Pumpkin Carving

A wee bit tardy, but still fun!  Pumpkin carving with the Leaghi's!

Trips to the Pumpkin Patch

Since Gilana cant stop talking about her experiences here, I might as well just post these shots late so you all can know what she's blabbering about.  The girls and I got to go twice this year!  First with E-E, Uh-Oh, and Nanna, then with Daddy!
(Lots of images in this post)

An evening at the park

For Lizzie

Hotel Stay

Yesterday the girls and I drove to Irvine to surprise Byron for his 30th birthday.  He is down here on business and we couldn't possibly leave him all by his lonesome on this most excellent occasion.  The trip went very well and both girls took turns napping.  Gilana offered Daddy a "Surprise!" a couple minutes after he had entered the room where we'd been hiding.  We had bribed begged the security at the front desk to give us a room key, I played the "but I am his wife and these are his precious babies and it is his birthday, we MUST surprise him!" So they graciously consented and we hung out in his hotel room bathroom for an hour smashing goldfish crackers on the floor (btw-- great activity for keeping a toddler and babe happy while awaiting din din and Daddy).

A problem arose today when trying (and failing to put Camelia down for her morning nap.  Though terribly exhausted, it was MUCH to hard for her to fall asleep alongside Gilana's "quiet time" noises.  So, I did what any resourceful mother would; the babe along with her Pack'n Play went into the bathroom and she went to sleep almost immediately.  Gilana announced to me shortly thereafter that "Ma sleeping in toilet!"  Close, sweetheart, but goodness no! 

Next event on the agenda was graciously announced as a little fluffy head perked out from her reading "Gigi pee pee in underwear."  With the bathroom out of commission I could only whip off her soiled clothing and paste a diaper on her bottom.

More adventures are sure to follow!

ROUS

We have a problem.  It appears as though our resident rodent is of no mean size or physical strength.  Take, for example, a loaf of bread.  Last night it sat atop the island counter.  This morning at 800 hours it was discovered, or should I say a greatly reduced portion was discovered, on the nearby floor.  Uh, oh.

Tickle-me Camelia

Our little darling has learned a few new tricks recently.  The cutest is that she has found great joy, both in being tickled, and in tickling.  She reaches out with a delighted shrill "coochee-koo!" and tickles with reckless abandon.  Most frequently, she tickles herself!  So CUTE.  Other times the honor is bestowed upon Gigi, myself, Sushi, or even a stuffed animal. I am so smitten with this little munchkin.

Camelia being tickled

In other news, she just started saying "Ba-ba" for the moments when she tries to pilfer Gilana's evening bottle.  Camelia loves pretending to talk on the phone and can be overheard cooing away to her faithful listener amidst quiet ponderings as she graciously listens for response. She is practicing with the "Da" sounds and hopefully will call for her Daddy soon!

Pacifier

We happened to find one of these for under $10

Today is a rather momentous occasion in the life of our Gilly-bean.  Last minute I decided not to go with Byron on his business trip and decided to dedicate this time to weaning Gilana from her "Ya-yas."  We started the process by going to the store where Gilana picked out a "new present" for herself.  She paid for it with a sum of two Ya-yas and told me she was "very excited" to see her new toy "at home in room."  We bought a kids discovery toy jelly-fish night light tank in hopes it would be both a good reminder of where her pacis went, and a distraction from the pain of no longer having that comfort.

The night started out great until she lay down without one in her hand and then wailed for comfort of Mama.  I rocked and soothed her for a while, but now she is moaning upstairs for a "New One!!!"  It is sad to hear, but hopefully she will get past this soon.  

Thankful

I am so thankful to be a wife, a mother, a friend, to the sweet beloveds of my life.  I read a quote this morning that put a great sense of joy in my heart at the blessings I am bestowed with. 

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

~ Frederick Koenig

My life is full, my daughters are healthy, beautiful, delightful reflections of the Lord's kindness to us, and my husband... well, there is not an effectively magnanimous way to truly express the grace I experience in my sweet life-mate. He is my heart's completion, my encouragement towards every good thing, the person I hope best to please, and the one I often fail, though in his kindness to me, the man whose smile encourages me ever onward. I rejoice in the blessings so striking in this abode of home.

Gilana is Two!

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence


Our precocious little toddler is an official two-year old, and she is happy to tell you about it. Gigi will readily declare a great many other things as well. Things such as,

"Cameresies (her new nickname for Camelia), come here!"
"No, Ma (also Camelia)."
"It's so fun! Watch, Mommy!"
"No touch, Ma"

She and her sister will jabber away on their make believe cell phones --or real ones if available-- and tell the world their delightful musings. Camelia is currently grunting on her apple while Gilana demands, "No Ma, eat the apple!"

