"Does Koo Koo have to go pee pee?"

Translation: Does Stella feel the urge to urinate? Mommy never imagined she would utter those words, but boy did she ever today during our potty training extravaganza.

Today was quite interesting. Mommy woke up with a tremendous amount of vigor, eager to start the potty quest. She purchased 2 potties, one for upstairs and one for downstairs. She bought me 17 pairs of underwear-- Disney Princesses, Elmo and Dora. She broke out one of my many "babies" and slapped an Elmo drawer on her--only to be donned by me later after I got bored with my own panty selection. Musical underwear, anyone? Hey, whatever works, right?

Then Mommy began what many would call the "impossible"-- she tried to potty train me! So, here's how it started... Me, stark naked except for my Princess Pink Underwear, my pink sunglasses and a bow in my hair (must look cute while pee peeing in the potty), sat down on the mini throne a total of 6 times with nothing coming out. I did a little dance, clapped for myself and asked for toilet paper every time only to wipe the toilet off and then my mouth. Thankfully the potty hadn't been used yet ;) About a 1/2 an hour in, I felt the urge to purge and began peeing on Mommy's wood floors. She swooped me up, sat me down on the potty and managed to get 1/2 of a bladder full in the can. Squeals and claps and stickers galore for a job 1/2 well done. 20 minutes after that, a "boom boom" ensued. In standard Stella form, I pressed my hands against my ears (strange habit, but a tell tale sign that a poo poo is a-comin) and began to poop on the bathroom floor. Mommy, once again, swooped me up and managed to get the ball in the basket, so to speak. Mommy was feeling tired already, but hopeful...

By hour 2 and 2 more pee pee accidents on the carpet and the wood floors, Mommy decided to try a new technique... "Stell, let's just sit on the potty for a few minutes and see if Koo Koo goes pee pee." We tried this for 20 minutes, Mommy reading every book in our library to keep me still... I sat and sat and sat, to no avail. When I finally got up, you guessed it, Koo Koo went pee pee. Yet another clean up and this time Mommy was losing patience. It was a valiant effort and somewhat successful... at least I know how the potty works and that it's kind of cool to have dry pants. Hopefully I'll show more interest next weekend. Baby steps...

Baseball and green beans...

Need I say more?

-Vio xoxo

Uno, dos, tres...

So, Mommy didn't realize that all that Dora and constant chit chat would actually sink in... Counting to 10 in Spanish and English, reciting my alphabet and colors, animals, you name it... my mind is a sponge and well, Dr. Grace thinks it's time for preschool (and consequently, potty training)! Mommy isn't ready, but I sure am!! We have our first evaluation at one of the preschools this coming Monday. I will be enrolled in their 2-4 Montessori program this September, if all goes well. Wish me luck! Sissy, bless her heart, smiles till her face hurts every time I sing or talk for her. She certainly thinks I'm ready, but doesn't want me leaving her side for even a split second!

One of these days, Mommy will get this whole You Tube thing figured out and put my speaking skills on air. Until then, you'll have to settle with pics...

Doctor Grammy

We just got back from a fabulous weekend in Moraga, celebrating Grammy Jo's graduation from her PHD program. She received her Doctorate in Education on Sunday and the whole fam was there to watch her walk onto the stage and receive her PHD!!! Everyone was so proud of her. Her grandaughters, in particular, who could not be more amazed at all Grammy has accomplished. She has raised 4 children, taken care of Grampy, worked full-time jobs that managed to pay bills and put food on the table, all the while, commuting back and forth to Moraga for the past 5 years. Grammy is a rock star among all women! Twanda, you go! (inside joke)

Of the five years under this program, Grammy spent 3 of those years in Moraga every other weekend, going to class... 2 of those years entailed writing a dissertation, edits and rewrites galore. She made it and it's official... Doctor Grammy is in da house! We are busting through our clothes, we are so proud. We love you, Grammy Jo!!! xoxo Stell & Vio

6 word memoir game...

Mommy's friend, Gen McNulty (http://www.mcnultyquads.blogspot.com/) tagged me for this Meme. She is the mother of 4 toddlers! Yes, quadruplets. She is amazing and well, if she had time to do this... then my mommy, with only 2 children, did too!

Mommy contemplated this for some time... several ideas popped up... like, I'M NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS or DON'T PUT FOOD IN YOUR HAIR and CACA, DON'T PUT THAT IN YOUR MOUTH (okay, so that's seven words). She finally came up with something that as cheesy as it sounds, couldn't be more true.

