The Chef Family

Beach Babes Preppin' for Jamaica

2012-02-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

Top of the class with these beach babes. haha. Little O is actually starting to lose her baby chub, but her belly chub is still as cute as can be.

We're headed to Jamaica on a family vacation and I'm hunting down cute bathing suits and dresses for the girls.

The sun, the beach, the fun ~ we can't wait!

Happy 1st Birthday, Little O!

2012-02-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet, little O! This has been such a fast year and you have grown so big. One already? You have the sweetest personality, hate long naps, still love your bottle (we're working on that), have super thick semi-curly hair, in the early stages of walking and taking about 10 steps, love your big sister, food is probably your favorite part of the day, you are still wearing your helmet, forward facing in the carseat now, you weight about 26 lbs and are a constant arm workout, wear a size 5 shoe (your big sister only wore a size 3 on her 1st bday), and we couldn't love you anymore.

LOVE you, sweet girl!

11-Months

2012-01-23T11:40:00.000-08:00

A little behind on posting this ... Little O is getting ready to celebrate her birthday. No party for this little chicka this year. We're keeping things low key, with just our little family and a few friends over for dinner, but will definitely let her indulge in a cupcake.

She's also, WALKING! Big step for her this month.

It's a CRAZY Life

2012-01-20T07:37:00.001-08:00

Life has been a little crazy for the Chef family lately. No updates, crazy schedules, crazy life. Just plain busy and lots of things going on. We are still alive and doing well. Rain finally hit our area and it's wonderful. We had visitors for a week and now we're finally getting back to normal. Updates soon. I promise.

Mandarin Farm Field Trip

2012-01-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

Being the co-president of the Moms Club this year, I've had the opportunity to plan many fun field trips for the kiddos. During Christmas break, I planned a trip to a local mandarin farm in our town. The group was rather small, due to the timing and during the holiday break, but the kiddos had a blast!

They ran around the farm, picked goodies from the organic garden, and helped sort the mandarins into little sleeves. The best part - a sleeve of mandarins to take home. So fun!

A Little Belated Christmas Celebration

2012-01-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

Although Christmas seems so very long ago, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the big celebration. The girls had a blast! Santa was so 'real' this year for Miss A and Little O just loved the paper and trying to steal the new toys and prizes Miss A received from friends and family.

A few pictures to capture our day.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone! Still catching up on Christmas holiday posts, so here's one to enjoy for the new year. I attempted a movie night the other day with the girls in the afternoon so I could get a few things cleaned up around the kitchen. Miss A could sit all day in front of a tv if I let her, Little O ... not so much. I gave her a huge bowl of cheerios (big sized for her) and she just loved it! Then her big sister became more interesting and we were done.

They have been playing so well with eachother these days, makes life so much easier!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Eve was quiet, simple, with just our little family this year. We went to church, toured around to see a few Christmas lights, then back home for dinner, and opening one gift - pajamas. The anticipation of the evening was intense this year. Ava could barely contain herself throughout the day, all in anticipation of S-A-N-T-A.

After opening our pajamas, the girls headed outside to sprinkle the "Magic Reindeer Food." Never heard of it? (me either, it was a first for me this year). It was a combination of oatmeal and glitter that Miss A made in preschool and attached was a poem, that read:

Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn,
On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn.
The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way
And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!

After sprinkling ALL OVER THE LAWN we headed back inside for our cookies, carrots, and milk plate for Santa. I had on a really cool, new dress ... and we didn't manage an entire family picture on Christmas Eve. The evening was just too rushed and it was more important that the kiddos enjoyed the evening than trying to snap a family picture. Next year, right?

After the carrots, milk, and cookies for Santa and the Reindeer ~ it was bedtime. Miss A crashed and went right to sleep, as did Little O. They both slept until 7:00 am the next morning ... when Christmas arrived.

Little O - 10 Months Old

2011-12-26T04:56:00.000-08:00

A little old to getting around to post this, Little O is 10 months old. As active as can be, she is all over the place. I honestly can't believe she isn't walking by now, but she's still hovering around and talking along furniture, tables, etc. She has taken a few unassisted steps towards her daddy and sister, although we still have awhile before walking. She is so tall, that when on her feet, she is still a little wobbly. We are working on it. She wears size 4 diapers, and has for a long time. She eats like crazy and wants to eat all the time. Her bottle size has decreased and I'm getting ready to prep her for cow's milk and soley sippy cups. We finally found a great cup that she loves - green sprouts straw cup - and she's a pro!!!

Hard to believe my baby is 10-months-old. Time flies.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T21:33:00.001-08:00

From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas!!!!!

The Chef family hopes Santa treats each and everyone of you well and that you remember the real reason for celebration this year, too.

Christmas Vacation - Griswold Family Style

2011-12-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

A casual Christmas lights tour proved to be more than we bargained for tonight. A house had a full Christmas Vacation ensemble with Cousin Eddie and his fabulous rv. Couldn't get any better!

Apparently the shi%ter was full again.

Pebble Creek neighborhood in Rocklin had an amazing one-mile walking tour of house after house that was tastefully (or not so much) decorated with lights and accessories. We joined up with some friends and the kiddos had a blast looking at the lights and seeing the houses all festive and decorated.

Oh This Little Lady with Toofers!

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

She has teeth. Oh my does she have teeth. They all popped out in a funny pattern and she's still missing one on the bottom to balance things out.

