Trains Planes and Automobiles

This weekend will be Brie's 1st train ride to San Diego to see Gramma Sugar and Grumpa Skipper. They are having us for brunch at the club so she can see Santa. Brie loves transportation so it will be fun to see her watch out the window and see the ocean. We dont get down to San Diego all that often so it will be nice way to avoid traffic and be able to relax. This trip is also important because Brian's parents will meet Chris (mommy's friend*) for the 1st time. I think they are more excited than we are. I am sure it will go well.

gobble gobble 2012

Thanksgiving was a nice 4-day break for mama and Brie. We both needed a break from work and daycare. Uncle John & Family drove down for the holiday and she played and played with JJ and Mitch for 3 days straight! Even a fun trip to LegoLand was on the books. Brie got to ride some big girl rides and even got wet on the log ride with mommy!

Halloween

Brie had a great Halloween. She was Supergirl and loved her blue and red dress. I took her to the pumpkin patch but it was 95 degrees that day (heat wave) so it wasn't that much fun photographing her around smelly rotten pumpkins. But she liked going out at night with her buddy Mak down the street and she was even wanting to try and get candy from the houses that were dark with no lights. Our neighborhood was much more active this year and its been great because we have turned over some houses and added some kids to the street. Mommy was Supergirl too but Brie called me "Super Mommy" which I think is pretty right on!

Halloween Weekend w The Northern Nelsons

Brie and I took a quick trip up to Alamo to see Uncle John & Co! Brie and Mitchy had a lot of fun teasing each other and JJ was really sweet to Brie and gave her big hugs. We carved some pumpkins with grandpa and went to see JJ do Karate. The weather was almost summer like and the scary spider at the front door was a highlight for Brie! Thanks for a fun visit :)

Post Disney

Hello All. Its a longtime since I have blogged but we have been really busy! We took a 7 day cruise with all the Disney Characters on Sept 23-30 and Brie was in heaven. Everyday was fruit loops for breakfast, hot dog for lunch, mac n cheese for dinner and chocolate ice cream for dessert! She even still talks about Carlos our waiter from Italy! Brie was really good about going to the night performances and she sat (very well behaved) and watched the shows with her big blue eyes. Just watching her see the shows and seeing her imagination running wild was worth every penny I spent on this vacation. Overall we had a great time - saw the Northern Nelsons in SF, saw Brian's parents in San Diego and we did get off the boat briefly in Mexico so Brie went to her 1st foreign country at the ripe old age of 2.5! I was actually sad to get off the ship after a week because it was so nice as a single mom to have an extra pair of hands (thanks Grandma) and meals prepared everyday...oh and the room service! Christine was our room service keeper and she was so amazing. She made Brie's bed with pink princess sheets on the last night of the cruise and pulled the room apart one day to find my Tiffany earring. Disney did a great job and I can't wait to go on another cruise maybe when Brie is 4 or 5!!

Mom....mom....ANNA!!!

You know your daughter is getting older when A) she stops calling you mommy and calls you mom and B) when I dont respond to Mom..she says "Anna!!" Tonight she was scolding Hobie Cat for doing Yuck Yuck on the floor and she said to the cat "and you better stop or Anna is going to get mad at you!" Two words: Oh Boy

"Paris"

I can sense that Brie is starting to understand that papa is a mystical figure. She's been very confused on who my parents are but tonight she was able to tell me that my mommy is "grandma" and that my papa is "grandpa mike" which is good seeing that they are divorced and have significant others. Its when I start explaining who Grandma Sugar and Grumpa Skipper are...she can't quite grasp that they are papa's mommy and daddy. Tonight, during books I asked her if she knew where papa lives and she looked at a photo of Brian standing by the L'Arc de Triomphe and said "Paris"

Passport

Because we are going on a cruise in about a month, I just got my new passport and my heart sank as I got it in the mail because my old one wasn't returned - and so many memories were inside it. Luckily I re-read the fine print and your old one gets sent back in a separate mailing. Just thinking that 10 yrs ago Brie's papa and I were in Switzerland exploring the country and bungee jumping off gondolas. I remember our little rental car zipping up the Alps and Brian intently reading the map. My passport has been quiet over the last 4 years but I am glad that Brie has encouraged me to take a big trip and get it stamped again. I hope her passport is filled with stamps over the years and that someday I can give her Brian's as a keepsake!

