Backflips and Summer League

There is so much that I could say about the Patrick's swim season.  He's amazing and I am proud sum it up the best.
He's been in the pool Monday through Friday for two hours for swimming and water polo. 

All of his hard work paid off at the Summer Rec League Championships today.

That's a second place finish from the outside lane.  He improved every week and in total took 9 seconds off of his time from the beginning of the season.   He also made it to the finals in breaststroke.  Next year he will dominate in butterfly.

On top of all that he loved playing water polo this summer.  He even scored a whole bunch of goals. 

And read several books and made lots of new friends in between.   One swim season down, many many more to go.

Especially considering that his little sister is half fish.  Last week she taught herself how to do a backflip.  This video is on the big step but she taught herself how to do one off the wall too. She's swimming and she's ready to compete.

This is for the 2 year olds, This is for the hustlers

Or hustlas if you are Snoop.  Point being, there's not a lick of difference between a 2 year old and hustler.  They are cunning, smart, and scary.

That's pretty much the whole reason my 2 year still used a pacifier up until this week (true confessions).  I'm scared of her....  I need my nap break to work and breathe and not wipe tiny butts.  I need her asleep all night long so I can drink wine, work, and actually have an adult conversation.

Several months ago we put a moratorium on the pacifier venturing out of the crib (or the house).  In extreme situations I let her have it but 98% of the time it stayed in the crib.  Except when she used her little hustler ways and appeared in the family room sucking on the thing.  So I started clipping pacifiers that made an appearance outside of her room.  Between the clipping and pacifier vortex, we were down to one pacifier.

When she took her single pacifier to Grandma and Grandpa's house last weekend I thought about warning her that it was the last one..... I didn't and it didn't come back.  Sunday night at bedtime she begged to call Grandma and get her pacifier back.  I suddenly grew a backbone and said no.  It. Has. Been. A. Long. Week.

Cold turkey.

No naps, save this one (the shop 'til you drop nap, not the most effective nap but a tried and true strategy)....

Naps have become a parade of excuses: I have to pee, I have to poop, I have an owie, I need some water, I not sleeping.

Yesterday she sat in her room talking to herself and when I opened the door she grinned at me and said, "I talking to myself." little hustler.  So she got up and did this...

Lots of whining and squealing in the afternoon.  She's not sleeping as long at night either.  This morning my early morning time is being interrupted by requests for milk.  Toddlers should not be allowed to wake at 6:00 am.  Oh well, this too shall pass.

But hopefully not too fast.




 

Things she says.

A few months ago my toddler was all but mute.

Now she's gone from mute to the great communicator.   Right now I can hear her talking to her baby dolls in bed, this has been going on for an hour.  Here are a few of her oft-used phrases.

1) No cart Mom!  No pants Mom!  with violent finger wag (she prefers walking and skirts/tutus)

2) Really, Mom?  Really?

3) What we doing here?

4) I need to tell you someting. 

5) Turn Raffi youder pease Mom.

6) I YIKE it!  MMM dis good.  (she is generally very positive about food)

The rhythm of relationships

Keith and I have had a rough few weeks.  I'm struggling, he's struggling and yesterday it all blew up.   This morning as he quizzed me about what he could touch (i.e. play with and the answer was pretty much NOTHING), I realized that this is our tail end.  Suddenly we are closer to the end of kindergarten.  Our morning struggles and afternoon battles and lunchtime war of the wills are all going to come to an end.  The rhythm of our relationship is going to change.  I am relieved and scared to death.  I fear that I haven't done enough and I'm just not ready.  But I know he needs to be in school all day.  It is a structured place where he really does thrive.  I'm his crutch and his safe place.  He pushes and I pull.  We butt heads and we love each other.  That's the rhythm of our relationship. 

These two have their own rhythm.  Where he goes she goes.  He dotes on her, she squawks at him.  And they argue like this at least once every hour:
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: yes.
Lauren: no.
Keith: YES
Lauren: yes (jedi mind trick)

 Mommy sigh.

Big Girl Bed...Begrudgingly

Begrudgingly on all of our parts.  I'm pretty sure she would have slept in her crib until she turned 16 but she loves her new bed.

First night in the big girl bed!

