Coordinating Outfits...

PREFACE:
Taking pictures of Maya as a baby/toddler was challenging because she was always moving and her smiles came and went so quickly. Fin is much the same but thankfully we have a faster camera and know a little more about using it!

Grandma Sandy sent Valentine's Day outfits for the girls at the beginning of February. We put them on the girls for a pre-Valentine wear and attempted to get pics of the girls in them so we would have something to post on the 14th. Unfortunately, Fin pooped up-down-inside-outside-all over her dress. Yes, lovely. So into the laundry both outfits went.

Fast forward to Valentine's Day weekend...we all had the flu. Yeah, everyone was wearing pajamas and pictures? Not so much.

Finally, 2+ weeks after the fact...Maya put her dress on one morning and I immediately put Fin in her dress too!

Here are the results:

It started off well, even if a bit strange.


They were easily distracted...by feet.


A little bit of "serious" love.


A little questioning...

And tears...

The outfits are fabulous and the pictures are definitely entertaining! Thank you Grandma Sandy!

The Many Faces of Fin

We are often heard talking about how even-keeled Fin is--no extreme highs or lows. And, for the most part she is. Although, we did happen to catch this wonderful set of shots within about 30 minutes.

A sleepy (even if a little strange looking) wake-up smile!


Followed by a little big sister torture, er, I mean love! Please note the quickly shrinking size difference between the girls!


Once Fin bounced Maya and I from her room, she was much happier. Well, that and the camera. Do you remember when Fin was first starting solids and all the pictures are of her looking like a deer in headlights because of the "red-eye prevention light". Well, now she loves it! In fact, it makes her quite happy!


But if you don't click it fast enough she gets distracted by her need to eat and her mother's unwillingness to immediately satiate her needs.


Another thing that makes Fin really happy (and distracts her) is Puss Puss. Of course, Puss is happy to torture Fin by sitting well within reach which means Danny has to constantly be the intermediary so WW6 doesn't start.


And, when Mom doesn't provide 7/11 service and when Dad acts as a Puss Puss blockade...we get this!


And, this...is our even-keeled baby!

Rainy Days and Matching Outfits....

Maya is doing much better with the "restricted clothing choices". If you'll recall, it was taking anywhere from 5 minutes to what felt like 5 hours to get her dressed in the morning. One outfit would be chosen, we would get all (or none) of it on and we would need to find a new outfit. This would be for any number of reasons.

I read on one of the mom blogs that I read about other parents of 3 year olds having similar problems. So, I did what they did...took away all the clothes. Now before you go calling CPS on us, let me explain. In order to help Maya make a choice we are restricting her choices...which apparently is exactly what toddlers/pre-schoolers need.

So we removed the clothes from the middle two drawers and put them in her closet. We then went to Target and purchased a couple sets of drawer dividers which essentially makes 6 spaces in her 2 drawers. Every Sunday night we fill the spaces with an outfit. Maya gets to choose one element and mom/dad chooses the rest. So if she chooses a shirt we get to choose the pants/skirt. She still hs a drawer for underwear/socks/tights another drawer for wraps and a drawer for pajamas. Sheer brilliance...I'm thinking of trying it out on Danny! (:

Anyhow...if you good with numbers you have probably noticed that there are 7 days in a week. Well, that means once a week (depending on when we run out of outfits) Maya gets to choose her own wardrobe. Let's just say these days are trend-setting, fashion-forward days.

To be honest, I'm not sure if this was one of those days or if she just got a bit wappy when choosing her outerwear!


Exploring the puddle depth and muck level in the gutter. (Note: Ladybug rain coat, Hello Kitty rain boots and green polka dot skirt. Don't fret...it gets better.)


Walking home from the park. A little more soggy than before.


A little bit pouty about being soggy. AND...showing off the polka dot sweatshirt that is under the ladybug raincoat. I tell you, this girl has style!


At home warming up. She's so weird...and we love her to death!

A Change in Plans...

So, as everyone knows, I have been applying for jobs and working on finishing my dissertation with the hope of relocating this summer. A few things have set me back in the dissertation process, namely illness for the past 3 weeks. Applying for jobs has also taken a larger chunk out of my time than expected as well. Add to all of this an e-mail I received Sunday morning from Bryony Lavery (my dissertation subject) that offered herself up as an interview subject in April; I did quite the happy dance.

I had come to the realization that we probably weren't going anywhere last week. The job market sucks (even in education) and the jobs I applied for were submitted 5-8 weeks ago which generally means that I'm not on their short lists. The diss is behind but perhaps that is how it was supposed to be in order to include an interview with Lavery. Humanities and Women's and Gender Studies GTF applications for the 09-10 year are due in 3 weeks. All these factors are guiding me towards hanging out in Eugene for another year.

If I don't get a full year GTF I will graduate in fall term. If I get one I will graduate in June. There is a part of me has been feeling like I'm doing everything half-assed, from being a mom to being a student to being a friend. Yesterday, after I talked to my advisor and various other folks it feels like a giant weight hs been lifted off my shoulders. I will continue to write with the hope of having a full draft by the end of the May. I'm applying to conferences which will add a little sparkle and shine to my CV. And we are planning a trip to England mid-April! Thankfully I have departmental funding for my travel/accomodations! We are off to get the girls' passports this morning.

This is a big switch in thinking...but I feel like it is the right choice. I'm not thinking of it as a delay so much as just part of the process.

Thanks for reading and being patient with our ever-changing life circumstances!

Big Kid Bath

Someone is quite proud of themselves...


That's right, our "baby" is chillin' in the big kid tub. She definitely thinks she is pretty cool!

Giving her a bath in the baby tub was more like taking a bath ourselves, with all the kicking and splashing. I failed to get around to ordering an inflatable one like we had for Maya, so in desperation we tried her in the tub by herself and she loved it! She really digs laying down on her back, splashing and kicking!

At the end of the bath we let big sis come in for some together time. So far it's worked out pretty well with little to no incidents. Here is a cute pic of them together!

From the mouths of babes...

Yesterday, Maya had a couple of statements/exchanges that "____________" me. I don't have a single word to fill in the blank...so many emotions.

When I walked in to her classroom with Fin, Danny and Maya were talking with the teacher about Maya not napping. She looked at me and said, "Momma don't be mad".

On the way home in the car Danny and I were having a circular "discussion" about where/what to have for supper. From the back seat Maya pipes up with "Momma take two deep breath-es. Daddy take two deep breath-es." Danny tried to convince her that we weren't angry, to which she replied "Daddy you are a little bit angry, believe me."

And finally, at supper I was telling Danny a story about some drama at school. Suddenly, Maya says "Momma, tell me the story too".

Oh, goodness. Where did our baby go?

Abba-Mania, part 1

Many of you know our house/car/existence is filled with Abba songs...thanks to Maya! Here is the proof.

First, Super Trooper with a "Fin Intermission".