happy birthday O'Mamas

a year ago, a feisty mama (Andrea H), wasn't satisfied with any mother's groups she'd encountered so far, created her own haven for mothers who don't quite mother like most. The Other Mothers Meetup group was born. i'm so proud to be included in such a warm, crazy ass, loving, silly, supportive, informative, fabulous group of women who call themselves the O'Mamas. they've picked me up when i've been down, shared in my joys and everything in between. i could go on and on and on and on....

monday was the First Annual O'Mamaversary. our magic decor theme was based on Magic Powder...for the inside scoop check out Mel's blog. super designer, and O'Mama, Sharon designed an O'Mama version of the packaging.

ok. this is NOT about MP. back to the celebration. we laughed, we cried (ok, maybe just me), and we DRANK! there were a couple of games...Steph's necklace game (i sucked) & guess who 's who from our baby pics game (i put that game together, therefor ineligible to win...i knew all the answers). there were awards...i actually won a few...

• Most Likely To 'Shout' At Ten Mamas In a Day (giving a shout out is a good thing...i like to show the love)


• Most Likely To Give You A Big Hug At Every Playdate (more showing of the love)


• Most Likely To Post Pictures Of A Playdate (an award i most happily share with Andrea T)


• Most Likely To Let Their Kid Run Free At Playdates (happily share this with Mel, who lets her little G freeball quite often. i dig this award the most...it shows what i strive for as a mama. letting Mia learn about the world through exploration...plus, i'm always taking shots of other kids...see award 3)

our new O'Mama logo was unveiled...designed by super designer Sharon. everyone LOVED it. (this is the part where i cried..oh, i almost cried here)

Photographer extraordinaire, Bonnie, posted 55 shots from the night...here are a few of my faves.

The Reluctant Puddle Duck

Lovin' the Summer.... the heat? not so much. the water? YES! Loving opportunities like this!

It's Summer in Texas and the temps are averaging 100. Mia and I were about town the other day...in and out of stores..in and out of a HOT car. As we got close to home, I noticed some water on the road. A LOT of water. In our cul-de-sac! With Mia in one hand and my P&S in the other, we went to investigate. The water guy said that he was checking chlorine levels (they passed) through the and was now flushing the system through the fire hydrant. Hmmmm. He looked at Mia, smiled, said it was totally safe, gave us the go ahead and actually took a shot of us :) For some reason I thought she'd take to it like all those NYC kids do in those Summer movies. Nope. She was cautious. Until she found a puddle more her size, and just loved it :)

I know I'm reaching...but little ways below her right foot there are two clusters of bubbles...the one on the right is a heart :)

Happy Love Thursday. Shutter Sisters is full of LOVE today.

This weeks' Theme Thursday over at The Land of K.A. is Summer Fun.

Her first mani-pedi ~ Wordless (almost) Wednesday

Ok...I'll add a few words. Mia LOVED it! Two ladies had to do her nails b/c Mia didn't get the whole need to let her 'paint' dry thang. She was attentive and quiet during the process, but then she said with great enthusiasm, 'WOW. WOW. WOWWWWW! So shiney. So PINK. awwww my flowers on my toes! (they painted a delicate flower on each big toe nail)....Let's gooooo show Daddyyyyyyyyy!!!' Now that I've got a spa buddy, we'll be doing this again :)
Oh, one more thing. She narrowed the colors down to pink and blue for her mani, but she couldn't decide....I asked her which one, and she said 'bof' (both), so she got bof...alternating. When she showed them to her daddy, she said 'pink, blue, pink, blue....Daddy, what's next in the pattern?' She was totally quizzing him!



for more Wordless Wednesday shots go here
and here for more Special Exposure Wednesday

More

Here are some more shots from dear Anika's birthday party.

even MORE shots

Harmonica

I FINALLY got Mia her own harmonica! You know how your kid will totally dig a toy at a pal's house, but once you buy it, they lose all interest? That did NOT happen here. As I'm sitting here writing this blog entry, I'm smiling because Mia just went downstairs and after a minute, I heard her music. When she plays, my heart smiles. This is how Andrea must feel when her son, Domi, plays his trumpet or piano....not that I'm saying she's THAT good :)

Is she the laziest harmonica player you've ever seen?!?!

she digs her kaleidoscope, too

Mia very distrustful of a........

FLY!

Mia hamming it up on the harmonica

Best Shot Monday - Perspective

Lately, Mia's been into getting different perspectives on things. Her three most fave things in the whole wide world to play with are binoculars, magnifying glasses, and her new clear kaleidoscope (thanks for the link Mel). She's FASCINATED with them, and can't go anywhere without one of those three items. I don't let her take them into a playdate...ohhhh the commotion that would cause, but when she happens to find one AT a playdate...she's done. No other toy or child is required for her happiness. When she hits three, she's totally getting her own camera. I can't wait to see the world through her eyes.

Here she is taking a break from the telescopic binocular world to check back in with reality.

For more perspective, head on over to Mother May I

that damned swiper

sometimes you do what ya gotta do....



last weekend, while Mia was at her Nana & Pawpaw's house for a couple of days, Daryl and I took her crib down. she still had her 'big girl' bed. well, when she walked into her room, she looked around with big eyes and said 'my CRIB?!' now, keep in mind that Daryl and i had been preparing her with talks and stuff, and also told her on the way home that her crib was gone and that she'll get to sleep in her BGB.

(Jump forward to the scene in her room) she looked at me with these HUGE eyes with an almost accusing tone...i couldn't stand to be the object of her scorn, so i simply told her that Swiper swiped it. she took a second and then said 'ohhh MAN!'. i'm going to hell. i'm aware.

since then, she has NOT taken to her BGB as planned. we pulled out her crib mattress, put it in the corner, and that's been her nightly choice. she's been sleeping well...sometimes she rolls off, but she keeps on sleeping.