tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3206854622080864762024-03-05T08:01:00.559-08:00MOMS PLAYROOM - Mom's Place to Play!Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-76019628401952989752011-01-24T14:53:00.001-08:002011-01-24T15:00:02.138-08:00Favorite Lil Man Quotes of the WeekLil man has entered into the world of 'Star Wars'. I don't know if he is enjoying it more or if my hubby is. So, I'd like to dedicate this week's quotes to Star Wars through the eyes of a 4 year old. OK, honey, let's make Luke Skywalker proud!<br /><br />"Ty fighters are naughty." (Love how he applies language applicable in his world)<br /><br />"Jaguars are good." (He is determined that Jawas are really named Jaguars. There is no telling him otherwise)<br /><br />"Ewokes are like little bears. They live with Stormtroopers which are bad. Ewokes like to throw stones."<br /><br />The best is not a quote though, it is how interactive and engaged he is with both the movies and the Lego Star Wars game. He jumps, makes blasting sounds, and gets a great little workout! No sitting down with a bowl of popcorn (sorry Orville, you'll have to hang out with mom and dad) while he 'watches' a movie.Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-7323646900359294992010-04-09T20:15:00.000-07:002010-04-09T20:26:34.174-07:00Independent Lil Lady!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AMz56kwvmrgXzmYiwpvRGfGaP-HI6xXkYztGHFV1BtTeLYi0gtig1vU4ZqZCscoawo5Bpw9dainDygRZDr0esJU9v9e-_bz3kqcqgbmBPjJJ_9QNW211ulYLFsyVum1jDc6YkPdeZqY/s1600/Feeding+herself.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AMz56kwvmrgXzmYiwpvRGfGaP-HI6xXkYztGHFV1BtTeLYi0gtig1vU4ZqZCscoawo5Bpw9dainDygRZDr0esJU9v9e-_bz3kqcqgbmBPjJJ_9QNW211ulYLFsyVum1jDc6YkPdeZqY/s200/Feeding+herself.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458345039605029954" /></a><br />Lil lady is now 8 months old. I can't believe how fast she has grown! Wanted to capture some random observations. No particular order - other than they all seem to add up to one dynamic, glowing little lady that I'm proud to call my own.<br /><br />It's so amazing to see how her personality is developing. She absolutely glows when she smiles - which is all the time. She does the cutest twitchy dance when she sees me. (which is the best greeting after arriving home from work).<br /><br />She has just started army crawling and is lighting fast. Her favorite toy? The dog's toy of course! When she spots the toy from across the room, it cracks me up to see how quickly she moves. She is absolutely delighted when she has reached her goal and attained the prize. That is... until the dog (the rightful owner) gives her kisses until he gets it back. <br /><br />Also, loving how lil lady lights up when she sees her big brother. When she sees lil man, she grins from ear-to-ear. My favorite is when they both look at each other and laugh. Their laughs are infectious - and they just look at one another and giggle uncontrollably, which spreads to the rest of us like wildfire. <br /><br />She's now chatting it up too! She always has been uber-expressive. Full of sounds - fake sneeze squeal through her nose, smacking of her lips, sucking on her teeth, and now lil lady is saying "dadadadada". <br /><br />And as for eating, she is proving to be quite an independent lil lady. She loves to take that spoon away and feed herself. I've now realized that I must bring two spoons to feedings. <br /><br />Really enjoying watching her grow up. Her smile, warm/sunny demeanor, great sense of humor and spirit are fun to watch!! Proud of my lil preemie and how she is growing. Can't wait to see what happens next!!Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-66923352591261679372010-04-09T20:02:00.000-07:002010-04-09T20:13:22.208-07:00A "My Fair Lady Moment"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJFLzx4fxq_n1Wn4VPCG1XNt-QJbnezSDMfeQ2Hr9eBE4KDU3gvtXLphd5M01rJ3UvrAOIrc99pCP6nHhGw37mOlkaJjHSQjrnpZpKXc_ni8qqSl3XoCQKxsi1__qNxiC1ckLJVpvXkE/s1600/Easter+Sleeper.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJFLzx4fxq_n1Wn4VPCG1XNt-QJbnezSDMfeQ2Hr9eBE4KDU3gvtXLphd5M01rJ3UvrAOIrc99pCP6nHhGw37mOlkaJjHSQjrnpZpKXc_ni8qqSl3XoCQKxsi1__qNxiC1ckLJVpvXkE/s200/Easter+Sleeper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458341170844954322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDqp6yRq3JwCzOUw1Qql7tgYjUbtOKzX56dAvMDbE9ONi7bhs0K56AmoHyWvWgRDZiFra6xcQOP0cqEaX38FXRdIgJOniN2BRXC7kTsgMlzyNb-xxweX-x33-jVmoMajcA08ZOu6KH1g/s1600/Easter+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDqp6yRq3JwCzOUw1Qql7tgYjUbtOKzX56dAvMDbE9ONi7bhs0K56AmoHyWvWgRDZiFra6xcQOP0cqEaX38FXRdIgJOniN2BRXC7kTsgMlzyNb-xxweX-x33-jVmoMajcA08ZOu6KH1g/s200/Easter+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458341101437527010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr76EHRS4_aEhJa91KsfWhRKjNjWFUxQMrVhgfDRiulRTQz-qv5hPm4w7rIGuHfb39V22UByn6EgO9S4SvU_I6mBe2FE8A_D6rXwtxpxRVoMth8vwJDspGhyttOkWU9D4lreEHzHFUpI/s1600/Easter+Girl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr76EHRS4_aEhJa91KsfWhRKjNjWFUxQMrVhgfDRiulRTQz-qv5hPm4w7rIGuHfb39V22UByn6EgO9S4SvU_I6mBe2FE8A_D6rXwtxpxRVoMth8vwJDspGhyttOkWU9D4lreEHzHFUpI/s200/Easter+Girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458341022471358754" /></a><br />In eager anticipation, I set off on a mission. A mission to find the perfect Easter hat. This is lil lady's first Easter - and as she is my only girl, I couldn't wait to partake in this Easter tradition.<br /><br />I set off on my quest in search of the perfect hat. I had been looking - lots of window shopping. It was the day before Easter and I still had NOT found it. I remembered hearing about a hair bow store and crossed my fingers that I would be lucky.