Genesis Nicole

Genesis Is..........

Doodle.......I used to call her Doodle Bug...now it is just Doodle. Sometimes Princess Doodle.

"Beautiful Baby From the Outside In" .............. one of the many songs that her Daddy sings to her.

Nene................What Tyler and Isabella lovingly call her.

An awesome BIG sister, always there to help her baby sister. And an even more awesome LITTLE sister!

Tyler's Best Friend and Isabella's Role Model. Bella is always Nene this and Nene that....

A great singer. She loves to sing!! All the time! Sometimes unfortunately to Hannah Montana...but other times it is to Somewhere over the Rainbow which melts her Daddy's heart....or to one of his favorites (and hers too) Michael Buble.

A great dresser. She has amazing fashion sense for a 5 year old. Really amazing!

The loudest cryer I know! Seriously this girl can turn on the water works like nothing, and there is a loud wail to go with it. Nothing has changed, in the hospital the nurses took her for some tests and they kept returning her because she was screaming and couldn't do the hearing test! We were not allowed to take her until it was done and it took over three tries, over two days, she could be heard down the hall.

My little Drama Queen.

Very shy around people at first.

Helpful. So helpful. Her and I jam out to the radio and clean together, it is great fun! I mean she will do anything, pick up, dishes, load the dishwasher, and loves to do it.

Smart for a girl. In Ty's words not mine!! She will not let Tyler get too ahead of her, she tries to keep up with him as best she can. I know it secretly drives her insane that Ty can read and she can't quite yet. It is funny.

A pint-sized Julia Roberts. She has a smile that can light up the darkest of nights!

Good at pretending. She pretends to be my best friend, which she has named herself "Rachel". She can do this for hours.

Petunia. Just a word she likes and uses it often, especially when being silly. She calls us and Tyler that every once in a while. He just laughs at her. It is pretty cute in a silly way. Guess she completed her mission!

My soul mate and Daddy's baby girl.

My sleeping buddy, and boy can she cuddle!

A big fan of my good friend which I love like a little sister, and assitant at work Rachel. She cant wait to be older and she loves Rachel!! She loves her hair and clothes and apartment and college and on and on the list goes! She really looks up to her.

Our "Brown Eyed Girl". (another one she loves to sing!)

Italian I think, ha...she can tear up some Spaghetti and Meatballs.

The apple of her Grandpa's eye.

Grandma's Star.

A pony lover and a gymnast.

A Princess and a girly-girl. (one that can be so tough when need be though!)

A bit of a fibber at times; a stage we are hoping she gets out of soon!

My Starbucks partner. This year for her birthday she was able to go to the store and pick out her own gifts, among them was a hot pink, retro Barbie travel coffee mug! Really, what 5 year old picks that? So glad she did though, it is so cute I can totally borrow it! I love it!

Beautiful. Kind. Special. Clumsy. Loving. Caring. Thoughtful. Funny.

And best of all Mine!!

Genesis, I love you so very much Doodle! I know you had a wonderful birthday and we are so very proud of you in so many ways. I am so very proud to call you my daughter. Your name means new beginnings, and you are truly a new beginning for me in a lot of ways. Having a daughter was very new to me when I first held you in my arms that afternoon, but I knew nothing would ever be the same. It was definately a new beginning, one that I never want to end. I am so very lucky to have you Soul. You are amazing and I love you from the very depths of my heart, now and always. Continue to be YOU. You are perfect in absolutely every way possible.

Love Always and Forever,

Mommy, Daddy, Tyler and Bella

Been MIA

The days are really getting ahead of me yet again. In the past month this is what has been going on, you will see, I was MIA with good reason! These are random tid bits of my life now.......

• Genesis started Kindergarten ----- She did so much better than I ever imagined and I am so proud of her. She even earned Hedgehog of the week!! Gen has really been enjoying her new friends and teachers. Bittersweet as ever to let my little one go on that hard day. Her perfect little dress she picked herself, the cutest Hello Kitty lunch box and pack back, tiny sandals, and ribbon in her hair....awww heart breaking! I couldn't have asked for a better transition though. She is full of surprises this one!