Horrible picture, but I finally snapped one of ALL HER TEETH! I can't believe she's 10 months and is quickly approaching a mouthful of pearly whites.

Preschool Christmas Program

2011-12-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

Miss A knows how to rock a Christmas program ~ and in her cowgirl boots, too! Yeah haw! She selected this outfit, fit with a pair of her favorite boots. This dress, a royal favorite (and last years' xmas dress) and she can't seem to go a day without wearing this red beauty.

A Christmas performance with three songs, a sugar cone (tree) decorating activity, and a book exchange, this program was a treat by all.

Two weeks off for the holiday break and we already have lots of playdates scheduled and a few fun family events as well.

The Sickies

2011-12-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

We'd had the cold bug swoop through our house these last few weeks. No fun at all. The Sous Chef, myself, was sick during Thanksgiving, Miss A shortly after that, and now poor Little O. It really hit her hard.

Looking cute and festive in her trumpette tights, red pedipeds (one shoe on, one shoe off), red dress ... she couldn't quite last long enough with her toys without falling asleep.

Poor thing.

I took her to the doctor on Wednesday and found out, in addition to the congestion, cold, cough, she also has an ear infection. She's been a crying mess these last few days and I haven't been able to get anything done around the house. I'm hoping the antibiotics kick in and do their job.

The Dynamic Duo on Santa's Lap

2011-12-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

A picture is worth a thousand words. Isn't that how the saying goes? Here's a picture for the photo albums. Nothing says "Christmas Joy" more than a screaming kid on Santa's lap, right?

Well ... here it is.

Christmas Magic

2011-12-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Isn't that the truth.

The magic of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas. This picture tells and shows it all.

Miss A, day dreaming with Santa. A special list, her list, wrapped tightly in his hands and a smile so big, it brings tears to your eyes. Can you just feel the magic of Christmas?

On her list - Barbie bike and Rapunzel dress. Hand written and picked out just for Santa, if you look closely, the visible part of the note says, "Ava and Santa." For her little sister, she told Santa Little O wants a book.

Three consecutive years in a row, the Chef family makes our annual appearance at our clubhouse Christmas Event. It has become a tradition for us. This year, Miss A, wouldn't even visit with Santa anywhere else. Just the clubhouse. It's her special time with Santa and I would trade it for the world.

I always remember Christmas being so special. A time to be together, a time with family, a time to remember, and a time for memories. The memories I had. My brother and I would sneak down the hall, in the early hours of the morning, sorting and arranging our gifts. We did this year after year. Our parents were both sound asleep, as was our little sister. We always worried Santa wouldn't arrive, but everytime we managed to sneak out to the living room to check if he made his appearance, the presents were already under our tree, the stockings full.

It's little things, like our annual clubhouse Christmas Event with Santa, that bring a sparkle to a 3-year-old's eyes during the holiday season. Anything to create a special memory for our girls as well.

Christmas is a special time and the spirit and magic in believing makes Christmas even that more special.

I've Had ENOUGH!

2011-12-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

Poor Little O .... she's done! She's not feeling well, a yucky cold, and she's had enough. This is also a highlight of how a string of photos went in attempting to snap a Christmas card photo. Yeah, not so much. Let's just say I'm still working on them.

New Helmet

2011-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

The plagiocephaly correction helmet continues. I honestly can't even remember if I've posted a new picture of Little O's new helmet. Butterflies this time. At her last helmet appointment there was no change, no growth, and no improvement. Her appetite has slowed down tremendously, thus, no growth spurt. I honestly think it's the first time in this little ladies' life that she hasn't grown.

A Mini Vacation

2011-12-05T20:56:00.000-08:00

The Iron Chef and I escaped town ... well ... for a few days. We headed to the coast for some fun. The hubby had his work Christmas Party in San Francisco and we worked our trip around that function. We drank too much, ate too much, and had a great time. It was a well needed trip away from our kiddos. Love them to death, but time away is always a great thing - on both ends.

We started off the trip with our second visit to the beautiful 17-mile-drive. We went to the majority of the stops, grabbed lunch at Pebble Beach, and ended our day with scenic views of Carmel Beach, which is amazing! And, of course, the end to the end ... happy hour.

Day 2 included driving along Highway 1. The California coast is amazing, breathtaking, and the drive is crazy! It will definitely make a motion sickness person not feel well ... but worth a drive. Hearst Castle - check! Sunset on the ocean - check! Another enjoyable day.

After our adventures on the coast, we headed up to San Francisco for the Iron Chef's Christmas Party, which was held on a private yacht. We toured around the San Fran bay, enjoying the beautiful skyline lit up with holiday lights. Definitely a creative way to see the city at night. Before our big celebration we walked the Golden Gate Bridge and toured Alcatrez. Alcatrez was definitely one of my favorites on this trip. Great information, eery information. Hard to believe this was a working prison several years ago.

Next up --- Jamaica --- and we can't wait!

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

2011-12-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

Happy 60th Birthday to one of my favorites, my dad. Such an inspiration, always providing, and loving unconditionally. Thanks for everything dad, you've been an inspiration to me ever since I could remember. Cheers to your 60th year and the many years that have yet to come. I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday, Dad.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

The tree is up, the decorations are hung. I'm adding a few "extra" jazz to areas this year. I snapped a few pictures the other day only to realize pictures of xmas decorations just don't do justice.

Vacation with the Iron Chef

2011-12-04T07:58:00.001-08:00

The Iron Chef and I took a well needed, well deserved mini vacation and here's a quick snapshot of one of our stops along the way.

