Brushin Teeth

I love watching this take place:

Bella shoves, daddy coerces, Bella giggles, daddy avoids gag reflex, Bella shoves some more.

Plus. Daddy's better at getting Bella to brush teeth. I just take the pictures.

Here's a video for your viewing pleasure. My favorite is her cheeser smile to show off her teeth.

Community Bathing and Nerding out

Last night my sweet friend Robyn came over to share some yummy treats with us, and after a little while it was time for them to go home for a bath - but her little girl Olivia was NOT having it!

So we decided to have a little community bath time, and it was a riot.

After their community washing, Olivia and Bella jumped in the crib like wild chimpanzees.

Those two were squealing, splashing and giggling up a storm. It was hilarious.

This might be Bella's new daily 'do!

Then this morning, Ty got his nerd on.

The UPS man dropped off his newer, faster, more awesome-er computer. You'd think it was Christmas around here!! He was literally leaping with joy.. What a goofball! I guess I would do the same if it was a box of fabric! To each his own, right?

The big thing he's holding is called a motherboard, or "the small city". And his computer is the thing on the left. Somehow he knows how to put the two together to make a faster, more efficient computer.

I love my nerd.

Word of the Day

Brought to you by the husband:

callipygian

[kal-uh-pij-ee-uhn]

–adjective

having well-shaped buttocks.

Also, cal·li·py·gous

Origin:

1640–50; < Greek kallipýg ( os ) with beautiful buttocks; referringto a statue of Aphrodite

Thank you, thoughtful husband, for keeping me on my toes! Why didn't we learn this one in school??

Now go tell a loved one you think they have a lovely callipygous figure!

Wandering Thoughts on Motherhood

So sometimes I lie in bed at night, trying to get my brain to stop thinking...and my thoughts just keep wandering in it's rebellious fashion...

I told Ty last night I wish that someone would invent something that would read my thoughts, and send it to me in an email so that I didn't have to get out of bed and write my thoughts down!!!!

It wasn't anything totally vital...Just interesting. To me, mostly.

There's usually some emotion behind the thoughts I have - maybe that's why I want to remember them. Because I felt something behind the thoughts.

I was feeling tender hearted...joyful, maybe? Sometimes I get those 'moments' where I can see my life from the 'big picture'. I'm not sucked up in the swirling tornado of life and I can see it from the satellite in the sky.

I had one of those moments yesterday.

It wasn't a spectacular moment. It never is, right? I think Bella was running around naked, actually. Haha. She snuck out of the tub, and I was thinking about my mom and how I probably ran around like a naked fool once, too.

I was little once. Weird. With a stocky body and cute little buns like Bella.

My mom loved me with the same depth and emotion that I feel for my daughter. Crazy!

I guess it's weird that I am just now realizing this...but I have been thinking about it more than usual.

Which brings me to my next point.

Thanks mom! No really, thanks to a depth I can't describe in words.

Thanks for loving me, that little ball of energy and mischief.

Thanks for holding me close...

for singing me songs...

for reading me Clifford books...

for talking to me with an animated voice...

for kissing my chubby cheeks...

for being the mother you are.

You don't have to be a perfect mother to be a great mother.

The only qualification for a great mother is love. That she love unconditionally...which I think is something that is innately built inside of us all. Even for women who do not have children - they have the built-in mother heart...that deep pulsing love that cares for others.

Sometimes I forget that I don't have to be as awesome as the Sally-Sue So-and-So....That's not my job while I'm here.

My job is to be the best loving mother I can be. Just like my mom was to me. She did the best she knew how with what she was given, and now it's my turn to do the same.

Those were essentially the thoughts I had last night.

Will someone invent that thought-to-email gadget already?

Oh, and mom, can we call this your Birthday and Mother's day card? Okay, sweet!

Awww Man

That was Bella's phrase of the day.

We enjoyed a relatively warm day today at the park, and with rocks in her shoes, she repeated after me,

"Awwww Man"

It sounded more like "Ahh Min", but it was adorable either way!

Luckily she repeated it for the camera, so now I can enjoy her cuteness forever and ever.

This is what happens when rocks in the shoes happen.

Sticks are fun.

Hangin' loose. On a walk.

To the park - where Bella's cousin Elayna was enjoying her recess!!! Pleasant surprise indeed!

Bella repeating after me.

The "Aww, Man"

Mascara Trouble

I knew she grabbed my tube of mascara - I even watched her twist it open... I must have gotten distracted and rated it a "low" on the danger list for Bella, because I didn't intervene. Whaa?

A few minutes later, I'm on the phone (Oh yeah - that's why I was distracted!) and I noticed Bella's eyes are all dotted with black spots.

Then I look in her hands. There it was - the "low" rated danger item.

Where did my brain go? If you find it, will you return it to sender please? Thanks.

Thankfully nothing else got mascara-ed...just Bella's eyes.

Deedle Deedle Deedle

Bella's newest thing - saying Deedle Deedle Deedle before saying the word she actually wants to use!

So it goes something like this, "Deedle Deedle Deedle Shoe!"

Or

"Deedle Deedle Deedle Birdie!"

She's such a talker! No surprise there with her jabbering mommy.

Updates:

I have been keeping busy with my new calling as 1st counselor in the young women's program at church, among all my crafting, decorating, rearranging...I'm ready for a home makeover!!

Right now, I hear the toilet paper unraveling. That's a common sound as of late. Maybe because she enjoys wiping her own boogies. Who knows!

Yeah. I think that was a full roll. Oh well.

Bella just ran out, pointing to her nose "Boogies".

Ahh. That's where all the TP went!

In other news, Ty's been back from San Francisco for a week, and had a really awesome time at GDC (Game Developers Conference). He made some great contacts and had a blast mingling with other nerds like himself!

Bella and I missed our nerd and we're glad to have him back.

Anywho. That's all for now!

The Grumpy Gene

....passes on!
It only happens when we wake up from naps, but it's a pretty consistent thing.

So watch yerself and try to hide when we wake up!! :0)