The Bubble Princess

Had to post this picture, just b/c i think it looks so darn cool.

God knows I'm no photographer. All my pics are courtesy of my Cannon Elf, Picasa cropping and touch ups, and sheer dumb luck. This is just a ho hum picture, but once I crop it to focus on the face, it becomes kind of cool.

Turns out the bubble machine is the biggest hit around here in months. I'll try and post a video if I can. Its clear on my computer, yet blurry on Youtube. Can't figure that one out. I love the bubble machine b/c I don't get a headache in my vain attempt to blow enough bubbles to keep T happy.

Success!

Here's the result of all our hard work. This planter weighs a ton, even with nothing in it. Aunt Dot and I had to use a dolly to get the thing up wth steps. I love it, though, and T loves watering everything.

I'm thrilled that all was still outside this morning, and didn't "disappear" in the night.

Pigtail Sunday

You wouldn't know it from looking at the photos, especially the Pigtail-Ninja Girl shot, but T is feeling under the weather today. Slight fever. For that reason and b/c we're waiting for the yardman to come and plant my new plants, we're stuck at home. Therefore, we decided to have fun with pigtails.

Meanwhile, I would like to know how all the moms out there manage to get their girls' pigtails even? Every single time I attempt to give T pigtails, one ends up higher than the other or cocked off at a weird angle no matter what I do.

Bubble Girl strikes again

Our next door neighbor Karen came over, and dirty little Taylor got very clean playing with the pool, sprinklers and the biggest hit of the day....THE BUBBLE MACHINE. Karen and T would run up to the machine so that the bubbles would stick to them, then turn, run, and jump in the pool, all the while screaming, "Bubble Girl!"

Dishing the Dirt

For over a year I've been meaning to get some plants for the front of my house. Its been as bare as a baby's butt. So, off to home depot we went, and purchased blue plumbagos, dark red pentas, and some cherry bushes. T's job is to water them everyday, until my lawnman has a chance to plant them.
She absolutely LOVES watering the plants. Today, I got some really beautiful cobalt blue planters. One for each side of the steps, and a huge one for the porch. We decided to get really really dirty today, and plant the planters. Figure we'd better make them nice and heavy, otherwise they'd probably be stolen over the night. The heavier they are, the harder to steal. I filled them all 1/2 way up with heavy rocks, then planted ivy's in them. T, once again was a big help.
By the end of the after noon, we both were black with dirt. T, though, doesn't like to touch the dirt. She enjoyed manning the hose.

My Resident Fashionista

T decided that she was going to dine formally tonight, and insisted on putting on a ball gown.





Meanwhile, this year's fashion-forward woman would not be caught dead this fall without her Mulan umbrella and Sleeping beauty princess slippers and the must-have outfit of the year: buzz lightyear pj pals!

Fa Mulan as played by Taylor

Introducing Taylor The Actress....

In this scene, she's playing Mulan meeting the matchmaker. The matchmaker calls her name, "Fa Mulan", and Mulan who is kneeling behind her umbrella, brings it up and announces, "Present!". Enjoy....

T's new Thrill

Meanwhile, T could couldn't care less about her new table.

Guess what she's thrilled with?! She's now set up Fort Taylor in our living room.

I was going to throw out the box as tomorrow is trash day, but I think I'll keep it around for a week. Nothing like a free fort!

Buyer Beware

I've been searching for a bedside table for T's bedroom for quite a while. Finally, I discovered this little gem on the disney.com outlet. $199.00 reduced to 42.99, less 30%. A steal as far as I'm concerned.

Looks cute, doesn't it? Its 15in x 15in. Unfortunately, I didn't pay too much attention to the height. Its HUGE!!!! In fact, T is just barely
taller than the thing. In this picture, she's stooping just a little, so you can't really tell, but yes, she IS slightly taller!


It's of really nice quality, and quite heavy. I had wanted heavy b/c I don't want it tipping over all the time, anytime anybody (Taylor) brushes up against it or bams into it, as the case may be. Also, I know my daughter. As soon as I tried to take her picture with it, she started climbing it like a ladder. Luckily, the thing is almost twice her weight and didn't budge an inch. Oh well, since I ordered it online, I'll be keeping the thing.

We'll just have to figure out a way to make it work!