Happy 30th Birthday, Iron Chef

2011-11-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

The Iron Chef officially turned 30 last week. Wowzer! Can't believe he's already 30 and I'm quickly approaching.

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

2011-11-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Classic books create classic lines. I love this one and had to share. This is exactly, to a 'T' how I feel my life has been these days. For example, the play room was a DISASTER. Miss A, in a serious face, turns and looks at me and replies, "Mommy, it's not messy in here at all." I'm trying to clean and get ready for the holidays. I take two steps forward and ten steps backwards. My life these days ...

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Hair Scare!

2011-11-14T21:03:00.001-08:00

This little chicka has hair that is OUT OF CONTROL! Seriously. Pictures prove it. If anyone knows some good baby hair products out there, I need to know asap. She'll need major help in this area. But, I love her dearly, hair and all! Looks like she's wearing a wig in some of the snapshots.

Prepping for Winter

2011-11-14T06:01:00.000-08:00

We pulled out the warm hats last week. Brrrrrrr, it was COLD here! Miss A and Little O are almost ready for the cold weather. Miss A needs more long sleeve dresses. She is a dress girl all the way and the short sleeve dresses just aren't going to cut it, although she'd like to wear them out the door. As for hats, mits, we are ready!f

Two Funny Videos of Little O

2011-11-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

Little O's crazy tongue talking. She babbles all the time and this is one of her funny voice babblings.

She is definitely moving ALL OVER THE PLACE! It's crazy how quickly she moves.

We Had a Visitor

2011-11-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

Mimi came to visit! We had a blast, a great Halloween, and I'm REALLY behind on blogging.

Helmet Update

2011-11-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

Say goodbye to the cute pink helmet. Little O has outgrown her first helmet. :(

She's getting so big. However, she is still in need of wearing a helmet for her plagiocephaly. A new helmet has been ordered and is being made for her. The helmet arrives next week. She voted for butterflies this time.

She is still within a 6 mm range difference in the back (started with 11 mm difference) and the distance from eyes/ears and nose/ears is still off by quite a bit. The specialist does not think this measurement will improve much. We're crossing our fingers we can make drastic improvements in the next few months.

The Iron Chef

2011-10-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Cheers to the Iron Chef, for once again, making strides for our family. He was nominated and selected to be a part of the Leadership Development Program. It starts now. Life will be a crazy several months but will allow him to further advance his career going forward in the future.

Congrats to our favorite daddy!

Buns of Steel

2011-10-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Some people have to work hard for a look like this, others are born with it ... baby buns of steel.

And ... her diaper was almost falling off.

Trunk or Treat - Lincoln Moms and Kids Too

2011-10-22T09:18:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the Lincoln Moms and Kids Too annual "Trunk or Treat" event. A blast as usual. The kids loaded up on several non-sweet treats, pizza, and lots of fun. Miss A was Ariel from The Little Mermade and Little O, well, partly a pig. She screamed almost the entire beginning and then finally calmed down enough to stop crying. We decided to nix her costume. A happy baby was the better alternative.

Ariel ~ the beautiful mermaid. Miss A wanted REAL RED hair, not a wig. We opted for her own locks instead.

This is the "Chef Family" trunk all decorated for Halloween.

Besties.

The "Chef" girls.

A sneak peak of the cutest pig on the block.

World Mission Month @ Granite Springs

2011-10-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Mission Month Flag Parades starring our very own Granite Kids! Miss A was "Canada" at church and had a parade throughout the aisles and then went on stage to say her flag name. Here she is ~ our little red/white star!

Pre-Halloween Treats

2011-10-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

Look at this little squishie! Is she not the cutest! Little O, my favorite 8-month-old.

Thanks to a sewing' nana, this little lady has a few new accessories to her growing wardrobe.

And this hair? I'm in love! Check out the beautiful locks on this baby!

Just in Time for the Big Game - Go MSU!

2011-10-14T16:56:00.001-07:00

Five Little Pumpkins Song

2011-10-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

Miss A learned a new song at preschool this week.

Trouble with a Capital T

2011-10-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

This picture explains it all. I'm in trouble.

She may have learned this from her big sister, not sure.

Today, while getting Miss A ready for bed, Little O decided to climb up the potty stool, prop herself up on the stool and head for the toilet. Wowzers! #1 she's fast and #2 she's a climber. Miss A was nothing like this at her age. Good thing we were right there otherwise I think Little O would have taken a bath in the toilet.

Climbing Climberson

2011-10-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

Little O ... she's climbing up on everything. Pulling herself up on tables, toys, boxes, in the pantry, etc. She wants to stand and cruise along the couch or table or anything she is touching. She's on the move!!!

Every time I turn my back, she's climbing on something.

If you are wondering about her helmet, yes, she still wears it all day. It was raining like cats and dogs outside and I had to take it off so her poor little head, hair and helmet could dry out.

Here's a latest video of her new moves -

A Little Bit Of Paint

2011-10-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

The Chef family recently had parts of our house repainted. We repainted the trim, shutters, door, etc. We added a few new extras such as a new doorknob, planters, and we're working on outdoor landscaping changes next.

Here's the before ...

And after ...

We eliminated the "peachy, fleshy" undertones in the trim color and added a bolder door color. I'm loving the new look. Much more rich looking with darker contrasting colors that better compliment the inside of our house.

Field Trip Day - Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Field Trip Day at Miss A's preschool. First of all, take a look at this picture.

