Cousins

Reunited

Ready for takeoff

Preparations

Tomorrow, Maggie and I are flying to Virginia to visit friends and family. Maggie hasn't flown in over two years, so it feels new to her and she is very excited.

She has asked me some important questions, including "Do they have a TV with Maisy in Virginia?" and "Do they have rice in Virginia? Plain rice?"

She is also convinced that the pilot will handle her suitcase personally.

Birthday party

We celebrated my mother's and my birthdays tonight with Chinese take-out, a cake decorated by Maggie, and gifts. Robert and the girls gave me a pair of shoes (Maggie has been insisting for weeks that she wanted to give me shoes for my birthday), a shirt and a 6-pack of my favorite local brand of icecream. Thank you!



 

Audrey is 15 months old

Slow news day

I apologize for the nature photos. You'll have to trust me when I say that wandering around the backyard photographing flowers was the most interesting thing that happened today.

 

Bedtime friends

Some kids have a lovey--a doll, stuffed toy, blankie, etc that they love and cherish. My niece Dora, for example, has a very special Lambie who goes with her just about everywhere.

Then there's Maggie, who has a dozen lovies all of equal importance. Thank goodness she doesn't need to take them places on a regular basis, but they must all be present at bedtime, hence her calling them her "bedtime friends." She has asked me to tell her about the items so many times that I've turned it into a story where I tell her about the people who love her and the gifts they've given her. It always starts the same way: "When you were a tiny baby still living in my tummy, we found out you were a girl. So we went to the store and picked out your very first present: your big soft bunny with the pink ribbon." And so on. The bedtime friends include the big bunny, small bunny, aquarium, light-up bear, Dolly, Dolly's blankie, Tula (her other doll), Tula's blankie, Puppy, a knit blanket and a quilt. That's eleven items. Often there is one other lovey who makes a guest appearance, such as her Pink Kitty or Apotosauraus. This is a rotating position based on current popularity.

She has a routine she follows while getting into bed: She turns on the aquarium and then the light-up bear, makes sure all the friends are in the proper positions, lies down, then directs her blankets to be placed on top in the proper order. She stretches the blankets to be sure they cover her dolls. The sweetest part is when she snuggles down and says, "I need someone." This means she needs one of her loveys--usually Dolly or Puppy--to tuck under her arm. Then she sighs in contentment and goes to sleep.

Climb, slide, swing

Sharing

Maggie and Audrey share a snack:
They're not bad at sharing, even with something they love like raisins. With frequent reminders they are quite nice to each other and will share just about anything.

Maggie and Matthew share a snack:

Matthew came over for a playdate today. They made ice cream in plastic bags (not a big success, but I quickly subbed in ice cream from the freezer and nobody was the wiser), played outside and shared trail mix from a frying pan. Both of them were tired, which gave the playdate an interesting effect. Matthew was mellow and wandered around quietly, while Maggie didn't want to do much and was easily upset. They got into a tiff over whether a Lego structure was a castle or a space station, but otherwise they had a nice time. 

Thank you, Trader Joe's

There are many things I'd like to thank Trader Joe's for, including their frozen microwaveable brown rice packets, frozen edamame, frozen quiche, almond biscotti and the giant chocolate bar with almonds that always seems impossibly big yet somehow manages to get eaten.

At this moment I'd like to express my particular gratitude for the turkey meatballs, which finally tempted Audrey to eat meat after weeks of abstaining. I was starting to think she might never alter her diet of dairy products, fruit and grains, but tonight she polished off one and a half meatballs, a hearty portion of brown rice and even her broccoli and carrots! I try not to worry about what my kids eat or don't eat, and I think I'm pretty relaxed on food issues all things considered. But it's just so satisfying to witness your children eat a balanced and healthy meal.

And then I secretly gorge on diet soda and oatmeal cookies after they go to bed...but that's my own issue...

30 seconds of introspection

I packed Maggie's lunchbox today with a star-shaped turkey sandwich wrapped in plastic and decorated with a sticker; a little bowl of cut-up strawberries, a juice box, a home-made oatmeal cookie in a hello kitty plastic bag sealed with a hello kitty sticker, and of course a note that says "Maggie I love you" and has yet another sticker.

Am I an overachieving mom? A desperate housewife? A bored woman grasping for creative outlets?

I suppose someday I'll be tossing in food straight from the fridge and telling them "shut up and eat it."

One Audrey to rule them all

I already told you that I started Audrey in a new gym class last week. I noticed she was the youngest in class but didn't really think about it till they gave me a complete fall schedule, and I figured out they placed in the wrong age class. She was in the 19 month-2.5 year class! The funny thing is, she did pretty well in there anyway! I guess she'll be lording it over the toddlers in the 10-19 month class, which I just got her switched to. We'll be trying it out tomorrow.