Big Girl Bed

Brie has been asking me every day for a big girl bed. I like the security of having her in a crib (and locked up!) but she's growing up...faster than I can mentally keep up with. So I went on Amazon and got her a toddler bed. It will fit her crib mattress but be close to the ground and have regular bedding..with a pillow and all. We will see. I put the crib and changing table on Craiglist and so far no reply :( I'll post some photos of the big girl bed when it comes!!

fish

Brie is a true Pisces. She's been excelling at her swim lessons and she loves the Mission Viejo Lake and of course any pool she can jump into. She's even been opening her eyes under water and is starting to kick her legs a little. Its a great tradition for her and I to do a Mommy and Me swim class every Saturday AM!

Pee Pee

Yea! Brie did pee pee on the potty tonight for mama! This is the 2nd time she's done that for me. She was SO proud. I gave her 2 M&Ms and she told me she was "so excited" which is great to see her confidence blossom!

July

Hello All....slaker blogger here! Its July and the summer heat is upon us and Brie is taking to the pool like a fish in an aquarium. Her loves her Saturday swimming lessons and visits to the MV Lake. We said goodbye to Fraulein Maria at the end of June and that visit was very special for all involved. Brie loved waking her up every AM and Fraulein enjoyed some quality time with both Brie and I separately and together! We hope to visit her in Germany either 2013 or 2014! Brie has actually been acting out a little since Maria left...I think she liked staying home more and seeing mama take some time off of work. But she's settling back into school and they have a lot of activities planned to keep her busy! Some cute things Brie is saying right now are "slip slops" for flip flops and she loves seeing the trash truck come every Wednesday. She is sure to say "hola" to Jesus..the trash truck man. So, enjoy your summer y'all and come visit us!

Maria comes this week!!

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.....

Fraulein Maria arrives in a few weeks! It will be interesting to see Brie's reaction. I recently put up a framed photo of Maria, Brie and I in the house and she saw it one morning and was yelling "fraulein! fraulein!" while I was getting dressed. I think it will take about 5 seconds for her to reconnect with Maria. Someday, I hope to share with her how critical Maria was in taking care of Brie as a baby. I think at the time, I knew she was being super helpful but really no words can describe the gratitude I have for her...esp in the early days when I was recovering from my c-section and trying to feed, bathe and care for Brie. Maria didn't have to take one of the night feedings, but she did. Without hesitation and I think that's how Brian would have handled parenting. I believe in divine intervention and I truly believe that Maria was brought to us from a higher being. Call me what you want but I do. I think her time here was good for her and obviously for us. I think this world works in funny ways but I can't wait to take Brie to Germany and show her how the other side of the world lives and maybe someday she can go and live in a foreign country and get a new experience with life!

bad guys

Oh! Its so sad but Brie is all of a sudden scared of 'bad guys' and I am just trying to comfort her and tell her that mommy is here to protect her and daddy is too even though she can't see him. And when we read books I show her that the policeman gets rid of bad guys. But I did tell her that if she ever feels like she's around a bad guy to just tell him "no, go away" and that's the extent of it. I do admit that I am scared of the bad guy too sometimes and I am constantly trying to watch strangers in public. Seeing if they are checking out my child..etc. When I started taking her to Miss Patty's house I did a Megan's Law Search around her house to see if there were any convicted child molestors nearby and I also did a very entailed Q&A with the County of Orange over the people Patty employed and have access to my daughter. I told Patty that no men are to change my daughter's diaper or take her to the potty. Its sad that at age 2 yrs and 2 months that Brie is already aware of dangerous people. I guess I can say I am too but at least its on my mind and I am not going through life acting like things like that dont happen!

HAPPY EARTH DAY

A busy Earth Day here at the Hogan household...starts with Brie waking up at 6:15am...and her inability to stop rocking herself against a wooden crib so mama comes and brings her into bed w her 'baba milk' (yes I know...she's 2 but whatever) and she and I lay in bed watching Super Why. Soon her friends are arriving for a playdate..little Olivia and Reagan and its chaos with toys everywhere and cracker crumbs on the floor but the girls have a good time...the clouds never cleared..so much for our day of 86 degrees! After lunch and a nap its off to Sammy's 2nd bday where there will be a petting zoo, pony rides and a bounce house..OY!! So after all that, Brie eats her hotdog and discovers Cheetos! Oh boy...orange fingers and face!! Then its cake with green frosting...nummy as Brie says :) after a quick adios to the bday girl, its bath time and PJs...Skype with grandma and off to bed! And what did mommy do for herself today? NADA...but that's ok. Its times like these that make me grateful for my little girl

