Playtime at Day and Paw's

Mommy has a new job!  It is very part time, just two afternoons a week, tutoring.  For Mia this means, for the first time for her, a very regular (usually once a week) playdate at Day and Paw's house.  Luke is at school, so it gives Mia a bit of time alone with them, which is so nice for everyone (except Luke who seems to think that Day and Paw belong to him, and him only!).

Here are a few photos of Mia playing in their yard.

These ones with the duck are very reminiscent of some of her brother just a few years back

Winter swimming

Both Luke and Mia continue to swim at AVAC through the winter.  They are doing so well and both seem to really enjoy their lessons.  This particular week I had an appointment to get to right after swimming, so Day volunteered to swim with Mia so that I could dash off right after the lessons.  So, for once, I had an opportunity to get some pictures of our swimmers.

Mia is in a 2-3 year old parent/child class.  She is easily one of the most comfortable toddlers in the water, and is most certainly the most social. 

Mia's teacher this time is Miss Devin, who has worked a miracle with Mia's backfloat.  She can just about do it without any support!

Luke's class starts 15 minutes after Mia's, so he sits poolside and waits for his turn (with his friend from school, Vidyut, who has class at the same time as Luke and also has a little brother in Mia's class).

Luke is a "Sea Turtle" right now and is working on coordinating arm strokes with nice strong kicks.

Luke's teacher is Mr. Carl, who is great.  There are only two kids in Luke's class ... both boys have July birthdays and are named Luke.  Luke and Luke think that this is super awesome!

Mia at 2 years old

Sweet Mia, how have I neglected for so long writing down what you have been up to and the kind of little girl you are becoming?  Perhaps because you keep us darn busy!  I'll try my best to recap the past several months - so much to share and remember.

First things first, we visited Dr. Dugoni this week for your 2 year well visit.  She was happy with your progress in all areas - large motor skills are ahead, your fine motor skills are on track, vocabulary is actually ahead a bit for your age, your ability to follow directions is age appropriate.  We, too, are so happy to have such a healthy and full-of-life little girl.

Your stats:
Weight:  23 pounds exactly (between 5th and 10th %)
Length:  32.5 inches (between 10th and 25th %)
Head circumference:  18.5 inches (50th %)

So, you're still small, but in proportion.  She had no concern about your growth and okayed the switch over to 2% milk.  You are still wearing clothes that are in the 18th month range.  Most of your 12-18 month clothing still just fits, but you're getting a bit long for it, so for the most part you are in 18-24 month clothing.  We continue to cloth diaper, but when you wear a disposable (at night and when we are going out), you are wearing size 4s.  Your feet were slow to grow for so long, but they are making up for it now - you have gone through a few sizes in just a few months and are now wearing shoe size 5 and 6 - I think your feet are just about exactly a 5.5.

You continue to be a pretty good eater, but have started to become pickier.  I think that this is just normal for your age.  You certainly know what you want.  There are times when I offer you what I believe is your favorite meal and if you don't feel like that food at the time, you just won't eat it.  You love to take bites from Mommy and Daddy and try everything we are eating.  Your favorite foods right now are pasta (or ravioli) with marinara sauce, pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, yogurt, pears, bananas, apples, sweet potatoes, french fries, tomato soup, pancakes, and popcorn (I know you aren't supposed to have it yet, but you have had it and now we can't withhold it).  Honestly, I could go on and on with the list of foods that you seem to like - and it seems to change on a regular basis depending on what you feel like.

You have been an amazing sleeper.  We've actually been blessed with two very good sleepers, but you take the cake over your brother.  I love that you love to sleep.  Your schedule usually has you in bed by 7:30 at night (but you'd be happy to go earlier!), and up around 7:30 in the morning.  Your nap, up until about a week ago, would generally be 3+ hours from around 1pm to 4pm.  In the past week that nap does seem to be getting a bit shorter.  You've had a few consistent days of 2-2.5 hour naps instead of your usual 3-3.5 hour naps.  You still sleep in your crib with the tent on it so that you can't climb out.  When you took a nap at Day and Paw's recently you laid down easily, but quickly leaped out of the pack n play when no one was looking.  I am NOT looking forward to teaching you to sleep in a big girl bed, so we're sticking with the crib for as long as possible!  You still love to be rocked before laying down, which I love.  Sometimes you'll fall asleep on my shoulder, but most of the time we rock for a while and then you happily lay down in your bed.  We usually sing songs - your favorites are "This Little Light of Mine" and "Rock-a-Bye Baby."  You love to sing along and know just about all of the words.  Occasionally you will still twirl my hair as you drift off to sleep, but I notice that you also twirl your own hair to put yourself to sleep when you are in your crib.

