We are continuing to only go for walks if we can make it out of the house before 7am.  Some days we get to meet Amanda & Cayden at the playground for early morning playtime.  The kids are still in their jammies...it's pretty adorable.  There is a house with three dogs that borders the playground, and the kiddos love to do some dog-watching. 

Last weekend, our good friend Steph and her two boys came to visit.  We've been friends with Steph since our KPMG days... over 10 years now!

Gabe is 7 and Gideon is 5 (I think...)

It was blazing saddles outside...we should have gone to the big neighborhood pool, but instead we sweated it out in our backyard playing in the sprinkler and kiddie pool.  The kids had fun; Gabe & Gideon were cracking us up with their rowdiness.  Millie liked to watch them. ;)

 Beansie was thirsty

Mills & Giddy

 clapping

 bubbles!

 So glad we got to see Steph...I miss her.

After they left on Saturday, JKK and I lounged on the couch watching the Olympics while Millie played.  She is sooooo good at playing on her own, and yes, I realize how lucky this makes us. :)  She even goes into the other room to play; we checked up on her at one point and she was really engrossed in her Little People barn. 

Look, I've been published!  Just kidding.  I had the first year of The Milla Meter printed.  It's pretty fat (as in thick...but also phat in that other sort of way too).

I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I hope Mills appreciates this some day.  I have really enjoyed writing it.  Eventually, I plan to turn this into a family blog so that I don't have to keep the content to all about Millie.  But for the past year that's really all that's been happening in our lives anyway...