Happy 2nd Birthday Baby B!

 OK, bad mama is a few days late, but Happy 2nd Birthday to my Baby B!  We had a small party for her at the Sulphur Creek Nature Center in Hayward.  Its not a fancy facility, but the kids had a blast!  We really lucked out and the weather was beautiful for November, so the kids got to run around inside and out and enjoy all the animals at Sulphur Creek.

We chose three animals (rosy boa snake, box turtle, and duck) and a craft for the "animal presentation".  All the kids stayed on their carpet squares during the presentation and enjoyed the craft too!  We could not ask for a better celebration!

Baby C's Purple Belt

Congrats to Baby C for earning her purple belt last night!  Here is a picture after her belt test with Grand Master Pallen.

My Tough Fairy

Baby B is always trying to keep up with the big kids.  Her mind runs faster than her little legs can take her...which usually results in BONK! Here is latest boo-boo @ 23 months.

More Random Baby B @ 20 Months

Here's a picture of Baby B chewing on a baby octopus on a recent trip to Little Sheep Hot Pot.  After some help, she bit off the head, chewed a bit, and eventually spit it out.  But at least she tried!

Two random Baby B-isms today...i figure I better write this down somewhere before I forget! =)

I dropped a can of soda on my toe today and yelled out "OWWW!". Baby B walks over and says "Tay? Tay? Tay?" I finally figured out she was asking me if I was "OK".

As I was putting her shoes on in preparation to go out, I burped. She looks at me and says "ME!"  ...as in "say excuse me", as she has often heard us say to her big sis.

Too funny, I guess she is developing some empathy and manners? Or maybe she is just very observant and is a good imitator. =)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Baby C @ Almost 4...

My first baby girl turns four in less than 2 weeks!  I know it's cliche, but time sure does fly.  First I can't believe I will be a mom of a four year old, and second, I can't believe we survived parenthood for 4 years!!!  Whew! It's been quite a ride!

Baby C has been flourishing @ preschool and @ all the activities she is participating in.  For the summer, her crazy schedule each week consists of 2 full days of preschool, gymnastics X2, soccer, karate X2, and a swim class.  We also did one week of wildlife camp @ Sulphur Creek, and will be doing one week of VBS at a local church with a "Finding Nemo" theme this year.

Sometimes I think I am overscheduling her, but she truly enjoys all her extra activities.  For example, we traded dance for soccer this summer, and she keeps on asking why we are not taing dance, and how much she misses it, etc.  During the wildlife camp week, she kept on asking about all her other activities she was missing because she was @ camp that week.  Honestly, I want her NOT like something so that we can cut it out of the schedule!  So far, no luck.

We are thinking of changing Baby C's preschool for her Pre-K year (coming up in Sept).  We want to switch her from a play based program to a Montessori program. I guess I am feeling the pressure of kindergarten and "real school", and I want her to be as prepared as possible. We already know that she has the social skills to survive in a school environment, now, I want to concentrate on the academics...i know sounds a bit hardcore...cuz afterall, she's only 4 for gosh sake!  But I feel like education is the one thing no one can take from you, and I want my kids to be well educated and successful...and it's never too early to start. =)

I am also busy planning Baby C's birthday party next weekend. ithis year's "Dinosaur Train" theme should be fun.  I don't really have many details, but hope to pull it all together this week!

Anyhoo, that's all I can think of for Baby C. I guess I might need to stop calling her "Baby C" soon, because she is def not a baby anymore...!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Baby B @ 19 Months

Baby B growing up so darn fast!  Her verbal and motor skills are improving day by day.  In addition to signing a number of words, she can also say them too now.  I won't list them all, cuz frankly my brain is too fried, but there are very few times that we can't decipher what she wants.  Her comphrehension is excellent, she understands like 95% of what we are saying to her.  Whether she complies, that is another story...! =)

Speaking of wants, she is...how do I say...um, very passionate about her wants!  She is a very expressive little girl and a persistent lil bugger. Haha!  She definitely gets her way often.  Poor big sis even has to concede sometime, but we make it up to her in other "big girl" ways. =)

She is still a bit clingy, but in general pretty independent.  She is also getting better at solo-play, which is super helpful when I am trying to get stuff done...ahhh!

