Mom and the Frat Boys

This past weekend my mom and I took the girls to visit grandma and grandpa. Coming home we were stopped on highway 57 for about an hour. There was a flipped over car about a mile ahead. I have been stopped in traffic but this was a first. People were walking up and down the highway making friends and passing word along. We were lucky enough to have been stopped near a highway patrol officer that just got off work who was giving us a play by play. We were also fortunate it was only an hour and that the weather was so great. It turned a negative situation into a slightly festive one. I felt like I was tailgating in fact we started joking with these college kids and a lady from Georgia. There was a softball team that was late for the game and other kids being bounced on the side of the road. Not one person seemed angry or hostile it was a very jovial experience. My girls were amazing! Nessa fussed only for a bit and Maise sat there singing and chatting the whole time. Maise gets extra points because minutes before we came to a stop I promised her milk and we were out. Check out our highway 57 party!

Have a great week!

Well Shit!

Disclaimer: You will all be glad that I didn't post pictures!

So yesterday morning the girls and I got up slowly as we didn't have any morning plans.  Joe had left for work and left me my coffee...it was perfect! So relaxing! The girls were sitting together on the floor laughing and playing and I took the opportunity to check a quick email.  Well that's when I heard Maise say "Momma, Nessa Poo Poo."  I tell her I am on the way and seriously I was less than 3 feet away with the door open. But when I walk in I find that Maise was not calling to have me change Nessa she was calling out to inform me that she was changing Nessa.  I thought I had a mess when Maise found the powder - I will spare you details except that Maise had the one diaper off and one on the side and a baby wipe.  Poor Maise might of been alright if Ness was not such a spin and twirl kinda gal.  I give the kid credit she did pretty good.  What a fun Sunday!  

1-2-3-4-5-6 Here I come!

Hiding go seek is Maise's new favorite game. Uncle C taught it to her and she thinks it is the COOLEST. She likes both hiding and seeking but is very demanding about the order. She will run up to you and say count and that means you are on. It is so funny when you are counting because when you start looking for her she runs right out. Guess she doesn't want the searcher to stress. When she counts you better be quick because she only gives ya till 6 or 10 and comes searching. She is pretty good at that part and actually likes a challenge. Maise has really been diggin' (literally) the sand box lately. Mom and dad finally got smart enough to bring our own shovel and bucket to the park.



Vanessa is crawling so well she will follow you from one point of the house to the other. It is awesome having her able to do that. She still is very clingy but I think her new found skills are going to do wonders in the confidence department. Vanessa is also well on her way to being a UFC Champion, THANKS JOE! Yep daddy has been teaching the girls to wrestle and Vanessa seems to be the girl with the upper hand. She has no fear and will go right for Maise when she is ready to play.



This week I learned why I love Ebay and I hate craigslist...well hate is strong but I really became aggravated with craigslist this week. I have done ebay many times for years now and never had the stress that I had last week selling baby items. These people were nuts, wanting pictures of the seams and such. They were calling daily to ask more and more questions. I was so done by Friday that I was ready to drop it all off in one full swoosh to the women’s center near work. But I took a deep breath and wound up making a little bit cash on the items my girls can't use and helped some families that really needed a good deal. I have been in my cleaning/organizing frenzy and was ready to let go. After the irritation with craigslist I went back to ebay and sold everything in record time with only one question..."Will I ship to Brazil?"...sure why the heck not! Clean simple business. I totally heart ebay. I can actually see some floor in my attic...I can't wait to fill it back up. NOT REALLY!



Sorry for the delay this week in posting but I really have a TON of stuff going on. I am looking forward at 2 weeks kind of-off, so that I can get some activities and pictures posted for all of you.



Have a great week!

Pete Da Butta

This week Maise named her little people; Ciselle, Buddy, Gordy, Goshi, Nicole, and Jo. it is so crazy I don't even know where she got the names from but we were sitting and playing with our friends and I asked what one of the girls name was and she said Ciselle without skipping a beat. We continued and I tested her to see if she remembered. The wild thing is she did remember which one was which and continues to call them by their new names.

Vanessa is rocking on those knees like a crazy girl. She is pushing all over the floor this girl will be full time crawling in less than two weeks. BET! She can already cover some major territory just pushin'...this is going to be one busy summer. She is still working on holding on to couches and such but not really making the effort to walk. When in her exersaucer she looks like she is free standing. Vanessa is a very strong girl; her big trick of the week is gliding off the couch feet first on her belly. It is very cute but the poor kid just can't figure out what to do once she lands.