 This crib (pictured as a toddler bed) was purchased almost nine years ago when I was pregnant with Patrick.  At that time Sacramento had one of the few local all inclusive baby stores, it was called Goore's.  The vibe was so much better than Babies R Us and even though the prices were a little high it was worth it.  We shopped for a crib, had an argument about color, form, and function.  Realized that we both wanted the same crib.  Returned to Goore's to buy it.    We are funny like that.

Both boys slept in this crib.  You can see Keith's chew marks.  This crib moved 3 times with us!  It was one of the best investments we made.  Stylish and solid and still in use.

Patrick and Keith both eventually climbed out of the crib.  Lauren only did it for a week or so and then stopped.  Until this week.... she's struggled with nap for a few weeks.  She talks, she destroys, she cries, she talks some more, and strips off her clothes (and her baby doll too).  Let's be real: I need naptime BAD.  So when she was yelling for me for half an hour the other day (Mom!  Where are you!?!?) I finally answered her call.
"Hi Mama!  Dis my horse."
My girl was riding the crib rail.  Her father and I decided that this was much worse than climbing out and on Friday the crib was converted into a toddler bed.  The fact that this conversion happened during naptime should tell you how my life has been progressing lately.

That night, she went to bed without her usually soliloquy.  The next day, nap FAIL.  Last night she slept great.  Today we fought for an hour and forty-five minutes.  I think she is asleep now (after getting up 4 times, slamming her finger in the sliding glass door, begging and pleading (by both of us)).
Today I realized that I have been out of diapers for a week.  What is happening to my life?  Wah and Yay.

Lauren's Birthday Party Recap

Late... I know.
Lauren turned 2 and we threw her a party.  It was a bit complicated because Kevin had to work and couldn't get an extra day off.  That meant we were throwing a party in between shifts.  That meant that I was on my own. Plan and execute as much as possible as early as possible.  That was my tactic.  Seriously, I tend to get in WAY over my head.  So I was trying really hard to keep it all on this side of crazy (that's the non-crazy side).   I mostly succeeded.  I love pouring myself into my kids' parties  because they look forward to it, it makes them feel special, and they really appreciate it.   So, here it is....

Lauren loves Minnie Mouse and Elmo.  Patrick had an Elmo party when he turned two and I appreciate originality... so Minnie Mouse it was.  I didn't make a Pinterest Board (lazy?) but most of the ideas are filed on my Random Parties Board

My Girl
My friend started a new company called Monkey Ruffles. She made this cute shirt for Lauren.

"I'm TWO!"

Decor

Food
Hmmm..... I didn't take a picture of the food?   I kept it easy: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Sandwiches, Hot Diggety Dogs, Chips, Salad.  We were eating late (so Kevin could sleep) so we packaged the kids' lunches in boxes to make serving easy. 

Cake
This was my first solo cake.  It isn't perfect but that's what makes it great.

The Minnie Head was made out of Rice Krispies.  I haven't watched a lot of Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes but I've watched enough to know that Rice Krispies are essential.  And guess what, the kids all wanted to eat the Rice Krispie Treats.

The cake was a three-layer lemon cake.  Lauren loves lemon cake.  Pink fondant with white polka dots.

All together.

Oh I made cupcakes too.

because I can.

Favors
This is where I went a little nuts.  I hand painted mugs for each of the kids.

First, find the right font free font.  Print out each child's name, use a pencil to shade the entire print area of the name.  Place the paper on the mug and trace around the outside. 
Now color in the name with special paint (or be smart and use something easy like sharpies.... or be obstinate and dumb and use paint that is impossible to smooth out or apply perfectly. If you are going to be difficult you might want to make 3 trips to Michaels and buy every paint known to man.  Discover that every crafting blogger known to man was sent a package of Martha's new paint line.  Realize that the cheap stuff actually works better.  Wonder why you didn't just go the Sharpie route.).  Sigh loudly and watch multiple episodes of The Tudors.  Bake and you are done.  SO EASY (for normal people)!!!

I also made the kids homemade hot cocoa mix and marshmallows (gag, I hate marshmallows).  AND...

these little stinkers. 
This was my first tour with the red candy melts.  I was all a flutter because I thought the red seemed a little on the pink side.  I added red coloring.  This totally compromises that candy melts.  And the color variation between the two batches (with additional red coloring and without) was not noticeable.  Duh.

