Sweet Mommy Dreams

Pluggy's First Birthday Party

2011-03-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Being the "creative" freak that I am I was determined to make this a DIY birthday party even if our house is 3/4's packed and my stress level is at a breaking point. We had Pluggy's birthday party at Buca di Peppos and being that I love love love orange on my little son I decided to make it a orange and white polka dot party. We decided to have an intimate party at a nice restaurant with family and close friends. My little man looked dapper in his Bow Tie that I made him.

The cupcakes turned out great I bought the cutest covers from Cupcake Concepts.
For the party favor I made little back packs for the children and stuffed them with some fun toys and a coloring activity to keep them busy at the table. The adults received wonderful little gifts with bath salts and soap, which I bought from weddingandspa4u2u . They turned out super cute.
I topped the tables off with circles I punched out of different orange patterns and then strung them together for a table runner. I added some orange and white Jelly Belly's and white flowers. It looked just perfect and I was proud to celebrate my sons first birthday in such a beautiful way.

Special Moments

2011-03-11T07:40:00.000-08:00

The greatest moments in life are watching my children experience something magical. I have not been a fan of most things Disney mostly because of the intense marketing pushed on our children and partly because I want my children to create their own ideas of what a princess is and does. But that is for another post. But of course my daughter is Disney obsessed. We went to Disneyland about 6 months ago and since them my daughter has been obsessed. She talks about Disneyland every day. She has collected Minnie Mouse and "all her friends" from the flea market. Every time we go she looks for another stuffed character and bargains with the vender's to buy them. She hasn't seen any of the movies and the Princesses and Minnie and all her friends go on many adventures in our house. In our house we only watch PBS cartoons and I am grateful for the lace of commercials. However, a "Disney on Ice" commercial appeared on PBS and it stopped Stinky in her tracks. When Daddy saw how mesmerised she was and that tickets were only $15 the first day he decided to surprise her and me with tickets.

Stinky was so excited. She counted down the days till it was time to go. When the lights went down and Mickey and Minnie came out there was magic in Stinky's eyes. Her mouth was agape and her eyes were wide. I have to admit it is times like these that make me proud to be a Mommy. There is nothing sweeter than experiencing an amazing memory with your children.

Letting Imagination Be All It Can Be

2011-03-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

Stinky has entered into a world of complex thoughts. With such complexity her imagination continues to grow and expand to foster play that is the reaction of such thoughts and ideas. Spaces to act out such play has sprung up all over the house. Her use of objects, materials and science to construct such spaces are so creative. In the excitement over her new level of play my creative juices begin flowing and I start spouting off ideas in sewing forts that go over the table or hang from the wall. My DH stops mid spinning thoughts (yes my mind works very fast) to remind what is important. Let her imagine and create! But I have so many great projects just waiting in the binder of amazing projects I have collected. My husband points to his annoying yet humours rule "He is always right" , (we let him think that) and concede this time he is right.

In an age where there are toys that make noise, toys that will do tricks at the push of a button, TV's with whatever you want to watch saved for your viewing at any time we have forgotten to let out children imagine. This is so important and this is why we have people who create such amazing toys and technology. It is so important to let children take what they have a create using IMAGINATION. So next time Stinky asks me for the towels I just folded and the measuring tape I was using while sewing, I will happily hand to her, look forward to the creation she is producing. And enjoy the time I don't have to sew that hut pattern I have been holding on to with out guilt because after I watching her brain grow as the towel is draped over the chair.

Pluggy Turns One

2011-03-09T07:38:00.001-08:00

It is amazing to think how quickly our little people go from baby to child. In one year with the blink of an eye our little baby has turned into a boy full of expression and happiness. I am in love with his personality. He is cuddly, determined, excited, a little silly (with help from his sister who teaches him everything) and brings so much to our family. He is crawling with great speed, walking with great risk and laughing through it all. His laugh is contagious and makes everyone smile. He is signing "more" with great passion using it to tell us all things he has wanted for so long but didn't know how to tell us until now. He is speaking words that surprise us everyday. Today he said "Happy Birthday" (and yes we actually got it on video). He loves to eat and I mean "LOVES" to eat. His favorite foods include bananas, blueberries, cake and muffins. I couldn't be more in love with this handsome little man.

Happy 1st Birthday Pluggy! I love you!

Large Motor Skills

2011-02-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

The challenge for baby number 2 is getting time in those special areas that baby number 1 spent so much time with both parents attention directed toward her. Discovery Museum days are spent chasing a 3 year old around her area with poor Pluggy strapped on my body. The older children are not allowed in the special area designed for the development of a baby. When Daddy is home we make an effort to go special places that give both children an opportunity to learn and grow. For the first time Pluggy was able to spend some time in "his area" and he enjoyed exploring. Developmentally right now he is working on large motor skills and practicing going up and over small bumps (big mountains to him) this is both challenging yet rewarding. With much encouragement he over came his desire to quit and made it up the hills.
We as adults can take a minute to learn from the patience of young children. It takes a lot of determination and patience to learn a new skill and children are masters. Where does that go as we age?
Pluggy was also interested in face recognition. On this day he was studying his own face and body. There is a three way mirror (Yikes for us adults) but for children it is the best place to learn about their little bodies. He made faces at himself, studied what would happen when he lifted one arm, then the other arm, and then both arms. He wanted to see what happens when he turns his face away from the mirror, where did it go, why can't he see it anymore, but then when he turned back he was starring at himself again. Discoveries at the Museum. It was good for him to have his time.

To Experience Water

2011-02-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest aspects of living in California is the opportunity to experience 70 degree weather in January. We took this opportunity to give Pluggy some time in the water. He hasn't seen the water table in quite awhile and was excited to experience it as if it was the first time. At first he observed his sister as she, without hesitation, jumped right in and began discovering. His first step was to touch the water. Intrigued by the way it felt he continued to open and shut his hand over and over again. It wasn't too long before the splashing began. He loves to splash in the bathtub and it wasn't too different in the sensory table. Every action was preceded by a, "look what I did" as he would show us his hands as if his hands relayed the previous action on them.
Sensory experiences give children many learning opportunities. It facilitates the discovery of their senses. How materials feel, smell, taste etc. Children learn pre-math skills. Such skills include measuring/volume, spatial awareness, calculations. In science; how different materials react when the are stacked/poured/patted, along with testing and working through the scientific method. Adding materials only heighten this experience.

Christma Traditions

2011-02-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

Our family holds strong to our Christmas traditions. Grandpa read The Night Before Christmas and a book about Jesus Birth. My two little ones loved listening to Grandpa read just as I did when I was a little one. Our Christmas books are read right before bed and right after they open a present that consist of special Christmas PJ's.
This was the beginning our Christmas's at home. Now the Stinky has gotten a little bigger we decided that it was important to have Christmas at home. The children get to sleep in their beds and anxiously await Santa's visit. Pluggy was so excited to receive another Taggie Blanket just like the one he always sleeps with. And so was Mommy considering I have been searching and searching for a second one without success. Taggie blankie number 1 was starting to get quite stinky.
The excitement was more than we could bear. For the first year Stinky was more excited about her gifts then we were. We loved watching her unwrap each one and proclaim "Ahhhh It's what I always wanted."

Magic Through the Eyes of a Child

2011-02-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Where is the most magical place in the world?

It's Disneyland!

It's amazing how Disneyland changes when you experience it through the eyes of you child. Somewhere in life that magic that you once felt as a child disappears and while for some (not me) Disneyland is still a fun place it changes. When you bring your children back that magic as you once felt it comes back as you watch your own children experience it. All the little things that you have forgotten to notice, are noticed by your children. Suddenly the frequent stops to gaze with wonder into the little things that as adults we walk right by. To my daughter who found nothing more amazing then the Princesses and their castle. Although it was been a few months still since we visited Disneyland the magic is still alive in our house through the memories my daughter communicates daily.

Where Have I Been?

2010-11-10T19:17:00.001-08:00

Time just keeps passing me by so quickly I can't keep up. Where have I been? It started with an amazing trip to China. Petting Giant Pandas, Walking on the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Toilets consisting of a small holes in the ground minus toilet paper and soap, Food Poisoning and most importantly time with family. Was the trip challenging with a 6 month old and a 2.75 year old? Yes! Was it amazing? Yes! Did my children get to experience a whole new world while bonding with her cousins? Yes! An amazing trip to say the least. When we came home we hit the ground running. Halloween, Disneyland, Stinky's Birthday and ofcourse each needing a mommies touch with homemade items and lots of love. Lot's of preparations, late nights, and a little craziness kind of love. But more on the beautiful results of my labor later. So here we are two weeks from Christmas and I find myself in the middle of great Holiday spirits and many half finished projects. Along with the stress of buying a house and DH changing jobs. That's how we role. Busy Busy Busy! But full of fun. So I hope to hit the blogging world again with new ideas and a look at my latest projects and activities.

