Easter 2010- Alivia

Sneaking a drink of Mommy's Dr. Pepper!  Alivia Faith- Easter Sunday 2010

Easter 2010 - Audrey

Who could resist this little face?  Easter Sunday, 2010-  she was just plain tuckered out! 

The Never Ending "Whatca Doing?"

So, Alivia is now asking the never ending question..."whatca doing momma?"  It cracks me up that she is so curious, but there are times when she does it to just flat annoy me!  Like this morning... brushing my teeth!  "Whatca doing momma?" she asks... "brushing my teeth, Livi-  what does it look like I am doing?"  "Brushing your teeth?  How come?"  she asks  "So mommy has clean teeth!"   Two minutes later... still brushing my teeth and she asks "Whatcha doing momma?"   Does she not know, not remember, or not understand that I am running late for work and don't have time to answer silly questions!!!  LOL! 
She really is very cute and very funny.  But that is her main problem... she knows that she is cute and funny and well, ridiculously charming.   Just like me... right?? 
Audrey is starting to pull up in the middle of the floor... stand there and then sit right back down.  She can walk- she choses not to!  She is such a funny little girl... with a major attitude and temper.   I swear she is the mirror image of me.  I will admit it without blinking an eye.  She and I are cut from the same cloth.  Her temper is on an even shorter fuse than mine.  She gets so mad so quick that it is actually very funny! 
Both girls doing really well-  growing too quick!  I miss having a snuggle baby... one that just wants her mommy.  Both girls are daddy's girls--  I hate that!  Can't I have just one that adores me and me only? 

The Cake...

There is nothing better than watching your little one dig into her first birthday cake.  I would like to say that she tasted a little bit of it, but I would be lying!  She just kept picking up pieces and throwing it!!  It was so funny! 
We had Brian and Hunter there...Brian's mom made the cakes- Let me say that they (the actual cake and then the tiny cake for Audrey to tear into) were so cute!  The cakes were beautiful!!  I was sure that the cakes would be cute, but was amazed at the quality of the decorating and the taste! 
Tara Burnett and Nelley Kate showed up; The Knoblock family was there- Alivia and Ashlynn were so cute eating cake!; MaryAnn (Maryman, as Alivia says) and Lisa Sanders.  Mimi and Papa were there of course and gave both girls some of the cutest outfits!
We had a great great day!  I am so very in love with my little girls and feel so very blessed to have them.  What a lucky girl I am !!

Audrey's 1st Birthday

Sitting here with mimi and papa the night before Audrey's first birthday--  I can NOT believe that she is a year old.  What a beautiful life I have!  Two beautiful little girls who make the sun shine; a husband who actually still likes me! ( I think!!); and to have my mom and dad drive up to WW for the birthday party tomorrow.  Only thing missing is my baby brother being here.  I sure hope we get to see him soon. 
I will post lots of birthday pictures in the next few days!! 
Happy Birthday my sweet girl:)

Oh What A Feeling!...

What a fantastic feeling to be sitting here knowing that I don't have to get up and get going tomorrow!  I love having a three day weekend ahead of me.  We are making zero plans and that is fine with me... I don't want to feel obligated to do anything or see anyone this weekend. 
I do feel guilty that we are not going to Mass this Easter weekend.  I really don't know how to make that work.  We don't have a nursery at the Catholic church here in WW and I don't know where else we would go to church.  Maybe we should look into going to a different denomonation, but I honestly don't feel welcome here in WW to do that.  I feel so out of touch in this community.  I mean, I work here, I bank here, I shop here,  but I am not a part of this town. 
I wish that we could get into a small town like Shattuck.  Being there yesterday and working with those kids and teachers was such an honor.  Even during a tragedy, I felt at home in that commhunity.  We don't have that feeling here in WW- I am not a part of the "in" crowd.  We will never call WW home and that is a shame- this could have been a great place for us to raise our girls. 

My Chuncky Monkey... Miss Audrey...

