Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Gigi turns 1.5 years old on this fun holiday! I took the top picture this past weekend to document Gigi's half birthday.

Yesterday we had lunch with a friend that I have known since before she was born! Michelle Fichtel Graves is the daughter of my parent's good friends Karen and Mike. When we were growing up we went on vacations together and, since we lived in different states, would see each other about once a year. Michelle now has an adorable 22 month old, Ashleigh. Since we both live close by we thought it would be fun to get our daughters together. And what fun we had! Ashley is so talkative and happy! She sang many songs and entertained us with complete sentences! I was so impressed. Gigi and Ashleigh hugged each other non-stop. I think they are on their way to becoming great friends!

I hope all you have a wonderful Valentine's spent with those you love.

Bye bye processed food

Today was gorgeous. Thought it was spring. We went to the park and rode the slides. Here are some pictures. Also thought I'd throw in one of the Gigi "talking" on my cell phone when we were at the mall.

Now onto the good stuff...

I've had another epiphany about life. Yesterday I was at the Affair of the Heart with my friend Jehan. We were having a jolly good time and stopped to eat some lunch. Lunch choices at the Oklahoma Fair grounds are not that exquisite but at least I had an option between a strawberry crepe and a hot dog. Do you know what I chose? A hot dog. Why? you might ask. Well, the reason is because I eat hot dogs about 3-4 times a week. Add on to that Mac n' cheese and then frozen pizza and you might suggest that I'm turning into a processed food foodie. Isn't that horrible? When the lady at the hot dog stand handed me one of the most giant hot dogs I have ever seen in my life the lights finally clicked on. I've got to stop the processed food before I myself turn into a giant hotdog. I used to be such a healthy eater. I read in Parenting magazine that 54% of moms surveyed said that their eating habits have improved since having a baby. I wonder how this is possible because mine have plummeted. So, I am now adding onto my list of self-improvements that I will no longer eat (very many) processed foods. I think I'll allow myself one processed food day per week and that will be all... Let's face it, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is just too good to say goodbye to for forever. But hotdogs I should have no problem with.

Art Museum

Georgia is taking a class at the Museum of Art. The class meets twice a month and is surprisingly fun. The first time we went Georgia finger painted. This last time we made a puppet. The class began with the teacher reading a story that was very similar to the song "Old McDonald has a Farm". She asked the children in the class what their favorite animals are and then took them on a tour of the museum pointing out animals in the different paintings. When we returned to the classroom each child (and parent) created an animal puppet. Georgia, Rodolfo and I decided to make a bee. At the end of the class we all sang "Old McDonald" inserting each of the puppet's sounds. It was really fun! Here is a picture of Rodolfo, Georgia and her teacher. And there is also one of me and Georgia. Apparently the teacher is kind of famous. She just finished being on the reality show "The Biggest Loser".

New Perspective

I've noticed that the pictures posted on this blog are always at our house. This is mainly because I forget to take my camera anywhere. So, in order to prove that Georgia and I do more than just sit around the house all day I've decided I'm going to begin chronicling our weekly adventures. The two posted here are from our visit to Target and Chili's this week. We also went and had Gigi's hair cut, which I actually brought my camera for, but then became so involved in trying to keep her from crying while the lady cut her hair that I forgot to take pictures.

Also, I have had trouble falling asleep tonight because I've had thoughts racing through my head. In order to relieve my mind of my thoughts I am going to post them here for all the world to see. They are (in no particular order):

*I don't want to buy anymore clothes, house doo-dads, hair products, and miscellaneous items for the next 11 months. I've got so many piles and piles of stuff accumulating all around me that I can barely stand it. I've been trying to eliminate for the past 6 months. I have Habitat come by and pick up my piles once a month and I still can't seem to get rid of all it. I think this is because I buy little things here and there. Would it really hurt me if I just stop shopping for 11 months? I don't think it would one bit. Will I be out of style? Yes. But I actually already think I probably am and so this should not really matter. Americans collect way too much junk. We need to do a lot of simplifying so that we can really LIVE. Clutter gets in the way because it consumes so much of our time!

*I'm not going to cut my hair (except for the necessary split-end trim) for however long it takes me to get 10 inches of non-layered hair. I don't work and I am so consumed with taking care of Georgia that I have very little time on my hands to even take care of myself. However, the one thing I can give to someone who needs something is my hair. It is no problem for me to just let it grow. And the organization Locks of Love is really a unique and helpful charity. I want to contribute to it.

*Oklahoma needs better neighborhoods. I have a very good design for the ultimate neighborhood lingering in my head. I have no money to finance such a project but wouldn't that be cool if I could find investors and actually DESIGN a neighborhood. If I could, mine would have two goals: beauty through landscaping and architecture (classic architecture and landscaping that get better over time) and it would c0nnect people to a community-- give them a sense of place.

*I am writing a book. Yes, to all of you who did not know, I am writing a book!! It is in the beginning phases and I don't want to reveal any detail about it because, well, it is just presently my little secret. I think secrets are very fun and now that I think about it I should probably have a few more simply because I am getting so much pleasure out of this one.

Okay. I think that is all I want to write for now. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. It is definitely not my usual entry.

