life with ego

Moving!

Lots of time has passed and lots of life has happend, sooooo I'm moving ---

until I register a new domain find me at luxloveandlife.blogspot.com

 

Wordless Wednesday

...only I'm breaking the rules and adding words, mostly due to the fact that I don't know when I will get around to blogging again.  We've been so busy lately that blogging has moved down the to-do list.

The Girl is freshly 22 months, and that means no, I still haven't located a freeze time machine.  This pre-2 and full of personality age is coming to a close I'm afraid.  She is still my favorite fun girl but she is entering the 'I control the world' territory that comes as a bundle prize package with a second birthday.

She is still super chatty, and I'm down to only wishing every other night that she will be mute for 24 hours, so that's a step up.  I have no idea how many words she knows, I would bet it's close to 1k, she absorbs everything, and her sentences are getting longer and longer. She describes everything she is doing and everything she sees.  She is almost perfect at counting 1-15 in English, does 1-10 in Spanish, and knows 50% of the ABC song.  She knows her parent's names (and uses them) and can spell her own name.  If you ask her what her name is though, she tells you Olivia.  She makes up fictional injuries and always assures you that ice cream or cookies will make it all better.

She sings the 'rain rain go away' song every morning at an attempt to insure the weather is favorable.  She has a best friend.  She still carries her Boots stuffed doll (from Dora) everywhere with her.  She loves picking flowers more then anyone I've ever met.  She would live outside playing if I let her, which is so not me, she must get that from the husband.  She is very into airplanes, thanks to her playmate fiance.  She asks strangers to beat box with her.  She likes to sneak up on people and tickle them.

That's it I think.  She keeps growing bigger, I'm not sure exactly since she eats combined in one week what I eat at one meal.  I'd say she is 24ishlbs and 37"ish.

Free Friday

I'm coming out of the closet.  What I've been working on for a while that has kept me from blogging in my free time and kept my laundry room full.....

I'm taking pictures. I know what you're thinking, holy front page news, Mallory takes pictures.  But the new part is that they are not of my kid.  That's right, after much pressure I'm branching out of my front yard and taking pictures of others.  It's just something small, babies, kids, and families the things I know, no engagement, weddings or anything crazy -- it will keep me busy when preschool starts and allow my laundry room to grow more.  It has been so fun so far and I already have so many things lined up including 2 newborns (both born this week),  kid sessions, a couple session, twins, birthdays and more! (Great friends get great discounts! :))

I have a little website (that is severely under construction, so don't laugh at me).

And I'll be doing what I do best and blogging my sessions.

And since I spend majority of my away-from-Photoshop-time on FB anyway...

So that is it, I've outed myself...and I'm super excited. :)

Talkative Thursday

E: Mama since ABCccccs?

M: You want me to sing the ABC's?

E: Yes!!

M: A, B, C, D

E: STOP ITTTTT!!!!! ...............please?

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M: Ella, did you sidewalk chalk on the staircase?

E: No.

M: Who sidewalk chalked on the staircase?

E: Ummm, Bootsy!  Bootsy color on stairs Mama!!

M: Are you telling the truth?

E: Yes....No, no Bootsy, not color on stairs, color outside!! Bad bootsy. Say sorry.

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E: Where Mama's car?

M: In the garage.

E: Mama's car in the garage.

M: Yes.

E: I go see Mama's car?

M: You want to go see my car?

E: Yes.

M: Here ya go, there is Mama's car.

E: Hi Mama's car!! I misssssed you!

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M: Do you want to go outside and play?

E: YESSSS!

M: Ok, do not get in the pool!

E: No pool.

M: Ok, be a good girl.

E: I good girl Mama.

*5 minutes later*

M: Why are you all wet?!?!

*silence*

M: Did you get into the pool?

E: Yes.....uh-oh.  It's ok Mama, I go swimming, it's ok.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Saturday Salutations.

