owen grew a tail...

a cat tail to be certain....

Isabelle crafts - shaving cream prints

Isabelle loves to get her hands on my infrequently used shaving cream (ahem)...the bathroom goes quiet, giggles bubble over, and you walk into one of those foam parties (i've never been but they sound like fun).  So it is always a hit to include shaving cream into any sort of play or craft.  Here is our adventure with shaving cream prints...something I did a lot while working at the URI child development center as an undergrad.

we did all our work on a protected surface (cookie sheet lined with wax paper)

first spread some shaving cream about the size of your card stock or heavier paper and dot it with food coloring

use a toothpick to swirl the colors

gently put your paper on and tap it into the shaving cream- we added a few magic words

gently lift, trying to keep as much of the shaving cream on the wax paper, move to a new protected surface and scrape off shaving cream

then repeat, we kept adding the scraped off shaving cream back to the batch (this way we could also see a progression of colors blending- unintentional but turned out awesome)

while they are drying isabelle got to dig her hands in...which subsequently turned them green...

wash with warm water then i sprinkled some baking soda in her hands for a good scrub (most of green is gone)

the final product!

Polite words

I am aware of the fact that 3 year old brains need constant reminders of when and how to use polite words ...not to mention their adult counterparts.  How can we expect Isabelle to remember please and thank you if we have a hard time remembering to use it ourselves...?   I think Aaron seems to think we use polite words more frequently than we do...but I am skeptical (of at least my own politeness)...when was the last time I said "Aaron can you please go get me a roll of toilet paper"...or "may I knit please?" - don't get me wrong, I say please and thank you.....just not as much as I would like Isabelle to use please and thank you.  And well adult brains...my adult brain...gets frustrated with the constant repeat of "can you think of a polite way to ask for that".  So yesterday, after a growling mumbling non polite interaction, Isabelle and I brainstormed our polite words, I wrote them out, we colored them in, glued them to an old painting...and presto...a new and different way to remember our polite words.  

 

This tact seemed to work when she kept forgetting the -TUV- part of the alphabet song...so I'm giving this a shot.  For her and me really - a different way for all of us to remember those polite words.  Any mamas out there have any other tactics they use - we would love some other ideas about teaching manners (please)! 

gnome rehab

Isabelle officially added gnome and fairy doctor to my resume yesterday... we gathered all the sick gnomes and fairies and fixed them up...thank goodness for hot glue guns!  We also had a few wardrobe malfunctions that were tended to...some of the fairies were getting a little racy with no undies under their skirts!

diagnosis:

 a loose headed gnome, follicular enhancement on the purple fairy, and an undie mishap on the yellow fairy (shown with the fix...the pre shot was not appropriate for viewing pleasure...)

all fixed up and ready for rehab

Rx: lots of playing... 

here they are all getting married...fairies to gnomes of course...an epic event

~

Some of you may notice that the majority of pictures of Isabelle are with her in her pjs....I could tell you that I only take pictures in the wee hours of the morning...but that would be a lie.  Yes, most days we are in PJ's for a while - it is her choice to get dressed in the morning - I fought through too many mornings and too many outfits when we were going to day care...and my white flag is up.  Plus it is a good excuse for me to still have on my fleece robe and slippers until 10 am too.

stats

ok first time attempting video...let me know if it doesn't work..

 Owen ~10 Weeks:

Weight: 10 lbs 10.5 oz

Length: 22 3/4"

Head circumference: 15 1/2"

Owen had his two month appointment a little late but those are his current stats - growing and growing.  I like this doctor because she has never given us the percentile...likely because he is in the 5th or something silly like that - i make small babies (go figure).  Owen impressed his doc with his big arm and neck muscles by holding his head up and looking all over, he showed her how he can bring both hands up to his mouth to chew on, "talked" up a storm of baby coos, sent her a few smiles and even showed off his spit up moves...  She agreed with my self (internet) diagnosis of "happy spitter" - his tummy & esophagus just need to finish developing and the "happy" spitter will spit no more (hopefully- can you sense my exaggerated eye roll).  Owen makes great eye contact, follows his animated sissy all over the place with those big eyes, and responds really well to sound.  He is still nursing every 1-2 hours, even at night, but I have found that white noise helps him find a deeper sleep - a sleep I can even put him down with (prior to this he only slept in the sling or tucked into mama's arm nook).  Currently he is napping, alone, with the radio on fuzz - amazing.  We talked about buying a noise machine for him...but go figure...there's an app for that and I now have a sleep machine on my iphone (OH for the love of technology...yup your right that is big eye roll #2).  

