Button Goes to School

The day I waited a year for finally arrived last Tuesday - the beginning of Mother's Day Out 2009-10. Last year Morgan didn't qualify for MDO because she missed the age cutoff by 12 days ... a fate which will likely follow her her entire school career (sucks being a September baby someimtes). Needless to say, I was beyond stoked a month ago when it was announced that MDO would be starting a few weeks earlier than anticipated and even more elated when that day made its long-awaited arrival last week. I was one giddy mommy last week as I dropped off Morgan for her first day. I'm sure my smile was so wide I could've been in a toothpaste commercial.

Now before you go berating me for not being sad over my daughter's first day of "school" or wanting a few hours away from her, let me just remind you that the program is called Mothers Day Out - not Kids Day Out. So yeah, in a way, it's all about me :) But honestly I feel that my entire family ... and potentially all those in my little life ... benefit from this lady feeling happy, refreshed, and well-rested. I'm pretty sure my other stay-at-home mom friends will back me up on this.

But alas, it isn't all about me. I really am excited for Morgan to have social time around other kids her age as well as be in a structured environment where she can both learn and have fun. She now has two weeks under her belt. Her teacher's comments so far have ranged from "She's a good eater" to "She loves to dance" to "She might speak Spanish" (because Morgan mimics EVERYTHING anyone says and the teacher has to speak Spanish to one of the other students). One thing she hasn't mastered yet is the nap time concept. I'm sure napping on the floor with seven other kids might be a bit distracting. But at this point I don't mind because it means I score an additional two hours of quiet time while she naps once she gets home.

I know she's settling in though. This morning when I dropped her off, she went straight to the table to color, turned to me and said "Bye", and set off to her crayons letting me leave with no show of sadness or fear. On the flip side, I have begun to love returning to pick her up in the afternoons because she is always so excited to see me. What a great feeling.

I already wonder if her teacher knows what a gem she's dealing with in my daughter, but then I'm a little biased. And so begins the next sixteen years of schooling...

Morgan's first First Day of School picture ever.

A few nerves for Morgan and Annabelle -
both expressed by sucking on their fingers.

Morgan next to the ladybug with her name on it.

A hug goodbye for Mom.

My lipstick says I need to see a therapist

I can tell you that all my lipstick-wearing life (which actually only started in college {cringe}) I have been subject to comments, laughs, and ridicule for the shape of my lipstick. It's done me such emotional damage that I've tried to "fix" the way I apply my "Mulberry Bush" by Jane. But alas, said attempts have all been efforts in futility.

So when I see this chart (below) about what one's lipstick says about their personality, I can only come to one conclusion ... that I'm crazy. Or that the beauty magazines have run out of fodder to print. The closest I come to any stick shape on this chart of "theirs" is the Sharp Angles, Both Sides. And I agree I'm spiritual, curious, and love life, but I beg to differ that I have a big ego, seek attention, or am in any way mysterious (don't I wish).

In fact, there is a method to my application madness. I use my lipstick under the simple concepts of minimum waste and maximum utility. Therefore, when I apply, I try to make one wide stroke to cover my entire lip instead of making several smaller passes. As a result I think I use up a large amount of surface area on the stick creating a harsh slope. Once the initial slope is established, I rotate the stick to start using it from the opposite side so that I don't waste a perfectly good, unused side. This creates a funky looking point. It is here my minimum waste mentality is confronted by the problematic structural integrity of my lipstick's fragile point. This point eventually breaks off mid-application leaving me frustrated and having to start the process over :(

What do you think... Am I certifiable? What do you think my lipstick says about me? Have you ever seen someone whose lipstick looks stranger than mine? What does your lipstick say about you?

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Slant close to original shape

Abides by the rules, Great follower, Doesn’t like too much attention, A little self-conscious, Reserved, Schedule driven, May occasionally want to attract, Attention: dye hair, new outfits.

Rounded tip to a point

Loveable, Family oriented, domestic, A “doer”, Stubborn over little things, Exaggerates, Needs people around.

Rounded smooth tip

Easy-going, Peacemaker, Even tempered, Steady, Likeable, Generous.

Flat top

To the point, High morals, Very dependable, Quick minded, Loves challenges, Careful about appearances.

Sharp angle tip

Opinionated, High-spirited, Dislikes schedules, Selective of friends, Outgoing likes attention, Argumentative.

Flat top concave

A great detective, Make friends easily, Inquisitive, Adventurous, Complex, Exciting.

Sharp angled box curved tip

Creative, Enthusiastic, Energetic, Talkative, Loves attention, Falls in love easily, Helpful.

Sharp angles both sides

Spiritual, Curious, Seeks attention, Mysterious, Loves life, Big ego.

What I Love About Summer

Summer just has such a special essence about it - one that I think kids just breath in the moment they wake up and fuels them through each day. I have such fond memories of summer days when I was a child, but as I grew older, summers lost a bit of their glimmer as the time was filled with employment or studying. Thankfully, having a child of my own has revived my senses to summer's essence. And how sweet it is to savor the joy anew with Morgan. Even sweeter still to present her with some of the quintessential summer experiences, like...

