Convo

Our after nap conversation today:
Avery- "I know it's a blanket."
Me- "That's because you are very smart."
Avery- "I know this is a shirt."
Me- "I'm glad that you know that."
Avery- "I know that's a diaper."
Me- "Yes, Avery you are very smart."
Avery- "Mama has eyes." <-- Maybe my lack of adult conversation, but this random switch sets me into a hysteric stupor.
Avery- "Daddy has eyes, Rowan has eyes, Capone has eyes," and after listing each family member, in a very matter of fact tone, indeed being equipped with a set of eyes, she demands Lady and the Tramp.
A conversation with a toddler may just be one of life's greatest treasures.

Beach Day

Bounce!

Very intense to watch her in there. Avery's first time in a bouncy thing, as we were all calling it. (I couldn't remember the proper name.) There was a few older, rambunctious boys in there, playing roughly, as to be expected from boys. Steve had to drag her out when it was time to leave, and I felt bad not letting Rowan in, but it was too dangerous. We went to a bbq business network thing for Steve, and they had the bounce machine set up. It was nice because I didn't know anyone, and felt good to have the girls; I wasn't my usual social self.

Sickies

Last night was my worst anticipated nightmare as a mother. Avery threw up all night long, for no apparent reason. I have spent the most time away from the girls ever this past weekend, with an old friend in town, so I snuck away at appropriate times a couple days. I was watching a movie last night, in town, and I just had this huge urge to be home with my girls. I have always been a home body, never liked sleep overs, but living out of town, sometimes this is the only option. Rather than hit a deer, or fall asleep at the wheel, I drive home in the wee hours.

I got home around 11 pm, sooooo late for me. As soon as I laid down, Avery started whining something I couldn't decipher. I went into the room, stepped in something wet, got the whiff, and knew she'd thrown up everywhere. Aside from milk pukes as a baby, this was new to her, and she was saying, "I'm all full of boogers!" She didn't understand the puke. I won't lie, this was super gross. I'm a sympathy puker, and I went into Mommy robot mode, knowing there was no choice but to remain calm, and there was nothing to do but get her cleaned up.

After getting her bedding changed, and asking Daddy to make a clean bed, as well as comfort a screaming Rowan, I took Avery into the shower. She was very disturbed by the sickies washing down the drain, so I had her hold onto a turtle bath toy, and wash it's sickies off, too. The mantra was: it's ok, we're washing off the sickies. Bye bye, sickies, go down the drain. We said this over and over together while I washed her hair, and everything. Steve took over getting Avery dressed, while I consoled Rowan after. She was very unhappy to be woken up abruptly, and not have me there. Magic milkies fixes all. For Row only; I was afraid to give Avery anything.

So once the girls were back in bed, Avery had a little puke again, and I was able to clean her up without another shower or bath, so I just brought her into my bed with some towels, and let Rowan sleep undisturbed. We laid awake in bed until around 3 am, and Avery would start crying, "Mama, sickies again," sit up, and have a little sicky in a towel. She was so afraid, and it was sad, but we got through those last few pukes. Around 5 am, she woke up, and I knew she was tired, but excited to be in my bed, so I had Steve sneak her back into her own bed. We all woke up at 7:30, and the day has been long so far, with a ton of laundry. Because I was out for dinner, I don't know exactly what she ate, or what the cause was. We got through it, I guess that's the most important part.

Water Park

Because I spent the morning in the sun, I figured this nap would be a good time to update our blog. I have been tanning a bit in my front yard the last couple of weeks, doing a workout after, or just gardening a bit, so I haven't really been inside for any computer time. I do wear a light sunscreen, but since I can't go swimming to beat the heat, I do get some sun to keep a bit of summer feeling to myself. Remember pre kids, spending the whole day along side the river, tanning and jumping in whenever you get too hot? Ahhh....

Back to this morning, I took the girls to the water park again; we were there yesterday, as well. I met my old friend and her niece there, who is only a couple months older than Avery. It was awesome to hang out with her because she has been working with children in different daycares for roughly 8 years now, and she has the perfect energy with kids.

Miss Rowan is not afraid of the water.

I was able to come up with a creative solution for my recent troubles with Avery running off lately. Since going to the festival, a few weeks back, she thinks it is a blast to just run off. Yesterday at the water park, she kept doing it again and again, and knew I couldn't stop her, I felt annoyed, and like I had no control over her. Let's face it, yelling does not work. Who better to ask for advice then my girlfriend this morning? Out of a few terrific suggestions, I have now concluded that I will not carry them both into an outdoor situation, I will put Rowan in the double stroller, and Avery can walk along side me, following my new rule of either holding my hand, or the leashy thing attached to the Chariot. When we've settled into our destination, she will be warned once about running off, or whatever other bad thing she's testing her limit with, and have a time out, in the stroller. Really, this sounds so simple, but sometimes a suggestion from outside of the box, is exactly what I need.

