Jenni was in town on Saturday. So Dave and the kids and I took the train in to Copenhagen to meet her. It started to rain as our train was pulling into the station. We wandered around the train station for a while, hoping it would pass. It didn't. So we bought a couple of umbrellas (because of course we left all of ours at home.) Literally, as soon as we had bought the umbrellas the rain stopped and the sun came out.
We walked the few blocks to Jenni's hotel. From there we walked down to the pedestrian shopping street, in search of an early dinner. We ended up at Mama Rosa's. Lilli fell asleep in the stroller. Mama Rosa's is a combination of pizza place and mexican restaurant (that seems to be a common combination over here.) It was pretty good. Well, it wasn't awful. The pizza was better than the mexican food. Lilli slept all through dinner. Dave and Tipton had pizzas. Jenni had a steak. I had fajitas (next time I'll get the pizza.) We sat outside to eat. After we had placed our order, we got up and moved to another (more sheltered) table. Shortly after we got our food it started raining. Hard. Blowing rain. I was getting wet. So was my food. So I grabbed an umbrella out of the bottom of the stroller and ate dinner under my umbrella. And this seemed normal. I seem to be adapting. Perhaps I've been over here a little too long?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Chaos, Sloth and Atonemtent
This past Tuesday we met one of Tipton's friends, Samantha, at this place called Andy's. It is a giant indoor play area. They have an area to play hockey and soccer, a giant inflatable bounce-house, three trampolines, an area to ride little scooters/bikes, a small kids play area (for ages 4 and under) and a giant hamster-type maze and slides. The kids LOVE it. It is nice to have an indoor play area over here. You pay an admittance fee and are allowed to play for three hours. After an hour and a half both Adriana (Samantha's mom) and I and the kiddos were ready to leave. Too much fun and excitement - we were all exhausted.
Lilli started out in the small kids play area. That lasted for about 10 minutes, then she wanted to find Tipton and Samantha. I managed to distract her with the bounce-house and trampolines for almost an hour. But I just couldn't keep her away from the giant maze/climbing area. I finally gave in. She had a blast climbing all around, and only got stuck/scared a couple of times. There were lots of other adults climbing around in there, too, which made me feel a little better. Towards the end, I had managed to find my way back out, but Lilli was still wandering around in there. So we sent Tipton and Samantha back in to help her find a way out. We celebrated surviving the maze with lunch at McDonalds. (They have a snack bar there, at Andy's. But Adriana and I knew that there was no way we'd be able to get the kids to stay at the table and eat lunch.)
When we got home later that afternoon, the new Harry Potter book was waiting for me in the mail. So of course I started reading it immediately. The kids wanted to play outside. So I played hockey with Tipton, while reading my book. Fortunately, I already had dinner going in the crock pot, so I didn't have to cook - I could read my book. The next day the kids watched Blue's Clues all day while I read my book. I was very lazy. I read all day. My eyes started to cross, but still I read. Chapter after chapter, episode after episode of Blue's Clues. I finished the book around 10:00 that evening. It was great. I haven't read a book like that since I was in the 7th grade! (When I read Stephen King's The Tommyknockers in one day.)
The next day was Friday. And I felt that I needed to atone for my day of sloth . Also, we had friends coming over for dinner and the house was a disaster. So I went on a cleaning binge. In fact, I not only cleaned - I organized.
I started with Tipton's room. I picked up everything off of the floor and put it into bins. I labeled the bins so that he would know what was where. I organized the cabinet with all of his games and puzzles and toys and bins. I cleaned off (and dusted!) his dresser. I cleaned off his bookshelf. I organized all of the books on his bookshelf. I vacuumed his room. And when it was done, I called him into his room and had him look at everything. I showed him his cabinet and explained that everything had a place, and that when he was done playing with something (a game, a toy) he needed to put it back where he got it from. That if he left his things all over the floor again, I would take them away. They wouldn't go into "time out", no, they would go into the trash and he would never see them again.
Then I did the same thing with Lilli. Only, her room is much easier to organize. One bookshelf and one big plastic bin full of toys. Snip, snap -we're done!
