Arctic Blast 2008

We got 8 inches of snow, followed by a quarter inch of ice on top. No one is going anywhere. This weather is insane. Lila liked to play in the snow before the ice hit. Check it out. I'm also posting a sweet photo by the Christmas tree.

Wintry Weather

It's cold here. In the teens. I mean really cold. Lila doesn't really like the cold, the snow is "okay." Cherie took her pretend sledding, and despite the looks of these photos, she hated it. She must've caught her before the terrifying sled down the hill (more like a bump).

Another month, gone!

It's been a month since my last blog entry, and I can't even tell you what's happened. We've been busy, I suppose. Thanksgiving came and went, and now we're gearing up for Christmas. Lila is now 22-months old and already hitting some terrible two-ish behavior. But, I'm just gonna post some videos so you can see it all for yourself. I hope to do a more thorough blog after we visit Santa this weekend. Be warned, the first video is graphic, although it contains a very important accomplishment. If you're a parent, you probably won't mind. If you're not, you might want to think twice about hitting play!

Enjoy!



Lila put on her shoes all by herself, and sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to celebrate. (Only her parents can tell that's what she's singing)



Lila is bananas for this show that used to be on HBO on demand (she's still asking for it, even though it's long gone. Never fear, I hear she's getting the DVD for Christmas). Anyway, this is her, cozy in the laundry basket, watching it, narrating it, and telling us the name of all the puppies on the show).



Lila helped us decorate the Christmas Tree. And, I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised at her ability to leave it alone (so far, there aren't any presents underneath it yet!)

New Video!

Here's the new video I promised. In it, you can hear the "no" Lila has perfected:

November Rain

Well, the rainy season has started here in Portland, but I'm feeling ready for all the things that come with it. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, and I'm very excited for all the memories that will come with them. LMCP will, no doubt, be way more into the holidays this year, and that makes me excited for them. Lila is asking Santa for a play kitchen, and I have it on good authority he'll come through. We've been busy lately. Busy with work, busy with Halloween (a huge success!) and busy just trying to keep up with everything. I haven't been very good a keeping up with the blog, but I'm trying. Our lives will take a dramatic shift next week, when I start working days. I got a promotion that will have me working 8-5. I'm a little sad about losing my one-on-one time with LMCP, but I'm gaining family time at night, which is something I've been wanting for years. So, overall, it's a good move for us, but it'll take some time to get used to it. We're very lucky that we have two grandmas around to help take care of Lila. And Cherie will be with her 3 (long) days a week. That brings me a little relief!

So, now that the election has passed, I'm diving right into some half-hour specials at work, which is very exciting. But, I have some tight deadlines coming up. I may have to pop into work this weekend to get a jump on them.

Well, here's what you're waiting for. New photos of LMCP. I haven't taken any video lately, but really need to get on that. (I found a funny video Cherie took, I'll try to post it later today!) Lila is saying all kinds of new things everyday. Things that I'm not sure how she learned (except for a certain swear word-- I'm pretty sure I know how she learned that).

Hayride to pumpkin patch:

So much to explore!

Too busy to really pose for a family photo:

Snuggling with Grandma:

Back to finding the perfect pumpkin:

She loved her pumpkin so much, she was hugging it-- but the pictures are too blury to tell. This is LMCP getting to "know" her pumpkin:

Then, this is her terrified of the insides:

Halloween night, taking a trick-or-treating break:


"Trick or Treat!"

This house was a little too scary:

Daddy & Pumpkins!

Posing in front of a spooky house!

Hope everything is well with you. I'm going to try to get back to more regular updates. And, I feel I've neglected my 90210 obsession--but fear not, I'm watching weekly, and still love the show (except I really can't stand Naomi and I can't wait to see what kind of tragedy lies ahead for her!).

Halloween is Coming

Lila is very excited about Halloween coming. I don't know if she really "gets" it, but Cherie has been very busy getting her ready -- making decorations and dressing LMCP up. In fact, Lila's room is covered in Halloween decorations, spooky ghosts and orange pumpkins hanging from the ceiling. Everytime Lila walks in there, she points at them and says "Whoa!" She loves it. I don't know if she'll be into the trick or treating, but we're going to at least try a couple of neighbors' houses. Here's a look at how Lila's getting ready to celebrate:

LMCP is going as a "Chicago Bears Cheerleader," although she was embarassed to admit it after last week's humbling loss to Atlanta.


She likes to pose for pictures, especially in front of these homemade decorations:



I think she'd rather go as a cowgirl, especially after our friends Baby Charlotte and Melinda got her this fabulous pink cowgirl hat. Charlotte and Baby Eliza have them, too. It seems to be an all-around winner. Thanks, Melinda!


I think we'll stick with the Bears, even though they don't deserve such an adorable cheerleader. Is it just me or does she look 3 in this picture? I can't believe how big she's getting.