Gilana had a delightful time on her birthday.  Mopsy and Popsy also came over and they brought a present.  "Yay!" Gilana exclaimed as she tore through the wrapping, "a Puzzle!"  Gigi and I baked a cake, then made frosting, coated both layers in the lovely sweet goo, showered it with sprinkles, then leaned forward --hesitantly-- and took a big BITE!    That night we all sang happy birthday (it's a favorite song around here, she blew out her candles, then ate some more "Yummy cake, please."

The next morning Gilana opened another present from Mommy and Daddy and that evening opened her most excellent gift from Auntie Tammy.  The girls went crazy over a ball-popping contraption that plays multiple songs and shoot balls out and then sucks them back in.  This item caused a dancing extravaganza, which Gilana requested to play with first thing this morning.  A big hit!

There are more birthday festivities to report, but this must suffice for now!

New Chairs

The girls really like their new chairs from Miss Dorice

 And they REALLY like each other

Thoughts of my Sweetheart

Yesterday I heard an ad on the radio that immediately brought me thoughts of my beloved.  It went something like this:

"First came the granola bar.  Then they covered it with caramel, put a smattering of M&Ms on top, and sprinkled Gummy Bears over it all...it just goes to show you how a good thing can go terribly wrong!"

Wrong!?  I was getting so excited about this fantastic concoction.  Anything topped with Gummy Bears is certain to please Byron.  This ad had it all wrong.

Can you guess what this advertisement was for?

23 and 10 Months

Quite a few rather momentous changes and happenings around here.  First of all, a delay in blogging because of illness.  Gigi and I both got food poisoning a couple nights ago, so we are gradually recovering and getting back to eating normal portions of food.  It wiped me out!  So sad to see little Gilana terrified of illness coming, her Daddy was an awesome trouper, sitting up at night with her and   cleaning the mess after it was all over.  He took incredible care of us all.  He sure is sittin' up high on that white horse of his!

Camelia.  My sweet little flower is growing up. It is lovely to watch, but a little sad at the same time.  Toddler-hood will soon be upon us and the baby-stage is leaving as I pack up all the baby gear for hopeful future use.  Camelia can say "Mama" as of the last two weeks.  She has taken four or five steps on her own.  She can sign "all done" when she is through eating.  She drinks through straws, sippy cups, tries to climb.  She has a sensitive spirit and is quick to protest some perceived injustice by an instant pout of the lower lip, crying out, then falling over and wailing.  She is our drama queen. Camelia requires a great deal of cuddles and gentle attention and is STILL a total Mama's girl!

Camelia enjoys her morning task of saying good morning to Gigi... and the girls adore each other with hugs, kisses, tackles, exclamations of delight and sweet countenance.  Precious sisters.  Gilana likes to look out for her little sis.  Any request for a morsel of food from Gilana is accompanied by a second request for "Ma," (Camelia).  Gilana likes to shake the maracas, but when she wants to use them, they become "Gigi-racas" rather than "Ma-racas!"

Gilana continues to amaze us with her daily increasing vocabulary and sentence structure.  This morning Gilana spoke of "Camelia's bread" instead of how she previously would have expressed "Ma brea."  She is growing up so much!  Gilana likes to try and put her own shoes on, pick out her clothes, open doors, stir batter in baking prep, instructs her sister on what is right, and give orders around the place.  When she (or anyone else for that matter) is injured, she immediately requests her "Boo boo Buddy" (pink cat-shaped ice pack) from the freezer and up receipt of the item, declares the injury "All better!"  Instant heal!  Gilana is quite free with her kisses and will readily kiss an "owie" to receive the same results.

We love these precious blessings.

Last Night

 It started out as a typical evening 

(other than the dinner fare of course)

 

You might be interested in knowing how we concluded last evening.  

Well, if this morning is any indicator, 

Gilana requested that I make her "Dolly Fly!"

Training for Church

Gilana and Camelia have been having a rough time with the church nursery and we have been at our wits end trying to figure out how to get our family happily attending church.  After listening to the counsel of some parents of large families (one with 9 kids!) we have determined upon a route.  I will be training the girls to sit quietly for increasing periods of time every morning towards the end of having them sit through a service at church with us without being distractions!  We have seen this done with other young children, so we know that our aspirations (though high) are not unreasonable.  Now the only issue we face (other than Gigi and Meli's opposition) is my diligence.  Pray for diligence in this worthwhile cause!

This morning's quiet time went great for Gilana.  The picture says it all!