Apparently it wasn't just our class that decided yesterday would be a good field trip day. I think most preschools decided it would be a great day to visit the pumpkin patch. Oy vei!

Alas, it was an absolute blast. Miss A enjoyed every minute. I'm glad I decided to keep the littlest O at home with a babysitter because it rained a little and was cold and damp. She would not have been a trooper!

A few fun pictures from our glamorous day at Bishop's Pumpkin Patch in Wheatland, CA.

Two Dancing Ariel Girls

2011-10-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

Miss A had a friend over to play last week ... and they dressed up like Ariel most of the afternoon. They were complete girls and loved their fun. They had a tea party for lunch, played dolls upstairs, baked cookies, arts & crafts projects, watch a princess sing a-long dvd, laughed, and giggled, and danced around the house.

The only hard part about having this little girl over ... her name is 'O' as well. Makes things really difficult around the house with two little girls with the same name.

Playin' Around This Fall

2011-10-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been crazy for the Chef Family. We are in full swing of school, dance classes, play dates, and "attempting" to keep the house clean.

Miss A tried a new dance class called "itty bitty hip hop" that has been held the last few weekends. She did such a great job and loved the moves, but I, personally, was not a fan of the Saturday morning dance class. I feel like it restricts our weekened fun and flexibility as a family.

One of our favorite things to do - backyard bbq's with friends. The kids are having a blast as usual!

As for little O, we've been attending a weekly baby playgroup. She's the "biggest" of the bunch by a long shot and constantly tries to pick on all the babies.

We love this time of the year! We're starting to pull out the long sleeve shirts and pants, as the mornings have been a bit chilly. Although a cold start, the weather has been in the 90's in the afternoon. Miss A even made a trip to a splash park with her friends this week (it's been THAT hot). We're ready for the cold weather to hit!

Sippy Cup

2011-09-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

We're on the hunt for a sippy cup. Little O can't seem to get the hang of a sippy cup. Miss A was drinking from a sippy cup (and no bottle) when she turned 1 - the day after. I plan to do the same thing with Little O, but I need her to love a sippy cup. I think it's going to take awhile with her. She loves her bottle!

We've tried born free, green sprouts, nuk, tommy tippee, gerber, and a handful of others. So far, born free is the best (it's the bottle she uses), but she's not a pro. A work in progress.

A Sewing Nana

2011-09-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a fabulous sewing Nana, Miss A has another matching outfit for her bitty baby. Everything matchy matchy is how she's wanting to operate these days. Matching with her baby and loving it!

Baby UGGS

2011-09-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

The cutest baby on the block sporting her new accesories.

Bad Hair Day, Always

2011-09-18T20:48:00.001-07:00

With wearing a helmet almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Little O constantly has a bad hair day. Every.single.day.

Here's proof. Poor thing.

This is what her hair looks like when I take off the helmet. I don't think little O is ever going to have to worry about volume in her hair. :)

I Hope You Dance

2011-09-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

~ Lee Ann Womack

Bare Bottoms

2011-09-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

In the very short 45 minutes to an hour that Little O is helmet free, we usually spend our time bare bottoming it around the house. The helmet gets rather smelly (really stinky), as does her head and hair. We bath and wash little O extremely well and then let her play around. She loves it!

Look at the rolls and chub. She is slowly slimming out, believe it or not. And if you can tell from the pictures, little O has incredibly curly hair when wet.

Just Another Fun Afternoon

2011-09-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

Just another typical afternoon for the Chef family. Lots of laughs, lots of fun, and usually a few pictures to capture the moments.

The Tupperware Drawer

2011-09-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

Doesn't every mom have a drawer or a cabinet full of tupperware and plastic goods that their children can play with and make a complete mess? Well, this mom does. My Miss A loved playing with dishes, and Little O does as well.

Our Little Helmet Baby

2011-09-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Little O is now fully accepting of her new helmet. She wears it at least 23 hours per day. The only time the helmet is removed is for a bath, and helmet washing, and sometimes to get clothes over her head. Otherwise, it's on all.day.long.every.single.day.

Trust me, the helmet doesn't slow her down one bit.

She still finds ways to climb under her baby einstein exersaucer.

Play like a little baby.

Crawl underneath the kitchen table and chairs.

Put EVERYTHING in her mouth she's not supposed to be "eating" ...

And yes, learning to stand up and play with her big sister, Miss A.

If anything, the helmet has turned into a protective barrier for her head. She wiggles in places and doesn't think twice about it because it won't hurt her if she squeezes herself between the coffee table and couch or under tables, hitting walls, etc.

She has become our plagiocephaly little helmet wearing baby. We have our first head measurement with specialist tomorrow to assess changes with the therapy thus far.

All I know, is that the helmet isn't slowing her down a bit! She one active little 7-month-old.

A New Set of Wheels

2011-09-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Iron Chef's new car FINALLY arrived. He's been driving around rental cars for several months.

His vehicle is a new Ford Explorer and I must admit, it's pretty sharp looking. They really changed the look up a ton with this new model.

1st Day of Preschool

2011-09-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

Going back to school is so much fun, especially for a 3-year-old. Miss A was definitely a little shy upon arriving ...

But she relaxed and became comfortable in no time at all.

Here is Miss A with her new teacher, Mrs. M. The class consists of 13 children. They have extra helpers in the classroom, but this is the main teacher. Miss A ADORES her thus far and we're off to a great 2nd week of classes.

