I bought a sign for my dining room.

It says: If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.

I bought it for my children.

Because whoever you 2 are, whoever you grow up to be, whatever you choose to do or not do, whatever you believe, whatever you support, whomever you choose…

If you’re a bird. I’m a bird.

My child woke up at 4am. It’s been a long, very long day. I even texted a friend saying “Do you ever feel like you just can’t do this today?”

But then something happened. Sunny found her favorite glow sticks and gave one to me. She wrapped it around my head, and wore hers around her neck. Then she declared us twins.

Best. Moment. Ever.

Yep! We’re twins little one. I’ll take that. And for the record Sunny, I’m glad I was home with you today to experience that moment.

I promise a BIG post is coming soon. But in the meantime, on the last day of 2011 our daughter made a new friend at the park.

She went to a glow in the dark dance party at Bounce U.  You’re supposed to bounce in all of the bounce houses, but they played GaGa and The Party People, so mostly Sunshine just danced around the warehouse screaming “Shake your booty!!!”

Then we headed to her Godmother’s house for dinner and an early Happy New Year party!

I hope you’re New Year is the best of your life. I’ve gotta feeling that 2012 will be the Best. Year. Yet.

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My Mother In Law sent these photos from NC and I really really think they capture the tiny tornado that is my child.

I feel like the photo above really captures her appetite for all things food and drink. While the next photo (below) really says…

I am in charge and all of you are my human helpers/assistants.

*Note the little side eye. She’s like, hey you…this is my board room, you’re in my light!

For just one second can you imagine raising this kid? If you tell her that the president in Obama, she will respond with “Oh no…ME!” Then I say “Nooooo it’s Obama” then she says “Noooooo MEEEEEEEE! GAY-CEE”

I mean I think she might be someday- I’ll just stay out of her way.

In other news my brother made us this little sign to open and close our videos with…

Cute right? This way I don’t have to type www.littlelovestories.com I believe smart people with degrees in this type of stuff would call this branding…Thank you smart people and Christopher Statham.

Lastly ( is that a word) I would like to share with you my new favorite reality show. Seriously can’t get enough and I know what you’re thinking, Toddler and Tiaras is NOT new! But don’t worry it’s not T&T ( even though that is awesome) this is DANCE MOMS!

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/dance-moms

God I love these women. I hate that I love it- I also hate that I have visions of my Sunshine girl dancing around in a  tu-tu and competing in national shows and win titles!

*Side note my girlfriend Mother Dear is reading this rolling her eyes saying “Gracen is NOT that girl”- we’ve been threw this Jess she’s evolving into a sassy dancing princess accept it and move on!

PS. Can you write PS on a blog? Well whatever it’s mine, see how branding works??? Anyway thank you to those of you who sent in video of your little ones. I’ll be back soon with some vignettes of your kids AND welcome to our new readers we’re so glad you are here.

This past week we had a much needed break from the summer heat with the arrival of Auntie Erin.

(That shadowy figure is Erin waiting for the subway)

Erin and I have been best friends since we were 6 years old- and along with Nora the three of us are quite a team.

Through the years we have gone form 3 little girls to 3 grown women, a feat I pray Sunny is blessed with in this life. Though Erin now lives in the second city- she makes HUGE efforts to be here in NY a few times a year to spend time with our little people and growing families. She is the Auntie who gets on the floor to play, chases the toddlers around the park, cuddles the baby,  and teaches Sunny to stick out her tongue and how to dance like a ballerina! In her week -o- fun she joined us at Sesame Place (Lord help her), went to  music class,  and attempted a disastrous  lunch at Shake Shack ( why do we try to eat publicly with these tiny humans?).  Erin also spent lots of time indulging in gossip, wine, and cheese with me- I really love her for that.

Erin took me out for a night in the city on the lower east side and I literally didn’t recognize a place I use to frequent back when I was a single lady waiting for somebody to put a ring on it. ***Side note- that song came out when I was already married with a baby- I would have TOTALLY ROCKED THAT SONG as a single girl…now I pull Sunny’s hands over her head and teach her how to shake her fingers and tush while making a “That’s right boy???!!!” face.