County Fair

 

First ballet class

Maggie had her first ballet class Saturday. She looked so gorgeous in her official ballerina outfit! She didn't want to participate much in class, unfortunately. She mostly sat on my lap and watched the teacher and other girls. But I managed to get her to try a few things, and she liked the part at the end when the girls lined up and got a sticker and a stamp. After class she said she had fun. I'm hopeful that she'll participate more next week.

Anecdotes from the backyard

Bad advice: Maggie is playing with her water table by herself. She runs inside to tell me "There's an ant on the water table." I tell her to "flick it off." She goes back outside. A few minutes later, she comes back in tears. "Mommy, I didn't want to lick the ant. I'm sorry. I can't lick that ant."

Hide and seek: Maggie counts while I hide. She watches me through her fingers. Yet when it's time to find me, she wanders around saying "Mommy? Mommy, where are you?" She looks straight up into the sky. She checks tree branches. Meanwhile, I am merely sitting in the grass with Audrey, who found me immediately.

Digging: Maggie requests a spot for digging where there are no ants. We find a good spot of ant-free mulch. We dig. While filling the pail, I ask her what we're going to do with the mulch. "Make a pile! Make a humongous pile! Make ice cream!!!"

Me too: Maggie stubs her toe. She sits down and holds up the toe to be checked for injury. Audrey, not to be outdone, also sits, points at her toes and says "aah! aah!"

The rose: A few months ago, Ryan mailed Maggie a plastic rose he picked out at the dollar store. Maggie loves this rose. She "planted" it in the backyard and visits it often. She even waters it.

Playground

 

Maggie's day off

Maggie's preschool offers only a five-day program, but we only want to send her three days a week. I decided it would be good for her to attend Tues-Wed-Thur, leaving us Mondays and Fridays open for fun outings or quiet days at home.

This week she went Mon-Tues-Wed because we wanted her there for the official first day of school. Today, we gave her the choice to go for a "bonus day" if she wanted. At first she said she wanted to go, but then changed her mind and decided to stay home with me and Audrey.

It's been nice having her home. She chose her own wacky outfit to wear, set up "croquet" for us to play (with books as wickets, fancy hats, etc), and is now kicking back with a snack and Little Bear, her new favorite TV show. I'd say she is thoroughly enjoying her day off.

Audrey on her own

Today Audrey and I started a toddler gymnastics class. I have long been looking forward to doing a class with her, and I wasn't disappointed. Although she was the youngest one there, she held her own with the bigger kids and managed a forward roll (with assistance), enjoyed circle time, walked, ran, tried to jump, and played on all the equipment. She then took a nice long nap and let Mommy watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Can you believe he didn't tell her he was married?! Dr. McLiar!

It's almost time to go pick up Maggie. Yesterday when I got there she gave me a tight hug and then burst into tears and told me she didn't get to paint. Then she immediately cheered up and told me she got to sing the ABCs. She's been very emotional this week. She likes going to preschool but it's giving her some stress and all her feelings are on the surface.

What we're up to

What Maggie is up to (besides preschool):
Maggie has been putting on a lot of puppet shows lately. Her favorite spot for the puppet theater is behind the sofa in our family room. She sits behind it and holds up the "puppets" for the show. A stack of Legos can be a puppet, as can a stuffed animal or, really, anything else handy. The show usually consists of her holding up the item, waving it around, then popping up her head to announce "It was me!" With a little prodding, she has started to include a short song.

What Audrey is up to (besides teething):
Audrey is becoming more proficient at eating with a spoon. She started grabbing for Maggie's silverware recently, so I started giving her a spoon too, and she is pretty good with it. The best part is her look of immense pride when successful.

What Robert is up to (besides working):
Working.

What Deborah is up to (besides blogging):
Doing a little freelance writing: boring but lucrative. Reading two books: one nonfiction, dense, interesting; one fiction, fluffy, satisfying. Gearing up for obsessive viewing of Grey's Anatomy season 2, which I just bought on DVD, so I'm ready for season 3 when it premieres. Feeling a renewed resolve to cook more dinners. Must go--time to make dinner.

A good day

Audrey and I picked up Maggie at 1 pm, and when she saw me she ran to me, gave me a huge hug and said, "Mommy I had SO MUCH FUN at preschool today!" She proudly showed me the paintings she had made, retrieved her lunch bag, and left with a big smile as the teachers and kids chorused "Goodbye, Margaret!" She is going by Margaret at preschool so far; the teachers started calling her that because that's what the forms say, and when we asked her if she wants to be called Maggie or Margaret at school, she said Margaret. Go figure!