Daredevil

2010-09-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Something his little is not, daredevil. He loves being thrown, jumping, swinging. These types of activities bring instant laughs and giggles. The first time he went on a swing was pure joy. He grabbed on to the swing with a big smile on his face. Ok so maybe there was one "Oh Sh**" look but after the initial shock he didn't want to get down. He loves to be outside with the wind blowing, the smell of fresh air and all things the gets to see. Walk inside cry cry cry, walk outside silence. It is interesting how different he is when he is outside. It looks like camping, hiking, biking is in future.

5 Year Ago Today!

2010-09-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

5 years ago today I married who has become my best friend and the love of my life. It is amazing how much you can grow together in just 5 years. We are great co-workers in our family and with every child we have become that much closer. I say co-workers because truly that is what two parents are when leading a family. We work together to find the best solutions in the raising of children, we plan short term and long term goals for our family unit, we lean on one another to get through busy/tough times, and we celebrate together when our work pays off. A marriage is a full time job and in order to succeed at it you must work at it. I am privileged to have a partner that feels the same way. And in that I have a happy marriage, forever evolving as our family ebbs and flows. I am so thankful to look forward to my husband coming home every night because I get to spend time with him and being excited for the weekend so we can hang out together. To you honey, I love you so much and can not think of a better way to walk through life but standing right next to you.

Sand Play

2010-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Stinky has been asking to go to the beach to play with her "whale". (It's a sand toy that makes whale figures.) I figured it was time to change up the sensory tub. She has been playing with rice for the last two months and it appears she has lost a little interest. I added sand to her sensory table. The digging, filling, dumping, scooping and all else that can be done with this open ended sensory activity has been the object of her interest almost daily for the last few weeks.

Pluggy is at a different stage in his development and has enjoyed picking up the sand, tasting the sand and seeing what happens when he fall into the sand. Falling into the sand has been his favorite type of exploration as noted by the giggles it produces every time he flings his body back.

Children from the day they are born are wired to learn through their senses. Providing a sensory experiences whether through nature or a sensory tubs can give children the opportunity to easily engage their senses. Exploring different textures of materials through touch, listening to the sounds they make as they are manipulated, the smell of the different materials and sometimes (more often then I want) through taste. What does sand taste like? Come on we all taken in a handful of sand probably more than once. It is a part of the scientific process developing an idea of how a new object (sand) tastes like, looks like, feels like, smells like, sounds like, testing this idea and then forming conclusions.

Blocks, You Can Do Anything With Blocks

2010-09-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

I love love love blocks. I can not say enough about how enriching blocks are. The are the greatest open ended toy spanning over every age group. Blocks are a great tool for developing language. They facilitate story telling, using objects representative of real life experience, they give children the opportunity to retell real life events acting out problems and facilitating solutions and they give children the opportunity to explore language that is useful in peer situations. They provide opportunities to explore spacial awareness; using patterns, symmetry, geometrical shapes, colors, textures and other forms of tactile situations. They help children explore mathematics through spacial understand and reasoning. Children explore science to gravity, properties of materials, theorizing, predicting, and solving problems. They provide creativity through mapping, building, and planning. There is so much learning going on when children play with blocks. It is so simple to add new ideas into blocks as well. Animals, people, cars, even simple recycled materials can add new dimensions to the play. Children start by stacking and knocking it down. Their play leads into lining blocks up and then structures are erected. Blocks provide endless amounts of play and the play becomes more intricate as they get older.

Stinky recently pulled these soft blocks out and began building little pedestals for each animal to stand on. When she was finished she enjoyed knocking it down. We picked them up and put them away only be re-introduced ready for an entirely new experience at a later time.

"My kitty Coco"

2010-09-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

While visiting family we were informed that one of our family members had a cat who had kittens in their back yard. We went to look at the kittens and Stinky fell in love with them. When she said, "Daddy take one home" I knew we were taking one home. I love cats and have been longing for another cat since our cat had died 5 years ago. I picked most of the kittens up and this little kitten was so sweet. It reminded me of a cat I had growing up. I hoped with a little persuasion that she would pick this kitty. And she did! When we asked her what she wanted to name her, she first said Pink, the second time we asked her she said Pink Flower and the third time we asked her she said Coco. We asked her quite a few more times and Coco was the name that stuck. Stinky has fallen so in love with her. She feeds her everyday. When we come home from being out the first thing she says is, "Coco Stinky is home". When she wakes up she says, "Good morning Coco". We have taught her how to carry Coco around and she loves to hold her, dance with her and give her kisses. She constantly says "I love my kitty Coco ". When people come over she is so excited to introduce her kitty. "This is my kitty, kitty Coco." I love seeing her love on her kitty and take care of her kitty. It brings back so many memories of my kitty Melissa when I was a young child. I think it is so important for children to have pets; to learn to take care of them and to have something to love and interact with. I look forward to allowing Coco to sleep with Stinky as soon as she gets a little bigger. I look forward to watching them grow up together and Coco being a comfort to Stinky when she has had a bad day. This is the beginning of wonderful friendship and experience that Stinky will take with her for the rest of her childhood. Memories that she will remember far into her adulthood.

Flubber

2010-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Children learn through their senses. I wanted to provide a new sensory experience for Stinky; Flubber. Instead of making it and introducing it to her I decided to include her in the cooking process. Cooking can be a great way to provide opportunities to enhance pre-math skills. Children learn the idea of measurement, volume, fractions, counting. Together we followed the recipe and Flubber was born. Flubber is really cool. You can bounce it, cut it, roll it and then it sticks back together to form a big blob. It starts out white but it's inevitable that little hands will eventually turn the Flubber a little brown. So the next step is to experiment with color and what happens when you add/mix color into the Flubber.

This activity as also given Stinky a new opportunity to practice her cutting skills. Flubber has a different consistency and depth then paper and provides a totally different experience in cutting.

If you want the recipe leave me a comment and I will send it to you. Flubber is pretty cool stuff.

Dramatic Play

2010-08-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

Dramatic play is one of the most important types of play for children. This is where they learn how things work around them. Children are the greatest observers, they notice things that adults don't take the time to notice or things that adults take for granted as everyday occurrences. Children need to take what they observe and practice it to get a better understanding as to how and why things work the way that they do.

I bought a basket at the flea market and in the basket were some picnic items. I only wanted the basket so I placed the picnic items in a open basket with a handle, along with some napkins, straws and plastic silverware. Stinky took this opportunity to practice setting the table; an activity she observes mommy do every night before dinner. Once she had set the table I suggested her play food as an option to enhance the activity.

"The serious side of life, with all its demands is daily work, is re-enacted in deep earnestness by the child in it play." Rudolf Steiner, The Child's Changing Consciousness and Waldorf Education

Reach For It, Reach For It

2010-08-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

Pluggy has started reaching for toys and Stinky enjoys handing them to him.

He has begun exploring the world in the way a four month old knows best. Oral exploration is one of the beginning stages of learning about the world around us. Putting items in the mouth gives babies a chance to test out the taste and texture of different items. Sofie the giraffe is Pluggy's favorite item right now. He can make her squeak and he love chewing on her limbs.

Stinky Loves To Sing

2010-08-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

From the beginning Stinky has loved music. She has gotten to a point in her development where she wants to memorize songs. She will listen to a song over and over and over again until she has memorized the whole thing. Her latest favorite song is what she calls, "Daddy's Song". Why? This is the song that she hears on my phone when Daddy is calling me to tell me he is coming leaving work. Coincidentally (or not) this is our wedding song as well.

When Pluggy was born Stinky received a boom box from us as a "I still love more than anything" gift. We had put a bunch of familiar songs on the boom box so when were at the hospital she could listen to songs that she listens to with Mommy and Daddy. One of our main goals is to give our children as many opportunities to be independent. The boom box/mp3 player is made for children to easily manipulate the stop/go and up/down keys. She is able to turn it on, listen to whatever she wants and then turn it off.

She carries her little boom box around listening to "Daddy's Song" and singing along. She wants to sleep with it on, she loves to sing to Pluggy, and she loves sitting on our front porch listening to the song and singing it over and over again. It is so sweet to hear her little voice singing. Every time I hear her singing I have to stop and inconspicuously listen to her. Some of my greatest moments as a parent.

Putting Myself Out of A Job

2010-08-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was given a great idea from a wise mom in my mommy group. She was telling a story about how much her daughter likes to help and that her goal was to put herself out of a job by training her daughter to do all the chores. I liked that. At this age children like helping mommy with chores. I have started looking for opportunities for Stinky to help me in my everyday chores. She has really enjoyed not only the process of doing the chores but the time spent talking and working along side Mommy. I have enjoyed letting her explore the world of cleaning. Other chores she enjoys is moving the laundry from washer to dryer, handing me dishes from the dishwasher and bringing folded clothes from the living room into her bedroom. If only she enjoyed picking up her toys and putting them away.

