Last day of school!

Is it sad that I cried because it was the last day of school? {yes, a little tear was because i am ont a fan of summer break} Ms. Melissa has been her teacher for 2 years and she has absolutely LOVED this class. It has been such a joy for Claire. It has been a joy for me too. I always always felt safe when she went to school and I trusted her teacher so much. It was a great feeling to know she was happy, loved, and learning. We have been so lucky and blessed to have known Ms Melissa and that Claire got to be in her class twice!

Claire had her dentist checkup appt. She did awesome! I had to take a pic of her being so brave getting her teeth polished with the real deal brush! Usually they have just cleaned with a regular brush until she got used to being there. She loves it now because she gets a prize at the end! ha!

Otherwise we are just hanging out playing trains and cars like usual! I never thought I'd know all the Thomas the train names and all the CARS cars but I actually like it. Of course, Eric likes it too!

Off to hug my Paigey Puddin Pop. She has her first real cold. :( Poor second baby. Big sis touching her and lovin on her....and giving her those fun germs!

Research

Loving this book!! I am reading it and re-reading it because it is helping so much. It's just so well written. I really dislike putting labels on my kid but you have to go with it or how else would you know which book to read. Claire is very strong willed {so am i...shocking!} and that may sound like a bad thing but she's strong in so many good ways. She is so very very smart. She is clever. She is always always in on the joke. She just gets it and boy can she come up with some "stuff".

What I realized from reading this book is that I have to tell her exactly what my expectations are and if they aren't met then logical consequences will follow EVERY TIME. Right then, right there. Seems so easy right? So basic. Well, it ain't so easy when you have a child who likes to test the boundaries constantly. I respect that about her though. She is an aggressive researcher with everything she learns! I also realized that it's me, the parent, that isn't setting the tone. It's not just my 3 yr old who is acting out, it's me too. I am passive one minute with hollow threats and punitive the next when I have had it up to my eyeballs. Talk about mixed signals! No, this book hasn't made me the perfect mom and Claire doesn't listen to me 100% of the time but it's really helping and I see a change. She knows that I will give her better instructions and that I will follow through with what I say. We are building on that respect. She is teaching me so much.

I just love her.

~getting her boogy on~

3 months!!!

Happy 3 month birthday sweet Paige!!!
May 20, 2011

I feel a change coming on soon. A move to her own room soon. Starting to go 4 hours between feedings. Yes, I am sneaking some rice cereal in her bottles here and there to see how she likes it. It's helpful with her reflux since she can't seem to drink a lot per feeding but still needs substance. She is changing from a newborn in to an infant and I can't believe how much I actually enjoyed the newborn phase. I know that's crazy but it's true. Some nights early on weren't always fun but overall it's been amazing. Maybe I can just truly appreciate how enjoyable it is right now before she becomes mobile! She is a sweet sweet baby! I love you Paigers.

Daddy Bday

Daddy's turn!! Happy Birthday Bear! Check out Paige's face....ha....poor thing. She is pretty chill and doesn't like a lot of shrills and thrills near her {as in her sister's shenanigans!}. We had a nice round of birthdays this year. Girls night out, dinner with the family, date night with the man, and a massage for mommy. Big thanks to my sis in law for coming in town and watching the girls and my other sis in law for watching Paige while Claire was away. It was a nice treat.

Tell me why then do I have this annoying crick in my neck from tension? Just navigating some things with Claire {that's another post all together} and trying to run around and keep Paige happy or asleep. It's wearing on me this week. Eventually I want to move Paige in to her room and I am wondering how that will work with little miss tantrum in the bedroom right next to hers?? Any thoughts here??? Just your typical life with 2 kids I am sure. The big rules the roost while the little just takes it....until he/she is big enough to whoop some ass of their own! I had to laugh the other day when Claire was "fake sleeping" in the car {she never sleeps in the car. ever}. Paige barely made a noise and Claire wails that Paige woke her up! OMG....are you kidding me?! A) You weren't really asleep! and B) How many times have you woken Paige up for real? Let me count the ways!!!

Happenings

Mother's Day party at school

Dinner in bed ~ she looks like she's in a prison cell. nothing on the wall, side rails, wearing stripes! ha! and that hair! oh my!

Look at that neck!!

SISTERS!

Just a few pics about what's been happening around here! The usual...learning to juggle 2 which has gone rather well. The only thing I notice is that it takes longer to get out of the house but I am getting it down. Living in a 2 story house is a bitch when you forget stuff though. I should be paper thin at this rate {but i ain't contrary to how i look in clothes!}. I literally just went through my closet and got rid of a bunch of clothes that I am sick of looking at because they don't fit!

Claire is quite the crab when she wakes up from a nap so lately I have been bringing her a special snack and her juice to her bed when she wakes up. She is immediately smiling and it's her special time. We even did a dinner in bed and she thought that was really cool.

34

34 has arrived!! Another birthday has come and gone. Whew! Claire helped me make a cake. She wanted a pink cake so we went with it. I did the icing but she did all the rest of the decorating even writing "mom" by herself. Such a big girl. She loves to help bake thanks to her Tia who bakes cookies with her at their house when she stays the night.

This card from Eric cracks me up! He has never made much of a fuss about our 17 yr age gap so this really made me laugh. Next is his birthday on the 17th! YAH MAY!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a nice treat. Breakfast in bed. Steaks for dinner. Playing with Claire in the backyard and watching her enjoy her first tast of summer. She loved running through the sprinkler {who needs a pool!}. My first mom's day as a mama of 2. Such joy! I even snuck a nap in. All those mimosas made me tired! =) Don't ya love my tv tray in bed....it's Claire's! ha!

Hugs to all my mama friends and to my own mom!!