Play Dates

Our Fridays are often filled with play dates for both Elizabeth and mom. Etta is our youngest friend that comes over. She helps us practice taking care of babies.Alice reads to Elizabeth and offer potty demonstrations.
Lila is our dancing and dress up in pretty dresses friend. Lila loves her music.
Oh and both these girls are always game for a kiss. They are just sugar sweet cuddle love pies.

What happens after two days with no nap.

Untitled from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

This is what happens when she misses her nap two days running. We were just going down the road for a quick evening snowshoe and she went into a coma.

Unfortunately there was no sleeping on the 5 hour drive home today. Oh well.

Weekend Ski at the end of the earth

Last minute trip to the Methow this weekend. It is a great area in Northern Washington that is cross country ski heaven. We stayed in Mazama which during the winter is really the end of the earth as the pass is closed and getting there requires a longish drive around. Our house was a quarter mile from the closed pass but right on the ski trails. Quite isolation is heaven! Can you even see the road above??
We went with two great friends , Ann and Kyle, and their new babe Sylvan. Another very brave childless couple, Scott and Avery, came with us. You have to be brave to join a house with young kids but luckily all little ones slept beautifully and were gems. Thank goodness.

Had blue skies for most of the long weekend. Elizabeth loved the ski trailer having spent quite some time in her bike trailer. We packed her in there with books, snacks and warm blankets. She lasted through a tiring 2 hour ski. You could hear her 'reading' her books and singing songs along the way.

Elizabeth loved helping to take care of Sylvan and was basically a little twitter update telling us every move or squeak the child made.
We proved that snow or sun a hammock is always lovely.

I couldn't get anyone to push or pull me... I tried.

Success!!

Untitled from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Yippie! Elizabeth typically shouts for us at 6am but not this morning. Nope. Not at 630am. Not at 7am. Nope I went into her room at 715am. She was in there reading her books and loving on her new bed. First time in 30 months we have gotten out of bed past 7am. Glorious. We are happy happy parents!

Big Girl Bed... well sort of

Elizabeth loves to read books in her crib which involves us putting her in, then handing her books, then getting her out to get more books, then putting her back in, then handing her more books. You see the pattern here. So today we went on craiglist and got Elizabeth a big girl bed. I use that term quite loosely as it is still the same crib mattress and not really big.

She was crazy thrilled.

She got up from her nap and we just carried the new bed frame right into her room. Cheek to cheek smiles. Right this minute Jeff is attempting to put her down and I can hear that it is not going smoothly. Now fingers and toes and arms are crossed that she sleeps and stays in it tonight. Please. Pretty Please!

Can't wait to see what happens

(pictures have nothing to do with the story but just cute)

Tonight Elizabeth was 'reading' some of her books. She was flipping through a book we have read a jillion times and looked up with excited desperation saying 'I can't wait to see what happens!'.

So crazy cute but I'm biased.

Shabbat Shalom to

This evening on our walk back from the Library we were singing songs to motivate Elizabeth's walking home. We started in on one of her favorites "Shabbat Shalom". She likes it cause it is interactive.

It is a very simple song that goes 'Shabbat Shalom to ______' and then Elizabeth will say someones name like mom, dad or Aunt Laurla. However this evening she said 'Shabbat Shalom to (wait for it) the poo poo that is in my diaper'.

Now the mature mother would perhaps guide her daughter to a better choice and remind her we don't discuss poop. No big surprise but I am not that mother. Instead I lost urine laughing. Yep that is the way we roll.... poo poo is always funny.

Frustrated

We had a challenging morning. Elizabeth now wants to wear two things, pajamas or 'me pretty dress'. Today the dress had to have pink tights. We had no clean pink tights and hence the challenging morning. I could feel bad mommie coming out and finally told her that 'mommie is very frustrated'. She stopped her whining and immediately responded 'you need to squeeze Elizabeth real tight' and then ran into my arms. This is what we have taught her to do when overwhelmed or frustrated.
Once in my arms she said 'OK now mommie you need to count to ten. One, two, three....'. She is obviously hearing us and learning how to teach me how to control my frustration.

Just Dance

Dance Dance from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Jeff and I don't play video games but I am now a convert. I LOVE (and I mean love) the Wii game 'Just Dance'. I guess you call it a game. You hold a wand in your hand and have to follow the dancing person on the screen while competing with fellow dancers for accuracy. It is active, fun/funny (just watch the video) and even had an old WHAM song. What is not to love!

Hotlanta for New Years

Spent New Years in with family in Atlanta. It was basically an Elizabeth-Kathryn love fest with a bit of Grandma and James sprinkled throughout. Elizabeth has not stopped talking about 'me cousins' and at night keeps asking for 'James and Kathryn stories'.
Aunt 'Laurla' ran the kiddos ragged which we greatly appreciated.
As usual there was much dancing and the bed dancing definitely falls under the blanket of 'Grandma Rules' aka not allowed at home.

Someone had too much eggnog last night...

Christmas morning we went for a run and about 2 blocks from the house Elizabeth has us pull up the stroller blanket and she immediately went into a comma. Keep in mind this is not a kid that sleeps through things but I picked her up out of the stroller, carried her into the house, laid her down on the sofa, unzipped her coat, went and got the camera and snapped some shots. We then talked to her, rubbed her cheek and nothing.
Passed out sleeping child on the sofa means Mimosa time for the grown ups....

