a day of FUN

Since Claire had not been out of her pajamas in three days, I thought it was time to shake things up a little. The girls and I headed into the big city for a day (actually more like 4 hours) of FUN.

This FUN included a train ride, snacks, a visit to the Boston Children's Museum, pizza and lollipops.

Abby's favorite part of the day was climbing this. When I took this picture she was three stories up in the air, having climbed up a series of these platforms sounded by netting. No fear of heights for this girl. I, on the other hand, was a little sick in the pit of my stomach just taking this picture.

My sweet Claire enjoyed the bubble room and discovered an amazing toy--alphabet magnets. Claire loves letters. She loves books about letters. She loves to point out letters where ever we go. But for some reason it never occurred to me that she might enjoy this incredibly basic $2 toy. She found some today and her whole face lit up with excitement. Forget the high tech water room, Mommy, there are letters here.

Our regularly scheduled preschool, grocery shopping and bickering will resume tomorrow. I am even staying up extra late tonight to ensure a grumpy morning. Because I am smart like that.

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All Girl

I love this picture because the reflection in the mirror looks like an older version of Abby to me. Kind of like that cartoon where a kitten looks in the mirror and sees a lion.

Abby found this "wedding dress" on our shopping trip yesterday. As soon as she got home she got all dolled up and started marrying her stuffed animals.

Then, just when I started to worry about her being such a girlie girl, she started laughing about her stinky farts. And then farting some more to see if she could make even stinkier farts. I do not think we will be marrying her off any time soon.

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Claire

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Baby No Nap

Claire: up at 8:30 am, no nap, bed at 7 pm

Abby: up at 6 am, three hour nap, bed at ????

Daddy: off to work at 7 am, back home ????

Seriously, people??

manners, please

This morning involved the usual routine. Wake up late, rush to get ready, fight with Abby about clothes, hair brushing and using the potty all in the hope of getting the three of us out of the house at 8:30 for preschool drop off.

This morning Claire slept until 8:20. Not a problem. I planned to just throw a coat and boots over her pajamas for the ride and give her breakfast when we got home. But as we were in the final, grumpy stages of getting out the door, Claire asked for some Cheerios.

Some Cheerios, she asked, pointing at the box on the counter. Want some please, mommy? Cheerios please, Mommy?

We will eat when we get home I muttered in what was definitely not my most loving, patient mommy voice.

Undeterred, Claire went and got a small plastic bag. She brought it to me and again asked in her sweet, hopeful voice for Cheerios please. Still grumpy, I tossed some in the bag and handed it to her with a grunt.

And what did my sweet, almost two year old girl say to this?

"Thank you, Mommy!"

Exactly who is setting the example for who around here?

silly, silly girl

I thought I was beyond story time anxiety. This is my second child after all. I have done story time before. I am a pro at sign up. I know where to go and where to sit. I have done the mommy dating scene and I am not even particularly looking for any new friends.

Yet this morning, I found myself carefully getting ready for the first session. Makeup or no makeup? Hair up or down? I generally do not bother much with what I look like. I shower on a regular basis and highlight my hair. Every few months I even head over to The Gap to freshen up my mommy wardrobe. But I just don’t have the time or energy for much daily primping.

I decided on makeup and hair up. After all, I did not want to look like I was actually trying to look good or anything. And the finishing touch? Ridiculously expensive sunglasses, of course. For Claire, I selected one of her cutest Talbot’s Kids sweaters, jeans, fancy pink shoes and of course pigtails with matching ribbons. As I write this, even I am embarrassed to know me. I know better, but I just can’t help myself. And of course as soon as we got there, I felt ridiculously silly as I looked around at the 10 other average, friendly looking moms. And even a grandma.

But as we waved our puppets and sang nursery rhymes, I took a closer look at the other mom and baby pairs. I saw a crawling baby in a dress and tights. Moms in sweats and suspiciously cute shoes. Even the grandmother was wearing a pretty hip looking sweatshirt. Perhaps I am not the only silly, silly girl out there after all?

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Abby's Fancy Bed

A few days ago Abby decided to make her room look fancy. This involved rearranging the items on her dresser and vanity, snagging some "pretty things" from Claire's room, moving her toys and adding these blankets to her bed.

The really strange part? Yesterday morning and then again this morning, the blankets were carefully arranged in exactly the same way on her bed. Slowly it dawned on me, SHE IS MAKING HER BED. This is a big deal because I do not make beds. Occasionally I pull up the covers, but that is it. And I certainly never suggested to her that she make her bed. All on her own, she has become a mini homemaker/decorator.

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Gum Flavored Ice Cream with Gum

The most amazing ice cream flavor ever if you are a 1 year old or a 4 year old. The most revoltingly sweet, disgusting concoction ever if you are a 33 year old.

my little big girl

As her second birthday approaches, I am being forced to face the fact that Claire is no longer a baby.

I like routine. I am the more cautious parent. I am generally happy to keep doing things the way I have been doing them. It is typically daddy that encourages the girls to try new things, whether it is drinking from a real cup or climbing the stairs. He was the one who pushed Abby to climb up the highest slide at the playground and taught her to ride her bike down the big hills.

He is also the one who suggested Claire sit on this very high kitchen stool rather than her nice, safe high chair. The stool she now wants to sit on for every snack because "I big Mommy". *sigh*

When Abby was this age, I was already pregnant again. I needed her to be big. Time to move her to a big girl bed? Great, we need the crib. She needed to be the big sister. To be Mommy's helper. I enjoyed her baby days, but even then my focus was always very much on the future. What she would do next. What her future held. Who she would become years down the road.

But Claire is my second and probably last baby. My sweet little baby. My focus with her has always been the here and now.

But even if you try your best to ignore it, this growing up happens all the same. Like it or not, my baby girl is really no longer a baby. My days of rocking her to sleep are numbered. The high chair and crib will go up to the attic soon. My baby nursery will become a big girl room.

This growing up business does have it's advantages. Most nights, everyone sleeps. Most days, no one throws up on me. I don't miss the loads of baby gear that littered my house. The back breaking bag of supplies I needed for a simple trip to the mall. The endless cycle of nursing and sleeping that made it tough to get out of the house at all. The crying for no reason.

I am very excited about the future. I am looking forward to the things we can do as we are less house bound. Trips to the beach this summer with my two big girls. Trips to the zoo and the city and the park.

I guess I am just surprised that it has happened so quickly. Even when it felt so painfully slow.

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Bath Time Laughs