Little Miss Mimic

We all have them, right? Those moments when you freak yourself out because you sound exactly like your parents. It happens so naturally, next thing you know your mother is coming right out of your mouth. Well, now I am on the flip side of that seeing my daughter mimic me...both good and bad. It has really opened my eyes to see how we learn our little ticks and tricks from our influences. Some of my favorite recent moments in seeing me through Lexie...

When she turns on the light, she asks "Too bright?"

She "needs" everything; she does not want. For example, "Mommy I NEED juice.

Anyone will hand her something and she will say "Thank You". I am quite proud that she has figured out "please" and "thank you" before she is 2. Of course, she says "Tank Tou" in her cute little voice.

If anyone coughs, she will come over, pat their back and say "OK?" and sometimes we all pretend to cough to get a little pat on the back.

As she gets bigger, we have lots of talks about "big girl" things. So now there are certain things that she will only ask for like a big girl fork, sleep in a big girl bed and carry her big girl bag.

Since the day she was born we have said the Lord's Prayer before she goes to bed, a special traditional my grandmother started with me. Now she can say it on her own, and does every night before bed.

In the spring we have lots of family members that have birthdays, so we have had lots of celebrations recently. So any occasion whether it be mother's day, father's day or just a celebration dinner... she will sing "Happy Birthday to you."

My favorite out of all the mimicking is after we spent an afternoon with some friends whose son was running around a little out of control. My friends spent a lot of time saying "No Peter, no Peter." Lexie repeated that for the rest of the afternoon to everyone's enjoyment.

So yes, we have reached the age where I need to watch what I say, but it sure is fun to see what she picks up on and repeats.

Goodbye Michael Jackson...

I write this tonight in complete and utter shock, I thought I would be much older when reminiscing about Michael Jackson, but here goes...

I was at the perfect age when Michael Jackson got crowned the King of Pop and waited with baited breath for his next piece of music to excite us all. I grew up as Michael did in his career following every new release

I was 10 when Off the Wall came out. My friend Mandy and I would play that album over and over again (OK sometimes we would rotate with Styx Mr. Roboto) and make up our own dance moves, sing into the hairbrush, the TOTAL young girl cliche. I was young enough and my voice high enough that I could match his "whoo" at the beginning of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"

I remember seeing the Billie Jean video before I knew about the album. MTV was new at the time (and it was the time when they played videos non-stop). Wow! Walking to that forever-recognizable beat along the sidewalk that would randomly light up, you had me at Hello. Spending AGES trying to figure out what he was saying when he said "The kid is not my son." The album came out and again, I played it it non-stop. Even before "P.Y.T" was a single it was my favorite song.

I had this poster on my wall through out all of junior high school.

The videos were amazing. I remember I was the only one of my friends who owned the VHS video tape of the "Making of Thriller" with the "Thriller" video. We watched it non stop, non stop.

Thriller was the first CD I ever bought...when CDs first came out. I, of course, already owned the album.

I remember watching him on the Motown 25 show where he showcased the glove and the moon walk. I had "glove liners" that I wore skiing that were metallic and after that I walked around with it on my hand.

When he first became big, he was still touring with the Jackson 5. They did not come to Atlanta, the closest place was Jacksonville, FL. My dad got us tickets and we drove there to see him.

In high school, when it was un-cool to say you were a fan...this is long after Bad came out, I had tickets to see him and called all my friends to see him - he was an incredible entertainer, incredible.

So Michael thank you. Thank you for entertaining me. Thank you for getting me to unabashedly sing in the middle of my bedroom into my hairbrush trying to moon walk. You were my first entertainer that I was absolutely enamored with and you deserved it. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world. Thank you for giving a geeky pre-teen girl a reason to hang out with the cool kids and share in some great music.

You will be missed.

Jon & Kate: Separate - part deux

Ok, I know I won't be the first to use this phrase or the last for that matter. But the announcement we have all been waiting for happened tonight. So a couple of items, I did not seek out to watch this show tonight nor did I even know that it was a big announcement was about to happen tonight. I just happened to be in front of the TV when it all happened. Here is my next installment from this series.

I will start with a positive.......yeah don't have one. I am shocked at what i just watched. So I would like to address the rest of this to Jon and Kate, themselves.

Don't complain about the fact that paparrazi follows you when you decide to announce your separation on national cable TV. If you really wanted privacy, stop filming while you figured out "what is best for the kids." The paps are following you because you are feeding the fire and what few items you don't announce on your show (if there is anything you don't announce on TV anymore) they want to be the first to break. And please, please do not be so crass to compare yourself to soldiers fighting in Iraq. Yes they are fighting for our and others freedom. However, they are not complaining about it on national TV and forcing an audience to pick sides. The realize it is their duty and do it in silence, something you both could take a lesson from.

Also, do not say through this "the show must go on" because it does not. You have the choice to stop it. You should have stopped it before letting this play out on TV. I know you feel the desire to do this to provide for your children, but you have already made more money from this than the average family. Please stop financially benefitting from your demise, it is heart breaking.