<br /><br />When I entered, I knew that I hit the jackpot - but you tell me. I just couldn't resist! It was way too cute. I also ended up buying a spring hat with a flower too. Can't wait to show that one off. And I also was introduced to Baby Leg Warmers. I know the 80s are famed to never die, but I didn't expect to see this fashion faux pas revived from the grave. However, I have a thing with tights for babies. I just can't get them to look right. Maybe I am still not use to having a girl, but I can't find ones that fit my lil lady just right - so I picked up a pair of the baby leg warmers and I must admit, I love them.<br /><br />They are really cool and are fun to dress up an outfit, but extremely functional too. Lil lady is now arming crawling and they were ideal to protect her lil knees and legs. Also, I think they will come in handy this summer when going in and out of air conditioned stores. I'm a believer!<br /><br />Now, back to the hat. I was just absolutely taken! :)Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-78764212885150653912010-04-03T04:50:00.000-07:002010-04-09T19:59:31.528-07:00Winter Boots in 80 Degrees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UbpvDKO4IMd3UYolB5WyJp8rdu4lfvbAYNj8lDq42_g3K8NPnFrXFhvs9XJc89qceso5oQGgu7peuBsmFKhH3ZFrqTsv0z1kvhy3n5HQ1jEil7CKkuH-DEd6SUcMpz-Vblqgn7QiOxo/s1600/Ethan+3.5+yrs+old.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UbpvDKO4IMd3UYolB5WyJp8rdu4lfvbAYNj8lDq42_g3K8NPnFrXFhvs9XJc89qceso5oQGgu7peuBsmFKhH3ZFrqTsv0z1kvhy3n5HQ1jEil7CKkuH-DEd6SUcMpz-Vblqgn7QiOxo/s320/Ethan+3.5+yrs+old.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458337923597316114" /></a><br />Loving that we've actually had Spring this year! It typically goes straight from winter to summer. This past week, temps rose to the 80s!! (Which is a slice of heaven if you ask me!!) <br /><br />Last Friday, my hubby and I decided to take a day off - just us adults. Both kids went to school and we did what any adventure seeking parents with the day off (Bueller...Bueller) would do... we slept!! <br /><br />As neither of my kids like to sleep (which is crazy to me as sleeping was one of my favorite hobbies!) we took the day to sleep, get things done around the house, pay special attention to our eldest child (yes, the attention starved doxie dog), and go out for a nice lunch/happy hour.<br /><br />After our slumberous, delicious snooze (can a nap be delicious?! I guess it can when you so infrequently get to sleep for more than a few hours in a row) - we got ready and hit the Ville. <br /><br />It was a beautiful day (as lil man would say, "this is beautiful!"). Temps were in the 80s which was great for a March day!!! You could wear anything! (My fav type of days). I wore a dress and sandals. We had a great time enjoying the afternoon - and even stopped to have a bite at Sullivan's - complete with some yummy apps and a glass of vino for him and a glass of Moet for me.<br /><br />A while later, it was time to get our kiddies! (While I loved our adult day, I was so excited to see my lil ones. I could hardly wait!!) When we got to lil man's school, we followed tradition and stopped by his cubby to pick up his coat, knowing that lil man would be outside on the playground. Upon opening his cubby, we were greeted by an infamous "blue bag." You see, when you get the blue bag, it means that it was a more challenging potty training day. <br /><br />I picked up the bag - and it was heavy. I turned to hubby and said, "what's little man wearing? Is he naked or barefoot out there?" You see, his shoes were clearly in the bag. Knowing we did not have any back-ups, we ventured out to the playground.<br /><br />What a fantastic sight! (I'm so kicking myself that I did not take a photo) Here lil man was busy playing, having a fantastic time, in ... his winter boots!!! It was 80 degrees and our lil guy was wearing his winter boots. LOL!!!! It makes me smile just thinking about it.<br /><br />I don't know if that sight was funnier or seeing him run (in his boots) to greet us was better. It was classic! But, I give it to lil man - he didn't let winter boots in 80 degree weather quash his fun. He was having an absolute blast, as he should be. Just goes to show that boots are always in style - and that you can have fun no matter what you wear!!Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-16292591767509170422010-03-28T16:32:00.000-07:002010-04-09T19:42:53.756-07:00Lil Lady Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_CcFn3_4WanCMM4uNSFMyCklrZtcOswbFT4MZCXLTktGVI4wE9ndbJfXPYOKCpMejA9TFjlFFcc058qf-lg2JOSkBD_9jM68mXoWaiABNRwfWrSwzdrIGBaHkNbgh0Xgcl43ZHqJonI/s1600/Easter+Girl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_CcFn3_4WanCMM4uNSFMyCklrZtcOswbFT4MZCXLTktGVI4wE9ndbJfXPYOKCpMejA9TFjlFFcc058qf-lg2JOSkBD_9jM68mXoWaiABNRwfWrSwzdrIGBaHkNbgh0Xgcl43ZHqJonI/s320/Easter+Girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458333781736482802" /></a><br />It has been a pretty special couple of weeks. I'm so proud of my lil lady. While a preemie, she is growing and developing fantastically. Here are some of the latest development mile markers:<br /><br />- Army crawling: This lil lady is mobile! She is everywhere! She is very fast!<br />- Two teeth!: She is putting everything in her mouth. No toy or anything for that matter is safe. Her favorite things, which of course are not the toys she should be playing with include: Frank's purple dog toy, cords of all types (hair dryer, cable, TV, etc.)<br />- Sits up all by herself<br />- Favorite foods: Oatmeal, Sweet Potatoes, Squash<br />- Smiles, giggles, chatters and squeals: Her smile lights up a room. She is a lil social butterfly.<br />- Between 15-16 poundsStephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-29865873598527409812010-02-21T06:27:00.000-08:002010-02-21T06:34:38.656-08:00Favorite Quotes of the Week<span style="font-weight:bold;">"I'm Home, I'm home, it's time to take me home..." </span>(Lil Man's interpretation of "Hi Ho" by the Seven Dwarves<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Can't go to swim lessons today."