Just like her parents

I know people brag about their kids all the time. Heck, I bet most of the people reading this think I'm exaggerating about the brilliance and physical acuity of my daughter. I get it.
No one thinks their kid is average.
Every person believes their kid is special and unique.
Well, I know most people are lying, but I can seriously say Moira's interaction with books is frightening, in a good way. At nearly a year old, she has a fascination with the written word and pictures. She will look at books by herself. She recently has taken to bringing her favorite books over to you, will climb on your lap, and waits for you to read to her. She seems to enjoy books, which makes me, as the teacher ecstatic!!
Now, I know, many young children enjoy books, but here's the kicker.
She will turn any book, regardless of how familiar she is with it, around the correctly way. If you give her a book upside down and backwards, she somehow knows to turn it around. She looks like she's reading.
Because of her affinity for books, I feel no guilt purchasing books for Moira. On another blog written by a former teacher she mentioned a book by Robert Munsch called Moira's Birthday . I was absolutely giddy when I read about it! Immediately I went on Barnes and Noble and ordered it for Mo. It arrived today and as you can see she enjoyed it!




Moira's just like her parents. Put a good book in front of her, and she's happy.

Oops...Spoke to soon.

Today is the first official day of spring and it looks like this here:

Yes, that is snow.
I guess that teaches me not to write about the lovely springlike weather before spring actually officially arrives.
Oh yes, I must remind my loyal readers today is free water ice day at Rita's. (Yes, it's water ice, as every South Jersey/Phila resident knows is the correct term!)Rita's Ice
Rita's is still yummy even if there is snow on the ground!

Spring has sprung (at least a little while)

When I first had Moira I had mentioned on the message board I frequent how lonely I was feeling. Another poster who lived in the same town as I suggested I attend a Mommy & baby exercise class at the local gym. I needed a reason to get out, so almost immediately after finding out about the class, I called up and enrolled.
Driving up to the gym that first day, I suddenly felt like I was getting ready for the first day of school. I remember thinking how ridiculous it was for me to be nervous. They were moms & babies- why should I be worried about it?
I lugged Mo into the room in her infant car seat, and saw a bunch of smiling faces, and I was able to exhale. Within that first five minutes, I listened to stories from other moms who had little ones like me, some about Mo's age, some a little older. Included in the group were Erinn and Josie. Each had daughters a little older than Mo, and were quick to include me in their conversation as their babies, and mine for that matter, gooed away on the mat as we did squats and lunges.
Those months since that first class, Erinn and Josie and their girls Lorelai and Kate, have been the first of Moira's girlfriends.
This past Wednesday we had our first springtime play date. Erinn had suggested we visit a farm that is an educational facility open to the public that preserves and interprets farming life and processes from the era of 1890-1910.
The Howell Living History Farm Of course, we chose this place to help facilitate to our toddlers the educational impact of farm life during the end of the 19th century. We really want our daughters to be educationally stimulated.




Just kidding.
We went because it's free and they have lots of farm animals.
The girls loved watching the animals. This is one of the 3 day old lambs.
Here is the mama lamb and her babies. Moira had fun running around. Mo also decided to eat dirt. Yup, a big old handful of dirt. Yummy, right?

I also thought it kind of looked like chocolate.
Eating the dirt was our sign that the day at the farm was over. She slept awesome in the car though. I thoroughly recommend a trip to the farm. However, just be careful when you go. It is a living farm. Erinn made the mistake of asking where the pigs were that she had seen in the fall. Our guide informed us they were now bacon and ham. Needless to say, I'm happy we didn't choose butcher day as our day to visit!

Funny how life changes...

once you have a kid.
Before Moira, Bry and I would go out a lot. We would think nothing of going out for dinner on Friday and Saturday night. Most Fridays we wouldn't actually leave our house until 8 or 9, and come home around 11 or later. We'd leisurely eat, drink, and talk. We'd laugh and remince and talk about our day at work.
Having a kid changes everything.
No longer do we dine out on Fridays and Saturdays. It's usually a late dinner, around 8:30, but mainly because we can't decided whether to order Chinese or pizza, and then we wait to eat until Moira is asleep.
Before Moira, we would visit friends all over the place. Spend a weekend in Maryland or Atlantic City. We were carefree and would sleep in.
The highlight now is trips to Wegmans or the seafood place. Playdates with friends at the park. Instead of cocktails at the Borgata, we're excited about cupcakes for Moira's friend Garrett's first birthday party.
While I sometimes think back longingly to those Saturday mornings I would sleep in until 10 or those little overnight trips and dinner out, I usually am snapped back into reality by my little girl tugging at my pants, wanting to be picked up. Smiling back at me with those baby blue eyes, and I realize, life is better because of her.
(Even when I'm scrubbing the spaghetti sauce off her face as she thrashes around.)