Meanwhile, I want to welcome my sweet Aunt Connie to the Land of Blog. She's over 83 by a year or two, yet surfs the net with the skill of a teenager! I see that she's finally figured out how to comment, and we look forward to hearing from her in the future. Meanwhile Aunt Connie, can you go back to the previous post re Kung Fu Panda and settle our debate? Was Aunt Poe named after a polar bear (like I think) or a gorilla (like dot thinks) or are we both wrong?? You may need to click on "Older Posts" at the bottom until you find it!

Ankles, Electricity and Turbans...Oh my!

I'm bummed b/c the swelling is particularly bad today. Not sure why. This is how it all looks after icing it with an ice bag and having it elevated for about 2 hours. I'm holding both legs/feet the same way, so you should be able to see the same bones in each foot. As you can see, there are no little bones visible, in my bad foot. Even my ankles have disappeared again.

I'm happy to report that I'm not sporting some weird looking permanent waive in my hair. My foray into the world of electricity was 50% successful. I was unable to successfully change out the light. I think the problem is either in the line or the switch so someone with more knowledge than I will have to take a look at it. However, I did successfully changed with switch! Of course, that's after getting zapped a few times before hard-headed me decided to turn off the breakers. The way my foot is feeling tonight, I'm ready to go strap the revved up switch to my ankle for a little electricity therapy like they do at rehab.

Meanwhile, T was watching Alladin tonight on the Disney station. She was quite impressed with all the turbanned people, and decided she needed one, too. She improvised, using her shirt.

The Toddler Hypnotizer

I've found the answer!!! Olympic Gymnastics. We've been watching the US Gymnastic Team Olympic Try-Outs all night, and T has been mesmerized. I'm thinking I need to Tivo the olympic gymnastics competitions, so I have it in my back pocket to whip out, should I need a hour or so to get something done.

Of course, when they first came on, T commenced tumbling across the room. Poor T, though, has never had any instruction, and her tumbles are very wobbly and off-kilter. Similar to her mom's tumbles in the CJ's parking lot in college.

UPDATE: After seeing a few floor routines and poll vaults, T has now taken to running across the room. Stopping, drunkenly tumbling, and standing up to "land" and says "Ta Da". Too cute!

Saturday Fun

Well, we got home yesterday to find the following: the water heater circuit tripped (for the 2nd time in 2 weeks), my bathroom light switch broken...it won't turn off, and my computer was screwed up. Somehow, the modem driver was magically erased. Don't know how, as it happened between the time I left for work and the time I returned home. After over an hour on the phone with Bellsouth, we finally got the internet running again. However, only after restoring my computer and using usb instead of ethernet to connect the modem to the computer. The Ethernet has totally disappeared. Don't know if all of this is related to the nifty new meter box FPL installed or the monsoon that blew through Miami on Friday. It was a hell of a storm. Who knows. Its always something.

Last night , T slept in her bed AGAIN. Yippee!!!!! We were up bright and early at the crack of dawn, as it now appears to be my job to drive my 83 yr old mom to the beauty shop on Saturdays. We've banned my mom from driving, which she habitually ignores. What's worse, my dad is no help enforcing the edict, so who knows what will happen there. While she was in the shop, T and I went off to Target. I let T con me into buying moonsand. Needless to say, that's a wholely outdoor project. I've seen kids playing with the stuff before, and won't be duped into letting her play with it in the house.

We later met Aunt Dot for lunch and roamed the mall with her. She's at home working all weekend and needed her T fix. After a mere few hours, my back felt like it was going to break and if I had an ax handy, I'd have chopped off my bum foot below the knee to put me out of my misery. Hopefully, we'll have an early night, and I'll try my hand at changing the electrical switch tomorrow. We'll be off to Home Depot bright and early. Say a prayer that I don't electricute myself and end up with a weird perm. That would be just my luck!

Success!

Don't have alot of time, but wanted to report that T slept all night in her own bed!!! No waking up in the middle of the night.

Me, on the other hand, once again was up every few hours, making sure T was sleeping in her own bed, hadn't fallen out, was not awake...you get the picture.

The joys of motherhood!

To sleep or not to sleep...that is the Q!

Last night i decided to take the bull by the horns, or the T by the back of her pajamas in this case, and make her go to sleep in her own bed. The Today show has been doing a segment on sleep issues, and gave me the "bright" idea. So, around 9:30 we both went into her room. T in her bed and me in the glider. T fell asleep around 10:00 p.m. or so. Piece of cake. I was feeling particularly proud of myself.

