Love Street

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lily!

Dear Lily,

My sweet girl, you are two today. And I would really like to know where the time went. Oh that's right, I was at work. Well, no more and I love it because I get to see all the fun things you do all day.

Nothing makes me smile more than to see you galloping around the house. You don't quite know how to skip yet, but this is your version. You gallop and laugh and dance around, and your current favorite music group is The Beatles. You love to dance and your favorite song is She Loves You (yeah, yeah yeah). You like to yell, YEAH YEAH YEAH.

Last week we began practicing. I say, Lily, how old are you?? and you yell, TWO! You try to count. If I say one, you will say two. When you are playing with toys, you will grab one and say two and then mumble the rest. You hold full conversations...we just need a translation. You talk a lot, one of your favorite phrases is no cy baby. No cy. You are always concerned about babies crying or dogs crying.

You are a stripper. You like to be down to your onesie. That's what you wear around the house most of the time. I have given up trying to keep your clothes on at home. What does it matter, really? When we go out, within 2 minutes of getting home you are down to your diaper. I want to undress when I get home, too, so unless we are in public, I let you run around half naked. So much for all the cute clothes you have.

Your new favorite toys are a set of farm animals.A friend of mine gave me a couple of great books on activities to do with toddlers and there was a lot of focus on imaginative play. You love the animals and you line them up. They kiss each other. They go night-night on pillows. When I ask you if you want to play with the animals, you yell, ANIMALS!

You don't say yes in reply to our questions. You says Si. One of your three Spanish words. It is really cute when you say it. Yesterday you handed me something and said, here you go. And you have started calling me Mom, instead of Mama sometimes. It is so fun watching you grow and develop.

I am so thankful that I get to be at home with you every day. I don't want to miss a thing, and now I won't. I have fun sending your dad pictures every day to let him know what you guys are up to. I have never had so much fun. There is no way to describe my love for you. It runs so far and deep and is such a part of me. I feel so fortunate to have you in my life. You are my life.

I love you,

Mom

Pre-Easter Festivities

So things have quieted down here a bit after we converted Noah's crib to a toddler bed, and then put baby gates around it to keep him from playing around in his room. He will sometimes play a while, then hop in his bed and go to sleep.

Ro took a few days off so we had 5 days of family time, and time to get to know Lily's new tantrum stage. Our nanny had mentioned it, but now having been with the kids 24/7 for a week, YIKES! I am beginning to learn her triggers, so we will see if I can lessen them.

We had a nice Easter get together on Saturday with Ro's family. I love that everyone is willing to get together on a different day so that we can all be together and not try to be everywhere on one day.

Here are a couple of my favorite pix.

 

   

TIO!

I am watching Noah play with the blinds next to his crib. I must have accidentally pushed his crib too close to the wall when I set him down. Well, at least he is inside and has only jumped out once so far this nap.

After a harrowing day yesterday with Noah jumping out probably 30 times during nap and 10+ at bedtime, I told Ro that I give up. We are going to convert his bed and then put the "cage" around this crib so he can't run around and play in his room.

What do people do without camera monitors?? In order to save my delicate back, I decided to stand at his door with it and when I saw him lift his leg up, I opened the door and gave him a stern no. Did that a couple of times and he has been playing with the blinds since. Well, at least I get a break. Yesterday, after the 30 times at nap time, I said forget it and took him downstairs and made him lay with me on the couch while we watched cartoons. He protested at first, but then he relaxed and I thought he might fall asleep. At least he (and I) rested for about an hour.

We ventured out to Borders today and bought some new books. Seems that they are tired of some of the books we have. When they ask for books, I have to show them at least 3-4 books and they say no to each one until I find one that they like. It is so cute because Lily doesn't really say yes, she says si.

Besides all the chaos, I am really having fun. Just being able to sit and relax and have them sit on my lap throughout the day is all I need to make it worthwhile. If they are in the mood to give hugs and kisses, it is extra special. Yesterday when Noah was in timeout in the pack n play in the other room, Lily went over and they were having a full on conversation, totally back and forth. Who knows what they were saying...but if I had to guess...what did you do? i took off my jammies again, that gets you a time out around here these days. I know, me too. Well, I hope you get out soon because it sucks to have to play alone. Thanks, I think I only have another minute.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Today is my first full day at home with the kids. So far so good. No mishaps, except for maybe my cooking. I tried to recreate our nanny's black beans with brown rice concoction, but it fell short. But the critics who matter ate it anyway. Must have been the cheese and avocado masking the lack of flavor. I need to figure out what she did to make black beans and rice taste. I added garlic and onion, but still.

Last week Noah escaped his crib for the first time, and has done so a few more times since then. I put him down for a nap about 30 minutes ago and he has climbed out 5 times. This is the most ever. The sleep bible says to not make eye contact, go in and put him back. Make that 8 times now. I have to be able to outlast him until he gives up. No break around here. Nap time was supposed to be the time where I checked email, my boards and kept up this blog. Ain't happening. Make that 10. Did I say so far so good?

At 12 times it was time for a stern reprimand. Didn't work. We are on 13. Just took some Advil. My back will feel this tomorrow.

ok, I have lost track now. Time to go.

Oh, and did I mention that Lily is screaming with all the racket.