You both seem to easily say that you do it for the kids, but do you know what that means? Have you thought about what your kids will think when they are young adults and watch all of this? Will they have deep anger and regret for your choices? Would they rather live in a smaller house and have a happy stable family or the large one that you and Jon will now take turns living in because it is the "kids" house. I hope your kids grow from this and learn lessons about choices they make in their lives. I hope they realize what support the 8 of them will always be for each other.

Again, I am sorry to have witnessed this. It is like the car accident on the side of the road, that you don't want to watch, but you look at anyway. I am officially done with this. I am happy to report that my time with JK+8 was only about 9 months, but I cannot condone this anymore. I am sorry that our society now deems the destruction of a family as "reality" TV. Since Jon and Kate don't have the strength to stop our ability to watch this, I wish that others would step in and do the right thing, but that is not the world we live in.

And you are right, I am not innocent in watching it and now blogging about it twice. But tonight pointed a finger at me too. If I want them to stop, then I need to. It is all cyclical and I take my responsibility.

I hope the "8" come through this strong and supportive for one another.

The 2 men in my life on Father's day

So let me be frank, I am a daddy's girl through and through. My parents divorced when I was very young, so my time with Mom and Dad was very limited when they were together and then the bulk of my life I was either with Mom or with Dad. I definitely thought that Dad was everything because living with him we took great trips, went shopping and oh he worked at the number 1 radio station at the time and we saw EVERY concert and I always got to meet the band. Poor Mom, then she would be left to discipline me and make sure I did my home work. No wonder I am a daddy's girl.

So first off, Dad thanks for everything. Thanks for vicariously living your childhood through me. All of the sailing trips, road trips, camps, concerts, gifts, Richie Rich comic books (total inside joke), time in the Caribbean, Manhattan and Florida, thanks. Thank you for being my professional mentor. I am only successful and have my work ethic because of you, and saw first hand how you devote yourself to a career and never knew any different. I hold a father/daughter relationship in high regard. And I know no matter how old we both get, I can always count on you if I need it.

So it is tough when a Daddy's girl gets married. You want to make sure your spouse-to-be is OK with hanging out with your Dad as much as you do. I am so lucky that is the case. The husband has even picked up the ability to make us the worst pun jokes EVER from my Dad, so I will always live with someone ready to crack a lame joke at the drop of hat. So the 2 men in my life get along great (as I type this they are actually our running errands together on Father's Day).

But husband, you blew me away with your ability to be a father. And let's face it, the bar was pretty high. However, I am the luckiest wife and mother ever. I have no complaints, you are an equal partner in parenting. We take turns with the bad diapers; I never need to remind you about her schedule and you don't have to be asked to give her a bath. You tend to get up with her at night more than I do lately and I am eternally grateful for that one. When you two have time on your own, you make up the most fun games or build the coolest furniture forts ever. You have a great relationship with Lexie and she has inherited your adventurous side, so I cannot wait to see what you all discover together. I can't wait to see how she becomes a Daddy's girl (I am already training her on the right kind of pout to get her way), because I know that she and I will share our extreme love for the devotion our Father's both have for us.

Dad, Craig....Happy, happy Father's Day.

Shredheads: I'm moving on up

So I have made through level 2, and I gotta tell you...I HATE PLANKS!! I mean in level 1 I hated jumping jacks, but no bring those back , matter of fact make me do 20 minutes of just jumping jacks. But, to step away form the negative, I am really proud of myself, I have never stuck to a fitness plan this long. Not to be harsh on myself but I did 10 days of level 2 in 13 days instead of 10. I had an injury and then you know, life got in the way. But I did not let that deter me or cause me to stop the entire plan.

So I have to say the arm workout in level 2 is pretty intense and she is definately working your core. Also, I have never been that graceful, so the first few tries at pendulum lunges I almost fell over multiple times. Surprisingly the military press with leg extensions I have balance. It is weird because level 2 seems to go quicker than level 1 did, maybe I am actually becoming more fit. And with this level, I am happy to admit, I do a little bit of Natalie and a little bit of Anita

And what is with Jillian? I have never watched "The Biggest Loser" so I don't know her from TV. But the somewhat nice Jillian from Level 1 turned into the "you should be gargling your heart" and "you should feel like you are going to die" crazy lady in level 2. I mean really lady, where did that come from? However, it did keep me going.

I have not lost as many pounds as I have with just dieting in the past, and I am getting OK with that (I am combining with Weight Watchers for maximum bathing suit body effectiveness). I am however noticing major differences in my body. My arms and stomach are getting some (much needed) definition and my hips and thighs are slimming. So while the weight loss is slow in pounds, I am firming all around and that is a great feeling. I really wish I took my measurements, I think there I would see the biggest results.

The best thing, people are starting to notice and say that I have lost weight...yes, it is not all for nothing! (I mean we are all vain and when someone says you have lost weight it makes you smile)

I am 2 weeks away from the beach and one more 10-day level to go. I cannot wait for Level 3.

Bring it Level 3 - I WANT TO BE SHREDDED!!!!

