More GA Pictures

For some reason I couldn't post all my pictures before. Here's a few more from Saturday at Great America.

Running through the water spray

Flying high. She figured out how to make it go up and down.

Waiting in line

Please keep both hands on the wheel at all times.

Happy on the Looney Tunes Carousel

Lessons Learned at Great America

On Saturday, Joel had his company picnic at Paramount's Great America. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to going. I hadn't been there since I was a teenager, and while I loved going there growing up, it didn't seem like the kind of place I wanted to be pushing a double stroller and looking for a place to nurse the babe. Just thinking about the busy, crowded place, on a Saturday, in the heat, with two young children...it made my skin crawl. I was on this side of annoyed before we left the house. But you know what? I was wrong. Very very wrong...

As it turns out, there are actually places within the park that are made for little kiddos. Imagine that! Sure, I remember them from my childhood, but they seemed small, and not very fun. As it turns out, it's just not very fun when you are 12. But when you are 2? It's the best place to be! Padyn had such a fantastic time. She went on rides by herself. I was sure she would cling to Daddy and after two or so attempts to get her to ride something so I could take the token picture, we'd head home for a nice nap. Nope. She was into it from the start. We stayed until 5pm! That's right ladies and gentlemen, we had no nap that afternoon. There was too much excitement to be had on the carousel, the cars, the snails, the airplane, the flying bugs, and in the water park. She really wanted to go on some other rides that she wasn't old enough for, like the bumper cars. We assured her that she could go on them in the future. (Does that mean I committed myself to taking her back there?) I was right about it being crowded, hot and hard to nurse. But you know what? It really didn't matter when I got to see this smile all day long.

There's a Fish in the House

This summer will be known as the summer Padyn learned to swim. You see, she already thinks she can swim. As in...
"Mommy, move back. More. More. Ok, I swim to you."
and pushes herself off the step.

And then? This is the amazing part. She goes underwater. Kicks her legs. Moves her arms. Holds her breath. And swims the 5 or so feet to us. She reaches out to us. She pulls herself up. Huge smiles.

It isn't really that amazing that she can almost swim at only 2 and a half years old. If you knew Joel and I as children, then you understand where her waterbaby ability comes from. But the part that is really amazing?

She's teaching herself.

Everyday she tries something new. Spinning around underwater without holding onto anything. Doing pull-ups on the noodle, going all the way underwater. Going underwater and looking around. Kicking by herself on the kickboard. I occasionally try to show her how to use her arms or how to kick, but really? She's figuring this thing out all by herself.

With no fear or hesitation what-so-ever.

Language Skillz

Overheard in the stroller on our walk this morning...

(Sung to the tune of "Patty Cake")
Patta cake, patta cake
Baker's man
Roooolllll it
Paaatttt it
Mark it with a P
Put it in the oven for Mimi and...
no, mark it with a M

(playing with words)
Auntie Colleen...
Auntie Coll-lar...
Auntie Coll-lee...
Auntie...
Atta, Atta, Atta...

(giving instructions)
Mommy, you be a birdie flew up in duh tree
I be a scary tiger...
"Roar!"
No, Mommy. Say, "Tweet tweet."

(counting)
one, two, twee, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, TEN, e-evan, telve, terteen, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eleventeen, nineteen, SIXTEEN!

You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up

"Padyn, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"A docdor." (doctor)

"Oh, like Aunt Christie. What is Kate going to be?"

"A teater." (teacher)

"Like Mommy. Why do you want to be a doctor?"

"To listen to people's heart."

So Cute, I Could Just Eat Her Up!

Here's a few of Kate taken this week. It's been pretty hot here, and little miss K doesn't seem to like the heat. Hence, no clothes in many of the pictures.

Right now she's sleeping in her swing downstairs under the high velocity fan. She hates her room at the moment since it's about 90 degrees up there. Poor girl. Nighttime is tough this week. She needs to be swaddled to go to sleep, but who wants blankets wrapped tightly around them when it's that hot?

Big Sister is Listening

Today I stopped at a garage sale on the way home from breakfast. It was mostly full of toys, so Joel wisely stayed in the car with the girls while I jumped out for a quick browse. I bought Padyn a cute little pink backpack so that she can start shlepping her own drinks and snacks around when we go out.

When I returned to the car, I didn't really want her to notice the backpack because I was going to save it for when I needed her to be more excited about it. I kept it low on my body so she wouldn't see and said in what I thought was a quiet voice to Daddy, "I bought her this backpack so she can carry her own drink and snacks around."

At the next garage sale, I jumped out again. After having purchased some nice table linens, I got back in the car and Joel said, "You have to be careful what you say."

Apparently when I hopped out of the car, Padyn proceeded to tell Daddy all about the new backpack I bought her.

"Mommy got me a new backpack to carry my drink and books when I go to school. "

Who knew 2 year olds had such good ears?

I guess the moral to that story is if Padyn isn't moving her own mouth, she's listening to every word you say. And comprehending it.

The Ants Go Marching...

