“Mewy Kismus”

Tate sings Santa Clause is Coming to Town” and “Jingle Bells”

Wishing all a MEWY Kismus from Tate….

FROM TATE’S MOUTH TO MESA’S EARS……

 

“I yuv Mesa.  Mommy yuvs Mesa.”

Then she turns to me and asks “Mommy, does Gwamps yuv Mesa?”

To which I answer “YES!”

Pleased with this answer she turns to Mesa and continues “Gwamps yuvs Mesa, Nana yuvs Mesa.”  She then throws her hands in the air with enthusiasm and says “evwebody yuvs Mesa!!!!”

My sweet yuving girl!!!

MISSING OUR NANA AND GRAMPS!

Tate’s Nana and Gramps are enjoying 10 days in sunny Florida with Auntie Kelly.  The first few days of their absence went unnoticed.  She was “too beezee” to chat with them on the phone.  As time passed she started asking about them.  Wishing to go “pway with Gwamps”.  In the spirit of this wish, she constructed Nana and Gramps to pway with them.

Both Nana and Gramps enjoyed dancing to Christmas music, little chats and stories and even a few “sawee” for dropping arms, loosing legs, or feet.

Potato head grandparents are sharing a snuggling night sleep with Tate. 

 

Only four more days until Nana and Gwamps come home….  Hurry home we miss you tons!

Today it happened…. and it broke my heart

The hurtful words “you don’t have a daddy”.

I knew this was going to happen ONE day, but not today.  Tate is a few months over two years old and the little girl who said it to her is almost four.  Way too young for one to say to an even younger girl.  Not just a girl but my baby girl.

When I started down this road as a single mommy, I knew that it would be hard.  Emotionally, physically and financially HARD.  The knowledge that someday I will have to explain her beginning circumstances of abandonment and why she does not have a daddy.  Two hard questions that I want her to understand but not have it define who Tate is.

Brilliant beautiful Tate. 

Not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the joy she brings into my life.

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ …..

Tate loves bugs.  How appropriate she was given this sweet bumblebee fairy costume by Tess …

Dorothy and the Tin man are the kids Tate plays with all day long while I am at work or school.  I could not have asked for a better situation for my sweet bug.  I am lucky to have her loved so much by my neighbor and friend Lindsay.

Tate was asked to bring her costume for daycare today so they could go trick or treating to the kids grandma and daddy’s offices. She loved it!   

It’s going to be a cold rainy night on Saturday, when UTAH celebrates this Halloween….  Not sure if I can make this sweet bee fairy outfit warm enough for Tate or if I will have to have her go in a furry tiger jumpsuit thingy.  Either way, this is officially her first Halloween trick or treating— last year she was a bit under the weather and we stayed in and handed out candy.

FUN WITH A CELL PHONE

 

Tate loves her cousin Smiley….  Smiley LOVES Tate.  This is a win win situation and I LOVE IT!  Tate is quite a little character.  One of the countless things I love about my little girl.

  

 

Counting the days until this weekend….

I work 7 days a week.  Some week days are 8-5 with Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-8.  On Tuesday and Thursday you will find me in University classes finishing up (done in December!) my special education teaching credentials and working on a possible Masters (if I am not too burned out).  SOOOOOO many of my short days and evenings off seem to be taken with obligations out of my control… Parent Teacher conferences, IEP meetings and team meetings.  One of the late evening (Parent Teacher conferences) has provided me with a Friday off and by the grace of God, I will be not working my job at Continental airlines on Saturday and Sunday.  Just the idea of a three day weekend at home makes me giddy with all the possibilities of spending time with my girl.  Time together that both she and I are in desperate need of.

Autumn is in the air…. Cool evenings, hints of blazing colors in the mountains.  I will scoop up my two year old sweetie in my arms and make the most of this season and the natural beauty that surrounds us.  

Picture thanks to our friend Leanne

We will miss our summer fun but will be embracing what the new adventures this Autumn will bring.

THANKING THE MOON

I pre-ordered the new Grace Lin book THANKING THE MOON, sight unseen.  I KNEW that this book would be amazing… and man of man, it is!  Tate cannot stop looking at the illustrations.  I swear she has been busy looking at this since she first walked into the door 30 minutes ago.  Besides the amazing illustrations, the information was present short, sweat and understandable.  Especially to two year old Tate.  The back area gives more of an adult description of The Moon Festival.

A mesmerized Tate and a more informed mommy give this a HUGE thumbs up.

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Little Miss Tate and I are heading to Phoenix to visit our buddies Lauren and Donna..

 

We will be meeting up with Tess and Julie who are coming into town for Julie’s parents 50th anniversary!  Julie and Tess were not able to make it to this year’s to our Utah bloggy bash, so it will sooooo much fun to see them.

(Tate, 10 months just home from China with her China sister 3.5 yr old Tess)

I cannot wait for Tate to hang with these girls and for this mommy to be able to relax and visit with Donna and Julie.