Miss A has a special cubby with her name, too.

And just a few other pictures of the classroom. I did not snap too many, but a few to give everyone an idea of her classroom.

This preschool came highly recommended to us. Let's hope it lives up to the expectations. I never thought I'd be putting so much energy and effort into deciding on a preschool for Miss A.

The school states --- For over 20 years STAR Education has been a leading advocate for public schools, children and their families by providing award-winning educational and enrichment programs that promote student achievement, increased test scores, self confidence and a life-long love of learning. STAR Preschool is designed to identify and nurture the individual talents and interests of our students in a format the excites, inspires and motivates young minds. STAR Education's measurable results have earned it the prestige of being named a "MODEL PROGRAM" by the WHITE HOUSE and the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. STAR Education is the largest provider of Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) in the State of California, and has been selected to be a state wide Supplementary Service Provider (SES) through the "No Child Left Behind Act."

Here's hoping for a wonderful year. So far, so good. Tomorrow is "share" day for Miss A and she is bringing Bitty Baby and wearing matching outfits.

The Cutest Helmet Baby - EVER!

2011-08-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

I might be a 'little' bias. But ... don't you just think she's the cutest helmet wearing babe EVER! I do. Our little plagiocephaly baby finally has her helmet.

We've had our fair share of tears today, but she's doing incredibly well wearing the helmet during this "phasing in" transition. I have a strict schedule of how often she can wear it and when it has to be taken off. By the end of day 7, she'll be wearing the helmet 23 hours a day.

We had an appointment with the specialist yesterday, an appointment with pediatric neurosurgery today, and another appointment with the specialist on Thursday to check and see how little O is reacting to the helmet.

It's an adjustment for everyone. Even fitting in the carseat isn't the same as it used to be. Thank goodness for her new big girl Britax. She definitely wouldn't fit in the small carrier seat with her new helmet.

It's been an emotional kind of day.

As you can see, the helmet covers little o's entire head.

And after this long ordeal - here's a model of what we hope her head will look like. This is a model of her soon-to-be-hopeful head. The specialist isn't sure how long she will need to wear the helmet, so we're doing everything we need to do.

The Chef Family

2011-08-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

We just returned from our San Diego vacation. We had a condo right on the ocean. It was fabulous and perfect in every single way.

As planned, our family picture turned out a success!

Family Picture in the Making

2011-08-26T05:19:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or is it soooooooooooooo super hard to plan for a family picture. I seriously can never get the 'look' I am going for after we have pictures snapped. I took a "picture" of our little family while trying to find outfits to wear for our family picture.

We are snapping a few last pictures of our whole family pre-helmet because it will be awhile until we can snap pictures with Miss O sans helmet.

The Iron Chef and myself, sous chef, outfits are put (different pants), but the girls, it's so hard to decide! Who knows what I'll end up with.

Let's see if our family pictures turn out as great as planned. I'm going for the blue/white beachy look, but not white/khacki because we already have a picture like that. I started planning for this photo a little too late. Late August to shop for navy blue? Not so much.

Hoping for a few good shots!

Prepping for Her "Helmet"

2011-08-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

The specialist said we needed to be wearing hats on Little O ... all the time in preparation for her own special helmet. That's exactly what we've been doing.

With the large amounts of hair on her head, she does just fine with a hat. We've had bows, hats, headbands, etc in her hair from day 1. And, that's the truth because that's one of the first things the hospital does to your babe, throw a little cap on.

We also lowered her crib and took the bumpers out of her bed. Goodbye Pottery Barn Kids oh-so-adorable bumpers. Little O is not only getting ready and starting to climb, but we anticipate she'll be super upset the first few nights sleeping with her helmet. Plus, extra safety now that she's more mobile around the house and we wouldn't want to get her pretty little pink helmet stuck between the bumpers.

I woke up extra early this morning and snapped a picture of my baby. Sleeping in a sweet slumber. Her legs were a bit chilly, so I put a little blanket on her legs while I was awake. Here's a picture from 5:15 am this morning.

New Changes

2011-08-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Baby O's appointment went well. I guess. The news was nothing that surprised me, although I did not take the information well. Many tears were shed today as I realized the new changes that our family was about to embark on.

Little O will be receiving cranial orthotic therapy and her pretty little helmet will arrive next week.

Her helmet will look just like this one - light pink.

Many measurements were taken of her head and diagonally from right forehead to left back side and left forehead to right back side is a difference of 11 mm. To give an idea of the severity, the general range of when a helmet is considered begins at 6 mm. We're almost double that difference.

Miss O is displaying a typical case of positional plagiocephaly, although the exact cause cannot be determined. We've indicated an issue with this since almost birth.

Next week we will also see a pediatric neurosurgeon to check up on a few other issues. Our pediatrician believes she is developmentally where she should be for her age, but neurologically we are checking on a few other issues. We just are playing it safe with this one. Our pediatrician originally recommended me waiting another 3 months because she believed the Little O's head would round out and heal on it's own. That clearly is not the case. The specialist today believed her case should have been started several months ago with physical therapy to build up her neck muscles and then start with helmet therapy at maximum 5 months of age. We are already almost 2 months past that point. I'm glad I continued to stress this as an issue because 'something' was needed in her case.

The diagnosis - head asymmetrical and facial asymmetries as well. That's not an easy pill to swallow if you are a momma. I may be the strong sous chef, but man, I feel like a flawed mom with a diagnosis like that. I feel everyone is going to view me as a bad mom that just sits her child down on the ground all day. I do, I really do. And, I'll probably tear up hearing everyone ask, "What's wrong with your child? etc, etc."

