Little things

I don't have any pictures to post, so sorry mom. But I wanted to type a bit about the cute things Brendan did today that melted my heart. Today he turned 10 months old!!! I can't believe he is already ten months old. He's such a big boy!!! I love him more and more each day. He's getting to be SO stinkin' fun. And challenging.

Well, first of all the little dude woke me up at 2am, 4am, 6am, 8am, 10am, and we got out of bed at 12:45pm. I dont' know HOW the heck people do it with more than one kid. I can barely handle the one. I think he's teething, or going through a growth spurt, 'cause that boy is HUNGRY! So his waking up every two hours didn't melt my heart. Just for the record. For someone with chronic fatigue syndrome, that's NOT fun times.

Anyway...for the cute list...I just love how he always crawls over and knocks off every dvd/vhs on the bottom two shelves of our bookcase. It's still cute to me. I'm sure in awhile it won't be, but it is right now still. It's just funny...no matter how many times he sees me putting them back he wants them on the floor. It's impossible to keep a single movie up there.

I also think it's funny how he pushes the buttons on our tv/dvd player so many times we canNOT get through five minutes of a movie without restarting it and 'scene selecting' to get back to where we stopped. It's kinda funny! I tried watching "Cloverfield" again today (good movie!) and not only could I NOT get through a full scene, he busted my remote by throwing it across the room and squealing in delight at the distance covered. So now I not only have to restart scenes I have to physically get up to go clear to the tv to do so. Poor me, I know! Imagine that. :D

I love how he pushes his cars back and forth and sing talks to them. He pushes them around like a big kid...and then will push them to you, expecting you to push them back. It's so cute! And oh my word he LOVES those dogs! He crawls right up to the gate and just pats and scratches on it, and squeals. We had to put a gate up so he couldn't get to the dogs since Macy frequently releases her bladder due to old age. We had to safely keep him away from the inevitable pee puddles. And man is he mad about it! He wants to play with those dogs!!!

I love how he loves to play with the keyboard and dance to the rhythms. I love how he found the cupboards in the kitchen and now wants to play with the pots and pans ALL THE TIME! He makes a beeline to the pots cupboard and plays, trying to take out every pot. And gets SO excited every time he opens that cupboard door! He has discovered doors too...he LOVES to push them closed, pull them open, etc. He gets SO MAD when they close so far that they latch though...and he'll yell at me to come open it for him. The funniest is when he accidentally locks himself in the bathrooms...he starts yelling the second that door closes. I'm always standing right there though, so it's okay.

He has also discovered how to wave! He waves at me all the time now! Everytime I walk in or out of the room he waves hi or bye. And when we walk into the bathroom and he sees the mirror he waves at the baby in the mirror! He's so friendly. :) It's so cute when he and Lamar walk me out to my car, on my way to rehearsal. He'll wave at me as I drive out of the driveway, heart pinged with guilt that I'm leaving at all. That poor baby...mommy being gone every night. I need a break. But it's really sweet having him wave at me goodbye.

He has also gotten to the point where he HATES getting his diaper changed. He starts protesting before I even lay him on the bed now. And contorts his body around so much that it takes two of us sometimes to lay him flat to change his diaper. Most of the time he yells about it, but sometimes he laughs his head off, trying to escape. He has also developed a little opinion. He wants mommy and daddy's food. He's ok with his own baby food, but if we're eating he wants what we've got. And there is no sense of ownership. What is ours is HIS in his mind. And we are the ones keeping him from what he wants. It's so funny.

He has also started doing this cheesy grin thing to us too. If he's sitting on the floor playing and we call out to him to get his attention, he'll look up at us and just CHEESE at us. And then look away/back at his toys. It cracks us up. Especially if I have a camera...oh man that kid is a ham. He knows that camera is there to take his picture and he'll pose slightly and grin prettily every time. I love my baby.

Today he did the SWEETEST thing though...my favorite thing he's done in awhile. I was singing around the house, picking up stuff when I looked over at him and he was reaching his arms up for me to pick him up. (I love that. I'm sure in a couple of months I won't, but I do now. It's so sweet that he wants me.) I picked him up and he just put his head on my shoulder and hugged me while I sang "Sound of Music" to him and danced with him. He'd every now and then pick up his head and look me straight in the eye, kiss me on the cheek, and go back to listening to me sing with his head on my shoulder. It was SO SWEET. It was as if he liked mommy singing to him, dancing with him, and he just wanted to take in the moment. I know I did. It was so sweet. He's been too busy to cuddle with me. It was sweet that he just wanted to listen to mommy. OH and every now and then he'd 'sing' a little too. It was darling and MELTED my heart. I love that kid.