I, on the otherhand, went to bed around 11:30. Fell asleep only to be woken up at 12:30 by T. She was in my room climbing into my bed. I didn't have the energy to chase her out. We fell back asleep and I snuck out into T's room around 1:30. Do you see a pattern forming?

Yep, like clockwork, T was in her room waking me up saying to come into mama's room at 2:30. Yep, I caved. Back we went into my room. I was basically up every hour for the next few hours. So, guess who has zero incentive to try it all again tonight?? At least when we start out in my bed, I can usually slip out without notice and get some restful sleep in the mermaid bed until morning.

However, I'll perservere and attempt it once again. We'll see what happens. I don't have high hopes. Luckily, with rehab in the morning, I can sleep in a little later than usual. We'll see what nonsense happens tonight.

Advice anyone?

Aunt Ceci Special Request

So, I'm collaborating with Aunt Ceci to buy 2 pics for T's room. Readers of our old site will remember that I've been eyeing these two pictures for the room for quite a long time. Years, in fact. Ever since Ceci found them and put them on her web-boutique... http://www.ittybittyladybug.com .

Next thing I know, about 2 years after I had given up my search for mermaid bedding that wasn't Ariel, the Salsa mom found this bedding set and posted about it on her blog. I nearly fell out of my computer chair upon seeing it. I immediately saw that it matched my beloved pictures, and shamelessly copied her by buying the same set.

Ceci has requested that I post some pics of T's room. Unfortunately, I really don't have any good pics of T's bed (esp'ly since I'm not big on making beds). I just have these, to give you an idea of what it all looks like. Cec, if you're reading this, I think I also need the brunette mermaid night light. It would be perfect!

Meanwhile, does anybody else out there watch Jon & Kate: Plus 8? Its on TLC. Its about a family that had twins, then had sextuplets. I had seen a documentary about them before, but now they've made a series of their life.

If at anytime I get too whiney and pathetic, please, someone...anyone... remind me of this family. Everytime I watch it, I realize how good and EASY I have it! Good lord! I can't imagine having SIX 3 yr olds running around the house in addition to two 6 yr olds.

Good lord! Between this show and the SuperNanny Jo, I feel like I'm the best mom in the world with the easiest child on earth to raise! Self-delusion is a wonderful thing!

My Own American Idol Star?

Oh yeah, here's T's latest use for my cane... T sings into it as if its her own, personal microphone and she's on stage.

Much ado about nothing

Well, it seems we have a whole lot of nothing to report. I'm happy to report that I had a blessedly HOT shower this morning. I hope I'm not jinxing anything by typing this, but so far, so good. Hopefully, the electric problem was just the circuit.

On the Rehab front: Rehab is coming along fairly well. I still have the cane for distance, but around the house and the office, I'm on my own. So far, so good. Picking up T is still dicey, as is carrying anything with much weight. I'm bummed that I'll probably be in rehab longer than I had anticipated. This stupid swelling is staying longer that I had imagined. Also, I'm still in my dorky New Balance sneakers. Can't wait til I get back into my old shoes again. I'm slightly nervous, though, b/c a girl at work had a similar incident, and she said that her foot never did go back to its normal size. Crap.

I got noticed yesterday that swim class has been postponed for about 2 weeks. Something about the pool pump not working correctly. Since T isn't thrilled with the idea of the classes anyway, she's fine with it.

Meanwhile, why hasn't my sweet Aunt Connie posted on the new blog? We're missing her!

Blinging the Blog and Electrical Snafus

Yep, my blog fairy has struck again. This time, with a snazzy new signature line at the end of each post. T loves it b/c all she sees and cares about is her precious Ariel.

Meanwhile, we're experiencing slight electrical problems in Casa Gringa. Last month, my electric bill was only $74.00. That was weird, but I figured I must have paid the previous months bill late, then paid again, and this was the balance that was due. Well, this month, my electric bill was a whopping $11.11. While I loved the number, I knew something was drastically wrong and ended up reporting it to FPL. Good lord, while I knew that once I installed Al Gore's super-duper energy-saving light bulbs, there would be a savings, an $11.11 electric bill is ridiculous!!! Especially since my bill is usually over $300.00 in the hot summertime. Yikes!

