She Loves Her Some Preschool!

Miss Buggy sure does love her some preschool!  We had two perfect days at St. Stephen's this week, and Bug told me when she got in the car today that she loves Teacher Ann!  So cute!

She's always so excited to see teacher Ann!

And she's been helping Mommy pick out her outfits for school too!  Fortunately, she has great taste!

Playing with Mommy's birthday balloon from Daddy.  It lasted only a few hours before she beat it to death with a spatula!

Changing her baby's diaper with Mommy.

Lulu loves getting to spend alone time with Mommy while Bug is at school!  And I love being able to make a big fuss over her without a certain someone getting jealous! 

Ready or Not...

Happy first day of Fall!  This Mama is as giddy as a school girl!  I heart this time of year!  Cool weather, pretty leaves, pumpkin patch visits, trick-or-treating, hot coco, festive Coffeemate creamer flavors!! (notice how I'm excluding a certain 30th birthday that's coming up!)  I was feeling very prepared for the upcoming change in weather until, well, the weather changed!  Then I realized that all of Bug's pants were too long, her snow boots were too small, her rain boots were too big and she had outgrown all of her socks and tights from last year.  And I discovered all of that while I was getting her dressed for preschool this morning.  Now panic mode has set in, and I'm already starting to stress about Christmas cards and shopping!  Whether we're ready or not, Fall is here and the girls and I are about to get a lot busier! 

Bug starts her "Fairytale Ballet" class soon, so we decided to try on her tutu and slippers.  Eat your heart out Aunt Kelly!  Looks like you've got some competition! 

This week was Buggy's first full week of preschool!  She did great and I love listening to her talk about her day on the ride home.  In general, our conversations go something like this:

Me:  "Did you have fun at preschool today Bug?"

Bug:  "Yes.  Teacher Ann!  Teacher Ann so happy!  Back?  Haywees pweskool?"

Me:  "We can go back tomorrow.  Let's go home and each lunch with Daddy, ok?"

Bug:  "Ok.  BYE KIDS!  BYE TEACHER ANN!  (energetic waves)"

Me:  "What did you do at preschool today?"

Bug:  "Pah-woes (play-doh), babies ni-night in crib, blocks tower, cahwings (coloring), wash hands make bubbles, friends..." (then she usually starts singing the song they learned that day.  Presently, it's "Head, shoulders, knees and toes.")

Me:  "Wow!  Sounds like fun!  Did you have a snack?"

Bug:  "Yes."

Me:  "What did you eat?"

Bug: "Cheese.  Orange cheese!"  Except today when I asked her if she had a snack, she said,

"Yes.  Play doh!  Hailey's mouth!" 

Lovely.

By that point, we're already home and she's done talking to Mommy. 



Calling Daddy.




Showing off her new Keds!





Future doctor Buggy?



Multi-tasking!

The one unfortunate thing about preschool days is that Bug won't poop there.  So, she holds it in all morning and then ends up pooping during her nap time.  Which means, she wakes up, I change her and then she won't nap.  Plus, now she's decided that she need to undress herself in her crib.  I'm looking at her on the monitor right now and she's already taken her shirt and shorts off.  There's only one thing left to remove...I'll be right back! 



Lulu is so nice to share her toys with Bug and Baby JeeJee!




Modeling her raincoat.





Jumping in puddles after preschool.






Poor little Lulu.  Typical second child gets a last minute snapshot before we head out the door to preschool. 



Fortunately, Lainey is set when it comes to fall/winter clothes, thanks to her big sister!  (It's about the only thing that Buggy is willing to share with her little sister!)  Sweet Lulu.  She's the BEST baby!  She's been sleeping through the night since she was two months old, naps like a champ, eats a ton (she's already pounding cereal like a pro!), and is as happy as can be just sitting in her swing, watching everybody!  She coos and "talks" all day long and she just lights up when we look at her and gives us the sweetest, enthusiastic smiles!  Gosh I love her!

She's an avid reader.

Bring it Autumnal Equinox!  Doug's girls are ready!



30 Ain't So Bad

The weather is getting cooler out, and it's already the end of September, which means my birthday is just around the corner!  (less than 2 weeks to be exact!)

I've already started getting some pretty awesome birthday presents!  (I'm begining to wonder what I did to deserve such lavish gifts!)  We have a weekend at the Homestead planned for the first week of November and after a tough day last week, Doug surprised me with a beautiful David Yurman necklace!  And today the mailman delivered not one, but two perfect Lily Pulitzer dresses from Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Dan!  They instantly brightened my day, and my closet!  Bug enjoyed helping me open them!  (Thanks in-laws!  I LOVE them!)

Normally this would be an exciting time, afterall, Fall is my absolute most favorite time of year! However, I can't help but feel this impending doom. On October 1st I'm going to be turning 30 years old! How did this happen?!  I'm already begining to experience some of the side effects of leaving my youthful 20's...

1)  I'm getting grey hair!  I've had to downgrade to a cheaper salon just so we don't go broke trying to cover them up!  I may be getting more unsightly grey hairs with each new day, but at least Buggy still lets me put her hair in cute pigtails (even if they do start to get unruley after only a few minutes!  If you haven't noticed, she's one active little girl!)

 

And at least Lulu lets me put huge flowers on her head!  I actually think she enjoyed it!

Lainey, September 2011

I did the same "photo shoot" with Buggy on the same date in September two years ago.  Bug was a month older, but they both have the same amount of chub and personality!

Buggy, September 2009

 2)  I may be getting crows feet and laugh lines already, but I know that it's from spending all day smiling and laughing at my crazy girls!  And if they continue to be this cute, Botox may be in my future!

3)  It may take me three times as long to lose 10 pounds now, than it did when I was 20, but if Bug wants me to sit down and eat a hotdog with her, you better believe I'm going to do it!  It's only a matter of time before she's going to be taking her sandwich up to her room, closing the door, and calling her boyfriend and I'm going to miss our hotdog lunch dates!

And if my girls want me to snuggle, play Peoples or build a tent in the morning, instead of going to the gym...well, you know what we're doing!

 4)  I may not have as much energy as I did 10 years ago (and it sure could come in handy taking care of these two!), but I realize how fortunate I am to be able to stay home and help our girls grow up.  I've got an incredible guy, and two amazing girls!  Thirty ain't looking so bad afterall!