POOLS!

POPSICLES (WHILE IN THE POOL, OF COURSE!)

SPRINKLERS PLAYED LIKE A HARP

SPRINKLERS USED AS A WATER GUN

DRINKING FROM THE HOSE

ICE CREAM

What We've Been Up To...

Now let me explain what I/we've been up to during my prolonged silence...

Memorial Day weekend: My brother-in-law Matt surprised my sister Steph with a trip here for her birthday. Of course, my sweet niece Maddie (who is four months younger than Morgan) came along. Despite the above picture of toddlers-being-toddlers, the girls had a great time together, and Jonathan & I had a great time with Steph & Matt. We even had a kid-free double date where we went to Wildfish (pricey but really yummy - and this comes from a non-fish eater) and watched Terminator: Salvation. Definitely a memorable weekend that we hope we don't have to wait another two to three years for ;)

Two weeks later: Dad and Mom came down to visit. It's always great to get to spend time with my folks as we don't see them near as often as I like. And now that Morgan is getting bigger, it's even more important to me that Morgan knows her grandparents. While they were here, we visited the President Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch in Johnson City which was free and totally worthwhile. Mom also installed a swing in the backyard for Morgan, and Dad helped Jonathan lay more than 100 pieces of sod. Beyond that, we did a lot of just hanging out together and visiting. It was great. I felt spoiled after having family come twice in three weeks time.


Herbener Family Reunion/Fourth of July: We saw lots of out of town family over Father's Day weekend for a family reunion and the Fourth of July. Morgan became particularly enamored with Jonathan's Uncle Tom (who married us) and Aunt Kay, now known by Morgan as Tom-Tom and Kay-Kay. We're glad they live up in Arlington so they aren't as far away as some of the rest of the family. In fact, we are already contemplating going up to be with them in the fall (as well as catching a Texas A&M game at the new Cowboy stadium).


Visit with Aunt Jenny: Last sumer Jen & I (and Morgan) got together once a month during her summer break. Unfortunately, this last week was the first we were able to get together this summer. As Morgan is older this summer than last, she was able to more fully comprehend just how "special" it is to have time with her Aunt. They read Morgan's recent favorite book (several times), and Aunt Jenny gave Morgan her own private piano lessons. It was so cute to hear Morgan say "Play again Jenny" and "Read Jenny." I grew up with awesome aunts so I'm really glad Morgan is building relationships with hers.

In addition to these things, we have made a few trips to Fredericksburg on weekends, joined the gym and started going three times a week, caught a summer flu bug, volunteered for a week of VBS at our church, and crammed in some CLE and playdates in between it all. Summer fun... Whew, I need a vacation!

Father's Day Photos

Yes, yes, I'm aware that it's been quite awhile, but hey, here I am so give me a bit of a break please :) Again, if you really want to keep tabs on me, I would strongly encourage you to sign up on Facebook.

I thought I'd share with you Morgan's latest pictures taken for Father's Day. At that time, she was 1 year and 9 months old. So as you can calculate, that puts here on the fast-track toward the Treasured Two's. I hope we're ready!

Summertime Ritual #2

Popsicles. Enough said.

Granted for now it's just Pop Ice, but we have to start small (and relatively clean) before graduating on to the real thing - Bomb Pops or Itzakadoozies. No surprise the popsicle was a hit with Morgan.

Also, before you go reporting me, the girl is next-to-naked only because I expected a much larger mess. And because I followed up the popsicle with another frolic in the hose. Good times. Makes me wanna be a kid again too -- oh wait, I get the joy of living it through Morgan. Thank you Lord.

I'm pretty sure I have the cutest kid ever. (No offense to your kid who I'm sure is just cheek-pinching adorable as well.)

Summer is here!

Now that the thermometer is consistently registering in the 90s and our grass is nearly crispy-fried, I have to relent and admit that San Antonio's six months of summer have arrived. The Midwesterner in me really does try to pretend it isn't here for as long as possible, but there's no denying this sweltering heat anymore. Jonathan even knew I had given in when he came home a few weeks ago and said to Morgan, "Wow, Mommy's wearing shorts. I haven't seen that in awhile." So it's time to stock up on sunscreen, tank tops, and deodorant ... lots of deodorant.

This will be the first summer Morgan is actually old enough to enjoy summer and all its richness. I am going to try to fulfill as many of those required childhood summertime "must's" as I can -- though maybe not all this year. She checked the first one off her list last week - playing in and drinking from the hose. While I was watering flowers, Morgan couldn't keep herself from the appeal of the hose. Although I initially tried to keep her from getting wet, she would not be deterred and I consented to the summertime ritual. She and the dog had a fabulous time drenching themselves in the cold water. I couldn't help but smile and take it all in.

So Jonathan chose a camera angle that makes it
look like I'm urinating in this one. Excellent...