Splish, Splash!

We have finally outgrown the baby tub.
Seriously, we have outgrown the baby tub about 2 months ago, but I kind of refused to submit to the big bathtub, that is until today. As I was walking in our bathroom I happened to glance at the blue baby tub and then looked at Mo and realized she is too big for it. She's at the age where she wants to play in the tub and that blue tub is too tiny to play in. Needless to say, I had to give in and try out the big tub. Usually, I bathe her in the morning, after breakfast and after I shower. Usually it's a quick 1,2,3 event, but like I wrote, she's getting older, and wants to play.
This afternoon we were just lounging around and I figured, hey, why not make today the day.
I filled up the tub, added her two most favorite ducks, and then in she went.
She automatically started kicking her feet and laughing. I realized I wasn't prepared.
I left the camera downstairs.
I quick grabbed her wet, naked body and a towel and ran downstairs, grabbed the camera and plopped her back in the tub. She was so happy playing in the tub.


Things were going well, she splashed and kicked and sucked on the washrag. She whacked her ducks together and had a grand old time until she tried to stand up. I tried wrestling my wet daughter as she attempted to stand and splash. I had to wash her hair and body. What normally took 3 minutes took closer to 10 minutes and Thank God I put on a tank top because my arms were dripping wet.
I did learn something, though we need to make a run to Babies R Us to buy this:

Hopefully the kid won't move too much sitting in this seat!

I have decided to me a nice mom and save the completely nude bathing pictures for the time Moira decides to bring her first boyfriend over.

Snow Day!

Why does it always seem to snow in March? I thought it's the month of leprechauns and kites, but apparently it's also the time for snowpants, and shovels, at least where I live anyway.
Snow storm number two, for our dear Moira. This time as a walker it was quite amusing watching her attempt to tackle the snow that came up to her waist.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Final Score: Snow 1, Moira 0

The Great House Hunt of 2009

We are house hunting. Finally, after just over 12 years together, various dorm rooms, apartments, and everything in between we are ready to buy a house. You'd think it would be easy.
The answer is no.
I figured out that we are picky.
REALLY PICKY!
I guess we should be, as we have waited so long we shouldn't just jump into it. I think we have seen nearly 20 houses so far throughout various towns in the greater Philadelphia area. We have spent the weekends of the past 2 months driving to various open houses and showings with our realtor. Mo has been a trooper for the most part, spending so much time in the car. So far, there have been a few that are close, but something wasn't right.
For example, we looked at this great older home, over 100 years old. We love the character of old houses. It had recently been updated. It had gorgeous hardwood floors, a large, modern kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, an impressive backyard with enough room for a swingset, above ground pool, garage, and playspace. We got really excited about it until... Bry and our realtor went into the basement.
Apparently the act of sistering the ocassional floor joists isn't too big of deal. However, when EVERY SINGLE JOIST has been sistered on both sides, the only option is to replace the foundation.
Yup, you read that right. The house we liked the most so far, would need a new foundation.
Needless to say, we walked away from it, and back into the pool we dove.
We have seen some homes that have been recently renovated but lack the bedroom space. Yesterday, we saw a gorgeous 3 bedroom home that had a master bedroom suite that made my jaw hit the floor. Unfortunately it was 3 bedrooms, one of which was tiny.
We saw a number of houses that have had nothing done to them in some time. For example, the one home looked like it had been the home of the future...in 1970! It had a digital clockface as part of the master bathroom mirror. It also had a security alarm system that reminded me of something out a James Bond movie. It also had an intercom system.
There have been so many houses, so many stories. If you ask, I'll tell. But for now, it's back into the car tomorrow. There are open houses to visit, and hopefully we'll find "our" house.
Hopefully, I know Mo is getting sick of the car!