Who could resist a face like that?  Miss Audrey is such a sweet little baby girl!  She is getting ready to walk... you can see it on her face that she is wanting to, but is a little scared.  Audrey is not a good sleeper-- this little monkey likes to be held all night long!  Yes, I know that I am the reason behind this... I truly lose more sleep worrying that she might not be breathing than I do when I am in the recliner holding her! 
Audrey is a Mommy's girl... this is much different than Alivia, who from the moment that she saw her daddy, she was his! 

Thankfully, I have a little girl who wants mommy and everyone says she looks like me too!  She is precious... I know I am a little biased, but well, this is my blog and I guess I can pretty much say what I want:)  She is starting to give "kiss kiss"- sweet slobber all over my face!  Nothing like a "kiss kiss" first thing in the morning... Isn't that what life is truly about?  I am such a lucky mom!
Love you sweet Audie, mommy

Alivia and Elmo...

We took Alivia to see Elmo Live again!  She didn't like it as much as the first time... I think it was because we weren't as close to the stage and the fact that Elmo was not on stage the whole time!  What was that red monster thinking!!??!!  LOL!

We had a fun time at the show and then off to Zio's to eat with Lindsey, Mac, and their boys!  Although we hated not having Audrey with us, it was nice for Alivia to have our undivided attention.  She loves her sister, but I think at times she gets a little jealous of the focus that is given to a baby.  She doesn't understand that Audrey really is helpless at this point and now that Alivia is becoming a big girl, she is getting more independent. 

She is growing up to be such a little "superstar!"  She wore this tutu that Uncle Ron and Aunt Vicki gave her for Christmas, with her Elmo t-shirt, her snow boots and her hair in piggy's with a bow head band!  She informed me that she was a fashion diva!!!  Well, how do you argue with that?!? She also had her "black" sunglasses, which are huge Paris Hilton like glasses:)  She looked adorable!  We are so very luckyhave this bright star in our lives!!     Love you- Moon!                       

A Letter To Alivia and Audrey...

Alivia and Audrey,
I looked at you this morning and knew without a doubt that your two of the most precious people on earth!  I can not imagine mine or your daddy's life without you two- you two are what makes our family work.  I could not love anyone with more intensity and passion than I do you both and your daddy. 
Alivia, you are such a funny and witty little girl!  I know that all mothers look at their kids and say "you're the most beautiful," or "you're the smartest little girl..."-- But, you truly are the most beautiful and smartest little girl I know.  You amaze me with your vocabulary and how you can listen to something just once and remember it a month later.  You know all your ABC's and can sing a dozen different songs- You love to play and to be "in charge!" You have a little bit of an attitude these days, but I can see that you are going to be independent and able to problem solve.  You are spreading your little two and half year old wings and I am honored that you are my daughter... my first little being.  You make me want to be a better person and you make me want to challenge myself to do more... be more... more for you and your sister.   You make me so happy!
Audrey, you are mommy's little snuggle bunny.  Your smile just makes my heart melt and when you reach up and touch my face or look at me with that knowing "you are my mommy" look... well, that just does me in!  You are ready to walk, although you are a little scared of it.  Alivia is your true hero!  She walks into a room and you light up!  She loves you... never let her tell you differently!  I can not get enough of you... you are so beautiful and such a loving little creature.  Your first birthday is in two weeks and I can't believe that you have been mine for almost a full year.  You brighten our days and make us truly a complete family.
Girls- you are so blessed to have your daddy... he adores you both and is the perfect daddy for you.  He is so patient and willing to play and just takes such good care of us as a family.
I am so very proud to be your mommy and I love you guys so very much.... I look forward to the upcoming years with you both.  Thank you for being my daughters... I am honored, truly honored to call you mine.
Yours,  Mommy:)

The Stay At Home Mom...

