Daddy is a Girl’s Best Friend

Helloooo there! The first week of summer vacation is coming to a close and I have continued to neglect this little ‘ole blog of mine.  I had great plans of going back to April and documenting some of the fun things we have been up to, but when something so irresistibly adorable happens, well…obviously that comes first!

Earlier this week V was on a mission to get her fingers and toe nails painted.  She had been talking about purple toes and pink fingers (I swear those are the assigned colors, I wonder what she would do if we painted her fingers purple and toes pink) all night.  So, I told her after her bath she could have a mani/pedi. 

After her bath she assumed the position…on the master bathroom floor with toes and hands ready. BUT this time it was different, she wanted, “daddy do it.”  I expected to talk her out of it, but Greg said he wouldn’t mind because after all he painted my toes when I was about 8 months pregnant so he had some experience.

So with his dress pants still on (he is a risk taker), he sat on the floor and painted our baby girl’s fingers and toes.  I of course ran to grab the camera because this was such an adorable moment I wanted to keep it locked in my memory forever.

 

 

 

 

 

It is safe to say that Greg has fully embraced being a father to a little girl.  He has participated in tea parties, playing with dolls, wearing beads, dressing her in coordinating clothing (big step!), he has put her hair in a ponytail every day this school year, and now he has given his first mini mani/pedi.  These are the things I find sooo attractive about my husband. 

I think I have said about a million times, I just love these two! But when they have moments like this, it just makes my heart explode.  V and I are so lucky to have such a great guy taking care of us!!

A Momma’s Musings T-SAHM Edition

~ Wow! It feels like it has been a century since I did a real blog post that details what we have actually been up to.  I finished up Easter a few weeks ago and have haven’t really posted any activities since! Needless to say, I am behind, very behind, but the good news…I WILL BE A T-SAHM in 1 week!!  Not that this will give me time to catch up on the blog because life with an active toddler for summer will probably give me less time then if I were working.

 

~What a school year! It was soo long and soo fast all rolled into one.  I am just happy to put this year in the record books and excited to see what the future holds.

 

~ We have  a lot of fun activities planned for the summer.  I only have the summer to be a T-SAHM so I really try to make the most of my time with V.  We will be doing all kinds of fun stuff:  swim lessons, mini road trips, ball games, play dates, maybe give soccer a whirl for a month, the SWING SET, water fun, cookouts and much more! (Thank goodness for antigravity outdoor lounge chairs, water table and gated deck!)

 

~Potty training…yes, it is time to get serious about potty training. V is almost trained at daycare, but we need to pick up the slack at home.  I have no idea how long this process will take, but if it is anything like how easy it was to Banish the Binky, then I totally got this!

 

~ I taught Victoria how to spell her name almost 2 months ago and she still continues to spell T-O-R-I-A on her own, almost daily. Her memory and language development continues to impress us on a daily basis.  My other favorite thing she says, when you ask her where she lives she says “Pennsyl- Vania” in the cutest 2 year old voice.

 

~ Mini- Me, I am excited to spend all kinds to time with my little Mini Me, she loves to pretend to do everything we do, whether it is putting on deodorant, cleaning up a spill on the floor our wearing our shoes, she loves doing what we are doing.  Just last week she threw her leg up on the bathtub ledge with razor in hand (just like I do) and attempted to shave her legs!

 

~ During my T-SAHM summer, Greg & I dedicated a week to ourselves, as I have mentioned before, we are going on our first cruise.  I recently when on a maxi dress shopping binge (it was a lot more fun than bathing suit shopping…eeekkk) and now is the time to start booking excursions and planning for a great time on the ship.  We are looking forward to having breakfast on our balcony and enjoying time together. Fingers crossed we are not sea-sick prone, or it will be a long 7 days!

 

~One year ago from tomorrow, we laid eyes on our forever home and haven’t looked back since. (Literally, we have not done a drive by of the old house for an entire year!) There are several times within a week, Greg & I will say how much we love this house, it just doesn’t get old.  There is something to be said for years of hard work and saving money to be able to live in a place you plan to be FOREVER.  We have created so many memories in the house already and we are looking forward to many more over years and years.