I cleaned both bathrooms, even cleared off the bathroom counters so that it's not so cluttered (and will be much easier to clean the next time.) I did six or seven loads of laundry. I de-cluttered the laundry hall. I washed every single dish in the house (or maybe that's just how it felt.) I made spanish rice and put it in a casserole dish so that I would just have to warm it up later for dinner. I made rice krispie treats to have for dessert. I put the beans and brisket in the crock pot to cook. I organized cabinets in the kitchen. I cleaned out and organized the refrigerator. I vacuumed the entire house. I was just starting to make the flour tortillas when our friends arrived for dinner.
Dave got home a few minutes after Adriana, Claus and Samantha arrived. I left Dave to visit with Claus and look after the kiddos while Adriana and I hung out in the kitchen and made the tortillas. Dinner was wonderful and it was really nice to have our friends over. The kids were wild and crazy, as they usually are. Everyone had a great time. We really need to do it more often.
I am making a promise to myself. I would like to have friends over for dinner at least once a month. And I want/need to clean my house at least once a week! I mean, really.
Lilli started out in the small kids play area. That lasted for about 10 minutes, then she wanted to find Tipton and Samantha. I managed to distract her with the bounce-house and trampolines for almost an hour. But I just couldn't keep her away from the giant maze/climbing area. I finally gave in. She had a blast climbing all around, and only got stuck/scared a couple of times. There were lots of other adults climbing around in there, too, which made me feel a little better. Towards the end, I had managed to find my way back out, but Lilli was still wandering around in there. So we sent Tipton and Samantha back in to help her find a way out. We celebrated surviving the maze with lunch at McDonalds. (They have a snack bar there, at Andy's. But Adriana and I knew that there was no way we'd be able to get the kids to stay at the table and eat lunch.)
When we got home later that afternoon, the new Harry Potter book was waiting for me in the mail. So of course I started reading it immediately. The kids wanted to play outside. So I played hockey with Tipton, while reading my book. Fortunately, I already had dinner going in the crock pot, so I didn't have to cook - I could read my book. The next day the kids watched Blue's Clues all day while I read my book. I was very lazy. I read all day. My eyes started to cross, but still I read. Chapter after chapter, episode after episode of Blue's Clues. I finished the book around 10:00 that evening. It was great. I haven't read a book like that since I was in the 7th grade! (When I read Stephen King's The Tommyknockers in one day.)
The next day was Friday. And I felt that I needed to atone for my day of sloth . Also, we had friends coming over for dinner and the house was a disaster. So I went on a cleaning binge. In fact, I not only cleaned - I organized.
I started with Tipton's room. I picked up everything off of the floor and put it into bins. I labeled the bins so that he would know what was where. I organized the cabinet with all of his games and puzzles and toys and bins. I cleaned off (and dusted!) his dresser. I cleaned off his bookshelf. I organized all of the books on his bookshelf. I vacuumed his room. And when it was done, I called him into his room and had him look at everything. I showed him his cabinet and explained that everything had a place, and that when he was done playing with something (a game, a toy) he needed to put it back where he got it from. That if he left his things all over the floor again, I would take them away. They wouldn't go into "time out", no, they would go into the trash and he would never see them again.
Then I did the same thing with Lilli. Only, her room is much easier to organize. One bookshelf and one big plastic bin full of toys. Snip, snap -we're done!
I cleaned both bathrooms, even cleared off the bathroom counters so that it's not so cluttered (and will be much easier to clean the next time.) I did six or seven loads of laundry. I de-cluttered the laundry hall. I washed every single dish in the house (or maybe that's just how it felt.) I made spanish rice and put it in a casserole dish so that I would just have to warm it up later for dinner. I made rice krispie treats to have for dessert. I put the beans and brisket in the crock pot to cook. I organized cabinets in the kitchen. I cleaned out and organized the refrigerator. I vacuumed the entire house. I was just starting to make the flour tortillas when our friends arrived for dinner.
Dave got home a few minutes after Adriana, Claus and Samantha arrived. I left Dave to visit with Claus and look after the kiddos while Adriana and I hung out in the kitchen and made the tortillas. Dinner was wonderful and it was really nice to have our friends over. The kids were wild and crazy, as they usually are. Everyone had a great time. We really need to do it more often.
I am making a promise to myself. I would like to have friends over for dinner at least once a month. And I want/need to clean my house at least once a week! I mean, really.