Every summer we have an infestation of ants. It's a Bay Area/California/Anywhere where it is hot and dry Thing. Yesterday Padyn was playing outside in her little pool. A colony of ants has made the pool their personal watering hole. They were marching furiously towards my garage (yikes!), right past her pool, carrying something white that I'm sure was very yummy in their little ant tummies. The ones taking a break were hanging out on the side of the pool. Some had even decided to go for a swim. (Those ones won't be doing much more marching.) Padyn didn't seem to notice them much. (Shocking, as there were like 20 million of them, but she is a bit obsessed with water, so she was distracted.)

After playing for a while, she came up to me (I was reading other peoples' blogs outside on the laptop. I love the laptop!) and told me there was a bug on her and would I get it off. I looked, and sure enough, there was on ant crawling on her shin...and calf, and thigh, arm, hand, stomach, foot...basically all over. Even in her hair. She had about 6 crawling around her blond locks. I looked over at the marching ant line only to see ants frantically scurrying every which way. Poor guys. She had stepped right on their trail. She must have stood in it for awhile for them to get all the way up in her hair.

Calmly, while my insides were screaming, "Yuck, Yuck, get them off!" I picked them one by one off her little body. (I first tried rinsing them off with water, but they hung on tight.) Of course during this process I got a few on myself. Nothing like having a couple ants to make you feel like you have something crawling on you the rest of the day. In fact, as I write this, I swear I can still feel them.

Maybe that's because I also found them on the laptop yesterday in the family room.

And next to the toy box going after what I can only assume was a Cheerio crumb.

And climbing the wall in the downstairs bathroom.

Did I tell you I hate ants?

So this is why the thing comes with a restraint system

Can There Be Too Much of a Good Thing?

You know how toddlers/preschoolers are obsessed with repetition? Demanding the same song/book/video/food again and again and again and again? Then again? Until you are so sick of whatever it is you want to throw it out the window, run over it 17 times, then mail it to Alaska so you never have to lay eyes on it again?

We’re about there with “The Hairbrush Song.”

I love this song. I just can’t stand it right now. If Padyn asks for it one more time, smoke may come out of my ears while my head spins around in circles.

If you want to hear it and get it stuck in your head, too, go here.

The Strength of Ten Babies

Have I told you about Katelyn's head? No.no-there's nothing wrong with it, other than she can Pick It Up. No, not when she's on her tummy. (Although she does that very well, also. And really, I can't keep her on her tummy because she repeatedly rolls to her back.)

No-when she is lying on her back she strains to lift her head up. And when she's in her carseat. And when she's in her bouncy seat. (That is, when she isn't trying to throw herself off the side of her bouncy.)

I sense I'm in trouble with this one.

Update

So, since I posted the last entry? Twice. TWICE has Padyn done the deed on the potty. I better stock up on the popsicles.

Now, I must do the dance of joy.

(Or, Padyn's new favorite dance, the "Robot Dance." She made it up.)

Potty Training Trials

Lately, potty training for Padyn has been going great. In fact, I don't think of her as training anymore, but as trained. Except, there's the whole issue of pooping on the potty. It just isn't happening as evidenced by yesterday's conversation in the bathroom...

"I ONLY go poop in my big girl diaper."

"I would rather you only go poop on the potty.'

"No, YOU only go poop on the potty."

Like, duh, Mom. The toilet is for you and the diaper is for me. Haven't you figured this out yet? How many times must I tell you. Sheesh.

Can You Hear Me Barking?

I love the fact that I can have full conversations with Padyn now. I totally take it for granted until I'm with friends whose children are not as verbally sophisticated as Padyn. (I'm not bragging...just stating a fact). I would be thoroughly frustrated if my conversations with Padyn were still at the one to three word level.

What really cracks me up, though, is when Padyn has pretend conversations. With herself, Kate, the phone, her pacis...whatever. Yesterday, I was involved in a pretend conversation with her that went something like this:

Setting: Mommy sitting on the couch, nursing Kate, trying to read a month's worth of comics on the laptop. Padyn sitting next to Mommy with Mommy's cell phone in hand. Daddy is currently on his way home having just phoned minutes before to let us know.

Shouting into the phone:Daddy? DADDY? Can you hear me Daddy? Daddy? I can't hear you, Daddy. Daddy, where are you?

Covering the phone with one hand while leaning over Mommy to get in Kate's face: Excuse me, Kate. Be quiet. I'm on the phone.

Back to the cell: Daddy? I can't hear you, Daddy.

Mommy, here, talk to Daddy.

Kate, be quiet. I'm on the phone.

Hmmm...I wonder what Padyn often hears while I'm on the phone.

4th of July Fun

I know, I know...Independence Day was a WEEK ago, but I just got the pictures off the camera now. Don't ask me why it takes me so long. Instead think, "Wow, she has a toddler and an infant AND she managed to get pictures up on the blog in less than 3 months! What an amazing woman she must be!"

The outfits

(you like it, Lis?)

this is what she had on in the morning...

and this is what she had on in the afternoon

Ummm, are you spitting on your sister?

