Gifted

The cupcakes have been eaten, the candles blown out, and the presents unwrapped. Mo's third birthday weekend has officially come and gone and I AM EXHAUSTED! I intend to write an in depth post about her birthday party soon seeing as I went DIY crazy, but now let me talk presents!
I cannot believe how generous our friends and family were to our birthday girl. Everyone seemed to go out of their way to choose presents that they thought Mo would enjoy from authentic Ruby slippers from the Smithsonian, to a few different versions of Candy land, a bunch of play dough, and a remote control car. I do believe that Moira may have received any and all products marketed with Toy Story from a folding chair to coloring book to all three DVDs freeing up a bunch of our DVR space! She did get that slinky which she had asked and some really cool sock puppets. There was a Phillies t-shirt and my brother and sister in law got her a Lilly Pulitzer dress which I adore! Of course what would a Wizard of Oz theme birthday be without Toto in a basket?

I really thought I knew my kid well, however she was less then thrilled with her superhero cape. Maeve, on the other hand has already seemed to have taken it as her own.

My mother in law surprised us all with Mo's first pet. Luckily, she thought long and hard about the dog and instead went with a Betta fish.
Introducing Fred

My friend Ash found the cutest toy for my budding soccer star. These soccer girls from kaskey kids are awesome! From the time she woke up the morning after her birthday, they quickly have taken spot as one of her favorite toys. Any toy which keeps my kid's attention for more then ten minutes is a winner in my book, and these definitely do the trick!


My sister got her the kitty cat keyboard which she has been longing for since we saw it around Christmas time at BJs. It was perfect to help with potty training today. Hopefully I can write about potty training success later this week!
(Yes that's Mo sitting on her potty playing her new piano!)
Finally, Mommom D. won the MVP for most valuable present, as she picked up the Jessie doll from Toy Story which Mo has coveted since seeing the movie months ago. The kid has not let the doll go for more then 10 minutes since she unwrapped it. At one point, during our family party yesterday, she walked upstairs to her room. Bry found her on her bed alone playing with Jessie. She then asked if he could shut the door so she could play with Jessie all by herself. Mind you, when this occurred she still had some presents left to open and had yet to eat her cupcakes.
She loves this doll, as if the photo doesn't illustrate this point by that huge smile on her face!
Dorothy's dress has been retired to the dress-up chest, and I'm procrastinating over taking down the streamers in the dining room. Wizard of Oz 2011 is over and so is my party infatuation. I now have to find something else to do besides party planning during nap time, unless of course, I want to start planning Maeve's second birthday already.
Nah!

Three

Dear Moira,
How did you get so big so fast? I cannot believe that we are celebrating your third year of life, when it seems like yesterday daddy and I were driving home from the hospital looking at you in that big car seat, repeating over and over "We have a little girl!". You have been the best surprise we have ever received.
This year I have watched you blossom. When you turned two, you were just starting to talk. I won't lie, we were worried because we thought you weren't talking enough. It's amazing how wrong we were! I don't think anyone would believe it now that we had any fears. Your favorite word is fragile and often the things you say make Daddy & I laugh. You love to sing and dance, especially to Fresh Beat Band. Sometimes, you will sit with your ukulele and make up your own songs. My personal favorite is your "Hopscotch" song. You still love the Phillies and the Union and want to wear either your Phillies, Union, or monkey shirt every day, usually with comfy pants.
You hate vegetables but love jellybeans, white pizza, popcorn, and pancakes from the diner. You love to watch Wizard of Oz, Toy Story 1 & 2, and Monsters Inc with Daddy at night before you go to sleep.
You are a fabulous big sister and love to call Maeve "Shiny". In the morning you usually run into our room and climb into bed with me to start the day. Usually you say "What are we doing today?" and can't wait for me to tell you the plans. You love going to Chik Fil A, and shopping at Wegmans, AC Moore, Target, and BJs.
My favorite part of this past year is how you have really started to talk to me. Just a few days ago you told me "Mom, you're a good mom" and it made me smile.
Being your mommy has been quite a ride. This year will be another great year with lots of new and exciting things planned like preschool and trips to Sesame Place, the beach, and more. You are a fantastically awesome little girl and I am so lucky to be your mommy!
I love you, my lovie girl!
Mommy