Just not an easy time. But we're changing. One step at a time. We'll make it. We're praying and we're asking others to pray for a swift healing process for Little O's little head. She needs the prayers and so do we. We have a long journey ahead of us on this one.

Plagiocephaly

2011-08-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Plagiocephaly. That's what I'm researching.

Ever heard of it? If not, google it! Plagiocephaly is a type of flat head syndrome. Something Little O has ... or at least that's what her pediatrician thinks. Not sure how it happened, but it's something the Iron Chef and I have noticed from the very beginning about Little O. Possibly the way she was inutero? Positional issues? Neck muscles issues? Really, we aren't sure.

At little O's 6-month routine care, I stressed my concern for her head shape once again. After further analysis, the pediatrician not only thinks her head is assymetrical, but she has a few facial assymetrical aspects as well. Our pediatrician recommended we wait another 3-months. I said, "No WAY!" Bring on the referrals.

I shed a few tears this evening while I was researching this topic. Realizing that Little O may have to go through cranial orthotic (helmet) therapy, doctor visits, etc. We may have a very long road ahead of us ... our first consultation is tomorrow.

Sunglasses Cutie

2011-08-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Little O ~ our sunglasses cutie. How adorable are these parrot glasses on Little O? She didn't like putting them on, but once there were on she smiled ear to ear. We tried on several different pairs during our wedding festivities.

A Favorite Outfit ~ Dresses!

2011-08-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

Dress and more dresses. Miss A wakes up in the morning and the first thing she wants to do is put on a dress. Apparently I used to be the same way when I was younger.

The only problem? Two days ago she went to the park, pulled up her dress (we were there with playgroup kids), and told everyone, "I'm not wearing any panties."

Great. The best part? I had Olivia and was headed back to the car to get a few things I had forgotten to bring to the picnic table. I returned and several moms informed me Miss A wasn't wearing anything under her dress.

I asked her why she didn't have panties on. Her response, "I took them off before we left."

Needless to say I made her wear shorts under her dress yesterday so I could be certain there was coverage.

Here's one of her favorite dresses right now. I'm loving the GAP right now for my little girls. So cute! I even found these adorable red shoes to go with the dress.

She's on the Move

2011-08-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

She's officially on the move. She's army crawling everywhere. It's such a funny, sideways army crawl, too. Combine her rolling skills and her ability to army crawl, she can get pretty much anywhere she wants to go.

On the Road Again

2011-08-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, actually not the road ... a plane ... but the Chef Family was up and traveling again. Our summer has been on-the-go and constantly busy.

One clue --- the city of brotherly love.

Belly Sleeper

2011-08-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

I always wondered why Little O hated sleeping on her back. I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but she sleeps on her stomach. Scared me like crazy when she first started doing this, but now, although I put her to sleep on her back, there's nothing I can really do about the constant rolling and sleeping on her tummy.

And, bonus, she will sleep anywhere! Literally. On the cement at the pool during Miss A's swim lessons. I'm so thankful for that!

Dish Washer

2011-08-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Miss A LOVES to help wash dishes. She "helps" me almost every day. The other day I had to run and change Little O's diaper on the floor.

Miss: "Mommy, I need to rinse off the soap from my hands.
Me: "Okay, just turn the water on."

Mistake. We almost had a huge overflow mess all over the kitchen. Well, we did, just a little bit though. And apparently it wasn't just water she added to the sink. I think she used about half the bottle of soap as well. :)

Sheryl Crow & Kid Rock Concert

2011-08-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

I was priviledged to attend a Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock concert. Amazing, as usual. And all thanks to this girl -

Such an amazing friend, with amazing qualities, that makes things happen - that's for sure! Thanks, L.

The concert was fabulous and the evening was kid-free with my hubby and super great friends. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better date night. It was my 3rd (maybe 4th?) Sheryl Crow concert and first Kid Rock performance. Wow, "dancing" ladies for Kid Rock, fire, flames, the whole nine yards. I definitely jumped a few times!

Until the next date night with my favorite iron chef (babysitter already confirmed and date already set)!

1/2 Birthday

2011-08-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Little o ---- 6-months already? Seriously? Where has the time gone!

An Artist

2011-08-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

Do the iron chef and I have an artist on our hands? She loves to draw, paint, etc. She's actually doing quite well and progressing with her artistic skills.

Here she is, showing off her drawings. She's really into people these days and usually has an entire story to go along with the drawing.

Two Teeth

2011-08-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

Little O ... she chews on everything, can't keep toys out of her mouth, yanks items out of her mouth ... and has two little toofers!

Tea for Two

2011-08-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Miss A and I enjoyed some quiet time together this week while Little O was sleeping. We had a tea party and she even helped with dishes (we had real food).

Up North Michigan

2011-08-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

A few days in "up north" in Michigan.

Miss A and Little O visited a fish hatchery, spent time on the beach, a visit to Mimi and Papa P's cottage, and a fire in the fireplace (yes, it was that cold).

4th of July Fun

2011-08-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July was spent in Indiana. We visited with many family members during this time, including cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, and siblings. And of course, color coordinating outfits for the girls.

The 4th of July proved to be tons of fun for the littles in our family. Miss A finally had a "bitty" cousin to meet for the first time. All the girls had fun together and Miss A couldn't stop playing with her bitty cousin.