I quizzed her on what she did at school, and she reported painting, singing Twinkle Twinkle, playing on the playground and eating a snack and lunch. She was sad that she didn't get to play hopscotch (a game she was introduced to last time we visited the school and that has intrigued her ever since), but she is looking forward to going back to school tomorrow. Normally I plan to take her only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but this week she went on a Monday as well because it was the official first day.

During Maggie's absence, Audrey took a morning nap and I enjoyed the quiet for an hour (although I found myself missing Maggie's chatter). Then we went grocery shopping and did housework, and also fit in some playtime and stories. I felt quite at ease with only one child for half the day! Both girls napped in the afternoon, and then we played outside and did some painting and coloring. The afternoon made me feel like things are still normal--I still get to spend time with my girls and do playtime and projects together. Maybe preschool won't change our lives so much after all.

First day of preschool

Maggie started preschool today. She was very proud of her new outfit and lunchbag. She chose what to pack for her lunch: peanut butter and honey sandwich, grapes and a juice box. I added some cookies and a note. She was extra clingy this morning while we were getting ready, and when we first got to school she acted sad and didn't want us to leave. Finally, her teacher, Mrs. Hyde, came and took her by the hand and told her that it was almost time for circle time and songs. She promised that right after circle time Maggie could paint, and showed her the paints and brushes all set up and ready. That cheered Maggie up immediately, and she left with Mrs. Hyde with barely a backward glance.




 

Aquarium of the Pacific

 

Bedtime girls

 

Maggie's New Trick

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Countdown to preschool

Maggie starts preschool in five days.

Today we'll be going to the library storytime for the last time. We've only been attending for a couple months so it's not a longstanding tradition, but it's symbolic of how our lives will change next week. Instead of spending every day together however we (I) want, Maggie will be in school three mornings a week. I'm excited for her to begin this new chapter and I'm confident that she will love it and thrive at the school we've chosen. I'm also looking forward to one-on-one time with Audrey. Still, I find the upcoming change bittersweet.

I've always had babysitters so it's not that being apart from her will be strange or difficult. But up till now, she's always been at home with a babysitter or at my parents' or inlaws' house. At preschool, she'll have a whole new set of experiences and relationships that I'll have very little involvement with. I'm sure I'll get to know the teachers, students and parents fairly well, but it will be her environment, not mine. For the first time, it seems like Maggie will truly have a life separate from my own.

Maggie has visited the school twice and was immediately comfortable. The first time we visited there were kids present, and Maggie wasn't shy at all about exploring the classroom and trying out some of the interesting objects she found. An older child even helped her with a puzzle she was curious about. The second time we visited, the school was empty except for us and the director (who will also be Maggie's teacher). Maggie wandered around the classroom commenting on everything she saw: "Look Mommy, they have a globe! Can I paint now? What's this? Is this a sponge? What do I do with this?" She was quite taken with the bathroom with its tiny toilets, sinks and--a Maggie favorite--drinking fountain. We also spent a few minutes outside where Maggie admired the slides and swings and was very excited to learn that she will get to help plant seeds in the garden.

Maggie seems more than ready for new challenges and learning experiences, and I think the Montessori school we've chosen suits her personality perfectly. She's excited to start school and I'm excited for her.

Meet Blue-Blue

I have officially joined the ranks of minivan-moms. As of last night, we are the proud owners of a Honda Odyssey, which Maggie has already named Blue-Blue.

Delicious

Eating with a spoon

Maggie's photos

La Brea Tar Pits

Maggie was disappointed that there were no dinosaurs, but she thought the tar pits were pretty neat and she liked seeing all the animal bones. Her favorite part was a small outdoor garden with a pond, turtles and fish. Afterwards we had lunch at Canter's Deli, where Maggie invented a drink called "pickolade" and Audrey rejected the pickles altogether, but quite liked the corned beef.

Target, swimming and quiet time

I tried a new experiment today: going to Target at 8 a.m. I thought it might mean a better mood for the girls, and at first it seemed to work beautifully. But as soon as the snacks ran out, tempers flared, so we had to bypass the make-up aisle (sigh...) and make a hasty retreat.


We then headed to my parents' place to go swimming; their pool is shaded except at high noon, making it a chilly but safe place for my fair-skinned girls. Audrey hated the cold water and was only happy in the hot tub (don't worry--it was only lukewarm at the time). Maggie loved the pool and got very brave about jumping into the water with me to catch her. Once her aim was off and she had a small dunking, but she took it very well.

I came home with Maggie asleep and Audrey awake. It's a treat when they nap at the same time, but it's not so bad when they stagger their naps. Audrey and I have been hanging out together, but she was getting mellow so I decided to let her watch Baby Neptune. Audrey doesn't watch much TV; she occasionally pauses in front of one of Maggie's shows for a moment, but is usually too busy to watch for long. But now she is sitting sweetly in her pink chair enjoying the show.