Dear Sunshine, what is the deal?  You shine a few days during the week and then pour all weekend.  This is the 3rd week in a row of this cycle and weather.com is already showing that next weekend will be a repeat. Stoppppppppppp!

Dear Charlie, you are driving me freakin' nuts.  Stop chewing on everything.  You give me more grief then my 1.75 year old -- I don't think that is normal!

Dear Gazebo, you look so nice standing in our courtyard, so new and clean.  I unfortunately did not do any background checking to see if our HOA was even going to allow us to have you.  I mean, I don't see what the problem could be, it's not like your a huge light up sign that says "Boobs & Beer Here!" -- but still, if you could think happy thoughts that we don't get arrested by the HOA I would really appreciate it.

Dear 24 Hour Fitness, I'm thinking about coming to see you again.  I'm not sure exactly how I feel about our reunion though.  I hope our reunion is smooth and streamlined, like we were never apart.  If we could meet in the middle on this I would really appreciate it.

Dear Sprinkle's Cupcakes, you have done it yet again.  Pushed your opening date.  Your novelty is starting to wear off, I don't think I even care if you ever open anymore, I've tasted you before and you aren't worth waiting around for. (Ok, I didn't mean that, I'll probably still come visit you since I'm a sucker -- but I won't be happy about it!)

Dear Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, I write this with a heavy heart but I finished off my last pack of clearance Easter Eggs this week.  I tried to savor every bite, knowing that I wouldn't be reunited with them again until Halloween decor is distributed (which let's be honest, if I shopped at Wal-Mart would be like July).  I'm not a candy designer or marketing professional but there but be some sort of summer holiday that we could make work.  I already have a few suggestions to help you along (pro bono):

• Earth Day - unfortunately you're too little too late for this one, but I mean a circle with a little bit of raised design, easy smeasy.
• Cinco De Mayo- Still time to make this one happen!  Beer bottle shaped?
• Mother's Day - A flower.
• Father's Day - A tie.
• July 4th - this is soooo logical, a star - WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THIS?
• Armed Forces Day - a bazooka?

Anyway, that's just a little something I've been working on.  If you can't make it happen I understand, but as mentioned above my heart will ache until Halloween.

My Life Monday

(This is a redo, since Typepad likes to freeze when I'm almost done and then not recover my post, due to this it may not be as peppy as the former.)

Rain. I hate rain.  I hate feeling cooped up in the house -- our life is outside this house, shopping, playing, and exploring.  We sleep here, and eat here (sometimes) but we live other places.  Other places are not fun to go to when it is pouring outside.  Some people love the rain, love cuddling up in comfy big beds and having movie days while they listen to the rain, but not us partially because a toddler is not going to sit in your bed all day and watch chick flicks.  So our activities this weekend were at the mercy of the rain fest outside. (Side note: I'm pretty bummed that our neighborhood has such awesome drainage.  I wish I could get some cool puddle jumping photos).

We hit a dry spot on Saturday and went out to color the world. 

 

Some places were a little higher to reach...

So we stuck to coloring locally...

Sunday fun day was also filled with rain.  We talked about going to the beach and throwing balls for the dogs before we saw the weather forecast of doom.  So our fake lake would have to do. 

You can't go to the fake lake without doing a little swinging.  She is trying to "get me" in this picture.  It's our bit we do.  She swings high and almost touches me with her feet, I pretend to fall backwards and she screams "ahhh got you!!"

Water + ball = Katelyn's element.  She was made for this.  She's the first in, the last out and never loses that ball.  We tested Charlie's swimming abilities, he can swim, but chooses not to he prefers to wander, and that's ok by Katelyn, less competition.

And then I was in my element.  And I almost forgot about the rain.

 

Ketchup Post

Nope, not the condiment (though in case you were wondering it is the ONLY one I eat).  Catch up, as in I haven't blogged in over a week.  Partially because we were busy, and partially because I start too many projects at once and have spent my free time obsessively googling things for The Girl's second birthday.  Which is going to be...sweet. (Hint, hint).

