Happy 3rd Birthday Marley!

My name is Marley

and I'm 3 years old!

Happy Birthday Son!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud. xoxo

A Big Milestone Week!

The word of the day is Milestone(s)- noun. A significant event in your life (or in a project). Well, if that is the true definition I am proud to say, milestones are a daily thing in our lives.

And I feel a need to honor a couple of my joyous and proudest moment, before the next milestone happens. This has been an incredible week to witness and it is really hard for me to describe how proud I am and how fast Marley has matured.

The first thing that I would like to mention is ~Marley's first Big Boy Concert:

The Michael Jackson's Circus Soliel Immortal Tour

Everyone that knows my almost 3 yr. old, knows he is obsessed with Michael Jackson. I introduced MJ to Marley when he was 6 months at a mommy and me screening of "This is It".

Then it was release on DVD and gifted to him by his Auntie Lynn, which he watched it religiously! Then on visits to his Auntie Tracie's he would play the Wi Michael Jackson Dance game...... Michael Michael every Michael. He is hooked! He can show you signature moves on the spot and he can sing his songs by title.

My friend Khalid Freeman, an amazing dancer who I met working with Stomp, offered us tickets to see the MJ tribute show in Anahiem, CA at the Honda Center. We could not refuse the offer so Marley and I, along with my beautiful friends Jim and Donisha carpooled to Honda Center in the nick of time and Marley sat there enthralled with the music, mesmerized by the movement, he was spellbound! I kept on looking at his little face. Watching him remain still.....just watching and listening! Wondering what an incredible impact this was going to have on his heart, his brain, his dreams! Priceless.

#2 Marley is Potty Trained! On January 20th, I sent him to school with underwear and he came home dry!!!! His teacher reassured me that he could do it, I was skeptical for sure, but low and behold he did it. He poos and pees in the toilet! We can drive in the car and he will tell me Mommy I have to go. or if we are at a restaurant he will tell me he has to Go!? I never thought my day would come so soon, but it did. And I would tell frustrated Mommies.....don't worry Boys will get it weeks before their 3rd Birthday, at least that's what all the books said.

#3 I have to tell you that, Marley says the most humorous things sometimes....... One evening we were in the car and while I was driving; President Obama was on the radio presenting his State of the Union address. Marley heard the applause and started clapping himself. He said "Mommy we won, we won"! I was a little surprised and I just agreed with him and said "Yes, we won, we are winners. You are a winner. You are number one"! And Marley said "Thanks Mom, and you're number two!".........Thanks Marls? LOL

#4 Marley's birthday is coming up soon and I asked him what kind of birthday party he wanted? Marley clearly said "I want I want a black party". HUH? A WHAT? I took a breath..... quite frankly I didn't know how to answer his request. So very gently and softly I asked him what do you mean a black party? You know mama......... it's when everyone says, shhhh shhhhh and then they go SUPRISE!!! Ohhhhhhh a Surprise Party! LOL

#5 Haircut.....check. Marley would not let myself nor Ahmed cut his hair, but a complete stranger? Marley asked ,"Are you the Barber?" She chuckled and said "I'm the Barberette". Her kiddie shop was tricked out with a flat screens, toys, lollipops, and a deluxe Spongebob square pants chair. She let him touch the gentle clippers, he sat in my lap, completely distracted by Dora the Explorer, Twenty minutes later, we were done! What?! Cut to: me walking in the house one day, Ahmed is a pool of his own sweat ,on the verge of tears telling me "I can't do this"! LOL

Grand Mommie and Grandpa

Marley had a great time over the holidays bonding with his grandparents. There is something said for the connection children have with their grandparents....their family. They just know, that they are loved and adored no matter how far the distance. They all brought out the kindest and most loving selves out of each other and it was such a beautiful thing to witness. My parents are so proud of their grandchildren. They can talk hours on end about Marley and London. And I am so happy that they have new Joy!

Everyday I look at Marley and see how fast he is growing......I sometimes want it to stop, because I love him and enjoy being his mommy so much! Then I thought of my parents.......I appreciate them and love them so much, even with their over protectiveness growing up or the cautious decision making; to this free spirited daughter....I get it! I will always know that my folks forever will have my back and that is something that I will be for my family. And I thank you Mom and Dad for that lesson. I'm blessed and so is Marley.

