Just like magic

Now You See It...
Now You Don't

Woo hoo!! We are officially Passy-free!!! I was scared to brag about it before a solid month had passed. And, we hit the one month mark on Monday. The big test was last weekend at Grita's house. Miss Opal is still quite fond of the ole passy... I had threated to make that little angel kick the habit, too. I guess I'm too far away to do much bossing of that nature.

Anyway, Campbell said good-bye to the passy and hello to Major, Pull-your-hair-out, Drive-you-to-drinkin'-style, fit-throwing extraordinaire. I am telling you the honest truth, if gypsies had been meandering through my neighborhood at any given time during the last week (including the weekend at Grita's) I would have been waving them down... waving them down with cold, hard cash and begging them to take her off my hands!

I hate to say it, but she is kicking my ass. And I have heard that the terrible twos are nothing compared to the threes!!! What??? We don't even hit two for another month! Oh, please... add me to your prayer list. Add Campbell, too. She is going to need it if her little attitude doesn't improve soon.

Don't you just love the dual-fit throwing?

There are bouts of sanity and I am trying to focus on those moments. Grita and Hootie are trying to save her! Parcels arrive every now and then with a little something inside: the latest and biggest hit was the paint with water books. Remember how much fun those were as a kid? Well, the concept has held up.

Beware:
1. They are not easy to locate. (Dollar General seems to be the Mecca- I have stumbled on them at Target in much smaller quantities and less variety. At the DG they are $1... not so cheap at Target. However, sanity really doesn't have a price limit in my book.)

2. If your child has been to Grita's house, she has learned that for painting Q-tips work MUCH better than let's say, I don't know... a paint brush. And they make a MUCH bigger and thus more fun mess for Mommy to clean up. Thanks, Grita!

We don't discriminate here in CP. We have covered the gammet:
Care Bears to Cars to TMNT to Barbar (?)... we've got it all!

It is a good thing she is cute.

Peace out from Cedar Park!
xoxo
Campbell's Mom

Cupcakes and Alice for breakfast

My mothering skills are either completely tanking or Campbell's toddler skills are much more acutely refined...
This morning she requested and was thus given a cupcake for breakfast. Don't think for a moment that it was some nutri-grain, multi-grain, cheerio derived "cupcake" either. Oh no- this was the real thing. Fully accompanied by chocolate buttercream frosting and sprinkles.
"Oh but you probably sat together at the table and had your cupcake breakfast as a family," you say.

If by table you mean coffee table.... And, if by as a family, you mean including Walt Disney, Alice and all the darling creatures in her Wonderland... then yes.

Peace out from Campbell's House!
xoxoxo

No Dora the Explorer here (& a shout out to Papaw)

So our Christmas card needed work... Campbell was not feeling well that day and to be frank, I couldn't reschedule the appointment because I had waited too long. I needed to get the cards in the mail. In the end we ended up with a picture of Alan and Campbell kissing and me looking like I just wanted to be in the shot. In all honesty, it was a cute picture but I got a lot of heat (mainly from Grita) because it did not showcase Campbell. Hello Valentine cards. I should have ordered more... but you get the idea- nice paper, lovely colors, super cute kiddo!
So for her first Valentine card exchange we will not be handing out Dora the Explorer or Cinderella cards. Nope, not even Little Einsteins or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... no, no, no- we will be passing out customized cards to 10 classmates and her teachers. Why, why, why do I do this to myself? At least they were "on sale."

Also, I couldn't resist sharing this precious picture of Campbell and her Papaw! What a pair.

Good kisses!!

Watch out for cupid!
xoxoxo,
Campbell's Mom

Sweet dreams, my little cod fish

This kid is too much!
Campbell's usual bedtime companions are the Hippo and Loretta (and their blankies). Tonight, she needed "special" friends in order to get to sleep: the Hippo, Loretta, their blankies (one a piece), Mr. Moreno (bear), Beasley (tiger), Cricket (baby doll), her lovie (green furry blanket), Jenny (lovie with a giraffe head), an actual blanket for warmth, a pillow, and not one but two passies! Oh, and note the crossed legs- in her sleep! I am telling you- she is toooo much! There was barely room for all of them in the bed. When I sneaked in later this evening to remove some of her bed partners, I swear, she grunted and did a half asleep inventory to make sure everyone was still there.

