Feliz Cumpleanos

A year ago today we ended Baby Watch 2010 when an miniature version of My BMF entered this world. It's hard to believe it's been a year since I held that little girl in my arms for the 1st time.

With the knowledge that a 1 year old really has no idea that their birthday is actually their birthday and the large amount of toys and clothes she already has due to being surrounded by friends and family who can't resist buying adorable things for an adorable little girl I thought I would take a different route with her 1st birthday gift....

With all the playing I've been doing on Pintrest I stumbled upon this amazingly cute idea and decided making 10 tiny polaroid magnets of the prettiest girl I know over the past YEAR (still can't believe it) of her life would be something her parents could enjoy and something, maybe one day when she old enough to understand, she will look at and think of me and just how much I've loved her cute little butt since she was born.

In case you're looking to mimic this idea, it has some great instructions but I made some minor changes to suit my needs, such as using a spray on gloss sealant as opposed to scotch tape to cover the magnets and using a little super glue to make sure the magnets stayed on for the long haul. The end result.....



Happy birthday Little A! All of mine

I am A.J.

Its been three weeks since Little A opened her big (perhaps) blue eyes and joined us here in the world outside her momma's belly. You know I actually received several congrats on becoming an Aunt. I'm not really sure if people think I actually had anything to do with the baby being born, or that I put a lot of hard work into it, but I thanked them anyway.

After a week of Mommy, Daddy and AJ time to themselves I figured it was about time to go snuggle the tiniest member of my extended family....that was until two people in my office told me they had the pox. Adult chicken pox to be specific. I was under the belief that once you itched your ass off as a child you were forever free from a round two. I was wrong. Apparently adult chicken pox is hard to diagnose if it is round two for you and no doctor or health department would say you definitely had them, only that you might. They are apparently milder and look more like very tiny, hardly itchy bug bites. With this news and the discovery of some mildly itchy spots on my back, which very likely came from a camping trip the weekend prior but went unnoticed, I said my first out of hospital hello to little A from a distance of 10 feet and through the germ fighting barrier of a screened door. Better safe than sorry right???

After a quarantined week symptom free Little A and I finally got to have our faux hawks unite. After snuggling down in the rocking chair we took a bit to stare at how dangerously good looking the other is. Then we practiced saying our names "Aaaaaaaaa", I also let her know that I will qualify "Aaaaahhhhhh". Finally we had a nice discussion about how while in Aunt A's arms there will be no pukies and no poopies. We had a minor disagreement about the later. Being that Little A is not exactly talking she 'voiced' her disagreement with a shart. Its amazing how something so tiny, and so wonderfully perfect can make such a crude and disgusting noise and smell. I honestly felt her bottom half shake.

Later in the visit after Little A had her 50th meal of the day she started making what is known as 'poopie faces'. I guess when she normally makes this face a poop is on deck and its on its way out pronto. This poo however wasn't expedited so the baby was passed to me, as I apparently make the poopies come.

Couldn't I be the one who makes the baby stop crying?

My first reaction to her baby photo shoot...muy bonita. Second reaction....is she wearing lip gloss?!? (the answer was no, just naturally good looking)

Little A, Big World

Little A Rocking her First Faux Hawk!

Welcome to the world Little A! It seems as if we have been waiting for you forever. I know we've had some chats but I've probably sounded more like Charlie Brown's teacher (I know you won't get that reference because you're too young but someday you will watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and you'll be with me) than anything else while you were in your mom's belly. So... I thought I might start you off right with some words of wisdom, Aunt A style. I figure you'll probably be a follower on my blog pretty soon assuming you have inherited your moms big ol' dinosaur brains. Enjoy little one. All of mine.

When you drink way way way too much, and you will, (hopefully a long, long, long time from now) never eat one of your favorite foods, you will get sick and forever associate that food with that night and you will never want to eat it again.

While I think it’s right and true for one to pick their own political affiliation, I loved you before you were even born, and I want to carry that love for you for all of time. Thus, you are a democrat.

Your parents are not always going to be right, but when it comes to you they will be thinking with their hearts most of the time. Don’t wait until you are in your 20’s to realize what fantastic people they are.

Never start smoking, I know it looks cool and everything, but you’ll regret it later.

I know you’ll think he’s a big dork but your dad is one of the funniest and most charismatic people I’ve ever met. Take that from him and it will take you far in life, in work, in love, and in friendships.

Be a cat person.

Have your dad teach you how to change a tire yourself, and then have your mom teach you to bat your pretty eyes so you’ll never actually have to do it yourself.

Play a sport because you want to and because you love it, not because it’s what others want you to do. Aka- no matter what your dad (or mom) says you do not have to ride dirt bikes, or play lacrosse unless you love it.

Bitches be crazy.

Make mistakes, jump off roofs, and get dirty when you’re young enough for your heart to heal quickly, when you’re bones are still bendy, and when you still have your parents to wash your clothes for you.

What makes you different and maybe even weird as a kid will be what makes people think you are amazing as you become an adult. Embrace your differences; whether it’s your unique name, a tulip shaped nose, or your quirky laugh.

When you love someone tell them every chance you get.

Try to be happy 95% of the time. All but that 5% of the time you can find a silver lining, you might just have to look a bit harder than others are willing to.

Go away for college, preferably to the public Harvard of the midwest, just sayin' IU is a good choice no matter what your State loving mom says.

Top 10 Reasons Little A is taking her sweet time....

They call it a cone of uncertainty for a reason. Today officially puts Little A two days late. I’m patiently awaiting the birth of my very first niece, though I’m not so sure that My BMF and The Future Mrs. My BMF are waiting patiently, perhaps waiting in quite the opposite fashion. The nursery is ready, car seats have been properly installed by a well trained professional, and The Future Mrs. My BMF is looking a little weary from carrying around what appears to be an overinflated basketball in the front of her shirt. Although I’m practically a doctor and perfectly qualified to deliver should she decide to come in an emergency fashion at tonight’s softball game, I have no idea when Little A is actually going to show her pretty face to the world, what I do have are some theories on why she is taking her sweet time.

1. Her dad is super loud and she doesn’t want to hear him at full volume.
2. She hears those yappy dogs, and she is a cat person.
3. She doesn’t want to get left on the top of the car by her dad as he drives off from the hospital, it seems much safer in the confines of the tummy.
4. Due to a lack of motor function , general room to contort her body in such a small place, and hair product she is having a hard time styling her hair into a mini faux hawk for her first pictures. The vanity gene is pretty strong, or so I’ve heard.
5. Like her parents she arrives at a party that starts at 8pm at 10pm.
6. She realizes her mom is one of those cute pregnant moms, so she's just helping her stay pregnant a little longer.
7. She doesn't really like the color pink and she doesn't want to wear all those clothes in her closet.
8. She’s waiting for her mom to learn how to spell her name.
9. It is actually an overinflated basketball in The Future Mrs. My BMF’s shirt and we’ve all been duped.
10. For her name her parents have picked out a derivative of April, her to-be birth month, in Spanish (Abril), but she would prefer a derivative of May in Spanish (Mayo), like Mayonnaise, or Maybelline.