Valentine's Day Picks

I am a big fan of Valentine's Day.

I know some people say it is a holiday created by the greeting card companies to compel Americans to spend lots of money on cards, flowers, candy. But I like to think of it as more than quest by Hallmark for world domination.

I happen to love the color pink, flowers, cards, hearts, cookies shaped like hearts (after March 3) and candy (ditto). More than that, I think any day that reminds us to tell the people in our lives how much we love them is a good day in my book.

Without further ado, my Valentine's Day gift picks! Some of these I or the people in my life have and some are just things I think are nifty.

For the ladies 
Lululemon Scuba Hoodie in Paris Pink - Really anything from Lulu is a good idea and their Paris Pink color is perfect for Valentine's Day

Monogram Bracelet or Necklace

Reserve her some Toms Ballet Flats at Nordstrom - Trust me, this will make you a hero

Anything from Jo Malone - According to their website the last day for complimentary 2 day is Feb 10

For the gentlemen
Duluth Trading Company The Sprucer Upper Kit - Every man needs this

Toms Sunglassess  - Bonus! They give glasses to a child in need

A nice shave brush. Lots to choose from at Crabtree & Evelyn or  The Art of Shaving

A chambray shirt. JCrew even has one in red. Super Valentiney

For the kiddos
Have daddy bring his daughter(s) one flower for every year. For example, this year Lucy would get 3 daisies. Doesn't have to be an expensive flower. Each year they get one more. Sweet right? I think you have to set a cap on it. Maybe 24?

Books, always books!

Red or pink Converse or Toms

A gift certificate for something to do together. Such as cooking class, pottery painting or a putt putt.



So that's all folks. Take it or leave it, it's up to you. If you like any of these suggestions (ladies), you could say to your significant other (husband), "Did you know Maggie has a blog"? Then conveniently place your hand or piece of paper of the lower portion of the post.

It could work.

Lucy is 3 - A Proper Birthday Post

Birthday celebration at preschool

Life was crazy around Lucy's birthday and she did not get a proper birthday post. So here we go, take two!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucy!

Lucy's current favorite sayings:
How you get that? (Also, how she get that, how I get that, how Hayes get that)
I love your rings. (earrings)
That's beauuuuuutiful
It's gonna be tricky
Hold you
That would be terrible
Sometimes Hayes doesn't like to change he's diaper. (to anyone who will listen)
Right behind myself (I have no idea what this means. She says it all different times in different situations)
I was running so fast and I:
   ran into the table
   fell on the floor
   pinched my finger
   stepped on Hayes

Lucy's favorite foods:
Hummus and Pita
Cheese - the long kind (string) and the red kind (mini babybell)
Ice Cream (frozen yogurt)
Hambungers (you know what that is)
Chickens (Chick-fil-a)
Beans
Strawberries
Bananas

Lucy's favorite things to do:
Make cookies
Ride (walk) her scooter
Check the mail
Play in her kitchen
Go to school
Play at the park
Watch Little Einsteins

My favorite adjectives for Lucy:
Hilarious (girl is funny)
Active (oh so very active)
Determined
Loving
Beautiful

Some pics fromt he last year

Making Valentine's Day cookies

Chocolate!

Santa Ana Zoo with Daddy

Loves to get in Hayes' bed in the morning

Go Dynamo! 

Lucy and Hayes - Fall Portraits

Even all this cuteness couldn't help the Ags this year

I love you Lucy girl! 

Dad

On Saturday we said goodbye to my dad in a beautiful memorial service. I was so touched by how many people came to pay tribute. His service was standing room only and I am sure he would have been pleased to see that many of his friends in one place. There was an equal amount of crying and laughing, but much more than that there was love.

My brother and I both spoke and it was all I could do to get through my two minutes without breaking down. It took me a long time to decide what to say. Looking back there are things I wish I had added, but in the moment it was the best I could do. As my brother said during his speech, "How do you pay tribute to your dad with mere words? You can't".

This is what I said...

I remember very vividly that November night in 1999 when my parents called to tell me that my dad had cancer. I sunk down to the floor of my room in College Station and cried and cried. I remember wondering if he would be there to see me graduate from college or start my first job or walk me down the aisle or see me become a mother. At that moment, I honestly wasn't sure sure how to go on

But then, in typical Tommy fashion, he began to fight and together as family we moved on. I don't know why I ever had my doubts . He was, after all, the most competitive person I have ever met. He is the reason I can't play a card game "just for fun" or have to try to beat my time ever single run. I inherited it from him. And I have to say it is one of the finer qualities we share. 

Well that and our need to give everyone at least one nickname. I am sure he called half the people in this room by a name different than the one they were given. Drew and I realized a few months ago that our son Hayes didn't know his name because I called him too many things. My defense was, "take it up with my dad", I inherited it from him. 

One of the favorite things my Dad taught me, was to be spontaneous and enjoy every moment. It was in either 5th or 6th grade that we had a girl scout father daughter dance. Everything was great until my dad actually wanted to dance. I remember being so embarrassed. No one else was dancing. After a few minutes of watching me squrim. he said "Maggie darlin', we came to the party, we're gonna dance". And we did. And I had a blast. 

That is how my dad lived his life. 

He always wanted to make sure that everyone was having a great time. 

He took risks. 

He helped others. 

He loved his friends and is family fiercely.  

So now, I would like to thank him. 

Dad, 

Thank you for buying us a puppy, even though mom was out of town. 

Thank you for teaching me how to shoot a basketball. 

