Baby Wants Boobie!

We went to an indoor water park (aka: White Trash Wonderland) this past weekend with Daddy's friends from high school (good people). Daddy got to go out and party with his buddies Saturday night while me, Mommy and Anna had a slumber party in the hotel room. We got to watch TV in bed and I got to stay up until 10:00.

The BEST part of the night though was when I decided Baby Doll needed to eat. My exact words to Mommy were:

"Baby wants BOOBIE!" and I yanked up my shirt and positioned Baby Doll just so...and then, as if that weren't cute and funny enough...I burped her!

See, I DO learn by watching Mommy and Daddy...so watch out, Mommy and Daddy!

Love,

Lilly

P.S. Mommy did not have the actual camera handy, so these were taken with her phone. They are kinda Twighlight Zone-ish...

P.S.S. Paci is for bedtime. That's why I have paci. Okay, Uncle Dan???!!! OKAY!?!?!

Happy Birthday Fia and Matia!

Happy Birthday (So)Fia and Matia(s)! We can't wait to see you in a couple weeks and give you your birthday presents...because it's always more fun to give presents in person so we can fight over them!
See you in a couple weeks!
Love,
Lilly (and Mommy, Daddy and Anna)

Our First Boat Ride

While we were at the cottage a couple weeks ago Daddy took Mommy, me and Anna on our first family boat ride!

I was TERRIFIED. Anna slept.
I got used to the boat after a couple of days and really started to enjoy it. It was a lot of fun for Mommy and Daddy to take us because they remember being little and riding on boats with THEIR Daddys. My Duda had an old Bass fishing boat - it was aluminum and it had this loud old motor. It was grander than a yacht to Mommy when she was little. She thought it was the best, fastest, coolest boat in the world! Duda used to take her fishing in Michigan and Minnesota - I think she even got to take it out on the great Mississippi when she lived in St. Louis. Believe it or not, she put her own worms on her hooks and once in a while she actually caught something. Daddy says there are no more fish left in Lake Ontario. That is a darn shame. Maybe sometime when I'm back in Troy Grampa will take me fishing on the Little Miami. I hear there's carp in there bigger than me!

Love,

Lilly

Travelin' Light...

Let me start by saying Blogger is being a huge pain in the butt today and Mommy is at the office and really does have work to do so she's going to have to work with what we've got which isn't much.
As you recall, we went on our first family trip on an airplane a couple weeks ago! You see the picture above with Daddy and the carseat on his head? That wasn't just for show. He actually walked around like that. How else are you supposed to get: 2 babies, 2 carseats, 2 suitcases, a backpack and a diaper bag from the car to the terminal when you've only got 2 people who can carry it all? Mommy tried to get me to carry something but she wouldn't pay me, so I didn't carry! I carried Baby Doll. That's it.
Mommy already relayed her frustrations with traveling in a previous post and your time is important so I won't bore you with the rehashing. Did she mention though, that Anna had to remove her shoes through security? That is no joke.
Once in Syracuse we M's like to travel in style and with class. Since Daddy waited until less than 24 hours before our departure to rent a car - and EVERY car rental place in Syracuse was booked solid, over-booked and over-sold due to weekend NASCAR race our only option was "Rent A Wreck." Classy.

Shhhh...don't tell Rent a Wreck that I got to drive their car...

Shhhh...don't tell Rent a Wreck that I drove the car - NEKKID!!

Like I said, class people!

Love,

Lilly

6 Friends Every Mom Needs

Uh oh...Mommy can't find the cord to connect the camera to the computer to download all 544 new pictures and videos. Mommy thinks she left it at work, so loyal readers, you will have to wait until Monday.
In an effort to keep you all amused over the weekend, as well as offset the heaviness of the last post, Mommy is inspired to share with you her take on a popular article found in a popular Mommy magazine. Mommy has actually seen such article in numerous Mommy magazines before. It is the: "Friends Every Mom Needs/Wants/Should Have" article. Most "types" are just slight variations from one article to another.
Mommy has her own version. Enjoy.

1. "The Mom in the Same Situation"
Why (the magazine says) Mommy Needs One: She understands me. She "gets it."
What Mommy Really Wants: "The Mom Who Is Worse Off Than I'll Ever Be"
Forget about another Mommy who is going through everything I'm going through. BOR-ING. I want a Mommy friend who has got it way worse than I'll ever have! Hubby peed on the seat again? Kids won't sleep through the night (STILL)? Well that's nothing compared to the friend on her third marriage with a 6-year old in juvie! Just a subtle reminder that no matter how bad things get - they will never be THAT bad.