We Love Animals

2010-08-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

I love love love farm animals. If San Jose allowed me to have a farm in my little condo I would start with a pig and a cow, but unfortunately it's against the law. Whenever given the chance I love exposing my children to animals. And we get as close as they let us. Even though we live in the city I plan on involving my children in 4-H. I think learning to take care of these animals and understanding where I food comes from is important. Stinky loves goats. Anywhere we go she wants to touch, watch and laugh with the goats. The fair was Pluggy's first up close and personal experience with horses.

Roll'n Roll'n Roll'n Oooooover

2010-08-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Pluggy has decided the sooner the better. At 3.5 months he began his journey towards crawling/walking/running. He can roll from back to tummy but still hasn't figured out how to roll from tummy to back. He doesn't appear to mind though because he is focused on scrunching those legs up and scooching forward. I have been putting toys in front of him just out of reach enticing him to move forward. His is also working on his 360's. He turns his body in circles. His motivation - looking for mommy. My little mommy's boy wants eye contact at all times.

Pluggy finding his hand

2010-08-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am constantly putting mirrors up in front of Pluggy. I want him to see what he is doing and discover more about himself. This is one of the first time he found his fists and he really enjoyed putting it in his mouth. It was even more fascinating to him to watch it in the mirror. Baby discoveries are so awesome to see not only us as parents but for the babies as well.

Building those Muscles

2010-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

The importance of building muscles in little hands isn't just for cutting. It is the first step in learning to write. There are many activities that can be done to help strengthen those muscles. The is one of Stinky's favorites. I noticed she had been pulling these spray bottles out of the cupboard and playing with them. So I decided it was time to teach her other uses other then "cooking" with them. I put watercolors into the bottles. At first I had a paper down on the table but the water just started to puddle and the colors weren't really showing. I then put down a white towel and as the water absorbed you could see the vibrant colors. Stinky really enjoyed squeezing the spray bottles and watching the water squirt out. When her hand was too tired she used the other hand to assist her over worked hand. Both hands received a work out strengthen those muscles.

Learning to Cut

2010-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

After noticing Stinky's interest in some scissors I was using to wrap a present, I decided it was time to introduce her to her little scissors. I picked out an old Family Fun magazine for her to cut. Initially I just handed her the scissors to see how she would use them. With both hands she would open the scissors, attempt to put the paper in and then shut them. After a little frustration I showed her how to use them correctly. Learning to use scissors is a process of building hand muscles. Right now she can do small cuts on the paper. After a few cuts her hand gets tired and she begins to compensate by helping her cutting hand squeeze the scissors shut with her other hand. She is very interested in turning each page, talking with me about the pictures on the page and then cutting a few slits in the bottom and moving on to the next page. I put the scissors and magazine on a shelf down low in her art studio so she can go back to this activity when she wants. Soon her muscles will get stronger and she will be able to use the scissors over and over to make more then just small slits.

"I love him sooooooooooooooooooo much"

2010-08-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Stinky fell in love with her little brother the moment she met him. She has been such a great big sister. I have worked hard even before he was born involving her in his life. She helped make his bed before he was alive and she was so excited that he would be sleeping (eventually) with her. When we left for the hospital I left her a gift that Pluggy had for her. It was a special princess big sister shirt. She wore it so proudly when she came to visit in the hospital. When we came home from the hospital I made her a special book of pictures of new baby brother which she proudly took to all her playdates to share with her friends. When people ask what his name is she loves to introduce him. When she was asked if her baby brother was born she would say, "Yeah Dr's cut (making a slicing sign with her hand) him our of mommy's tummy." Yes I had a c-section and maybe that live c-section surgery on the Today Show wasn't such a good idea.
She continues to be very involved in taking care of him and at times joining in the fun. We set up a little changing station next to Pluggy's for her to change her baby. I sewed a few cloth diapers out of on of the big ones for her babies so they looked just like Pluggy's.

When Pluggy sees Stinky his face lights up and he laughs so hard. It is fun to watch them grow together and love on each other. I look forward to watching their relationship grow.

5 months in fastforward

2010-08-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, 5 months can go by so quickly. As you can see Pluggy loves to smile when he isn't screaming. My poor little man has had some issues with Acid Reflex. He liked being in mommy's tummy so much that this big new world has been a little hard adjusting to. Mommy and Daddy have had some sleepless nights and he has mastered the art of the scream. A scream 'Only a mother can love'? Well I have loved watching his little face mature as he gets older and older.

And So The Craziness Begin's

2010-08-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

On March 8, days before I was scheduled for a C-section my little man decided it was time to meet the world. Pluggy (and I will explain the name in a moment) was born 7lbs 3 oz, 20.5 inches. After the first child I felt a little seasoned in the first 2 years of life but my little man wanted his own special experiences. He decided in order to achieve this he needed to play opposites with a personality completely opposite of his sister. With that said it has been a total of six months since I last posted. A quick pause to breath and I think I can begin posting again.

Pluggy came into the world completely regular till the day he turned 4 weeks old. Now he is not so regular thus the name Pluggy. He is full of fire with a scream that gets you to your feet and move'n. He wants to be sure his big sis does not out perform him. He is full of the most beautiful smiles and giggles enough to make all strangers comment on what a good and happy baby he is. Apparently he really must like being home because only practices his vocals at home.

We are so in love with our new addition and Stinky is the best big sister. She gets him to laugh like nobody else can.

And so my journey with 2 children begins.

Soccer

2010-02-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

This is an old post that I apparently never finished. We decided to give soccer a try a few months ago. She was so excited to put her cut little outfit on and practice. Once at soccer we learned our little Stinky was more of the dancing/gymnastic type. At least at this stage in her development. She loved dressing her soccer ball up turning the orange cones into hats and putting the little colored vests onto the flag. Daddy was a little sad as his dreams of a star soccer girl were squashed. At least for now. We will try again in a few years. Childrens interests are every evolving. For now dance here we come.

Christmas Day: Did Somone Say Presents?

2010-02-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

Stinky stood in amazement at all the gifts that over loaded the tree and came out into the living room. Wow does my family do Christmas!
For Christmas Mommy and Daddy gave Stinky a baby doll and a sling to carry her in. As our due date approaches I wanted to equip her with her own gear that she will see me using with the new baby. She loved it and hasn't stopped carrying "baby" as we call her around.
We planned on transitioning her to a big girl bed after we got home from our vacation. Momo and Grandpa gave her a special sleeping bag to sleep in when we travel as an alternative to the pak n play.
And off to Christmas dinner we go. We have recently developed a Christmas tradition of going out to a fancy dinner. We realized as we got older that my mom spent most of her time in the kitchen on Christmas so we wanted to alleviate that, so she could enjoy the day as well. Stinky looked adorable in her Christmas dress and of course new baby came too. My DH and I however learned very quickly that things will have to change next year. It is difficult to keep a tired child who has experienced great excitement all day quite in a nice restaurant. As Christmas relocates to our house next year I think we will begin cooking dinner. Our enjoyment was tainted a bit due to the anxiety of making sure we did not disrupt everybody else in the restaurants dinner.

Fifth Stop: Reno, Snow Snow Snow!

2010-02-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

Our next and final stop was Reno. It is a tradition my DH's family is very excited about. Stinky loved the snow for the second year in a row. She loved sledding with daddy, throwing clumps of snow and this year she could move a little more than last year. I was too pregnant to join in the sledding fun and it was hard to watch on the side lines.

One of her favorite experiences was Circus Circus. She caught on really fast that she played a game and in return she was handed an animal. For the most part we let her play the games and sometimes she didn't win. Some of the games were a sure win. She really enjoyed fishing were she won a turtle every time she fished. She had so many turtles that I thought it would be good to trade them in for a bigger cuter whale. She was really frustrated at me for doing that. So we had to play two more times because she wanted a turtle and she wanted to take one home for her BFF Chu. She also really enjoyed pounding on a button, with Daddies help, and winning dogs. Some games she surprised us and won animals all on her own. Once she won my DH wanted to try and he walked away with nothing. Talent or luck not sure, but Stinky really enjoyed this part of the vacation.

The best part was spending time with her cousins. She is the youngest and she gets babied by some of them. There are six of them all under the age of 5 which is fun for them all. She really looks up to MM, she is 3 and loves Stinky.

It was sad to see our trip end, but exciting to sleep in my own bed. It took about the same amount of time to get back to normalcy as we had been gone, but looking back now it was great fun. Until Next Year ...........

