Our New Ride!

We were so thankful to have so much help for the past two weeks! How lucky you are to have such loving people in your life who will arrange their schedules and lives to come see you and help us. Having family here was tons of fun, but we were ready to get back to our typical routine, and I was ready for my spring break from school!

To start off our week together, we went and picked out Mommy's new beach cruiser! She asked for one for Christmas, but waited until the warm weather to purchase it. Daddy assembled the toddler seat, and we were off on our first bike ride in no time! I think Daddy was a little wary - he kept telling me to be very careful, and even made me practice riding the bike for a while before I put you on the back. I have to admit: it took some getting used to because I hadn't been on a bike in so long! Our first ride took us to the park. You LOVED riding on the back and talked the entire time. You asked me questions and pointed out cars and birds. When we pulled up, you exclaimed, "Yay! We made it!" Did Daddy tell you to say that? All in all, it was a major success and you have requested rides since, so I'm assuming you felt safe!

Time for Tea!

During the week that Aunt Lysie and Grandma Rita stayed with you, they took you EVERYWHERE! You jumped and climbed at Monkey Joe's (you now constantly ask to go to the "jumping place"), you played at the Children's Museum, you took a carriage ride through Historic Wilmington, and walked through Airlie Gardens to see the beautiful flowers and trails. One of the highlights of the week, however, was when Grandma Rita and Aunt Lysie to you to tea at the Wilmington Tea Room.

Wearing your fancy hat at Tea!

Eating your fancy lunch!

Throughout the week, both Grandma Rita and Aunt Lysie raved about your sweet disposition and charming personality. They said you were very adaptable and happy to do anything. Your Daddy and I were so proud to hear that you were well-behaved, though we weren't surprised. You typically are the sweetest little girl when you're around other people!

Family Visit!

We knew it was going to be a crazy few weeks when family came to town to help care for you, but it was WELL WORTH IT! Because your babysitter had a baby, she needed a maternity leave. Luckily, the timing of it all worked out perfectly and we were able to arrange for family to come visit.

For the first week, Papaw Keith came to stay with you. Unfortunately, we ALL got sick that week. You got strep throat, I had strep throat and a ear infection, and your dad got pink eye! We were all a mess. Regardless of our sicknesses, we had a great time visiting. I think Papaw was a little nervous about doing certain tasks, such as changing your diaper, and he was VERY nervous every time you ate. You tend to pile-drive food into your mouth, and because you were sick, would often start coughing/choking a lot. It drove him insane!

Papaw did all sorts of fun things with you during the week he was here. On Valentine's Day - his birthday - you took a walk and celebrated with a good dinner and ice cream cake! He also took you to the Fort Fisher Civil War Museum and to McDonald's. Papaw was very good about making sure you stayed on schedule and took a good nap each day. You were an angel for him all week, and didn't start throwing fits until I got home from work. Imagine that!

On Thursday, Grandma Tessie, Great Aunt Jeannine (Greenie), Auntie K, and cousin Kohen arrived in Wilmington. You were so excited to have MORE family join in on the fun, and really enjoyed playing with Kohen. There were a few times wherein you weren't sharing your toys as you should, but I think that's pretty typical of a two-year-old who rarely has to share in her own home. You were pretty good taking turns when we were hovering.

Showing Kohen how to play music!

Checking out the dogs together.

At this point, he knew HOW to play, you were just being territorial of your toy.

Bath-time was fun! For several days after Kohen went home, you would ask

where he was during your bath...you miss him. :-(

On Friday morning, Great Grandma Rita and Great Aunt Elyse (Aunt Lysie) arrived! Shall we count that up? That's SEVEN visitors ALL at once!! You absolutely LOVED it. At one point, you insisted on having EVERYONE - dogs included, in your room to play. Daddy thought it was insane, so he took a photo and couldn't even get everyone in the shot! Proof:



Friday afternoon, we went to the beach so Kohen could experience the sand and surf for the first time. He is much like you and really enjoyed it! It was a bit windy, so we didn't stay long, but he had time to get some sand in his mouth and down his britches, which is what the first visit to the beach is all about!



On Saturday, we spend the day visiting all the great shops around town. You were such a good shopper and had a great time being with everyone. When we got home, we had a great dinner, and you baked cookies with Auntie K.

First Haircut!!!

Yesterday, we took you to Ribbet's Salon to get your first haircut! It was definitely time for some snips because your long locks were getting scraggly in the back! We opted for a minor trim, though we did add a few layers to give your hair some body!

You were SOOO good. You sat very still and did everything the stylist (Loribeth) told you to do. It helped that you had your own little t.v. playing an episode of Dora the Explorer. Loribeth was so sweet and let me and your dad be those ridiculous parents who take pictures and video. She even put the first hair clipping into a bag for me to keep and put in your baby book. It was overall a great experience, and we will definitely return to Ribbet's for future haircuts, and someday, maybe a mani/pedi!

Peering over the Treehouse at Ribbet's - clearly it was time for a trim!

All smiles and ready for my haircut!

The first snip!

Look how beautiful!

Bedtime Buddies

Each night you insist on taking the following buddies to bed with you:

1. Your pink fluffy pillow
2. Stripes (the blue & white striped dog)
3. Ellie ( the gray elephant under Stripes)
4. Baby
5. Blankie

Sometimes I wonder how you can move around with all of that stuff taking up so much room, but you do! In fact, last night when I went in to check on you before I went to bed, I took Baby and the pink pillow out of your crib so you wouldn't be so cramped (you were sweating!), but you woke up at 2 a.m. and took inventory. Once you noticed they were missing, you screamed until Daddy went in and gave them back!

"Don't Push Me!"

Lately, you have really started to express your feelings and opinions in various ways. You may express your frustration by throwing an object across the room; you may express your neediness by whining and pulling on my leg; you may express your happiness by clapping and dancing in circles. Verbal expression is something we are working on because you seem to think it is more effective to whine, scream, or cry when you want something, and we're trying to teach you to calmly as for things nicely.

I was very happy to witness your appropriate use of verbal expression when I picked you up from my gym's child care the other evening. Right as I was walking into the room to get you, I saw another little girl (who was probably 4 or 5) steal a toy from you and then push you away. Did you cry? Nope! Did you tattle? Nope! Did you push back? Nope! You looked the girl straight in the face, pointed at her, and said with conviction, "Hey. Don't you push me!" I was so proud of you for sticking up for yourself and made a big deal about it on the way home. We even practiced saying, "Don't you push me!"

This morning as your dad and I were trying to get out the door for work, you were being somewhat of a slow-poke. Daddy was trying to get you to move along and gently guided you out of the bedroom by putting his hand on your back. Without hesitation, you snapped around and yelled at him, "Hey! Don't you push me!"