Steps!

Today Whitaker took some independent steps!! He took two steps all by himself at Mae's school and then took four or five steps at home. Of course, I was on the phone for those. Can't believe that we are already here.

Hitting the Slopes

We have batted around the idea of putting Mae on skis. Yesterday was the day we decided to hit the slopes and try to make it happen. All things considering, it was a success.

How do you define success skiing with a two and half year old?

Did Mae get annoyed putting on the boots, skis, and all the gear? No.

Did she complain about being cold? No.

Did she cry going down a very small decline? No. In fact, she asked to go racing.

Was Whitaker upset being carted around and not being put down? No.

The only thing that we did fail at was not doing our homework and figuring out the mountain. The "magic carpet" was closed at Alpental on Saturday, however, we ended just taking her around on the skis. Also, there were some tense moments between Pearson and I and how we were instructing her to ski (to be expected). All in all, it was a good time.

This might have had to be Mae's favorite moment - riding on the bear.

Walking around in her boots.

Pearson and Mae talking about what was going to happen.

Locked and loaded.

A concept she wasn't really able to master yet.

Whitaker hanging out.

Whitaker checking out the slopes.

Going down a small incline.

There they go!

Break for snacks.

Our new reality.

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 43)

First Cut

Now that Mae is 2 and half the number of "firsts" have slowed down tremendously. But today we got to have a FIRST and it was so fun and exciting. Our first for today was getting Mae's hair cut. Pearson and I joke time and again how Mae's hair is untamable and how she looks like Nick Nolte on many occasions. It doesn't help that she doesn't really enjoy getting her hair done. Well, Mae has her first school picture on Monday and we have a family wedding in a month so I decided that trying to trim it up might help tame some of the untamable. I wouldn't say that she was super excited about getting it cut but she was agreeable to having it done. I also promised her a treat after (we feasted on cupcakes after), which might have helped the process.

I must admit I am a little bummed that I got it cut. I think I told the hair dresser to take too much off, however, now she has a cute stylish bob. And it will grow back, right?

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 42)

As you can tell from this photo, we went swimming today. This was Whit's first time in the pool. Like everything he does, he tolerated it and eked out a few smiles. More importantly, he stayed in this flotation contraption for over an hour, while Mae splashed around. We all came out looking like prunes but tired and happy.

Playing With Fire

Right now, I have NO diapers in the house. This is what taking a risk now looks like in my life.

You might wonder why I am not at the store right now buying diapers. I am holding out hope that my kids decide they would like to nap today. Don't think it is going to happen based on all the commotion that is happening upstairs.

Napping has gotten more and more trickier around here. I don't think that I have talked about the sleep situation in our house as of late, or ever for that matter. For about the first seven months of Whit's life, we played something called musical beds. At night, Whitaker first started off in our room in a pack and play, then we moved him to the bathroom, then we moved him in with Mae, then we moved him back to the bathroom, then we moved him to Mae's room while moving Mae to our room, and now they finally sleep together in the same room. Nighttime goes generally smoothly, although someone is always up at various times. Mae cries out in the night occasionally and Whit wakes up at around 5 most days (I feed him and put him right back down) but all in all my kids are decent nighttime sleepers.

Naps are a whole different ball game. Once Whitaker got into a nap schedule at about six months, I started off having Whit take his morning nap in the room he shared with Mae and then his PM nap was in a pack and play in our room. Mae was in her bed. I felt that Whit was confused and wasn't napping that great in the pack and play. So I decided to put them together. A few select days are glorious and I get an hour of quiet. Most days are me running up and down the stairs, changing diapers (my kids ALWAYS seem to poop right before naps in their beds), and trying to settle them down or telling Mae "it is nap time."

We are two poops into nap - they both pooped - and I am out of diapers. When I say I am out, I am out. I got none hidden in my car console, glove compartment, or in the back seat. I have none in my purse, diaper bags or all the other place that I have stashed diapers. So here I sit the 34, mom of two equivalent of playing with fire. Hope I don't get burned. I will let you know tomorrow.