• Tyler started 1st grade ------- He is loving his new class and teacher. He says to me "Mommy, she is young and pretty, and I know we will have lots of fun!" Gees, all true, the girl is super fit, young, intelligent (working on masters now) and beautiful, the class has 26 students, 18 of which are boys...I wonder how she will manage!! He is reading up a storm these days. He is such a big boy now, this teacher makes them write down all their assignments and such in an agenda. It is so amazing to see that he is getting the concept. He is only 6! I am 32 and can barely keep up with a planner.

(pics of first day of school to come soon)

• Vikki's shower has finally come and gone ---- She is about to have this baby any day now! I can't believe it! It has gone so fast and I will be an auntie again. SOOOO excited, this one is from my little sister ( I have a niece and nephew in Miami from my half sister which I adore but do not get to see much at all) The shower went great! She had everyone that loved her there, and my little sister looked absolutely radiant on that day. Absolutely gorgeous! I messed up though because I made her wear heels and she was super swollen for days after (she hasn't worn heels this entire pregnancy, and since I wore them almost every day all three times, I thought she could do it too) OOPS!!!

• Went to a breast feeding class with Vikki ----Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing, beautiful experiences ever. I loved doing it all the way through, it was very difficult at times as it requires the most ultimate commitment ever, but it went smoothly for my three babies and I. Incredible bonding and nutrition and healthy! Even pumped at work when I came back after 12 weeks, and I did great for eight months or so each time (did it for over a year with each, but I did supplement at the about 8 month mark) Anyhow, it was an honor that she wanted me to come with her. She wants to nurse and she looks up to the way that I did it, and has asked of my mentoring through her nursing experience. I am so pleased that she is giving her baby the greatest gift ever. I will be there to support her all the way through. One problem though....well for John, not for me, lol: (text messages)

John: You are sitting in a room full of titties. (don't mind his crude humor)

Me: Yes I am, but mine are still the biggest in here.

John: Yeah, those pregnant Moms have nothing on you. (is this supposed to be sweet?)

Me: Nope! This class is making me want another one so bad. Can we? What do you say?

John: Oh shit....I knew this would happen........ (classic)

• Genesis had her 5th Bday----- I will post a special blog for her soon!

• I had my 32nd birthday (oh the pain) -----seriously, NO NEED to revisit this one. Except my hubby got me some awesome shoes!! I took the day off and spent it with him and that was good enough. (It was also coincidentally the first day of school, that's right, for two years now I get to bitch about how old I am turning and then I have to give my babies up to the dreaded Kindergarten and cry all morning for two reasons!)

• Work has been kicking my ass ---- no really it has, and it needs to stop!

More soon........ Love and Luck!! ...............

Zen, Soul, Bear and LOVE

To the people that get me through....

Zen, I had a bad day yesterday, couldn't wait to get home. I got through the day thinking of our nap this weekend. Now that you are a big boy, I miss those special cuddle times. Throughout the day I held on to your sweet embrace. Can we do it again? When I finally got home, you invited me into your happy little 6 year old world, and suddenly there was peace. We played Mario Kart, oh how you like to show off! Your giggle is worth a thousand words. Your happy place is delightful. My special kiss for the day, dreamy! You left my spirit happy, my troubles at bay if only for a while. Twister was so much fun too! Thank you for making me so very happy Tyler! What did I do before you?

Hey Soul.... How are you? This morning I brushed your long beautiful brown hair. I took my time even though the clock was ticking. I dressed you in your pink polka a dot shorts and pink polo, hardly believing I was sending my little 4 year old girl to Kindergarten. You are so brave my girl. You were radiant even though you didn't feel well. I looked into your big brown eyes..they were filled with speckles of me throughout. I see me in you; I can see way down to your core. I feel your troubles and triumphs somehow, it is weird, but I enjoy the gift. I am thinking of you today, all day, but you will do great. You need the reminder now and again, but you ARE great Gen. You really are.

Bella Bear, you put your tiny hand in mine and I am taken to another place, wishing it stayed that small just a little longer. That smile of yours to melt over, those hugs that can make me tear up at the very thought. You are so very tiny in comparison to the world, just a tiny speck in the midst of such greatness, but you are one of the things that can make me feel so safe in it. I held on tight to you this morning, like a child's favorite Teddy Bear. Held on tighter when I realized that one day you too would be getting ready for school. I looked in to your bright eyes and felt all right. They can light up the darkest of places. That twinkle in them is priceless. I cant wait to get home and see them again.