 

~Lastly, over the course of a month I have lived by the following quote: “The moment you're ready to quit is usually the moment right before the miracle happens. Don't give up!”  And when I didn’t believe in miracles, I was surrounded by family & friends that did, and for that I am forever grateful.

June Events at Sesame Place!

I have less than 2 weeks left at school with my students and then I am home for the summer! Yay! We are busy planning our first trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA.  We going to kick off the summer season by making a visit to the park next month!  I was utilizing their website to help plan the trip and came across so much FUN that is planned for this summer at the park and wanted to share it all with you! 

Laurie Berkner Weekend of June 1 & 2

Laurie Berkner’s You & Me Tour: Grab your tickets HERE!  The tickets are only $10 for children (over 2) and adults.
Laurie is a best-selling, award-winning children’s recording artist that has been a professional musician for 20 years.  Laurie was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Nick Jr. and can now be seen on Sprout’s new series Sing It, Laurie!


Sprout Weekend with Chica and Angelina Ballerina Weekend of June 8 & 9


There is no additional cost for this event.  Get more details HERE!
Join Chica from The Sunny Side Up Show and Angelina Ballerina™ from Sprout for a fun-filled weekend at Sesame Place. Enjoy a pre-show featuring Chica and a host from The Sunny Side Up Show. Then, stay in Monster Rock Theater for a ballet performance with Angelina Ballerina.






A Care Bear's Dance Party Weekend of June 15 & 16



There is no additional cost for this event. Get more details HERE!

Sing and dance along with the cuddly Care Bears as they teach the importance of caring for others and sharing special feelings. Join Cheer Bear, Funshine Bear, Share Bear and Grumpy Bear for an adorable dance party.







WHYY Y Kids Club Storybook Weekend with Miss Rosa and Super Why  Weekend of June 22 & 23




There is no additional cost for this event.  Get more details HERE!
You've got the power, the power to Read! Join the WHYY Y Kids Club and PBS Kids host Miss Rosa as she goes on a learning adventure at Sesame Place! Sing, dance and read stories with Miss Rosa at a pre-show in Monster Rock Theater, followed by an Elmo Rocks! show. Then head to 1-2-3 Smile With Me! to meet and greet with Super Why, Princess Presto, Alpha Pig and Wonder Red!



In addition to these featured weekends, there are many other events to going on at the park in the month of June check out the Events tab for a full listing of all of the June fun at Sesame Place!  Start planning now and maybe I will see you there!!

UPMC Health Plan: Individuality Contest

Individuality: qualities that distinguish one person from another

Showcase your Individuality through the UPMC Health Plan Individuality Contest  running from May 13th through June 2nd.  There will be 5 finalists selected and then you will have the opportunity to vote on your favorite from June 3-9th. The WINNER will be selected June 10th.  For more details on how to enter check out UPMC's facebook page.  UPMC is looking for a story, video, photo (or all three) that make you and your family unique.  You could will a fabulous Staycation Prize Pack which includes the following:
A weekend stay at a top downtown Pittsburgh hotel
A Wild Encounter, behind-the-scenes experience at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Dinner at a great downtown restaurant
Personal tour of the Senator John Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh Sports Prize Pack

The Rookies Story of Individuality

Over 15 years ago I made the decision to leave everything that was familiar to me in my hometown of Rochester, NY and begin a new chapter, I chose to attend Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Little did I know that the time, that Pittsburgh, PA become my home…forever.  Millions of people call Pittsburgh their home, but the way that they show their pride for this city can vary. 
Here is our story…
I spent 4 years in college in the heart of the city and with each passing year I grew to love this city more and more.  And when I graduated, I made the decision that I would stay here and build a life around this beautiful city.  I spent the next several years teaching in various schools & settings. And after 9 years in Pittsburgh, I found the love of my life, Greg.
Greg and I went on our first official date to a game at PNC Park.  Greg has played baseball since he was 5 year old and attending Pirates games was one of my favorite things to do in the city, we were a perfect match!

































