They're winning.

Last night was rough.

Craig asked me this morning, "Did we sleep? I mean, did we even sleep?"

I'm willing to say we got two hours of consecutive sleep. Maybe two and a half.

Lila was sick. And loud. And sad. And constantly repeating, "I ok. Lila ok. Lila ok." (Sweet baby already has a mantra.)

Vivienne was feeling sympathy pains or maybe just couldn't stand not being in on the middle-of-the-night fun and was awake, too. Several times.

--

I don't complain about much of anything when it comes to my babies. I adore them. I do. I HEART being a Mom more than I could have ever expected.

I'm just tired. Oh, oh so tired.

Humans are not expected to function with the amount of sleep that I've been getting for the past five months.

I require 8-10 hours of sleep per night. I've been getting maybe 5.

I know we've all been there. But at this moment, I just have to write: I'm so tired.

--

Tomorrow's a new day.

A new day that starts at 5:43 a.m. because of my stupid 6 a.m. Friday pilates class.

Curses.



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Someone would rather watch Blue's Clues than eat.

Sent from BlackBerry® Wireless

Another conversation with my husband.

**Weird font and spacing issues today. No idea why. Not willing to spend the time to figure it out.

A conversation that happened between my husband and I several weeks ago and about a jillion times since.

Note before reading: We usually take turns making dinner.

Picture it.

About 8:15 p.m.

San Jose del Cabo.


Both kiddos are successfully sleeping after either random crying (Vivienne) or having to use the potty 600 times before actually falling asleep (Lila).

Craig: I am soooo hungry.


(It's my night to cook.)
Me: Guess what?! Tonight is a special night?


Craig: Oh? 


Me: It's special because you can [insert super-excited-talking-to-children-voice] make whatever you want for dinner!

--

Silence.

--

Fast forward to a few days after that original conversation.

It's about 8:15 p.m. again. Both cupcakes are sleeping.

Craig: I am soooo hungry.

Me: silence

Craig: Is it one of those "special" nights again?


:)

--

Ah yes. I'm a firm believer that you can spin ANYTHING to be fantastic.

Note: Our "special nights" habitually fall on the evenings when it's my turn to make dinner. Craig makes incredible dinners on his nights. 

I usually make pancakes.


Who's a lucky man? 


Yep. 


--


Random: Does anyone remember "Today's Special" on T.V.? Ahhh! See here. I loved this show. Oh my goodness.

"Hocus pocus al-a-migocus!"


Jodie and Jeff and Muffy the mouse!


Oh my gosh MEMORY lane.


(You can watch entire episodes online at the link above. Looking back - how creepy, no?)



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Lila Love: Tea party

This morning we had a change of plans. Our childcare person had some other items she had to tend to so I got to spend the morning with my ladies.

Well, Vivienne goes to bed for her first nap of the day (Oh! To be an infant...) around 9 a.m. -- which meant that Lila and I had a solid two hours of "together" time before she woke up to eat around 10:45 a.m.

So, we had our first tea party. [insert big smile here.]

I didn't take pictures, because I was in the moment and maybe because we both weren't dressed appropriately.

Anywho, we laid out a beach towel on the floor in her bedroom. I got out my snowflake plastic platter from Target and we proceeded to prepare. Pretty easy preparation: I added water to her teapot and we were ready to go. (Craig joined us for the first 10 minutes or so before he had to go to work and it was precious seeing him cross-legged on the floor enjoying his "tea" right along with us.) 

Lila loved it. She loved pouring the tea, especially. (She's learning when to chill on the pouring. We overflowed more than a couple of times.) Adding "sugar" and stirring the teacups with her mini spoons was fun, too. She is very particular. (Shocker.) She'd only use her spoon not ours. (Love that kid.)

However, at one point she did try to drink out of all of our cups... She's learning proper tea-party decorum.

My favorite part, though? She refused to call the water "tea" because it was very clearly poured into her teapot from my water bottle just inches away. I'd ask, "Would you like some more tea?" and she'd say, "Agua, Mama. Agua."

Love her.

--

(Recycled plastic tea set available on amazon.)


--

Baby Product Review: Ergo Sport Baby Carrier

I bought an Ergo Baby sport baby carrier back when Lila was a bit younger. Loved it with her. Then I got pregnant and had to stop wearing it because who needs to have a 25 lb. kid on your back and a 15 lb. baby on your front.

Anywho, Lila had grown up and out of the Baby Bjorn and I needed a carrying-option that wouldn't break my back and/or shoulders.

(That's not Lila. That's Vivienne.)

Reasons why I *love* this thing.

1.) Holy comfort. I can carry Vivienne or Lila in the Ergo Baby Sport for hours without discomfort. The weight is evenly distributed on your hips and waist -- not on your shoulders. WAH-WHO. And, the shoulders are padded. As in, well-padded.