There are plans to do a little cooking out of the Pioneer Woman’s recipe book.  Cannot wait!!!

FASHION FRIDAY

 

 

A little Toddler glamour, Tate style.  Fairy princess Rose bud dress, multi colored striped leggings and sparkly (noisy) princess shoes.  The crowning glory is the mess of a unkempt hair.  This was a day I picked my battle put a clip in and let her have messy hair.

This is my “GO TO” meal….

I am loving the fresh veggie frittata.  What is not to love?  Fresh veggies which are plentiful right now, eggs and a dash of milk.  Within 30 minutes we are eating a healthy veggie full meal.  Tate is totally all about eating this.  She loves veggies and eggs.  I am back in the classroom this week and having a little leftover is perfect to eat on the run.  Sorry McD, I will no longer be joining the long breakfast line on the way to class.

FASHION FRIDAY

Ever since Tate turned two she has definite opinions on what she likes to wear. This is what happens when mommy lets her dress herself. Starting at the top, polka dot nightie, ruffled skirt, the ever present blue tutu, turquoise leggings and the final touch, straw cowboy hat. Oh my little stylin’ fashionista!!!

Pee Pee!!!

It was bound to happen… and so it did.  While getting ready for bed tonight Tate announces she needs to go pee pee so off she heads to her potty, sat down and pee peed.  Not sure if I am ready for this but I guess Tate thinks it is about time. 

Every day there are new and exciting fun times with a two year old and I LOVE IT!

Do you recognize theses shoes????  Take a guess…. Mostly too cute not to post sorry it has nothing to do with the subject.

CORN!!!!

My girl just LOVES herself FRESH corn.

The aftermath

Three Cutest Cow poke EVER!!!

All dressed up for the big RODEO for Alpine days!!!

I am the proud Auntie of all three of them… Twinkle Toes, Smiley and Sparkle.

AND NOW SHE IS TWO!!!

Just a few pictures of Tate's little friend party... four little kids and two mommies.


Tate is so into dressing herself in tutu's and princess shoes.... even if they are way too big, she wears them with true princess attitude.

I thought it would be fun for all the kids to get to blow out candles... I think I lite candles and let them blow them out until there was hardly a candle showing above the mound of butter cream frosting.

Tate had such great help from one of her China sisters, Eliza... look at the faces on these two.

This little fire craker cute stuff is another China sister Charlee.... Tate just LOVES playing with the big girls and Charlee and Eliza are so sweet to make her feel part of their four year old play.

A bed full of PJ happy children... a perfect ending to a fun 2nd birthday for Tate!!!

l to r front row...Charlee with baby sister Natalee... Tate. Back row.... Eliza and baby brother Sollie. I think Tate needs a baby sister too.

TATE'S SECOND BIRTHDAY EVE....

It is the eve before Tate's second birthday and my heart is heavy with the thoughts of Tate's birth family but especially her birth mother. I will never know the circumstances that would cause a mother to give away such a beautiful angel, I can only imagine how much she must grieve. Oh how I wish she could be comforted knowing how much Tate is loved. She is my heart.

TATE 22 months

Her first "bear paws"... quite an accomplishment since she will not sit still for me to fix her hair often.

Tate has gotten into taking "pisures" using this little McDonald toy. She will hold it up and say "cheeeeeeeeese"....

There has become a love affair between Tate and these boots... She has quite proudly accomplished putting on these boots "self, mommy" and will want to wear them everywhere. Let me just say, I pick my battles with her and these boots are not one of the ones I choose to pick. She has been wearing them in hot HOT weather everywhere.

My girls is a FISH... we try to hit a pool as often as possible.

It is so much fun showing Tate the world and all the wonders to be discovered in it.... this day we discovered the aquarium... she stood in awe at all the jelly fish and penguins.

One more view of her boots. Get a load of those dimples knees...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Tate's second year as an American citizen......

She loves flags! Loves them enough that by her request we drove around the neighborhood looking for flags until I put a stop to it after 30 minutes.

21 months of DELIGHTFULness

I love this age! Tate does have the typical terrible twos going on but between the "terrible two" days, she is a delight! Her imagination has taken off.... she pretends constantly... dolls, cooking, pretend food.... TOO adorable not to sit back and just watch with wonder.

She is talking (at least I understand most of it) up a storm. LOVES talking on the phone to her Nana and Gramps. It is so nice Nana and Gramps will indulge her in this... nightly.

She is fascinated with the process of washing her hands, water, soap and teeth brushing. The other day I gave Tate her toothbrush with kid toothpaste. She said "Thanks mommie, good job!" I guess I made the toothbrush with paste to her liking.

As always, Mesa is her constant companion. She will climb and love on her "snuggle puppy". Mesa seems to enjoy this relationship, too.

Everyday is a joy.... such a joy, I wonder if I am in a dream. If it is a dream, please do not wake me!