Gene Simmons has nothing on this girl

In honor of G. G.'s birthday I wanted to make sure we took a family photo. I knew the party on her actual birthday would be too hectic so I brought my camera (with a remote shutter) to my in-laws for Sunday dinner. When Kevin's family gets in front of a camera least one of us has their eyes closed or looks like they are about to sneeze but on Sunday I took what I consider to be the best family photo to date. Everyone is happy and smiling, even 15 month old Lydia.


But wait, did you see Madeline? Let me zoom in for you...










Oh wait, that is Gene Simmons from KISS. My mistake.

Here...


Yep, that's my sweet heart all right.

Of my two children common sense tells me that it would be harder to get a 15 month old to smile for a camera. Especially an un-manned camera as we used a remote shutter control so NO ONE was standing on the opposite side of the room. Essentially my 15 month old is smiling at nothing and I get this...


Oh where did I go wrong?

And does it end there? Of course not. There are quite a few photos where Madeline looks like this...


and Lydia looks like this...


There is only ONE photo where Lydia isn't looking at the camera with the big cheesy grin on her face...


And did you notice Madeline?

There's my angel.

Any one know how to photo shop this...


Into this...


Good grief.

Madeline looks like...

Photos of Madeline taken today:

Who do you think her celebrity look a like is?

The headbands are in the same place and the hair is about the same length but I'd say we can do better than Luke Wilson from The Royal Tennenbaums.


Ok, I think I took a step in the wrong direction. So very, very wrong.



There it is...


The resemblance is uncanny!

Don't you think?

Hope you are all enjoying your long weekends. We've been having a blast so far. I'm going to need another weekend to recover (and so is my house!)

mg

Motherly guilt

Are my children making me feel guilty you ask? Absolutely not (yet).

My main source of guilt is my mother*.

I don't have much time for this blog. That is upsetting to me, but with two kiddos I don't have a lot of free time in my day. Once the girlies are in bed** I have just enough time to catch up on work around the house that didn't get done during the day and have a 5 minute conversation with Kevin before he falls asleep. (Can I mention that he gets up most days at 3:50am so I am in NO WAY upset when he falls asleep early at night...)

It has already been established that showering is one thing I have sacrificed to motherhood. This blog is another. Is spending time raising her grand daughters enough for my mother? No. She wants timely photographic proof. So prepare to be overloaded. Her latest request?

Funny photos of Lydia.

Dec 9- Lydia channels Uncle Fester.

Jan 5- what? Eventually I'll have to feed myself? No fair.

Jan 7- what chew talkin' 'bout Granny?

Jan 9

Jan 16

Jan 11- put em up... put em up!

Jan 20- could I be any cuter?

Jan 31

So Mom,

You're welcome. Now get off my case.

Love you.

M

__________
*I love my mother. A lot. Did I mention that before? I mean, A lot!

**which I don't want to jinx because they have both been going to bed at about the same time each night and I really am enjoying a little more of my night back for the first time in 6 months.***

*** do you remember that even before I had Lydia Madeline was like a jack in the box at bed time for months? Yep. Glad that happy fun time has come to an end.

mg

Funny little things

Madeline applies the weirdest inflections on words. 90% of the time she says mother but just the other day she started saying 'mudder' instead. My mom has a bunch of examples, because she finds it totally adorable. Not that I don't, I just don't have the brain space for that right now. Maybe in a few months...

Today, on the way to our local grocery establishment,* however I captured Madeline as she found her inner Carol Channing.




__________

*I have been in no way sponsored by this grocery store chain. It is just that her inner Carol is "Channeled"** when shopping here!

** How punny I mean funny am I?

mg

Madeline hulks out

hulk out \'hǝlk aǔt\ vb : to get so freaking mad you turn green and rip stuff up

Sorry the photo is so fuzzy. Her rage made the whole house shake.

I guess in Madeline's case you just cover yourself in green icing and get so freaking cute you make your parents go mad. Hulking out, in both cases, is quickly followed by a bath.

mg

Worlds best

Bed Head

Isn't this the worlds cutest case of bed head EVER?!?!? Oh, how I want to eat* those cheeks up!!!

Its time for Celebrity look-a-likes, Madeline Edition!

Her hair totally reminds me of this:

Or maybe this:
You tell me.

*What is it about parent hood that turns you into a totally weirdo? Are there hormones released during birth, or was I crazy to start?

mg

H. A. double L. O. W. double E. N.

Spells Halloween!

Does anyone else remember that song? Kevin and I both have memories of listening to that song on a record (like real vinyl people) when we were in grade school. And we only know the one line... but it is the best one. **update: I found this site with the song and lyrics!!! You have to get to about the minute mark before the words start! Any who,

I wanted to post more photos from our Halloween! What a great day it has been. There are so many things about Halloween that make me happy. First, my 1st muse for Madeline's costume.

Travelocity anyone?

I bought this wreath on clearance two years ago. It makes me happier than anyone will ever know. The next time I have a bad day I might just go pet it b/c that is sure to make me at least 30% happier!

Muse #2- This is my garden gnome. I blogged about him here. He still doesn't have a name. What about Gerard? Or Morton? He sure is happy though isn't he? Although I don't have a photo of this, my third muse is my garden gnome jammies by Nick and Nora. I wore them tonight, but alas no photos! I think I might like gnomes a little more than I thought.

And b/c no self respecting gnome can go with out her satchel, I made this one just for our little gnome. And you thought the costume was adorable!

Just in case you didn't think I was super mom yet, I baked and decorated cup cakes. They are the yummiest pumpkins on the block!

And now for the main event:

The Garden Gnome, in our garden!

Next to our wonderful jack-o-lanterns! Which have only been lit for a few minutes b/c we were not home!

We had a visitor stop in to say hi today.

Wait, where is Waldo?

OH, there's Waldo! (aka, my brother Elliot)

Madeline wasn't fooled. She found him right away. That might be b/c he wasn't at the circus, or on the beach, or the train station, or an amusement park, or a baseball game, or...

mg

Worlds Cutest Cards fan

Madeline or Popeye?

"Augg gug gug gug"

Hello, cutest little girl ever!

mg

It isn't easy being this cute.

March 12- Can you guess who I look like today?

mg

Our own (Miss) Freddy Mercury

Before bed mom and dad get creative with my wardrobe. This week we played celebrity look-a-like. Sorry for the bopp-oo (our word for pacifier) in my mouth. I was really tired and just about to get into bed.

And make sure you vote in the poll on the right of the page.* We want to hear who you think I look like!

Madeline rockin' out with her bopp-oo and Jammie-Jams.

Freddy Mercury, rockin' out with a mic and spandex!!

Although the look is also sort of Elvis...

Freddy is much more rock and roll!

*Poll results:
The 16 total votes broke down like this:
6 votes (37%) for Maddy is Freddy Mercury all the way.
5 votes (31%) for Maddy is a hound dog just like Elvis.
2 votes (12%) for I have no idea what you are talking about.
4 votes (25%) for Don't you two have anything better to do?

mg