I am so jealous of the stay at home moms!  I would love to be able to stay home and be the person who is shaping the personalities of my little girls.  Honestly, throughout the week, the person who keeps them during the day gets to see my daughters more waking hours than I do.  By the time I get home and get them fed and bathed, it is time for them to go to bed and time for me to try and breathe!
I think summer vacation is the reason that I have stayed in education despite the fact that we make little to no money and the entire system is falling on its rear.  Summer Vacation is the time when I get to stay home and pretend to be a stay at home mom...those two months in which I get to be with my babies day in and day out. 
I am insanely nervous about taking them to new daycare tomorrow!  I know that this is a good decision, but I am a nervous mom who doesn't like change!  I worry that nobody will like my little girls and will treat them poorly.... see, this is where being a stay at home mom really rocks!  If I could be with Alivia and Audrey all day then I would be able to give them the love and attention that I think they need everyday to flourish and grow as a person.  I hate depending on a "stranger" to instill the morals and values during the daylight hours Monday thru Friday! 
I keep praying that we will somehow someway be able for me to take a year off... just one year in which I stayed home and loved on my girls from morning to night...

Thank You My Sweet Friend...

I totally owe my dear sweet friend Michelle a "Thank You!" for my new blog page!! You are the best:)  I have become somewhat addicted to blogging-- I don't always make a lot of sense, but it is fun to do!  Having a cute "pink" page makes it even FUNNER!  so not a word, but using it anyway:)

Home Sweet Home...

Don't get me wrong- I love love love being with my mom and dad, but I am so glad to finally be home!  There is nothing quite like your own "stuff"... I miss my recliner and my bathtub!  It is also nice to get the girls back on their schedule. 
Unfortunatly, I am still not feeling so hot- I have this awful  cough and my chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it.  I just want to crawl in my bed and hide my head for a few days!  I don't see that happening! 

Lots Of Random Thoughts...

So, I am finally home from Parent/Teacher confrences... all I want to do is sit and hold my baby girls and they are both sound asleep!  Bummer for me! I don't think it would be the best "mommy move" for me to wake them up and love on them... guess I will have to wait until tomorrow for Livi and well, a an hour or so for Audrey!
Watching American Idol on the DVR... knowing that everyone else knows the top 12... I am refusing to read any text messages in case someone is trying to spoil my fun.  I am also waiting to hear if the Boomer boys are winning....
We are taking Alivia to see Elmo for the second time this Saturday.  I know this isn't nice, but it is something that we have used as a "if your a good girl..." it really wouldn't matter if she wasn't and I am afraid she is beginning to figure this out!
Also, we made the decision today to take the girls to new daycare after spring break.  This wasn't an easy decision for us... We loved Amber (the lady who has kept them since August 09) and I know Alivia will miss her something awful!  This decision was made in part becasue Amber is going onto bigger things and working towards her LPN certification.  We found out that Boomer Kids Club had a place for both girls starting now, so we had to make that move.  I think that this will be good for the girls-- Alivia will like going to "school" and the projects and schedule they showed us were something that I think we help my girls flourish. But... Amber, we love you and will miss you!
Audrey has been running a fever again today and I am worried about RSV-  we hear that it is going around.  I don't think it is that serious, but I worry anyway.  I think she is teething, but how do you ever really know?  I mean, seriously, how can you ever tell??
Okay... so off of here and giving my total attention to the AI~~ love love love this show!  I know I am crazy, but I could be addicted to a lot worse. 

Nourishment of the Soul

Starting today,  I plan to carve out a minimum of fifteen minutes a day of time to call my own.  Even if I have to wake early in the morning or stay up late at night to find the time. During that time, take a walk, listen to beautiful music, read a novel, or do anything that connects myself to the quietness of life. 

Is This Day Over Yet?