Padyn really wanted Kate to be able to enjoy her 4th of July fairy princess wand, too

And what did we do to celebrate our nation's independence you ask? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was perfect.

Contenders for the "Understatement of the Year" Award

Both statements heard in conjunction with the picture being taken. Count on a two year old to tell it like it is.

"I like water."

"Yummmm."

The Bane of My Existence

Well, it happened. Padyn started asking something that all preschool mommies dread. What is it you ask?

Why?
Why?
WHY?!?!

After almost EVERYTHING that I say. E-VER-E-THING.

As in...

Mommy: Padyn, don't stand on that.
Padyn: Why?

Padyn: I want to watch Sesame Street.
Mommy: You can't, baby. It's not on right now.
Padyn: Why?

Mommy: Take your shoes off before you climb into your bed.
Padyn: Why?

Padyn: What's dat boy doing, Mommy?
Mommy: Riding his bike.
Padyn: Why?

Mommy: Padyn, it's time to go home and take a nap.
Padyn: Why, why, why?

Somebody please save me.

Comparisons

Which is which? Both are 3 months old. Well, at the time the pictures were taken they were.

Summertime and the Living is Easy

So, we just spent a week and a half in Lake Tahoe. That's right-a week and a half. I know, you hate me. I'd be jealous, too, if I wasn't, you know, me. And I had just been at the lake for a week and a half. Did I mention how long we were there for? Anywho...

Padyn had a fabulous FABULOUS time. I'm not sure what she enjoyed most-digging in the sand, riding in the rowboat with Daddy, jumping off the dock, playing with all the "boys" from neighboring condos, walking in the snow that was still on the mountain tops, or sleeping in her Dora inflatable toddler bed. I know I enjoyed having so many people around helping me with the girls. Between Daddy, Grandpa, Mimi, Uncle Greggie, Aunt Hezzie, and Lily Dog, I didn't have to do much. Especially for Padyn. Kate is a little harder to hand off to others for long periods of time. If only certain body parts were detachable...

Most mornings we spent at the beach with Padyn and Daddy getting in the lake. Mommy didn't do so much getting in the lake. Those of you that have had a three month old know why. Everyone napped everyday. (I'm still tired from all the extra sleep.) We swam in the pool in the afternoon when the weather turned overcast or windy. Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Greggie went exploring most of the dirt trails on the north shore mountains in Grandpa's new Suzuki. We ate A LOT. But mostly we relaxed and enjoyed the company of each other. It warmed my heart to see Padyn so in love with her Daddy and loving all the attention he had to give her. Katelyn was amazing-she decided this was the week to start sleeping through the night and drop to 6 feedings. I started putting her down around 9:30 and some mornings I didn't hear from her until 6am! Then, she would go back to sleep until....8:30! I love this baby!




We had a great, albeit, short visit with Joel's cousin who is also Air Force. He and his wife had just driven cross country and were on their way to Hawaii for their new assignment. Garrett is a couple months younger than Padyn and Grace is a couple months older than Kate. We hadn't see them since before Garrett was born, so it was so wonderful to spend some time catching up. That was last Tuesday and Padyn is still talking about her friend, Garrett. We'll have to make sure they see each other next winter in Hawaii. (Oh, did I mention we are going to Hawaii in the winter? I know, it just makes you hate me more. I understand, really, I do.)

Summertime and the Living is Easy Part II

I've been trying to post pictures to this elaborate essay I wrote late last night about our week and a half in Tahoe. Blogger, true to form, was not cooperating. I think I have managed to trick it for now, but apparently it won't let me post all my pictures in one entry. Too much data for it to deal with, I guess. So, you get the cut and pasted version of my essay in two different posts. At least it's in chronological order.

I had had big plans to start getting back into shape this trip by walking everyday. Yeah, that didn't happen. We went on two walks. Two. One was about a mile up to the top of Martis Peak. It was only a mile, but it was a workout. Especially pushing Padyn in the stroller. And I didn't even push her the whole time! From the top we had a 360 degree view of everything-lake, Truckee, Nevada, all the mountains-it was breathtaking. That's where Padyn saw the snow. The other was a lazy walk in the neighborhood. I was pushing Kate in the stroller so I got a little bit of a work-out. Oh well, it's vacation, right?






On the way home we made a few stops to visit friends and eat. We visited with Scott and his family that moved away almost a year ago. Scott's Mommy is my oldest friend. It is rather fitting that we both just had our second kids 1 day apart! Charlotte and Kate will hopefully grow up to be good friends, too. At our second stop Padyn got to play with her boyfriends, Austin and Brooks. They can fight over her later. Kate and her friend Kelsey got some time to hang out as well. Kelsey was 6 weeks old on Saturday, just as Kate was turning 13 weeks.

The Big Three

Three months old today!

The Simple Life

We've been on vacation for a while. Can you tell? Being away from the computer for over a week has left my typing skills weaken, therefore, I can only post pictures at the moment. Commentary to follow.