Day 242 - August 30

Cate has two new favorite past times.

The first is that she'll go get a book, bring it to me, and, if I'm sitting on the floor, turn around and back herself into my lap and sit down so I can read it to her.

The second is that she'll go find any pair of sunglasses laying around the house (and there are lots), bring them to me so I can put them on her, and then dance away from me. She then pulls them off four seconds later and comes back to do the whole thing over again.

I've been trying to get a picture of her in sunglasses for weeks. She won't stand still and she knows I'm trying to take a picture so she runs away. I got her today, though. I put them on her while she was sitting on the couch next to me so she couldn't get anywhere quickly.

It was worth the wait, I think. Can you stand the cuteness??

Day 241 - August 29

The UPS man brought us ballet slippers and pink tights today (to go along with the dance dress I had to buy locally the other day), so, of course, Michaela had to try it all on. I just wanted her to try on the shoes and the tights so I could see which size of the two I ordered actually fit, but, noooooo, that wasn't enough.

So out came the dance dress (again), so she could put it all on together.

I don't know, do you think she might be excited about starting ballet lessons next week?

Day 240 - August 28

I could do an entire blog dedicated to the nightly migration of Cate around the living room and off her blanket "bed."

By way of explanation, she still sleeps in our room. But, with the exception of nap time, she doesn't like to sleep in there alone - at least she didn't the last time we checked. So, most nights, Jason ends up just holding her for a good part of the night while she sleeps before we're ready to go to bed.

This may seem nice on the surface, but it's kind of a pain to try to get anything done while holding onto a sleeping baby.

So we tried the blanket one night and now this is what we do - she sleeps on the floor on the blanket until we're ready for bed. However, she moves around a lot while she's sleeping and doesn't spend the whole time actually ON the blanket.

Thankfully, she stopped short of actually rolling over the metal feet of the furniture....

Day 239 - August 27

It's important to apply lessons learned to the next kid after you screw things up with the first one.

In this case, the issue is the shower.

We didn't get Michaela used to the shower early enough and she just recently, since turning 4, is not afraid of it. This may not seem like a big issue, but sometimes it's a pain in the butt to try to get her a bath (like when we're traveling or when I'm solo-parenting and it kills my back to lean over the tub).

So we decided to make sure to not make the same mistake with Cate and we've been forcing her into the shower (sounds terrible, right?) since early on. She was not a fan at first and there was a lot of squirming and crying.

Then she got old enough to stand up and the shower got a lot better. She absolutely LOVES to stand in the water now. Yay!

The downside? Every single time the shower is running, whether it's her turn for a shower or not, she stands outside of it, trying to take her clothes off and yelling. Luckily, she hasn't figured out how to take her diaper off yet, or this would be a nakey picture!

Day 238 - August 26

Ahhhhh...

That's the sound of the Mobile area taking a breath because you can actually breathe outside! The humidity broke a little this week and the temperatures have been slightly cooler than usual in the morning.

So I took full advantage of that after dropping Michaela off at school and actually got Fred out for a walk. The poor guy's been sorely neglected while Jason's been out of town.

It's so nice to actually be able to be outside without feeling like you're going to sweat to death in 5 minutes!!

Day 237 - August 25

Michaela got to eat cotton candy, left over from her birthday party, for a snack this afternoon. It's a week into Jason being away and I just don't care to say no anymore.

Anywho.

She chose blue instead of pink. Can you tell?

Day 236 - August 24

I have two pictures for today. One I took. The other I borrowed from Jason.

I got the fun and excitement of a Saturday trying to keep two kids occupied.

Jason got to go halibut fishing.

I think I lost.

Except Cate kept me entertained by putting on her pajamas. Sort of.

Day 235 - August 23

I'm creating the next generation of carseat dork.

Cate's new back up/second seat showed up today. I got a great deal on it with a 30% off coupon at Kohl's, so now she doesn't have to be miserable riding in the infant carrier in the truck anymore (yes, she still fits in it) and Jason doesn't have to move her other seat between cars when we need a seat in the truck. Of course, that's only if it fits in the truck, which I won't figure out until Jason gets back from Kodiak.

Either way, she was pretty excited to check it out as soon as I took it out of the box. After taking a look, her next move was to try to climb in.

Safety first!!

Day 234 - August 22

It wasn't Africa-hot this afternoon!

So we actually got to play outside for a few minutes without having to be in the pool. Right up until it started raining.

Day 233 - August 21

First day of school! First day of school!
(If you have a small child in your house, you may have just said that in Nemo's voice like I did....)

Michaela has been going to Mom's Day Out for two years already, but that was basically daycare and mostly for me, not her.

But the time has come for real life to start for her (at the ripe ol' age of 4), and so she started "real" school. And by "real," I mean preschool, three days a week, only four hours a day.

But it's school and she was excited!!

Day 232 - August 20

Sometimes I really wonder what goes through Michaela's head.

She was quietly watching TV while I was doing something in the kitchen, and this is what I looked over at the couch to see.

Why would this even cross someone's mind?

(And, no, she's not picking her nose under there.... she was just playing with her mouth.)

Day 231 - August 19

I had Cate skip her morning nap today.