And finally, More of My Girl.
She got lots of exciting presents that she oohed and aahed over (the glitter on the hands will go down in the family history books).  But her American Girl Bitty Baby was the ultimate excitement.

a

This is my baby.  Don't even think about it.

A special thanks to Katy and my parents for helping me pull it off.

And so it begins.....

My little baby is turning 2 in just three days.  Last week, when left in the care of her father for an hour, she learned how to climb out of her crib.  Now I'm not blaming my husband but she didn't do it on my watch!


The tide started turning about a week before.  She (in truly spectacular Lauren style) climbed into her crib several times.... to retrieve her pacifiers.  My original plan was to keep her in the crib until Kindergarten.  It looks like that isn't going to happen.


She is growing up.  She even demands to use the toilet.  Not a lot of talking from my little, just a lot of demands.  And so it begins.

tell the truth.

You totally wish you could rock a Maxi Dress (and boxer briefs) like this girl.  She makes me laugh out loud every day.

Assistant Mommy

Today I shall wear a sweatshirt but only the hood for the arms will make me wail like a banshee.  This sweatshirt shall forever be my hoodie-only sweatshirt.  Thank you.

Lauren has officially been promoted to Assistant Mommy.  She spends her days bossing her brothers and telling her dad what to do (turn on the tv, answer the phone, move faster).  And she is always looking out for our best interest (Hey you left your cell phone! Isn't it time to let the dogs come in and clean this mess! Let's turn the tv off (or to any Spanish channel.)!).

In the evening she yells at her brothers to hurry up and get in/out of the shower.  She helps me with laundry.  She does regular security patrols in the kitchen to make sure the baby proofing is all set.  She gives us all the look...

Consider yourself admonished.

16 months old!

23.9 lbs and 31 inches.  She is a wonder.  Here are a few recent milestones:

Opening doors.  HEY NOW!

Sleeping through the night. YEEHAW!

Coloring and crayon eating.

Climbing. 

Signing: Cookie, More, Water, Thank you, Please, Milk

Accessorizing.  She picks out her shoes every day.

The most helpful baby EVER.  Don't get me wrong, she's a total mess maker but she loves helping out and seems to have an intrinsic understanding of how to help out.

Not a lot of words but she knows what she wants and she can tell you to get it!

Also, I know it isn't politically correct to say this but I love this girl SO much more now that she is sleeping in her own bed all night! 

Funny things my kids do

 The transition back to school was a little rough on the boys.   After two weeks of playing together hour after hour, four days of separation was hard.  When they did have a few minutes together they alternated between enemies and BFFs.  Case in point, a few minutes to play before homework time and they start constructing Legos.... on the same chair, even though we have six, they share a chair. 

 Lauren rarely gets juice and if she does it's prune juice (no further explanation needed.).  This morning the baby also needs her prune juice.

All three kids are currently having a wild rumpus in Patrick's room.  At some point I need to break it up and get the day going.  For now I'm laughing at their interactions and happy that they all love being in the same place at the same time.

Crying it out.

I may have told you that Lauren is not the best at sleeping through the night.  We were doing really well before her birthday and now we have a forced co-sleeping arrangement. 

http://crappypictures.typepad.com

It's cute and great.  She likes to sleep on my neck.  So if I'm not laying on my back she pulls my hair and smacks me to get me to roll over.  She also likes to sleep horizontally in between us.  Usually this means kicking Kevin in the face.  Another favorite is burying her head in between the mattress and head board (fun.).  And did I mention that she refuses to have any blankets on her?  brr.

I know you think we are weak parents but the whole point of this post is to tell you that we aren't weak, she's just stronger.  Crying it out was the option for both boys.  Usually this had more to do with going to sleep, not staying asleep.  We've tried to let her cry it out.  We get vomit as our reward each time.  Lauren cries so seldom that when crying happens in her world it is worth throwing up.  Great.

So we go to bed a little bit earlier every night, hoping for more than an hour of sleep.  Sometimes we're lucky, other times not so much. 

When this passes (hopefully prior to her 15th birthday) I won't miss it.  I will sneak in her room and wonder at the sweetness of a child sleeping in her own bed.