Fourth Stop: Momo and Grandpa's

2010-02-08T22:32:00.001-08:00

Christmas in my family is packed full of tradition. On Christmas eve we always eat dinner by candle light. Sometimes it's chili and others it's clam chowder and even others its corn chowder. A tradition I started was letting Stinky open one present and it is pajamas for her to wear. I plan on continuing this tradition with all my children. The pajamas will be matching until they can't stand it anymore. After she opened her present she sat on Grandpa's lap for two Christmas stories. The fist story is always The Night Before Christmas and the second is the real Christmas story. The reason we all celebrate Christmas; the birth of Christ. Her excitement was mounting as she new tomorrow was going to be an exciting day. After her bath she slipped into her new pajamas and off to bed she went, looking so forward to what was in store the next day.

Third Stop: Still in the LA Area but This Time On My Dad's Side

2010-02-05T14:49:00.001-08:00

I wasn't able to get any pictures of our time spent with the other side of my family. My DH and most of my family had to leave early heading home for jobs and such. It was just my dad, Stinky and myself. My dad has a huge family and amongst the chaos, present opening and I believe there was a huge nerf gun fight I just wasn't able to take any pictures.

Stinky enjoyed the gifts she received, but I think her favorite part of the day was aiding my dad in the nerf fight. She loved collecting all the little bullets for him and then helping shoot them at people. Unfortunately this was the third party of a weekend the included a lot of long hours in the car, late nights, lots of sweets and excitement. All these added together equals a very tired and overstimulated two year. After many melt downs it was time for us to retreat back to the hotel room for some down time. It's nice to cuddle up with Stinky when she is really tired. I take all the love I can get.

Second Stop: Rancho Cucamonga or LA Area

2010-02-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

She never does this; lucky Auntie.

Again Hot, Hot, Hot! That didn't stop Stinky in her round two of present opening nor Daddy in his weight gaining progress. With plenty of food and lots of presents we spent time at the other great aunts house on my mother's side. Stinky received her first doll and couldn't be more ready to take care of her new baby.

First Stop: San Clemente

2010-02-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

The beginnings of the toycapade through California; who said said Christmas is only one day.

Stinky with her cousin and great grandpa.

Four Generations of Girls

Our first stop on our trek across California was San Clemente, where Stinky's Great Grandpa lives. Coming from weather that was barely hitting 50 degrees we stepped right into summer. Over looking in the ocean we were at about 75 degrees and sunny. It was a nice change, but our main reason for being here was our time spent with the family. This was a special year for us in San Clemente because Stinky's great aunt had just had brain surgery and in less then 3 days was out of the hospital. She was recovering at Great Grandpa's house so we were all so thankful to spend time with her.

Stinky begun the festivities with her first round of opening presents along with Daddy's first round of gaining those extra pounds.

A Little More Pregnant, A Little More Tired, but We Survived the Holidays

2010-02-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

Taking a cold train trip around the park to view all the pretty lights.
Our Holiday's started right after the nap that came right after the second birthday party for Stinky. With three weeks of festivities at home, including a trip to the ER, stitches in my palm, baking one handed, wrapping and packing we begun a 2 week trip across California extremely tired. It has taken me over a month to settle back into life making sure all it unpacked, organized and ready to start the journey towards preparation of new baby.

Although it is a bit late I hope to spend some time blogging about our trip. It was Stinky's third Christmas, but her first Christmas of awareness. Awareness of Santa and the goodies he brings, awareness of the Christmas tree, the candy she could overly indulge in and of all the love and attention she received as we party hopped our way through California and even to some parts of Nevada. As Stinky would say, "Stand back" and enjoy our trip with us.

Happy Birthday Stinky!

2009-12-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that she is 2 years old today. I am sure every parent says that every year their child grows another year older. Life moves so fast when given the opportunity to watch your baby grow and develop. I have never been so excited in my life to wake up every morning just to see this beautiful smile as she is ready to begin her day of adventures and learning. I have loved every minute of her existence. With a little tear saying good bye to the first two years, I look forward to every minute with her that is to come before the ending of year 3. So to that I say Happy Birthday Stinky! I love you very much.

Entertainment

2009-12-11T23:40:00.000-08:00

Being a preschool teacher for 10 years it was hard to justify ever paying somebody to come in and entertain the children through music activities. So I did it myself. From a pattern I created "The Little Old Women Who Swallowed a Fly". The children were able to stick the different animals into the Lady's mouth. That was exciting for some of them. We sang a few songs, used musical instruments and at the very end danced to one of Stinky's favorites: "Who Let the Dogs Out". For some reason I was a little more nervous leading a group in front of my peers then I had ever been working in different classrooms with different adults watching all the time. It turned out ok and I think the children really enjoyed it.

Food to Fit the Music!

2009-12-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

This was the hardest to put together. I wanted to chose items that were child friendly, easy to eat and somewhat tied back to the theme. The menu included pigs in a blanket (whole notes), homemade pretzels (shaped as half notes), Pirates Bootie, apply slices with 3 different dips (yogurt, chocolate pudding, and carmel), cheese and crackers, and two different kinds of sandwiches cut into the shape of music notes (egg salad and cream cheese with cucumber). The food was fun to munch on with some aesthetics to complete it. I really enjoyed making all the little nibbly bits and I think people enjoyed eating them.

Decorations!

2009-12-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

For Stinky's Music Theme Party I made all of the decorations. With the help of a friend who is more artistic than I, she drew the music notes. We cut out the notes, painted them with glue and then glittered both sides of the notes. We hung them from the ceiling using fishing wire all over the room. I also cut out smaller notes out of black cardstock and strung them together to hang across the food area. Surprisingly the children really enjoyed moving the black notes across the fishing wire. The notes were right at their level and I watched many of them jingle the notes, move them from side to side and watch as they floated across the string. I like interactive decorations!

It's a Music Party!

2009-12-06T18:28:00.000-08:00

I have been planning my daughter's 2nd birthday party for some time now. I believe it started with in an hour of her 1st birthday. This is one of my favorite parts of having children. I love planning parties and children's parties are even more fun. This party was a music theme and the cake scared me the most. I was sure I would mess it up, but thanks to my mom for her sculpting techniques and my sister for her handwriting the cake turned out well. The best part is that we made it and I was able to save money in ordering a cake.

She Got Bangs!

2009-12-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Stinky had her second hair cute to even out the shag that has grown so quickly on her head. Along with the trim came some cute bangs. I was apprehensive at first about cutting bangs but it turned out to be a pretty cute do. She was ready to show it off too.
The best part of the experience was the "treat". Stinky loves treats just like her mommy.

She's a Dancing Machine

2009-12-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

Stinky loves to dance. At a local children's place they put a little spin on the dance floor and Stinky loved it. The concept of watching herself dance on the TV kept her interested the whole time we were there. Forget the pirate ship, the coloring room, the boat, the dress up and all the other interesting items in the environment. Let's Dance!

Creating Is An Expression of One's Self No Matter What That Might Be

2009-12-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

In her painting experience this time she chose to use her hands as the tool connecting her mind to the paper. She hasn't painted with her hands in awhile and for the first time she was very interested in different colors and mixing the colors together. In the end the colors intertwined creating a blackish color, but for Stinky it wasn't about the color it created. It was about the process, texture and the connection.

Why Are Tents So Exciting?

2009-12-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

We bought this tent for Stinky at a yard sale six months ago for $2. I found it in our storage and thought it would be fun to set it up. Stinky was so excited. I left it unzipped but as she begun to explore it she quickly wanted it shut. I left a small hole for her to climb in and out of. For days she spent time gathering items such as books, blocks, little toys and even the dogs to take inside her tent. She loved grabbing her blankie and water and just hanging out inside by herself. At one point she got Daddy to go into the tent with her. As I was busy taking the few moments to get somethings done I could hear nothing but giggles and squeals coming from our porch.

What is the lure of a tent to a child? Perhaps it is the idea of having a space just their own where they can create, imagine and just be by themselves. I suppose that never goes away as adults we seek to find that quite place where we can think, read, or just spend a few moments relaxing by ourselves. As I put the tent away ready for another day to introduce some newness and excitement I seek to find a special place where Stinky can go by herself to, "get away". A place where she can imagine, think and process all things she calls her world.

Bringing a Little Nature Inside

2009-11-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how fast time flies when it gets so close to the holidays. My last post was over two weeks ago and I have been so busy I haven't even had a chance to realize that it's been that long. Although we don't have many trees around us that drop leaves, we have had the chance to hit some good parks with beautiful trees. During our walks through the park I have encouraged Stinky to notice the changes (very slight changes as we don't have much of a fall here in California, it's still in the 70's) in our environment. We have collected leaves, twigs, acorns and other interesting items we have come across on the ground. As our collection grew I decided we needed to use some of the items in some art work.