So when afternoon nap time rolled around, a little earlier than normal, she was so overtired it wasn't even funny.

And with overtiredness (is that a word), comes crankiness, and sleep-fighting.

Michaela didn't like the crying that came along with all of that either.

As I tried to calm Cate, screaming in my arms, I looked up to see this.

Day 230 - August 18

Cate is 13 months old today. There are no more monthly posts like I did through her first year, but I'll at least keep track of some of her developments so I have a record of them.

She's nearly running already, especially when it's meal time and someone says, "Cate, want to eat?" Then she can't get to the kitchen fast enough.

"Mom mom mom mom mom" is her phrase for "Mama," "I want a smoothie," "I need more food," "I want to be picked up," "Pay attention to me," and pretty much everything else. I was sad that it took forever for Michaela to say mama. I'd like Cate to stop now.

She thinks it's hilarious to tickle my feet.

When she signs, "Milk, please," she does the sign for milk and then rubs MY chest in a circle instead of her own (the sign for please is to rub your open hand in a circle on the top part of your chest). She has her own version of the sign for more and uses it enthusiastically at most meals. The child really likes food.

She's still a peanut. At her 12 month appointment (at 12 months and 2 weeks), she was in the 30th percentile for height and weight. Though I think the height was off a little, so she may be in the 35th percentile. She's still wearing some 6 months onesies, though, and swims in most 12 month stuff.

She's a kleptomaniac. She wanders around the house finding various things that she's not really supposed to have, and moves them to other parts of the house. Laundry is a favorite so clean and dirty clothes both end up in random places around the house instead of in hampers and baskets. She also steals the TV remote and any cell phone in reach whenever she gets the chance. She will almost always immediately bring it to me as soon as I see her with it like she's saying, "Hey! Look what I found for you!"

I feel like I will never get a full night's sleep every again.

On to the picture.... She tried to put Michaela's Bitty Baby carrier on while carrying around a doll today. I helped her out. She's such a little mimic!

Day 229 - August 17

Jason was packing for a work trip and Michaela had to get in on the action.

I don't know what it is about this picture, but it just gets me right in the middle of my heart.

Goodness, I love this girl. And I love that she lives in a world where being a girl doesn't close any doors for her. If she wants to follow Daddy's footsteps and be a Coast Guard pilot one day, she can do that. (Of course, she could always follow in Mommy's footsteps and be a ship driver or fisheries expert, too...)

I think I might have to spend the money on a canvas for this one. I just love this picture. Love it.

Day 228 - August 16

Two times in a row that we've been to the Hungry Owl now (local restaurant), Michaela has insisted on sitting on the big rock in front of the door to have her picture taken.

Tonight, when she was getting up after I took the picture, she said, "And I actually smiled!"

This kid constantly cracks me up.

And pay no attention to her crazy hair - they have a playground on their outside patio and she spends more of dinner playing than eating.

Day 227 - August 15

I love that, even when it's 90 degrees out, Michaela still thinks it's a good day for a family walk.

To be honest, 90 doesn't feel as hot as it used to, so it was a good day for a walk!

Day 226 - August 14

Wee Exchange!!!!

It was opening day of Wee Exchange today... the big consignment sale I got to twice a year to stock up on Michaela's play clothes and, when I get lucky, her Christmas dress, too.

It was a little bit disappointing this time - there seemed to be less stuff than normal. But I still did ok.

For $94.00 (plus the dumb 10% sales tax, which I won't miss when we move!), I got 7 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a pair of shorts, one sweater, 2 play dresses (one with matching tights), two fancy dresses (including a beautiful blue Gymboree dress that will be her Christmas dress), one pair of leggings, a two-layer winter coat, and two pairs of unworn shoes for Michaela. I also got a Christmas dress (tags still on) for Cate, along with a pair of shoes which looked brand new when I looked at the bottom, but were apparently worn by a crawler since the toes are all scuffed up!

Not bad!

Day 225 - August 13

It was bound to happen.

Two children with natural curiosity and a collection of Willow Tree figurines at ground level (on the bottom shelf of our console table) was really just a recipe for disaster.

It was also bound to be the second child that was the problem.

When Michaela first found the figurines, it didn't take too much to distract her and get her to leave them alone. We said, "No touch." We redirected. We just kept her in a different part of the room because of the set up of our living room in Kodiak. And Michaela just did an amazing job of actually listening and doing what we said. It wasn't too bad.

Cate is a different story. For every bit that Michaela was/is the stereotypical first child who wants to please everyone and follow all the rules, Cate is the stereotypical trouble-making second child.

When she first started crawling, she found the Willow Trees, too. And we said, "No touch." And we redirected. But we haven't been able to keep her in a different part of the room because the most open space in our living room is right by them. And she doesn't do an amazing job of actually listening and doing what we say.

But, even with all that, she had stopped messing with them for the past couple months.

All the changed in the last three days and she was back at them. She's been picking one up and bringing it to me as soon as I say, "Cate? What are you doing?" That was fine as long as I was in the living room.

This morning, I was in the kitchen when she decided to bring one of them to me. And then she dropped it on the tile floor.