The sisterly "battles continue and I am still referee, but I am going to try to let them work it out by themselves more since B's verbal skills are improving, and her motor skills are getting better (so she can fight back).  But honestly, I don't know if it's because I've got two girls are what, but they can be so mentally draining.  Their "fights" start off mental, then can get physical...but I am sure it's not as bad as with boys. =)

B's night time sleep has improved. I try to get her in bed by 800-830 and she usually wakes by 700-730.  Daytime (short) naps continue to be in the car...sigh.  Bedtime routines are still all me because I am still nursing her, just at night.  She's lasting longer that Baby C did (@ 17 months), but I think that's cuz B has just been more clingy overall. 

Anyhoo, that's my update...or at least everything I can think of at the moment!  I'll try to do a Baby C update soon!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Life Gets Crazy(er)

Oh neglected blog of mine...I am so sorry I have been ignoring you.  Life has been super hectic with 2 girls running amuck and driving me nuts. 

Here is an update photo of the girls ...just so my account stays active. Hah! =)

Will return soon...i promise.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Toddler Sparring

Baby C has been taking karate for about 5 months and there is an intramural tournament coming up at the dojo.  Unfortunately we will be out of town, but the past few weeks, the instructors have been practicing "flag sparring" with Baby C's class.  At this age group, there is no contact.  Instead, one tried to take the other person's flag.

Here is a picture of Baby C with a sparring partner.  She is the tiny one on the left of the orange cone.  In this drill, you are supposed to "bounce" around the cone twice, then try to go for the other person's red flag (which is tucked into their belt/pants). You are supposed to use blocks and such when your opponent is coming at you.   And shout out a victorious KEEYAH when you grab your opponent's flag and hoist it above your head.  No grabbing, running, chasing, etc.  Of course with 3.5 - 6 year olds, the rules are not always followed...

Watching them practice really cracks me up...here are these little people with big helmets bouncing around...it really hilarious.  In fact I am smirking right now just thinking about it. LOL

Unfortunately, Baby C is the smallest in her class and tends to always get her flags taken...probably cuz her arms are shorter, etc.  She got a little discouraged at first, but hopefully she will regain some confidence after some more practice. =)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Leapfrog Kidlab

Yesterday I brought Baby B to Leapfrog Kidlab to test out some new toys.  Baby C has participated before, but this is Baby B's first time.

I love seeing/testing new products/toys.  Baby C actually tested the TAG Jr and Text n' Learn before it came out.  This time, Baby B tested this new picnic basket toy they are developing.  It was very cute.  The basket talked and sang reciting the alphabet, phonics, numbers, cute phrases, etc.  It also had picnic items inside with shape sorting, etc.

We have many Leapfrog products in our house, and after out Leapfrog trip, we have one more!  For our time, we received a Leapfrog birthday cake toy.  It's pretty darn cool because you can light the candles and blow them out.  Really, it senses your breathe and the candle lights go out!  I think this will be one of my "go-to" toys for first birthday presents!  Both girls love it...a bit too much in fact, I was playing referee all afternoon andalmost had to give the toy a time out! Geez! =)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Hi-Lights Lo-Lights

I just started highlighting my hair again after a post-kid hiatus due to maintenance laziness.  This time I wanted to go lighter because summer was coming up.

My new hairdresser sure went blond! The color itself I liked, and we were doing chunkier highlights to give it more impact/less maintenance, but there was this huge chunk at the side of my face that made it really obvious.

So...she had to do a do-over to tone down a few strips and all was good!

This was the first time I brought Baby C to the salon with me and it was a longer appointment but  she did really good. She waited patiently AND complimented my hair color, even when it looked like I was going on the Blond Ambition Tour.  Mama so proud! =)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre