And so begin the toothless years...

Zoe lost her first tooth!!!

On top of being an extremely exciting milestone... it's been a VERY long awaited milestone.  The dentist actually told Zoe she had 2 loose teeth over a year ago. It was her TOP teeth... not the bottom.  Then 6ish months ago the dentist told her she had 4 loose teeth.  Those little pearly whites seem to be holding on for dear life. 

But, FINALLY, a tooth fell out!!!

Oh, wait... is the crazy hair distracting you?  (heh)  Here's a better view of her new little gaped tooth grin.

Although I did quite a bit of wiggling of that tooth... in the end it was Zoe who popped it out all on her own.  We were all pretty impressed.

At bedtime the teeny tiny tooth went in the tooth fairy pillow to await the little fairy visit.  Suddenly Zoe admitted to me (quite anxiously) that she was nervous.  The tooth fairy's visit has been SO anticipated... and when the time came... Zoe actually panicked.  She couldn't explain why.  She couldn't say what exactly had her a bundle of nerves.  She just insisted she was nervous and scared.  When it came down to it I guess the idea of the tooth fairy visiting her room freaked her out.  Or maybe she was afraid the tooth fairy wouldn't be happy with her tooth?  I'm not sure, but I never in a million years would have expected Zoe to be afraid of a fairy.

The tooth fairy pillow ended up with a home at the tippy toe end of her bed (as far away as it could be while still being ON the bed).  Zoe slept HORRIBLY.  Do you know... after Mommy visited her room 2 times... the tooth fairy was FINALLY able to visit and collect the tooth after midnight.  I believe that was quite past the tooth fairy's bedtime. 

Still... I guess the tooth fairy didn't mind.  Zoe was rewarded with a shiny silver dollar.  She was THRILLED (although not in any rush to wiggle any more loose teeth).

Oh, and because Ana just can't get left out of important events... she was pretty excited that the tooth fairy was going to visit too.

Grace in Small Things - 124

1.  A happily busy summer.  (So busy and full of things to blog that I don't even have time to blog!)

2.  Sunshine and 80 degree days.

3.  A week at home with no big plans.

4.  Ballet dances spontaneously choreographed by a 3 year old.

5.  A completely full refrigerator.

Nothing but Water!

I've been missing from my blog for a little while.  Don't worry about me though... we're just taking full advantage  of visiting my family in Florida (and before that I was at BlogHer in San Diego).  This visit has involved swimming, sleeping, swimming, eating, swimming, watching TV, and swimming.  And... there might be a little swimming.

It's hot here.  You either have to be inside in air conditioning or outside in the pool.  (Or, I suppose another option is being outside and sweating.)  So... the pool it is!!!

Zoe has looked like this for at least 8 hours every day.  She's a complete fish... er, mermaid.

I've been relaxing the week away.  Between Florida and the flights to San Diego I've read 7 books in the last week and 1/2.  I'm about 1/2 way through book number 8.  (by the way... The Hunger Games trilogy?  AWESOME!!!)

So... that's what's up with me.  My internet connection and netbook have been giving me trouble so I gave up trying to blog... until I thought about quick posting from my phone... which worked until I tried to actually click "post".  So I worked on my netbook and figured out the connection issue (I think).  When I get home I promise to share about my trip to San Diego for BlogHer '11 (hint - AMAZING time!) and to share more Florida pics.

See you soon!

Ana is 3!

How is it possible that Ana is 3 years old?  It feels like just yesterday (but forever ago) that she was just this little squishy newborn.

Ana is her own little person.  She is like Zoe in some ways.  They're both awesome sleepers.  They're both awesome eaters.  I swear they both potty trained themselves.  Neither one claimed a security item... a woobie.  Both loved/love their binkies.  The list goes on.  But... they are SO different too.  My day seems to be spent playing opposites.  Zoe wants milk, Ana wants juice.  Zoe likes cucumbers, Ana likes tomatoes.  Zoe wants to go outside, Ana wants to stay inside.  Zoe wants ice cream, Ana wants a popsicle.  Constantly different. 

Both girls definitely LOVE their birthdays and parties though.

We had Ana's birthday at McCool's Ice Cream & Coffee Bar.  They throw an awesome birthday party.  The kids do a craft, they color, they have pizza, they play a game or two, and instead of cake they have ice cream.

We picked painting treasure/jewelry boxes as our craft.  It kept the kids so busy and quiet.  I was amazed by how much they all concentrated.

It was a good choice... because we had a really mixed age group for Ana's party.  It was easy enough for the 3 year olds... but the 6-9 year olds got creative. 

There was a reason for the extreme mixed age group.  You see... we joke that Ana doesn't like children.  It isn't really quite that she doesn't like them though... it's just that she's extremely particular about who she likes.  It's another way that Zoe and Ana are SOOO different.  Zoe considers everyone her friend... she's so social... and her party guest list illustrated that.  Ana... not so much.  When I told Ana we were having her party she was excited, but when i asked who she wanted to invite she said "Nobody... just me."  I could have said "eh, fine, no party needed" but she DID want a party.  So, after some convincing coaxing she came up with 4 friends.  (It became a sort of song... "I have 4 friends. 4 friends. I have 4 friends.")  I added in the cousins... and 2 more friends, and then added the older siblings (who happen to be friends with Zoe).  In the end... everyone had a great time.

They all enjoyed the craft and playing "stick the cherry on the sundae".

Everyone LOVED the ice cream (pick any flavor you want) and the toppings bar.

Ana could very well be the best candle blower EVER (which could be thanks to bubble blowing lessons).

I think we had a really nice party.  We ended up with 4 families as guests.  Everyone got along.  Everyone had a good time.

And just like that Ana is 3.  No more baby.  No more crib.  No more diapers.  A girl.  A sweet girl with a sense of humor that makes me laugh until my stomach hurts.  A girl that can make the meanest angry face and the smiliest happy face.  A girl that gives the best hugs and says "I love you Mommy" in the sweetest way.

Oh how I love this girl.


*I'm extremely interested to see if this trend in friends continues.  I picture Zoe in high school with this huge gang of friends.  I picture Ana in high school with a small close knit exclusive group.  I guess we'll find out in about 10 years.

Weight for Me Monday - 15

I haven't posted my "progress" in a couple of weeks.

The first Monday (7/I8)  I missed because we were down the shore.  I ate my weight in seafood (because that's what you must do when you go down the shore).  We walked to and from breakfast each morning.  We climbed to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse.  I came home and weighed in at 177.5 lbs.  (.5 gain)

Last Monday (7/25) I missed because I just couldn't do it.  My Aunt Prudy passed away on Friday 7/22... and I don't even remember what I was doing on Monday... except it was my mom's birthday and we had ice cream sundaes.  I wrote down my weight was 175.5 lbs. (2 lb loss)

And then there's today.  I haven't been on the treadmill since the 12th (before going to the shore).  The only exercising has been walking at the shore and chasing the kids around.  I think I've been eating.  I've been really thirsty so my water jug has been emptied almost every day.  I weighed in at 173 lbs this morning.  I was shocked to see that number.  It's not a huge change from the 180 I started at... but it's been a long time since I've been closer to 170 than 180.

Unfortunately... it's not a very happy loss.  But, there it is.  173 lbs. (2.5 lb loss)


I also went for a physical with a new doctor.  She is the first doctor that really listened to my concerns about my difficulty losing weight, and my always feeling tired, and my random forgetfulness, and... some other issues.  She ordered bloodwork to test my thyroid and hormone levels and iron... etc.  If nothing comes of it... I'm just happy to have found a doctor who truly listens and tries to help.