Moving on… we love Auntie Erin and even though Sunny can’t seem to say Auntie Erin, she does ask minute to minute, “Where is her?” She walks into the guest room and says “Hi you!!!” Then upon realizing “her” is not there- she turns to me and ask “Where go?” I explained that people like Auntie Erin are mythical creatures who come to help us have lots of fun and then must go back to their world where adults have a good time,  the song Single Ladies still has meaning, and text messages from a new friend still gives you tiny butterflies. One day I’ll tell her how her Auntie Erin is the smartest woman I know, has read every book you can imagine, touched the lives of thousands of her students, and has never once let me down. I’ll tell her how great friends are born and live in your heart even if they are hundreds of miles away, and how she is the only reason Sunny hasn’t been featured on Toddlers and Tiaras, yet.

In truth I keep looking at the guest bedroom too- where her? I miss her so much, it’s as simple and complicated as that.

Saw this with Erin on the side of a building in Soho- Thought you guys would like it as much as I do.

I thought I’d share a little unedited video from Sunny’s music class, I think you’ll know why once you hear the song.

This was supposed to be a post about Sunny’s new boo-boo, but tonight a little intruder intruded on our evening. HUMPH! (see pic below)

Yep that’s her alright. Her name is Moos’ Baby and she is 100% available for adoption.

Back this winter there was a giant fat black and white cat who Sunny and I called Moo- because she looked like small cow with her hanging belly. But Moo had babies, and now one of them IE: Moos’ Baby has come back to her mother’s  old stomping ground.

She lives in Sunny’s princess castle in the backyard ( can you see it in the background of the above pic?) and she comes out in the mornings walks right up to my kitchen window and peers in. I honestly thought nothing of it, but tonight Matt and Sunny went outside and who comes  out to play but Moos’ Baby! She climbed in Matt’s lap, where he let my daughter pet her, and gave kisses to them both. I instructed Sunny to stay back, but her father, who I sometimes call Little Jesus was all too happy to pet the kitty, love the kitty, take pictures of my baby petting the kitty!

Meanwhile I’m standing in the back doorway blocking her from literally trying to run into my house. I can not believe this cat! I mean really? Do you know me? I’m not an animal person Moo. I’ve had a cat- I gave her away. Furthermore I own a dog who lives with my parents and the dog that lived here ran to her grave after spending 6 months with me.

I’m not kidding- I don’t like shedding animals, people, or children. Grosses me out- but that’s just me.

But here’s the thing I really feel so sorry for Moos’ Baby. She’s clearly friendly and sweet and really really needs a good home.

Now I’m not the “Bring a stray animal into your house and then explain to your child why said animal had to be brought to a shelter” type- but I’m really feeling like a sweet little kitty needs a sweet little home- just not this home.

So if you have a home that could use a friendly kitten- grown and raised in Brooklyn NY inbox me- I’ll have Matt capture the little critter and deliver her to your home. Seriously no charge. I’ll even pay for her flight to your place- she just can’t continue to live in my backyard- it makes me feel like a bad person and if you read this blog you know I have enough guilt on my plate.

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about Sunny’s PASSION? This holiday weekend we got a little taste of all that passion. Thank you Lord for a good camera and a fast trigger finger. Watch the magic unfold before you’re eyes and just imagine all of this PASSION with high pitched screaming….

I really think the second to last pic should be this years Christmas card- what do you think?

Happy Holiday’s!!! Love the Willoughby’s

*It should be noted that this was the day that all of her adoring fans Grandparents left town and the adjustment was just too much.*

Dear Sunny,

I recently read an article about the effects a Mother’s words & actions can have on a child’s self esteem and it seems as though I owe you an apology.

As you grow up you will do what I do, you will be me until you learn to be you. It’s not a bad thing, its natural in fact, but you’ll hit the age of 15 and realize that some of the things that I believe are not things that you’ll choose to believe. On our long journey from here to there it is my job to encourage you, teach you, and protect you. But sometimes I make mistakes, and the mistake that I’ve made is repeating bad habits that were passed down to me.

Sometimes my darling you are challenging. You can and do scream often, demand all of my attention, and throw your sippy cups across the coffee table when you are angry with me. You throw all 25 pounds of your body on the floor and stick your tush up in the air in protest, you give yourself time outs on the stairs, and you follow me from room to room complaining of the injustice that you feel. You are supposed to  do these things, because you are transitioning from baby to toddler- and frankly I expect nothing more or less from you. But every so often when Mommy finds a willing adult to listen, I complain about your complaints. I paint your personality with wide strokes- as something negative- when truthfully you are wonderful. I’ll say that you are sassy or a mini dictator, and that isn’t fair… it’s not at all who you are.

