Date Night

Daddy had a work function tonight at a local museum and he wanted to take a date. Bella picked out a dress and some sandals and I did her hair up in two knots. She asked to have her toe nails painted. Of course, she picked red vs. one of the "age appropriate" colors I have for her. Oh well, a girl wants what she wants.

They had a blast. We went last year but she was a little young to really enjoy everything. We will definitely frequent the place in the future. She came home to tell me that a boy (a colleague's 2 year old son) kissed her on the hand and now he is her boyfriend! Daddy said that come tomorrow at work, they will no longer be her boyfriend - no boys according to Daddy.

Its tough living with these two cuties!

FYI: The pie, according to Bella, was "mmm, mmm, mmm - delicioso" (delicious in Spanish)

Evidently we liked it too since it was gone in about 24 hours between the three of us.

Strawberries!!

We have been wanting to go to the strawberry patch for a couple of weeks now but it has either been raining, too hot or someone has been sick. Our one sick team member used all the strength and wellness they gained overnight to pick stawberries. We promised Bella last night that we would go today and the first thing she said this morning was "I'm ready to go to the strawberry patch, Mommy." She was so excited!

It had rained last night so we anticipated some mud and so what else do we wear --

ladybug boots!

It didn't take long before the sampling started...

When one of the farmers saw us coming he said "Now there's a strawberry picker!"

"I found a baby one, Mommy!"

"Look at all these strawberries, Daddy!"

On the way home, Daddy wanted to stop at the grocery store to get some cool whip for the strawberry pie promised to him. Bella and I stayed in the car because we didn't bring a spare pair of shoes to wear. We sat about 30 seconds before I heard someone whisper "More strawberries please!" So I popped the hatch and here we were.

Once we got home, Bella's job was to wash the strawberries while I got everything else ready for our pie.

(yes, that's painter's tape on the counter...our kitchen remodel is not quite done)

Daddy joined in the fun!

five pounds of yummy goodness...

...made into one good lookin' pie

(my first time making a strawberry pie, so it may look pretty but taste nasty...we'll see later today)

nice fluted edge, eh?

Quasi Dress Up

I was organizing some of Bella's "future" clothes and we came across two items that she wanted to try on. The first one is what she called, her "Santa outfit". Of course, she had to try it on with no shirt on. It looks like it may fit next winter. Isn't she a doll? The second picture is what we get when you ask her to smile these days.

Here's my Guo in one of the traditional dresses we got in China. For some reason, I figured it would be awhile before she fit into it....WRONG.

Inside Joke

I have been dying to get this videotaped for a few weeks now and this has been the best I have gotten so far. The video isn't so hot, but the audio is great. She loses interest after the first minute and a half and I didn't have a chance to edit it to take the last minute off.

If you have known me (Mommy) from my younger years, you will die laughing. The funny thing is that she came home from school with this one. Next, we'll work on "JUMP! Shake Your Booty".

Annual Mother's Day Kiss Pics

2009

2008

One of us has more hair, one has darker hair....

When you ask Bella to smile for the camera these days...you get this:

Funny thing is when she sees pictures like this she points and says "I'm smiling!", so she is obviously trying. I seem to look a lot more tired than last year. A 2 year old keeps you on your toes.

Okay, time to call Angie and get my roots done.

Beach Fun

Dipping our toes in the water with Daddy

(hello - finally, Mommy takes a couple good pictures)

Making sand castles with Mommy

Nothing like a wet child playing in the sand to make things fun to clean up before getting in the car. Next time we will remember her "swim-soup".

Someone was a little tired after her afternoon on the beach...zonk city! Mommy and Daddy got ice cream cones at our favorite ice cream shop on our way out of town. B was wiped out - snoring, the whole bit. Wouldn't you know the second Daddy gets back in the car with 2 cones, someone starts to stir. We quietly eat our cones hoping she goes back to sleep. Nope...a few minutes down the road, we hear "Mommy - what are you eating?" followed by "Mommy has ice cream". Apparantly, she can see through the passenger seat to what I am doing better than she can see Daddy driver sucking down his cone.

We stopped for a potty break and someone got to pick out her own snack - Barnums Animal Crackers. Add the countless packs of festive "beach" fruit snacks (Nemo), goldfish crackers and two cherry splashes at the restaurant, she should have her sugar fill for a couple of days.

Happy Mother's Day!

My second mother's day and words cannot begin to express how amazing it is to be called Mommy. Our B is the light of our lives and Daddy did another amazing job capturing her sweet, beautiful and gentle spirit. I look forward to what the next year brings. Bella is excited to be a big sister and hopefully, we will see our baby's sweet face soon.

The neighbor boys are sweet on Bella!

John John shared his SpongeBob fruit snacks and juice box with the B.

Long Time, No Post

The B has been sick and Daddy even battled it one day. My strong immune system (knock on wood) has seem to fight it off once again. Bella had a respiratory virus again and we have been doing nebulizer treatments that really help.

Daddy managed to take a few random pictures over the weekend.

On Saturday, I had two patients and by the afternoon my patience was running out on listening to all the moaning, groaning, whining and crabbiness. I asked the troops what I could do to make them happy - money, food, a song and dance.......what? I'll do anything. Bella perks up, gives me a smirk and says "Smarties". Sure, why not - you haven't eaten much of anything in days. Daddy asked to be surprised and off to the grocery store I went. I brought home an arm full of cookies and candy and oh, were they happy! Never underestimate the power of sugar!

An empty Smarties sleeve...

Finally.......a smile!