Riding Solo
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 - Tipton is officially a Big Kid. He is now riding his bike with no training wheels and no "handle bar" on the back. He is riding on two-wheels, solo.
Monday evening Lilli and I went for a bike ride while Tipton played a video game with Daddy. Lilli and I discovered a new, really cool playground. When we got home I told Tipton about it, and said that when he could ride his bike by himself (without Daddy needing to 'get him started') then we could ride our bikes to the new playground. That did it. The next evening he was riding by himself. And we rode our bikes to the new playground. He did really well, too...
He walked his bike down the first big hill (Daddy walked it up the big hill.) But the second hill he rode down (and then up.) On the way home from the playground he almost had an accident. He and Daddy were talking about gravity. And Tipton said "Gravity is what makes you stick down, like this - " and he took his left hand off his handlebars and raised it into the air and then slammed it back down on the handlebar. And almost fell off his bike. He had a nice recovery, though. He wobbled a bit and managed to stop about half an inch from a light post. Both funny and frightening at the same time. The rest of the way home Daddy stressed the importance of not taking your hands off the handlebars while riding your bike...
And of course, I have no pictures of Tipton riding solo. He goes so fast on his bike, they would just be blurry anyway (if I could even capture him in the frame.) He is now all about riding his bike, though. Whenever I say "It's time to go!" He says "On our bikes?" Yesterday afternoon we rode our bikes to a nearby playground. I didn't want to stray too far from home, because I knew it was going to rain. And sure enough, it did. About 20 minutes on the playground, then we rode our bikes home in the rain.
I am going to have to plan more errands to be run on our bikes. If only it would stop raining...
Monday evening Lilli and I went for a bike ride while Tipton played a video game with Daddy. Lilli and I discovered a new, really cool playground. When we got home I told Tipton about it, and said that when he could ride his bike by himself (without Daddy needing to 'get him started') then we could ride our bikes to the new playground. That did it. The next evening he was riding by himself. And we rode our bikes to the new playground. He did really well, too...
He walked his bike down the first big hill (Daddy walked it up the big hill.) But the second hill he rode down (and then up.) On the way home from the playground he almost had an accident. He and Daddy were talking about gravity. And Tipton said "Gravity is what makes you stick down, like this - " and he took his left hand off his handlebars and raised it into the air and then slammed it back down on the handlebar. And almost fell off his bike. He had a nice recovery, though. He wobbled a bit and managed to stop about half an inch from a light post. Both funny and frightening at the same time. The rest of the way home Daddy stressed the importance of not taking your hands off the handlebars while riding your bike...
And of course, I have no pictures of Tipton riding solo. He goes so fast on his bike, they would just be blurry anyway (if I could even capture him in the frame.) He is now all about riding his bike, though. Whenever I say "It's time to go!" He says "On our bikes?" Yesterday afternoon we rode our bikes to a nearby playground. I didn't want to stray too far from home, because I knew it was going to rain. And sure enough, it did. About 20 minutes on the playground, then we rode our bikes home in the rain.
I am going to have to plan more errands to be run on our bikes. If only it would stop raining...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Knitting, Bike Riding and a Bouncy Blue Horse
Tipton and his friend, Aaron, play hockey in the back yard. Tipton has just hit the ball past Aaron to score a goal.
And now, for some knitting. Really, I have been knitting. In fact, the other day I knit this scarf
In just one day! Gotta love those size 19 (US) needles! It's a very pretty scarf. I haven't decided what I'm going to to with it yet, though. If I'll keep it for myself to give it away. But I wanted to do something that would knit up fast and look pretty. Because I am stuck on Lilli's Grow With Me tank top. I have reached the point where I need to start the pattern for the bodice. Only for the life of me I cannot figure out what the pattern is. I need to write the pattern author and ask for help. This is how far I've gotten.
Have I mentioned that Dave took the training wheels off of Tipton's bike? He's getting pretty good at riding it by himself.
And he goes really, really fast. Much faster than when he had training wheels. This evening Dave had Tipton practice riding his bike - starting by himself (without Dave holding onto the handle.) Tipton did really well. He's still a little wobbly when he starts off, but he doesn't fall over and that's what counts. Now he just needs to work on stopping without the bike falling over.