2. "The Pal Without Kids"
Why Mommy Needs One: I need adult conversation.
What Mommy Really Wants: "The Friend Who Will Get Me Shit-Faced Drunk."
Period.

3. "The Been There Done That Mom"
Why Mommy Needs One: She can help me through my frazzled moments.
What Mommy Really Wants: "A Rich Friend With a Little Girl Exactly One Year Older Than Lilly"
With a spending habit - a really impulsive one! And when she's done with all those cute little designer clothes she can give them all to me.

4. "The Do Anything For You Pal"
Why Mommy Needs One: Self explanatory, no?
What Mommy Really Wants: "Daddy to Do Whatever She Says"
Again, self explanatory.

5. "The Glamorous Girlfriend"
Why Mommy Needs One: Inspiration and advice
What Mommy Really Wants: "The Fat, Homely Friend"
This goes back to the friend who makes you feel good by virtue of just existing. If I want to eat Ben & Jerry's Phish Food ice cream and drink sweet tea all the live long day I would like at least ONE friend who does the same and wears pants 10 times larger the size of mine. I don't need anymore "Oh, I'm just naturally skinny I hate to exercise and I can eat whatever I want friends." Pbft on you. You know who you are...

6. "The Brutally Honest Pal"
Why Mommy Needs One: Sometimes even Mommy needs to hear the truth. Like "Yes, you do look fat in those pants." or "Wow, your house looks like a giant toybox!" or even, "Well there was probably a hundred better ways to do THAT!"
What Mommy Already Has: Her own Mommy. And a little sister to boot. I think I'm doing okay in this category.

Thanks for stopping by. I promise lots of pictures next week.
Love,
Mommy

Farewell Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,

I can't believe this is really good-bye. I haven't stopped thinking about our conversation today - what could I have said to you? How can you fit a lifetime of emotions in one short conversation? Fortunately for me I have a venue - the internet.

First of all let me say this, you always have done things your way. No question about it you should depart this earth on your terms as well. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, it may be harder for some you're leaving behind but it suits you. It suits me, too because it's just your style - and, you are giving those of us who love you and are close to you the opportunity to work out our feelings and the privilege to share them with you before you go. So, thank you for that, Grandpa.

Thank you also, Grandpa, for Dad. He is such an awesome Dad. I hope you know that but I wanted you to hear it from his favorite kid. You should be so proud of him, I know I am and he is an amazing Duda. The girls just love him. He has unlimited patience (a skill he honed raising me through my teenaged years, no doubt) and a heart that could scale mountains.

Your great-grand-daughters are so, so, so loved. They are such good girls. Already only four months old and Anna's sweet little personality is emerging. She is so forgiving of us, and you can tell already how much she adores her big sister. And Lilly? What a spitfire. No surprise there, I'm sure. Every day she says something new, does something new, and it's always hilarious. Joe, as you know is a wonderful husband, also an awesome Dad and we are doing our best to raise them to be good people, better than us. Being married to Joe, and Mommy to my girls are the greatest gifts I have received in this life.

Me, I'm happy. Happy. Happy. Happy. In the past few years I've stopped questioning my "purpose" and started instead to try to be a better person myself. I'm always suffering setbacks. I'm always screwing up. Hopefully, I'll learn something.

I just couldn't let you go without telling you I love you. I know we weren't that close - but - I still think our relationship was special in its own right and I know you love me, too. I promise I will keep your memory alive in my girls. Every time I correct a grammatical mistake I'll think of you (and, try to forgive me mine as it's hard to write this through tears). I promise you I'll read more books. I will learn how to bake those chocolate mint squares you made that I love so much, and the sausage balls, too. I promise you when the time comes, I'll take care of Dad (with help, I'm sure from my sibs who all three love him as much as I do).

I don't know what else to say? I could probably go on and on but most importantly, for myself as much as for you (maybe more for me), I wanted to let you know it's okay with me.

Everything is cool.

I wish you peace, Grandpa. And, I do love you.

Bon Voyage.

Love,

Kris

The Lilly Bean Project: Part 2

The camera as a phone...

The Lilly Bean Project Part 1

This is the long-awaited, much requested video of, "The Lilly Bean Project." My first short film. It's a documentary, I am searching for my cat, Garp. Garp is not allowed outside, but I open the door for her, she escapes, hides under the deck and then I go looking for her and yell, "Garp! NO!"