Just Add it to the Birthday Wish List

Sometime between 2 and 3, my kid has figured out preferences for toys. Since the week after Christmas she has been adding gifts to her birthday wish list. I have to give her credit, she is pretty consistent, remembering day to day what she wants and continuing to add to the list after seeing commericals (damn Sprout!) or after visiting Target. Besides anything related to music or Toy Story, she has developed a fascination with a few toys. Her friend G had her 3rd birthday party the end of February and since then she has been repeatedly requesting:
a yo-yo
and
a slinky.

Yes, it appears my kid is a child of the '50's! Maybe I should get her a poodle skirt & some saddle shoes. What's even more funny is that as I type this I remember her asking for a hula hoop at the drugstore last week.
Lucky for me, I was able to find the yo-yo, a paint your own version, at AC Moore a few weeks ago on sale no less. Now the slinky, that's one I haven't found ...yet! I am saving the hula hoop for the Easter bunny.

Little Victories

Before babies, I was a Kindergarten & first grade teacher. One of the things I took pride in besides my organized and creative classroom, was my level of patience. I spent a number of years teaching students with varying special needs, and often parents and other teacher alike would commend me on the level of patience I had with their children. Events would be trying, a child would be frustrated and on the verge of losing it, and most times, I could keep my cool.
Then I had my own kids. Patience is fleeting when two needy little girls are climbing and crying and whining and whimpering while trying to get bags, coats, and shoes on before leaving the house.
I have dug my heels in though for a few things. Regardless of how late we may be running, or how frustrated I may feel, Mo MUST try to put her socks on by herself and she always is in charge of putting on her coat. The coat she has mastered a la "Flip, Flop. Over the Top!". Meanwhile, the socks, well that's another story. Most days she can do one, and after trying two or three times usually throws the sock onto the floor or lets out a scream or loud sigh. Normally, as this happens I am usually fumbling around with Maeve and her shoes and coat.
The banter between Mo and I during socks & shoes now is quite routine, and predictable.
I can just remind her "what do I say every morning, Mo?"
Mo: "Just try!"
Me: "You can do it! I know you can!"
Mo as she misses her foot again: "Uh, I just can't do it! I need help mommy."
Some days it's a real struggle while other days she surprises herself and somehow the sock manages to make it onto her foot in some manner.
This past Saturday, we were headed to her friend's birthday party which meant she wanted to wear her party shoes- shiny black patent leather. Because I knew that the party was going to be on the active front, I suggested her sneakers. We compromised- yes I already have to compromise on wardrobe- on her black shoes. With little fanfare, Mo independently put on her socks and her shoes!
The smile was so big and it was so obvious how proud she was of herself. I had to snap a picture of my little girl.
In that moment, I realized all the tears and screaming and times we were running late was worth it, as Mo finally got that she can do it herself!




Way to go Mo!

Just a little bit obsessed

I am in full throttle party planning mode for Mo's third birthday.
I may have a small obsession with this party. Honestly though, I can't be blamed. I... I mean, Mo may have chosen the single best party theme ever:
WIZARD OF OZ!
Yes, my friends!
The Wizard of Freaking Oz is the inspiration for this third birthday fiesta. The ideas, the inspiration, the colors, the characters - OH MY, it's a party planners dream! I've hit up AC Moore, Michaels, IKEA, Target, and I think I foresee a trip to Joann's fabric in the very near future.
I feel for my friends, family members, kids, and Bry who have endlessly heard about various party planning blogs, and ideas for food and now are searching for costumes for this little fete.
I just can't get enough!
Last year, we had a fabulous second birthday party for Mo. We hired her music teacher for a group class and then had cupcakes from our favorite cupcakery. In the end, the party was a success, but hit our pocketbooks a little too much. We agreed that we would do a bigger birthday party every other year.
I guess I understood that agreement to mean "bigger" equals "more expensive". This year we have more children invited, however Bry told me to keep it cheap, and thus I am attempting to pull the creative, teacher Jackie out of retirement to make one kick ass, DIY Wizard of Oz party.
T-Minus 12 days until Oz day and I still have quite a bit to do, however I'll share a few teasers of what Mo and I have accomplished so far.

