HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAILEY!!!!

Birthday Bath This Morning

Hailey Opens a Few Presents after Breakfast

Disney Book with her Favorite Stories!

Another Book...

A Special Book from Mommy and Daddy

Cool Learning Game from the Palmisanos!

Hailey had a fun birthday morning. She's going to be having a party with mini-cupcakes at school today too. We're saving her biggest present for later tonight. Plus, we're taking her to get a real big girl bed later this week. What a fun second birthday!

Ode to Manipulation

Last weekend when my doe-eyed child looked up, held her arms out and said, “My Mommy,” I unsuspectingly swooped her up in my arms and said “Of course I’m your Mommy, and I love you very much.” That was the beginning of the end for my independence this vacation. Every two seconds, we were dealing with “My Mommy” or “My Daddy,” which was used as a demand to be picked up immediately.

This became increasingly troublesome any time Hailey approached a sandy area (which was the entire island!). If our little angel had shoes on, the sand made her freeze immediately in place. Then, she would cry, “rocks in my shoes” because apparently when you’re almost 2, fine sand particles have the same effect as having shards of glass in your shoes. God forbid she take even one step on the sand. Nope, better to cry “My Mommy” and hope that your easily manipulated Mommy will save you from the torture.

Belize or Bust!

Hailey, Luke and I are off to Belize tomorrow. We will be staying in Mom and Harry’s condo on Ambergris Caye. We are very excited to go away even if it’s only for a week this time. We all need a break! I’m sure that Hailey is going to love the beach and the pool. Hopefully, I’ll come back rested and with lots of fun pictures to share. Have a wonderful week!

Song Breaks Out at Snack Time...

Translation..."If your name is puppy, jump up and down."

Crossing Over

Let me start by saying that I am not a gadget person. I am not an electronics person. Technology for me is just something that is there and hopefully works. When it doesn't work, then it's highly frustrating, and I pretty much swear it off (at least until Luke fixes it). My husband, on the other hand, lives for technology. It's what he does for a living for crying out loud!

This brings me to my conversion - "crossing over to the dark side" I like to call it. It all started with my first iPhone. I didn't even want it, but Luke insisted. I'm sure that he had some rationale. I can't remember what it was. It doesn't matter now because I loved that damn phone the minute I got it. I didn't do anything with it other than take pictures, text, and use the phone. I don't even think I had music or videos on it (well none that I put on there).

You may realize that today the new iPhones came out. I really could not have cared less, but for some reason we had to have them. Here's where the dark side comes in. Where do I find myself at 7:45am this morning (Luke got there at 6:05am)? You guessed it...waiting out in front of an AT&T store with all of the serious geeks. The morning came complete with a near riot when someone tried to cut the front of the line, announcements of inventory shortages every half hour, and the entire system crashing before we could activate anything. In the end, we could only purchase a phone for me (because I got the smaller version), while Luke had to order his. Haha! Sorry...I had to throw that in because how ironic is it that I'm the only one in the family with the new toy now?

Anyway, you might wonder how I have time to write this what with my new gadget and all. Here's why...because I haven't touched it since "I" got it. Oh wait. Hold the phone (literally)...I have it! I have it in my hand! My husband has turned it over. Just kidding. He just wanted me to see something. He took it back. Apparently, I need some apps...whatever those are.

Happy iPhone Day!

Pics from the 4th

Timeline of the Tantrum

For some reason, everything is a battle these days. Little Miss Independence does not like to do anything when she is told to. It's very frustrating. The middle of the tantrum is by far the worst part because my stubbornness starts to wear off and I start thinking that maybe I should give in. Still, when you suffer through a tantrum and come out on the other side, it's a little bit invigorating because you know that you are both better for having played your respective roles. Without further ado, here is the basic timeline that applies to virtually every tantrum...

Time	Hailey Behavior	Mommy Thoughts
:10	Stubbornly refuses to do something she’s been asked to do	What is the problem? You do this every day. Why is it an issue all of a sudden?
:30	Continues to refuse with a pouty face now	Ok. Let’s lighten the mood. Perhaps a distraction or two will be enough.
:45	Head down on the floor and/or commence with the crying	Are you kidding me? Do we really have to do this right now?
1:00	Screaming persists and/or elevates	Fine. We have two choices now: 1) I will ignore you or 2) You will sit in timeout. Maybe we need both!
1:15	Possible flailing about or just a continuation of screaming	I feel like screaming now to. This is not the end of the world. Why are you making this so difficult?!?!?
1:30	Possible shrieking interspersed with some calls for Mommy	You brought this on yourself, and I will not be bullied by your bad attitude. I guarantee that I’m more stubborn than you are.
2:00	Keeps it coming	All you have to do is what I asked you to do and life would be much easier. AHHHH…My ears hurt!
2:30	Some more	Will this ever end? Ok. I’m not going to lie, my stubbornness is waning. I feel the call of the Mommy to console you.
3:00	Hasn’t tired yet	Don’t do it! It can’t be much longer, right?
3:30	Starting to cooperate with some whimpering	What? Are you actually learning your lesson. You mean it worked? I win. I win. I win.
4:00	Cooperating	Excuse me. I meant to think, “see the important lesson that you learned here.” Also, Mommy wins.

Boom!

There’s nothing like sitting with your child while she watches fireworks for the first time. Hailey was fortunate enough to watch the fireworks with her friend Corbin at a park in Nashville. She was so enthusiastic about it that she insisted on adding her own “Boom!” to the end of each, as if the actual noise wasn’t quite loud enough. She was pretty mesmerized by the entire affair.

All in all, she had a wonderful weekend in Nashville! Unfortunately, our camera was out of batteries, but our friends captured the highlights on their camera. Now, I just need to get the pictures from them. I guarantee that there are some great ones!