23 Months

This is the last month-by-month post I will do for Adrienne.....she is 23 months! Soon we will say she is TWO for a whole year. Wow, wow, wow. She is such a little spitfire these days. Currently, she is trying to potty train herself, despite my unwillingness to take the time and do it. She pooped on the potty this week for the first time, and was so happy about her 2 jelly beans she received! So often I hear, "I go poop get candy". Jillian was so proud of her, she could hardly contain herself.  The other notable change in development this month is that she has become quite particular about her clothing. She wants to wear what she wants to wear, and since I have been around this block before, I am inclined to let her. Much like Jillian, she is a girly girl and wants a "skirt" or "like Jillian's" pretty much every day. She wants to sit at the table (as opposed to a high chair) in restaurants, puts on her own shoes (often backwards), and likes to pull up her own pants ("I do it!"). She is a big girl in pretty much every way...except in my heart, where she is still my baby. Love you, silly girl!

Outfit of choice--example 1

An another example. The tights are 6-12 month baby tights she found and insisted on wearing anyway. That look is classic A....about to do something she knows will get her in trouble (opening the freezer, over and over and over).

Memorially Mushy

What a wet and truly mushy Memorial Day Weekend we had! The good news was that Aunt Mal and Uncle John came for a visit. The girls had lots of fun soaking up the extra attention, and us grown-ups even had a night out together. Thanks for making the long trek, Leaches!

Uncle John came prepared with some foam animal capsules. This is he and Jillian's special activity.

Adrienne checking out the transformation

Matt's famous look of exasperation. I see this a lot.

That's better!

Exploring Uncle John's hair

Jillian reading to Adrienne. This sun hat is A's current favorite accessory.

Aunt Mal's lap full of love

I see that look, Aunt Mal. Just you wait!

Last Day of School

Today was Jillian's last day of school! What a whirlwind it has been. I have seen so many changes in her these last 9 months. Her knowledge of so many topics really impresses me. For instance, in art class she learned about Pablo Picasso (and created a Picasso-like self-portrait) and Jackson Pollock, mixing colors, perspective, and so much more. She learned a ton of words for most everyday items, colors, food,  clothing, and  conversational phrases in Spanish class. She learned about new games, sports, and improved coordination and teamwork skills in Junior Gym. She learned about various climates, weather, states of matter, seasons, animals, and more in Discovering God's World (science). And, she learned a lot in the general academic realm (reading, writing, and 'rithmetic) as well as Bible lessons in her regular preschool class. That is a lot of learning for one little person! Jillian is more mature and has more self-control than when this school year began, and she is a highly motivated learner. I am so proud of her. She looks physically more mature, too....take a look at comparison shots of the first and last days of the year.

September

This morning

It sure tugs at my heart strings to see how big my little girl is getting

In celebration of the last day of school, her regular class had a Game Day where parents were invited for a special snack (ice cream sandwiches), a craft, and a whole bunch of outdoor games (12 to be exact). We had a fun time enjoying these simple games--and it reminded me that I could do more of this (quite easily) at home. Some of these gems will definitely make our summer to-do list, especially those that little sister can enjoy, too!

Carefully balancing the beanbag while walking to the cone

Carefully, carefully

The pasta shoe race--rubber band a cup to the top of your foot, place a scoop of dry pasta inside and then carefully make your way to the bucket to empty it without using your hands!

Carrying softballs on large spoons

Hopping on one foot

Ring toss

Hippity Hop racing

Sack races

Nice follow-through on the bean bag toss

Shoe box skating

The ball squeeze--carry the ball with your partner without holding it with your hands.

Scooping water to carry to fill up a jar

Post frisbee-toss

Making our special craft--sun visors!

Jillian made a house with the stickers, so she felt the need to label it.

Some pretty awesome 3 and 4 year olds. Front: Elise, Cora, Alex, Calvin, Jillian, Raelyn. Back: Andy, Cy, Blake, Delilah, Aaron, and Emily. We were missing Ava and McKenzie.

The crew plus Mrs. Leif and Mrs Eagen

Two amazing teachers who were the perfect fit for Jillian.  I've got nothing but love for these ladies, and will miss them dearly. With any luck, I can score these two for Adrienne when her time comes. We love Mrs Leif and Mrs Eagen!

Losing

Today: Adrienne refused her nap for the third day in a row. She is terrorizing the house with her every step. She is fast. She is loud. She is cranky. She throws food on the floor. She hangs on open drawers. She finds and throws iPads on the floor. She covers herself in hand cream. She is determined to break Matt's glasses. She won't eat anything except yogurt and cheese......and she can now dismantle the "childproof" door knob cover to escape her room at the previously mentioned "nap time" or to access any other door/closet I was trying to prevent her from accessing. The odds continue in her favor....

Fashion Advice

I am learning to keep my comments about Jillian's clothing selections to myself. For one, I think it's important to let her express herself and try out her ideas (within reason, of course) about matching or what she feels good  in. But another reason has recently presented itself--she now offers unsolicited fashion advice/commentary to me. In fact, I have two documented instances just this week.

Tuesday: She walked into the bathroom and exclaimed "Nice pajamas, Mom!" This would have been considered a compliment if I had actually been wearing pajamas. I was feeling pretty hip in my floral print chambray and turquoise toothpick jeans. So much for "dressing" up in something other than yoga pants for the day!

Friday: I walked into the kitchen dressed for Bible study and she said, "Whoa Mom. Um, I don't think the grown-up girls are going to like that shirt very much". I asked her if she liked the shirt, and she replied, "Well, I like the yellow and the white...but not that other color". Note to self: Jillian isn't a fan of navy.

The offending shirt. Admittedly a bit busy, but appropriately Springy.  I actually got several compliments on it, thankyouverymuch.

Recycling

"Mom, do you know what it means to recycle?"

Yes, I do, do you?

"Yep, it's when you take something old and make a new thing out of it.....like when you take a paper towel roll, and turn it into a spy glass!"

Field Tripping

I had the pleasure of accompanying Jillian's class on their end of year field trip to Oxbow Zoo today. Out of the 13 kids, 10 had one or both parents present on the field trip--that is a pretty awesome level of involvement, if you ask me. It was a beautiful day, and the kids were super excited (and a bit confused) when they saw their "school bus" pull up.

Apparently the school bus company didn't get the memo about the reservation...thank goodness the local trolley company could step in. It was lots of fun!

Ready for a trolley ride to the zoo!

Our mission: find each animal and mark it off with a sticker. Like blackout bingo for animal sightings.

Hanging out by the bear while he ate a snack

Laughing at the prairie dogs

Silly prairie dogs were out for snack time, too!

After the field trip, I rushed to pick up Adrienne and we headed downtown for a spontaneous lunch with a high school friend I hadn't seen since she graduated 20 years ago (we played basketball together when I was a freshman and she was a senior)! Just about the time I think Facebook is ridiculous and am ready to quit it, something like this happens. I never would have reconnected with Lena (who lives in VA now and was here with her dad for some Clinic appts) if I hadn't been Facebook friends with her and hadn't seen her post about coming to Rochester. It was pretty cool, and so wonderful to catch up and talk about our kids (same ages) and husbands (both physicians). The time together was a gift, and I'm so glad I let go of the "routine" of the nap dance with A to make this happen. A fun memory made!

We still look 14 and 17, right??