FAMILY IS MY HEART AND SOUL.

Come heck or high water, Mommy is not happy unless her family is around her at all times. And yes, folks, that means her ENTIRE family. All 5,000 of them! The more, the merrier.

The Meme orginated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. It's a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words.
His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4 .Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!


You've been tagged!
http://jasonandcaitlin.blogspot.com/
http://callahanfam.blogspot.com/
http://livivince.blogspot.com/

Put the Shrimp on the Barbie, Baby...

As one of my bday gifts from the 'rents, I got the "babie-Q" I've been asking for for months. It is all I ever wanted and more. Fake food, chef hat and mit and spatula in tow, I march around our newly landscaped yard like Bobby Flay.

My 2nd Birthday Party!!!

Boy, am I wiped out. What a day! 25 of my closest toddler friends (love you guys!), Sissy, Mom and Dad's adult posse and a bunch of my fabulous, gigantic family and well, it was the biggest party my big brown eyes have ever been witness to. I wasn't sure what to make of it all. I was pretty exhausted by the end of the day, but I went to sleep with a huge smile on my face. Giggles the clown was great even if Uncle Tommy thinks she drank some funny punch before she performed. A little face painting, balloon making and I'm a fan. I got a rainbow painted on my arm and a cool flower balloon. All in all, a productive day ;) Hope my friends enjoyed themselves... the gifts you all brought were tremendous! I am a very lucky girl to have so many fabulous playmates. Thanks for sticking it out in this sweltering heat.

Buon Compleanno a me! xoxo Stell

It's my birthday, it's my birthday...shake your tail feather...

May 15, 2006 a cherry-cheeked, dumpling of a baby girl was born... me! My parents fondly referred to me as Babaganoush, strange I know. There was just something about my adorable looks and personality that drove them to compare me to their favorite tapenade. Go figure! A lot has changed since my birth. I'm taller, talking, walking, dancing, jumping, bossing everyone around... I also have a baby sister to take under my wing. Life is good. Here is a look back at my life... from day 1 to day 730. I'm 2 everyone! Let's celebrate!

Happy Mommy's Day!

V and I made Mommy (along with Daddy's help) a continental breakfast of english muffins and bacon. It was superb. Daddy and I got up early and made a card with my best Crayolas and then busily got the house ready for Mommy while she slept...until 8 o'clock!! That hasn't happened since I was born! We all went to church with Grammy, Grampy, Uncle Dave, Aunt Maria, Uncle Tommy & Aunt Erin (Uncle Mikey was working :() and then to brunch at Zocalo. All the mommies were pampered today!

Mommy would like to include a poem for all the moms out there-- new and old. :) Happy Mors Dag! We love you!!!
xoxo Stell & Violeta xoxo

Before I was a Mom
Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

TGIF

This AM I chose to max and relax, watching my fave program, Sesame Street. This is my usual routine. Mommy showers, I watch TV, Sissy holds her own bottle (!) while chillin' in the swing. Life, dare Mommy think it, seems to be getting easier... such a relative word, isn't it?

"Jammy Time"

Don't laugh, or do because this is hilarious...Mommy literally has a song for every single activity that goes on during our day. One of my favorite Mommy jams is titled, "Jammy Time." It also happens to be her most enthusiastic ditty... I guess bedtime is popular for most mommies. It goes like this... "It's jammy time, it's jammy time... it's jammy time, it's jammy time... it's jammy time, it's jammy time... everyone get in bed!" Kind of catchy, ain't it? She's no songwriter, but my mommy knows how to distract and entertain like nobody's business. ;)

Tummy Time

Sis and I practice "tummy time" for a few minutes everyday. Sissy almost never enjoys it unless I'm down on the ground with her. I happily oblige most of the time. I sure love my baby sis.

Today is Uncle Dave's 28th birthday. He sure is old! We love you, UD. Last night we celebrated with a bbq at Grammy & Grampy's house. Here is a shot of me and my cuz, "Bun." Enjoy!

Clean Baby

Unable to breathe through our tiny noses, we are forced to keep our mouths open (drool buckets) in order to breathe, eat, talk, cry, you name it. Our red little noses and our chapped chins (incessant drooling) have led to crankiness all around. Food, whether it be my gourmet, pureed yam/apple medley or Stella's famous "mac cheese, peese," usually finds itself all over our faces, laps and clothes. 2 baths a day usually does the trick of cleaning us up... dry snot and all.

God bless Johnson and Johnson.

Vio