old friends, painted toes, and ear bling.

there are many important rites of passage that a young one gets to experience in their lifetime. if we are lucky, as mommies and daddies we will get to experience many of them with our babies. as much as i want to keep these little ones...little, i feel blessed and superbly lucky that i get to watch these babies grow up.

as a parent, i have been a part of and watched so many 'firsts' come to fruition. initially, we do all the fun firsts that come with planning for a baby...crib shopping, nursery decorating, and pre baby diaper shopping. if we can get through the quintessential and most important-may-the-earth-stop-spinning-if-we-don't-choose-correctly question...huggies or pampers? we will finally get to meet our baby for the first time.

the moment when the earth most certainly did stop spinning and stood still and nobody breathed or made a single sound. the moment my heart was no longer mine. the moment when nothing else mattered but the sound of a crying baby and two beautiful brown eyes that seemed to know me at first whisper

it's nothing less than magic. i've never been to heaven, but i have to believe that this is the way heaven feels...love and light and beautiful and insanely perfect.

and then they hand us our baby and i get to tell her that i'm her mama and that i love her so much. that may be my favorite 'firsts' of all time.

first time i get to lay in my own bed and stare at the sweet creation in front of me for hours on end.

the first of many times i will hear my mom say, "i think she looks like just me!"

(she did, mom :)

first time she smiled while getting a bath!

first halloween costume!

first car ride to have dinner with all of our parents!

first of many family pictures!

first plane ride.

first time meeting santa claus!

there are many firsts that we have celebrated. little ones and big ones too!

and we have another first to be excited about...

peyton got her ears pierced!

and so did her cousin sophia!

first, we did the most fun part of the whole process, because after this was a big rite-of-passage and we wanted to do it right, so we let the girls choose their favorite earrings. i gotta say, it took awhile...

strawberries, blinged out peace signs, daisies, turtle, silver stars,... they were chosen and then tossed aside like a used q-tip. which ones would they choose?

they looked through every case...three times. they finally decided on matching sliver stars! then, the sales lady talked us into another $25 dollar purchase in order to get free money to use later...we were sucked in like suds to a hungry drain.

but our girls BEAMED, and so did we.

i wanted to cry tears of pride at how peyton reigned in her emotions and was brave and "i didn't cry, mommy!"

sophie and peyton strolled through the mall looking for more earrings, but we put our foot down at two pair each. instead watched as our girls ran into stores and tried on hats and scarves...acting like little teenagers ;(

two cousins and two mama's who, 6 years ago and probably over a cup of coffee while discreetly nursing our little girls, dreamt of the day that they would just have to get their ear pierced at the same time! i probably said something like, "ohhh, i can't wait. yes, we will do it together!"

and again i am reminded how fast time is going. yet, i am grateful for the reminder.

so we lived it up and had a very special night with our girls and each other!

***

a few days later...we got our boys together. and they get along like peanut butter and jelly!

it's getting warmer, but we found a public splash park and the boys had lots of fun together being boys.

***

then, i headed over to miami for less than a day to meet one of my oldest friends...one of my best friends from high school, renee.

we went to a comedy club where i drank two martini's: extra dirty, please. but her sister, vida whose kids i used to babysit when i was 13, let us pretend we were really young again and drove us to denny's for a late-night feast of nachos and mozzarella sticks. while fun...it's good i don't get out very often 'cause i really can't hang like i used to.

the next day. renee's mom (and almost mine too:) took a walk on the beach and talked about days passed. it was like going home again. it was like walking into my childhood home. it felt comfortable and safe. i felt really young, yet wiser. it felt so good.

love you, renee, aldona, and vida! xoxo

***

a few new recipes coming and this is one you don't want to try

i will post this recipe and more in a few days...promise!

in the meantime, if you want to make killer french toast this weekend...

go buy a soft french baguette and slice into inch or inch and half slices.

beat about 4 or 6 eggs with a cup of cream, some vanilla extract, a quick pour of orange juice (pulp optional), some orange zest (about a tablespoon), and 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

dip the bread in the egg mixture for about 5 seconds each side. then, place bread slices in pan of melted two tablespoons each veggie oil and butter. cook each side to golden brown.

another option: sprinkling cinnamon sugar on one side of the bread before browning it.

enjoy it because it's soooo good!

i served it with watermelon and oven cooked/thick cut bacon brushed with maple syrup!

***

i hope and pray that every 'first' will be as special and memorable as the ones we have had together so far.

hoping your days are filled with friends, family and some kind of muffin! muffins make me smile.

and... a sneak peek for a beautiful girl and her baby boy and his grandma too!

i had such a fab time spending time with you three.