Just Mommy and Anna...

It's just Mommy and Anna this week while me and Daddy are up at the cottage until Saturday! Isn't that nice? I get to stay at the cottage and enjoy the boat, the lake and never-ending playtime with my cousins while Mommy and Anna stay home and work, and go to the baby-sitter's house. Today was Anna's first day without me and that made Mommy SAD! Even though Anna was all smiles when Mommy handed her over to Miss Mary Lou. Anna's happy as long as you are feeding or holding her. And she wants to eat all the time. As demonstrated above, where she is trying to eat Mommy's face. "MMMMMMmmmmm...gimme food, Mommy!"

Mommy wants to say something about traveling with babies. Once upon a time, Mommy was a hip, cool, single traveler without any babies who never got stopped in security because she traveled frequently enough she knew exactly what she was doing. That was ONCE upon a time! Nowadays Mommy is a crazy traveler who gets on a plane about once, twice a year and the rules are constantly changing and she's toting along a little bugger who demands a lot of attention. Mommy is the same person she used to roll her eyes at and say, "Oh, great, a baby and a crazy Mom." Well guess what, people? Poop on you! Poop on all of you who gave Mommy dirty looks and rolled their eyes at us when we were boarding the plane, when we sat down, and when we left. Guess what else? Poop on the woman who didn't like Mommy breastfeeding in public! Mommy was even wearing a hooter hider out of respect. Next time Mommy will whip out her feeding apparatus and squirt you in the eye. And poop on the lady who said, "Oh, great a little baby!" Mommy SHOULD have said, "Oh, great a big bitch." But Mommy's got class.

Me and Anna are too little for class. So I say, "Poop on you." And then, Anna poops. And then, you are all stuck on the plane with a baby who has a poopy diaper.

HA!

Love,

Lilly

Where the Heck Has Lilly Been?

Dressed in our Sunday clothes! Look at Lilly such a little lady!

I have turned into quite a little Mommy. I'm a nurturer. Go figure! I have this baby doll, see - no, not Anna - Baby Doll. I've started to take her with me everywhere in her little car seat and stroller, and bassinet basket. I've gotten to the point I won't fall asleep without her in her bed, next to me (as showcased in my photos).

I also love to hold Anna. I sit on the floor and say, "Hold Anna!" and then Mommy or Daddy sits her in my lap and I hold her and rock her until she starts to fuss and then I push her away (usually that involves knocking her face into the floor if Mommy or Daddy aren't quick enough to grab her) and I say, "All done."

Anna weighs 14 or 14.5 lbs according to our scale at home. She's so chubby and cute! She is starting to lose her hair in weird patches, though, poor thing. She sleeps aaaalll night! This morning Mommy had to wake us both up at 8:00 am! HOW did Mommy and Daddy get so lucky? I have no idea!

Mommy had a dream last night that she's pregnant again. She woke up mad at Daddy, and poor Daddy couldn't understand why a dream would make her mad at him but it felt so real...and scary...I love Anna to pieces but I'm not ready for another baby yet. I don't even have Baby Doll potty trained!

What else has been going on? Well, speaking of Mommy and Daddy they just celebrated their 4 year anniversary. The fourth year is "fruit and flowers" and that is what they got on their dessert plate at the restaurant they ate at, which was some cool little Italian place that Mommy already forgets the name of. That is Mommy and Daddy's tradition, every anniversary (except for last year when they tried some funky fusion place) they eat Italian because the night before their wedding they had Italian. So they decided to make it a tradition. They have other traditions too, that we won't talk about here but that as I got to thinking...you know about Anna and everything...and their Anna-versary...hmmmm...I wonder....questionable timing me thinks.

When I get pictures from our Ohio family reunion/lamb roast I will post them up! I'm waiting on those from Babi!!! And then we are leaving in TWO DAYS FOR THE COTTAGE! And I'm sure I will have lots of pictures then! (And speaking also of dreams Mommy has been having nightmares about the lake...it doesn't help that she's recently read so many articles and headlines about toddlers drowning. Yep, these are the things that plague Mommy at night...nightmares about drowning and being pregnant - again...maybe Mommy should take to a glass of wine before bedtime to chill out!)

All for now! See you in about a week (due to COTTAGE ABSENCE!)

Love,

Lilly