Naps

We have settled into a nice routine this month. Georgia no longer takes her morning naps, I'm officially able to accept the fact now. She actually gave them up sometime in October and I guess it just took ME a while to adjust. She is just beautiful right now and so desiring to talk. Her words still haven't formed but she communicates with such energy and drama that you really don't need words to understand her. Tonight she heard Wally howling and did a spot on impersonation of his howl. It made me laugh to no end, at which point she continued the howl and then added other sounds. She likes to make a snoring sound which she learned from either her Papi or her grandmother. She typically uses this sound to tell me she is ready for her nap. Isn't that great! She tells me now when she is ready to go to sleep. What a nice treat for me. One less thing to figure out. :) This picture was taken after her afternoon nap. She was happy and telling me hi here.

Pigtails

I just found some photos that I forgot to post a few weeks ago. This was the first time Georgia wore pigtails. We were going to my dad's office party. I tried to make her look very Christmas-y with the red sweater and sparkling wizard-of-ozish shoes.

Where are the Christmas photos?

Dear Readers,

I have no Christmas photos of Georgia because I forgot to bring my camera to Christmas. Isn't that terrible? We were struck with another cold over that week and unfortunately it took all my energy to wrap gifts and make it to the festivities. Gift wrapping is definitely a chore. I think the aunties might have some good pictures they snapped. If so, would they mind e-mailing me a few or linking me to their snapfish account?

Until then, I hope you enjoy these funny photos. Georgia placed herself in this basket and then got stuck. Once she got out she thought it was actually fun and decided to sit in it again.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

On my birthday, Monday morning, we awoke to an icy wonderland outside our window. The crepe myrtles gleamed in the sun with their crystaline crown. My rose bushes, whose leaves had not yet fallen, were little green soldiers frozen in time. And all of our precious Sycamores, whose scrawny new branches have proven to be so strong against the Oklahoma wind, also succumbed to the storm. They were bowing down to the street pressed by the weight of their icy leaves. Throughout the day Gigi and I heard the sound of cracking branches and crashing limbs. All of these old trees around here took a real beating. It was humbling to be reminded again of nature's force. I like to think of it as her way of trimming the branches, but oh how she does it!

I wish I had taken pictures, but my camera was accidently left in Yukon last Saturday. However, I do have some pics I snapped of Gigi running around the Christmas tree. Just thought these might be enjoyable to put on the blog. They are, at least, pertinent to the season!

Thanksgiving

There is a lot to be thankful for this year! Topping my list are:

Sleep, macaroni & cheese, a working heater, sunshine, the internet, visits to and from the grandparents, phone calls from sisters, furry friends, health, promotions, curtains & chandeliers, baby kisses, zoo trips and of course my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter.

As the round of holiday cheer begins, I want to wish all my readers a happy and fabulous Christmas season!! May you spend it with those you love and may the joyful reason for this season fill your hearts.

love, JoDee

Photos

Autumn and Abuelas

The weather has been changing here in Oklahoma. It is that beautifully golden time of year when the air is crisp and the ripe foliage colors the landscape. I love this time of year! It is so nice to sit by a window with a warm cup of tea and just observe nature in her glory.

Here at the house we have been taking it easy and enjoying our days. The abuelitas are having a good time cooking and talking and playing with Georgia albiet they have a time trying to stay warm. The house gets a little cold at night but we put the heater on 73-74 degrees to keep them toasty.

Since the weather today was particularly nice, we ventured to the zoo. Tenchita wore my furry coat from Paris to keep her legs warm. She looked very stylish! :) Gigi loved seeing the animals, especially the bears. What fun we had!

Vivan las Abuelitas!

Abuelita Orie and Abuelita Tenchi arrived last Wednesday evening. We are so glad to have them here! Georgia is learning all sorts of fun games and expressions like: quien es la chica mas bonita(or something like this) and she points to herself and says "yo". Well, she doesn't really say "yo" but she does point to herself and laugh. It is nice to have the company here in the house. The abuelitas are helping me keep everything together and today they are preparing a Guatemalan dinner for us. How nice to not have to cook! :)

Last Friday we took them on a tour of Rodolfo's work. Then on the weekend we went to a wedding. Above are some pictures of our recent adventures. Abuelito Ofo we wish you were here too!

Magic Rain Boots

In a quiet corner near our basement door sit a pair of Pucci-inspired rain boots. They are a little worn, a little muddy and serve me well when I need to go to the dungeon (our basement). These unassuming boots have recently taken on a new role; they eat credit cards. It is true. Rodolfo, who tends to loose things, had a terrible time finding his Discover card. He looked in all the usual places but the card just couldn't be found. After what seemed an endless search we gave up. That evening, on my normal laundry round, I slipped my bare-feet into those trusty boots. And what to my surprise did I discover but a shiny, crisp credit card. Who knows how it arrived there? Those boots must be magic and come alive when we least expect it. Since then the boots have taken to eating other household items, especially blocks, keys and little toy farm animals. I wonder what those hungry boots will eat next? :)

Boomer Sooner

Gigi has officially attended her first OU football game. It was sweaty, hot, humid and dog-on gross but she seemed to enjoy it and didn't cry once. When the band would play Georgia would hold her hands in the air, when the crowd would roar and stand to watch the play, Gigi would stand along with them, when people would clap for good plays, so did she, and when nothing imparticularly exciting was going on she would flirt with the guy behind us. I think I have a social butterfly on my hands.

Other news... Georgia has really taken to grabbing whatever is on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. She stealthily grabs the item when I'm doing something else then walks around the kitchen and dining room with it talking. Here are some pictures of me catching her with a bottle of Dr. Pepper.

One of her favorite new words is "tickle". She says this word in long repeated sentences. So it goes like this "tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle... etc." She particularly likes to say it when Wally is around or when she is carrying one of her toys. Where could she have possibly learned this word??? :)