While were on our first date, Greg learned quickly how strong my passion was for all things black and gold, we grabbed a bite to eat at Grill 36 where I met the one and only…HINES WARD!
Greg and I continued to share memories of our beloved city together for the next  year and in the fall of 2008 he decided to pop the question, right before our annual Halloween celebration with friends.


After our engagement, I did not waste anytime, and immediately started planning our black and gold themed wedding.  The goal was to bring all things Pittsburgh back to Rochester, NY where we would host the wedding.
We decided to have our engagement pictures taken in the city.


Before celebrating the BIG day, we both had our bachelor & bachelorette parties in the city on the same night.  Greg and the guys went golfing and then headed to the casino…while the girls attended the Pirates game, where yours truly was “Fan of the Game” and then partied the night away with great friends.




After 11 months of planning, it was time to celebrate our love for each other and our love for the city of Pittsburgh!



We had a choreographed bridal dance that incorporated all of the Pittsburgh sports teams, because after all we were married in the same year the Steelers won the Super Bowl and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup!

The bridal dance was such a hit, it was featured on a local news and radio station.
Shortly after marriage, it was time to start thinking about starting a family.  Greg and I became pregnant in July of 2010 and expecting a baby in early April. To our surprise, she came 5.5 weeks early and spent some time in the NICU at Magee before she was able to come home.  We now have a happy, healthy, and very active 2 year old on our hands! It was not long before she began to experience the love we had for our city.  She attended 8 Pirates games and 2 Penguins games during her first year of life.






















At 2 years old, she continues to show off her Pittsburgh Pride!

We have been busy making memories with our daughter in the city we call home.  We are looking forward to creating many more memories and exciting new adventures!!
How much do YOU love Pittsburgh, PA?

Giveaway: Chick-fil-A Premium Salads

When we are on the go, one of our favorite places to grab a healthy bite to eat is Chick-fil-A!! We have been fans of Chick-fil-A for years and now that we have a picky eating toddler on our hands, Chick-fil-A is our #1 choice!  Not only is the food made with premium ingredients, but the family friendly restaurant & service always makes for a very pleasant experience.

For years my personal favorite is the #1 value meal: the original Chick-fil-A sandwich, fries and a drink...oh, and I never for get the special Chick-fil-A sauce!

But I am thinking it is time for a change, a change from my original favorite, to a healthier option.  We are almost halfway through 2013 and with summer quickly approaching, it is time for our family to get active and eat healthier!

I was excited to hear that Chick-fil-A recently introduced 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap all under 430 calories. I am excited to try the New Grilled Market Salad (2 servings of veggies & 1 serving of fruit).  This salad is only 180 calories, an excellent source of vitamin A & C, and rich in antioxidants.

Premium Ingredients include:

sliced grilled chicken

chopped romaine lettuce & baby greens

red cabbage

carrots

fresh apples, strawberries, & blueberries

roasted nut blend

harvest nut granola

crumbled blue cheese

Chick-fil-A has graciously allowed me to host a giveaway where one lucky reader will WIN 2 free Chick-fil-A Salad coupons.

Here's how to enter:
*take the Are You a Starter? Quiz, by clicking on the link below.
*leave a blog post comment telling me which Fresh Made Chick-Fli-A item you would like to try!

Additional Entries (leave a blog comment below telling me that you did each one of these):
*follow Chick-fil-A on Twitter
*Tweet about the New Premium Salad options, be sure to include Chick-Fil-A & the hashtag #Freshmade in your tweet
*LIKE Chick-fil-A on facebook
*Like Our Journey as Rookie Parents Blog on Facebook
*Follow ME on Twitter

Contest ends Friday May 24th at midnight! Good Luck!!

Chick-fil-A believes that now is the time to..."take your taste buds to greener pastures."




*Chick-fil-A provided me with 2 salad coupons to give away to a lucky reader, all opinions are my own.