He Turned 3

My baby boy that is. Don't know how that happened. Just know that I'm in some dangerous territory because 3 is not a baby anymore, but this boy happens to be my baby, which means I might be tempted to baby him just a little. This is dangerous all on its own, but it's especially dangerous when you're talking about a mother and a son. The H has already accused me of secretly plotting to one day enter Bubs and me in mother/son talent shows sporting matching sweaters ala Arrested Development. Guilty. I could also see myself being very open to the idea of him living at home for maybe a little longer than he should ala Wedding Crashers. "Hey Ma! Can we get some meatloaf?! Hey Ma! The meatloaf!!!" You call it disgusting. I call it endearing.Oh I'm only kidding. I would never wish/inflict upon my boy any of the above. No matter how much I may want to freeze him as he is right now this very day in all of his sweet-cheeked, good-natured, little guyness, I know he will continue to have birthdays and that's a very good thing. For this past one, he wanted a race car party so that's what he got. My mom said it best, "I don't think I've ever seen a little boy enjoy his birthday party more!" That's also a very good thing.

Bubs-Lander

Have to say, I've got the big-time, love-affair thing going on with my little boy these days. He's just so sweet, funny, delicious, and really, really, ridiculously good-looking. ;)

Two Snaps

My MIL picked up some Dapper Snappers for Bubs, and just like that his wardrobe doubled. I've been so frustrated because he has lots of pairs of really nice pants that have been forever languishing in his bureau because he's just not growing into them width-wise. We're talking size 18-24 month pants that keep falling off of my almost-3-year-old boy. But with these nifty things, suddenly all of his pants fit perfectly. They make them in girly colors too. So happy!

The Puzzler

And just like that, all he wants to do are puzzles. All of the time. Target's Dollar Spot can't spit them out fast enough for him. He's sleeping on top of one right now, as a matter of fact. A little strange, that one.

Four and Two

My bundles turned four and two earlier this year! Which was huge for me because I cannot tell you how many people, back when I was struggling with a terrible two and an infant, told me, "It's hard now, but just wait until they turn four and two. Life will get so much easier." So as much as I tried to live in the moment/savor each day/carpe diem (blah blah blah), 2010 was always kind of looming out there like the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Of course, as soon as we closed in on four and two, the new mantra I started hearing was, "Five and three. Those are the real golden ages." Figures. But this year still called for a celebration. So we did some Disneyland . . .. . . some Corvette Diner . . . . . . some Chuck E. Cheese . . . . . . some Wild Animal Park . . . . . . and some good old-fashioned family parties.

And I'm glad we did because so far, four and two have been pretty darn golden compared to those rockier early years. The best parts being that both kids can communicate and be reasoned with, for the most part. And they play together and love each other up like never before. So I think I can safely say, half a year in, that four and two was every bit worth the wait.

Basket Case

Folding laundry really ranks up there (down there?) on my list of least favorite domestic tasks.But this little love fest that my kiddies had in the laundry basket after I was done put a much-needed smile on my face.

It's a Girl (and a Boy) Thing

So now that I'm home with my kids all. the. time. it's impossible to find time to do those girly errands that I used to always knock out on my lunch hour. You know the ones. Where nails are concerned, I've just said, "F#$! it," and taken to dragging them along. In order to keep the peace, I of course had to let my girl in on the act and now, surprise, surprise, at the tender age of four she is already a little pedicurista. Which kills me since I think I got my first one at age 23 or something crazy like that.You can see she's way more adventurous than I am.And whose red toes are those??? I know, I know, but he hates to be left out, and he copies everything his big sister does, and all the ladies think it's so cute, and I only let him get a couple done, and I try to remember to remove the polish as soon as we get home. Good thing I've given up waxing. Well, good and bad. Ugh.

Early Winter

I didn't get the chance to recreate this photo shoot from Fall 2008. But I love these early winter shots of the kids taken last December just as much.What a difference a year makes.

My Guys

My guys have been spotted tooling around in these complementary sweatshirts and chapeaus since Christmas, thanks to my mom. It's one of the cuter things I've seen in a while.

Brother See Brother Do

Snook has a shadow these days, and his name is Bubs. Which is great for painting . . . . . . potty training . . . . . . and for generally acting silly. Not so great for playing tea-party-dress-up. But still so cute and gratifying to see how much he adores her.

Toob Crazy

These Toobs from Safari Ltd. are my new kids' toy obsession. Both S 'n' B gravitate toward small figurines, for some reason. I hear this about my friends' kids too, come to think of it. Easy enough for Snook, but poor Bubs has been playing with mini-princesses long enough. Last week, I finally found something called the Dino Toob, and now I'm out to collect all of them. There are pirates, zoo animals, steam trains, cars . . . all non-toxic, all super fun, all under $10. Even the caps are fun with their rotating globes. Great gift idea too!

Oktoberfest 2009

This year, my in-laws' annual Oktoberfest party felt more like Kidfest. I think there might have been two kids at the first one they threw, whereas this time there were easily thirty-two. And you never saw such happy kids, all of them enjoying the music, ball house and jumpy tent so much, while the adults drank responsibly, of course.

One of my main objectives at last Saturday night's Fest (in addition to sampling the German beer, gorging on as much roasted chicken, spaetzle, and Black Forest cake as possible, and avoiding the kazoos) was to get a good group shot of S 'n' B (aka Matilda and Dashiell) and their baby cousin, Kaylie.I got a cute shot of Snook.A couple sweet ones of Bubs in his lederhosen, which are big enough to last him for the next three or four Oktoberfests, I would think.And an unbelievably adorable shot of little Kaylie.I even got two really charming poses of the girl cousins together, wearing their matching pink and black polka dot outfits.But the group shot proved to be much, much more difficult. It's a wonder they're all in the same frame.

So after throwing in the towel on the cousin photo, I focused instead on taking some party-people pictures.My friends Reen, holding her precious 14-month-old Jayden, and Marcy, holding her handsome 20-month-old, Marcus.A close-up of Jayden.My SIL and BIL, Karen and Pete.My friend Krista's husband Gil, holding their beautiful almost-two-year-old, Maia.My friend Nina with her darling almost-one-year-old, Sophia.Karen, holding her girl.The H and Bubs.Marcy and me.

Want to see Marcy and me at the 2007 Fest, both about six months pregnant, both stuck drinking near beer?Sure, why not! Please don't kill me, Marc!

I wanted to take more photos of this year's festivities, but someone mistook me for the event photographer, so I decided to give it a rest. As always, it was a great, great party!