Week 91

Dear Jorie,

This week was kind of boring in some ways, with some excitement squished down into a few days. There were no days home sick, but there really wasn't any going outside either (too cold.) I think everyone is ready for this winter to be over, especially since it's officially spring already! You've even started saying "no no snow. Bye bye snow" when it was snowing this morning.

The big excitement this week all happened on Monday. First, we officially told the daycare you're at now that we are moving you. It's been an emotional, difficult decision for your father and I, but we ultimately believe that moving you is the best decision. We will be moving you with Zetta, so you girls will stay together, which I believe will help with the transition.

After that, and all the emotion involved, we went and picked up our new (to us) car! My Mazda Protege 5 has been on it's way out for a while, we've managed to keep it running but it's way past worth fixing at this point (it's 12 years old, which is REALLY old for a car!) So we went and picked up a nice 2011 Toyota Corolla. It's so nice having two working, (mostly) reliable cars! (The chevy Aveo we have still has a few issues.) It's kind of sad for me because I've had that Mazda for so long, but the new Corolla is so nice, it'll be a much better car for schlepping you around as you get older. While we were there, the salesman was nice and got you a shiny red balloon, which you loved. While we were waiting for paperwork, your father walked you around the showroom for a bit. It was really cute seeing you walking around trailing the red balloon. Unfortunately you lost the balloon when your father was getting you into the car to go home, which upset you greatly.

Something that you've started noticing lately is that "Mommy Run." You started saying it on Saturday (I think) when I got to my parents after a really long run to meet up with your father and you. Every time I get off the treadmill, or get suited up for a run you say it now. And you say "I run!" and start running around the room. When I ask you if you want to run with Mommy, you say Yes! I can't wait till the weather gets nice enough for me to put you in the Jogging stroller and take you with me!

You've been very clingy lately, and I'm not sure what it's about. This morning, while I was home with you, you wan
ted to be close to me all the time. After I gave you a bath, you were really sleepy, but wouldn't go down for a nap. You just wanted to cuddle with me in the rocking chair, have me rock you and sing you songs. Every time I'd finish a song you'd say "more? more sing? more rock? Please?" It melted my heart. Of course I spent about a half an hour rocking you, cuddling and singing Freire Jacques over and over (it was the only song you wanted me to sing.)

Yesterday your father called while he was on his way home from work and I put the phone on speaker so you could "talk" to him. You immediately starting going "Hi daddy!" "hi!" and then saying something that sounded like "I said hi daddy!" interspersed by babbling. It was adorable.

You've really started to loose the "baby look" lately. You look more and more like a little girl every day, which I suppose is an odd thing to say. Your play is more purposeful now too. You "cook waffles" for us in your play kitchen, and change the baby doll. Changing the baby doll is fun, since it involves "washing" the baby (during which you say "baby wash" repeatedly), getting the baby out of it's clothes, and then putting the baby on the mat to "Change" it.

A lot of what you do has multiple steps to it now, or is accompanied by you telling us what you're doing or what's happening. "Baby sit!" you'll say while putting the baby in a chair, or "Baby rock" while rocking the baby in your arms. Sometimes you'll go on at great lengths about something that happened, complete with gestures. Unfortunately I rarely understand what you're saying when that happens. Even after you repeat yourself multiple times in an attempt to get me to understand.

I love you so much baby girl. Stop growing up so fast, I'm not ready for it!

Your Aunt and Uncle's New puppy!

Weeks 89 & 90

Dear Jorie,

You get a double week update this time, because last week was so crazy! First you were home sick monday and tuesday (nothing major, just a low fever.) Then Wednesday we got a crazy blizzard snow storm, so we were all trapped at home all day!

Your father stayed home with you monday, and then I got to stay home with you Tuesday. The weather on Tuesday was beautiful, so after breakfast, I packed you up and headed down to the play ground to let you get some outside time. You had a blast running around, climbing onto the play structure and going down the slides. You kept pointing and saying "Slide!" before running over and climbing the stairs. I can't believe how much you've grown since the last time we were at the play ground. You can now climb all the stairs yourself, and you go down the slides by yourself too. We had the whole play ground to ourselves, but after a little while I realized it was getting towards nap time, and had to pack you up and take you home. You were really upset, you were having such a good time!