Avery would rather play on the swing and toddler gym than get wet.

On our way to the park, Avery started yelling at me about her foot being stuck to her leg. I made her more mad because I started laughing. It was so funny! She is saying the most remarkable things these days, from funny to astonishing that she can put together quite complex little sentences. All of our time reading has really seemed to pay off, from counting to naming colours. as well as a huge foundation in words. I have been slacking on a baby book update, especially with the simplicity of our blog, but I am making a mental note to record these funny sayings somehow.

Rowan holding her mangey piece of watermelon, and loving walking, in the kiddy pool.

Avery after running, then falling face first into the pool. She shivered the rest of the time.

Rowan is getting good at the walking. It's been exactly one week now, and she's not ready to hold hands yet because she's mastering her own balance. She's also the kind of girl who needs to do things on her own time. Just like in utero, she came on her due date as scheduled, even though I believed she'd come earlier, like her sister. Rowan has always been in charge that way. Man, she's cute. I think she's saying ta-ta sometimes, as it's what we all seem to say to her the most, especially Avery. It's so much nicer than mine!

The girls are challenging at this time, but I am also so happy that they're toddlers. I love that Avery can communicate (most of the time), and that it's overall easier because of our routine. They sleep at the same time, and though it took a while to get here, life as a family of four is functional and happy.

Rowan is a Toddler

Guess who's walking? She officially started on Friday the 9th. Let's pray she's not as fast as her sister, or we may never leave home again.

Chocolate Love

For those of you who know my Avery, I found way too much personal satisfaction from her messy face. During this shot, she was eating her after nap snack of chocolate soy pudding, before going outside to freak out about getting dirty, Rowan getting dirty, her ponies getting dirty, my feet being dirty, and my favourite, "Mama's arms dirty" -- this actually being I may have let the underarm shave go a little longer than I should have. Ahem, back to the caption for this picture, Avery repeating, "I love chocolate," over and over and over again. My favourite part is how she had that wee chocolate mess on her face all the way until bath time. Mua haha- it's the little things in life, right?

Summer?

Happy days, it's July. As CK would say, last month should have been called Juneuary, and I sure hope the sun is out this month. I need to work on my sun burn, or at least try to get some colour on my Snow white skin, that I nicely refer to as the Canadian complexion. As for Canada day, we stayed home, skipped the parade, avoided the rain, painted pictures, and played inside. The girls are still young enough that it was ok for me to stay home, and not feel obliged to go out in the icky weather. I even lit the wood stove the evening prior because it was so bone chillingly cold in here.

Rowan did the sign for milk today, that was pretty cute. Not surprising that her first sign would be that one, considering how often she is still nursing. We typically start the day at 6:30, she'll nurse from both breasts before any start can be made to her day, and by 9, she'll have nursed an average of 6 times! This is really driving me crazy. I'm trying so hard to offer a variety of soft foods she can eat without choking on, she doesn't have her molars, but what do you do when she's freaking out and ripping at your shirt for the milkies? How do you deny the most stubborn Taurus, and what do moms do in this situation? I didn't go this long with Avery, and I do want a more natural approach to weaning Rowan, but nursing her every hour or two is starting to drive me nuts! She is 14 months old!!


Rowan tries to do the sign for more, and she is actually just clapping her hands. Then she starts laughing, and shaking her head back and forth, like when you shake your head no. This is about the cutest part of meal time, especially when Avery joins in. I admit to letting the girls watch youtube videos in the morning, when the lap top is here. Avery eats more when she's being fed by me, and has a very short fuse with patience and her temper. If she is feeding herself, and can't get something on her fork (the plastic ones are the stupidest thing ever), she will yell and throw the whole plate on the ground- no questions asked. I have to either take her plate away with me, if I have to get up during a meal, or not put the plate in front of her until I'm sure I can commit to feeding her the whole time. Of course with easy things that don't require a scoop, just a stab, I'll praise the sh*t out of her for feeding herself those bites of toast. Oh and don't go there when it comes to Avery's food touching each other, or not being single items with a side of dip. Yes, you could say meal time is nothing short of chaotic.

Steve picked 100 lbs of strawberries this week. No lie, 100 lbs to store in the freezer. My only complaint, which I feel is pretty valid, is he put them all straight in water when got home. After they soaked and the ones on the bottom starting looking like dead, rotting, loose flesh fish, he bagged them all and froze them. Now I can't really make jam, home made pies, or enjoy fresh strawberries this week, as they turn to mushy piles of wet goop when they are thawed.


Lastly, we've only been sticking close to home, going outside in any sun we can, except that I still have to make and clean up meals from scratch 3 times a day. And yes, I do get out in the yard at night time. It never stops, but I'm happiest busy, I find myself feeling blue when there's not much to do, and I feel very aware of how much I'm going to miss this when I do have a moment alone to reflect; they're only babies once, and there's so much love.