Mothers Day Maise said "Happy Mommas Day, Mommy" and gave me a big huge. I am such a lucky woman. I was so excited that she did that. Really made my day; I got to wake up and enjoy a slow morning with my family; Joe ran out to grab us coffees and then we cleaned up the yard and planted cherry tomatoes and attempted to plant some flowers. I say attempted because Maise was determined to not let that happen. I had this wonderful idea about planting in her sensory table and she had a better idea...use it AS A SENSORY TABLE...Duh! MOMMA!

Check out our Mother's Day Planting Pictures at The Rainy Day Toddler!

My Mother's Day gift to me is a shiny new laptop. I am so excited I have never owned one. I feel like such a big girl. I can't wait to go use it in public, lol, look at me working on the go. (Nerd!) After our gardening adventure we ran out to pick it out. Boo Hoo I went home without it. But that was so they could hook it up for me and then as always my schedule got CRAZY and it is still sitting at Staples. I will pick her up tonight...WOO HOO!

This weekend is our MARCH OF DIMES WALK anyone that still wishes to donate can visit my donations page today!! We are almost at our goal, I thank all of those that have already contributed and urge the rest of you to join me in helping save lives!!

Oh yeah some of you may still be wondering what's up with the title of this blog post. Well let me clarify:

In Maise Speak Pete Da Butta means Peanut Butter...I am not normally a fan of baby talk but how cute is that? It is a pretty log word. Also this week we learned a new song - Sticky Sticky Bubble Gum. Cute song but cutter when sung by Maise...Sticky Sticky Bumblebum!

These are some pictures from Mother's Day of Maise washing her ride...

Have a Great Week!

No! Maise Dood it.

Everything lately is "Maise dood it". She really is enjoying her steps towards independance. Her jacket, her clothes, her shoes, it's wonderful! We must allow more time to get out of the house now but it is great to see her try and learn. Even when we pick her up from the sitter she goes and gets her shoes and gets ready to go. Wow! What a big girl seriously when did this happen? I guess I better get used to it, she will be 2 at the end of the week.

Vanessa Dufenschmirtz is the most zurberting baby in the world! It is so cute, most of the time! Although sometimes I think she gets carried away and just spits at me? Hum?? She seems sweet BUT sometimes those are the ones you gotta watch out for. Vanessa got a new name this week, from her big sister of course. Apparently Maise is bored with just plan Nessa and now calls her sister Onessa. Sounds kind of fancy! Our little Vanessa turns 6 months this week, as if it was not hard enough getting used to the idea that Maise will be two but now Nessa is 6 months. In the voice of Red Sandford "My heart, My heart"! Just as I was hoping my Nessa is sitting up all by herself. It took some intense work this week but look what we can do:

(Yes she did go thump at the end...but she did great up to that point!)

Ok I am off to a busy week getting ready for my big girls party.

Have a great week!

Snow, Snow, and Corn Starch?

The Blizzard of 2011! Our girls experienced their first severe weather event. How crazy was that storm? We were very lucky to all get to stay home together as a family the first two days. It was amazing sharing pictures with all our friends and family online all day, it really was a community effort. Joe got out early to clear some paths we could not wait to see the girls react to the snow. Maise loved it! Last year she seemed to like it but this year she was able to play and jump and get her hands cold and wet. Vanessa was not to thrilled but I bet next year she will be more into it. Maybe she would have liked it more if I didn't dress her like the poor kid from Christmas Story!

Maise and Joe lasted a lot longer out in the frozen tundra than Nessa and I. While the two of us were back inside getting nice and warm Daddy and Maise were sliding down the many alley slops. Classic Joe with no hat but look if you look closely you will see that he is wearing gloves.

Lesson # 476 in raising a toddler: NEVER trust a quiet toddler. It was just a few minutes of quiet and my mother and I were very relaxed as Nessa laid there finally asleep in my arms. I got up to try and put her down for her nap and as I walked into my room I found a corn starch covered Maise atop her changing table having the time of her life. She didn't get in trouble as this was ALL my fault, but it was kinda funny. I don't think I have ever seen my mother laugh so hard in her life. There was corn starch everywhere; in the closet, on the walls, the floor, her body, her clothes, the back of the changing table, my bed...need I continue? Oh Maisley!

My poor poor Nessa is starting to get some teeth. She turns 5 months this week and that is only a month away from when Masie got hers. She is having a hard time sleeping and is always chewing her arm. When you try and snuggle and hold her she will even try to eat you. It's so funny when she is close up, she looks like a very hungry fish just smacking her mouth and thrashing around. She will kind of use teethers but not really, I keep checking to see if they are popping yet but still no visual. I sure will miss that toothless smile.

Wrapping up the week please enjoy our video of Maise the Amazingly Talented Spinning Wonder Girl!

Have a good week!