Love Having A Girl

While Jack and Clay ventured off with friends for a boy's night out at the baseball game, Maggie and I had our very own girl's night.  And it was just divine.

I took Maggie to get her first manicure and pedicure.  Yes, she is merely two and a half years old {or "two half" as she likes to say}, but it was time.  Maggie has been enamored with my toe nails since, well, she could say, "shooooz, bow".  And I promise she came this way {I can't deny, I love it}.

My only concern was how she would do waiting for me to get my pedicure done as well.  A waste of concerning energy on my part...she was an angel....a perfect princess...a patient pleasure...an absolute joy...and....and I could go on and on.

Moments like these are when I realize just how much I love having a girl.  Pinch me.  Seriously, I get two of these?

So we entered the salon right at appointment time.  I could tell Maggie wasn't so sure what she was in for, but when she saw the 263 bottles of fingernail polish to choose from, she lit right up.  And the first words off of her sweet lips?..."me want peeeenk and purrrrhple!".  From there Maggie picked one of each and we were off to the chairs.

Maggie grasped a purple bottle in her left hand and a pink bottle in her right hand and waddled right off.  All was well, until she became the source of a plethora of "ooohs" and "ahhh, how sweet", and "look at her"s that came from the other patrons.  Maggie got slightly overwhelmed {it's tough being so cute} and her little eyes welled right up.  After a little love from Mommy and getting settled into her chair with her pink and purple bottles, she was happy again.

From there it was a moment I will never forget.  She sat perfectly still, blew her nails dry when told to, answered every question from the technician with an animated, "yesh", and admired her beautiful new fingernails and toenails every chance she got.

That was so fun, I'm already ready for a polish change.

It didn't take baby girl long to settle in from being the star of the salon.  I was totally expecting her to want to sit on my lap, but she was perfectly content in her own chair right next to me.

Her manicure started with a little fingernail trim and filing.

After painting, Maggie had the choice to add silver glitter.  Of course she said, "yesh".  And then she told me they looked like "staws" {stars}.

Maggie blew her pink nails dry just as she was instructed to do.  {this precious move had everyone in the place pulling out their phones to take a picture of her}

Next it was time for the toes.  Maggie picked purple for her toes. She made the decision with great clarity that the pink was for her fingernails and the purple was for her toes.

And of course, she said, "yesh" to the the glitter on her toes as well.

Then it was my turn.  And again, with great clarity, Maggie decided Mommy needed pink toes and no glitter.  Shew...good choice.  For my pedicure {and yes, I am talking a full pedicure}, Maggie sat patiently in her chair and watched me as her pink fingernails and purple toenails dried.  

After our paint date, Maggie chose Chick-fil-a for dinner {imagine that}.  I can't remember a better girls night out...love you and every girly part of you Magpie.  Looking forward to many more girly dates with you {and your baby sister}.

The Mini Farm

Summer is upon us.  The kids are out of school. And before we get too bogged down with summer camps, I gave the kids the privilege of picking one activity each last week.  Jack immediately picked the dinosaur museum.  Which we did first.  We enjoyed thoroughly. And even Daddy joined us--on a work day.  What a treat!


Maggie picked a farm.  She wasn't specific about which one.  Just a farm with "goats, sheeps, chickuns, horsies, kitty cats, and cows".  And every time I asked her about her choice, she stayed consistent with the  "fahm" choice and the list of animals that followed it.

After a little research, I decided to take both kids up north {because that where farms are} to a mini farm.  And by mini I mean one complete with all miniature animals.  How perfect is that?

Most of the ride up there, Jack whined complained expressed that this was going to be "so boring", "this is so far" and "I am already so bored".  How bad did I want to tell him that I thought dinosaurs were boring?  But, I reminded myself that I was the adult, I withheld, and Maggie and I  played a little 'look for horses out the window' game.

We arrived after 42 minutes in the car and lo' and behold, five minutes into our mini farm trip, everyone was having fun...even Mr. Boring.

This place was perfectly stinky {just as a farm should be}, it was sweltering hot {just as summer should be}, and the animals were marvelously mini.

And if you can believe this, when I gave each kid a choice again for next week, Jack said, and I quote, "I want my day to be at the farm.  The SAME EXACT farm Maggie picked".  Wonderfully ironic, isn't it?

The mini goats were by far the kid's favorite.  It took Jack a few feedings to realize that the higher he held the bread the higher those goats would jump for it {and all of them at the same time}.  I loved his 'get away from the goats' jig.

As soon as Maggie realized that food=jumping, she forgo the bucket of bread and decided to tell the little goats a story instead.