I've been plagued by a nasty cold all week, I had to stay home on Thursday, and promptly slept about 17 hours. Here's hoping LMCP and Daddy don't get it. I'm feeling a little better today, and am trying to rally for work, and a big weekend ahead. I'll post pictures from our big adventures next week!
Have a great weekend!

October, already?

Time sure is flying by. Maybe because I've been so busy at work, or maybe because LMCP keeps us so busy. The child never stops moving. This weekend, Chad and I are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it. I remember when we got married, thinking, "man, when we've been married 5 years, I'll be the same age as Chad is today!" It's true, we made it. It seemed like it would take so long to get here, but, I've got to say, time really flies by. And it helps that I'm still in love with my husband. Especially when I see what a good dad he is to our little Chicken Pants.

We went to the beach last weekend with all of Chad's family (okay, most of the family), and we had a lot of fun. Lila sure loves to play with her cousins, Bella and Emmie. And, we are so excited to see baby Madelyn growing in Auntie Kim's belly. She'll be here before we know it. On our beach adventure, Lila did lots of running around, and even got her first bloody nose! Oh no! But, she's okay--and really didn't seem too stunned 10 minutes after it happened. We dined on some fresh-caught dungeness crab from the bay. The men did such a good job catching them. Here are some pictures from our beach trip! We can't wait until the next one...


Lila and Emily with Auntie Krista:



Bella and Lila playing!



Lila and Daddy checking out the big catch!



Do they know how delicious they are?



They're just beaming with pride, aren't they?



Dummy Rummy, and Dummy Autumn for drinking too much tequila!
Look at how many cards Papa is holding! That was before they all shot out of his hand!



LMCP, the true Oregonian, standing out in the rain!



Bella was much more interested in her dad's iPhone than taking this picture!



Emmie & Lila, hard to believe they're just 8 months apart. Emmie is such a big girl! And, LMCP is showing off her new camera face. She loves having her picture taken, and likes to practice the "flytrap" smile, which is all the rage in Hollywood!

It's Fall

There was a crispness in the air today that can only mean one thing: fall has arrived! I'm excited. That means football and home cookin' and lots of hanging around the house. I'm sure LMCP won't be as excited, as she thinks playing outside is her job. Technically, I guess it is, although she likes to do it for free. So, as long as it's not raining, we have to be sure to get her out in the cool weather so she can enjoy everything she's come to love about outside: flowers, dirt, water, bugs, bubbles, apples, slides, balls, sidewalk chalk, and on and on. Here are some recent pics of our girl out and about (and in, too). Also, check out our latest professional photo session. Click on proofs, and enter "foster" as the password. It's worth the trip!

Work Distractions

So, we're so busy at work, that the smallest little thing is enough to distract you for hours. Like this website my work buddy, Justin (shout out, playa), sent to me. I could look at it for hours. Now, I'm sharing it with you so you'll be distracted, too.

Off to Work!

I have a very typical routine when I head off to work that involves me grabbing my purse and giving LMCP lots of kisses and "bye-byes."

This morning, Lila kept grabbing her purse and slinging it over her shoulder, doing a similar routine. She even tried to unlock the front door.

You decide: is this my child acting out because she's devastated when I leave for work everyday, or is she imitating the strong female role-model she has in her life? I pick #2.

Sleep-Over (at least for an hour or two)

Lila just loves her buddy, Natalie. They have a lot of fun running around together. Nattie Bug is 4 months older than Lila, so she has lots of stuff to teach her. Natalie spent some time with us (along with her Mommy & Daddy) on Saturday night. Here's a picture of the big girls getting ready for bed time. I think we're in real trouble when they get bigger and plot ways to sneak out of the house while their parents are busy drinking beer and playing cards. I hope that doesn't happen until they're much, much, much bigger. In the meantime, we'll continue our sometimes-Saturday night psuedo-sleep overs (Nattie went home with Mom & Dad around midnight!)

Potty Training

Cherie has been very good about working with Lila on the potty. They have a routine, and LMCP hasn't really had too much success, which is fine because we're just trying to get her used to the idea of going on the potty at this point. In this first video, you can see part of the routine. What you don't see is right after Cherie turns the camera off, she recognized that LMCP might really have to go. In a hurried attempt to make it happen, Cherie quickly got Lila on the potty, and there was some success (video #2). But, what I never anticipated is how traumatic it might be for Lila, which you can see in the second video. You'll be happy to know she fully recovered, got some stickers, and even a candy treat for going like a big girl. (LMCP will kill me when she's 16 and sees this video, and finds out I posted it online -- but it's all part of the effort to keep family and friends in the loop about her growth! Forgive Mommy, Lila!)
Warning: You may see some graphic video of urine.

Pre-Potty Video



Post-Potty Video

9021-oh yeah (SPOILERS!)

I watched it, and I loved it. The critics are lukewarm on it... but I loved it. Honestly! Maybe it's because I don't watch Gossip Girl, or maybe it's because I can allow my mind to go blank and just go with the flow? What ever the reason I fell in love with the new 90210, I'll take it.

