Playing Catch Up

One of my favorite signs of spring: this glorious tree down the street.

I'm sitting in the living room watching you sleep.  You woke me up before five o'clock this morning.  Thanks for that.  We made fruit salad and coffee while everyone slept.  We caught an episode of Barney.  We changed your diaper and honored your request to be clothing-free when you tugged at your clothes, saying "Off!"  All before 6AM.  Then, just as suddenly as you awoke, you crashed on the sofa.  I, of course, am wide awake by now.  And so I watch you sleep and decide to revisit your poor, neglected blog.

Rainy days are here again.  Funny how it's all new to you.

Kylee made the All County Honors Chorus.  We sat outside for most of it because you were super noisy.

The news is on in the background, and I'm trying to tune out the sadness.  It's hard to fathom some of the circumstances in the world when your little world is so safe and secure and blissful.  Lately, our weather has been perfect.  A little warm, but perfectly comfortable if you find some shade.  We have been outside every day and almost all day.  You and I have spent a ton of time downtown and by the water.  There have been lots of explorations, and somehow I'm learning how to finally fall in love with my hometown.  There's plenty of things I could complain about in this town, and I often do, but the truth is that it's a beautiful place to call home.  If you really try, you can still find a bit of the original charm that makes it special.  We have discovered a new, favorite coffee shop, run by the nicest people in town.  We have become regulars in a very short time.  They call you "their girl", and my heart melts over the way they gush over you.  We also finally visited a park downtown that I've been meaning to take you to.  Turns out there's a playground at the boat ramp next door.  Right.  On.  The.  Bay.  Why have we never been there before?  So, like a magnet, downtown pulls us in.  We are there a lot.

Downtown Day: we started a Saturday at The Neighborhood Cafe and then used the colorful doors in the building as backdrops.

All doors should be painted such happy colors.

Sydney did a special "pose" for her friend and pen=pal, Olivia.  I love that kid.

I think that because we enjoy being by the water so much, our home has become more precious to me.  We made the mistake of moving further inland a few years ago, and we were miserable.  I don't know why adding an extra fifteen minutes of driving time was so discouraging, but we might as well have been living in Minnesota.  We never made it downtown.  We never found ourselves at the beach.  And it was depressing.  Our house may not be perfect, but it is in a location that makes it a piece of cake to head downtown on a whim, or take a last minute drive to the beach to catch the sunset.  I can't really imagine it any other way.  

We walked down the dock and checked out the pelicans and the yachts.

The canons are a hit, and you are obsessed with pirates for some reason.  Always saying "Aargh" and even swinging your arm.

Shopping for trinkets to send to Spain.

Hamming it up downtown.

These days, you are seeming quite toddler-ish.  Not a trace of baby left hardly.  Just today I noticed that the flip of your hair is now below your ears.  I've been french braiding it lately to keep it out of your eyes.  Ironically, you won't leave in a headband or barrette, but you seem to understand that you should leave alone any form of ponytail or braid.  Of course, they suffer the same fate as shoes, jackets or any other piece of clothing you deem to be extraneous and off they come as soon as we cross our doorway or even climb into the car.  I'll be glad when you let me put pretty things in your hair.  I keep buying them in hopes that the day will come when you will wear a lacy headband or sweet sunhat.  You've also had some pretty huge accomplishments lately.  About a month ago (I'm afraid I'm depending on Instagram these days to actually keep track of the days of events) you woke up dry.  I immediately stuck you on the potty and: success!  Since then, we've bought you a cushy seat and you use it regularly.  Not always, and not even often enough to take you shopping for some tiny undies, but you are well on your way.  You are also finally tall enough to push yourself around on both the plasma car and even your "Dora-mobile" from Pop Pop.  And do you ever love to cruise around on them.  When outdoors you insist on a helmet, which you call a "hat," always wise beyond your years.  You've also had a mass eruption of teeth.  Your bare gums are now full of molars and little chicklet teeth, with only a few bare spots remaining.  You've been remarkably good about this ordeal.  I can see how red your gums are, yet you never complain aside from an occasional "Teeth.  Ow." statement.

Dancing in the trains at the museum.

Inside the caboose.

Walkin' the line.

You've also picked up some habits that I'm not thrilled with.  You are crossing your arms when you are feeling extra stubborn, telling me "no", and even trying to slap my face when you don't like the answer I'm giving you.  Consequently, you've had your first few time-outs. Ironically, you like them.  Of course you do.  When I ask if you need to go to time-out, you enthusiastically say "Yes!"  I feel a little like it's backfiring on me, and a little like you are playing me.  I'm staying consistent though.  I can't be beat by a one year old.  But geez, kid.  Way to make me look like an amateur.  You also have a sudden aversion to grocery cart seats.  You've discovered that some kids sit in the backs of carts (your sister), and you find that to be much more to your liking.  Truthfully, some days I'd let you sit just about anywhere if it would make you content during a shopping trip.  You've also taken to throwing food when you're done eating.  We are trying our best to get you to just say "All done" instead.  Our poor carpet is showing evidence of this new habit.  Manners are also a big thing around here.  You've learned that "Please" is a magic word, and you say it in your sweetest voice.  Everyday we repeat our most polite phrases in hopes they will sink in.  Someday that will pay off.  

We weren't done yet.  We headed to the airport observation deck for sunset.

It was freezing.

 Your level of conversation has grown by leaps and bounds.  You happily answer, "I don't know," to many of the questions we ask.  You are equally happy when you do know, though.  The other day you fell asleep after a beach day without bathing.  The next morning Sydney told you that you needed a bath and you laughed and said, "I know!"  You're also following directions even better than I expect.  You pretty much live for laundry days, and can't wait to be my "helper".  You're quite miffed when I start loading the machines without you.  You even put away some items, like towels, by yourself with little instruction.  Why did it take me having four children before realizing that good cleaning habits are easier taught during these early years?  I'm having so much fun teaching you colors, counting, and the alphabet.  Watching you grasp these concepts is amazing.  It's so rewarding to wander through a produce market and watch you announce the names of different fruits and vegetables.  And when you get one wrong, and I correct you, you say, "Oh."  Why is that so funny when you say it and not when we do? You mimic my cooking in your tiny kitchen.  Yesterday I watched you using your rolling pin on a piece of plastic cauliflower.  Okay, maybe you didn't get that specific move from me.  Then again, maybe I'll soon be getting recipes from you.  You never know.

I am pitifully behind on here once again.  I started this post days ago, and am only just now finishing as everyone sleeps.  I am vowing to apply a little structure to my days.  Not too much.  I cherish our last minute runs to the park, beach, or wherever.  I'm not about to sacrifice them.  I'm home with you for a reason, and I don't want to squander this opportunity by scheduling our days to the hilt.  But fitting in things that are important to me, or the family, matter too.  Since scheduling isn't my strong suit, we will see how this goes.  I promise there will still be plenty of time penciled in for walks, tea parties and swim dates.