Since I last reported on The Girl and I's adventures we went to a birthday party...

What an art form balloon animals are.  The only request I heard him turn down was one of the adult's asking him to make a Toyota Sequoia.  We got his number because I think even if we didn't serve cake at Ella's party everyone would still leave happy if this guy was there.

We hit the zoo with our playgroup...

We did a round of the usual like swinging...

picking up stray dogs...

 
and playing with our friends..

add in our normal errands, cupcake eating, trips to the library, and trips to Target and we were some busy girls.  Don't fret, we will return tomorrow!
 

Free Friday

I had another marvelous Friday with my Mama!  I asked her bring me shopping, and she did!  I have this one eating out of the palm of my hand (note to self: shop around toddler tyrant book idea).  She mentioned something about wanting to get me some white sandals so I figured that was my opening to try and milk this excursion for everything I wanted in the entire world.  Truth be told, I have these cute little silver gladiators that I really like and I think they go with everything so I'm not exactly sure why I needed white sandals too.  Whatever, I'm never against expanding my shoe collection.

We started out at the Houston Premium Outlets, have you been there?  I hope so, they are fun!  We always go there first when we need something because my Mama hates driving all the way to the mall.  Anywayyy, we started out at BabyGap.  Did I mention we were also working on a birthday gift? Oh ok, well we were.  So we looked all around, got the birthday girl a dress and got me 3 tops and some white sandals.  We made the big lap around the outlets and picked up two tops from Carter's and one from Gymboree.  Mama was not impressed with the selection they had today.  Did I mention that I got to do 0 exploring?  Yeah, that woman made me sit in my stroller, like I'm bad or something (I only threw all those shoes on the floor that one time!) -- have you seen this innocent face, how could she ever think such a thing.

(That's me practicing for my Charlie's Angels audition.)
 

So after leaving there mildly disappointed we decided to stop my TJ Maxx and see if they had anymore Melissa and Doug stuff like we saw the other day, and they did!  They had the food cutting set for like $5 on clearance because someone ripped off half the label, psst.  So we scooped up a bunch of that stuff and then after much begging and pleading she finally took me to get something to eat.  I think she was trying to starve me.  I mean she possibly could have fed me breakfast and 2 snacks that I refused..but that's beside the point.  I've been on an eating strike for a few days, I can't tell you why because I'm not quite sure myself but I'm sure it could only be for a legitimate reason.  So in order to try and toy with my emotions she brought me to my favorite place on Earth to eat..Luby's!  Yes, the place with the senior citizens.  But I love it!  And I did eat, you see you have to learn to pick your battles -- that's a little tip from me to you.

After we left there we went to the car wash.  The CarSpa to be exact.  I love that place!  Lots of room to run, lots of people for me to entertain with my vast array of skills.  Everybody wins!  Once the car was shiny and smelled good we came back home.  My Mama had promised if I was a good girl that I could play in the sprinkler!!  Well, I wasn't very good, but like I said, palm of my hand.  Here is the trick, you have to act super casual and pretend like you could care less.  So I held back my emotions for a bit..

 
I went ahead and let the kiddies have a little fun first..

While they were playing, I decided to go sit on my swing and work on my beat boxing (I'm not sure if that is one or two words, cut me some slack I'm not even two yet).

 After working on my skills I decided to go ahead and have my turn with the sprinkler..

It wasn't long that my dog "Charlie-boy" tried to snatch my swimsuit.  He does that a lot, tries to snatch things you carry.  My Mama says I can't be mean to him when he takes my things but she doesn't let me take things from other kids, fair?!?  It was pretty funny at first, but it quickly turned into a sunscreen bottle ad.

Oh and today is my 21 month birthday!  Please do not feel obligated to send gifts, my Mama says I'm too spoiled as it is.

  

Wordless Wednesday