Great memories!

Fancy Fishing

2011-07-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Walking to the pond and on a mission with her fancy pole.

To catch a fish! All fancy 3-year-olds catch fish when they go fishing.

Thanks for the fun, Papa N.

And a fancy video to show off Miss A's skills.

Messin' Around

2011-07-30T04:38:00.000-07:00

I need to empty out our flour bin and dispose of the flour inside of it ... so I thought, "Hmmm, Miss A, do you want to get messy? Want to play with flour?"

So super messy. Flour was everywhere. But, she had fun. That was the point. And loved it!

It's NOT a bikini

2011-07-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

It's a Kini! Miss A loves wearing a "kini" and I think the world is absolutely adorable!

As usual, we've been busy. Our days consist of playdates and pool times and fun at the park. We've been loving our summer.

Photo Session with Bitty Baby

2011-07-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

This was a photo session set up by Miss A. We were flipping through the American Girl magazine the other day during breakfast and she said, "Wait one minute!" She came back downstairs, dressed like her bitty baby, and wanted a photo shoot (sorry for the "morning" crazy hair).

Swimming, swimming

2011-07-22T21:39:00.001-07:00

Warning: Video overload. This is for the grandparents. :)

As Miss A sings, "Swimming, swimming, in the swimming hole. When days are hot and days are cold, in the swimming hole. Backstroke, sidestroke, fancy diving toooooooooo, Wouldn’t you wish you never had anything else to do BUT (repeat song over and over again).

And, that's exactly what Miss A has been doing. Swimming, swimming, repeat and repeat some more.

She has been taking swim lessons this summer and has been enjoying every minute. We have had our fair share of tears, but she's doing well and learning some instructional safety tips on swimming.

This is my favorite video thus far (however I said, "on your marks, get set go ... instead of mark. It's driving me crazy).

I actually thought she was getting the rings herself, but I guess she still needs a little help from her swim instructor. I'm still proud of her!

And after swim lessons today, she was ready to go. She started singing/cheering, "Let's Go, let's go, L-E-T-S-G-O!" She's a future cheerleader, or so she says. I guess she's in training. She thinks she's going to cheer for the Indianapolis Colts some day.

Our Littlest Of the Little Chef Family Members

2011-07-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

Another mascot for our favorite family blog. Thanks, M, for this fabulous shirt!

Tis Wedding Season Again

2011-07-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

One of my great friends from college recently got married. I love weddings. Everyone always looks so nice. The atmosphere is wonderful. And the celebration between two special people is even better. Makes me relive my own special wedding day (7 years this summer).

I didn't end up taking too many photos of the actual ceremony or even the bride (oops). It was a beautiful reception at the Cincinnati Art Museum and several of my college friends were in attendance. What more can you ask for?

The bevy of beauties with Tommy-B, father-of-the-bride.

I'd say we couldn't have been more color coordinating ~ with everyone's dress complimenting eachothers. It definitely turned out to be a fabulous picture!

Wow, I miss these Miami girls so much! Everytime I see them, I wish we lived closer so we could hang out and play with our little Miami babies together. It's amazing how so many have still remained friends ... and now our little babies will get to know and meet eachother. I miss you girls already!

The Chef That Makes IT All Happen

2011-07-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's him. The amazing Iron Chef, the man that makes it all happen for the Chef Family.

And, that amazing reason why life has happened the way it has for us. These trains ...

In the rollercoaster ride called life, there are many twists and turns along the way. Our family has moved, we've explored, we've seen parts of the country we never thought we'd visit, and we've been blessed.

The Iron Chef received another promotion. He's now a director. A career goal for him and a promotion that doesn't require a move for us. As I said, we're incredibly blessed for yet another opportunity for the Iron Chef to further his career.

As for me, I'm just along for the ride! And here to take care of our 2 precious babies.

Why I Have Girls

2011-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Too funny not to post.

This is truly why God gave me girls.

The picture below explains it all.

While on vacation, Miss A held up a toy gun that was in the Barbie bin. The gun must have been my brothers from when I was younger. Being a girl and not having anything like this in our house, she held it up (so matter-of-factly) and tried to shoot the gun the "correct" way. She held it backwards, upside down, etc and then made a little pop nose with her mouth. It was priceless! Truly why we are the house of girly girl and that's about it!

Love These Little Chef Girls

2011-07-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

We are finally back from our 3 week stint of vacation back to the midwest. Pictures to come. Life has been crazy, but, nonetheless, I love these little chef girls. They make me laugh every.single.day. Over and over.

The pool fun we've had.

The bathing beauties I've seen.

And the silly things...

... Miss A makes me do.

Tired ... and Still Going

2011-07-08T06:44:00.001-07:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for the Chef family ... and we are still going strong.

The Chef family has traveled here and there and slept just about everywhere. These little girls are tuckered out.

Yes, gross. That's an airport floor. The airline made me check my stroller - not easy with a 2.5 hr layover. Thus, the girls played and Little O fell asleep on the floor. Miss A played with her Polly Pocket's while her little sister snoozed in slumber.

Dark Hair and That Baby Face

2011-07-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

Dark, black hair doesn't just run in the Iron Chef's side of the family. It does for the sous chef's family, too.

Dark, black hair.

Here's a picture of my grandma (my dads side) when she was younger. Little O resembles her with her eyebrows, round face and dark hair.

Children are amazing ... they unfold history and make families dig out old pictures of their ancestors to compare similarities and differences.