2.) The Ergo sport is big enough for men (Craig's 6' tall)  and women. (I'm about 5' 3". I say 5' 4" on my license. However, that's a lie. There. I confess. I lied on my license.)

3.) It's easily washable. You throw it in the washing machine, dry it on low heat and wah-la, you're ready to go.

I wear this nearly everyday with Vivienne. She likes to be held. I like to hold her. And, I like to have my hands free.

We bought the "sport" version of the ergo carrier and I will say that sometimes it feels a bit "wide" and I wonder if I should have just gotten the standard (not "sport") Ergo. I bought the Ergo sport because the fabric was allegedly more lightweight than it' counterpart and I thought it would be good for the Cabo heat. Bottom line? When it's 89 degrees, it doesn't matter if you have a sport weight or a regular cotton baby carrier - they're ALL hot in my book.

Now, the Ergo sport is definitely usable for infants with a hand-dandy infant insert. (See here and below.) However, I didn't use it because I had a Baby Bjorn so I just used that in the beginning. Now, the Baby Bjorn is my go-to only if my Ergo Sport is in the laundry.

Keep in mind that when you use the Ergo the baby/toddler can actually only be seated one of two ways:

1.) When you're wearing your baby on the front -- she can only face toward you. (In the Bjorn, the baby can face out or face you.) There are differing schools of thought on this - some say that babies shouldn't be facing out because they can't turn away from stimuli.

2.) When you're wearing your baby on the back -- she can only face the back of your head. (Duh.)

And, keep in mind that you can carry a baby up to 40 lbs. in the Ergo Baby -- however they've tested it for up to 90 lbs. (That would be like carrying my sister on my back.)

--

All in all, I love this thing. If I could do it all over again, I would have skipped the Bjorn and bought this.

--

**Full disclosure: I wasn't paid to write this. Nor did I get any free perks from anyone. However, I'd like to French benefits.


--

Apropos

I'd like to invite you to take a peek into my world.

Specifically, my work world.

This painting is hung on the unisex bathroom door in our small office. (The other offices don't have anything nearly this... awesome.)

It was a one-of-a-kind (ah-hem) Christmas gift painted for my boss. He opted not to take it to his home and instead chose to leave it here at the office where we've all enjoyed it for the past six months.

Kind of him, no?

I was looking at it today and thought, "Hmm..."

Eerily appropriate for a unisex restroom door, no?


--

My child's advocate.

--

Friday night with the ladies

Sent from BlackBerry® Wireless

Uh-huh. And I prefer coke over water. Who cares.

Did ya'll see this article?

It appears that my fellow American citizens, when asked if they'd prefer to have their ONE child be a son or a daughter, have chosen sons.

Humpf.

Is this really a boys are better than girls (or vice versa) discussion?

These gallup poll people need to focus their efforts on topics that really matter. Such as:

1. Should we ban The Kardashians from television and indict Kris Kardashian for the exploitation of children? (I vote yes.)

2. Is too much self tanner possible? (I vote yes.)

3. Should all state birds be demoted and instead replaced by state-endorsed cheeses? (I also vote yes.)



--

Yeah, I'm probably done with that.

I like to see celebrity babies. (Who doesn't like to see cute kiddos?)

But this made me have second thoughts.

Yep. I think I'm done clicking on any babies-of-celebrities "news" stories, unless they're endorsed by the actual celebrities.

I cannot even fathom being a new parent and having to dodge crazy paparazzi with arm-length lenses in order to protect my sweetie.

I feel for 'em.

--

And nope, I will not stand for the, "They're celebrities they chose this" line. Total crap. Take ALL the photos of them you want on the red carpet (which I love!), at concerts and at events. Leave them alone during their personal, family time.

This is a watershed moment for me.


--

I'm not an ice cream person.

We very rarely have ice cream in the freezer.

We're not big on it. 

(I'd rather have cake. Or a cake.)

--

Still, in honor of Lila's birthday we have this. And every time I eat it I want to email Haagen-Dazs directly and thank them for making it.

--

Contentment, not to be confused with condiments...

**Sorry that this post was here and then gone... I'm not sure what happened. It's back now. (8:34 p.m. MT.)

Whoever wrote, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" was one perceptive cookie.

It's true.

We all seem to long for, admire or secretly covet what others have. It's because we're mere mortals. We're human, kids.

Join me in some sweeping generalities, won't you?

If you live in a cold climate, you want to move to a beach.
If you live near a beach, you just want some snow.
If you are single and live alone, you might just want to find your one true love.
If you're married you might long for the unencumbered single life.
If you're childless, you may ache for a baby.
If you're childfull, you may wish sometimes those babies belonged to someone else.

I think we have inflated ideas of what others lives are like.

