Montecito Mama

I love weddings. Well, there is the cake, obviously. And a good excuse to get dressed up and indulge in an excess of family photographs. But a good thing gets a bazillion times better when my very own kids get to participate in the wedding party. There just isn't any greater parenting reward then to see them walking down the aisle, all spit-shined, tuckedin, fluffed up, triple combed and acting their Sunday best. I puff up with each overheard whisper of "aren't they adorable" and "they are just precious" and frankly, I couldn't agree more. Strangers ask to photograph them or be photographed with them, and I begin to think about renting them out professionally. Further, the enormity of the occasion forces them to become still and quiet. Still AND quiet, I said! (Well, technically, Lucie wasn't completely silent. She did walk down the bridesmaid line-up asking each one the name of their favorite princess.) I am so so proud. Don't ...

Our baby is a baby no more. At 21 months, Violet grows longer by the hour, stretching out that precious baby chub. We are down to one last luscious thigh roll. Her hair retains a natural baby mullet, but when I twist it into two piggy tails at the back of her head, that dimpled smile and those sweet round cheeks melt all resolve. Although she still isn't talking, a few words have started to emerge. "Toodles" and "hot dog," both learned from her favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show, aren't terribly helpful in deciphering her foot-stomping finger-pointing grunts. She'd follow Lucie to the moon, but won't hesitate to defend herself with a nasty bite. I'm not sure we'll ever convince her to give up milk bottles. In the meantime, I'm enjoying all of the nigh-night cuddles that I can. Even petite little Lucie is growing. She's thrown nearly all of her beloved uh-ohs away, hanging on to a last lone pink one with typical ferocity. She wi...

"Mommy, I'm trying hard to only think about punishing thoughts, but it is so boring and happy things keep getting in!"