There is nothing more endearing than your knee hugs. A child who is so anxious to show her affection, she can't wait for you to bend over or get down on the ground to her height, she has to hug your knees immediately as if she needs to release this tremendous amount of love that she carries all day, and is too impatient to wait.
There is nothing more entertaining than learning. I love how hard you try on each new word, and how obsessed you are once you've got it down that older words become mundane, that is of course with the exception of "mom" and "dad".
There is nothing more energizing than your uncontrollable laughter, and while it may be past your bedtime and I really shouldn't keep you awake, I can't help but indulge myself in my addiction to your laughter.
There is nothing sweeter than a sleepy baby. Playing in the clean laundry and trying to get comfortable enough to go to sleep and yet you want to stay awake. And even though we both know you're way too tired to function properly you still don't want to go to bed.
There is nothing more precious than when you look up at me to make sure I'm still there before you go to sleep. After i put you down and you've put all your animals where you want them and snuggled up with George (curious), you check to see if i am still there. I know I have only been home for an hour but I promise I won't go.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Daycare Stinks
Last year was fine. She hardly had a clue what was going on for most of it. The first half of the year she was too small to care and the second half of the year she was excited to see her friends, and so it wasn't a problem when it came to dropping her off.
This year....I have a feeling is really going to stink. The second we get out of the car she knows where we are and she starts her tight grip on the back of my shirt. It gets tighter as we walk up to the door. I say hello to her teacher from last year, who she used to love and now pretends she doesn't know, only for G to shrug her off and grip tighter. Her room is the second on the left and you can feel her muscles start to clench. Today we walked in and Miss Letty was blowing bubbles....you would think that would be enough to distract any kid....nope not this one. All her little friends are playing and climbing on stuff but she just wants to squeeze tighter. Nothing can distract her long enough for me to sneak out of the room. She knows what's coming and does not want to make it any easier on either mom or dad. No kisses or hugs to start the day just screaming and crying...I really don't think that's a great way to start the day for either of us. But it's how she wants to do it.
I really hope she gets over this separation anxiety soon, cause it's harder on us then it is on her...she forgets about it soon enough and then gets to play all day...i have to go to work and pretend to forget about it...at least until I see her tonight.
This year....I have a feeling is really going to stink. The second we get out of the car she knows where we are and she starts her tight grip on the back of my shirt. It gets tighter as we walk up to the door. I say hello to her teacher from last year, who she used to love and now pretends she doesn't know, only for G to shrug her off and grip tighter. Her room is the second on the left and you can feel her muscles start to clench. Today we walked in and Miss Letty was blowing bubbles....you would think that would be enough to distract any kid....nope not this one. All her little friends are playing and climbing on stuff but she just wants to squeeze tighter. Nothing can distract her long enough for me to sneak out of the room. She knows what's coming and does not want to make it any easier on either mom or dad. No kisses or hugs to start the day just screaming and crying...I really don't think that's a great way to start the day for either of us. But it's how she wants to do it.
I really hope she gets over this separation anxiety soon, cause it's harder on us then it is on her...she forgets about it soon enough and then gets to play all day...i have to go to work and pretend to forget about it...at least until I see her tonight.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Texas Tornado in St. Louis
If you haven't read the news this weekend then you might have missed the biggest story of the weekend. No it wasn't the amazing Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals, and it wasn't that hurricane thingy over in Florida. It had nothing to do with McCain, Obama or Bush. It had to do with a Texas Tornado in St. Louis, a la the Rowles' whirlwind visit this weekend.
A 5 am wake up for a 7am flight out of Dallas on Saturday morning had us in St. Louis for breakfast. We couldn't believe the weather it was like 70 out so we ate breakfast outside. After breakfast we all had a little nap time before going to the park and playing a little tennis. After that it was time to celebrate the Mchugh's 30th anniversary, which started with a little celebration at the house and dinner at a restaurant. I think they rented the whole place out cause we were the only ones in there. They really went all out for the 30th. Dinner was so delicious and filling that Moe and I had to walk back to the house just to make some room for dessert!
