25 April 2008
We're on a posting hiatus...
17 April 2008
Art Attack!
Painting and coloring are becoming a favorite pastime. Every morning you ask if we can paint. We started a few nights ago painting in the backyard and you really got into it, though you seem to like painting your body more than the paper!! So we try to reserve the activity until just before bath time, and you can see why by this picture! But every morning you ask me to paint, and I tell you that when Daddy comes home we will. I am really excited that you are enjoying this and hope you really get into art! Just like Mummy! :)
14 April 2008
Open for Business!
We went to the park yesterday morning,though it got too hot too fast and we couldn't even use the swings. But you walked over to the little counter at Monticello park (your favorite park) and started serving up some bark treats! Dad says when he takes you to this park he always orders the 'Bark and Sand mix soup with a side of leaf.' Haha, your Dad is a funny man, and he sure knows how to play with you. He even told me he pretend pays you and counts fake coins into your hands and counts them out for you. You get a big kick out of counting anything these days.
12 April 2008
It's been a fun week...
And although I haven't been writing much, that's not to say you haven't been impacting me in so many amazing ways. Sometimes I am so overcome with love for you, I just have to look around to see where it snuck up on me from. Other times, well, to put it lightly, I could certainly use a break. But overall I realize just how lucky we are. I mean, how lucky are we to spend the days together? And have precious friends? And a husband/father who adores us? We have some serious fun together, and life should be about fun.
10 April 2008
Baking Time!
Last night we baked cheese muffins together! I always thought you were way too young to be baking, and guess what, you kind of are! :) That is, if the baking is supposed to go smoothly and as planned. Instead we had one great big cheese muffin alongside many other somewhat less cheesy muffins! It was pretty funny! We scooped the batter into the tins (well, I did, you just swirled your spoon around the mixing bowl and made a bit of a mess!). Then I gave you the grated cheese to help me sprinkle on top of the muffins and you sure did follow those directions well! It had Dad and I cracking up.
09 April 2008
Playtime with Abby
The other day you and Abby got together for some power playing! You too seriously crack me up. I love that you have this great little friend (and so do I in her mommy!) and you so love Abby. Even though you two sometimes have minor tiffs. Yes, two year olds can have tiffs! But you guys always make up. We have a book at home that was customized with your name in the story that we received as a gift over a year ago. It includes some of your friends names in it, although Abby's name isn't in it. Every time I read you the book before bed I start to read the line "And Princess Finley invites all her friends to the castle ..." and I list the three names in the book and you immediately yell out "ABBY! EMELLAY!!" and I nod and say yes, they are your friends too, and they will come to the castle too. And you smile and relax back in my arms. So sweet.
08 April 2008
First Swim of the Season
Yesterday we finally braved all the gear that goes along with living in the desert and having bathing suit season upon us in early April! I asked you in the morning if you wanted to go swimming with your friends and you repeatedly told me no. I was actually surprised, since you seem to really enjoy playing with water. But I shouldn't have been very surprised because it's a new activity that we haven't done it months and I suspect it's nerve wracking to you to go on new adventures. But you did really great!
We met up with your buddies and got the swim suits on, the towels out, the sunscreen slathered and we waded around. You mostly wanted to have me walk around the shallow end holding you so that no water even touched you, but eventually you got into walking around on the very shallow beach entry yourself. You even stumbled once and fell to your side and I caught you before your head went underwater and although you were slightly startled you ended up replaying that moment all day long! It was pretty cute. You would scrunch up your face and start rubbing your eyes and say "EYE!!" and then rub rub rub and then say "Wawwu!" to let me know that water got in your eyes when we were swimming. You are quite the drama queen ;-) For you though best part of swim was snack time afterwards.
But today I signed you up for swim lessons so hopefully you'll get more and more comfortable with the idea of swimming and this summer we can spend every afternoon in our pool! That should be fun!
07 April 2008
So I guess it's finally time to admit...
You like Elmo. Yup, I said it. I've been avoiding this moment for 2 years. I don't know why. Some kind of romantic notion that you, my darling child, need not be entertained by floppy red muppets and plastic licensed characters. But heck, those things sell by the millions for a reason I guess! Kids LOVE them! And you my dear are no exception.
05 April 2008
Happy Birthday to BA
'Ba' would be Finley Speak for Benjamin, who turned two today! It was a lovely party, and let me know for sure that you are in no way ready for Disneyland! There were some people dressed in Ernie and Cookie Monster costumes and they terrified you. So did the puppet show. You seriously have something against soft toys that make noise! They always freak you out. You're entitled to be quirky! I wouldn't want you any other way. :) But it was certainly hard for us to avoid the Sesame Street Mascots and that resulted in a lot of "NO!! NO!!" from you.
04 April 2008
All's Well that Ends Well
Yesterday started off kind of bad but ended up great! We were en route to see all your friends at the park and were having a lovely drive and watching some horses from the car when my car started to act funny and then had an urgent transmission message! We were lucky Daddy was able to come meet us, put your car seat in his car and then we waited for the tow truck! Long story short it ended up being a little bit more difficult than planned, but ended well.
03 April 2008
A Moment with Mummy
When I went to bed I thought of two things. The first was that I hadn't been home that evening for bath and bedtime and perhaps you woke for a moment in the middle of the night and remembered you hadn't seen your Mummy right before bed, and that's why you called for me. Because you really seemed so calmed by just having a moment with me. Like you needed reassurance that I was there and would be there to kiss you goodnight. It made me feel wonderful to have that moment with you where you lay in my arms and you shut your eyes listening to me tell you a story. You never sleep in my arms, so this was nice.
The second thought that I had was that you somehow had Toddler ESP and you knew my birthday started at midnight and you wanted to be the first to wish me a happy birthday. Hey, a mother can dream, right? ;-)
Whatever it was, it was a great moment together. Just don't do it too often ;-)
Anyhow, so yesterday we spent a wonderful birthday together as a family. We all had breakfast together and went for a hike in the morning and had a ton of fun. When you finally wanted out of the backpack you wanted to walk on your own. That consisted of picking up rocks and dirt every second step. It was very cute.
There's no picture yet because Daddy bought me a new camera for my birthday and I don't now how to upload the photos yet! I'll figure it out at nap time and get one up there from yesterday's hike. You were so cute!! Thanks for a wonderful day!