</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Why not? </span><span style="font-weight:bold;">"There's a monster in the pool!" </span>(Lil Man's reason/excuse for not wanting to go to his swimming lessons. Gotta love his creativity!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Bill ate Ben." </span>(OK, not true. One of Lil Man's frogs passed and this is his explanation for what happened. But, have no fear, we got him a new frog - and his name? Ben)Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-70272441112017200972010-02-19T06:53:00.000-08:002010-02-19T09:07:27.144-08:00Bringing Joy to OthersThis story warmed my heart and I had to capture it. Lil lady is nearing 7 months old (woo-hoo!!). She is a 13.3 lb bundle of joy, full of smiles, giggles and jabber-chatter. She's a little social butterfly! (I LOVE that peanut girl!!!)<br /><br />During the day, our good friend and neighbor takes care of Lil Lady while we're working. On this particular day, she needed to deliver some of her Avon orders and took peanut along to an assisted living community.<br /><br />When she walked in with Lil Lady, a man and his wife (new to the community) spotted her immediately and made their way over to her. As they approached, it was clear that he was crying. He proceeded to say, "Thank you, thank you for bringing her here today! God bless her." And he handed our friend a penny and said, "here's a penny for her piggy bank." <br /><br />(I'm getting goosebumps as I type.)Our friend continued to say that more people came up to her, wanting to see Lil Lady than she had seen before. She saw many new faces. Some people approached with arms outstretched, wanting to hold Lil Lady. Others extended their finger for peanut to hold onto. Once she grabbed a hold of it, a clear shot of immediate joy spread through these men and women, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers ... like lightening. <br /><br />Peanut is very expressive and made her many faces. She has a smile that radiates, beaming throughout her whole body. She smiled, cooed, laughed and chatted with everyone. Loving each and every person, bringing joy and smiles to light up their day.<br /><br />It was clear that she brought a great deal of joy to these men and women... maybe reminding them of their family, of being parents, bringing back memories, taking them back to a different time, or just bringing some joy to their day. Lil lady has this infectious effect on people - making them smile a little bigger, turning a serious expression to a happy one, etc.<br /><br />I can't wait to share this story with my peanut girl someday. She did more that day in just being her loving little self that many people ever do. I'd like to think about what the men and women thought of her overall, how she made them feel, and how she impacted their day. I can't wait for her to go back again!!<br /><br />It prompts me to ask, what have you done today to bring a little joy to someone's life? Sometimes just being yourself or doing the simpliest of things can brighten someone's day. I challenge myself, my family, friends and everyone out there to pay it forward. Have you done something nice today?Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-62018225931348066032010-02-15T18:11:00.000-08:002010-03-28T16:19:18.602-07:00What your excuse?Three-year-old-isms:<br /><br />"I can't go to swimming lessons. There's a monster in the pool!"<br /><br />"It's too windy, I'm going to swallow the wind!"<br /><br />"Papa you're getting smaller, mama you're getting bigger."<br /><br />"I can't go to school today!"Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-47557225057293970572010-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:002010-02-10T14:09:54.565-08:00Mine's Bigger ... My Earthquake that isToday was a first. We were sleeping (wish I could say soundly, but I had recently gone back to bed after nursing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lil</span> lady) and then at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">apx</span> 4:00 AM, we were awoken by the room shaking. We experienced our very first earthquake!!<br /><br />My husband and I are both from the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Midwest</span>, so this was definitely a first. The good news is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that</span> no one was hurt, the kids didn't wake up and the dog didn't even bark (which is a miracle as he is quite a talker!!).<br /><br />Two things I had to share. The first is an email that my husband sent to my entire family (which is split between living in IL and California) - mom, dad, sisters, brother, etc. all included. The second speaks to the immediacy of social media and its impact on how we communicate.<br /><br />First, here is my hubby's email (not for the faint of heart or anyone easily offended).<br /><br />Subject: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mine's</span> Bigger...<br />My Earthquake that is - it's bigger than yours. We we're awoken at 4:00 AM this morning by a 4.1 earthquake, which is pretty substantial for the Land of Lincoln.<br /><br />- The house started shaking<br />- We woke up<br />- Stephanie said "WHATS THAT?"<br />- I said "Earthquake, go back to sleep"<br /><br />How ya' like me now California???!!!<br /><br />The second is about social media. You see, I did not go back to sleep after the earthquake. I was a little shaken, no pun intended, so I decided to see what was being said on TV. I turned to all of the local news stations, waiting for a moment... and then nothing. No breaking news, nothing. I then went online to see what Yahoo news or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MSN</span> would have to say, but again, nothing. (I actually thought that maybe I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">delusional</span>. Maybe it was not an earthquake at all.) So, I turned to Twitter. I got on Tweet Grid and typed in earthquake. There I found it. A stream of tweets that was running as fast as it could, trying to keep up with all of the new tweets. There, and within minutes, I was able to find out that it was a 4.3 earthquake and that the epicenter was just outside of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">De Kalb</span>, IL.