Voyages in Parenthood

It doesn't take much to get me a kiss from Leda. All I have to do is point at my lips and she will come over and give me a kiss. And there are times I don't even have to ask, like in the morning, after she will climb into bed with me. She will put her arms around me and give a kiss right on the lips. It's her way of telling us she loves us. She very rarely will tell us she loves us, except for repeating after we say it to her. But the kissing, it really tells us how much she loves us. In the past couple of weeks, the kissing has changed a bit...She grabs the sides of my head and pulls me in for a kiss that lasts for several seconds. It's almost a passionate like kiss. Like a lover's kiss, without the open mouth (thank goodness!) Once, after the second or third time she kissed me like that, I asked her what that was for, and she told me, "that's how Ariel kisses Prince Eric, like this," and she does it again, with emphasis! What the heck are those Disne

Brock's cousin Tim Wendel has a new book out...and he's doing something pretty cool... If you purchase his new book Red Rain between now and Veteran's Day (November 11th), Writer's Lair Books will donate a portion of the book sale to Operation Homefront , an organization that helps support military families in need. For more information about Red Rain , visit Tim's website . I just ordered my copy!

It's 7:20 PM on a Friday night and I am looking up the lyrics to a song on the web. Okay, so that's not totally weird...I've been know to look up lyrics on the web from time to time. The song I'm looking up is "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys" and that is kinda weird because I pretty much know those lyrics top and bottom, left to right and probably backwards as I think I saw every episode of the Monkeys at least 5 times. Okay, yes, I thought Davy was cute, but I really kinda had a thing for Mickey! But that isn't what was just plain weird about this situation. No, what was just plain weird, bizarre even, was the REASON I was looking up the lyrics for the song "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys" (anyone want to take bets on whether or not that song makes it into my iTunes library by the end of the weekend???). The reason I was looking up the lyrics is because BROCK WAS TRYING TO SING THE SONG! Yes, my husband! That was weird! And the reason I had to

Something I am going to try here every Friday...Friday's Random 10 songs from my iPod: Brooks & Dunn, That's What She Gets For Loving Me Percy Sledge, When A Man Loves A Woman Todd Rundgren, Hello It's Me Collective Soul, Precious Declaration The Mamas & The Papas, California Dreamin' Journey, With A Tear Hall & Oates, She's Gone Juluka, Siyayilanda Jonny Lang, Darker Side Kenny Chesney, When the Sun Goes

Brock asked Leda to join us downstairs in the living room after dinner... Leda: "I can't" Mommy: "Why not?" Leda: "I'm getting married!" Mommy: "Oh really, to whom?" Leda: "Cinderella!" Things that make you go, HMMMMMMMM!

I might add some more, but I think I'm keeping what I got here. I'm pretty happy with it now. It's inspiring me to come up with a few new posts, something other than a regurgitation of our weekends. I've got a few rolling around in this head of mine. Just have to get them down in a post and hit 'publish' so stay tuned! In the meantime, check out the new site. There's some new stuff over there on the right...I added my Good Reads stuff, books that are on my beside table (that means they will eventially be read! I'm currently reading Edgar Sawtelle!) I think I may have added a new blog or two to my list as well! At least I won't have to rearrange my bedroom now! ;-)

I'm kinda digging this look. I might keep it for awhile!

Warned ya. Should have warned myself. I have lost my old template (well, it's not lost, just hiding) and I have lost all the comments made on this blog since the beginning of time (and, as far as I can tell, they are not in hiding, them GONE!) At any rate, please don't get too used to the look. It could be changing like a chameleon walking on a Jackson Pollack painting over the next few days or so! UPDATED: FOUND THEM, I FOUND THEM. The comments, that is. Swell!

I promise, I am totally thinking of ways to make the posts on this blog less boring and more exciting. I mean, reading about our weekends can't be that much fun! Even I find them a bit boring, and I was the one having the fun over the weekend! How bad can that be? So this will be brief...Brock and I did make it out for the evening on Friday all by ourselves. This after much pleading from the offspring that she should be allowed to come with us, that we are a family and we should DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER! PLLLLLEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE??? As soon as Caitlyn (the babysitter) arrived, she forgot she had parents..."oh, are you two still here? When are you leaving?" We had a wonderful dinner at the Black Lab in town (I highly recommend - food has always been excellent. Oh, and if you are gonna get yourselves a bottle of wine, may I suggest the 2005 Clos Du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon - it was really good!) After dinner we took a walk around town since it was a nice enough night and it was a

Gotta love Talk Like a Pirate Day! Although, I don't think I can talk like that on my conference call later today with the client! Oh well! Oh, and yeah, it's our Anniversary. Only 10 years. No big deal! ;-) Plans for this evening are leave Leda with babysitter, go have a nice dinner and then see movie... Burn After Reading ...I'm really looking forward to it. The dinner. And the spending time with my husband of 10 years. Oh, yeah, and the Brad Pitt and George Clooney action won't be too bad either! ;-)