This is one of the kids favorite things to do. They take all of their "bedtime animals*" and pile them on the couch. Then they climb into the middle of them and pretend to sleep. Much giggling and arguing over the blanket ensues. *Note - yes, all of these animals are on their beds when they go to sleep. They are lined up against the wall to prevent the kiddos from getting stuck between the mattress and the wall. The bedframes are from the US, but we bought the mattresses here. The mattresses here are longer and skinnier, so they don't exactly fit the frames. Hence the need for all the stuffed animal protection.
Over the weekend Lilli's HOP ball got a hole in it. This was just the opportunity I was looking for. The kids each got a HOP ball from Grama Kay and Papa for Christmas. And they love them. We (I helped to pick them out) got Lilli the smallest HOP ball available. I thought Lilli would be big enough for it. I was wrong. So whenever the kids want to play with the HOP balls, I always end up having to hold Lilli on hers and bounce her (and the ball) up and down. Not exactly easy on the old back. Anyway, so I have been wanting to get her one of the bouncy horses. They have them at her daycare and she LOVES them. Most of the time when I pick her up she is bouncing on a horse. So first thing this morning (or rather, around 10:00 when the stores over here open) we hopped in the car (I had planned to walk with the kids in the wagon, but it was raining) and went to the toy store. They had one bouncy horse left. A blue one.
I think she likes it.
Lilli and Tipton played a game together this afternoon! I love that Lilli is getting big/old enough to play games with Tipton. The name of the game is Monkey Business.
You spin a dial and have to hang the number/color of monkeys on the tree. You don't want to make the tree fall (the green leaves are held up by a magnet) so you have to place the monkeys strategically.
Lilli watches the master at work.
Then she takes her turn.
Yes, she is my child - sitting on the couch, reading a book!
Tipton shows me his muscles - so big and strong.
Lilli hitches a ride with Tipton.
Tipton hitches a ride with Lilli.
I think the bouncy blue horse is a success. I see many, many fights over it in our future.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Toddler Exhibitions
The other day the kiddos were watching a show about space explorers. The next thing I know Lilli is running around with the top of the bathroom trashcan on her head. Space explorer Lilli is ready for her mission.
Later that day the kids and I made some musical instruments. Tipton's favorite was the tissue box guitar. He would jump up in the air and shout "Rock & Roll!" and start strumming wildly on his guitar.
We also made some rain sticks (which were really cool!) Then Tipton decided that we needed to form a band. A marching band. Lilli chose to play the drum. (Dave and I think she looks like Kay, Dave's Mom, in this picture - the way the hair frames her face.)
For a snack we had yogurt. I have a love/hate relationship with yogurt. On one hand it's a quick, healthy snack that requires no preparation. On the other hand, there's this:
Really, I did give her a spoon. I gave Tipton a spoon, too. And although Tipton slurps his yogurt, he at least slurps it from a spoon.
See! Lilli's holding up her unused spoon. Signaling that she would like to eat some more yogurt.
We also made some rain sticks (which were really cool!) Then Tipton decided that we needed to form a band. A marching band. Lilli chose to play the drum. (Dave and I think she looks like Kay, Dave's Mom, in this picture - the way the hair frames her face.)
For a snack we had yogurt. I have a love/hate relationship with yogurt. On one hand it's a quick, healthy snack that requires no preparation. On the other hand, there's this:
Really, I did give her a spoon. I gave Tipton a spoon, too. And although Tipton slurps his yogurt, he at least slurps it from a spoon. See! Lilli's holding up her unused spoon. Signaling that she would like to eat some more yogurt.And then yesterday we all got haircuts. I was a little nervous. We would all three be getting haircuts. Which meant that at some point I would not be able to oversee all the trouble Lilli would be trying to get into. But it worked out well. Tipton and I had gotten our hair cut at this place once before. We had the entire back room to ourselves. And they closed the door so that Lilli couldn't escape out the front and run into the street. I brought way too many snacks and diversionary toys. Isn't that always the way it goes? Lilli spent most of her time stomping across the hardwood floor, to see how much noise she could make.
I was all set to get Lilli's head shaved, but the woman cutting Lilli's hair just couldn't do it. So she just cut it really short. (Although not short enough for me. Lilli can still put it out.) When she was done she "painted" Lilli's hair. Pink. Two pink stripes. So of course Tipton wanted his hair painted after his was cut. Green. Here are my punk rock children on our walk home from getting hair cuts.