You are vocal and victorious. You are sweet and smart. You are beautiful and full of giggles and smiles. You are curious and sharp, gentle and quite, calm and studious. Who you are my sunshine girl, is perfect in every possible way and that’s what I should say when I speak of you. As you grow up I want the words that I speak in front of you, to others, and about you to be words that truly depict you and words that are positive and proud- because that is who you are. I never want my words, my fears, my own self esteem issues to become yours. If I define you as angry, difficult, demanding, and self centered then that is exactly how you will define yourself. So forgive me Sunny- I’m still learning how to be your Mommy.

Now- it should be said  my love, that you have your moments and yes some of them are epic. But you know what? It shows passion. You fight for what you believe in, and that is a great attribute. You contort your little limbs into a furry of PASSION, and while that sometimes makes me nervous when we’re in public, I know you’ll soon learn just when and where that passion must be released. So, while can’t promise you that I’ll always get this right, I can promise you that I’m learning to think before I speak about you.

Maybe next time I’m asked how you are I will answer by saying GREAT! I’ll tell people how you dance to your favorite songs in the car and sing along sometimes. I’ll tell them how you like to count to the number three by saying 1,2,3 GO!!!!!2,3,2,3,2,3- and when I try to tell you 1,2,3,4,5 you say “No Mommy”- as if I got it all wrong. I’ll tell them how you love “clean up time” and ask for your friends by name. I’ll speak of your new found love of cereal, and how this weekend we had to buy you a dishwasher safe Starbucks cup with a straw- because you are a “big girl” and have rejected all of your sippy cups.  I’ll tell them how ironically your favorite color is yellow- which is perfect because it is the color of happiness and of course Sunshine. And then when it seems I have nothing left to say I’ll tell them how you are my whole heart and how I’m still searching for the right words to define you- you who is bigger, brighter, and more powerful then the very yellow sun.

Love your still trying to get it all right, Mommy

I had the pleasure of editing a highlight video of Chris and JC’s wedding this past week.

Unconventional, upbeat & fast paced,their video was much different then the wedding highlights I normally create, but it is uniquely “them.”

The song is by Chris Brown- in case you love it like I do and their theme was black and white- so we had a little fun with framing and backgrounds.

Check it. Check it out….

Happy Monday!!!!

Did I really only post once last week? That seems wrong…I guess I was in a sweat induced coma- really 100 degree weather? Yikes! I have so much to catch you all up on, but first here’s a little post of a few of my new favorite things…

I LOVE summertime. Living in Brooklyn we don’t have grass, but we do have hydrants- which my neighbors open and all of the little ones ( and many big ones) come outside and run through them.

Like you don’t eat two Popsicles at a time? RRIIGGHHTTT.

Sunny thinks this is the greatest invention of all time.  A hydrant that sprays freezing cold water at cars, people, dogs, and delivery men. Do you see her Michael Jackson stance? She’s shouting “MAMA WA-WA!! WA-WA!!”

I LOVE artwork- lots and lots and lots of awesome artwork. Which is why I LOVE Matthew Heller.

Anyone want to buy me these prints? http://www.matthewheller.com

I enjoy artwork that is abstract and calm- Mr. Heller’s work featuring lyrics to popular songs makes my little heart sing…I wish I too could create such pretty little things.

I LOVE “The Parenthood” on NBC during the tv year- but since that is on hiatus we watch a lot of this:

http://www.tnt.tv/series/menofacertainage/?SR=sr3_513456_go

A show about middle aged men you ask? YEP! Love it and the new season just started and it’s phenomenal and as a tv junkie I fully recommend it!

I LOVE Lady Gaga’s new song The Edge Of Glory, and I LOVE the way my baby dances to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S08KonZiew4

I LOVE this Papmers commercial and I tear up every time I see it, especially when they say “Whether he’s planned…or not.” Shout out to baby G!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxbRdxbBROI

I LOVE this commercial- cracks me up. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd8ppk0UCx8