Jack and this goat were best buddies up until the end {or at least until Jack finally let it go}.  

Nothing was funnier though, then hearing the sheep bleat.  Maggie couldn't contain her giggles.  Absolutely precious that little Magpie is.

While the kids picked the goats as their favorite, I picked this pony as mine.  He literally only came up to right above my knee.  So sweet...and stinky.  Jack took this picture of me and my pony.  Not bad, huh?

Jack got to pan for gold too.  The rocks he uncovered are now his sacred treasure.  Beware! anyone who touches them.

And Maggie had to give one last goodbye to the goats before we headed off on our 42 minute trek.  Bye bye goats, bye bye farm!  {who knows, we may see you again next week...}

She Has a Name, and a Room, and Almost a Birthddate

Yes, new baby girl has a name.  After much debate and going back and forth and all around, we have finalized our decision.  I hope you love it as much as we do.  And if not, just pretend.

Lucille Elizabeth Cibula

"Lucy"

And yes, she also has a room.  I say that with an enormous exhale.  All kids are settled.  {insert another enormous exhale}. Jack {and all of his loot} are settled in his new room.  Maggie's room is complete {as you saw a few posts back} and new baby girl has all of her furniture assembled and in place in her new room.

In an effort to give Lucy her own nursery while still using our previous girl bedding, we changed the wall color and she has bead board.  It is absolutely divine.  Now we wait on letters for her wall, her window treatments from the seamstress, and pictures to be hung.  It's coming together.

This is only a small sneak a peek.  Clearly there is still work to be done.

And finally, she almost has a birthdate.  The plan was to schedule it at my last doctor's appointment.  And while my Dr was ready, I wasn't.  Or actually I was with my own date in mind, but Dr Carroll had a conflict {a vacation}.  She offered me the day before and if I tell you why I didn't accept, you might laugh.  Since I can't readily defend myself on this blog, we will leave it at that.  So the current status is Dr Carroll is going to try to adjust her travel plans, possibly deliver Lucy the morning of her departure and all will be well.  We will revisit this issue at my next appointment.  So that's why she only almost has a birthdate.

And in other news, I am almost 6 months pregnant.  And the house is soooo close.  We keep on truckin'...

The Graduate

Where did the past four years go?   I feel like it was just a short while ago that I was wrestling with the decision of where I would send my first born to pre-school.  Four years  and so many amazing memories later, Jack is saying  goodbye to the "yellow school".  

I am definitely a bit heart sick. It is so incredible to watch your little ones grow, but it is also so hard  to send them off to a new chapter of life.  Geez, what will I do when he graduates from high school one day?  Why does this letting go thing have to be so hard?

Jack has grown so much this year, academically and socially.  Sometimes I actually think more in this 4 year old year than any combination of the others.  We started the school year with a typical boy, one who had little to no interest in a writing utensil to a kid who finds any and everything he can to write words on.  

Jack has managed to make the construction around here his best friend in more ways than one.  Any cardboard box or  plastic sealed off door is labeled with Jack's list of words {most of which are superheroes}.  He's recognizing words everywhere we go and is reading simple text.  This kiddo has taken off.  

And when he brought home his school journals, I reveled in the progress he had made from September to May.  It was amazing!  So much so, he took one look at his September journal entry and in a disgusted voice declared, "I didn't do that".  So as much as I wish I could confine him to the safety and love at a tiny pre-school, it's time for him to take off to the "big kid school".  Jack says he is ready with a giant grin.  {Mommy is still working on that one.}

On Thursday evening we had the pleasure of celebrating his 4 years of accomplishments at his Pre-school Graduation.  And as much as I thought I would cry through the entire program, I actually spent many, many moments smiling.  I definitely fought back some serious tears, but Jack's infinite glow helped to keep my emotions in check.  

Jack's grin was a mile wide on that stage, and rightfully so.  See what I mean about that glow?

Very proud parents!  {and though I know this is not about me, I must confess, I realized a few pictures ago that I was sporting a Crystal Gayle hair do, Yikes!  really need a haircut...so I pulled it back for graduation thinking it might help, clearly not, then I scheduled a babysitter and a hair appointment}

We enjoyed a juice and cookie reception that followed the program {post bedtime}.  I think both kids were wired by this point.  So much to be happy about!

We are so lucky that Grandma is close enough to celebrate all of these wonderful moments with us now!  I know Jack loves it!

Best buddies from 4 months old to a 4 year old graduation.  That is pretty amazing.  Congratulations little grads!  

Jack, we are so very proud of you and can't wait to celebrate many more graduations with you!