Sunday we got up bright and early packed the cars full of people and supplies and went to a YMCA camp, Trout lodge. It was jampacked full of activities from Archery to kayaking, rock climbing rope swinging and swimming. G go so worn out she fell asleep on the beach. We really cut it close too. We were having so much fun that we almost forgot to leave. WE had to be to the airport at 6.30....we didn't leave trout lodge till 4 and got to the house at 5.30...meaning we had 20 minutes to pack up and say goodbye before we left. Not that we really had time to unpack in the first place...
A 5 am wake up for a 7am flight out of Dallas on Saturday morning had us in St. Louis for breakfast. We couldn't believe the weather it was like 70 out so we ate breakfast outside. After breakfast we all had a little nap time before going to the park and playing a little tennis. After that it was time to celebrate the Mchugh's 30th anniversary, which started with a little celebration at the house and dinner at a restaurant. I think they rented the whole place out cause we were the only ones in there. They really went all out for the 30th. Dinner was so delicious and filling that Moe and I had to walk back to the house just to make some room for dessert!
Sunday we got up bright and early packed the cars full of people and supplies and went to a YMCA camp, Trout lodge. It was jampacked full of activities from Archery to kayaking, rock climbing rope swinging and swimming. G go so worn out she fell asleep on the beach. We really cut it close too. We were having so much fun that we almost forgot to leave. WE had to be to the airport at 6.30....we didn't leave trout lodge till 4 and got to the house at 5.30...meaning we had 20 minutes to pack up and say goodbye before we left. Not that we really had time to unpack in the first place...
Friday, August 15, 2008
Boy Band Friday
Ohhh ohh oh oh
Ohhhh Ohh oh oh
Ohhh ohhh weee oh oh
The right stuff
Best things about Fridays are the mornings! Not cause I want to be at work or cause it's the last day but because we crank up the jams! I like to think of Freaky Friday, Funky Friday, Fresh Friday or any of the trillion names we've given it as my creation, and most people will agree to it as that. We tend to theme it every Friday, and have hit the highs and the lows of music from 90's rap (Tupc Bigs and Dre) to 70's Disco(Ring My bell!), but i think today we may hit either a real high or a real low depending on your mood. That's right boy band Friday, because as much as you may hate it (me) you still know all the words " Cause it ain't no lie... baby bye bye bye"
G-She is trying to learn every word we use and it is so darn cute. We've really been working the body parts lately. She can say nose and eye and can point out her legs arms neck chin toes ear mouth and i think cheeks. She's can pretty much do anything you tell her and she is so close to being able to talk. The one thing she hasn't learned yet is Don't Touch and No...but those are always the hardest right?
Side note- We're going to St. Louis this weekend to Celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Mchugh's 30th anniversary. Now that Gianna is really trying to learn words, I've decided to start calling them Grandma and Grandpa, I really want her to start using them, she's got mom and dad down so it shouldn't be too far off. This weekend should be jampacked with fun since the whole fam will be in St. Louis and there should be plenty of pics!
Ohhhh Ohh oh oh
Ohhh ohhh weee oh oh
The right stuff
Best things about Fridays are the mornings! Not cause I want to be at work or cause it's the last day but because we crank up the jams! I like to think of Freaky Friday, Funky Friday, Fresh Friday or any of the trillion names we've given it as my creation, and most people will agree to it as that. We tend to theme it every Friday, and have hit the highs and the lows of music from 90's rap (Tupc Bigs and Dre) to 70's Disco(Ring My bell!), but i think today we may hit either a real high or a real low depending on your mood. That's right boy band Friday, because as much as you may hate it (me) you still know all the words " Cause it ain't no lie... baby bye bye bye"
G-She is trying to learn every word we use and it is so darn cute. We've really been working the body parts lately. She can say nose and eye and can point out her legs arms neck chin toes ear mouth and i think cheeks. She's can pretty much do anything you tell her and she is so close to being able to talk. The one thing she hasn't learned yet is Don't Touch and No...but those are always the hardest right?