Eating and sleeping ... those are the things that you don't really challenge us on.  However, over the past 4-5 months, you really made up for your easy-going nature when it comes to those two thing with your behavior during the rest of your waking hours.  Yes, you have been a challenge!  The bottom line:  you have a mind of your own and know exactly what you want.  If things don't go your way, you resort to screaming, hitting, biting, scratching, kicking, pulling hair ... you name it!  You also have no problem telling people that you don't feel like being around them (i.e. shouting "no, no, no, no" while waving your arms wildly if someone sits down in the chair next to you who you would rather not have so close).  That all being said, there has been some slow and steady behavior improvement as we moved into the winter, and in the past few weeks as your vocabulary has expanded rapidly, you have become even more "nice."  Let's hope it continues :)!

Speaking of vocabulary, you are now officially speaking in full sentences!  It's incredible to watch as you learn new words and phrases daily.  You definitely have taken longer to communicate your thoughts than your brother did, so that's been a learning experience for us all.  It seems like it changed just overnight.  December and now this month have seen the greatest strides in vocabulary and communication.  You regularly speak in 3 and 4-word sentences and can, for the most part, tell us your wants and needs.  This ability has drastically improved your behavior.  The words that you do speak are very well articulated ... again, so different from Luke - it reminds me to try very hard NOT to compare you and him!  The phrase that you speak most often and with the most "feeling" behind it is:  "Oh, NO!"  You use this term several times each day and always with all of the concern that you can muster.  It's something I never want to forget. 

You're a complete social butterfly.  You love dropping Luke at school and are so, so sad when we leave and I take you home with me.  The teachers at school always smile and tell me, "she's so ready."  And I know you are.  You'll be my child who runs off to Kindergarten (or college) without a backwards glance at her Mommy.  I will cry, but I want you to know now how proud it makes me to have such an independent girl.  In many ways, you remind me of myself in this regard.  You also started swimming lessons this past fall and you absolutely love being there and being in the water.  But most of all, I think, you love the attention you get because you are so comfortable, so independent, so ready to take on the pool (and the world).  You are most definitely the star of the class, if for no other reason than you smile, laugh, and jump right in (literally).  At home you like playing with your brother, but you also love to play alone.  You really  insist upon having your "alone time."  You are happy, and often prefer, to play with your toys on your own.  You will also go into your bedroom and look at books alone for up to 30 minutes at a time.  You just love being in there with them ... alone.  Your favorite toys right now are your baby dolls and their stroller.  You also love your Toy Story friends, Woody, Jessie, and Buzz, blocks, your tea set, kitchen, and cupcakes, coloring, playing with your dollhouse, and just about anything that your brother is interested in.  You love Thomas the Tank Engine and the characters from the Cars movies.  You serve tea to Luke's trains ... such a well-rounded little girl! :)

Mia, we are so incredibly blessed to be your parents.  You make us so happy and so complete.  We love you!

January happenings

An early morning breakfast playdate with our friends, Jack and Charlie (notice the boys' coordinating PJs ... our Mommies are crazy, but they didn't even plan this one!).

Snuggling in on a rainy day for movie time.  Our favorites right now?  Annie and Mary Poppins.  Linus is very much into being the another "child" right now.  He joins us for stories before bed as well.

Hugs!

Cowgirl Party!

Mia celebrated turning 2 last weekend at her cowgirl party held at Emma Prusch Farm Park.  The idea for a cowgirl party came about because of Mia's absolute love for animals.  She loves our pets (sometimes more than the humans that live in our house, I think), but also has a real connection with and interest in all kinds of animals.

The treat table: 

s'mores pops, cotton candy, popcorn cones, candy sticks, and pink ruffle cake

The Watering Hole:

cowgirl waters, chocolate and strawberry milk, root beer, sweet tea, and pink lemonade in mason jars

Somehow I missed shooting a picture of The Filling Station, but it served:

slow roasted ribs, mac and cheese, potato salad, green salad, fruit salad, baked beans, and cornbread muffins.

Cowgirl Cookie party favors

 The Pony Corral

The Birthday Girl

The kids enjoyed a tour of the farm and an opportunity to feed the animals

Off to the barn!

Visiting the pig

 The stick ponies are a hit!

"Happy Birthday to you...."

Coloring

Presents!

We were so incredibly lucky with the weather - it was absolutely the most gorgeous January day.  The kids spent hours on the playground to round out the party.

Of course, this required some extra treats...

S'mores pops were a favorite 

 And I'd say that this cowgirl is about ready to hit the hay (and the bath tub!)

Thanks to everyone who joined in Mia's special day.  It was a perfectly fitting celebration for our 2 year old cowgirl!