For months Becca has been asking about Charisma’s (our cat) birthday. Becca had an amazing pool party back in California for her birthday … What about Charisma?

Being the parents we are, we had Becca participate in the planning, shopping and preparation of a party for her cat. It has been a fun and educational process for her. We went to the party supply store and found plates, hats and balloons. Then last week we purchased Charisma a mouse from Ethan and a teddy bear stuffed with cat nip from Becca. Becca & I were going to sew him a little bed but I think we are going to save that for Christmas.

Our dear sweet cat received all the above as well as home baked cat goodies (imagine the lovely smell in my home this evening! FISH & LIVER BAKED … yum), Becca even helped him blow out a candle (after Mommy made sure the humans had a treat too!) Becca is over the moon with excitement and  joy due to celebrating Charisma’s birthday. We even had her important stuffed animals as guests! It was fun! There are a few more pictures of the party on Flickr!

The Los Alamos County Fair was cute! The Arts and Craft fair was awesome! The parade was a HUGE hit with Becca (could it be the candy she scored?). We toured the exhibits that were entered and had a fun time.

In other news, I spotted a cute sandbox at Target yesterday for $25. We did not purchase it, but now I am thinking we should have. Becca loves to dig, fill, dump and build. What do YOU think … YAY or NAH on the sandbox?

Thank you all so much for all the supportive comments. It confirms what I have been doing by reassuring Becca that I will love her forever and ever and be there for her no matter what, is the right thing to do. I do not think I will ever be able to make anyone understand the feeling of being motherless due to the fact that your mother just did not want to be YOUR mother, least of all my daughter. I cannot honestly say I understand it, rather I accept it as it is.

Ok so let’s be Happy!

I have won a few blog contests over the past few weeks and I have been so busy with the house, settling into the community here and the kids I have not had the chance to share

First, I won the CUTEST notecards from Damselfly. You will just have to trust me, because they arrived with our forwarded mail and they are NOT lost, just in a SUPER cool, safe spot waiting to be discovered again.

Then I scored a very cute and functional burp cloth from Love Prints … It is so SOFT and totally cute. I totally have to get some shots of Ethan with it! He adores chewing on all things, but this burpee is totally tops (and absorbant which is such a plus!)

Lastly, I just found out today that I won the Meerkat Manor prize pack from Aimeeroo’s animal blog. I am super excited! Becca adores Meerkat Manor, we used to watch it on demand on cable!

Speaking of cable. Psshaa I am not enjoying satellite. We have way less channels and the channels we do have are weird ones. We cannot find Cops and to top it all off everything here starts an hour EARLY! So what we would have watched at 8pm once the kids are in bed, starts a 7pm! grrr!

Wait! This is a happy post!

This weekend is the Los Alamos Rodeo & County Fair! YeeeHawww! hehe! I am helping out at the LLL table at a women’s health fair then we are going to tour downtown and take in the events.

We are also having a very special celebration this weekend, so stay tuned!

I almost FORGOT! My dear friend SugarMama has started a new venture that you HAVE to check out. Her first contest is for the CUTEST shoes I have ever seen! Go check it out!

How do I answer this?

Becca is obsessed with the fact that Mommy doesn’t have a Mommy. How Come? Where did she do? How come she left? Why didn’t she love you? How come Daddy has a Mommy?

I have no idea how to answer these questions and ending the conversation. I do not believe that she can comprehend the magnitude of the entire situation. Honestly I never want her to understand. How do you explain to your daughter, the light of your life that your own Mother did not love you, walked out of your life at 6 months old and really never looked back?

You can say all you want about Britney Spears but she is sticking with her kids. She could have walked away, but she hasn’t (the girl needs to some good panties and therapist). Staying is means a lot.

I cannot even imagine, leaving them. I went knitting without Ethan (for 2 hours) and he was devastated. I could not leave the room to pee for DAYS! My heart ached that I made him fret where his Mommy was.

I like to think I have “dealt” with the whole no mom, yata yata crap. Honestly, the woman did me a favour, she is obviously a heartless bitch. Yet when Becca looks up at me and asks me … How come you do not have a Mommy? Do you miss her? Her eyes are full of wonder and fear. Can a Mommy stop loving?

As for Ethan, I agree with all your comments. He is fortunate to be lugged along with us and experience so much. He adores his big sister. I guess I long for a little more quiet time with him, and I do get it … it is just different. Not bad, just different. So thanks for sharing your thoughts.

We had a great day hanging out with friends at the library then heading back for lunch together. Once again we hit the farmer’s market and scored the biggest watermelon I have ever seen! It tastes so so good. We also saw the CUTEST kitten that is in foster care and up for adoption … She may justbe the next to join the Soodz clan!!

Oh! I finally started to design again. It feels so good to be creative and geeky again. The new iMacs would be the perfect muse! hehehe! Aren’t they beautiful? Breathtaking really!

I am in awe. How is it that FOUR months has gone by since I gave birth to Ethan!?!??! I have yet to write his birth story (bad bad bad)! The babe is growing and changing everyday.

I keep thinking that I need to take more pictures of the little guy. Yet almost daily I do. I feel like it is impossible to capture these moments. I am trying so hard to relish every moment, to enjoy every milestone, to catch every smile.

Ethan is totally a smile guy. He (as you have witnessed) has the most amazing smile. It melts my heart. He can have looks of amazement, bewilderness and frustration. Totally annimated. He is “talking” up a storm and realizes that we will immediately give him attention when he does. Ethan’s face LIGHTS up when Becca appears. If he is not near her, he is less happy. He wants to watch her every move. Becca is starting to enjoy this new found audience. She enjoys making Ethan light up and can even make him giggle. She will for short periods of time “watch” her baby brother when asked. She tickles his feet and tells him stories.

Every night all four of us cuddle up and read a story. Ethan is completely engaged in this and watches as J reads the story. He rarely cries or is fussy, he just enjoys. Sames goes for the library (which is quickly becoming a ritual at least twice a week!), Ethan can never fall asleep inside, always eager to take it all in.

When placed on his tummy, Ethan now clasps his hands together. He rolls but cannot always get it right and will get really annoyed (darn cloth diapers offer a lot of resistance). He spends most of his waking hours on the floor or travelling in the sling. He does enjoy the Jumperroo for short periods of time. He sleeps well. During the day he takes many cat naps (when his sister is quiet) and one good sleep in the afternoon (while Becca is enjoying quiet time). At night he will sleep through the night if the stars are aliegned just right, if not he wakes once for a nibble then quite often wakes early (5 am-ish) to snuggle with Daddy.

Ethan is totally a perfect fit into our family. Although I have much much less time to do all the things I used to enjoy as a Mom of one (designing, knitting, blogging) I would not trade having two in my world. Sometimes I feel like he is getting the shaft, lugged from one activity for Becca then to another. Yet I know that he gets the benefits of my gained knowledge. I have been there done that. I know what to do with a baby (preschoolers are a different lot all together!)

We have had some crazy, busy times in these four months. Things are settling down into the patterns of life now. I still stumble as a Mom of two, but I am slowly getting the hang of it … now if only I was a little less tired and had a little more time …