Life in slow motion

So let me set the scene...Lexie's first swimming lesson, ever! I had been looking forward to this all day, I mean all day. Based my whole schedule on it and left work in enough time that traffic could not even stop it. We got dressed in matching bathing suits, mine solid brown, hers brown with polka dots - age appropriate for both of us. We got to the pool 20 minutes early, I mean really the pool is just around the corner. We had enough time to swim ourselves in the pool beforehand. I was ready - I had my Cannon camera and my Flip Video to properly document this first monumental occasion. Then this happened...

I am about to get in the pool, husband and Lexie are already in it.

But wait, did that other mom look familiar to me? No, no, no it has just been a long day. But she really looks awfully familiar. OK whatev, time to get in the pool!

But wait now the familiar woman is walking towards me. She is saying "Hi"...that voice, I know that voice.

OMG that is Karen, I have not seen her since before we were both married and now obviously have toddler children.

I return the OMG, is that you.

We go in for the hug.

She hits my hand holding my cute Cannon Sureshot, Pink (natch) camera.

Is that my camera sliding out of my hand and to the floor? Oh no, now it is sliding towards the side of the pool. Did it just really fall into the water? Am I really at the pool now? Why has time slowed down?

Husband, get the camera...oh wait you have Lexie IN THE WATER, I'll get it.

Wait I am hugging this long, lost acquantance, still caught in the grip.

That is my cute pink camera at the BOTTOM OF THE POOL.

Husband quickly hands me Lexie. He dives in and rescues the camera.

SHIT, OMG, SHIT!!!

Quick, Karen realizes she was the catalyst to this, act like it is totally cool.

Karen: "OMG, I am so sorry, I can't believe I did that."

Me: "Oh, it is no big deal, I find it a challenge to get the camera to work." INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: "Or spend the $1000 to replace the camera."

And this is just Friday, fun times.

UPDATE: so after asking many friends in online (gotta love social media ) i did 2 things to my camera. One, I opened all compartments and put it under the hair dryer for a little bit. Then under the advice of a great friend, I let is sit over night in a bag of uncooked rice to absorb the moisture. It completely worked and the camera is working 100%. Amazing, and from now on i will always use the strap on it.

Lexie::22 months

Well here we are 2 months until 2 years old. I am starting to see what I hope to be the beginnings of our great relationship. This month I have officially started letting you help in the kitchen, a tradition of all the great cooks in our family. You can mash the bananas for banana bread, snap green beans for dinner and help crack eggs for breakfast. Hopefully you will have a passion for cooking just like me and I am happy to have you help as much or as little as you want too. Speaking of our relationship, we have officially moved to having nightly family dinners in the big room. We make a point of all three of us to talk about our days and you are joining in the conversation telling us about yours. One of my favorite memories from this month would be the night we went out to eat. We sat together and talked, ate dinner and had quite an enjoyable time.

As you are becoming a big girl, we have officially moved into our Disney Fairies phase. I am glad that the Tinkerbell movie is tolerable, because we have already watched it about 10 times. As far as playing goes, you are learning more and more..you can sing songs and dance to them until you make yourself dizzy, all on purpose. You learned how to jump, which is a pretty big deal for this age. Everyday you are learning more and more letters to add to your ability of counting to 10. And lately you have preferred taking a shower instead of a bath, you know like big girls do. You are also starting to dress yourself, you have pants down, but shirts are taking a little more practice which is not that big of a deal.

But don't let me kid you, there are trying moments too. You have had your first timeouts...short that they are but they seem to be effective (because we don't stand on tables or play in the cat water.) You are becoming a great whiner, usually coupled with "I want X" which means I DON'T want X. It is fun chasing you around the house to get you to either sit on the potty or change your diaper.

All in all you are doing great and the discovery you are taking me and daddy on is a fun adventure.

Love, Mommy

Shreadheads: Level 1 and 10 consecutive days..hehe

So I started the Jillian Michaels 30-day shred with inspiration from my fellow Shredheads online. Wow, what a difference 10-days into a work out makes. The first 3 workouts were absolutely pathetic. I was huffing a puffing before I even completed the first circuit. And pushups, are you shitting me, really you want me to kick this off with push ups? Well there was a first for everything. I remember when Jillian tells you "those on your 5th or 7th day should really be able to tell a difference in your endurance", and WISHING for that to happen.

Well it has.

About day 6 I made it through 100% with no breaks what so ever and just kept building and pushing from there. Considering I had not worked out since before I was pregnant (my daughter is 2) I was pretty proud of that fact. Also, I have never worked out 10 consecutive days in my life; never experienced the joy/pain/rush in pushing yourself to get results. I know this sounds horrible, but I have always, until recent years, had a decent figure and not had to work hard at it. And since this is the first time I have ever had the gumption to stick with something, I am realizing the extra energy and stress release a quick daily work out can give me. Again, I know this is all basic to folks who may work out all the time. But for me in my mid-30s, this is a first for me.

So fellow shredheads thanks for your support and encouragement. It is all of your voices that have helped to inspire me and keep me on track. I am not afraid of Level 2, shoot I am not even afraid of Natalie anymore (oh yeah I can do butt kicks just like she can). I still hate, hate, hate jumping jacks, I don't think that will change.

Onto Level 2...