Week 9? Maybe? 3/1/2011

I've been slacking a bit on my 52 weeks of pictures projects. Well...I wouldn't call it slacking exactly. More like it hasn't even been on my radar until I see my friend post her adorable weekly pictures. And then *POOF* just like that! It's out of my head again. I was so proud of myself for remember this particular morning. Too bad the girls wouldn't look at the camera at the same time! This was on our way out the door on Tuesday. Natalie was on her way to preschool and Ava was on her way to her 18 month check up.

Which went well, by the way. Except for the fact that she had a bad reaction to her Hep B shot. Doh. Never a dull moment! She's doing ok now and it was nothing super serious, but we were a little worried. Her leg got very swollen and at one point had a fever over 103 (which she's never had) and wouldn't even walk. You could tell her leg REALLY hurt where she had her shot, so by the 2nd day of her refusing to walk, we called her doctor and he confirmed the reaction. Lots of benadryl later, she's a new kid and doing just fine. (And sleeping nicely too! HA!) She is 33 inches tall (90% for height!!) and 24lbs - she was 24lbs 5oz at her last appointment so she has lost weight (probably from her cast situation...) and that bumped her from the 75% to 50% for weight. Tall and skinny!

Natalie is starting a colors unit at preschool this month. She informed Jeff and I that leprauchans can be found at the end of rainbows and they have a pot of gold, but they won't share. Sounds about right! It is so much fun to hear her learning about these things. Then she mentioned to me that maybe we should beat the leprauchan up to get the pot of gold...which is PROBABLY the way to do it. But I'm not exactly where she got that idea from and we had to have a little discussion about not beating people up. Natalie has also decided that she'd like a Pinkalicious birthday party this year. It was originally princesses and then strawberry shortcake, so we'll see if this sticks!

What's not to love? Especially about the outfit.

She picked the entire thing out. All by herself.

Coloring!

How a load (or 5) of laundry almost gave me a heart attack.

Last week, I was home one day with both girls because they were sick with strep throat. You wouldn't know it from the following pictures. While they were having "quiet time" I thought it might be a good time to catch up on my never ending pile of laundry. Why on earth I thought this, I have no idea. Folding the laundry with these 2 around has never really been successful, as you can see below.

Within minutes of setting the basket down, chaos ensued. They (yes, Ava too!) ripped the clothes out of the basket and Ava climbed right in. Excellent. Just the kind of activity the doctor ordered for a child who just got out of a body cast for a broken femur.

Ava soon lost interest in the laundry and moved on to the toy room. Natalie, on the other hand, thought it would be a fantastic idea to flip the laundry basket upside down and use it to jump into the pile of laundry. Hmmm...lemme think about that. Ummm, no. No. No. Natalie, I said no. (And I roared my terrible roars and gnashed my terrible teeth. She didn't like that very much). And she stopped jumping into the laundry pile.

I'm standing next to the laundry basket and about 30 seconds later I hear this giggling and turn to find THIS:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

OF COURSE this isn't the exact position I found her in. I got a firm grasp on her before I yelled out to Jeff that he should most DEFINITELY get the camera for this one. OH. EM. GEE. This child is going to send me to an early grave. Oh she was so proud of herself! And man, she was quick - and stealthy! And poised to JUMP! Monkey see, monkey do, right?

Just look at the look of satisfaction on that lil' stinkers face!! She knows exactly what she did!! "Hey Mom, whaddya expect? I gotta make up for lost time!"

And she's not kidding.

In addition to her laundry basket climbing escapades that day, I can also share with you her dishwasher climbing escapades as well.  Luckily I was right next to the camera to take pictures and Jeff was right next to Ava...to save her.  I swear if there weren't dishes already in there, she would have climbed RIGHT inside. 

You CAN eat goldfish with a fork.

The other day, Ava thought she could eat her Goldfish crackers with a fork.  I tried and tried to explain to her that it just wasn't going to work.  

She thought it was pretty funny.  "Whatever Mommy!!"

"I'll show you!"

She tried so hard!!

And she proved me wrong.  You really CAN eat Goldfish with a fork.  The things I learn from an 18 month old.

A work of Art.

Natalie recently drew this for her teacher, but hasn't given it to her yet. Call me a mean Mommy, but I hope she changes her mind and let's me keep it! It is by far my most favorite picture she has drawn! It is just so pretty and I can't believe she is only 3 and a half years old! If she lets me keep it, it is DEFINITELY going to be framed and hung in the playroom or my sewing room.

No More Cast!

A much more interesting and detailed post to follow shortly, I promise! But for now, a quick picture!