When we got home, Lilli decided to read a book to her elephant.
That afternoon I had put on a video for Lilli to watch (since Tipton was at a playdate.) I left the room to do something and when I came back this is how I found Lilli
Wearing her shirt on her head. What a clown.
Later that afternoon Lilli took her shirt off completely. Then after she went potty she stepped out of her shorts and panties and ran down the hall and dove into the beanbag. So of course I had to grab the camera. When Lilli heard me get the camera she turned to look over her shoulder and said "Cheese!" The result was quite possibly the cutest picture, Ever. Unfortunately, I can't post it here. I am leary about posting naked pictures of my baby girl on the internet. But trust me, it's adorable.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Big Kids
On Friday Tipton's friend, Samantha, came over to play. And of course Lilli followed them around the entire time. She wants to be just like the Big Kids. And they are getting big - both Tipton and Lilli.
A friend of mine recently admitted that she is having a rough time "letting go" of her daughter, who is just about to start Kindergarten. I'm not worried about Tipton going to Kindergarten. I know he will be fine. And yes, I will miss him but I will enjoy him that much more when I pick him up from school. However, I am having a rough time with other aspects of my children's 'growing up.'
I've said this before, but every now and then I look at Tipton and I wonder 'What happened to my little boy? Where did he go? And who is this Big Kid sitting at my table?' Last night at dinner he rolled his eyes at me and Dave. A glimpse of the teenager to come.
I am having a harder time with Lilli's growing independence. Maybe because she's a girl. Maybe because she's my "baby" (and we won't be having any more.) I am thrilled that she is now (mostly) toilet trained. And she is so proud of her "panties." But I my heart aches when I look at her and see how big she's getting. How independent she is becoming. How she is needing me less and less.
Oh, geeze! I'm making myself cry! On to happier things...
On Saturday Dave took the training wheels off of Tipton's bike. He attached a special handle to the back of the bike (just below the seat) so that he could run along behind Tipton to help keep him balanced. It's a really cool thing/idea. And I can't believe they are not (more) popular in the US. (In fact, I don't believe I've ever seen these handles in the US.) Anyway, they went up and down the street a few times and then it started raining.
So on Sunday we decided to ride our bikes to the beach. It's about about a 20 bike ride with the kids (much quicker without them.) Dave said he would run along behind Tipton. I don't think Dave realized how out of shape he has become. We took turns running behind Tipton (and riding the bike pulling the bike trailer.) And still we only made it about halfway to the beach. We blame it on Tipton's constant whining and not our lack of physical fitness, however. Tipton was doing pretty good - we would let go of the handle and let him go on his own (hovering over the handle, of course.) But Tipton just kept saying that he couldn't do it. He didn't want to do it. He was tired. He just wanted to go home. Etc. So we decided to turn around and go back to the playground. Everyone was in a MUCH better mood after that. Tipton even did better riding his bike.
Tipton loves the giant tube slide
Happy Kid. Wearing the new shirt that Grandma Suzie sent him.
Daddy climbed the big tower with Lilli. She sure does love her Daddy! (And he's pretty taken with her, too.)
Lilli riding the "horse."
Daddy taking a well earned break. I love this picture, but his sleeve was messed up,
so I made him fix it and I took another picture.
Lilli has been staying dry through the night. She still goes to bed in a diaper (for now). But she will get up in the night and come and tell me that she has to go potty. So we take off her diaper and put her on the potty. She pees. Then we put her diaper back on and she goes back to sleep. She won't be in diapers for much longer. So Lilli has been thinking up new uses for her diapers.
A friend of mine recently admitted that she is having a rough time "letting go" of her daughter, who is just about to start Kindergarten. I'm not worried about Tipton going to Kindergarten. I know he will be fine. And yes, I will miss him but I will enjoy him that much more when I pick him up from school. However, I am having a rough time with other aspects of my children's 'growing up.'
I've said this before, but every now and then I look at Tipton and I wonder 'What happened to my little boy? Where did he go? And who is this Big Kid sitting at my table?' Last night at dinner he rolled his eyes at me and Dave. A glimpse of the teenager to come.