Wanted to share some sweet moments of today. I REALLY need to babyproof my house completely, cupboards and all this week. It's SO tiring chasing him around, making sure he doesn't get into every cupboard, or stand up at every toilet. I have to shut all doors and keep an eye on him when he ventures into the kitchen. It's a full time job watching that little man! I love it though. :) He's so fun. I don't know how any mom ever gets anything else done. Once I put the babyproofing stuff up I'm sure it'll be easier.

Quick story...cool news!

Okay...so I have to share my funny and very cool story for today. I'm at my students' house today teaching them. They have a band and they're quite good. They were picked up by a producer by the name of Cris Judd. (Jennifer Lopez's ex hubby that was a backup dancer to her. Yes, as in THE JLo.) Cris and his partner Darren are the two producers that have been working on my kids' album. (Cris is, if I understand correctly, choreographing for Bette Midler here on the Strip?) They sound great because of Darren. Darren is a musical genius that can take a pretty good song and make it totally marketable AND artistic. He's brilliant. Darren's wife Rosalie is a fabulous singer. She is Phillipino and has the coolest funk rock sound. My students have been going on and on about her demo cd and I was hoping to hear it someday. She sings backup on my students' album. I've heard so much about her and was excited to find out that she and Darren were both coming over while I was teaching the kids today.

Rewind...the first time I met Darren the first thing he said to me was NOT "Hi, I'm Darren, nice to meet you." It was "Are you the vocal coach? Can I have a word with you in the other room?" And he then asked me 500 questions about why the lead vocalist has so many issues. I think I adequately convinced him it was because the cute kid would NOT listen to me and do what I've been trying to get him to do forever. We spoke the same language though, and his worries about me as a teacher were calmed pretty quickly I hoped. I hoped he realized it was NOT me. He even sat through me teaching my student a lesson. I never saw him again after that, but since I was still teaching the boys I assumed he liked me enough to not fire me. LOL.

SOOOO....apparently he sat my student down and told him to listen to me, and he HAS BEEN! It's been a miracle. The kid has totally blossomed in just two months. He can rock out now and FINALLY listens to me. HALLELUJAH! His album sounds great. There is still TONS and TONS of room for improvement, but at least he's listening to me now!!!!

Okay...so back to today...Darren and his wife Rosalie come over. It was my first time meeting Rosalie. They are totally cool and laid back and easy to be around. Not pretentious or anything like that. But of course I'm still nervous, just 'cause. I'm silly. I told her I'd love to hear her demo, since I really like her stuff on my kids' cd. I'm nervous he's going to say something else about my student to me by the end of the lesson. And sure enough, as we're all leaving, he asks if he can walk me out. So I'm gearing up to talk all about my student with him...etc...when they ask me to get in their car...they want to show me something. Okay.... so I do. They wanted to show me Rosalie's demo. Okay...naturally...I did just say I'd love to hear it. So he plays about six tracks from it...HOLY CRAP she's amazing and her music is SO COOL! It's like funky rock...better than No Doubt/Gwen Stefani/Fergie, etc. I immediately wanted to buy the cd so I could dance to it. I LOVED Darren's music and her voice. They make a great pair. So I started talking to her about her voice. (I was amazed I was brave enough to do so) We're on the same page. Suddenly Darren turns to me and says "How much do you charge for voice lessons? Wanna teach Rosalie once a week?" HUH!?!??! My jaw dropped and of course it didn't show. I totally played cool and was like "sure...that would be fun." HELLO!?!? These guys know tons of people...you'd think they'd know a ton of voice teachers. But apparently he really likes me?!?!? And I'm cheap, compared to top name guys.

So...I'm going to teach her at Cris Judd's recording studio downtown on the Strip so they can record the lessons for her. And Darren SAID he'd recommend me to his other clients...we'll see if he follows through on that. But still, just the fact the whole thing came up took me by surprise. It was very cool. The cooler thing is that I TOTALLY have confidence in myself as a voice teacher. I know I can help her. I've had every bad habit in the book myself and now how to fix them. (Mostly...still a work in progress.) But at least I know HOW. I'm really excited to get to work with such a great voice. And she's really cool. She really has a future ahead of her too...her demo is sooo great. I can't wait to get a copy. So I've been really excited all day. I hope it all works out.

