Mini Me

The apple does not fall far from the tree

Just like mommy, you usually finish your kid size "hot choc O lat" as you call it, 

before we pull away from the Starbucks parking lot. 

And the staff there must consider you a regular.

There's no longer any need to place your order, 

they all know exactly what you're having.

XOXO

Mirror, mirror on the wall

It started innocently enough

I was busy getting ready - blow drying my hair
You begged to get up on the counter - one of your favorite places these days.
You had just finished sneaking into one of my makeup bags.
I used to work at Origins - part of The Estée Lauder Companies.
All the PR girls traded makeup, and skin care and beauty products on a daily basis.
I have LOTS of bags of makeup for you to pick through.
This delights you to no end.
You love to try and get my mascara open when you think I'm not paying attention.
You always ask for some "makeup in my eye, mommy".
And so, I pretend to put my Prescriptives eyeliner on you.
Sometimes I hand you a blush brush and let you go to town.
Whenever I spray myself with body spray or perfume, you insist on some also.
And I oblige by pointing it in your general direction.
So, this fascination with my makeup is nothing new.
But this time...
This time you got your hands on some Clinique Deeply Rose.
You put the tiniest bit on your lips.
You were thrilled.
And then you were a little worried - you looked at me to gauge my reaction.
I simply smiled and let you play. After all, what fun is it to tell you "no" all the time?

You were delighted. Laughing and giggling to your heart's content.

But by the time I finished drying my hair, this is what greeted me:

Now I was a little worried.
How would I clean the mirror off?
And what was your dad going to say?
Never fear - your daddy simply did a little Google search,
and the mess came off as easily as it went on.
Holding a hair dryer up to a lipstick-stained mirror works wonders!
And seeing those smiles on your face -
now that was pretty priceless.
I'm going to print out these last two photos, my dear...
and save them for your wedding.
I LOVE THEM.
And I love you, too!
Oh, and my friend at Clinique offered to send us some more Deeply Rose.
She heard they have a new fan.

Pajama Party

You had a wonderfully fun week at school, Alexis.
In addition to it being Valentine's Day,
which meant you decorated special bags
and collected cards and candy from all your classmates,
it was also "P" week.
You learned all about the letter "P".
And in honor of "P", you got to wear pajamas to school.

But that's not all.
Here's the surprise you were so excited to show me at pick-up time

A new Piggy bank!
Even more reason to love the letter "P".
Ahh, to be two again.

Be Mine

Alexis,

Your mommy loves Valentine's Day!
It started when she was a little girl
and her mom introduced her to this book:

As she got a little older, she loved being surprised by her family
with a box of Russell Stover chocolates and her all-time favorite - Conversation Hearts.
It continued into high school when your daddy would take part in the class fundraiser
and have flowers delivered to her throughout the day with sweet little notes attached.
In college, she could always count on a dozen beautiful roses finding her down in Charlottesville.
But more than these "things", your mommy simply adores a day dedicated to the people that she loves.
And, channeling her inner "Cornelia Augusta" from that beloved childhood book -
she delights in finding cute ways of letting those loved ones know just how special they are.

So, imagine my excitement when I found these oh-so-cute designs:

When I showed them to you, you grinned from ear to ear.
We spent one afternoon last week deciding who should receive each Valentine.
You had very definite opinions.
I kept "suggesting" that daddy should get the monkey.
But no, time and again you said that his would be the sweet little lamb - so that's what he got.
Some were for your family members, and some were for your preschool buddies,
others were for your friends around town, and there were even some for your pen pals
like Graham and Millie and the Polifrone twins.
Together, we signed your name to each design.
And then I showed you how to stuff them into their envelopes.
We peeled off the heart stickers and used them to seal your cards shut.
Then, off we went to the post office, just like Cornelia.
It was a simple afternoon, but one I hope to remember forever.
And, while we imagine the smiles on your loved ones' faces
as they check their mailboxes today,
we will snuggle in your rocker and read YOUR favorite new book:

Girl Talk

We have been sick this week, Lexi.
I am quickly learning that when you combine the following:
preschool, toddlers and cold season,
you end up with the following:
runny noses, coughs and ear infections.
You have not been sleeping well as a result.
Most nights lately I have been hearing you over the monitor.
MOOOOMMMY, MOOOOMMMY
Hold me, rock me, tickle me, pick me up
PUH-LEASE
Cough, cough, cough
On Monday night when this happened, I did what any mother would do.
I brought you downstairs so I could hold you and rock you and tickle your back -
while I watched "The Bachelor".

And before I knew it, you were watching too.

You definitely agreed that Michelle is a little bit crazy,
Emily seems like a total sweetheart,
And Brad, while not bad to look at, is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
It was a sweet hour spent with my little lady.
And after the TLC on the couch, you coughed the rest of the night away...
in bed with your mom and your dad.
Never fear though!
Thanks to good 'ole Amoxicillin,
you (and your appreciative parents) slept the whole night through last night.

Fast Friends

Alexis finally got to meet her newest cousin on Sunday.

She's been very eager to play with Emma.
Since Emma's arrival, she has been talking about feeding her chocolate milk.
At times she has even called the baby her "sister".
But, she quickly learned that she's gonna need a little patience...
sweet baby girl slept through our entire visit except for a feeding (and not the chocolate milk kind).

Lexi started out surprisingly shy.
But she soon showed her true colors, chatting and bouncing all around the room.
When she grew tired of playing with her daddy and Uncle,
she took charge of rocking Emma in her swing -
and climbing into her bouncy seat.

These two are going to be fast friends in no time.
So get all the sleep you can now Emma,
because pretty soon your presence will be demanded at tea parties and dress-up parties.

Pizza Pizza

What do you do when you're craving pizza on a cold winter night and:
A. You are not eating dairy
B. Your daughter has dairy and wheat allergies
C. Your husband is eating Paleo

Well, you could roll your eyes about how complicated dinner has become
OR
You could pay a visit to Whole Foods and get to work on family pizza-making night
And that's just what we did!

Lexi was thrilled to help us spread the tomato sauce 

and sprinkle on the toppings

Okay, let's give this a go

Well?

She likes it, she really likes it

And you know what?

We'll remember this night a whole lot longer

than had we just called up Frank Pepe's