This project was a two step process. First Stinky crumbled up leaves and smashed egg shells I had washed and dried. I put both items into little bowls after she had finished. This was a perfect sensory experience as she used her hands and then tried a few different tools to crush and crumble both materials. Then I put out a piece of contact paper on a tray. We haven't begun working with glue yet and this is a great age appropriate material to use to obtain stickiness. Stinky then proceeded to create using the artistic juices children use so freely. I included a small shaker of glitter I had made by punching tiny holes in a baby food jar. I wanted her to use the glitter freely but not so freely that we saw glitter for days. A mixture of natural and man made materials added a calming piece of art work with a little sparkle to catch the eye. When she was finished I backed it with more contact paper and hung it at her level on the window. Stinky is able to admire her own artwork and remember all those walks we took looking at the nature with in our environment.

For the Love of Animals, but Particulary Goats

2009-11-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the country surrounded by farm animals. It was a regular occurrence to see someone riding their horse down the street or walking their lambs in the pasture behind my house. I raised rabbits and pigs and saw these animals as just part of daily life. Moving to a large city as an adult made realize that such experiences aren't everyday occurrences for all children. It is important to me to give Stinky every opportunity to engage with animals as often as she can. I want her to be comfortable around animals and appreciate how animals contribute to the world. When we visit Momo and Grandpa I try to make sure we visit a local farm so she can play with the animals. Her particular favorite is the goats. She thinks they are so funny and she sits with them feeding them, talking to them and even dancing with them.

A Serving for You and A Serving for Me.

2009-11-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

Stinky is very particular in how she sets the table. If you move items she gets very frustrated. She prefers to use the napkins, placing items just so on top of each napkin and usually leaves the table cloth in the basket. I suspect this is done because we use place mats instead of table cloths at most meals.
Stinky's great aunt brought her a gift of a picnic basket with table settings for four on her last visit up. This has been one of Stinky's favorite activity. She has really enjoyed setting the table and serving guest. This activity has been her first attempts at pretend play and roll playing. It is amazing to watch Stinky play out what she sees her parents do. Often when I am carrying out my normal daily duties I am unaware that my little human is standing or sitting or even playing just close enough to me so she can observe my actions and input the information into her memory so that later she can practice all my moves.

What a great job it is being a parent and a little scary. (They are inputting everything with no filter which means it's time for us to start filtering.) Children want nothing else but to be with us and do whatever we are doing. Where else does one get to experience such unconditional love and admiration. Something to remember next time she is standing at my leg whining "up, up, up" while I am trying to cook dinner.

Animals

2009-11-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

I had been saving these animals for Stinky when she was a little older. As I observed her interest in animals grow I decided it was time to pull them out. The introduction of a toy is just as important as the toy itself. The way a toy is introduced sets the stage for how the toy will be played with, how the play will evolve and how well the toy will be taken care of. To bring the animals into Stinky's world I put them on her table lined up in a row and prompted her to sit down. She was amazed as the animals looked at her. They were right at eye level and larger than she was used to. She sat staring at them for an extended amount of time before she began to interact with them through touch. Initially she wanted to move them around keeping them lined up in front of her. Eventually she began mimicking the noises that each animal made.

Environment is key in children's development and how they interact with the world around them. If you set up a play area with aesthetics and simplicity in mind children are more likely to use the area and to have a desire to keep the area clean. This in turn leads to the perception that toys are important and it is important to take care of them giving toys a longer life in the home.

Playdough Fun

2009-11-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Our next adventure into sensory exploration was play dough. Again Stinky was not fond of the feeling/texture at first. I had to pull some of the play dough apart, roll it into balls and prompt her into play. Once she had observed it in action she began to do some exploring on her own.
Her first interaction with the play dough was to poke holes in it. She was intrigued by the dents and how the dents stayed in the play dough after she made them.
Her next step was to pull chunks of the play dough off a large piece. This was pretty much the extent of her exploration in her first play dough experience. I will continue to offer more experiences leaving out other tools so she can focus specifically on the play dough. I will introduce other tools when she becomes bored with just the play dough.

Sensory!

2009-11-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

I wanted to introduce Stinky to different sensory experiences and to engage her in some measuring, hand eye coordination, and spacial awareness like activities. I put flour in a container and added some scooper's and some small containers to scoop in. At first she wasn't so sure about the texture. She would put her finger in the bucket, touch the flower and then look at it.
Eventually she decided she was ready to try out one of the scooper's. She started by scooping up the flower and then dumping it back into the container.
Eventually she found the small container and began filling it up.
She really enjoyed this activity and I will be adding different parts to it as it evolves. Eventually we will experiment with other materials such as corn starch and water, play dough and different types of bean.

This is a great activity for developing spatial awareness in building mounds and dumping the flour. It helps children understand volume and how much space certain amounts of volume take up. It also gives them an introduction to measurement, how much of a certain substance can fit into another substance, and different types of matter. And of course hand eye coordination through picking up the flour using certain tools and transferring it to containers.

Tea for Me

2009-11-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

When we were in Portland at a wedding Stinky really enjoyed the little cappuccino cup that they gave her to drink out of. While I was at a consignment event I saw this little tea set and thought it would be a great set for Stinky to practice her pouring and drinking.
She really enjoyed the pouring part and a little of the drinking. However I did find that I had to continually put more water into the tea pot and the pan filled up quickly with water.
I looked away for a moment and the little tea cup was dropped on the floor falling into a million little pieces. I had bought the set for a very good price knowing that at this age there is a high probability that it would not make it too long. I felt a little guilty because I am sure at one time this set was barely played with for fear from some parent that it would get broken. In less than an hour my little Stinky broke one of the cups. I had to remind myself that I had bought the set knowing full well that this was going to happen. There are still five more cups for Stinky to explore and there was a lesson learned. As she looked down and saw all the pieces she was disturbed that she could not play with the cup anymore. Her action in throwing the cup caused a direct reaction in that it broke and was no longer usable. Hopefully next time she will attempt to be more careful as she learns that not all materials are indestructible.

Wedding's: Stinky is an old pro!

2009-11-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Stinky has attended five weddings so far this year and has become quite a pro. When we tell her we are going to a "party" she jumps up and down and does the sign for dancing. She is really good with the late nights and the long hours of sitting. Most of the weddings we have attended have been Chinese banquets which consist of about three hours of eating. (My DH's favorite part) The tables are very close together and with waiters serving food non stop it makes it hard to get up and down. So we bring toys and she enjoys entertaining the people at our table with her cute gestures and little performances. With promises of cake and dancing at the end she is really patient and able to sit through the meal.

The preparation for these weddings has become just as fun for her. She loves to get her hair curled. She sits so well while I curl her hair and when I am done she touches her hair, poofs it up a little, and looks in the merror with approval.
We attended an Indian wedding so Stinky was able to wear her beautiful Indian dress a friend brought her back from India. She thought she looked so good that she kissed herself. My daughter is quite the little princess.
Her favorite part of this wedding was the little cup she was able to drink out of when she was eating cake. It is a cappuccino cup but perfect for her size. I think she drank more water than usual just because she could use this cup.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

We hope you have an enjoyable Halloween with trick or treating fun and all the activities that comes along with this holiday. Stay safe and Have fun. I know we will!

Some Pictures from Our Wonderful Trip to Portland

2009-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

We recently had the opportunity to take a trip up to Portland. One of the greatest points in our trip was visiting Stinky's new and only cousin on my side. Right away she wanted to give him little kisses. After the kisses she spent the rest of our visit attempting to play with the cat. Unlike our dog's the cat was not cooperative in her desires to hold, pet, and play with it. She did enjoy chasing it and every time it came out of hiding she giggled. I think it was teasing her more than her teasing it. Every time she would lose interest the cat would mysteriously come out of hiding just long enough to gain her interest again. We are trying to convince my DH she needs a little kitty but having no luck.

Our main reason for the trip was a wedding, but once the wedding was over we had some time for some sight seeing. We went to Seattle, took a tour in down town Portland and visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Here are a few pictures from our sightseeing.
Portland has a open air market on Saturdays and Sundays where those selling items are the makers of the items being sold. We had a wonderful time walking through the little shops, stopping for a bite to eat and enjoying the crisp air. Great free activity that put our trip off to a good start.

We were amazed by the drinking fountains in Portland. They are constantly running. In California we are in the midst of a drought so the idea of wasting water like that is foreign. We were told by our tour guide that Portland has an abundance of water. So much so that they use what they need, sell a lot of it off (to California) and still have water to waste. It is interesting how different things can be just two states over.

OOHOOHOOHOOH!

