On a much much lighter note...

Last night when Xiana and I were playing blocks she was trying to get some blocks apart and grunting with effort. Suddenly, she got them apart and distinctly exclaimed "I did it!" It was darling, not to mention her first sentence. Tonight I had to run to 711 for a soda to make a cake with and told her she could pick out a treat. I have never let her do this before and I was curious if she would have any idea what she wanted. We went and she immediately and decidedly grabbed a pack of skittles. I asked her if she was sure that was what she wanted pointing out the M&M's and other goodies. She said, "yeah" and held her treasure tightly. So we bought them, went home, and she thoroughly enjoyed the 10 or so I let her have.

Here she is with her mouth, and her hands filled with skittles and rocking her shades.

Another luxury baby Einstein afforded me tonight... notice her painted nails (and matching toes!)

Here we are just getting ready to head to church.

This pictures I included to show off her cute little Pebbles hair do. Her hair is long enough now to put in a tiny pony tail on top of her head and I think it is too cute!

And finally, not to be like my dad who always chronicles what he ate, I would just like to point out that my TINY baby ate an entire Inn & Out burger, bun, veggies and all, a whole banana, and some pears for lunch on Saturday. Then, tonight she ate a huge hot dog at Jason's Deli with fruit, pickles, a muffin, and an icecream cone then her aforementioned skittles when we got home. This little girl sure can eat!

Proud Mommy

As if the spectacular choices of flavors and toppings at yogurt land wasn't enough, tonight there was entertainment in the park. After going to participate in the deliciousness that is yogurt land with some friends, we took our kids to the park in the middle of town square. This is a beautiful play land with mini themed houses, a hedge maze, and water that shoots up from the ground. In addition, tonight they had two Latino men with speakers, a keyboard, mikes, and balloons running around singing and dancing with the kids. They did the hokey poky, several mambas, the wheels on the bus, the mockarena, and something in Spanish that I didn't quite understand. They jumped and danced, and ran around with some 40 kids trailing after them, copying their moves and singing along. Although Xiana was scarcely half the size of the next smallest child, she was right there with them. She quickly caught on to the dance moves and jumped and shushed and widow wiped to her little heart's content. Several parents commented to me on how remarkable it was that she could do the hand movements and follow the directions so well. My heart swelled with pride as I watched my tiny, fearless daughter eagerly join in the fun and know that she was just as big and just as able as everybody else. I wish I had my camera! When we walked to the car with balloon in hand I asked her if she had fun. She emphatically said, "yes" and laid her head on my shoulder so tenderly. I said, "are you an angel?" and again, she said, "yes!"

Such a big girl

Okay, so I realize that it is a little obsessive to write 3 posts my first night so this will be short and sweet. Really, I just want to put these darling pictures up of Xiana going to school. Every day she gets her luchbox and her sippy and heads to the car. She is very insistent that she walk and that she carry her own stuff. She is such a big girl!

Baby Einstein

Whoever invented Baby Einstein videos was a genius, seriously! They must be the lowest budget films in the history of film, yet they cost $18 per video and are worth every penny. Last week I really needed to get some studying done and there simply wasn't enough hours in the day. One evening, Xiana pointed to the t.v. and said, "watch." I was extremely surprised considering she scarcely notices when I turn on cartoons, Sesame Street, whatever. Her Baby Einstein First Signs DVD was already in the machine so I hit play. Then Awwwwwww (choir of angels) she sat and watched the video for 20 whole minutes. This is the same child that won't even ride on her scooter for 20 whole minutes. I read Faulkner which was the FIRST book I have been able to read with her awake in the room since the day she was born. It was amazing! So, instead of utilizing that time like a responsible student, I rushed to my computer and bought 6 more off Amazon. I have to say, they are all impressive. She dances with the puppets, sings with the animals, mimics every word, sign, and action they produce. It is incredible. The only problem is.... after 5 days of watching one 20 minute video per day, she was hooked! It only took one week to create a monster. Suddenly if we were home (which isn't very often) she was crying and begging to "watch." This week she watched one video, one day, when I had to get her dinner made and she was holding on to my leg crying and pleading to be picked up. "Do you want to watch a movie?" I asked. "Yes!" she emphatically exclaimed. And all was well. Dinner was on the table, dishes were already done, and we had a nice relaxing night. So here's to you marketing geniuses who created this reality t.v. for children under the age of 2. I tip my hat to you and your recordings of toys pulled by strings and pictures drawn by children. I'm sure you are rolling in the dough all because you decided to make videos with music, puppets, and 10 word scripts....pure genius!

Yes folks, she is standing directly in front of the t.v. holding on to the stand to get as close as possible to her beloved show.

Chillin' in her new chair we had to go out and buy so as not to be outdone by our friends.

Here she is utterly engrossed

Title?

Okay, so ask anybody who knows me, I have been dying to start a blog. Although I still don't quite have time for it, my comps are through (hooray) and I am just going to take the free time that I don't have and start this blog. So tonight I sat down to set it up and discovered I had no idea what the title of siad blog should be. Unfortunately I didn't want to spend the little time that I have thinking of some clever title. Soooo.... I just wrote pocketful of sunshine. I realize that is like the cheeziest title ever (well I also thought of "Just the Two of Us"). It is completely uninspired, unoriginal, and hokey. Still, when I was a child I was always called Sunshine and when Xiana was born and this song came out my friend Danny informed me that Xiana was my pocketful of sunshine. Therefore, it's the only thing that came to my mind. That being said, I am open to suggestions. Let me know what you think my title should be and if I use it I will totally give you props.