"I am..."

I got the idea for this list from Hailey over at Be Serious . With Mother's Day on Sunday, I thought it was fitting.



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A... Short Order Cook who can whip something up for the pickiest 2y/o I have ever met. Usually After she has her food and I have mine, I see her little blues eyeing mine and we switch but sometimes I want MINE, so I have learned to have a back-up for these occasions.

A... 5 star chef who can make cheap meals taste gourmet. I rock.

A... Top Notch Bargainer telling my 2y/o if she does this, she can have this (toy- that was taken away b/c of not listening or a single piece of candy as a treat) as a reward for listening- THE FIRST TIME ASKED. The deal goes out the 'window' after the first time.

An... Architect who can build the biggest best block house for 'little people' - it's so awesome, it withstands the town giant, shes 36.5 in of 2y/o terror. I can also put together christmas & birthday presents in record time. I am a wiz w/a screwdriver!

A... Vet who can make puppies and monkeys better with a quick wrap of a blankie and a "all better now", sometimes a smooch is necessary in the more serious cases.

A... Dental Hygienist who has not only learned how to get my stubborn child open her mouth for a proper brushing but I have taught her how to do it so when I am done she does it herself. I have caught her in there trying to 'brush feeth Mama!". I call that a BIG FAT WIN.

A... Translator who is constantly decoding the ramblings of a 2y/o. Most everything she says is coherent but when she gets going too fast/excited translation is needed.

An... Octopus which means I can do numerous things at once b/c of course I have 8 arms & keep it all in order, I checked my sanity at the front desk of the hospital when I gave birth.

A... Teacher who is teaching my 2y/o major life lessons & how to count to 20 (we've got up to 15 so far) & her ABC's & work on reading too, I am ambitious- all before pre-school @ age 3!


A... Pharmacist who has mastered the art of administering eye drops and antibiotics to a child who runs a hides at the mention of meds (bribery, what?).

A... Dr. with magical healing powers, I can heal any boo-boo with a kiss and the sporadic mini (yes it has to be those annoying mini ones) Band-Aid.

A... Fitness Instructor who has convinced myself that dancing with my toddler around the house serves as an aerobic workout.

A... Choreographer who can choreograph a rad routine to Phineas & Ferb, Whitney Duncan, Laura Bell Bundy & the like if we're gunna be rocking out around the house kiddo has got to have moves!

A... Make-Up Artist b/c my toddler is obsessed with getting into my make-up, and wants "MORE ippysticks".

A... Costume Designer b/c when my girl plays dress-up, it gets serious, its more then playing in mommy's clothes & jewerly, she wants to be "so cute!".

A... Detective that can use clues to find where my child is hiding & why. She usually only hides when she knows shes done something 'wrong'.

A... Maid I have tried to give up the job, clothes, bathroom & dishes still get dirty- who would've thunk it?

A... Plumber who unclogs a very clogged toilet when a 'little peson' and too much TP is flushed. I tried to save the little person, but my attempts were futile. The prince now resides in our septic tank. RIP.

A... Chauffeur that is terrible at the whole driving thing, ask anyone who has taken a ride.

I wear many hats.

I am a Daughter to a GREAT mom.

I am a bestfriend .

I am Kelli.

I am a mother.

A mother is all those things and more.

Happy Mothers Day to ALL the Mothers I know & to all those expecting.

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This is the purse I got from my mom for mothers day! Isn't it beautiful! (I got the pic off the website b/c Im tool azy to actually take a pic)

**I has PURPLE inside & out, My mama knows me soo well!!!**


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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo
-Kandid Kelli

"April 4, 2008"

Dear Sweet Baby E,

It's amazing to think that it's been two years since you made your grand entrance. Two years since you single handedly changed my life, for the better. I don't know what I did so right to deserve to be your mommy, I have been so blessed. Being a full time mommy has been the best, most rewarding job in the world. Watching you learn and grow in to the beautiful little person you are today has been the best thing I could ever ask for. When things got tough, I cried with you and I learned with you and it all has been beautiful. I wouldn't change a single moment.

Seeing those crystal blue eyes looking up at me with your crazy halo of curls, surrounding your rosy cheeks, how can I not help but smile and scoop you up in my arms and snuggle you as tight as I possibly can. I see so much of myself in you, it's uncanny. That is until you wiggle your way out and run away to play. My little "baby shark".

Full of energy and always moving, you never stop. Everyday is a new adventure and nothing is the same. Just watching you play wares me out & I wouldn't change it for the world. I love seeing the world through your eyes, experiencing it all a new way. It is incredibly bewitching how you can take something so mundane and make it sparkle.

I've watched you go from completely dependent on me, the day you were born, to little miss "No mama Me do it". It breaks and makes my heart swell with pride all at the same time. Seeing your face weld up with fulfillment when you have accomplished your goal, I get excited along side of you, because you have realized that nothing is out of your reach. Every mother wants that for their child. Seeing that smile on your face after an accomplishment, no matter how big or small, makes my day.

