a freckly moment

Tonight, we were lying on Ibby's bed, when she picked up my (very freckly) arm, and said, "freckles!" in her Ibbyish way... I didn't even know that she knew the word??!  Then she asked, "Ibby? Freckles?" So we examined her arm for freckles, and.... lo and behold, she has TWO!!!!  This discovery really tickled us both..for different reasons?  I suspect for the same reasons... Gosh I love her.  

My freckly Ibby girl!

Yay.

XX, 

Cassie

2 // Belatedly

I am a procrastinator.  Obviously.  Izzy's birthday was almost one month ago. In this case, I think we can attribute it to my being in just a teeensy bit of denial that my (formerly) tiny, 6 lb, wide eyed, nursing infant is now a walking, talking, kissy, huggy, silly, loving, wild, sassy, sweet souled little 2 year old toddler.  And time is going by so quickly. 

This little person has opinions, likes and dislikes, fears, and passions.  For instance, she feels passionately about Curious George (adores him)...after dinner walks (loves them).... bows in her hair (hates them- especially when placed there by yours truly..)... dogs -- "buppy!" (obsessed)... jumping on the bed (duh)... etc etc etc....  oh and she loves her family!!  mama, dada, aunt-tee, gigi, dahdoo, popop, mimi, aunt-tee, and uncle will (her version of this is still unpronounceable for me..)... OH and bayuh (bear!)... Loves hot dogs, loves chipotle... Loves wearing dresses that have been sent by Anna. (she puts them on and says 'ahhnaah').  

The amount that we love this little person and her emerging personality is indescribable...We love her  more than we ever knew we could love -- and that is the truth (and I KNOW.. that is exactly what every parent says/writes/proclaims, but it is the truth)... 

So I just got interrupted by a little Izzy wake up.... and was reminded...She likes to be snuggled back to sleep, while rubbing my earlobe... And anytime she's upset/not feeling well...I'll pick her up, and she'll rub my earlobe... for strength ;)  I've seen her rub her own earlobe a few times, while drinking her bubba, but someone else's ear is preferred.. 

Oh what else.... I don't know... But I DO hope that you (you, Izzy) can get more out of the pictures that I take... Because lately, that's where my heart is. with my little muse, my 2 year old sass-pot...With the most perfect curls, expressive eyes, lucious lashes, sparkly smile and vibrant everything... 

Two years old - and it just keeps getting better.  

We love you Ibby. 

xx,  

Mommeee, Dada, (and everyone else!)

PS

these pictures are from the 2nd birthday extravaganza, where we camped at the beach and went for the coolest bike rides ever!!!  

Cozy // Ibby talks

Dearest Ibby, 

I've been putting off writing a little update here on the blog mainly because I'm so overwhelmed by your cuteness and affection and hilarity and silliness... I just know that a) I can't do it justice in writing.. b) i'm overwhelmed at the prospect of even trying to express it in writing.. which is probably why I take so many pictures.. and c) writing down the cuteness, so as not to forget it later, is just a reminder that twenty years down the road you're not going to be this wriggling, sweet smelling nugget who wants to cuddle cheek to cheek with 'momeeee'... 

Oy vey. 

But oh well. 

So about your cuddling.  It is THE CUTEST thing ever.  Actually, it transcends cuteness and is something that I didn't even know existed.  Some months ago, when you were dropping your morning nap but still kind of needing a morning nap...I'd say to you, when you were getting tearful or whiny, and generally nappish... i'd say, 'let's go get cozy'.. so we'd get your bottle and lie down on the couch with a blankie together...sometimes on my bed..and we'd get nice and cozy.... and this was before you were talking a lot... but you learned what it meant to get cozy ;) so I don't know when, but at some point you learned to say cozy, and now you ask for it when you're feeling whiny or tearful or tired..or cuddly... you say it with varying inflection, which can carry different meanings.... for example, 'cohdee?' (let's get cozy) or 'cohhhdeeee' (this is so cozy and cuddly and wonderful)..'cohdee cohdee' (stay here and stay cozy with me and don't move)  you'll also add some other nouns to paint the full picture of what you want: 'cohdee? bed... bubba'  which means... let's get cozy in the bed with my bubba... or you say it at nighttime when i'm putting you to bed and you want me to lie down with you... 'cohdee?'.... honestly, it is the cutest thing that i've ever heard uttered, so it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to refuse...when you were sick the other day, we were in my bed, watching Elmo, and your fever was so so nasty... you pulled my face in so close to yours with a 'cohdee? cohdee?'.. and when i tried to move my face away from your sweaty little head, you'd pull it back in and say so softly 'cohdee.. cohdee'... 

So.  I just want you to remember, that you can always ALWAYS come lie your sweaty little head next to mine when you're feeling sick, tired, whiny, tearful... when you need to reset... when you need a reminder, when you need a really good cuddle... 

you've taught us so much and you're not even 2... ?!

to be continued.... 

xx

Mama 

Sub-zero Sunday // Part II

We tried to get out of the car, but it was too cold. 

I had such grand plans... 

But that windchill...Tundra temps..

Not ideal for the farmy pics of us that I had in mind... 

Sooo,  we stayed in the car, and watched the pretty sunset, and let Isabel sit up front in Will's lap for a few minutes to work on her steering and windshield wiping...

As Will says, 'we made our own way'.. hanging in a deserted church parking lot...cozied up in the car.  

And it was a nice way to end the weekend. 

xx, 

Cassie

P.S. 

With a stop at Taco Bell on our way home... Naturally. 

Sub-zero Sunday // Part I

Soooooo COLD yesterday.... 

Isabel spent a large part of the morning 'doing dishes' and moving some bright blue glass stone thingies from one container to another, one hiding place to another, and adding water to some of those treasure containers.... Bopping her head around to my best Pandora mix shuffle... A Taylor Swift song came on, and she was really boppin... ;) And I say hey!  You like a good pop tune just like most of us!  I respect that :) 

Way too cold for boppin around outside.. Brrrr.... 

xx, 

Cassie 

we went camping, part II // Fall 2014

So here's Part II of our camping adventure... You can find Part I here

I had a sinus surgery last week... I will spare everyone the disgusting details {and save those for my nearest and dearest ;) } ... but I'm still recovering.

Maybe I'll write about it here sometime.. But tonight's not the night for putting pen to paper. (because, you know, Monday.  And tired brain)

Izzy loved these!  And loved collecting them in her red wagon with the cute little boy in the tent next door... 

Our next camping adventure is next month!  

Wahoo!

xx, 

Cassie