The rest of them are now sitting on the dining room table until I either work up the courage to put them back, or find a different place for them until she's a little older.

Thank goodness for super glue.

Day 224 - August 12

We do not have a routine right now.

Mom's Day Out ended at the end of July and preschool doesn't start until the 21st. So we have been staying home more than usual and trying to work around a nap schedule that makes Michaela a little crazy (Cate's morning nap interferes with doing much in the morning).

The result? More TV than usual.

This might be a problem.

I know for sure that Cate should not like TV as much as she does already.

At least they were sharing a moment?

Day 223 - August 11

At church Sunday morning, Cate decided not to nap in the nursery. I guess there were too many other fun things going on around here, so sleep was last on her list. 

She then fell asleep in the car before we even got out of the parking lot, I think. We were going to our friends' house for a brunch after church (their daughter was baptized on Sunday), but had a little time to kill and needed to stop by Lowe's for a few things. 

With a sleeping baby in the car, I stayed behind and Jason and Michaela went in. 

This was my view in the mirror. How is that even comfortable?

Day 222 - August 10

I'm sneaking this picture in on a technicality. It was taken on what most would call Friday night, but it was actually very early Saturday morning, so it counts.

I went to get up to get ready to bed and looked over at the couch to see Jason sleeping at one end, and Cate sleeping at the other end. I was immensely impressed with his use of available resources to keep the baby on the couch, while also wanting to sleep himself.

Smart man!

Day 221 - August 9

We were heading out to the store this morning when I noticed it was already 10 in the morning. That probably doesn't mean much to most people, but to moms of babies, you probably know that's prime morning napping time.

So, although I really needed to get to the store, I brought the girls back in the house (yes, we'd made it to the garage already), disappointing Michaela, and got to the business of getting Cate to go to sleep.

Within five minutes, this is what was going on.

Day 220 - August 8

I live in a house with smoothie stealers.

It started with Michaela. Every time I would make myself a smoothie, she would ask for some. Usually there's a little more than my cup can hold, so I'd just give her the extra.

Then, just to see how she'd react to it, I gave some to Cate the other day because I was wondering if I'd be able to sneak some healthy greens into her diet. The little turd loves fruits but will hardly eat any veggies at all, and my smoothies usually have either kale or spinach in them.

Cate loved the first taste I gave her so much that the next time I made one, she was standing at my feet, waiting for her cup.

So I gave in. I bought cups with lids and straws and just made extra for the girls. They were both pretty excited to have their own cups and it's a win for mom because they got kale, strawberries, and mango in their bodies, and thought it was a treat!

Day 219 - August 7

I braved the park this morning with both girls. I've done it before, but not since Cate got mobile and doesn't love being in the Beco as much anymore. At least not while she's watching Michaela have fun.

So the trip was short, but at least it was long enough for Michaela to practice her upside-down hanging skills.

She even smiled once or twice, though you wouldn't know by this picture!

(And I'd like to thank the kid I don't know who photobombed my one shot at getting this picture. She wouldn't do it again so I could get another one!)

Day 218 - August 6

So if you're a big dog, you need a big stick to chew on.

In the form of firewood.

Day 217 - August 5

One day, the pacifier won't be in her mouth in every picture.

Right, Princess Cate?

Day 216 - August 4

Happy Coast Guard Day!

With the busy-ness of grandparents visiting - and leaving this afternoon - I almost didn't take a picture today.

Thankfully, the sky at sunset was really cool looking so I took a quick picture (with Instagram, of course), and, voila!, a picture for today.

That's even with no filter... just a little tilt shift to blur the neighbor's house.

Day 215 - August 3

I can't remember... have I ever mentioned Cate's love of "Baby?"

"Baby" is the smaller half of a Big Sister/Little Sister doll set that Jason's brother and sister-in-law sent Michaela when Cate was born. In the past month or so, maybe a little bit more (time is sort of blurry these days to me), Cate has co-opted the Little Sister doll as her own and takes it everywhere.

She holds it, she rocks it, she chews on its head. And no matter how much we wanted her to have a soft lovey like Michaela's Bear (Cate has Cow), it seems like Baby is going to be the lovey.

Although Baby isn't soft and fluffy, she's apparently good enough to cuddle up with for a snooze on the floor, though.

Day 214 - August 2

Mimi and Papa (Jason's mom and step-dad) got into town yesterday, so we took them to our new favorite place, Lynn Meadow Discovery Center, for a day of fun.

We got smart and hit the outside exhibits first thing since it was already Africa-hot by the time we got there and only got hotter as the day went on. So first up were the tree houses in the back of the center. Michaela had to climb each one of them (there are three), but only wanted to stay for about 0.4 seconds in each one. Mimi and Papa managed to get her to stop long enough to pose for a quick picture, though.

Day 213 - August 1

I think maybe our TV is on a little too much.

I come to that conclusion because the one year old, the just barely one year old, sat down in the middle of the living room to watch Bubble Guppies this morning, complete with snack cup.

I tried to get a picture of that, but she was too quick. Instead, I got this, a few seconds later, when she was trying to show me what she was watching (at least I think that's what she was doing).

Time to turn off the TV more!