Happy Dad's Day!

2011-06-19T10:27:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, especially a few of our favorites. I heard about a funny Hallmark card that was circulating for Father's Day this year. I actually like of liked.

It read, "Dad, you're like my credit cards...I'll never be able to pay you back!"

Thanks to all the dads out there. And to a special daddy to Miss A and Little O - our world wouldn't be the same without you. Thanks for being you! I have two little girls that are incredibly blessed to have you to call as their daddy.

Our Trip to Yosemite

2011-06-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, breathtaking, absolutely amazing. Literally. The views of the park were unbelievable, every step of the way. Everywhere we would look, it was another beautiful sight. The park was soooooooo super busy, but we're glad we made the trek.

This was probably one of my biggest views all week. The iron chef, aka, Mr. Photog of the weekend.

Swimming Like a Fish

2011-06-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Miss A has started swimming lessons. She's doing a great job, despite MANY tears. She hates getting her face wet and going underwater was a challenge to her. But, she's doing well and loving it!

We signed up for semi-private lessons, but they've turned into private lessons most of the time. Definitely the way to go so she gets the extra attention. Thirty minutes of swim lessons completely wear her out.

Curlz?

2011-06-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

Are we going to have a curly, black haired beauty?

We R Busy

2011-06-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

We are busy, very busy.

We've had summer camps.

Birthday celebrations.

Dinner parties w/ friends and kids.

Fun times at Chuck E Cheese.

Birds peaking through our transom windows (this was absolutely hilarious; Miss A and I couldn't stop laughing, we had to take a picture).

Cereal eating

And picnic going

We are just busy. Getting ready for more fun summer posts from the Chef family. It is going to be one crazy summer.

Pretty in Pink

2011-06-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

My little sweetie, just growing up so quickly. Here's a quick photo from one of my many pool days.

We are at the pool almost daily because of Miss A's swim lessons. Little O is such a trooper, too! She sits and plays on the ground and splashes in the water.

The Volunteering Spirit

2011-06-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago our town held Relay for Life. I was a participant, as was Ms. A. What a great way to teach her about charity and giving by directing having her walk a few laps around the track with me. She absolutely loved it!

Lincoln's Relay for Life raised a little shy of $100,000 this year. I'd say our city did a great job fighting for cancer.

It's My Birthday!

2011-06-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me! The big '29' this year! I think I'll make it and survive my last year before the big 3-0.

My birthday celebration began last weekend and ended this evening with a large slice of carrot cake, which we all shared and enjoyed.

Happy Birthday, to me.

Let's hope all my wishes come true.

Princess Hopscotch

2011-06-05T02:38:00.000-07:00

Miss A decided she wanted to play "princess hopscotch" in the kitchen with her princess coloring sheets. What this equation meant to me? A big huge mess. But, she had fun and played her own version of hopscotch. It kept her entertained while I was able to get dinner ready.

4-months Old

2011-06-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Miss O turned 4-months this week. Her doctor appointment went well. Healthy, immunizations, and right on track.

Her stats:

15 pounds 10 ounces (88th percentile)
25 inches (79th percentile)

She's our little "Mongo" as the Iron Chef says.

Can you see the many rolls on her arms. The chub is oh-so-adorable!

Rolling Over Queen

2011-05-31T15:11:00.000-07:00

Our little rolling over queen! She wiggles and moves all over the place now. It's hard to turn your head from Little O ~ she moves half way across the room by the time I turn back around.

Somehow I just couldn't get a good picture of the girls today. At least the video turned out. Neither one would look at the camera.

These Boots are Made for Walkin'

2011-05-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

... and walkin's what they'll do! I laughed so hard when I saw Miss A walking down the hallway in these boots. I made her put them back on so I could snap a few pictures. Too funny!!!

Yittle Girl and her "Doughnuts"

2011-05-26T03:02:00.000-07:00

We are working on her letter sounds, especially the "L." This video just makes me laugh because she uses her imagination all day. She loves people to play "Yittle Girl" with her.

As for the cereal, yes, it's Multigrain Cheerios. She calls it her little doughnut cereal. Apparently the cereal is so good, even Barbie and the "yittle girl" like to eat it for breakfast.

he

Our Little Muffin Cup

2011-05-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

Little O will turn 4 months on June 1. Crazy how time flies. She is starting to get a little personality and we L-O-V-E, it! She's also getting quite a bit of 'chub' on her legs.

As for her schedule, she's totally out of whack and it's driving me nuts! I was a nazi w/ routines and schedules for Miss A, but nothing seems to work for a routine for Little O. She has a mind of her own. We love her nonetheless.

Here are a few videos to prove it!

She has rolled over several times now (front to back), but I can't seem to get it on video. With a little help she can roll over back to front, although we're still working on this one. She wiggles and moves all over the place.

Here's Little O, gibbering and talking like a "peacock" as we call it. Whether she's mad or happy, it usually sounds like some type of cute animal.

Upward Side Down

2011-05-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Upside down and backwards. However, to Miss A, it's upward side down. These pictures prove just that. Sisters. And, Miss A cannot seem to get enough of her sister. She loves her to pieces.

Tucked into Her Undies

2011-05-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Although Miss A has been potty trained for awhile, sometimes, I just giggle and laugh when she returns from the bathroom. Sometimes it's a skirt, other times a shirt. Yes, they are tucked into her little undies.

So funny, so innocent. And, honestly, she doesn't care one bit.