<br /><br />Later the news stations caught up, but it was social media that prevailed with the fastest account and urgency on the day's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">anomaly</span>. Our world is changing and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-81996354113922975692010-01-31T18:45:00.000-08:002010-01-31T18:54:07.065-08:00A Tea Party to Remember!This week I got a very special invitation. My husband and I were invited to my son's classroom tea party. The invitation was absolutely adorable. A construction paper tea cup and inside a tea bag with the details of the event. (This is why I could never be a teacher. So not creatively wired.)<br /><br /><br /><br />Lil man talked about it all week - it was very special. We discussed what he would bring to the tea party (cookies of course), what would happen there and the best thing - that both mom and papa would be there!<br /><br /><br /><br />When I entered the classroom, I scanned the room (glancing by parents and kids galore), and then I spotted him!! He was handing out cups to all of the kids and parents. He ran right up to me and held me tighter than he has in a long time. I was so proud to be there with him and picked him up and hugged him.<br /><br /><br /><br />We found our seat and he proudly sat in my lap, hugging me. I was so proud to be there and to be with him! Soon, papa walked through the door and I saw my son's joy erupt again. We spent the rest of the afternoon making decorating cookies, sipping ice tea and lemonade and sharing a special moment. One that could only be complimented by going out for chips and salsa afterwards.<br /><br /><br /><br />I love my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">lil</span> man!!!!Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-8249589159491838762010-01-31T18:29:00.001-08:002010-01-31T18:45:12.324-08:00From the mouth of a pre-schoolerMy son is going to be 4 year old in May, and I must say that he is in his prime of saying the best things. I am really enjoying his explorations and discoveries - and then hearing the perception of the world through his words. And I think the best are yet to come!!<br /><br /><br /><br />From the mouth of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre-</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">schooler</span>... memorable quotes from the week:<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">MaPa</span>!"</strong> - his favorite new way to call for mama and papa. I love how he has combined them into one word. Very smart as it's a sure fire way to get a response!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>"Look Frank, I got a new train!! We need to buy Frank a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">doggie</span> train."</strong> - today we went to the store and yes, I hate to say it, but I needed to resort to a bribe. Not typical, but a reality. He picked out a train, Douglas - from Thomas the Tank Engine series - and the first thing he did when he got home was to show it to Franklin, the dog. Talk about no truer sense of man's best friend - or maybe it should be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">schooler's</span> best friend. It was endearing and I love that he did it!<br /><br /><strong>"Can't go to school today!"</strong> - This statement alone proves that he is my son. While it might hold little significance to you, it speaks volumes to me. I have never been a fan of school, and that is putting it mildly. In fact, the only grade I liked was kindergarten. When I got to first grade I use to lock myself in the bathroom stall and cry, refusing to come out (until coaxed or threatened by an impatient teaching assistant that I would be sent back to kindergarten if I did not come out and rejoin the class). I love that he enjoys to spend time at home with us, playing with his toys. It is a special moment as I know that someday he will want to trade at-home time for friend time.<br /><br /><strong>"Where's his mommy? She must be at work!"</strong> - This quote is hard to write. Lately when we're watching one of his shows and he sees a child character he always asks, "Where's his mommy?" His response sums up the reality of our situation - "His mommy must be at work!" You seen, I am a working mom. While I really enjoy what I do (and I do), it's moments like these that tug at my heart. In just this one statement he is reflecting on life as he knows it and that is hard for me.Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-30574772069354945522010-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:002010-03-28T16:30:15.017-07:00Sign of a great vacation!It was the first day after the holidays. We had all taken the time off to spend time together. We had family in town visiting too and had many wonderful adventures. <br /><br />When the Monday after the holidays finally came, my son turned to me and said, "We can't go to school today!"<br /><br />At that moment, two things happened...<br /><br />First, I saw myself. You see, I have never really been a fan of school (OK, that is being gentle). I often joke that the only grade I ever really liked was kindergarten. It's a half day and you get to play. What's not to like about that? <br /><br />When I got to first grade, I clearly remember not wanting to be there. I would go to the bathroom and cry (really) in a bathroom stall. I remember one of the teacher's or teacher's aides tell me once, that they would send me back to kindergarten, but I was too old. (Yes, really!) I remember this so clearly. I hated being at school all day and only having one recess. And this was my normal feeling. After being on vacation, summer break, etc. I can only imagine how challenging it was for my mom to stay strong, tell me to be positive - and always smile - and then have to send me off to school. I always would tell her that, "I don't want to go to school!"