I am having a harder time with Lilli's growing independence. Maybe because she's a girl. Maybe because she's my "baby" (and we won't be having any more.) I am thrilled that she is now (mostly) toilet trained. And she is so proud of her "panties." But I my heart aches when I look at her and see how big she's getting. How independent she is becoming. How she is needing me less and less.
Oh, geeze! I'm making myself cry! On to happier things...
On Saturday Dave took the training wheels off of Tipton's bike. He attached a special handle to the back of the bike (just below the seat) so that he could run along behind Tipton to help keep him balanced. It's a really cool thing/idea. And I can't believe they are not (more) popular in the US. (In fact, I don't believe I've ever seen these handles in the US.) Anyway, they went up and down the street a few times and then it started raining.
So on Sunday we decided to ride our bikes to the beach. It's about about a 20 bike ride with the kids (much quicker without them.) Dave said he would run along behind Tipton. I don't think Dave realized how out of shape he has become. We took turns running behind Tipton (and riding the bike pulling the bike trailer.) And still we only made it about halfway to the beach. We blame it on Tipton's constant whining and not our lack of physical fitness, however. Tipton was doing pretty good - we would let go of the handle and let him go on his own (hovering over the handle, of course.) But Tipton just kept saying that he couldn't do it. He didn't want to do it. He was tired. He just wanted to go home. Etc. So we decided to turn around and go back to the playground. Everyone was in a MUCH better mood after that. Tipton even did better riding his bike.
Tipton loves the giant tube slide
Happy Kid. Wearing the new shirt that Grandma Suzie sent him.
Daddy climbed the big tower with Lilli. She sure does love her Daddy! (And he's pretty taken with her, too.)
Lilli riding the "horse."
Daddy taking a well earned break. I love this picture, but his sleeve was messed up,
so I made him fix it and I took another picture.Lilli has been staying dry through the night. She still goes to bed in a diaper (for now). But she will get up in the night and come and tell me that she has to go potty. So we take off her diaper and put her on the potty. She pees. Then we put her diaper back on and she goes back to sleep. She won't be in diapers for much longer. So Lilli has been thinking up new uses for her diapers.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Pirates and Piggy Toes
Just some random stuff:
The other night I painted Lilli's "piggy toes." She is very proud of her pink piggies.
Lilli is becoming such a big girl. She is a good mommy to her babies and she has really caught on to the whole "pee in the potty" thing (although she hasn't quite grasped "poo in the potty").
Lilli didn't have any pee accidents today! This morning she stayed dry through two trips to the post office (one to mail some packages and one to pick up a package. It's a long, frustrating story.) She stayed dry through her very long (3 hour!) nap. (But you had better believe that I had her in a pull-up, just in case.) Then she stayed dry through a trip to the grocery store! And this afternoon/evening she would come up to me and say "Potty, Mama. Potty!" So I would take her to the potty and she'd sit and I'd read her a book and she'd pee! After dinner tonight she came to me and said "Potty, Mama. Potty!" and she wanted to pee in the big potty, like Tipton. Literally, like Tipton, standing up. She didn't seem too upset when I explained that she was a girl and would have to SIT on the potty. I put her up there and she went pee! Then about 10 minutes after I'd put her to bed she came out of her room and said it again, "Potty, Mama. Potty!" So I sat her on the potty and she went pee!" Then about 20 minutes later she came out again, and went pee again!! I have created a pee monster.
In non-toilet related happenings, we did some arts & crafts today. Tipton made a card for his best friend in North Carolina, CJ. He wanted to use stamps.
So of course then Lilli wanted to use stamps. I thought I was being clever when I gave her the self inking stamps. So that she wouldn't go crazy with an ink pad. I think the blue really brings out her eyes, don't you?
When she realized that she had ink all over her hands and she had to get down and wash her hands. I took the opportunity to put away her stamps and give her some stickers. Everyone was much happier.
Every now and then I look at Tipton and think: Where did my little boy go? Who is this Big Kid?
The package that we picked up (on our second trip to the post office) was from Grandma Suzie. She had all sorts of little treasures for Lilli. A pink "boa", two little dolls and a plastic elephant. What more could a little girl want?
It's Lilli, the Super Glam Pirate!
And her brother, Tipton, The Super Gangsta Pirate!