Yesterday was a BUSY day! We were up at the crack of dawn, I had some work to get started and Leda had to make sure I was up and about early enough! Actually, it was a good thing...it allowed us to spend the rest of the day with a very busy schedule. After I got my work started and Leda got some breakfast and we both got dressed (there was even a shower in there for me!) we headed on out to meet Aunt Jennifer and Aunt Karen and Paige and Sydney at the Durhams for our morning at the barn! First, we stopped at WaWa for some coffee for me and water for Leda and what did we see but LOTS of MINIs preparing to go out on a little rally around Chester County! There must have been about 50 MINIs ready to go...all sorts - Coopers, Copper Ss, Convertibles, Clubmans! It was awesome. Turns out it was the PhillyMini club - a forum I had been a part of ages ago when I first got the MINI! It looked like a lot of fun and Leda and I think we should join back up with the group and start going on some of

It's a girl's weekend...Daddy is off working for the weekend and Leda and I are left here to fend for ourselves. I think we are doing a pretty darn good job of it! I still don't understand the mind of a toddler...will sleep late during the week but just about never fails to wake up in the 6 o'clock hour (that would be closer to the 6 in the AM!) on the weekends. Both days. What is up with that? Granted, I have work to do this morning...better to do it earlier than later, since we have a big day ahead! But still! Anyway, yesterday was a fun day. Leda and I got ourselves dressed and ready for the day fairly early. As we were getting dressed, I had the local news on and they were doing a piece on all the Friday Night high school football games and Leda started cheering..."Go Eagles! Go Eagles!" I had to explain to her that yelling Go Eagles was a very good thing, but only when the Eagles were playing. I tried to explain to her that there are other football teams.

Well, we made it! Today was Leda's first day of Nursery School! It went pretty well, minus a bump or two! First, Leda had to model her Going To School Outfit and Backpack... ...the front... ...and the back... Then, we were properly prepared to leave for school! I went along this morning...Brock actually stayed in the car and I walked Leda up to her classroom. We got to our classroom and placed our backpack in the area outside the room and Leda kinda got a look on her face, like, what's going on here?? So we headed into the room and Leda kinda looked around while I was waiting to sign her in and then she headed to the other side of the room to play with the toys. I signed her in and around that time, she came back and looked at me and said, grabbing onto my hand, "Mommy, I want you to stay with me." Okay, yeah, heart broke! I told her that Daddy would pick her up and before I could even finish telling her this, she just burst out in tears. Were there other kids in the

Leda had her orientation this morning at her nursery school, where she got to meet her teachers and the kids in her class! She really liked it. The YMCA, which is right around the corner from our house, runs a nursery school. They used to run it out of the church which is right around the OTHER corner from our house (the church that married Brock and I). This year, they moved back to the Y. It was a bit of a re-acquaintance for Brock and I since we have been members of the Y for YEARS but have hardly stepped foot in the place in the past 4 years! Anyway, last night I went for Parent's orientation and got acquainted with the teachers and some of the other parents and this morning was Leda's turn. Brock and I took her straight to her classroom where she kinda stood back looking around for a few minutes, then started to look at the toys and other stuff in the room, then was straight on into playing with the toys. There are three boys and eight girls in her class. Oh, and just for

Oh man, how am I going to make it through to next summer???? I sure hope it's true and the man is gonna make a come back! So looking forward to it! I really couldn't get into the Tour this year. I tried, but just couldn't muster enough interest in anyone or any team (well, I kinda liked Christian Van De Velde - I'll be watching what he does for next year!) Guess I'll be keeping posted on Lance's moves! So looking forward to the Tour 09!

We bought the Flip Video camera last week....I've got some other video to post. But today was too funny...Leda wanted to dance to the ooka ooka song . So I let her listen, then remembered, I could tape it. It's very cute. Unfortunately, I stopped thinking about what I was doing and started to sing...oops! It's only half a bar and it's around midway, so turn down the volume about then!

Oh yeah, guess what starts this weekend...that's right, FOOTBALL! Okay, so it really starts tonight, Redskins vs. Giants. We started watching the beginning of the game...Michael Strahan presenting the Lombardi trophy to Giants Stadium and indicating they were the best fans in the whole world...oh yeah? I got a beef with that! So I started the Eagles chant, which scared the Dog and the Husband out of the house. But my little offspring...oh yeah, she's got Cunningham blood in her alright! She chanted along with me...well, she yelled "Go Eagles" at the TV and Michael Strahan. Yep, she'll be chanting the Eagles Chant with me by the end of the season...heck, I wouldn't be surprised if I can teach her the whole fight song! Yes, the Dog and the Husband are afraid...very afraid! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Oh Yeah! Bring it on!

For the Official End of Summer, we headed north to the Thousand Islands for the weekend. Unfortunately for us, we only had the extra holiday day this time around...usually we spend several extra days around the weekend in the Islands around Labor Day, but we really didn't have any vacation time left to use. So only two full days to rest and relax. Brock's brother Dan was in from Portland. His wife, Maggie, was spending the weekend with her family in Syracuse and Uncle Dan came up to spend some time with Grandpa and Nana Pam. And, since we hadn't seen him since his wedding in Portland last summer, we headed on up to spend a little time with him. We were really bummed that we missed Aunt Maggie, but hopefully we will see her soon! It really was a relaxing weekend, with beautiful weather. We drove up on Friday night after work. It was a little rainy on the way up and it rained over night, but Saturday was a beautiful day. Not really hot, but sunny and warm and just wonderful.