<br /><br />Now, time warp back to present day - with me being the mom... the second thing that my son's words said to me - also reminded me that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. <br /><br />By saying that he didn't want to go to school - it was a sign. A sign that he had a truly wonderful vacation. Looking at the words in this way, while the words themselves made me sad, they also made me feel good. Good that our time together over vacation was extra special and that he didn't want it to end. That made me feel so good as a mom that I'm doing something right - and that my lil man had a wonderful vacation.<br /><br />Whenever I get close to the end of vacation, I too always say - "I don't want to go to school." I too have a very difficult time with saying goodbye to vacation with family. I guess I am sentimental and cherish the time that I have - and love the fact that my son does too. He's clearly a loving, sensitive, sweet lil guy. <br /><br />I see so much of myself in my son. It just amazes me some days. This was one of those days. Maybe we will just have to stay home from school. :)Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-85979694043698767182010-01-24T05:59:00.000-08:002010-03-28T16:32:14.192-07:00Big Brother Quotes"Santa is going to bring Siena some teeth and a toothbrush!"<br /><br />"That is my baby sister!"<br /><br />"Feed my baby!" <br /><br />"We can't go to school!"Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-66168012362148652142009-12-12T06:28:00.000-08:002009-12-12T06:37:15.195-08:00Special Lesson - Spirit of GivingThis holiday season has been extra special, as this is the first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">yeat</span> that my son has really grasped and gotten into Christmas.<br /><br />He is just old enough to understand what Christmas means. It has made this Christmas the best one yet... Lil man helped (literally) put up the Christmas tree with his Papa, decorated the tree, helped us to set up the nativities (yes, we have three. Two bear nativities and one traditional nativity. When we were done, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lil</span> man said, "We need to go buy another nativity!"). He also was a great helper with putting out the wooden Swiss Christmas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">choo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">choo</span>, stockings and lights. From a parent's perspective, it has been so much fun to talk about Christmas, explaining the significance of certain ornaments, decorations and everything.<br /><br />Lil man's school has a Toys for Tots drive. This year we took this opportunity to teach <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lil</span> man about the spirit of giving. We told him that not all little boys and girls have toys and that this Christmas he was going to give a little boy and girl a new toy. He was really excited and took a lot of pride in this idea of giving a child who "doesn't have a train, a train."<br /><br />The day came to donate the toys. I was a little worried that he would suddenly change his mind and want to keep the toys (especially as one was a Thomas train - which he loves). But, he made us very proud. Without hesitation he donated a toy for a girl and a toy for a boy.<br /><br />When he got home he told us that he gave a little boy and girl a toy. He said he did this because they didn't have any toys. It was a special moment - a good learning moment.<br /><br />I feel proud as a parent that I was able to teach such a valuable lesson to my son.Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-10422346357178034432009-12-12T05:44:00.000-08:002009-12-12T06:28:27.594-08:00The joy of winter through a child's eyesAll summer long (yes, summer), Lil man has been watching Frosty the Snowman, because what family does not watch Christmas specials all year long! He recently transitioned onto Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (which we've been watching for months). He has taken a special liking to Bumble and also now equates snow to Christmas.<br /><br /><br /><br />The other day we got our first few flakes of snow. When <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lil</span> man learned of this, he immediately asked "Mommy, can we make a snowman?" Of course, there was no snow on the ground. He also kept <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">saying</span> "Bumble" as he thinks snow and Bumble go together. So instead, in a rare moment of craftiness, we made snowman out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">marshmallows</span>! Lil man had a blast using toothpicks to hold the body together and then smaller marshmallows for the arms and legs. I don't know if he had more fun making the snowmen or eating them! And papa got into it as well, putting my little snowman to shame. He made a HUGE snowman. Who knew that making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">marshmallow</span> snowman would be such a fun family activity.<br /><br /><br /><br />OK, now back to the snow... So the first snow came and when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lil</span> man found out, he was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ecstatic</span>!!! I told him when I picked him up from school. When we were walking out, snow was flying everywhere. Now, here is what was so sweet... I put my head down and tried to dodge the cold snow and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">lil</span> man did the opposite. He looked up in the sky and directly into the snow - with the biggest grin I've ever seen. He was enjoying every moment of every flake touching his face. And he laughed and smiled. Only the joy a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lil</span> one could find from a simple, pure moment. It made me stop and think about life's pleasures.