All this because two people fell in love....how fortunate am I? I love you John. Can't wait to see you and hug you too. Everything is so perfect in our tiny space on earth. Our home so happy and full, I will concentrate on that, as I always do, and I know we will all be fine.

My Little Man is 6 Today!!

Happy Birthday Tyler!!

I cannot believe that my baby boy is 6 years old today! At 3:47 AM, six years ago, I had just endured endless hours of labor. I was exhausted from not eating in over 30 hours and from the pain and work that labor brought me. Yet in the still of the morning, my spirit was renewed, my life forever changed. The last 27 years didn't matter anymore. He was born, I was reborn. I was different, I was exactly where I needed to be for once in my life. Everything had substance, my eyes saw things in a different light. I would never go back.

"One last push" , the Dr. said, " before we take you in for a C-Section." Lights, camera, action, people everywhere ready to wheel me out. My mothers face blank, Johns face in awe. My heart heavy, had I endured these thirty plus hours for nothing? All was a blur, the seconds ticking. I braced myself. Took big breaths. Then silence. The doctor sang him a song when his head appeared, (sweetest thing ever frankly) then my last push. I was so tired, I pushed with more than I had to give, I don't know where it came from, but it did. (goes to show that a Mom can and will do whatever they can for their children, it starts at conception!) Then time stood still. Finally, the most beautiful cry I ever heard. First his, as he made his appearance, then mine as they placed his wet perfect little body on my chest, then my mothers as her life went full circle at that very moment. My adventure as a new Mom finally began thanks to the miracle of my perfect son.




Tyler you are the one that made me a Mommy. No one else can ever do that, you were the first one. Thank you for taking me on this journey. I love knowing that you love me, and even more, I love knowing that YOU feel loved. You smile, hug, tell me you love me often, pick me flowers, I know you think about me at school because you write about me in your journal entries all the time, and draw cute pictures of us. I know I mentioned your hugs, but wow your hugs are incredible! I feel them down to the core like nothing else. You give me kisses all the time, but once a day, every day, you give me my "special kiss" as you call it. I live for that second every day. You shake your arms, I bend down to your level, you flash me your incredible smile, and you lick your lips, and give me the best kiss I can ever dream of. Sometimes, more than one. Oh, yes and your skin, WOW. You play hard but your skin is the softest thing I have ever felt, your hands are so so soft, your cheeks even softer, you are 6 but you feel as soft as a baby.


Thank you for your love, even when I have made mistakes along the way. You make everything worth it. Thank you for teaching me so very much in such little time. You are the greatest teacher I have ever had. I am head over heels in love with you my sweet sweet baby boy. You mean love and bring Daddy and I so much joy. Happy Birthday Tyler!!

French Fries?

Last night I made the kids some Not-So-French-Fries. For anyone looking for something creative and cute to make for the kids, this is a winner.

I told Ty and Gen I was going to make them a special desert and they were very excited because this is not an everyday thing at home. When I was done I told them that I messed up the desert, and that I had made them some fries instead. They were so sad! I gave them their plates and they were saying "you made us fries?" with this heart broken look on their faces. Gen was pretty comical as she dipped her "fry" in her "ketchup" and realized that it wasn't exactly fries and ketchup. "Ttttyyyler this is not ketchup!" So cute!

So easy too! Just buy a frozen pound cake and let it thaw (we got a reduced sugar one and it was just fine), slice it up to look like fries, removing the dark brown edges. Then put them on a cookie sheet and into broiler on low for a little while, until a golden color. (keep a close eye because it happens pretty quickly). Flip them over and do the same on the other side. Remove when they look like fries! Mix red food coloring into vanilla icing, and just set the fries and ketchup on a plate and voila. I found the recipe on line and they served it in an actual french fry basket, and it looked even better, but we didn't have those on hand, and I think the little plates worked just fine.

This was an easy treat for a work day when I felt like doing something different and special for them. It is the little things that count, I can see it in their eyes when I do little things like that, that it just means something to them. This was too cute to not post! Next time they have friends over I am going to make these again, they will be so proud! This was surely a young child pleaser. Let me know if any of you try them on your little people.

Oh, and no icing for Bella, but she loved the pound cake, I was glad she was able to join in on the munching fest!