WOW!  Today is the day from my snotty nose hell!  I just want to go home and go to bed... I don't think that is going to happen!  I need a nap and then an attitude adjustment--

Life Is Stressful

My life is simply stressful!  I need a vacation away from myself these days... I wuold love to just pick up and run away from myself and all the worries that go along with my life.  I know that everyone is stressed, but lets face it... my blog- my problems!! 
I need to do something that is going to lower the stress level in my home-  Money seems to always be a constant theme in our lives, or should I say the lack of money!  I am searching for something that I could do to make more money and stay home more with the girls.  Honestly, I want it all... I want to be home with my babies and make enough money to be financially stable.   Any ideas?? 
I am envious of those women who breeze in and out of places with this look of "freedom" on their face... they are going for a walk, or going to have their nails done... etc...  I WANT THAT!  So, my "followers!"  (Hehe.. that sounds so Funny!) help me come up with something:) 

Life Is What Happens When Your Busy Making Plans...

I find myself saying "Man, I wish today were over!" or "I can't wait until tomorrow!" Life is continuing to happen even though I make plans for more exciting events and I am missing it! I come home and work like a maniac to get everything done so I can sit in the chair and just breathe~ I am missing out on that time with my girls.  I am missing out on precious moments that one day I will look back on and kick myself for not paying closer attention. 
I miss my babies being babies... I honestly can't remember when Alivia first walked or those funny things she would say that I promised myself I would never forget.  I haven't written anything down (which is one reason this blog is so important to me) nor have I kept up with taking pictures or videos of the girls.  One day I am going to wake up and my girls are going to be grown and out of the house... I am going to look around and wonder why I spent so much time worrying about my job and when I was going to get to bed instead of playing with my girls and spending quality time with them.  Life is passing me by and the only thing I am carrying with me is the stress of worry over stupid things. 
I am making a vow to spend some "good" time with Alivia and Audrey ...  time that we will all remember twenty years from now. 

Defining Moments...

I believe that everyone has defining moments in their lives- some people make the most of those moments and others (like myself) just let those times slip by us. I let something "slip" by me today and I now regret not taking that moment and doing something with it. I have always allowed others to help me define myself... I make bold statements about how I would handle things or how I would do something different and when the opportunity presents itself to make a difference in my life; I sit by in a passive manner. I disappointed myself today and I hope that I can teach my daughters to be more assertive- to stand up and define them!
So, this is a list of "I wants" for my girls...
I want for Alivia and Audrey to be so much more than I am... I want for them to set goals and actively work to achieve them... I want for my girls to be all and do all. I don't want them to settle in their lives because it is easier. I want them to marry a man like their daddy-- a man who loves them and takes care of them emotionally, physically, and financially. I want for them to have values, morals, and character traits that when they go to bed at night, they have no regrets. I want for them to have respect and be respected... I want for them to have defining moments and to never disappoint themselves.

Mommy Time - Outs

"Every Mother has the breath taking privilege of sharing with God in the creation of a new life.  She helps bring into existence a soul that will endure for all eternity. "


This quote was given to me when I had Alivia-  it is sooo true!  I can't think of anything more special than being a mother.  "MommyHood" is a new adventure everyday... some days I am really good at it and then there days when I need a Mommy time-out!


I think this morning was a day that I needed a time-out... Wow!  Poop at 7:35 a.m. from Audrey and then a screaming Alivia over not having an Elmo DVD in the car!  What did my parents do without the capibilities of watching movies in the car?  How did we all function?  It is nice to have, but I think I am missing out on spending some quality time with the girls... I remember  the car rides as the perfect time for my parents to quiz me on what was going on in my life. 
Mommy time-outs are essential in the life of a mother-  I look forward to the days when I can lock the bathroom door again and take a bath without Alivia coming in and asking if she can get in the bath with me... I can't imagine what it will be like when Audrey is able to open the door as well!  Life is going to continue to get crazier. 
Although there isn't a lot of "me" time lately, just look at those two faces.... I am a  lucky girl!  Those two (even in their devilish moments) are the two brightest stars in my life. 