<br /><br />The entire way home in the car, he talked about the snow - how it was covering the trees, cars and that he was going to make a snowman, snow train, etc. The excitement in his voice was inspiring and could even turn someone who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">prefers</span> warmer weather, into a fan of the winter season.<br /><br />The next day, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">lil</span> man proudly put on his boots and talked about making snowmen and snow trains. When we got to school he ran to his teacher and said, "It snowed!!!" (though of course, she already knew this point, she played along). That night after we returned home, Papa did something very special. He and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lil</span> man put on their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">snow boots</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">snow pants</span>, coats, scarves, gloves and hats - and they went outside. Of course it was dark, but that didn't stop these two. They got out the sled and Papa pulled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">lil</span> man down the street to the end of the block. I could only imagine what the neighbors were thinking if they happened to look out at that moment. Two boys sledding in the dark. :) What a special time between a father and son.Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-30351503093039762832009-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:002009-11-14T09:03:21.692-08:00Fav Quotes of the Week - 3 year old styleWanted to share some of my favorite quotes of the week, from little man to his baby sister...<div><br /></div><div>"She has no teeth! We need to buy some from the store!" </div><div><br /></div><div>"Babies come from belly buttons."</div><div><br /></div><div>Now quotes between me and my hubby...</div><div><br /></div><div>Me to my hubby ..."I need a break or I'm going to jump off the roof." Hubby's response to me ... "I don't want that ... I'd have to clean up the mess."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Parenting is a constant jedi mind trick." </div><div><br /></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-16361080161939655342009-10-26T06:59:00.000-07:002010-02-13T18:44:56.083-08:00I'm Speaking at BlogWell!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoRIB4XwhTBKfNRzRKM9wyO0TbcbOwLF4FXkcgVtegXAgRU4SMeghKvTZ-_9vv1ANTK6_zZMUp3Y36m8stxnbutU0DYA79Oqgzg0aVQM9ilEkhNvsiJUVB8qSaQjSlwpFAVojALg-axs/s1600-h/blogwell-header.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 49px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoRIB4XwhTBKfNRzRKM9wyO0TbcbOwLF4FXkcgVtegXAgRU4SMeghKvTZ-_9vv1ANTK6_zZMUp3Y36m8stxnbutU0DYA79Oqgzg0aVQM9ilEkhNvsiJUVB8qSaQjSlwpFAVojALg-axs/s320/blogwell-header.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437924620184858770" /></a><br />Come and join me in Atlanta for the BlogWell social media conference! I'll be sharing insights about creating and embracing a social media culture. Additionally, I'll be speaking about how to leverage the power of social media to build brands.<br /><br />BlogWell: How Big Brands Use Social Media11/10/09, Atlanta @ Newell<br />Rubbermaid<a href="http://www.gaspedal.com/blogwell">http://www.gaspedal.com/blogwell</a><br /><br />Here's a link to my presentation: <a href="http://ow.ly/16vbE7"><a href="http://ow.ly/16vbE7">http://ow.ly/16vbE7</a></a><br /><br />ConAgra Foods, Coca-Cola, UPS, SunGard, Orange Business Services, Turner Broadcasting System, Newell Rubbermaid, and The Home Depot share case studies in corporate social media. You'll learn how to get started, get past roadblocks, and make your social media program phenomenal -- in one afternoon, for just $250.<br /><br />Get practical, how-to advice on creating great content, getting management buy-in, educating employees, keeping lawyers and regulators happy, simple and ethical disclosure, and engaging fans. You'll ask questions, discover new ideas, and get answers from people who have been there, done that -- all in four hours.<br /><br />Presented by GasPedal and the Social Media Business Council. <a href="http://gaspedal.com/blogwell/"></a>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-10378671330665417952009-10-18T19:48:00.001-07:002009-10-18T20:09:41.812-07:00ReflectionsI can't believe how fast the past twelve weeks have gone. Cliche? Yes, but so true.<div><br /></div><div>It is nearing 10 PM the night before returning to work after maternity leave. I'm left reflecting on everything that has taken place over the past weeks. A mosaic of memories, emotions and events that will forever change my life. I will cherish all of them always. For both the ups and downs have made this one of the very best, and most special times of my life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reflections...