Side note- We're going to St. Louis this weekend to Celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Mchugh's 30th anniversary. Now that Gianna is really trying to learn words, I've decided to start calling them Grandma and Grandpa, I really want her to start using them, she's got mom and dad down so it shouldn't be too far off. This weekend should be jampacked with fun since the whole fam will be in St. Louis and there should be plenty of pics!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ouch...
UPDATE...PICS ARE POSTED..
Link on the side OUR FLICKR
I really should have posted once or twice while in Cali. It would have made this much easier. I guess i'll break it down by day...
Saturday-after mowing the yard and getting ready we hopped in plane to SFO. G would not take a nap and thank goodness we were on a big plane (airbus with two aisles) cause we occupied the aisle most of the way to SFO. What a little handful. Got to napa for the start of a week of feasts and some poker with the fam. Lasagna Dinner (one of my favorites best lasagna EVER)
Sunday- Fresh blueberry pancake breakfast with eggs saugage the works...Got to put the hiking backpack to good use. We went up to one of the insider spots in Napa, the Christian Brothers monastery. Went for a hike with a good amount of family and wandered through some old abandoned vineyards (some of these vines were easily 100+ years old). And that was just the start of that day. We had the family potluck over at house that evening where we celebrated the monthly birthdays. Go figure mine happened to be that week two. Basically all the all the extended family was over that night for dinner and boy was that hectic but fun.
Monday- Second morning in a row of pre-5am wake ups. G shared our room which made it tough for her to go back to bed. So Moe G and I got up ate a little breakfast and zoned out in front of the tv, watching lion king which she loved. Basically moe and i fell asleep on the floor/couch and g eventually joined in the pre-dawn nap. After that nap, when kids (bros and sisters, and for those of you who don't know me too well..i have 9 younger brothers and sisters youngest of which is 6) started waking up we went on a bike ride. Yep we gathered a total of 10 bikes up from family and friends and rode 6 miles to yountville. It was fantastic. My sister beth who is 8 even kept up. We had sandwiches and hung out at the yountville park before riding home...another 6 miles. I think my mom was the most impressed, impressed that i could get my entire family to go riding and that we made it without a rowles injury! Well we got back took a dip and then went to a GIANTS game. So it's August in Cali..you wouldn't think you would need pants right? Wrong...pants and a hoodie were no match for the cold biting wind of the San Francisico bay. Moe went through 2 or 10 hot chocolates trying to stay warm. Giants won...thank goodness.
Tuesday- Starting to become a blur due to the early wake ups and activities. I think this was the day we went to Benicia. I went on an early morning hike with Eric(maybe that was monday?) up to alston park with the dogs. Beautiful NorCal morning 65-70degrees. just beautiful. Then later the whole family went to this awesome park in Benicia with a 35 foot cement slide. Wow that thing was cool. Did a little picknik thing for lunch. And more feasts for dinner. Every night my mom made something amazing. I am blanking on what she made as i think i went comatose with over eating. It was ridiculous.
Wednesday- Was lazy day. We hung out all day did some swimming and hung out mostly. We went on a hike that night before dinner. Up the Westwood hills. You get some amazing views of the valley from here. Again took all the kids with us and we had a blast exploring some of the lesser used trails. Fajita Burrito dinner
Thursday- WE picked up Shan and her boyfriend Tom from the airport. Stopped for some In&Out. I know i am surprised i waited till Thursday also. G ate a whole cheeseburger....little fatty (not really but i think if i start calling her that she'll live up to it). Got back to the house went for a little wine tasting at our favorite spot.... Artesa. That place is amazing as many of my friends know. Then before dinner we went on another hike...another hidden gem in napa...so hidden most of my aunts and uncles who have lived their whole life in napa (and grew up not to far from this park) didn't know about it. Timber Hill. More beautiful views of napa adn some of the best blackberry picking around. Shan and tom didn't bring tennis shoes but we were able to round up some extra ones, i think they were a little skeptical of a "hike" but really loved the whole adventure...it's hard not to when you get rewarded with some of mom's kick butt cooking. She made a full turkey dinner. Whipped it up no problem and fed 8 adults 2 teen boys and 4 kids.