Well, they swiftly installed a new meterbox that's busy counting the kilowatts as we speak (or blog). FPL is also busy calculating up my new bazillion dollar electric bill to make up for all their lost income due to the bum box. They say I'll be getting that in the near future. Oh joy :(

Now tonight, I give T a bath and the water is only lukewarm. Apparently, the circuit that the water heater is on was tripped. Not sure if it's related to the installation of the new meter box, or if the old circuit just burned out. Whatever. I guess it wouldn't be summer without there being electric problems. You may recall last summer it was my a/c.

Say a prayer that I don't have to take a cold shower in the morning!

Party Time

Here's how T has a party. She announces she's having one, pulls out an appropriate dress, then pulls out her mermaid comforter from her bedroom. They are her invited "guests". She then sits in the middle of the mermaids, and sings "Happy Birthday".

A good time was had by all!

FATHER'S DAY

We had lots of fun today. We went over to our parents house and took them out to lunch at a new Bar-B-Q restaurant in the area. This is a pic of my mom and dad, Aunt Dot, and T. Food was good, but service was poor. That's OK, though. It gave us more time to sit and talk. God knows, nobody in this family can shut up so that was a good thing! T was very well behaved.

After lunch, Dot took T home to nap, and I stayed at my parents. I had taken my maid Leonor over to clean the house for them, so I had to stay until she finished. The bonus with that...I was able to sneak out to Target by myself, for a little shopping on my own, which is a truly rare event in my life. Of course, I missed T, so ended up getting her a ribbon wand, like I see the Chinese acrobatic girls doing. I've yet to give it to her, though, as I really don't want her wacking everything in sight inside the house. We'll save it for the park.

Afterwards, we came back home and T had fun playing in her pool again. I keep pushing the water play, as T starts swim class in a mere 2 weeks. So, the more she's in the water having fun, I figure the easier swim class will be. As it stands, whenever I mention the classes, her the response is...."I don't want to go to swim class!".

Growing pains...or lack thereof

I guess kids slow down in growing. At least T seems to be slowing at 3 yrs 2.5 months. She's still hovering around 27 - 28 pounds and is around 36 inches. She's been hovering at this weight for about 6 or 8 months. So, I decided to see if this little skirt still fits her. Yes, my 3 yr old is actually wearing a skirt that is size 3 - 6 months. Clearly, something is off with the way gymboree sizes things.

Her shirts, she's growing out of all the time. They get too small in length and across the chest/arm area. She could still technically wear some of her pants that are 6 - 12 months. She still has a black pair. Now, however, they fit her like short capri leggings. The other pants just look odd, so I had to get rid of them.


Finally, here's proof of T's budding photography skills. Now, to get her to stand still for a picture, I have to bribe her by offering to let her take a picture, too.

Crazy Hair

Guess who loves to take a bath? It also gives me a glimpse of what T would look like if she got ahold of my hairspray can.

She just looked at the computer and asked, "Is that Me?" She then started cracking up when I said yes.

"That's funny," she says.

That Doggie is eating the Panties

So I'm busy on the computer and T is busy playing in the living room with the Shrek backpack that's filled with our swim stuff. Suddenly, I hear her saying over and over again, "Mama, the doggie is eating the panties. " Huh?

I look over, and T is very concerned about the picture on the coppertone sunscreen stick. Yes, baby, the doggie is eating the panties. To which T replies, "I don't like that doggie. I see the girl booty". Now, where she learned the term booty, I'll never know, as that's not a word I EVER use.

Meanwhile, today was my first day back at work, and I loved it! Tomorrow, it will be my first whole day back. Yippee!!!

Commuting in China

And you thought you had a tough commute....



Thank you, Manny, for this hilarious video

Water Play

We had lots of fun today. After Aunt Dot was liberated and went back home, we headed out to Target. That's the best place for me to shop b/c they have electric scooters with a basket on the front. I can ride around the store to my heart's content, with T standing between my legs. I can even ride it outside to my car...so no carrying heavy packages and trying to walk with my cane and keep track of T all at the same time.

Anyway, I broke down and got T a blowup pool. Not the big one I was speaking of a week ago, but a small, blow-up one. We dragged out her water table and a sprinkler, and she had the time of her life in the backyard playing.

I took the opportunity to soak my bad foot in the cold water, in hopes that it would help decrease the swelling. T thought it was lots of fun to pour water on it, to help along the process.

That's all for now. Tomorrow is a big day...by first day returning to work. I'm so excited I can't stand it!