Thank you for understanding that the Reebok Pump Shoes were essential. 

Thank you for standing in the Toyota dealership parking lot for 2 hours while I decided between a blue and black car. 

Thank you for being the cool dad that always had the best music. 

Thank you for listening to me talk and talk and talk and talk. 

Thank you for always calling me back. 

Thank you for loving Drew.

Thank you for walking me down the aisle. 

Thank you for not wearing your tan fringe jacket to our wedding. 

Thank you for our wedding. It was perfect. 

Thank you for flying to Long Beach to help when I was on bed rest even though you really didn't have the strength to do so. 

Thank you for adoring my children. 

Thank you for opening your heart to faith. 

Thank you for fighting so hard, for so long. 

I miss you so much, sometimes it is hard to breathe. 

The last few days several people have said, "you know you were daddy's little girl". I do know, and I still am. 

I love you dad. 

I'm Back and Sugar Free

at least I will be starting tomorrow.

I am back. The last few weeks have been...well, I don't know how to describe them. Most of you know that my dad died last Friday, January 27, after a 12-year battle with cancer. I will write about it, just not now. I'm not quite ready.

So instead I will write about my newest goal - to be sugar free for one month. Starting tomorrow, February 3 until I run The Woodlands Half Marathon on March 3 (It's sold out, folks) I will stay away from refined sugar. I am not talking about the sugar that natural occurs in foods, like fruit.

I am talking about cake, cookies, candy, ice cream, fro yo...wait a minute...my resolve is wavering. Don't take my fro yo! Why would you do that to me? Why do you hate me? Why? Why? Argh, the humanity.

Get it together Maggie.

It's only an iced cookie.

From Paulie's.

In the shape of a heart.

With sprinkles.

drool...

Snap out of it sister!

Please excuse the internal battle that just happened.

I am also going to steer clear of artificial sweeteners. Bye bye Splenda. Bye Bye Diet Coke.

I know that most of you think this is a bit nutty. I personally know 2 dietitians (who shall remain nameless, let's just say I am related to them by marriage) that might tell me "everything in moderation". But I am an all or nothing kind of gal. If Swedish Fish are at all on the table than they are ALL in my belly.

Why blog about it? Accountability, my people! Feel free to check in every once in a while to see how my quest is going.

I am excited to see how my body feels and see if it affects my running.

Special thanks to a former A&M classmate for blogging about her journey and inspiring me to take the challenge.

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucy!

Happy Birthday Lucy!

It is such a joy to be your mommy.

I love you to the moon and back. (and back again)

Hayes "The Rock" Dean

Have you seen those darling Huggies commercials for their new slip on diapers? You know the one where the cute baby is crawling his naked little booty away from mom and all the while she is looking at him with an , "aw shucks that little whippersnaper is at it again" look on her face? Have you? Aren't they just darling? Warms the heart.

Well now, if you will, please picture that same scene with a baby with a doodie booty. Named Hayes.

And a mom with, "I am going to put my finger in my eye if he does this again, "look on her face. Named Maggie.

As previously stated, Hayes does not like to have his diaper changed. At all. Not one bit. At all.

He has this WWE move that he does which goes something like this:

Scream

Flail arms

Press shoulders into ground

Arch back

Arch back more

Twist torso

Wave dirty booty in mommy's face in an attempt to distract her with the smell

Scream

Flip

Shimmy

Scoot Away

Keep in mind I am holding both of his ankles with one hand and attempting to clean him with the other. It would actually be mighty impressive if it weren't so flippin', flappin' infuriating.

This morning Hayes had an extra special diaper and I could tell before we even got started that the changing session was going to be a doozy. I got all my supplies, handed him a toy and called Lucy in for reinforcements.

10 minutes later the diaper was changed. I was sweating, Hayes was crying, and Lucy was still singing "row, row, row your boat" at the top of her lungs in an effort to calm him.

Oh, and I have a pulled muscle in my neck/shoulder/upper back region. I am not even sure at what point during the fracas (n. a noisy quarrel; brawl) I incurred the injury. All I know is that it hurts to turn my neck to the right. Or to the left. Or look down .

So thanks Huggies for the suggestion of the slip on diaper. I appreciate your input. Really, I do. But now, if you can make yourself useful and invent something for the mom of a future professional wrestler that would be the bee's knees.

It's either that or I am sending Hayes and his dirty booty straight to your doorstep.

"Do you smell what the Hayes is cooking"?*

Too graphic? Sorry, but it couldn't be helped.

*For all those who have no idea what that means, ask you your husband or son. Or just google it, for Pete's sake.

Hayes - 11 Months

Hayes-man is 11 months today and I am almost certain he said "hi" to me this morning. Maybe. It was either "hi" or"ahhhhh" or "heeeeeeee". It's really hard to tell, honestly. But I am going to choose to believe.

Hayes' specialty is arching his back to avoid doing something he doesn't want to so.

Eat a bottle? Back arch.

Take a bath? Back arch?

Sit in high chair, car seat, or exersaucer (so mommy can take a shower, for the love of Pete)?

Back arch.

Back arch.

Back arch.

He prefers feeding himself - both bottle and table food.

He equally loves waffles and steamed carrots. Weirdo.

Hayes' favorite pastime, except for arching his back, is banging on everything! He especially loves his tom tom drum and my parents' glass coffee table.

The next time I write one of these posts it will be for his first birthday. Where did the year go?

Hayes enjoying some pancakes, diaper baby style.