Ladies & Gentlemen Dorothy & her Ruby Slippers





Moira's Birthday Banner



Scraps turned into a Birthday Chain


My to do list is huge and I know I am making more work for myself then I have to, but I really am enjoying this and hope to make one fabulous party for my little girl.
Until then, wish me luck!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's day from our wee little Irish Lassies

Mo is all decked out for the day. Her Pot O'Gold Crown, Lucky Necktie, & Sham-Rocker t-shirt


Our little Irish Maeve (as my mother-in-law loves to call her!) I prefer the caption "When Irish Eyes aren't Smiling!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
In the palm of his hand.

Bright Girls?

Recently I read an article entitled The Trouble with Bright Girls by Heidi Grant Halvorsen, PhD. For the most part, Halvorsen explains that while the male counterparts have the confidence to push on when frustrated, often females become withdrawn in the school setting. This in turn affects the development of our self-concept. She writes, "We(Women) continue to carry these beliefs, often unconsciously, around with us throughout our lives. And because Bright Girls are particularly likely to see their abilities as innate and unchangeable, they grow up to be women who are far too hard on themselves -- women who will prematurely conclude that they don't have what it takes to succeed in a particular arena, and give up way too soon."

As I read this piece, I couldn't help but think of my sister and myself, and then of course, I thought of Mo & Maeve. My sister is a pediatrician and one of the most studious people I have ever met. She is the type who will begin studying for an exam weeks before test day. She graduated second in her high school class and second in her class in college (she will curse the tin flute grade she got while studying abroad in Ireland over that). With all that accomplished, she still will tell you that she isn't that smart. She was offered two different placements to two different medical schools after a post-baccalaureate year and after finishing her residency earned a fellowship, which she ultimately turned down. She is smart, but like Halvorsen wrote, she is far too hard on herself. She looks at herself in terms of what she is not, instead of what she has accomplished. She is a successful professional and yet she still has that skewed view of herself.
I saw myself in this piece too. I have written before of my struggle with choosing to end my career as a teacher to stay at home full time and my hopes and fears of raising strong girls. I worry that my girls will succumb to this notion and in essence, become they're own worst enemies. I want them to be everything they want to be and have the confidence in themselves to do it.
I love my husband for many reasons, but in relation to this article I think of his confidence. He knows he is smart, period.
He may not be the most athletic and Lord knows he is not handy in the least, however he is smart. One cannot debate that with him. He tells me all the time, that I am too, and while I nod my head in agreement, most of the time I wonder if I'm nearly as intelligent as he believes. Is this what Halvorsen means? Is it because Bry's a guy that he is able to own his intelligence, while I debate it?
I have said on here in the past that I love school- both as a teacher and a student. I have talked about the possibility of returning to graduate school but for some reason I drag my feet over this. Reading this piece made me truly wonder if a part of me thinks I won't be able to handle it, and so instead of the chance of failure, I remain passive. I do nothing on the school front.
Is that what I would want for Mo or Maeve to do? Hell, is that what I would want for anyone I love to do, To be fearful of failing?
Heavy stuff for a Friday afternoon, right?
Reading pieces like this make me want to be that role model for Mo & Maeve. The one that is confident and smart and positive, because their eyes and ears are always open, even when I may not realize it.



On a lighter note, How about some pictures?
Mo & her birdhouse