</div><div>- Surprise, scared, stressed about having my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lil</span> lady so early</div><div>- Yearning to hold her and having to wait - but, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sooo</span> worth the wait and a moment that I'll never forget</div><div>- Joyful that she was healthy and strong, though so small. Perfect little feet, hands, face. So sweet and lovely. Joy of latching on, advancing from each <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">NICU</span> room - another step closer to the door</div><div>- Sad to not have her visit my hospital room. Waking every day with anticipation of seeing my beautiful little miracle</div><div>- Sad and strange to leave without my baby; empty car seat</div><div>- Nervous about how long she would have to stay in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NICU</span>. Making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">NICU</span> my home, not to miss a minute with my little girl. Wanting her to know that she is loved, absorbing the strength from her mommy's arms. Relieved that she came home in less than two weeks</div><div>- Coming home!! The exultation!! A joyous day full of blessings </div><div>- Family and friends - and all of their outreach and generosity</div><div>- Cuddling at home! Just being home a joy. No commutes to see my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lil</span> peanut</div><div>- Sleeper smiles, squeaks, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">groans</span>, grunts and all of the sweet little sounds from my expressive little lady. So much to say, right from the start. Telling us everything in her own way</div><div>- How proud I've been of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lil</span> man. What a sweet, loving and caring big brother. Wanting her to reach out to him. Giving kisses and wanting to help. Hearing him say, "my baby"</div><div>- Learning what each sound means, playing, singing, talking, cuddling, laughing together</div><div>- Amazed at how she has grown - from 3 lb. 15 oz. to 9 lb. 12 oz . (with clothes on)</div><div>- Sleepless nights, gallons of caffeine - a warm welcome from my old friend the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Chai</span> Tea latte</div><div>- Recent emergence of cooing and smiles - moments you live for</div><div>- Being home to welcome <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">lil</span> man when he got home. Giving kisses and hugs</div><div>- Staking a permanent claim on the couch with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lil</span> lady</div><div>- Rush of emotions two weeks before </div><div>- Sadness, nervousness, anticipation about heading back</div><div>- Contentment upon looking back upon the time, grateful for the time, the memories and my little girl</div><div>- Love - for life, family, friends and moments to come</div><div>- Peace - ready to step back into reality </div><div><br /></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-16737530912957951622009-10-18T19:46:00.001-07:002009-10-18T19:48:14.452-07:00Favorite Quotes of the Week"Belly buttons turn into babies." - Three-year-old wisdom<div><br /></div><div>"Parenting is a constant jedi mind trick." - Dad</div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-13289524263577265652009-09-23T08:05:00.000-07:002009-09-23T08:23:33.868-07:00Truth in Mom's Cooking - from the mouth of a 3 year old food criticOK, so I am not an accomplished chef... and even saying that I can cook may be a bit of a stretch. While I love great food (usually at the hands of some other great chef from one of the local restaurants or cafes), I find myself to be more of a convenience cook. <div><br /></div><div>As a working mom, now with two little ones under three, I am into quick meals (but do try to put the best quality prepared foods, semi-homemade and homemade meals in front of my family). When I do have some time, I really enjoy cooking, but I have lost my knack due to lack of recent practice and have fallen into the realty of convenience as king. (I'd rather spend time playing with my little ones when I get home versus cooking for an extended period of time).</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, in one of my earlier postings, I talk about if my son was grown up and today and had to reflect and tell you about his "normal" family life, he just might tell you (sigh, not proud) that food is cooked in 30 seconds and that the microwave is the medium (oven, what's that? just kidding, we're not that bad. frozen pizzas go in the oven, everyone knows that. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>But seriously, I am currently home on maternity leave, so I decided to try and change this memory and perception and give my family some home cooked meals. I have been devouring the latest cooking books, blogs and magazines to try and create a new meaning of food preparation (stressing patience and emphasizing the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wafting</span> aroma of cooking pastas, meats and veges). </div><div><br /></div><div>This week, I cooked (not a fancy dinner, but an improvement) some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">quesadillas</span>. I was standing over the stove, grilling the tortillas to the perfect shade of golden brown, when a little steam (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span>, so some smoke), hung over the stove.</div><div><br /></div><div>My little man looks over at me and said, "Fire!" (At first, I had no idea what he was referring to). He said it a few more times and then I grasped that he was referring to the steam or "smoke" coming from my gourmet dinner on the stove.</div><div><br /></div><div>He then, with his three-year old ear-to-ear grin, turned to me and asked, "Do you have any smoke?" (you see, he likes to ask us daily, "do you have any (fill in the blank)?" Typically he asks us if we have any toys, because we say "no" and then turn the question around to him - and he proudly says yes - as he has many toys). </div><div><br /></div><div>Then he immediately followed his question with, "Smoke is for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">choo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">choos</span>." </div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't have said it any better myself. At that moment, I realized that a new food critic was born.