2009-10-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

While in Costa Rica we went on a monkey excursion and by far this was Stinky's favorite experience. She loved the monkeys. She can still remember what sound they made, that we were on a boat when we saw them and that they ate bananas. She giggled with so much joy every time they moved and sat in amazement watching them the whole time. With what little words she knew she was able to say, "ooh, ooh, ooh, boat and nana." We bought her a little monkey to bring home and she sleeps with it every night.
So guess who is a monkey for Halloween. I had already started collecting items for a different costume but switched gears when I saw how much she loved the monkey's. It was one of the first time's we saw her interested in something on her own and we wanted to encourage it. She loves her monkey costume and I am sure she will be playing dress up in it until it doesn't fit anymore.
The pattern was fairly easy to follow and it only took me a few hours to complete it. I used flannel instead of the thick fur they had suggested. Being in California it doesn't get cold enough. I am glad I made this change because both times she has worn it the weather has been in the upper 70's.

Our Trip to Costa Rica and the Animals We Saw

2009-10-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Recently we went on a family vacation with the chu's to Costa Rica. My DH and I had been there for our honeymoon. We were back in the country we fell in love with four years earlier, but this time with friends and our little Stinky. It was the best way to spend our anniversary.

A few weeks ago Stinky and I were sitting at story time in the library when Ms. Nancy pulled a butterfly puppet out of a box and asked the audience of two year old if they knew what the animal was. As the children quickly responded I thought back to our trip we had returned from only a few day before. Not only had Stinky seen a butterfly, but she had held a butterfly, she had been surrounded by 100's of butterflies, and she had watched one detached from it's little cocoon and fly away. She had experienced butterflies. At that moment I was very grateful for the experiences we provided for our child. I thought back to all the animals Stinky saw, touched and experienced in nature. She lived it instead of watching it from behind a fence or glass. She had lived for two weeks in their natural world watching, listening, and touching all that they are.

This lovely iguana wanted our lunch. We had a picnic down by the ocean and he was relentless in attempting to get our food. He had no fear, he would scurry towards us, we would shoo him away and then he would come back. Sometimes he even brought his friends. Stinky watched, sometimes a little nervous, but most of the time unfazed. She had seen many lizards like this on our trip. Every morning they would be sun bathing outside the condo we were staying in.
We took a walk through a national forest and decided to skip the expensive tour guide. Instead we looked for animals on our own. One tour guide was hunched over with two tourist staring at something. I asked what they were looking at and he said they were staring at an over sized rodent. As I stepped back, I look up and just over their head was a 13 foot boa constrictor in the tree. I pointed the snake out and the tour guide jumped back a little surprised. They had no idea they had been standing under this large snake. It was amazing to see such a huge snake in the wild just relaxing on the tree. This by far was my favorite animal sighting.
We saw many sloths. A little boring as they don't move much, but interesting to see just hanging in the trees.
Our crocodile excursion was amazing. Everyone was surprised that we took the girls on a night tour of the river, but we were glad we did. For the first half we were able to spot eyes of huge crocodiles but as we got close they would go under the murky water. In pitch darkness, one of our barefooted tour guide tells the person captain to stop the boat because he spotted a croc. He jumps of the boat, turns off his flashlight, and SPLASH...... followed by a "Wooaaa". He walked back to the boat with this three year old croc in his hands. Of course my DH pretends to eat it. I am sure he was only half joking, he wants to eat anything with meat. I believe Stinky's response was, "No, No, No, Bye, Bye." She was able to touch it and even hold it on her lap. She thought it was funny when we had it's tail tickle her. Right after he let the little guy go. Both Stinky and Chu fell asleep and the we were able to enjoy a nice boat ride back. What a great experience. Stinky has had a crocodile sit on her lap and she isn't even two yet.

Painting Pumpkins with Daddy, Little Chu, and Her Daddy

2009-10-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

Stinky gets very excited to see her friend Chu. Just yesterday my DH came home from work and knelt down with his arms open exclaiming Stinky's name. Stinky said, "Chu, car" and started walking toward the car. I had told her that when Daddy came home that we would be going to Chu's house for dinner. My DH was a little heart broken, but it is exciting to see her bond with someone and be excited to see her.

During Sunday night football the mommies stepped out to shop for materials for Halloween costumes. The daddies were given one task; Art during half time. Chu and Stinky had fun painting pumpkins with their Daddies in an effort to get ready for Halloween.

Dancing Fool!

2009-10-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Stinky loves to dance! Dancing is such a great way to blow off steam, enjoy life and laugh together. I make sure our family has plenty of dance parties. And it shows! We have been to 6 weddings this year and when I mention we are going to one, Stinky immediately does the dancing sign. (For those of you who don't know we have taught her simple sign language.) She can sure tear that dance floor up and entertain the older folks while she does it.

A Walk in the Fall

2009-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Living in the city and particularly in an area where we are surrounded by cement, Stinky doesn't get a chance to walk and explore nature often enough. As we were running errands this morning we passed by a park filled with trees and leaves blowing everywhere. Spontaneously I decided to stop. (For me this spontaneity doesn't happen often.) I am glad we did.

I noticed as she swung on the swings she would lean back and look up into the trees. The trees had just a bit of sun shining through. As I looked up I realized how calming and relaxing this view was. I never would have experienced it without Stinky taking it in first. When she was done swinging we took a little walk. We collected all sorts of different leaves. Stinky was excited about the leaves until she saw the 5 squirrels playing in the trees. Taking her lead we stopped and just watched the squirrels for some time. She asked me what they were, she told me they were eating and had questions about what they were eating and why they were chasing each other. What a great experience! To stop and experience the world around us. To stop and observe without time restraint and through the lead of a toddler.

I was so thankful she took me along with her in this little adventure. Thanks Stinky

Stinky's Halloween Party

2009-10-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

According to my husband I cut off a little more than "we" could chew. After an all day drive home from a weekend's trip we had to prepare for Stinky's Halloween Party. I had decided to make Jack-O-Lantern fruit salad. I had seen this in a magazine.

The end product turned out cuter than I had expected. The fruit inside included pomegranate seeds, oranges, pears, apples and grapes. The children loved it and the fruit inside was really good. Not with out the help of my DH. He carved each orange even when it start to hurt.

Now what to do with the leftover orange guts. Any ideas?
I am sure the orange juice will be good though.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

Stinky really enjoyed the pumpkin patch we visited. There were so many pumpkins all over, she attempted to pick up a few but realizes they were a bit heavy for her.

A rare site. I realized recently that we don't have too many family pictures of us so it was nice to get a picture where all three of us could be seen.
The best part for her was hanging out with her BFF. They really enjoyed chasing each other through all the pumpkins and playing in the little maze they had for the children. We refrained from buying pumpkins here because they were a bit pricey, but the experience was fun non the less.

Halloween Here We Come!

2009-10-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

We excited for Halloween this year. Stinky is a little older and she really enjoyed helping Daddy put up the decorations. We are a little limited as we live in a condo, but the fake spider webs and spiders is a good start. In the next few days we will make some more decorations to add to the inside.

The fake spiders bothered Stinky at first. When I pulled them out of the package she pulled away and would say, "no, no, no". A little more exposure and she was ready to hold them and hand them to daddy when he needed them.

I am not sure who enjoyed it more Stinky or Daddy. He spent quite a long time placing, replacing, analyzing and then replacing all the spider webs. He was surprised about how much fun he had putting it.

Swim Lesson's

2009-09-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

It was very important to me that Stinky take swim lessons this summer. My DH never learned how to swim and when I met him he was very uncomfortable in the water. I love being in the water and have my whole life. I wanted Stinky to feel confident in the water and enjoy it as well. She learned a lot. She loves jumping off the side, putting her face in the water and swimming to the edge and she climbing out of the pool as well. The only part she really did not like is floating. We are still working on this technique.

Her enjoyment and confidence really shined through when we went on vacation soon after finishing swim lessons. She loved going under water, kicking and swimming toward daddy and myself. She is a little scary now because she will just go under water with little notification and just start going. We have to be very vigilant in watching her. But her excitement when she hits the water is the greatest joy to me.

It's the reason for slow blogging!

2009-08-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

So here is the reason for my slow blogging. Stinky is going to be a big sister. Along with that came 3 months of morning sickness that lasted all day everyday. All efforts during this time was keeping up with Stinky. Poor DH, poor house and there was chaos everywhere. Stinky learned what fast food was and forgot what it was like to eat fruit and veggies. She also grew in her imitation skills. Everytime I was getting close with the toilet she would run into the bathroom and watch. When I was done she would bend over the toilet and make throw up sounds. As sad as it was it did make me laugh a little at a miserable moment. At my first doctor's appointment I was given a magic pill. It has held me over with very little trips to the toilet and I am not 3 days off the pill. It is a good think that somehow the brain erases all the unpleasentries of being pregnant otherwise people would go for a second child.