The other night I painted Lilli's "piggy toes." She is very proud of her pink piggies.
Lilli is becoming such a big girl. She is a good mommy to her babies and she has really caught on to the whole "pee in the potty" thing (although she hasn't quite grasped "poo in the potty").
Lilli didn't have any pee accidents today! This morning she stayed dry through two trips to the post office (one to mail some packages and one to pick up a package. It's a long, frustrating story.) She stayed dry through her very long (3 hour!) nap. (But you had better believe that I had her in a pull-up, just in case.) Then she stayed dry through a trip to the grocery store! And this afternoon/evening she would come up to me and say "Potty, Mama. Potty!" So I would take her to the potty and she'd sit and I'd read her a book and she'd pee! After dinner tonight she came to me and said "Potty, Mama. Potty!" and she wanted to pee in the big potty, like Tipton. Literally, like Tipton, standing up. She didn't seem too upset when I explained that she was a girl and would have to SIT on the potty. I put her up there and she went pee! Then about 10 minutes after I'd put her to bed she came out of her room and said it again, "Potty, Mama. Potty!" So I sat her on the potty and she went pee!" Then about 20 minutes later she came out again, and went pee again!! I have created a pee monster.
In non-toilet related happenings, we did some arts & crafts today. Tipton made a card for his best friend in North Carolina, CJ. He wanted to use stamps.
So of course then Lilli wanted to use stamps. I thought I was being clever when I gave her the self inking stamps. So that she wouldn't go crazy with an ink pad. I think the blue really brings out her eyes, don't you?
When she realized that she had ink all over her hands and she had to get down and wash her hands. I took the opportunity to put away her stamps and give her some stickers. Everyone was much happier.Every now and then I look at Tipton and think: Where did my little boy go? Who is this Big Kid?
The package that we picked up (on our second trip to the post office) was from Grandma Suzie. She had all sorts of little treasures for Lilli. A pink "boa", two little dolls and a plastic elephant. What more could a little girl want?
It's Lilli, the Super Glam Pirate!
And her brother, Tipton, The Super Gangsta Pirate!
This afternoon when we got home from the store I asked Tipton if he could please put the toilet paper in the bathroom and he said "Sure! A good pirate can do anything!"
I love my kids.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bubble Swords and Baby Stars
Last month I got some bubble swords for the kids to play with. I stuck them in the bottom of my closet and promptly forgot them. But being stuck at home, toilet training Lilli, I've been looking for ways to entertain the kids. And I found the bubble swords!
Tipton thought they were really cool. And he was really excited. But you can't tell from these pictures - he seems to be channeling "Goth Boy." Black t-shirt with a skull on it, dark grey sweat pants, black socks, black shoes. Or maybe he was just really focused on making bubbles.
Lilli, on the other hand, is little miss sunshine. When she's not screaming about something, that is. Here she's trying to get the bubblesword/wand back into the 'scabbard' with the "bubble juice."
"Lilli, what happened?" I ask
"It's broken!" she replies, innocently.
Tipton thought they were really cool. And he was really excited. But you can't tell from these pictures - he seems to be channeling "Goth Boy." Black t-shirt with a skull on it, dark grey sweat pants, black socks, black shoes. Or maybe he was just really focused on making bubbles.
Lilli, on the other hand, is little miss sunshine. When she's not screaming about something, that is. Here she's trying to get the bubblesword/wand back into the 'scabbard' with the "bubble juice."
She had trouble with that, so she decided that it was much more fun to run around and stab all the bubbles that Tipton was so seriously making.
When she tired of that, she poured all the "bubble juice" out of her scabard and threw everything down.
"Lilli, what happened?" I ask
"It's broken!" she replies, innocently.
After the bubble fun ended, we decided to empty the water out of the sandbox. This was no easy task. It took about 20 minutes of all three of us bailing water. Afterwards I carried Lilli straight into the tub to hose her down. She also required an outfit change. Look at those blue eyes! She looks so serious...
But this is how she usually looks!
Lilli was awfully quiet while I was making dinner. She had decided that her baby doll needed a few accessories.
Still plodding away on the Grow With Me tank top. Hopefully Lilli will catch on to the potty training thing tomorrow, because I need to go to the yarn shop - I'm almost out of the main color!
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