I guess a girl is pooped-out after a weekend at Grita's.

Here are a few other cute pics from the weekend.

Made for pigtails!

Opal says, Wazzz up????

Sandy & Alan

Peace Out from Cedar Park!
xoxox
-Campbell's Mom

Pretty peas

I am posting this as proof that I am a good mother... Also, it makes me feel better about the brownies I let her eat for breakfast today. Sometimes, it is simply not worth the battle on Monday morning.

Peas and love from Campbell's House!

Love,
Campbell's Mom

Just for the record...

Campbell does know how to share.
Ahhh, but on her own terms you say...
Well... perhaps, I say. But that still counts as sharing does it not? She might, possibly, on occasions get the no sharing syndrome from her mother's gene pool.... but as you can see here- she truly loves her Opal. We all do!




As for the To Do List, here is where I stand as of today:

Be a good mother- we went to the park, we've made cookies, and we are still spanking free
Work harder at friendships- located some old friends on Facebook and sent them messages; had a fabby time hanging out with my dear friend Colette for her birthday.
Keep my cool- failed miserably on the walk with Elvis. What a spazz!!!
Stop (ok- cut down on) using curse words- Total freaking failure
Work out more (actually breaking a sweat)- Did not break a sweat, but went for a 45 minute walk with Campbell and Elvis. Fully intended to run, but Sir Spazzola was more than I could take today while pushing the jog stroller!
Be more thankful- Very thankful for the smiles and hugs from Campbell this week! Great mood and attitude!!

Learn- Dug out the owners manual for the Tahoe to figure out the darned interior lights. Sweet success!
Take Elvis for more walks- Check.

Try new foods- i can't say that I have tried anything new, but I am considering giving brussel sprouts a try.
Read, read, read- Does the Tahoe manual count? How about Facebook posts? =) Actually I am finishing up World Without End.
Stop complaining - yeah right
Figure out Facebook- Still getting there.
Come to terms with the terrible twos!!! Is this possible????????????- Today she was an angel and in a terrific mood!

Seems like I still have a ways to go. But I am making progress.
Peace out from Cedar Park,
Campbell's Mom

Campbell's New Year's kiss

First, let me start by saying that we had a fabulous holiday season. We spent lots of time with the collective family. Alan and I are truly blessed by families that get along or fake it really well.
We successfully spent Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years with various combinations of our two families. All drama free. Can you imagine? We had loved ones from California- all the way to Georgia- the mega-lopolis of Pleasanton- down to the Rio Grande Valley. Honestly, I am not sure if they are doing it for the sake of the grandkids, Alan's great cooking, or the mass quantities of booze... Regardless, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment shared with them all.

Of course as the new year begins I have a list of To-Dos. Maybe if I share them on the www i'll be more inclined to actually achieve them all this year. I'll keep you posted.

Be a better wife
Be a good mother
Work harder at friendships
Show appreciation to loved ones- often
Keep my cool
Stop (ok- cut down on) using curse words
Work out more (actually breaking a sweat)
Be more thankful. Mom- you are making this one easy!
Have more fun
Learn
Take Elvis for more walks (see photo above)
Recycle (thanks, Claudia)
De-junk-i-fy my closets
Make time
Try new foods
Read, read, read
Stop complaining (hello purple bracelet)
Figure out Facebook
Come to terms with the terrible twos!!! Is this possible????????????

I think 2009 is going to be great! It may be difficult, but I know that I am going to enjoy it! I have a magnificent husband, and a sassy, precocious, darling daughter who make the day to day all worth the while. Add in the beautiful Mariposas in my life that are joy incarnate, along with my family and friends... now that is a recipe for success, if I've ever heard it.

PS- As I sit here typing away, Campbell is chattering my ear off from around the corner. I understand something about "Cricket" (her baby doll) and "tee tee". I tell her if Cricket needs to tee tee you should take her to the potty.... silence.... more chattering.... something about Cricket... "uh oh"... around the corner comes Campbell.
"need you... need you... come eeer, come eeer!"
I follow her to the bathroom- and there sits, or should i say swims, Cricket in the big girl potty.
I guess I should add "Be more specific" to my To Do list.

Love yas!!
Peace Out from Campbell's House!!
Campbell's Mom