Wednesday was the snow storm. Your father and I both stayed home, although your father was attempting to work from home. You were really cranky, having been home for three days, you were tired of all your toys, and since it was really nasty outside, we were stuck in the house. Your father did take you outside for a bit while I shoveled, and you had a great time playing in the snow. Such a good time that you threw a fit when your father took you back inside, screaming "OUTSIDE!!!! NO NO OUTSIDE!!!!"

This past weekend we had Jaimee, Bill and Zetta over for dinner. The two of you play so well together still, it's really awesome. Like I've said before, I really hope that you stay friends with Zetta, the two of you seem to have such a good time together right now, it'll be really special if you get to keep that friendship!

So far this week has been quiet, just the normal goings on.

We got your booster seat in, and graduated you out of the high chair. I think you like being at the table with us in a "big girl" seat. You also use two and three word sentences now. A lot of "I do this" or "I do that" or "I want this", but also some "this happened" or "that did that". You have words for most of the people in your life now, Ama (grandma), Apa (grandpa), Nanni, Aunt Becky, Uncle, Essey(Wesley), Zetta, Daddy, Mommy, Doggie, kitty.

You've started learning your shapes too, you can identify circles (and say "circle) and squares. You love pointing out circles to me all the time now.

The tantruming hasn't been that bad lately (although it was in full force the day of the snow storm!) I don't know if that's because you're outgrowing it, or we're just becoming better at dealing with it (or becoming used to them, who knows.)

Your favorite show to watch right now is a show called Bo on the Go. It drive your father and me nuts! It's a computer animated show with this girl "Bo" who needs you to do things like run in place to give her energy to get past obstacles in the show. It's very repetitive, every episode follows the same pattern. You love it though, and ask for it by going "Buddy?!" (The little girl calls the people watching her "Bo Buddies.") We're still trying to keep you from watching too much television, and really only let you watch one half hour episode of something a couple times a week (usually on the weekends.)

I'm not really sure what else to say baby girl. It seems like you're growing so fast, like every time I turn around your bigger, and have learned something new, it's hard to keep track. It was so nice getting to be home with you so much this past week. I hate feeling like I'm missing out on your childhood.

Last night when we were getting ready to leave your Grandparents house, I was holding you in my lap. You were asleep and just sprawled across my lap. You looked so big and so tiny at the same time.

I love you so much baby girl. Please stay my baby girl a little longer!

"Shoes!"

"Hey, why isn't this working?!"

Watching "Babies" on Daddy's Phone

Week 88

Dear Jorie,

It's been a crazy week, but then again, that seems like every week now! You have hit the "Toddler Tantrums" with force. This week you have been a tiny little tornado ripping through everywhere we go. You are high highs and instant flips to anger. From what I hear this is par for the course with toddlers.

You have humor now, and snark. Oh little girl do you have snark. We've been working on dicipline with you, which has involved the slow count to three. You've recently started snarking me good when I start "Oooone...." you look at me and say "Two." The other night, your father and I were having some gummies and you wanted one, however you were standing in your high chair (a big no no.) Your father told you you could have one if you sat down. So you sat down. Your father handed you a gummie, and as soon as you had it in your hand you smiled, stood up, looked right at your father, and popped it in your mouth. And then you laughed.

One of your favorite things to do recently is put on our shoes and try to walk around. You've worn Mommies shoes, Daddies shoes, and Mommies Rain boots (which went all the way up your legs!) You stand there in them and go "walk walk walk" and try to shuffle around. It really is adorable.

You've also become obsessed with reading. It's nice because if I need a minute, I can put you in your crib with a bunch of books, and you're ok for a bit.

This week, your Aunt Becky and Uncle Michael got a new puppy. They brought it over to our house on Thursday, and we got to play with it and it met Mojo. It was a lot of fun and you really seemed to enjoy being bigger than a dog for a change.

I think this winter is starting to wear on all of us a little bit. I can't wait till it warms up and we can take you outside more often to burn off all that energy you're using (right now in fact) to drive your father and me a little batty.

I love you so much baby girl! I just hope this stage doesn't last too long!