Honey Bunny

Brie did great this Easter! She did great finding eggs and putting them in her little basket with her neighbor-boyfriend Mak and she gave the Easter Bunny a HUGE hug! We spent the night down at Gramma Sugar and Grumpa Skipper's house and interacted with Sophie a little bit (Brie is strangely afraid of dogs?) and Uncle Timmy. We missed Fraulein Maria at the brunch this year and I ate some eggs benedikt in her honor! It will be fun to see Maria in June when she comes to visit!

Lego Land

This weekend we are heading to Lego Land with our BFFs down the street The Knechts. Little Mak and Brie are going to do their 1st overnight at the local Hyatt in Aviara (Carlsbad) so this will be fun to see them ride the rides together and for me to have TWO extra pairs of adults hands with me!! Mike and Meagan are so great with Brie and their son Mak is the biggest sweetheart! Thanks to Gramma Judy for giving Brie an annual pass!!

2

Brie had a great 2nd bday. She went to her Dr's appt and was 95% on height and weight, had a shot and some blood drawn and didnt get too upset (she knew a lollipop was after that) and then went to daycare with cupcakes in tow where they made her a crown and threw her a bday party while mama got her toes painted and a massage! That night mama went to the beach and spent the night with friends while Brie had her 1st sleepover with Grandpa Mike and Linda. She was great and mama didnt come home hungover! Cheers to Anna & Brie!!

IT'S BIRTHDAY WEEK!!

I can't believe that 2 years ago I was out to HERE waiting for my little Brie to arrive in the world. I remember a few days before Maria arrived I went shopping and bought a pair of sunglasses for my b-day because I knew at that point I was about to get a roommate for 1.5 yrs and a new daughter that I love so much...so I wanted to have ONE last excursion to the mall..just me :)

So we have a Hello Kitty party planned for the weekend and today I assembled 12 goodie bags for the little girls who are coming. I ordered 48 cupcakes (chocolate, vanilla and red velvet) and I need to get some balloons and we're all set.

Friday the 9th we have Brie's 2 year check-up (no shots) and then I'll drop her off at daycare with cupcakes and then mommy is off to get a MASSAGE!!! And then to Crystal Cove for an overnight w 3 girlfriends and lots of wine!!

Love. the 0309 girls

Visit from the Northern Nelson's

This weekend Uncle John, Aunt Mandy and cousins Taylor, JJ and Mitch all came down to tour colleges (Taylor) and have a fun family visit. Brie is very entertained by JJ and Mitch as she loves little boys and makes this crazy loud laugh if they do something funny. I can't wait for Brie to spend more time as she gets older with her cousins!

23 mo

The last time I'll be counting months with Brie. From March on it will be "she's 2" or "she's 2.5" but her party is in the works and its a Hello Kitty theme. Selfishly I envisioned Hello Kitty so that's what it is because next year she'll have an opinion!! If I were choosing a theme based upon Brie I'd do Calliou or Barney!

At work today I spent some quiet time making a big birthday card for the cast on Sprout TV to read on-air. I hope it makes it!! If it does, I'll try and post a video of them wishing Brie a Happy 2nd Birthday!!

YEE HAA!!!

Brie went to a b-day party for her little playmate (Avery) from daycare and she rode a pony!! At 22 mo she had no fear, jumped right on and didn't smile but looked very content and proud of herself. Brie's bad mommy left her cell phone in her car so I have NO photo of this historic event!

2012

Brie is doing great. She did great over Christmas; playing with her kitchen, wooden food and her new tricycle! She understood Santa but didn't understand that he was bringing her gifts so next yr should be fun. Brie is enjoying Miss Patty's during the week and she's making little friends along with Samantha - my sorority sister's daughter. On the weekends we are busy with playdates, trips to Pretend City (thank you Grandma Judy) and the end of the football season (I taught Brie how to say GO BRONCOS) so life is good and life is busy. Brie is already in 2T clothes and she's obsessed with shoes. She even talked Grandma Jan into letting her wear them in the bath tub. Oh boy! Motherhood is better than I ever imagined and Brie is more fun every single day!