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-25853261984467700142009-09-20T21:02:00.000-07:002009-09-20T21:11:50.957-07:00Bath time bribeLooking for an inexpensive and almost sure fire way to get your toddler or preschooler excited for bath time? In a word ... dinosaurs.<div><br /></div><div>My 3 1/2 year old, once a fan of bath time, has decided that he is no longer quite as enthusiastic about getting clean. My sister sent him a gift which quickly has become part of our new bath time ritual. </div><div><br /></div><div>She sent him a packet of capsules containing, "grow in water" dinosaurs. Yes, the little pill shaped capsules which you submerge in water to grow a thumbnail sized creature. A cheesy birthday party gift you say? Maybe, but this worked like magic and continues to do so every night.</div><div><br /></div><div>We told our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lil</span> man that he'd get to "hatch" a dinosaur egg in the bath tub. This instantly peaked his preschool curiosity. Instead of fighting about the end of play and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">inevitable</span> transition to bed time, lead in by the infamous "bath" - he immediately wanted to get into the tub.</div><div><br /></div><div>A bribe you might be thinking? Maybe, but isn't a little serenity and just a little creativity worth it? Now, every night without a dissenting comment or sound, he happily goes up for bath time so that he can "hatch" a dinosaur egg. He picks out one, by the color of the capsule each night, and declares whether it will be a "mommy", "daddy" or "baby". He excitedly tosses it into the tub and ventures in to see what new, exciting species will emerge. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, this is what I call a good value. For us it is definitely worth the $1 for an entire package/page of nightly bath time buddies.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-79079592583092354892009-09-16T16:12:00.001-07:002009-09-16T16:15:51.101-07:00NicknamesI thought it would be fun to reflect on nick names. While some are unique and hold great personality, others are common - but they all tell a story and have meaning. <div><br /></div><div>Here are some of my favorites. What are yours?<div><br /></div><div>Lil man</div><div>Bub</div><div>Bub from the Tub</div><div>Peanut Guy</div><div>Peanut Butter Pie Guy</div><div><br /></div><div>Lil lady</div><div>Beautiful Girl</div><div>Siena Bella</div><div>Peanut Girl</div></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-27443203834473590992009-09-07T12:06:00.000-07:002009-09-07T12:12:53.856-07:00Post Baby Treats for MomTop 10 post baby treats for mom!<div><br /></div><div>10 - Sushi! </div><div><br /></div><div>9 - Red wine!!</div><div><br /></div><div>8 - Chocolate (craving dark chocolate. Lots of dark chocolate M&Ms and Mini Three <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Musketeer</span> bars!)</div><div><br /></div><div>7 - Getting to blog about new baby</div><div><br /></div><div>6 - Red wine (yes, I missed having a glass so it's on here twice!!)</div><div><br /></div><div>5- Putting away some of the maternity clothes </div><div><br /></div><div>4 - Having my mom here for a month</div><div><br /></div><div>3 - Taking walks with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lil</span> lady</div><div><br /></div><div>2 - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Grande</span> Non-fat, extra foamy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Chai</span> Tea Lattes</div><div><br /></div><div>1- A beautiful little lady and wonderful family!! All of the smiles, cuddles, snuggling and love!!!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-59389990670621811212009-09-07T12:02:00.000-07:002009-09-07T12:05:48.417-07:00Big Brother's Fav Lil Sister Sayings<div>"It's my baby." - Talk about a proud big brother!</div><div><br /></div>"You need to pump! We need milk." - lil man's response to when his sister is upset.<div><br /></div><div>"Gentle mommy!" - response to when I hold his sister. We keep telling him to be gentle and he reminds us to do the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Did you hear that? It's a squeak!" - what he loves to say when he hears talking.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320685462208086476.post-80372144405544797162009-08-26T10:30:00.000-07:002009-08-26T10:55:22.017-07:00Happy One Month Birthday!Today is our little lady's one month birthday! (Minus two weeks as she is still two weeks away before her original due date).<div><br /></div><div>I can't believe how much she has already grown. Following are milestones that make a mommy proud:</div><div><br /></div><div>- She weighed 5 lb 6 oz last Friday and her face has filled out. She has plump baby cheeks and a very tiny double-chin.</div><div><br /></div><div>- She is already out of the first set of teeny preemie clothes and is in the next size up of preemie clothes. Newborn clothes still are huge!</div><div><br /></div><div>- She is a great eater!</div><div><br /></div><div>- She is now very alert and wakeful. This was a big transformation from the early days home of just wanting to sleep all of the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>- We call her squeakers due to all of the sounds that she makes. She is very vocal and expressive already, letting us know how she feels at all times.</div><div><br /></div><div>We feel so blessed to have this little lady in our lives!! I am proud to be her mommy and feel so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fortunate</span> that she is doing so well. She has certainly come a long way from being born at 34 weeks (3 lb 15 oz, 15 1/2 inches long) and from being in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NICU</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Birthday little lady!!! We love you!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Stephanie Moritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05264109108372811185noreply@blogger.com2