Stir Crazy

Rocky's got a little cold and it was rainy for most of the day so we were stuck inside. I guess we've got a little cabin fever going on because the girls were a little wild.

Yesterday was one of those really long, really rainy days. Rocky was on a rampage. I took her to the library where she was a terror, pulling books off the shelf, running, throwing the CDs off the stand. I know that the librarian gave a sigh of relief as we headed for the door. Then when we got home she got into everything imaginable, and made one mess after another. Basically she was driving me nuts.
Needless to say, when it was time for me to leave to go to our Young Women activity, it wasn't hard for me to shove her toward her daddy and run out the door.
The surprising thing about this situation is what happened later, when I was trying to fall asleep. I just kept thinking about how smart she is getting, and how great it was when she recognized the number 8 on Brandon's new Spain jersey. I just kept picturing her cute little facial expressions and I found myself smiling and giggling to myself in the dark.
Being a mom is funny that way.

Bonus Pictures


I know it probably seems that you've seen about a million stroller pictures, but honestly, how can I resist? These two love, love, love to ride around Eugene. Daisy usually doesn't even fall asleep because she is just looking around and trying to take it all in. It also comes with the advantage of being the only time of the entire day when Rocky will sit still.

During the branch Cinco de Mayo celebration Rocky and her buddy McCoy thought that if they used an army crawl, nobody would notice them center stage. It almost worked, except that everyone noticed.



Here she is hanging out with Aurora who is happy to chase her all over the church gym for hours at a time.

After Rocky goes to bed we usually have a pretty good time trying to shower Daisy with the attention she didn't get all day. I think it is more fun for us than for her.




No, we're not potty training yet, but I put her on for the can for a couple of minutes before she takes a bath, just so she can catch up on current events from The Week magazine.




Daisy has a deliciously adorable little face. Her cheeks get fatter by the second and they almost look like they will explode if they grow any more. She is happy and smiles and coos all the time.

A Selfish Mother Moment

Does it make me a bad mom if when Rocky wants candy I give her the piece that I like least? I mean, I know that moms are supposed to be all about this making sacrifices business, and I'm happy to give up almost every second of my life for her, but I draw the line when it comes to the caramels. I would probably feel worse about it if she didn't routinely put bugs in her mouth. You think I'm kidding, but no, my daughter likes to pick up, play with, and sometimes eat ants and spiders. If she is happy with that, she had better be happy with my candy rejects. Besides, the candy she gets is usually candy that I would end up eating, but I'd just do it later when all the good stuff is gone and I'm forced to consume anything I can find in the cupboards. So, really, it is a sacrifice...right?

Sesame Street: Celebrity Lullabies

The Perfect Photo

I made a specific effort to get a picture before church this time because after church Rocky usually looks like she has just emerged from a hurricane. Despite getting everyone ready early our Mother's Day photo shoot didn't really go so well. Rocky is showing that she is already tired of her mom making her do embarrassing things and Daisy was washed out in the sun. After this we tried to move to the front of the apartments for a shadier spot where we were seconds away from the perfect picture when Daisy's projectile vomit splattered all over my shoe. I guess it just goes to show you that perfection has nothing to do with Mother's Day.

Bonus Picture: Guess who is already taking after her big sister. Apparently those thumbs taste pretty good.

Happy Mother's Day

The commercial in the next post is from Argentina. There are a few things that you need to know if you don't speak Spanish. The three boys are watching old home videos. They are pointing out their mom and dad and talking about how young they look and how funny their hair is. In the video it is their mom's birthday and the dad says, "Make your three wishes," before she blows out the candles.

A special thanks to the moms in my life, and to the girls that gave me the honor of being a mom.

tres deseos

Musings about Motherhood

I was driving yesterday and I heard an economist say that they have proven that people with children aren't as happy as those without. I was interested in the criteria that led to the conclusion because it was different than what I'd always heard. They had done some sort of survey and it turns out that parents don't have much leisure time as others that have no children. They also don't eat out as much, or see as many movies. Then, to add insult to injury, they get less sleep, and have more worries and anxieties.
Well, none of that was news to me.
I guess that I was surprised that those were the ingredients that made someone "happy."
As far as I'm concerned, the only plus side to having children is the fact that they do make you happy. I guess that they also help out as tax deductions, but all the money we get back usually ends up going to diapers anyway.

I freely admit that there is nothing convenient about being a mom, but there is no amount of leisure time that could get me to give it up. It's the best job I've ever had.

One Beautiful Baby Girl

A special thanks goes to my talented friend Brenley who managed to get some fantastic pictures despite Daisy's ornery attitude. She is just about ready to start booking sessions and if anyone is interested they can contact her here.

Another Day, Another Do

Our GQ model showing off her post-nap hairstyle.

And in other news...
Sunday was the Eugene Marathon and I felt like we were pretty much heroes for getting ourselves out of bed and out the door at 7 AM, never mind the fact that we were all still in our P.J.s. I didn't feel as heroic when I saw the 8,000 brave souls who weren't just up, but were running their hearts out.
I experienced a twinge of adrenaline and I can feel that it is time to get race training again. I don't know what it is about watching suffering people that makes me want to join them. I watch suffering people run past my house all day long, but it seems so much cooler when everybody does it together.
I thought of how every muscle ached and how I lost my toenails last year after Newport, but there is something in me that wants to do it again.
We were cheering on my friend Autumn and she looked fantastic. Well, I guess everyone did where we were at mile 2. It was really fun to have someone to watch for.
Marathons are inspiring things.


Rocky seemed mildly interested and Daisy was awake. I considered it a good sign that one day the three of us will do a race together.

Daisy is getting bigger and is super cute. She smiles and looks with her huge eyes and it makes me feel so happy inside that I can't help but giggle.

The next post will include several adorable photos of her taken by my amazing friend, Brenley. I would put them on tonight but I've already exceeded my computer time allotment.

Two Years Old

Last year we had a big party for Rocky's birthday and we were so busy entertaining that she was basically ignored. This time we celebrated by letting her hang out with some of her best buddies. We met out at the park for some cupcakes and went home with pockets and shoes full of sand.

We decided on a cupcake caterpillar because of her recent obsession with bugs and crawly things. She isn't afraid of spiders, worms, or any insect that she finds and will immediately pick it up and say, "bicho" (bug in Spanish). Sometimes it is really sick because the thing will be smashed between her little fingers and the legs will be sticking out and wiggling. She's really nice though and always takes time to show her prize to Daisy.
Luckily when the legs were pulled off of our cake caterpillar they were made of gummy worms and could be safely eaten.

We went to eat at Papa's Pizza and spent most of the night in the ball pit.

Does it seem like I'm mean that I ate about 10 of the cupcakes myself, and gave the birthday girl a mini one? Don't worry. She got a bunch of ice cream too.


It is hard to imagine that I've only had my little Rocky for two years. She is the jewel of my life.