St.Kitts 2011

My morning view My life

Yo Gabba Gabba Concert

I completely forgot to record the Yo Gabba Gabba concert we attended the day after Thanksgiving 2011. I must mention, last year I bought our family tickets to attend last year. Unfortunately, Ahmed couldn't make the concert because he had booked a gig on that same weekend. But this year we were fortunate to make the concert together and we had a great time. The Yo Gabba Gabba World has been a big part of our lives. It has put together social life lessons in really fun musical ways. Sitcom fashions perfect for your 2yr to understand; ie. why it's important to share, why we wash our hands, why we should not be afraid, trying new things, etc. I like to call this program part of Marley's Nickelodeon University.

We were so excited for the concert to begin. All of the children concert goers were wearing their favorite characters on their shirts, hats, scarfs, shoes,etc. Even some of the parents were rocking their favorite characters too. It was so much fun, I think we were slightly more excited to rock out to our Gabba songs than Marley was. The show began and we must have looked ridiculous to Marley because we were singing the songs really loud, smiling like crazy parents, ogling our eyes, over enunciating words to coax him to do the dance and sing a long. I so wish we could have had his visuals.....because he could have totally blackmailed us for life! All in all Marley fell for it and loved every minute. We even got a hook up through a dancer friend of mine who dances in the Brobee character costume. She invited us to the VIP Backstage experience, taking pictures with all of the characters, listening to DJ Lance Rock and Leslie reading stories to the children and beat boxing with the one and only Biz Markie. It was an amazing nite. I was so happy to experience this day as a family.

Marley's Joke!

When I think of two year old...I think of a toddler, a little mind just getting the gist of putting sentences together, a little boy running to the potty, experiencing their first taste of independence. At two years old, most would think they would be oblivious to adult conversation or humor. Terrible two's , Little Monsters, what ever you want to call your toddler, from what I can remember ...... back when I was two? We were not nearly as smart as this generation!

My Marley is a very outgoing an social little boy. When I was growing up, children were really quiet and encouraged to speak when spoken to, got sent out of the room, etc. etc. And honestly I don't remember having a problem with that, because quite honestly I was very shy. I didn't want to be in a room of adults and much rather hanging out with children my own age. Where as Marley is not bothered! He is very comfortable talking with adults just the same as he is with children. And he is starting to find his humor and understand comedic timing! He is very funny. And I am going to share an anecdote from Thanksgiving 2011:

As you all could imagine, getting a 2 year old to eat can be very challenging. Especially when the objective is to get some green veggies and protein on the plate. Well, on ThanksGiving we had a beautiful spread of food at Marley's Godparent's house. We had a buffet style system and then we brought our plates to the dining room for a sit down dinner. Marley loves juice and if I let him drink it straight up I'd be in trouble by now. But right next to his plate of food was a cup of half diluted water and juice. Across the table sat Uncle Darrel his God Father. Uncle Darrel move his juice away and said to Marley "Now Marley, you have to eat before you drink all of this juice". Marley started his slow moaning cry, while is face slowly morphed into an ugly sad face. Darrel felt so bad he quickly said "OK,OK, don't cry" I quickly had to support Darrel and reinforce the no juice before eating. I put his juice back next to Darrell's plate and said to Marley; Uncle Darrel is right you have to eat before you drink. So we all started eating and talking and having a great time. I would say about 15 minutes had passed by, Marley apparently thought this was a great opportunity to grab his drink while we were all distracted. In the midst of our laughter, from the corner of my eye I see Marley's hand reaching slowly across the table and Darrell said very slowly "M aaaaa r l e y". The dining room got really quiet, and Marley responded, "I know, I know Eat-pth! out of the side of his mouth with a smile and we all busted out laughing! It was perfect.

Comedic perfection at 2yrs old. Well done son.

Love your #1 Fan,

Mama

Travel Town!!!

Today we spent the morning at Travel Town in Griffith Park. We celebrated the Sparks twins (Dashielle and Langston's) 4th Birthday in a fantastic old train car. There were rides, rail road tracks, conductors.......... a little boys wonderland. A great party for two really great little boys. Seems like yesterday when Ahmed and I were at the hospital holding one each, 5 pound little boys. Marley had a great time and this was the first birthday party he didn't blow out the someone else's Birthday candles!!!!!! My little boy is growing up!