The first 3 months is over and we are all starting to get excited. When you ask Stinky where the baby is she points to my belly. During our vacation she sang "Night, night, Baby" and rubbed my belly. We are not sure how much she understands as she pats Daddy's belly and says "Baby" too. We are looking forward to Stinky's first introduction to her newest family member.

Coloring Just Keeps Getting More Fun

2009-07-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Coloring just keeps get more fun as Stinky begins to choose colors, color on the paper and to color with intent.

Mt Hermon Vacation and All the Things You Can Do At Camp

2009-07-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Along with an adult pool they have a kiddie pool just the right size for Stinky. She loves to swim.

Boating was a blast. At first she wasn't so sure of it, but pretty soon she wanted to touch the water, paddle the boat and her favorite thing of all was sinning "Row row row your boat".

There is something to be said about reliving childhood memories with your own child. I grew up going to this camp and feel as though it is my second home. When I was old enough I worked 3 summers at camp. There was a transition for me as I slowly crept into adult hood where the magic of camp had disappeared and the realization that I was now looking at things with adult eyes. Though camp had lost a little magic I still have enjoyed going back just to remember what good times where had. Then another change happened, I had a child. This year my magic was regained as I watched my daughter begin to make her own memories. But these memories she is making, the enjoyment she is having, and the activities she is doing bring not only excitement for her but excitement for what I once had as a child. The smells, the sites and the emotion. It is almost more fun watching her experience it all. I only hope that this place can be as special to her as it is to me.

It's Amazing How Much They Want to Be Like You At This Age

2009-07-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

We recently received as a gift American Idol 2 singing game for our Wii. I have to admit with help from some friends (Little Chu's parents) we have been enjoying a little singing. Ok maybe a lot of sinning. I think we logged almost 40 hours in the first 10 days. Most of the time we put the girls to sleep and then break out the mic. So with that said I am not sure how Stinky had time to see us singing. But she must have because one day she pulled the mic down off the shelf and began going "lalalalala" into the mic and dancing.

It amazes me how much they pick up from our modeling behavior. It's time to start watching what we say and do because our little sponge is watching every word and action.

A Little Time With Papa

2009-06-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

My DH came home from work early today and coincidentally Stinky blew through her afternoon nap. Did I get lucky or did I get lucky? Taking this great opprotunity to bring the two of them together and give me a little time to finish up some projects, I set them out to finish a Father's Day activity I had begun. I had intended for Stinky to help me finish this project as a surprise Father's Day gift but in the middle of the project I broke my thumb. Ouch! This resulted in a stop of all things that take the use of a thumb which is just about everything. So with quick thinking we gave Daddy a "to do" Father's Day gift. But any excuse to spend time with Stinky is worth far more to my DH than any materialistic item.

It caught me off gaurd a little when my DH started panicking when Stinky immediatley tried to eat the glue, taste the materials and explore them in everyway other than put them on the ceramic stepping stone frog. It made me realize that it isn't often that he sits down with her to work on a project that isn't open ended. With a little guiding the two of them were able to finish the project and enjoy some bonding time along the way.

Cooking With Mommy

2009-06-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Often times Stinky gets really hungry which equals cranky while I am making dinner. Lately if I am not cooking anything on the stove I will let her sit on the other side of me while I cute and prepare dinner. She has really enjoyed this time. We will talk about the foods that I am preparing and I will often let her taste the fresh fruits and veggies before they are cooked.

She liked this special treat. I gave her the mixing bowl and spoon after I made a cake. I am excited to begin introducing her to baking and cooking. Soon I will begin letting her stir and then we will move onto other cooking projects. For now it is just observing and tasting. Sounds like a good deal to me. Where do I sign up?

Water Play

2009-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

I took Stinky's sensory tub and put it on a small tables to where she could reach it. This is the first time I have put water in and set it up off the ground. At first all she wanted to do was climb into it like she had down many times when it was on the floor. I wanted her to experience the water tub as a sensory table instead of a pool. I put a few bottles, boats and blocks in it. Once she realized that the purpose of this activity was not to play in it like a bath tub she began exploring the items in the tub.

I used a small pouring pitcher that was retrieve from a laundry box before being thrown out and I showed her how to use it. I scooped up water and then poured it on her hand. I then picked up a small strainer and poured the water through it. When new tools are introduced to children they need to be taught how to use them. Once they have a basic idea then it is time for them to explore and be creative. When adults are given new tools we want to learn how to use the. For example painting we take classes to learn techniques so we can paint, or mechanical classes so we can learn how to use tools when fixing a car. I want to treat Stinky with the same respect and teach her how to use the tools I introduce to her.

She was really interested in the strainer. At one point she put it on her head when it didn't fit she returned it to the water. She was also very interested in using the small pouring device. She wanted me to hold a small bottle as she attempted to pour water through the hole. Then she would grab the bottle and squirt out all the water. This was a great activity to teach hand-eye coordination. (Trying to get the water into the small hole) And to teach measurement/volume. (How much water did she pour through the hole equals the amount of water she could squeeze out.)

Surprisingly she wasn't into the blocks and the boats during this activity. I will have to reintroduce this another time.

Building a Lasting Relationship with Simon and Lucy

2009-06-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

Stinky loves the dogs. She has signs we taught her using American Sign Language for both of the dogs. Every day the first thing she does when she wakes up is sign's the dogs names.

We rarely let her watch TV in fact have made a big effort to make sure she doesn't watch TV. Every once in awhile she will get 15 minutes of KQED cartoons. This was one of those times and she took full advantage of the cuddle time with Simon. She put her head on him with one arm around his neck petting him and relaxing. Before she was born we were so worried about how the dogs might react to this new being that took attention away from them. They have done so well and become very protective of their little person/sister. They love her and let her love on them even when the love shines through in many different colors. It is hard think of what her life would be like with out Simon and Lucy. She has such a love for animals and is so interested in the sounds they make, what they look like and their names. Perhaps this wouldn't have been the case if she didn't have dogs. She loves her doggies.

Camping

2009-06-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

We took Stinky camping for the first time. Not sure if our daughter is destined for the city life or if she was feeling sick (she came down with some weird virus/bacteria the day after) but she was not into the wilderness. Her best friend Chu however loved it. Every time Stinky would fall down she would sit there with her hands in the air crying for some one to please pick up off the floor. She didn't want to get her hands dirty at all.

The girls enjoyed a nice creek walk down the little river and enjoyed playing in the sand. I think her favorite part however was the red vines and smores she received in abundance. Camping isn't fun without some good junk food.

Stinky's Art Sudio

2009-06-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

This art shelf has a fountain on it to create a calming and inspiring space. Items on the shelf are there to assist Stinky in her exploration of art through different mediums.

Stinky's new painting easel is located on the door to our storage right next to the shelf seen below.
I have been so excited to create a place where Stinky can freely do art. In each one of the containers are different items I have been collecting that can be used for art. They consist of bottle caps, wine corks, rubber bands, toilet paper rolls, rocks and other items. I hope to add and swap out items as she loses interest or gains an interest in something new. I would like to keep a good balance of recyclables, nature and fabricated products. I wanted the box's to be at her height so she can put them away and take them out as well as see what is inside of each box.

Sorting

2009-06-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Stinky was in her new art area and pulled the noodles of the shelf. To encourage her interest I pulled out a plastic muffin tin and set both on the table. Immediately she began placing noodles into the holes. When she placed two blue noodles into one hole I pointed it out to her and showed that she matched two blue together. I am pretty sure she didn't do it on purpose but at least she has been introduced to the concept of matching. Both sorting, hand eye coordination, and matching are all pre-math skills. These skills set up the foundation for learning and it's never too early to start exploring these concepts.

When she was done with the activity I prompted her to put the container back on her shelf. She was so proud that she had completed the task that she repeated it over and over.

I Even Amazed Myself

2009-06-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

I found this great pattern on Two Peas In A Pod and decided this would be a great gift for my mom for mother's day. My mom's kitchen is red so I found some different red patterns and this is how they came out. I made a total of eight with a black backing. She could even flip them over if she wanted a different look. I hope you enjoyed them mom.

Easel Painting

2009-06-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for the day Stinky could walk to buy an easel so she could begin easel painting. Now that she has a good grip on walking and standing I was able to set up her art studio. I was a little worried that she wouldn't understand the order in which she dips the brush into the paint pot, paints on the paper, and then dips the brush into the pot again repeating the process over. I have to say she impressed me. After I put the apron on her she grabbed for the brush and immediately began painting, when there wasn't much paint left she dipped again. Not bad for a 17 month old. I had to remind her a few times to keep the paint on the paper, but other than that she did very well in regards to the process.

She was so proud of herself. She had a slight smile and would continuously turn towards us to show off what she had accomplished. At one point she did get paint on her hand and she was very concerned. She wanted me to wipe it off immediately but after a few more paints on the hand she got over it. At the end of painting I wiped her hands off before she began a new activity.