Friday- Off to Fresno for a weekend of wedding fun. Girls did some nails appointment thingy before the rehearsal. Tom and i got to skip out on this so we got a 12 pack and watched the olympics/tv. Then went to the rehearsal dinner. Holy cow. It was hosted by the Jura family at their beautiful Fresno estate. I had no clue there existed such a beautiful neighborhood in Fresno. Moe asked me on the way back if i would mind living in fresno... I said not if i could live there!
Saturday- Big day for our friends Nichole and Oskar. The wedding was amazing. They had the UD Collegium come and sing which was pretty amazing. Jenny and Vince were invited so we got to partay with them. Good times. The reception was located in downtown fresno at the Downtown club....beautiful. We had a great time, dancing drinking hanging out with the Jura Family and friends. Had so much fun it was tough to get going in the morning.
Sunday- A blur of hangover travel. Tough to get up in the morning and get going. We were supposed to be in napa for a brunch...well brunch turned into linner. My mom again came through with a massive spread too bad we were a couple hours late. Cold but good. Too bad Shan and Tom couldn't enjoy it. Well our flight was late 7.30 but g had just gone down for a nap a couple hours earlier so we did the responsible parent thing...and gave her some benadryl, to make sure napped on the plan and kept on schedule. That was funny, she was so drowsy but fought so hard not to give in, eventually she did and was sprawled out across both of us. We got in at 12.30....and didn't get home till 1.....
Ouch.
(pics to be posted soon)
Link on the side OUR FLICKR
I really should have posted once or twice while in Cali. It would have made this much easier. I guess i'll break it down by day...
Saturday-after mowing the yard and getting ready we hopped in plane to SFO. G would not take a nap and thank goodness we were on a big plane (airbus with two aisles) cause we occupied the aisle most of the way to SFO. What a little handful. Got to napa for the start of a week of feasts and some poker with the fam. Lasagna Dinner (one of my favorites best lasagna EVER)
Sunday- Fresh blueberry pancake breakfast with eggs saugage the works...Got to put the hiking backpack to good use. We went up to one of the insider spots in Napa, the Christian Brothers monastery. Went for a hike with a good amount of family and wandered through some old abandoned vineyards (some of these vines were easily 100+ years old). And that was just the start of that day. We had the family potluck over at house that evening where we celebrated the monthly birthdays. Go figure mine happened to be that week two. Basically all the all the extended family was over that night for dinner and boy was that hectic but fun.
Monday- Second morning in a row of pre-5am wake ups. G shared our room which made it tough for her to go back to bed. So Moe G and I got up ate a little breakfast and zoned out in front of the tv, watching lion king which she loved. Basically moe and i fell asleep on the floor/couch and g eventually joined in the pre-dawn nap. After that nap, when kids (bros and sisters, and for those of you who don't know me too well..i have 9 younger brothers and sisters youngest of which is 6) started waking up we went on a bike ride. Yep we gathered a total of 10 bikes up from family and friends and rode 6 miles to yountville. It was fantastic. My sister beth who is 8 even kept up. We had sandwiches and hung out at the yountville park before riding home...another 6 miles. I think my mom was the most impressed, impressed that i could get my entire family to go riding and that we made it without a rowles injury! Well we got back took a dip and then went to a GIANTS game. So it's August in Cali..you wouldn't think you would need pants right? Wrong...pants and a hoodie were no match for the cold biting wind of the San Francisico bay. Moe went through 2 or 10 hot chocolates trying to stay warm. Giants won...thank goodness.
Tuesday- Starting to become a blur due to the early wake ups and activities. I think this was the day we went to Benicia. I went on an early morning hike with Eric(maybe that was monday?) up to alston park with the dogs. Beautiful NorCal morning 65-70degrees. just beautiful. Then later the whole family went to this awesome park in Benicia with a 35 foot cement slide. Wow that thing was cool. Did a little picknik thing for lunch. And more feasts for dinner. Every night my mom made something amazing. I am blanking on what she made as i think i went comatose with over eating. It was ridiculous.