Oh ya...AND to top off an already great day I just got asked to join the board at Signature Productions! They are a theater company here in Vegas that does musicals and straight plays...I've done "Into the Woods" with them, and hopefully will get to be able to do "Beauty and the Beast" with them again in the fall. I have a lot of friends on the board, with Sandra and Steve being the main ones. I love them! So it'll be a BLAST to get to work with them and the other members. I'm excited to be a part of the board. Fun adventures ahead! :D

Wanted to share my fun story for the day. :) I'm sure hardly anyone will read it, 'cause people usually just go to blogs for picts, but if you did. Cool! :)

Brendan playing the keyboard and dancing

Grandma Karen, Grandpa Wylie, Cheyenne, Lamar, Brendan, and I were all hanging out on Father's Day, watching Brendan play and make a huge mess of our living room. (I need to buy him a toy chest for downstairs.) He loves it when I put the keyboard on the ground for him to play with. The child finds features I have NO CLUE how to use/find on that thing. And just dances to the rhythms. It's so stinkin' cute. He was putting on a show for us all, so I taped him. :) I have a ton more where he gets bored with the current key, stops playing with his toy, reaches over, pushes one key to change it, and goes back to playing with his toy, until he gets tired of that key, and repeats the process. It's sooooo stinkin' cute! I would upload those too tonight, but I'm too tired. Next time. :) He was the entertainment of the night.

Brendan peed on Grandma!

So...Grandma Karen came to visit, and Brendan peed all over her on accident, while she was changing his diaper. We were laughing so hard I could barely shut up to film it. (You know me and my obnoxious laugh) Well, this one might take the cake in the obnoxious laugh category. My mom and I had to listen to the video about ten times, making fun of this goofy laugh. Good times. I love the way it ends. LOL! I love my mom!

My darling little boy...who couldn't WAIT for me to put down the darn camera and give him a BATH! :)

More BATB photos

Okay...so wanted to share some fun picts from the show and from backstage fun. :) We just had closing night on Saturday, so I have a few minutes to breathe finally. I didn't load any pictures before of my old beggar woman makeup/costume, so I did this time.

Here's me applying my old age scary makeup. I'd apply the beggar woman makeup before the show, since I played her in the prologue. After the prologue was over I'd RUN down the stairs back into the dressing room and my friend Alda, the makeup artist, would help me apply my wardrobe/Bouche makeup. It was quite the quick change every night. I'd barely make it in time for my next entrance every night! At first I murmured about being the old lady, since I just wanted to sit in my Bouche stuff and read, but I came to love doing it. :)

I couldn't decide which scary beggar woman picture to post, so I posted several... I feel like I looked like the emperor in Star Wars, or a Jedi gone to the dark side...

As Batman... I freaking LOVED this cape! I want one! This picture doesn't do it justice. It was HUGE and very heavy. I couldn't show how vast it was in the small hallway.
Offering the selfish prince a rose...backstage...with a hanger... I just think the rose looks cool in this shot.
Me and Jen...who I supposedly turn into...the beautiful enchantress. :) Clearly one of us is the beautiful enchantress and one is not. LOL
During the show...in the prologue, offering a single rose for shelter from the bitter cold...

Okay...enough of the beggar lady.

Alda's new and improved makeup for me that progressed into this every night...much better! Thank you Alda! This is what we transformed me face into after that ugliness up there in very very little time. I swear I have new wrinkles after three weeks of that rough scrubbing off of makeup!!!

Closing night makeup job...I have so much glitter on that no matter how many times I wash my face/hair it is all over me. It's quite maddening, actually, trying to constantly get it off myself!

Now...as Bouche!

My favorite Bouche picture...

Some more fun ones...

I felt like Lucy Arnaz in a box some nights...isn't that a darling costume?!?!?
"I performed at the ROYAL OPERA! The King himself was there!""Human Again"...look how much bigger I am than everyone else onstage!!!! LOL
Recalling my aria I sang for the king....I'm finally human again!
Fun times. Okay...these are taken after closing night. We were let loose onstage with a camera. Weeee! :) Isn't the inside of my costume darling?!?!?
My silly friends... :) I love them.


Jen and I...our other much more fun alter egos. The other personalities were the beggar woman and enchantress...as Babette and Bouche.
Me and Chippers...our Chip, played by 11 year old Brett who happens to have the same birthday as Brendan. I mothered him the entire run...we bonded. :D
Me and Kari...Belle. Poor girl...she was SO ready to get out of that dress that night! :D

Bouche had a double date...
HiYA! Fighting with Gaston...it was our only second onstage together during the show...

My favorite picture, if it weren't for the idiot's T-shirt behind us...grrrr. Anyone know how to photoshop him out?!?!?

Gaston was framing Chip as I was playing pool with my spear...wow...we were really tired BEFORE we started strike. You can imagine us after....zzzzzzzz....At least you can tell how much fun we have as a cast...

He he...I was having fun and stalling starting strike... My makeup artist and good friend Alda! I love her! :)My collection of cards and presents after closing night. (The flowers not included.)

I really really enjoyed doing this show. I've been very happy lately. I feel like I grew as an actress, singer, puppeteer, etc. :) I had a complete blast! I was a little sad it closed last night, BUT we just got a tentative offer to reprise our roles for the same show/director this fall,since it was such a sold out success! So I'll keep you posted!!!!

Backstage shots

Here's my pretty human again costume!