Lauren's First Birthday Party part 3 of 3

All the goodies!  If you want to see my inspiration board you can click here.  I couldn't get everything I was dreaming of done on time with a limited budget but here is what I was able to pull off....

First things first, the theme.  Real talk. I've been planning this party for a year.  I picked this theme to coordinate with the pettiskirt Santa found for Lauren on Zulily last Christmas.

 

Amy Durham at Morgan James Photography took Lauren's pictures.  She's done lots for us, including the maternity pics.  Michelle Lowe at Exclusive Creations created the bright and beautiful cards.  Two of my favorite people to work with, very talented!  On a side note, Amy and I went to Dry Creek together and Michelle and I went to Clark!  

All of the party day photos are the artwork of Alice Addington.    Everything turned out so bright and beautiful.  ** Alice and I were the best of friends in elementary school.  :)

Every little girl needs a pink car.  Lauren loves her Cozy Coupe!  Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

The outfit!  Kelley Menzes (my niece's Kindergarten Teacher)- Obnoxiously Cute made the shirt.  She also made a cute bow that Lauren didn't want to wear.  The custom skirt I found on etsy.  Unfortunately it looks like the shop isn't open any longer: Bella Creations if you want to try.  I just wanted something a bit different.  I absolutely love this skirt.  She's already worn it again.  The shoes (not pictured here) are from Old Navy.

My outfit (I have to brag): The jeans and the pink flats were from my closet.  The flowers on the necklace were recycled from Lauren's first birthday photo shoot (see above).  And she was none too happy about me borrowing her flower clips.  The tank top I found at Old Navy for $2.18 (lipstick stain meet OxyClean!).  Hair by David Carona.

Now the decorations:

Cute and simple gift bags from brown paper bags.  Scalloped by Martha Stewart

 Pink Manzanita branches with pictures of Lauren.  I love the Manzanitas.  I'm painting them to use every season!  Find them here at Blooms and Branches.  I should have trusted my instincts and bought a sturdier base for the trees.  Lesson learned.

 Pink Velvet Cupcakes by DADDY.  Except I helped with the icing and totally messed it up!  Kevin saved it and I went about my business.

 Smash Cake by Daddy of course.    I made the monogrammed sun cupcake toppers  and the smash cake "L" with the Silhouette.

 

Favors: I went back and forth and around again about favors.  I finally settled on Sunshine Wands (more on that in a minute).  I figured that the boys wouldn't want wands so I put together gift bags for the boys...Mistake.  The boys all wanted a wand.  They are so cute and easy to make if I had known that I would have made enough for the boys!  The Ribbon Wand Tutorial is at the Ribbon Wand Shop.  She uses real ribbon, I used the curling ribbon I already had for the balloons.  Everything else was the same.  Also, I found all of the supplies at OSH.

 The poem is a Lindsay Original:
Sunshine Wands

Take a wand and you will see

Just one wave will bring you glee

Wave it here and wave it there

Now you can spread some birthday cheer

Thank you for making my birthday bright

You are a sweet friend and that is right

 In the process of designing all of this stuff I was trying to figure out how to move my plain stuff to pretty on Publisher, with no patience.  I came across a post from Ink Spot Workshop and I didn't even read the entire thing before I was able to churn out these puppies.  CD Favors for the adults!

Then I was on a role and made food signs, the Sunshine Wand poem and these cute wishes.  Even the kids filled them out!  The notes were really sweet and I'm going to make her a little book with the pictures of her guests and their wishes.

But really I was most proud of my sign....

It's yours!  You can take it and print it.  Just don't do color correction if you have it printed at Costco, the pink turns brown.  If you want me to email it to you I will, or any of the other designs for that matter. 

 Most of the remaining decorations were pictures from around the house!

The food I kept simple and yummy.  BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Fruit Salad and Sun Chips.  It's not a party without the crock pot!

Thank you to everyone who helped us make Lauren's party so fantastic.  Especially my dad and my mom, my brother Robby and his girlfriend Destiny, my sisters Rachel and Katie, and my Costco partner Jonathon... and everyone else who pitched in to help. 

We have a VERY happy one year old!

XOXO