Here’s to scooping poop out of a potty training toilet, having your toddler bend over to wipe her bottom, cleaning poop out of your baby’s lady parts, navigating your toddler’s mood swings, fighting over what your toddler is going to wear in the morning, the squeal from your baby when you have left her in the bouncer a smidge too long, the constant attempt to get your toddler to eat the same thing you are eating for dinner, the constant attempt to get your toddler to eat anything for dinner, the constant attempt to get your baby to eat solid foods, pre-nap time meltdowns, pre-bedtime meltdowns, tears in the bathtub, total and complete drama over having caked on food or dirt wiped from your toddler or baby’s face, constant negotiations, refusal to sleep in ANY day of the week including Saturday, the never-ending picking up of toys, mashed food below the dining table, sippy cups with curdled milk, ants in the bedroom feasting on a forgotten toddler snack, blow-outs, endless laundry, spit up, milk splatter all over the house, the annoying whine of the breast pump, carrying a 30-pound baby/carseat combo through the daycare every day, taking five bags to work every morning, taking three bags to daycare every morning, stained clothes and last but not least dealing with every bug that comes through town with the sick days to prove it.

The long weekend gave us plenty of opportunities for mini adventures. In fact, by Saturday we were a bit stir crazy even after breaking out cigars around the backyard fire pit on Thanksgiving and introducing the first ever Hoobing Family Game Night (It’s a long story that I will go into some time but Andy is now obliged to play games with me which I am, of course, thrilled about.)

Peace. Smiles. People who follow up. People who do what they say they are going to do. Stability. Change. Books. All of my wonderful memories. Sleep, although I never get enough of it. Breastfeeding because I can get away with skipping workouts. An ability to look to the future rather than the past. Molten Chocolate cake. French cafés. Mexican tacos. Argentine-style steak. Having learned to speak Spanish. Having lived in Mexico and China. Being young. Age, being a state of mind. Ideas. People who inspire me. Color. All of you awesome readers. Every single comment left on this blog.

One thing we are constantly thankful for is Eloise’s gorgeous smile. It is what I look forward to at the end of the day. It is our rock, how we know our girl is okay. Look at her new toothy smile! Few things make Eloise smile as much as playing with her sister. Mommy is [...]

Unforgettable, at least in the positive sense is definitely not the one-word adjective I would use to describe it. I honestly don’t intend to be mean but the meal was, simply put, not good. For $22.99!!! per person, I expect so much more. The only decent aspect of the meal was the crab, which MY GOODNESS I hope at least the crab is decent in an establishment called Joe’s Crab Shack. The shrimp had no flavor, the corn on the cob was terrible, potatoes were blah and I didn’t try the sausage. I guess that is what we get for trying to order non-fried food. Belén’s fried shrimp was actually quite tasty.

I stopped by the office of our daycare on Wednesday to make a copy of Eloise’s updated immunization card for their records.  In the two minute conversation I had with the director, she totally made my day.  She said one of the teachers in the baby room commented that Eloise is the baby they all way to play with most.

Now I am sure it is the director’s job to tell each and every parent in the baby room the same thing, but regardless, it made me happy.  When you are away from your child for so many hours a day, it is good to not only know they are well cared for, but that those caring for them are genuinely happy to be doing so.  I think a baby would pick up on it if that was not the case.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from my good friend who lives in China.  She was asking for some advice on dealing with some of the challenges of caring for a young baby as her baby is less than two-months-old.  Apparently most of the Chinese parenting books are written from the perspective [...]

All that is needed is a winter coat, a flashlight and a sense of adventure and a typically painful part of the evening suddenly becomes fun and something your child looks forward to. Try it! I was surprised how excited B was for her 20 minute backyard adventure.

Belén’s best friend, Gracyn, turns three today! We celebrated yesterday in true, three-year-old, Dora birthday party fashion: pinatas, ice cream cake, cupcakes, dolls and all around fun.