If I had those white teeth... (I seriously admire people's white teeth.)
And eyelashes.
And long blonde hair.
And freckle-y skin.
And great house.
And incredible job.

The list goes on and on.

I think it's important to remember that while we might be thinking, "Hmmm.... I wouldn't mind living in his house... in that state... with that job... life just seems so easy/fun/carefree/ for her..."  Usually that same person is thing thinking the same thing about you.

We need to maybe look at our lives through the eyes of others, no?

It's time that we start recognizing how blessed we really are.

Your car might not be like hers, but you're an incredible parent.
Your house might need some work, but wow - that's some nice hair.
Your marriage might need some work, but whose is perfect?
Your dog might have three legs, but really - who needs four?

Seriously, though.

My goal? To continue to be content in all circumstances.

--

One of my favorites...

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Phil 4: 11-13.





--

Fruit Salad

I subscribe to the notion that if I cook/bake/assemble a recipe at least once I can claim it to be my recipe.

For Lila's party I made this fruit salad and I felt it was great.

2 cups blueberries
2 cups cut-up strawberries, slivered, if you will
2 cups cantaloupe
2 cups firm bananas
2 cups kiwi, cut up

In a separate small bowl mix about 5 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of lime or lemon juice. (Depending on if you have limes or lemons... I used limes. Because I live in Mexico.)

--

Drizzle honey/lime mixture over the top of the fruit, combine/mix. Refrigerate and ENJOY.

Assembly time: Eh, maybe 10 minutes.

AWESOME for a quick summer side-dish.

(I'd throw in whatever fruit you have/that's in season. The original recipe called for blackberries and no melon or kiwi. And they threw in poppy seeds. I opted against the poppy seed inclusion so as to avoid awkward moments for others. Who likes poppy seeds in their teeth? I'll tell you who, NO ONE.)


--

Lila's birthday? A success.

More pics to come.

Best.Day.Ever.


What she's wearing...
Shirt bought on etsy for $18. Shop MadeCuteJust4U. 
Skirt? An appreciated hand-me-down from Lila's cousin, Bella. 
Shoes bought on zulily. 
Paper crown by San Jose del Cabo wal-mart - 8 in a pack - $45 pesos.
Arms up in the air and that grin? Priceless.


--

You're barking up the wrong tree.

Got this in my kylee@twopretzels.com inbox.

Hmmm...

(Click to make larger.)

--

Um... don't think I forgot, Ferg.

Happy birthday to my sweet Señorita Fergie Lupita.

As it turns out, she's four. (That's cuatro años for my bilingual readers. Insert eye wink.)

We love you Ferg.

Stop it.
Cutest puppy EVER.

--

Happy wishes...

Happy birthday to my dear sweet best friend.

I love you. I cherish your support. I love hearing your voice over the phone. I admire your strength. Your tenacity. Your love for your children. I love our memories. I love that we pick up where we left off so easily. I love to hear that laugh. I love you!

I am so glad you were born.

Happy birthday, friend.


--

Happy Birthday, Lila Ross

Just a year ago, this was my baby.

Sweet, sweet Lila.

Did I blink?

Because my sweet baby? She's no longer here. In her place is a big girl.

14 years.

This is an emotional week.

Yesterday was Father's Day -- so of course, I had to tell my husband how AMAZING he is as a Daddy. (Because he is.)

And TODAY? Well, it's The Lionel's birthday... and that alone brings enough emotion.

:)

Today also marks FOURTEEN YEARS that Craig and I have been a "we".

[gasp!]

Craig, my sweet best friend - can you believe it? Can you believe it's been that long? It makes me laugh, I'm not sure why... maybe because I think you're nuts-th (read that like Mackenzie from Toddlers & Tiaras, please.) for willingly handling my quirkiness around the clock for this long.

[You're a saint.]

Time has flown by, though -- no?  I'm so thankful for you. I'm thankful and blessed for having you in my life.

[It's true.]

You're so patient.
You're so funny.
You're so wise.

Happy 14 years, sweet man.

♥


--

Lila Lunes: Update

Lila "Lunes" (Monday) will actually be a Lila "Martes" (Tuesday) this week in celebration of my sweetie pie's SECOND BIRTHDAY Tuesday...

A year ago.

Now.

Stay tuned and stay classy.


--

Awesome.

I've started this post several times and it appears that I just don't have the words.

The truth is, you are the finest daddy I have EVER witnessed.

C., you are GOOD at this.

The proof is when Lila wakes up from a nap and immediately asks, "Daddy?" because she needs you right then.  Or, when you get home and she runs full-steam-ahead into your legs and proclaims, "Daddy!"

The proof is when Vivienne hears your voice, moves her head, discovers you and smiles all the way down to her toes.

You're doing something very, very, very right.

I love you.

Happy Father's Day.

♥


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