Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday I was greeted at the door with,"Mama, I have a card for you! It has butterflies on it."

My Big / Little Girl / Mama

It is the theme of Naomi lately. She has been wearing underwear for almost three weeks now, and despite many accidents, she is getting better and better at it - yesterday she had none, and last night she actually wore underwear to bed (we were totally out of pullups) and slept all night! This morning when I called her "little girl", she said "I'm not little." What are you then? "I'm a big girl!" So true, dear.

In this picture (you may not be able to see it) Naomi is holding her baby doll in a scarf. After hanging out with some friends-with-babies using slings, Naomi was playing with her baby and asked me to tie the scarf around them! A few days later, when a friend got out her sling for her baby at our house, Naomi went and got her things as well. And then copied her rocking motion too.

Adventures with Naomi

Tonight at dinner when I told Naomi she is funny, she said: "I'm not funny, I'm Kristen!"

Last night I walked outside to find Mark tying up the tomatoes, while Naomi had found the sprinkler, put the hose to the nozzle, turned the water up, and was jumping through it. All on her own.

Tuesday was Mark's birthday - Happy Birthday! Naomi and I made a carrot cake- she wanted cake, not cupcakes. She's been singing to Mark all week. Last night she started singing again, and then half-way through she looked at me and said, "Wait!" and proceeded to tell me where she wanted to sing to Mark and how. She got off her chair, held up a book, and serenaded him with happy birthday once again, but standing.

Naomi is excited about our trip to Colorado in May, and keeps talking about DotDot and Granddaddy, Alli, Alvin and Olivia. She has been talking about them alot, at one point she even started telling me about where we all slept the last time we were at my sisters - and that was last fall. Alvin has been part of her pretend games as well. And then the other night Naomi talked about seeing her DotDot. She said, "When I see Dot Dot, I'm going to say (lowers voice, grins) I'm here Dot Dot."

Insert Cliche Here

The thing that has been most evident to me since having a kid is that most of the cliches people throw at you about parenthood are actually true. I find myself more and more lately trying to figure out where my baby has gone, and really loving this little girl that has moved in with us. So, it is inevitable then that we would have the potty training post. The last two days Naomi has gone to school sans pull-ups, wearing underwear like a big girl. I am so proud of her and nervous for her all together. It really is a step in independence - which Naomi is aware of because at the same time she tells us that she is still little, and has gone back to using her little potty instead of the big one. I'm okay with this push-pull of growing up. She will be doing this our whole relationship, and I am so happy to be the one to hug and the one to give space.

Dress Up

Easter

Easter weekend was an insanely busy one for us, but really fun! Here are some pictures from one of the easter egg hunts. Mark's parents and sisters and families came up for lunch, and much fun was had by all. Naomi and Anna hunted eggs in their dress-up clothes!

What's Old is New Again

Naomi's room situation had gotton a bit out of control. So last night, after a trip to Target, Naomi and I stayed up late putting together shelves and organizing toys. Naomi was a natural - she started while I was still figuring out the shelves. I think she is a natural! And this morning she woke up playing with toys she hadn't played with in a while. It helps to be able to see things!

It felt like Christmas...maybe it was the Easter Bunny

Yesterday I got a voicemail on my phone while I was stillat work. "Mama, can I open it?Please can I open it?" She had a package in the mail from her Granddaddy and GrandDotDot for Easter. In the box was a full princess dress - dress, crown, and wand! There was also a new apron and cooking hat. Naomi was so excited, she put it on and started spinning immediately. Then she asked us, in all seriousness, "Mama, Daddy, can I fly?"

Pictures

Fritatta

Tonight we ate a lovely meal that several ingredients came out of our backyard. It was the kind of meal I'd like to eat more of, and the kind I like to advertise that I've made. This is opposed to a day like yesterday, when I stayed home with a cold from work and laid in bed and ate Lucky Charms all day.

I learned to make a Fritatta a few months ago when seeking out ways to use our eggs - and it turns out to be a really fast and easy dinner during the week.

8 eggs
fresh herbs (I used thyme and oregeno)
2 T parmesan cheese (or other cheese)
salt and pepper to taste
1 link italian sausage (or you can add diced ham, or no meat at all)
1 bunch swiss chard (or other vegetables, onion or garlic)
1 T butter or olive oil

Mix eggs, herbs, cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl (if using cooked meat, add it here).

In a pan with a lid (I use my dutch oven) melt/heat butter or oil. Add sausage, cook through, then add other vegetables. Cook til tender then pour the eggs in the pan. Cover and cook on medium-low heat about 9 minutes til its all set.

We used eggs from the chickens, swiss chard and herbs from the garden. And cooked some asparagus on the side, cause it was about to go bad in the fridge.