Merry Christmas from Maui Wowie

Well we are back in Seattle now enjoying a delightful Christmas Eve with friends and our little family. Maui was great but home is just the best even in the rain.
Each night I say a little prayer to Elizabeth and I send it your way as a blessing for your holidays and for 2011:
'May you have a healthy body, a healthy mind and a happy soul'.

School Performance

Elizabeth with one of her school friends.

School Party from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Elizabeth had her school party. She did great with her performance. There is really nothing Elizabeth enjoys more than singing and dancing. We have dance party at our house almost every night. Her teachers often comment that Elizabeth is the most enthusiastic performer during singing circle time. She is often at home doing various hand motions and singing away in Chinese. I'm telling you it is quite something to sit in your house with your white Jewish toddler and watch her sing Chinese songs.
As is her more timid personality she was initially quite nervous to join the rest of the kids in the circle with all these parents watching. Many other kiddos were not quite willing. Elizabeth was clinging to me. I then told her to just go sit with Gui, her teacher. That is all it toke. She feels safe, secure and loved by her teachers and doesn't need my lap if they are close. We are thrilled that she is so loved when we are at work.

Yep we are the sort that photographed the first hair cut

Now that hat season has descended Elizabeth is in dire need for a hair cut. Per her usual MO she was initially traumatized but quickly rallied once she realized the joy of the yellow car and the many pretty pink ponies to play with. Twenty dollars later she looks about the same. Perhaps a bit less frizzy.

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

For Thanksgiving this year we rented a 'cabin' on a lake up north with Sam, Lynn and Anneka. It was the best get away every. The girls have a blast together and spent much of their time in tutus dancing.
The bunk beds were a hit and provided much entertainment. That is until we heard Elizabeth screaming 'Daddy Daddy'. I come running in and she is hanging from the side. Poor Anneka was cowering in the corner in fear. Elizabeth then followed the new parental rule of only climbing the ladder with mommy or daddy there.
More dancing...
Once the snow melted we ventured out for some hikes.
The snow was a hit. The parentals enjoyed and kids enjoyed trash bag sledding.
Biking was even sort of possible.
Elizabeth managed a turn or two on this mega trike we found in the garage.

Celebrated Maeve last night and woke up to snow

Last night we celebrated Shauna and her daughter Maeve at their house. It was an Ethiopian smorgasbord. There were tons of kids and Elizabeth found her quieter corners to stockpile food and random dolls. She definitely doesn't like to get in the middle of it all but she can hold her own.

We woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow on the car with none on the ground. By 730am things changed and it was a winter wonderland. Elizabeth's comment was 'look momma it is snowmaning'.
In the morning we walked to the market and library but Elizabeth was not sure about playing in the snow. After nap time she had a change of heart and we were out in it until I couldn't feel my toes. We love snow now.

Soy Sauce with Rice

Untitled from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

'Family of Choice' Thanksgiving

For eleven years this group has been gathering for Thanksgiving in one form or another. The tradition dictates that we never meet on the actual day as many have to work for the holiday. There have been additions of new friends, family, husbands and kids. The hangovers, for most, are less intense the next day but the food remains amazing.
This year we gathered at Cory's swanky new condo and utilized their large meeting area. This allowed much room for the youngin's and not so youngin's to run, play and dance. The plan was to take the kids for a dip in the pool however after Gil's spectacular chocolate pecan tart nobody was willing to dawn a swim suit however one little girl did some great running around with a bag on her head while her mom was a turkey head.
Elizabeth and Lila were busy busy and allowed grown ups to actually sit, drink wine and enjoy a real conversation.
What you see here (below) is the two naughtiest girls. Keely looks innocent as does Elizabeth but neither can be trusted. We love them both but nope don't trust them a bit.

Anneka's Birthday

When Elizabeth heard we were going to a birthday party she kept saying 'me go cake party'. Funny to think that just this June she wouldn't tough cake and now it is the hit.
Anneka was so cute. She was a little host offering drinks to the kids and thanking everyone for their gifts. Such a big girl! I love that Lynn and I have our girls to raise together. They just love spending time together.
With our new camera it takes photos FAST. It catches some great shots but also some very amusing ones. Is it just me or does she look like a little chipmunk devouring the cake.
Elizabeth was thrilled to see Alice again and they loved sitting together sharing toys.

Some days I remember how blessed I am

Not all days are care free but we are so blessed that most are. My prayer each night for Elizabeth is to grow up with a healthy body, a healthy mind and a happy soul. We are so blessed that life is just a fun swing at the park.

Me Happy Girl

She is a pistol. When upset she will say 'me no happy girl, me no want happy girl'. Her other line is 'me no say no thank you, me no like no thank you' which is often declared in response to our request for a polite 'no thank you' instead of the 'NO NO'.


I have to say that she really is an easy kiddo most of the time and my angst is often linked to my frustration with preconceived expectations. Sometimes she just doesn't want to do what we had in mind. Imagine that she has her own will and wants to assert her desires. You go girl!

Today on the way home from school while singing 'Sunny Day' aka the theme to Sesame Street she stops and says 'me a happy girl momma' and really most of the time she is such an amazingly happy girl. If I just had a bit of notice to when 'me no want happy girl'.