An Ordinary Person in an Extraordinary World

I always wanted to be something special- something that people would look at me and admire all the things that I achieved. Growing up, I really thought I would use my singing voice to accomplish this, but obviously that didn't pan out.
Last night I was holding Audrey as she was sleeping and for a moment, she woke up and looked at me. Even though she was still practically sound asleep, she smiled~ that big smile that shows her teeth and her dimples. Then she closed her eyes and snuggled in a little closer to me.
I realized that I am not just an "ordinary" person-- I am a mommy to two beautiful "extraordinary" little girls. Life didn't turn out exactly like I thought it would, but for me it turned out better. And, I get to use my singing voice to sing lullabies to Alivia and Audrey who are my best audience.

My Little Pony, Sweet Little Pony

Does anyone remember the "My Little Pony" theme song?   Well, I can only remember the one part "my little pony, sweet little pony"... anyway-  Last night I am singing this one phrase to my girls, but putting in their names instead of Pony.  My sweet little Livi then looks at me and sings "my little mommy, sweet little mommy!"  How sweet is that?!?!

Monday Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Blues

I have the Monday Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Blues today!!  Some will say that I have been suffering from this "disease" for awhile now, and I couldn't honestly say they are wrong.  I have been leaning more on the negative side of things lately... not something that I am proud of, but something that I am aware of. 
A friend told me a few minutes ago that she needs something "good" to happen to her... I know the feeling!  The overall tone of my life has been somewhat "blue" as of late... I need to work on that!  My poor family... God has blessed me with people who love me unconditionally. 
So--- turn the page:
The reason for this blog was not meant for me to be "gritchy!" but for me to write down all the cute, fun, and memorable things that my girls do~
this morning on the way to work, Alivia tells me that I need to be careful driving in the snow and get this... "Mommy, your car is dirty... you need to keep it clean."   I responded:  "Livi, I know that the car is dirty... how about you help mommy clean it up?"  Livi: "Nope... thats your job!"
She is a nut:) 

The Chit Chat Queen

I am now crowned the "Chit Chat Queen!"  I am not sure that is a positive character trait, but so goes. 
I like to talk- I like to listen- I like to be heard.  Bobby knows this better than anyone! 
Speaking of Bobby, who is unable to read this blog as of yet, I just want to say how lucky I am to have him in my life.  He is my soul mate.  He is so patient with me and there are times when I know I am difficult, but he is the steady rock in our home.  I am a lucky girl and Alivia and Audrey are lucky to have him as their daddy.   So, when you get to finally read this- Bobby, I love you! 

My Spelling mistakes

Just a quick FYI to anybody who might read this...  MY SPELLING IS AWFUL!  I honestly don't know what I would do without spell check, but can't find it on my posting site!  If you can help, let me know! 

My Blogging Debut~

So, I am officially a blogger now!  I am excited to put my thoughts on "cyber paper" and have something that my girls can one day look back on.   This blog "Cook Girls Wear Pink" is dedicated to my husband Bobby and my daughters Alivia Faith and Audrey Grace.


As many know, my girls and my husband make my life complete.  I don't mind saying (even though it makes me feel a little guilty now) that I never wanted to be a mom... not until the first moment I felt Alivia kick in my tummy.  That was a defining moment for me-  the moment when I realized that my life was missing something.  Funny how that happens-  one moment your looking at your pregnant stomach and thinking "how did I let this happen" and then you feel a little flutter and your over joyed and crying tears of happiness.  


My life didn't nessacerily turn out the way I thought it was going to-  I swore I would never be a teacher or work in education, I swore I wouldn't ever depend on someone to take care of me, and I swore off ever having a family.  Now look at me... A mother of two girls who make me laugh and smile, married to a man I can't imagine living without, and a school counselor to boot!  Funny how things happen. I have definate things that I would like to change about my life... but, the core foundation of my family is something that I hold dear.  I want to savor every moment of my time with Bobby and the girls... just soak it up and roll around in it!   

guess this blog is going to be a little mushy-- hopefully anyone who reads it will be able to connect with some of what I have to say.  I'm a pretty opinionated person who doesn't mind speaking up.   I'm excited to share with others my thoughts and feelings, but more importantly, I want something for Alivia and Audrey to look back on and understand who I am and what I stand for.