Learning Moment...

Sometimes you have a choice.
Sometimes you make good choices and sometimes you don't.
The above sentences apply to parents and children alike.

This is what happens when you are a kid and make a bad choice.
This is what happens when you are an adult and you make a "so-so" parenting choice.

In the end...this is what happens when you ask you kid to go to the bathroom before putting a pull up on. And, instead of doing what you ask, goes to the bed and pees on it. This is what happens when said parent refuses to change the sheets.



It's all about choices.

Finley Update

Our quiet, docile baby is...well, simply put...GONE! Fin is ... I don't even really have the words to describe her! She fluctuates between sheer simplicity to utter chaos and terror.

She loves Maya! She loves Maya! She loves to watch, follow, bother, act like, pull push...anything to / be like her big sis! Clearly Maya is the apple of Fin's eye which periodically gets bruised by Maya's over-lovin' arms! There is still a fair amount of Fin getting tugged around but Danny and I pretty much let Fin defend herself except for a random extreme case.

Fin is in the Wobbler room at the Co-op. She loves her independence and is a pro at taking her bowl, spoon and sippie to the "all done" bucket. She recently got her first pair of "kicks" to run around on the playground with as her little Robeez were causing her to slip and slide. It was amazing watching her have a "shoe experience" when we were shopping and trying on various pairs to see what fit her foot the best! She was running all around the store just in awe. It was quite cute.

She is definitely picking up words here and there although Mama/Dada/Maya are all really interchangeable for her. There is book, Puss, caca (cracker), choo (shoe) and a lot of other unintelligible words that a whole lot of sense to her. She still holds the nickname of "Chairman" because she does quite a bit of extemporaneous speaking. She understands a ton and follows directions really well. She loves to be part of the gang. A few weeks back she came storming out of Maya's room carrying a little ladybug backpack and went and stood by the door. Of course she did...that's what the rest of us do in the morning.

She, like her sister, is really observant. She pays attention to details and is always ready to give you a hearty, growly laugh. She has a strong aversion to loud noises and is really sensitive to Maya's tantrums or outbursts. Basically this means once Maya starts you have about 3 seconds to get her calmed down before Fin starts! Oh yeah.

Fin LOVES bike riding. If she so much as sees her bike helmet she starts stamping and spouting about bike riding! It's pretty fabulous. She is still a good eater. She loves scrambled eggs, bananas, rice & beans and milk...especially mine and especially at night. She is still sleeping with us and still nursing for most of the night. Some days I don't deal very well with this and other days I'm at peace with it.

Overall she is growing leaps and bounds. She is quite magical.

Some photographic evidence.


Trying to figure out how Maya throws rocks so far...


shoving a little cracker in her mouth...



smiling in the sunshine...




figuring out drinking fountains...



did I mention her eyes are changing colors??? I'm guessing they will be a hazel or brown...




Funny face in a bike helmet...



the new "kicks"...


Sing with me..."anything you can do, I can do (better)"



and still a snuggly little bug

Maya Update

So what has Miss Priss been up to these past few weeks?

Last reported via the blog was her first day at LFS (Little French School). So we are about 6 weeks later and she is doing...well, she has some good days and some not so good days. It's been a total transition for her and for the most part I think she is taking it in stride. We are having a meeting with the "school" teacher and the "aftercare" teacher on Monday morning just to check in and make sure we are all on the same page. She can already count to 10, knows several of her colors, can ask to go to the bathroom and excuse herself from the table and a few other ditties--it's pretty impressive what their little minds soak in.

We've had a serious increase in potty accidents which I think is probably related to control issues. We've also had an increase in temper tantrums and sassiness which is either genetics or being a near-4 year...probably some combination of both. Some days are pure bliss and some days are absolutely trying and we love most minutes of both!

She has taken to telling me how to drive. "Mom turn your knocker [her word for blinkers] on!" "Mom, this is NOT the way to ______!" "Mom can dad drive? He uses the windshield wipers more." The list goes on and on. This is definitely my karma coming through. I know I used to torture my mom and dad with incessant questions about how the car went, did it hurt to hold your foot like that on the accelerator, why the blue light came on when you stomped on the floor (bright lights), etc. It is a trip.

She also notices every.thing.you.do! Mom why did you tilt your head that way? Dad why did you laugh and say oh. And on and on and on.

She is full of energy and life and questions. In the middle of the night a few weeks ago she asked Danny what a tarantula was. Danny quickly replied "a fuzzy bug--go back to sleep".

She doesn't like pants that flap / wiggle...aka any pants other than leggings. She tried tap class but couldn't handle the noise so we transferred back to ballet. She digs riding her bike and thinks that riding in the rain is a lot of fun. She likes tights with feet now--last season's no-no. She is really finding ways, periodically, to really express herself and her feelings/emotions/thoughts. It's quite surprising and astonishing. It's hard to believe that she will be 4 in two quick months.

Here are some pictures to catch up with.

The last few days of summer...throwing rocks...


hanging with Saf...


Some tap dancing feet



some high flying feet...


some cool outs at the park...




a bit of exhaustion...



what do you do when she looks at you like that?


Or this...

The Costumes...

Early September we received some "Maya Mail" (aka catalogs). One of these happened to be a Halloween one filled with costumes. Maya quickly paged through and chose a Queen of Hearts costume. When I asked her why she said "because she has the best stripy tights"! How could I argue? So...I paged through and found that I could get a garden gnome costume for Fin. So...I placed the order hoping against all hope that Maya wouldn't change her mind. And...she didn't. So...here you go...Halloween 2009.

We started out the morning with a Birth to Three reunion at Build-a-Bear where Maya chose a unicorn and Fin chose a kitty!






Out trick-or-treating. We went with some friends of ours and ended up in a fabulous neighborhood FILLED with kids and houses with a billion pounds of candy. It was pretty intense and pretty fabulous!

Brushing off the cobwebs!

Happy Halloween!!!
(I know...we're dreadfully behind...but pumpkins and pumpkin adventures seem like a great way to start catching up!)

First was our annual trip with the Wiant's on the 18th.



(I do believe the parents declared, "Don't tempt us".)


The cow-coaster. Really, who cares about pumpkins? It's all about the cow coaster!!!


We have a picture of the girls peeking through the apples from last year as well...although Fin was more "propped" up!

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Maya's class went next on the 22nd. Unfortunately we have no photographic evidence other than a fabulous pumpkin!

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Then Fin's class went on the 29th. It was rainy and blustery...but Fin and Danny picked out some good pumpkins.

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Finally, carving last night!







Fin finally had enough--either sitting in her high chair or eating playdough--either way she took off with the spatulas!






Again, Fin has had enough...or so it seemed...



Until we gave her a tool!




Finished products (from left to right): Jen, Danny, Fin, Maya


Danny and I did a couple more after bedtime. Mine is on the left and his (free-hand) vampire kitty is on the right!!!


Happy Halloween to all. We are off to a build-a-bear Halloween gathering this morning, decorating cookies this afternoon and pizza party/trick-or-treating this evening. Whew...I'm already tired.