Owen received one shot yesterday instead of the prescribed few - we are sticking with a different vaccine schedule (the same we followed with isabelle) where he only gets one shot per visit.  This little guy seems quite sensitive - can't wear synthetic material with out breaking out and his skin responds to even the most natural (and most expensive) lotions...(his skin is really dry due to the weather i presume...)... so until i know his little body can handle vaccinations this is our plan and our doctor supports and encourages it...so that is a plus.  

Owen is one cute little bundle of man and we are still relishing in all that is baby these days - yes even with all that spit up i still smile right back.  It is so cliche and I try not to say it all the time...but they get so big so fast - Owen is really helping me be more present these days - i just don't want to miss a beat.

shyness is not a character flaw...

Last week we had Isabelle's last day at dance class, which in some ways, was a relief.  We really love the dance class and teacher but it was just a bit much for Isabelle, some weeks she did great but the majority of the time Isabelle was Isabelle - standing quietly in first position while all the other children hop along with the teacher, looking back with tears at times, and only really participating if mama got up and held her hand.  Sometimes I struggle with her shyness and ask myself if I am doing what is best for her - but at the end of the day...with the support of my family and friends...I know she is a wonderfully smart, sensitive, and yes a shy little lady.  I don't quite care for the thought of "don't call your kid shy...that will make her shy" mentality...instead we acknowledge and support isabelle as she is.  Don't get me wrong...we don't go around telling everyone she is shy in front of her, but try to make her feel comfortable with being shy...so that when she is ready to say hello to a stranger or talk to some new peers she will because she is ready...not because we are forcing her to.  My good friend reminded me of the fact that sitting back and observing is participating for some children - those words resonate and sometimes become a silent mantra as I watch isabelle watch other children....it's okay this is how SHE participates.  And I know that this is a phase...its just that in so many ways I can see myself in her...I love being social and having friends and know how important being apart of a community is for me...but it doesn't always come easy... I still get knots in my stomach when I meet new people...struggle with the right conversation to have...am filled with insecurities... blablabla.  I just want Isabelle to be happy and content with her social situation - so for now...we will keep working on small group social scenes where she does best...and keep playing tap and ballet athome until she is ready to have a second round at dance class..... because there is no doubt in my mind that she will want to go back to dance class to try again in the future.

isabelle with her new friend stevie at the museum

~

When you're worried, tell yourself the truth: Shyness is a strength to build on, not a character flaw to be stamped out. -  "shyness is not a character flaw" - at the Malvern school

winding down

Winding down each evening is one of my favorite parts of the day...  mainly because we are all present...emotionally and physically.  Not to say that some nights our minds don't wander... but to be honest those are the nights where epic battles break out...tears are to be had and we all end up in bed grumpy.  But good nights, like last night, are a wonderful thing.  Winding down is truly dynamic and changes nearly everyday but there are some key elements: eating together, cleaning up together, music and story telling.

who can resist a slinging guitar playing daddy?

One of my favorite parts...the music...has really changed the way things wind down around here.  If I just remember to plug in my iphone and put on a favorite Pandora station I tend to not sweat the small stuff.  If I get a hint of an itch to get mad or frustrated....I just put on music and my frustration (usually) melts away... because who can be mad while listening to reggae or bluegrass or childrens folk songs...  Aaron has traded in his few goto Grateful Dead ballads for "hush little baby", "mary had a little lamb", and "twinkle twinkle little star"... and we all sing - completely and utterly out of tune - but we all sing together, laugh at ourselves and let our eyes get tired while dancing to the beat of our own drum.

and if that dog named rover don't bark...mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart....