Lily is quietly and sweetly growing into a "big girl." She is finishing the second of her sleep overs with Grandma this month (one with each grandmother). She has adapted nicely with only the occassional plaintive "Mommy?" inquiry. I am proud of my potty learning, pony-riding, big girl bed sleeping, overnight staying Lily.

I have always been a mom to favor slow, gentle approaches to transitions and usually this works best for Lily. However, toilet teaching has been a long road where Lily had just decided she would prefer her diapers, after all. Hmm... when you are changing a Size 6 diaper or the largest cloth diaper made for toddlers, its time to re-evaluate. ( Read more... )

It turns out that three years old is a bit funner than two. Gone are the days of a frustrated Lily unable to give voice to what she was feeling. Also gone are the days where two parents can discuss a surprise or a treat in their toddler's presence discreetly. Lily is too smart for that now! We will spell out i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m and Lily will offer ( Read more... )

I can't stand when people are chronically late. I am not talking about 5 minutes here or there. I am talking about an hour or more most times that you see them. REALLY FREAKING ANNOYING when you have to contend with toddlers' mealtimes and nap schedules and what not. My lunch that I prepared for my company was ready for 12 and now it will have ( Read more... )

Clara has discovered mirrors! She happily grins at herself and her mommy. She seems wise and a bit of an old soul, if that is possible to deduce in a newborn. Clara seems to like the liveliness of life with Lily and Pluto and Mommy and Daddy. She darts her eyes from person to person as they speak, and loves to hear the familiar sounds of Lily's ( Read more... )

Two and a half months of life brings with it quiet beauty. In the stillness of the morning, Clara ponders a mobile. I watch her as her eyes slowly follow the happy little frogs that bemused older sister Lily. But for Clara, in this moment of two and a half months, she is still and happy as she watches. Her eyes are clear and blue and easily ( Read more... )

I am so sleepy. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

I am in a zany blur of sleep exhaustion and I dream of dreaming (as in slumber not day dreams). Clara and I share many giggles and cooing conversations at 1, 4 and 6 am. In the morning, I just try to put one foot in front of another and not fall over from lack of sleep. :)

Happy third birthday to my sweet Lily. She grows in humor and sensitivity daily. Everyday, she picks out the books we will read before nap time. Today, with just a twinkle in her eye, she made her request, Bye-Bye Pacifier, a book all about when its time for tots to give up their treasured pacis. As I am reading her the book, I look over at her ( Read more... )

Clara is one month old. Like most other mothers, this month seems to have flown by for me and my Clara. She has started to smile and dart her eyes curiously around the room. Lily has called her teddy bear and I think it is an apt description. She is soft and sweet and smells like sugar to me ( Read more... )