Although your obsessions with "Finding Nemo", "Wow Wow Wubbzy", "Dora the Explorer" & "Go! Diego! Go!" drive me mad at times, seeing how excited you get is enough for me, because I know that in time this will pass. You will not be two years old forever and before I know it you will no longer love cartoons and I will be asking myself "where did my toddler go?" and I will want these precious days back.

E, You have taught me so much about life, what is important and what isn't. You have taught me how to love, you really opened up my heart. I can not for one millisecond imagine my life without you, I don't even want to. The last two years have gone by like the blink of an eye, being your mother has taught me that everyday is precious. I am enjoying every second I have. Enjoying the small pleasures you bring that really aren't small at all but are so huge they can't be measured in any thing but smooches and "noses". Not a moment goes by that I don't realize how lucky I have been. God blessed me and I thank him daily for you.

I didn't realize it till April 4th 2008 at 8:29pm, but you were the missing piece in my life puzzle. I couldn't have asked for a better child. The last two years have been sensational. I can't wait for the rest... I am so excited but in the same breath I want a stop time b/c what happened to this 5lb baby?...

E only less than an hr old:


E @ her 1st birthday party- April 4, 2009. 1 yrs old.


E yesterday @ her 2nd birthday party April 3, 2010- (1 day away from 2yrs old) (Tutu from ColeBabyTutu's ...BEAUTIFUL tutu, GREAT costumer service, great prices and E loves it!!)



Happy 2nd Birthday my little twinie! -- I love you Doodles.

Love,
Mama (now known as "Mommy" or "Mom" not fond of the latter)

"Convo w/a Toddler" && "Thanksgiving Thursday"

After E's nap yesterday I changed her, per the usual routine. As we were walking out of her room for lunch, we walked past this hanging above the light switch by her door:


(ultrasound pictures of E for those who don't know- 1 from each trimester to show the amazing change/growth)

E points to it and says her name. This (saying her name) is no big feat, but the fact that she realized that, that was her was! Granted we have been walking past that frame numerous times EVERYDAY for 19 mons & everyday I tell her "thats baby E, when you lived in mommys tummy" and we walk on, b/c she never seems to interested.

Well NOT today. Oh no. E was interested. She wanted to talk. So talk we did. Hayley , over at Blue Eyed Blonde, witnessed this convo via the speakerphone feature on the iPhone:

E: Memmy!!! Memmmmmyyyy!!!!!!! [pointing at said frame bouncing while I hold her].
Me: Yes baby that is you. That's when you lived in mamas tummy.
E: Yah.
Me: Do you remember that?
E: Yah baby. [hugs me].
Me: Did you like it when you lived in mamas tummy?
E: YAH!!!! YAH!!!! [rubs my hair...roughly, but she is trying to be nice, I hope]
Me: Was it comfy and warm in my tummy?
E: ...[quiet like she is thinking]... umm... NO mama. No [shakes her head].
Me: It wasn't?
E: No ma.
Me: [clearly thrown, I said bye to Hayls as she was cracking up like it was the funniest thing, ever.] Baby you want lunchies?
E: Yah juicey juiceyyyy!!!!
Me: Okay you can have Juice too honey.
[[She hugs me again and we are off to the kitchen]]

E & I have tons of fun convos daily. She is at the age where I can finally start to understand 85-90% of what she says. Her words are clearer, she says a lot more words now. 2-4 word sentences and she repeats [almost] everything. I love when she toddles up to me and just starts going on & on.

A few hrs later during tubbies I said:

"you know what? I love you." "Can you say I love you?"

E: Yes. [she made a kissy face]

I gave her a big wet hug and took my kiss. Now when I say E I love you... she makes a smooches face!!! I love it.

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Instead of posting TWO blogs one day, I am trying a two-in-one... I started a "series" last week called "Thanksgiving Thursdays" and said it would run till Thanksgiving... and I need to follow that through. So without further ado:

"Thanksgiving Thursday"

I have been so blessed my entire life. So this week, 7 days Thanksgiving, I want to go traditional in the listing of things I am thankful for:

- My toddler, I can't call her a baby anymore, b/c she isn't a baby. Although she will ALWAYS be my baby she isn't a baby, shes a BIG girl. She is my reason for waking up every morning.

-To be a mom. It has changed my life, for the better in ways I never thought possible.

-My family. They can be crazy, eccentric (ily you Aunt Pam) at times but they raised me right. I was raised by a wonderful beautiful SINGLE mother, a strong southern baptist grandmother (who was also helping to raise my 5 other cousins about the same age as me) she also raised her son (and 2 other children), my dad, a United States Marine.

-My friends who ARE family. W/O yall I would be lost.

-The fact that I "found" myself over the past 20 mons while being back home and now know what my true calling in life is: to teach, to help. (69 days!!)

-My boyfriend, My bestfriend, my everything. M I love you baby! You are helping me make so many of my dreams come, you're the best. I can't wait to see what's in store for us!!

-My blog friends. I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!! You all know what to say and when to say it. Yall seriously rock my corner of the interweb.

-GOD. He made all of this possible. With out him I would have nothing.

**We are one week away from Thanksgiving... Share with us-- WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?**

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**Look for MORE Convo's w/a Toddler next week!**


Thx for sticking with me [us]... the journey REALLY has just begun!


-Kelli-Sue


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