Wednesday- Was lazy day. We hung out all day did some swimming and hung out mostly. We went on a hike that night before dinner. Up the Westwood hills. You get some amazing views of the valley from here. Again took all the kids with us and we had a blast exploring some of the lesser used trails. Fajita Burrito dinner
Thursday- WE picked up Shan and her boyfriend Tom from the airport. Stopped for some In&Out. I know i am surprised i waited till Thursday also. G ate a whole cheeseburger....little fatty (not really but i think if i start calling her that she'll live up to it). Got back to the house went for a little wine tasting at our favorite spot.... Artesa. That place is amazing as many of my friends know. Then before dinner we went on another hike...another hidden gem in napa...so hidden most of my aunts and uncles who have lived their whole life in napa (and grew up not to far from this park) didn't know about it. Timber Hill. More beautiful views of napa adn some of the best blackberry picking around. Shan and tom didn't bring tennis shoes but we were able to round up some extra ones, i think they were a little skeptical of a "hike" but really loved the whole adventure...it's hard not to when you get rewarded with some of mom's kick butt cooking. She made a full turkey dinner. Whipped it up no problem and fed 8 adults 2 teen boys and 4 kids.
Friday- Off to Fresno for a weekend of wedding fun. Girls did some nails appointment thingy before the rehearsal. Tom and i got to skip out on this so we got a 12 pack and watched the olympics/tv. Then went to the rehearsal dinner. Holy cow. It was hosted by the Jura family at their beautiful Fresno estate. I had no clue there existed such a beautiful neighborhood in Fresno. Moe asked me on the way back if i would mind living in fresno... I said not if i could live there!
Saturday- Big day for our friends Nichole and Oskar. The wedding was amazing. They had the UD Collegium come and sing which was pretty amazing. Jenny and Vince were invited so we got to partay with them. Good times. The reception was located in downtown fresno at the Downtown club....beautiful. We had a great time, dancing drinking hanging out with the Jura Family and friends. Had so much fun it was tough to get going in the morning.
Sunday- A blur of hangover travel. Tough to get up in the morning and get going. We were supposed to be in napa for a brunch...well brunch turned into linner. My mom again came through with a massive spread too bad we were a couple hours late. Cold but good. Too bad Shan and Tom couldn't enjoy it. Well our flight was late 7.30 but g had just gone down for a nap a couple hours earlier so we did the responsible parent thing...and gave her some benadryl, to make sure napped on the plan and kept on schedule. That was funny, she was so drowsy but fought so hard not to give in, eventually she did and was sprawled out across both of us. We got in at 12.30....and didn't get home till 1.....
Ouch.
(pics to be posted soon)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Here we come!
A couple nights ago we rode our bikes over to this park. The park is nice it's low profile so g can climb up it and around it, and it has this sweet rubber pad instead of sand. Well, there are 5 slides at this place...2 teeny kid ones and then 3 big ones....Well that little dare devil baby decided to take on the biggest one of them all...by herself
That's right, see you later mom and dad i gots this!
I had to work some major hours this week to get ready to leave. And last night i stayed pretty late so i called home on the way home. I was quite surprised when G answered the phone(mom helped i am sure)...well we actually had a conversation...
California is only a few hours away, and i think G knows something is up. I hope she's as excited as I am.
That's right, see you later mom and dad i gots this!
I had to work some major hours this week to get ready to leave. And last night i stayed pretty late so i called home on the way home. I was quite surprised when G answered the phone(mom helped i am sure)...well we actually had a conversation...
"hiye"
Hi Baby
hiye hiye hiye
Hey Baby its Dad
DAAAAAD
That's right. I love you
Can you give momma a kiss
*smack*
How about that.California is only a few hours away, and i think G knows something is up. I hope she's as excited as I am.
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