More BATB picts courtesy of Sandra!

Me as the old beggar woman in the beginning that offers the prince a rose...he turns me away. The nerve! That makeup is fun. I'll have to post that one later too...I look like an evil jedi in that costume. At first I hated doing it, but now it's fun. :) The cape looks so cool in this shot!

The ending of "Be Our Guest". I'm on the far left in the big dresser costume.

Me scaring Lefou during the castle fight scene...LAAAAAA!

In my dramatic moment as I first turn human again....ah the good old days are back! (I really hate how none of my dresses ever fit! Sigh.)

We are all human again! Yay! And apparently I'm not bowing as much as every one else, but uh...hello? You try wailing a high C whilst hunching over. I don't think so! LOLDidn't Sandra take good photos? Thank you Sandra for letting me steal and post! :) More coming soon...

First photos of BATB courtesy of Sandra!

Okay...so my friend Sandra took some photos of our show tonight...wanted to post some picts! The costumers and Sandra (hair/makeup) did such a good job making us look cute. These were all stolen off her blog. I'm a plaigarist. :) But I love them, so I had to share. :)

Our Belle...my friend Kari...one of the sweetest ladies in the world. Love her.

Our Gaston and Lefou...my amigos Erik and Evan.

Sandra's hubby/my friend Steve as Lumiere and John as Cogsworth...

ME as Madame de la Grande Bouche! Kari as Belle, and Brooke as Mrs. Potts...Yes, I'm an armoir. I feel like Lucy Arnaz in that thing...it's so fun.

Quick note...that costume of mine is SO fun, but it's bulky, heavy after awhile, and in winds such as last night's 55 mph gusts I am a freaking sail. I had to put my head into the wind in a number of scenes last night. It made for interesting blocking.

Steve again, and Jen as Babette. They are so cute together onstage.

Kari, my friend Sevyn as the Beast, and Steve again.

All of the "Enchanted Objects" sans Chip cavorting around trying to come up with a way to romantically 'push' Belle and Beast together...

It's hard to see my face...I'll post more tomorrow of ones we took in the dressing room of my 'human again' costume. I'm too tired tonight. :)

Goodnight!

Brendan is army crawling!!! And lots of videos/pictures from our lazy Sunday.

Just wanted to include some videos we took tonight of Brendan army crawling around the house. He just started doing it this week. So fun! Now we have to watch him like a hawk since his new role is 'destroyer'. :) Here are some cute pictures of his new 18 mo pjs. :) We took a lot of pictures tonight, so there will be lots since I can never choose. We think they're all cute. We had a very lazy Sunday after church this morning. We stayed in our pjs, napped, and played all day.

I love his big blue eyes in this picture.

Such a happy guy in his new pjs.

They're a little big in the britches for him...he's not quite long enough. But the shirt fits perfectly. :)

He needs a haircut in a very bad way.

Crawling to the doggies! He likes them so much. He got too close to their water dish though...I could see disaster coming, so we had to cut it short. :)

Here's another one...he was getting mad at me for putting him further and further away from the dogs and he was getting tired of crawling. BUT the look he gives the camera in this one is so funny...had to share. :)

His 'whiney' face now just showed up in the past two days...he puckers his lips out in front, squishes up his face and breathes really loudly in protest of something. It's so weird! Here's a picture before the video, and then the whiney face video afterward. It cracks us up. New things every day...

In this whiney picture (he had a messy diaper he wanted us to change but we hadn't discovered it yet) you can see his new second tooth! It just came in this week...it's angled out though, already crooked, and far apart from this other tooth...uh oh!! Based on Mommy's and Daddy's teeth he'll end up with braces...

The whiney face video that cracks us up....

Brendan's new favorite toy: the blinds! This video is long and kinda boring...the first 30 seconds are cute though...he's so clumsy.

We took too many naps after church today...we lounged around in our pjs all day with bad bed head etc. At midnight Brendan started a kissing mommy-fest that made my day. He was so excited and proud of himself for making me so happy-would jump and squeal after each kiss. It was precious. He had already kissed me about 30 times before we brought out the camera. It's sweet. (Forgive mommy's appearance! Eek!) BUT the best part of this video is when he gets done kissing me he sees the camera...WATCH that little mug break into a big smile, right in the middle of fussing 'cause he thinks we're going to take a picture. PROOF! LOL!!!! The little stinker. He's such a little actor already.

My two favorite men playing before bedtime...

We have such a hard time going to bed at night 'cause he gets so giggly and fun right before bedtime. Just past midnight Lamar and Brendan were playing with his easter ducky...I love his laugh. :)

Well...that was our Sunday! We had a fun family day/night. For once I was home for an entire day/night! It was fun to hang out as a family. Part of me can't wait for BATB to be over with so that I can spend every night like this for awhile...