ACTUALLY

Before having kids, I would overhear parents talk endlessly about the things that their kids said and how it was the funniest/cutest/smartest/most insightful thing they have EVER heard. At the time, I probably would roll my eyes or fake that I actually cared about what they were talking about. NOW, I can safely say that I am one of those parents that thinks their kid [Mae] says the funniest/cutest/smartest/most insightful thing that you have ever heard. Take for example, the other day Mae was sitting on the coffee table. I told her, "Mae get off the table." Mae responds, "I just want to cuddle with it." That girl was trying to pull a fast one over on me, thinking that I would allow coffee table sitting if she was doing something as lovable as cuddling. Of course, she isn't as quick as I am (yet).

Along with saying the funniest/cutest/smartest/most insightful things, kids are parrots. Case in point, we were at Madrona Ale House last night enjoying a few beers when a friend came in with his two kids. The dad was telling a story and the second grader son looked at this dad and said, "a s s hole. So clearly the dad never uses the word asshole but spells out the ass part and says hole.

So the last few weeks Mae has started saying things that have been sounding vaguely familiar. Her speech was mimicking someone but I couldn't figure it out, it nagged at me. It reminded me of a close personal friend or family member but I couldn't quite place it for a few days, until, I realized she was imitating me. She has now picked up a few of mine and Pearson's little speech ticks and words that we use FAR too often. From me, she has picked up the word "actually." And actually uses it all the time now. Something to point out, she uses it correctly, most of the time. From Pearson it isn't necessarily one word but she did tell me the other day when we were leaving the house and I wouldn't let her bring something that, "yes, it would be a slippery slope." I can just hear Pearson saying that now.

If there was ever a doubt, my kid actually says the funniest/cutest/smartest/most insightful things.

Crystal Ball, The Pen, Tree Hugger, and Strong Woman

You might wonder what the title of this post has to do with anything or how crystal ball, the pen, a tree hugger, and strong woman can be related, they can't except at few hours at Volunteer Park. On Thursday Sarah, Emmett, Lucy and my crew rendezvoused at the park for some much needed outdoor time. We visited the conservatory, took a walk around the entire park, and played among the trees. Whitaker was content being outside enjoying the stroller and watching the girls frolic around.

Caption to photo should read: My future is as bright as my smile.

I probably told her to stop since she was running around pushing pass people with no regard to their personal space. Case in point, I got a picture of this guy's bottom.

Relaxing on the bench listening to the bells overheard.

Making our way outside and deciding our next steps.

Sibling love.

Strong woman competition. I did not help her at all to get it off the grass.

After taking this it looks like Mae is in "the pen." In fact it is the water reservoir. AND no I NEVER want Mae to be incarcerated and probably shouldn't joke about it.

Mae: The Treehugger

Every Thursday for A Year (Week 41)

The sun was in his eyes. Thought that was a good one since we aren't always blessed with the sun.

Sickness

Whit has had a fever of 99 to 101 for the last three days. He has had a runny nose, hasn't been eating, and is generally discontent. UGHH! I have been administering tylenol, trying to make sure he gets lots of sleep (impossible), and am trying to keep him occupied. Needless to say it has been less than enjoyable state of affairs around here. The little dude who is generally so happy and mellow either looks like this (yes, this is Mae's sweater).

OR this [comatose].

In other unrelated news...We inherited a bunch of furniture from Johanna following her move from Seattle, including a very nice leather reclining chair. Needless to say a certain someone has already deemed it her chair.

A Girl and Some Suds

Mae already loves massages (or mae-ssages as she sometimes refers to them) and "bubbly" [drinking] water, so I figured we might as well introduce the triad of luxury indulgences - bubble baths! I don't know what has taken me so long to introduce them in our nightly bath, maybe because I rarely take baths. But seeing how much she enjoyed the suds, I think it will be a Sunday night ritual. The girl can't be taking luxurious bubble baths everyday.