Annie and Dixon are too cute. I love the whole Kelly/Brandon baby mystery (c'mon, is it really a mystery?), and the whole Harry/Tracy baby (man) mystery. I enjoyed Ethan, even though he started out dirt bag -- and I love, love, love Ryan! He's so cute. You know this whole him-Kelly thing isn't going far, if he got her to go on a date the first episode. Loved Erin Silver, and I heard her blog is a real website (despite the fact that the farm scene was a total jib-jab ripoff)! Next week's episode looks great-- Jackie's hitting the booze and Kelly is determined to stop her. I think there's just the right mix of old and new in the beginning, and I'm sure that'll fade away as the new characters build up steam and we care about them.

Predictions:
--Andrea will make a cameo at some point, after seeing Hannah Zuckerman-Vasquez on the school news show (hilarious comment about her being 30)
--There will be a 20-year original reunion with LOTS of original castmembers, even those who weren't interested in being on the show, because it'll be a ratings bonanza (remember when they pretended they were doing a 10 year reunion, and instead had them all sit on the set and talk about their "memories" -- lame!)
--Harry's "Son" with Tracy is Ryan
-Dixon will NOT get a job at the Peach Pit (loved Nat! loved "The Pit" -- the new version of the "After Dark" Steve Sanders must be so proud)

Well, my DVR is set on the season pass, so unless they do something to really tick me off, I now consider this appointment viewing. Your thoughts?

Hurry, Grab the Camera

You can't recreate the magic that is an 18-month old child. I tried. In this video, you'll see LMCP looking at me strangely, wondering why I'm asking her to sing a song she just finished rocking out to. You see, she was singing along to this cool tune on Sesame Street, and when I determined it was just too cute to miss, it was over. So, I had to rewind it (thank you, DVR!) and tried to get LMCP to perform again. There are a few selected hits, but mostly misses. Mom needs to become a faster draw with the camera.

9021-what?

I've come to a sad realization, and that is I do not have the life if leisure I had when the original 90210 series was on the air. I tell you this, because instead of watching the 2-hour premiere I tivo'd this morning, I instead went to the grocery store, got ready for work, had a 45 minute work conference call, played with Lila, and worked to unclog my bathtub. So, I guess I'm not as big of a fan as I claim to be. Or, I'm just a grown-up with grown-up responsibilities that interfere with my TV viewing. What a sad day. You can expect a full report once I have time to sit down and enjoy the show. All apologies to those of you waiting patiently for my take on this new series. I'll do my best not to read any online reviews between now and then, and once I post my analysis, please feel free to contribute to the converstation. Until then...

Big Girl Slides!

Just came across this video that Cherie took at the park. You can see LMCP clearly has no fear. Don't ask why she was wearing that adorable dress to the park. I don't know the answer.

Fairs, Galore!

Since we got to spend a long weekend together, Mom and Dad decided LMCP needed to get out and do something! So, on Saturday, we packed up the wagon and headed to the Oregon State Fair. Grandma Virjean got to come, too. We spent a lot of time in the petting zoo, which was only semi-interesting to LMCP -- and terrifying for Grandma, especially when a deer kept trying to eat her shirt. A different deer was licking my back, so apparently they're not getting a lot of that food that you have to pay $2 to get. Here are some pictures from our first time at the fair. I'll bet next year will be even more fun for LMCP.





Then, on Monday, Mom and Dad took LMCP to "Art in the Pearl," a fancy art show with some bands and delicious treats. I think Auntie Amie should plan on coming to the show next Labor Day weekend, because there were lots of metalsmith jewelry artists charging beaucoup bucks for their stuff, and hers is WAY MORE beautiful, and would sell well in a trendy art show like this one. So, Auntie Amie -- you should check it out and get in that fair!!

LMCP didn't really care for the art (what can I say, we're not artsy people). But she did enjoy some music on the World Music Stage. Well, she enjoyed it for a minute. She really enjoyed the fact that we let her out of her stroller, and she got to check stuff out. You'd think of all the things going on around her, she'd be interested in people, kids, dogs (okay, she was interested in the dogs) or food -- but not my girl. Instead, she was quite taken with a pile of chairs set out for anyone to grab as they listened to music. No one came near them though, because LMCP staked her claim to them, and guarded them with her life. Here's the series of events, as they unfolded.

"Hmm, this music is okay, but I think I'd like to check out some other... Hey, look at that those chairs over there, that looks like more fun."

"Wow, they're letting me go, I can't believe it, they're going to let me climb on stuff!"


"Ooooh, this is fun. Look at how good I am at climbing on these stacked up chairs."


"Woah, they're looking at me. Are they going to make me stop? I'd better look cute so they let me continue..."


"Wow! This is the best day ever! I can't believe I got to spend 20 minutes climbing on something that really could've hurt me, especially when I almost bit the dust several times. Thanks, Mommy & Daddy!"