My Future Bob Dylan?

I think I've mentioned this before, but we are a pretty musical household.  Both Matt and I love to sing, Matt plays the bass, we often have dance parties in the kitchen.

Daniel has always loved to sing.  Recently his favorite songs include "Ring of Fire" and "Johnny Be Good" (both courtesy of one of his teachers at school) so it shouldn't have surprised me to come out of the shower yesterday to find him like this, composing a new song but, alas, this child always keeps me on my toes (and quite entertained!):

Sweet morning

My Little Lady Killer (posting so I don't forget this!)

Writing this story will not do it justice, but I want to remember it forever, so....

Memorial Day weekend.  First time back to my in-law's shore house since Hurricane Sandy.  Since there are no yards left, we had set up beach chairs in front of the house and were just hanging out.

My brother-in-law is quite a master of laying out.  He can fall asleep no matter the heat or sun and he can just lay on a lounge chair for hours.  So, while he was laying out there in our first not-at-all-normal day back at the beach, Daniel said he wanted to "relax with Uncle Dave".  We moved a beach chair close to Dave and reclined it all the way.

Daniel was "relaxing" and eating some snacks.  Relaxing, laying down, not really doing much.  Out of nowhere 3 teenage girls, who we don't know, walk down the street from the beach in bikinis.

Daniel sits straight up, raises his hand and says "Hey Girls" and then lays back down (note to self:  he currently pronounces 'Girls' as 'Gruils')

Dave and I laugh harder than we've ever laughed.  Daniel didn't blink an eye.  The girls giggle and say "Hi"

End of story.

My Very Belated 1st Birthday Note to Lucy

My Dear, Delightful, Ridiculously Sweet Lucy,

You're now 15 months old and while I still call you my baby, you are clearly no longer one.  You walk, run, babble (constantly), have VERY strong opinions about what you like/don't like and have grown into an amazing personality that keeps us all laughing... and guessing.



While I have neglected to document a whole lot of your first year on this blog, I have not missed a single second of loving your unique spirit and the joy that you have brought to our lives.  You've had a smile on your face since you were just weeks old and it seems as if that smile very rarely goes away.  You laugh loudly and you have quickly discovered your own sense of humor which you're learning how to use to your advantage.

You are a daddy's girl through and through.  You have him wrapped around your finger (literally, the guy still holds your sippy cup for you when you decide you don't want to hold it yourself) and there are times when no one will make you happy except your Daddy.  Since he's has been a stay-at-home dad for the last year, I understand your attachment to him (plus, he's pretty damn awesome, in general) so I try not to get jealous when you refuse to come to me after I return from work or first thing in the morning, but I'm not always successful!  Let's put it this way, you're recent "joke" is to say "Daddy" every time I ask you to say "Mama" (which you have not yet said!).



You are your brother's best friend.  He has been obsessed with you since you were born and while it rarely ever seems to bother you, we sometimes have to separate the two of you because he has a habit of "over-loving" on you.  You're really that cute.  Seeing the two of you play together is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen and it seems to get better every day.  You simply love being together.

You are the MOST cuddly little love ever!  Your dad and I secretly love it when you get shy because you run to us and bury your face in our necks and hug us tightly.  If you're running around in a room while we're sitting on a couch, in the middle of playing you'll just run over to us and throw your head into our necks and cuddle for a second.  It's HEAVENLY and something that your brother rarely (if ever) did.

Words you love:  "NO" and "Daddy".  Yup, that's pretty much sums it up.  You stress the "DY" in Daddy, so it never really gets old.   That being said, while you love saying the word "No", you don't quite love hearing it.  In fact, a couple of months ago this was a conversation between your Dad and me:
Me:  Matt! You've spoiled Lucy.  She FREAKS out when she hears the word "no"
Matt:  What are you talking about??
Me:  She just is so opinionated and if you tell her "no" she immediately gets pissed off
Matt:  Hmmm... Sounds exactly like you

So, this brings me to my last point... you are kind of exactly like me.  You actually even resemble me (something I've never been able to say about your brother).  You are strongly opinionated, you are always smiling and you like to be in charge and do everything on your own (until you realize you can't do it and then you kind of scream until one of us helps you).

My original fears of raising a little girl are still strong.  I want to do everything possible to raise you to be strong, self confident, independent and respectful of yourself and others.  I don't want you to go through a "I hate my Mom just because she's my Mom" phase, though I'm fairly certain you will (isn't that what almost all girls do??) and I hope and pray that you always trust in your father and I - that we will never judge you and will always support you.

And while I was pretty certain that you would be my last baby, I know for sure that you will be an amazing big sister come September.

Lucy Faye - you are a shining light and I am fully and completely in love with you.  Happy (very) belated 1st birthday.

Funny Conversation (#? I've stopped counting)

After an epic 3 hour playdate at one of both mine and Daniel's friend's house in the burbs...

Daniel:  "Mommy.  What's the Earth?"
Me:       "Earth is the planet that we live on"
Daniel:  "Is it in outer space?"
Me:       "Yup.  Sure is"
Daniel:  "So do we live in outer space?"
Me:       "No.  We live on Planet Earth, which is in outer space"
Daniel:  "So why don't we live in outer space"
Me:       "Um.  It's hard to explain"
Daniel:  "Well, there are meat eaters in outer space"
Me:       "What do you mean there are meat eaters?"
Daniel:  "Yeah. There are meat eaters in outer space"
Me:       "I didn't know there were meat eaters in outer space"
Daniel:  "Meat eaters are really big rocks that fly in outer space"
Me:       "OH! You mean METEORS?"
Daniel:  "Yeah.  Meat eaters"
Me:       "There is a difference between meat eaters and meteors" (i briefly explain a few of the key differences).  Where did you learn about meteors?"
Daniel:  "From Tudor at school"
Me:       "Cool"
Daniel: "Well, a meat eater is a T-Rex"
Me:      "Well, glad we got that straight."

Quote of the Day, Week, Year

This photo was taken this morning right after Daniel said:

"Me and Lucy are in love!"

Daniel, please continue to melt my heart.

Daniel & Connor: The Comedians

Daniel, Connor and I were playing with our neighbor's new dog, Buddy.  Our walk home ended up being all about funny ways to say "Buddy".  These kids are a couple of stand-up comics, but I mostly love how Connor covers his eyes, shakes his head and says "THAT'S CRAZY" anytime we make a funny joke!

These boys make my heart melt!