We started off with one color and will continue with one color at a time for awhile. My desire is that she masters the process of painting and all that it entails before experimenting with multiple colors.

Painting is Fun But It's Even More Fun With Friends

2009-06-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

Stinky has really begun to enjoy finger painting/body art. She decided to share it with her best friend Chu and let Chu experience it for the first time as well. Chu and Stinky had a blast. It started off on the paper as always and eventually ended up on the body. When Stinky first touched finger paint she wasn't so sure about it, but Chu got into it right away. She rubbed her fingers in it and the slapped the paper making hand prints. The girls giggled with glee and their smiles told us they were having a blast. After fun was had by all it was off to the bath tub for some bath time water play together. To experience by oneself is fun, but to enjoy with good friends just enhances the experience. Go Girls!

What is it that makes one realize their baby is turning into a little girl?

2009-06-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

There have been little hints here and there on a daily basis. Walking more than crawling, new words enabling better communication, wanting to wash her own hair, scooping food from bowl to mouth without any help and the list goes on. But I have chosen to ignore all of them. But this I could not ignore. When Stinky ran to me so proud looking for a reaction. I looked at my baby and saw a little girl. With tears in my eyes I told how pretty she looked, and she did look so cute. But I saw such a grown up face. With those pig tales in her hair I say a little girl. Every day the baby like features slowly decrease and mannerisms turn more into those you see of a child not a baby. I know this is the beginning of many more conflicting moments. Where being a proud mom of the accomplishments she has made brings a hint of sadness of the times left behind, where that tear that I am trying so hard not to let drop is filled with so many emotions mixed between past, present and future. My little girl is growing so fast.

Just Me and The Two Greatest World Wonders

2009-05-28T16:57:00.001-07:00

I have been visiting my mom and dad for the past week. They both work full time. This has given Stinky and I sometime to play around and for me to share some of my childhood enjoyments with her. I grew up near the beach and most of my memories of summer include many many day trips to the beach. I decided to take Stinky to our favorite beach. We packed up the sand toys, a blanket and towels only to discover when we got there that is was fogged out. A little disappointed I decided that we would make the most of it. Luckily I had brought a beach cover up for Stinky with long sleeves. She didn't mind the cold on her legs, in fact I don't think she even noticed that Mommy was freezing. Of course I did not pack myself warm clothing. She played in the sand scooping up sand with the shovel and putting it in her bucket. Eventually she grew bored of this activity and wanted to go closer to the waves.

We walked down to the water and I put her feet in the water. She wasn't so sure about the water touching her as she quickly gestured for me to pick her up. I wrapped her in the towel I had been using to shelter my shoulders from the cold and then came one of those moments. She put her head on my shoulders, wrapped her arms tightly around me with a little squeeze and we just stood there staring at the wondrous, powerful yet gentle waves ease their way on to shore. Those few moments seemed like a pause in time I relished the enjoyment of two of the greatest gifts God has given me. The unconditional love of my beautiful daughter and the great strength and power of the ocean. In that moment was pure comfort and peace.

Bow B-licious: Shop and Buy

2009-05-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

I have found new interests since having a baby girl. I had bought bows for my little girl and put fear in my husband not to lose them. So I thought maybe I could make them. I bought the materials, took one bow apart and then began making my own. I have enjoyed making them so much that I haven't stopped. I opened up my own shop Bow B-licious. Check it out. You will find the link to my shop on the right hand side of my blog.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

I love my little girl. To me just being able to celebrate Mother's Day is the greatest joy. I am so thankful to be a mom everyday. On this special day we went to Dim Sum which is my favorite breakfast ever. My husband (with the help of Stinky) wrote a wonderful card which was so sweet I might have shed a few tears. I also received some beautiful earrings. Thank you honey. And a belated Happy Mother's Day to all.

Indian Birthday

2009-05-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest things about living in San Jose is the diversity. Not only for myself but for my daughter. She has had the opportunity to have many friends from many cultures. A friend brought this sweet dress back from India and we jumped at the chance for her wear it when we attended a first birthday of one of her little friends. It gave her the opportunity to experience Indian food, be a part of the beautiful dresses of Indian culture and spend time with good friends. Stinky loved dancing to the music and playing with her little friend. I have to say she was the cutest little girl there.

Art Is Self Expression

2009-05-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

This was Stinky's third introduction to painting. Unlike the previous times this time she actually enjoyed herself. In previous experiences she was a little disturbed by the feeling of paint on her hands. This time was different, she was really excited by the affect created by sliding her fingers across the paper.
After she had played in the blue a little bit I could see she was losing interest. To regain interest, I added red. She dipped her little finger in the red paint and began swirling it around in the already painted blue spots.
She was in her little zone. I really enjoyed watching her create, furthering her imagination and creativity.
She was very interested in the paint on her fingers. She was anxious to show daddy what it looked like.
When painting the paper lost interest, freedom to create moved to the body. Nice! Nothing a quick bath won't fix and worth the experience.

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."
Pablo Picasso

Mirror Image

2009-05-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

As Stinky gets older I have noticed she has begun emulating our every move Lately she pulls the hair brush out of my hand and pretends to brush her own hair. In the shower she grabs the soap, pretends to pour it on her and then she rubs her belly and her hair. To encourage this pretend play I bought her her own brush and I grabbed an empty travel bottle and set them up next to a mirror. I did this while she was sleeping so when she woke up it was sitting there. Immediately she walked over to the activity and picked up the brush. She was so excited, she smiled and laughed. The past few days she continues to revisit this activity. Looking in the mirror, brushing her hair and soaping herself. The activity has evolved and now she wants to brush my hair and soap my belly. She thinks it is so funny when I lift my shirt up and let her pretend to put soap on and then rub. She laughs so hard and her cute little laugh makes me laugh.

Knowing that she is watching and doing what we are doing we have to start watching what we are doing. I hope she picks up our good habits and not our bad. Unlikely, but I am sure it is going to make for some funny stories in the near future.

Water Play: A Take Off Of Interest in Scooping

2009-05-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Stinky received a pots and pans set from her Great Grammie this past weekend. She is beginning to put more thought into her play. It was only a matter of minutes when she realized that this pot could hold substance. It was at this time that she wondered if it would hold liquid. The only place she could get liquid would be the dog bowl. She made her way quickly and quietly to the dog bowl. I caught up with her only after she had filled the pot with water and was attempting to carry it out of the kitchen.
After a few more trips and failed attempts I decided it was time to provide an opportunity where she could explore volume, water, and pouring more. I filled a container with water, put the pot she had been using in the container and set an empty bowl next to it. Right away she began filling her pot with water and then pouring the contents into the empty bowl. She did this quite a few times. Each time she was able to fill her pot with more ease and transfer more water into in the empty bowl. Once she felt she had mastered this task she was off to discover other things.
A small lesson in math/measuring and she hasn't tried to fill it up in the dog bowl since.

Baby Shower

2009-04-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

I hosted my first baby shower for my cousin. I really enjoyed making my first diaper cake. It was a jungle theme and after the construction of the cake was complete decoration and expressing my creative side was a lot of fun. Good company and good wine didn't hurt either.

I decided for decorations that I wanted to use items that could be useful to the mommy to be. I found carters white onsies and burp cloths on sale 50% off and appliqued monkey's on them. I hung then all over the room to make it look like clothes lines. It looked really cute and it was nice to know that the items could be taken home and used.

For party favors I ordered little vases and put a rose in each one. This also helped decorate the room. The roses were from a friends garden and it added a sweet sent as well as beauty to the room. People were really excited to take them home at the end of the shower.

With my mom's help, (a lot of help) the shower was a great success.

A Little History Lesson

2009-04-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

When my husband took the day off and my mom was in town we found ourselves with some free time. We decided to take Stinky to one of the 21 missions unique to California. We went to Mission San Jose which is right in our back yard. While not one of the most impressive missions it was Stinky's first Mission experience. I hope to take her to every Mission by the time she graduates from high school. It is an important part of our history and there are so many interesting items to see and stories to hear. She was able to experience the vibrant colors in the church, really old tombstones and the images of important people who helped develop the area in which we live. Just the beginning of what I hope will be a love for history.

Garage Sale Fun

2009-04-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

We had a garage sale to sell all our old treasure that we couldn't use anymore. We were a little anxious because we had never had a yard sale. Our friends offered their yard so 3 families set up and awaited business. The girls had a great time climbing through the mounds of clothes, eating and playing in Chu's pool. And while all this fun was being had we made $100 not bad when we rendered all these items useless to us. We have already began collecting for our next yard sale. This is a great way for us to declutter, make some money and have some fun in the sun hanging out with friends.

Every Opprotunity If Taken Is A Lesson Taught and An Experience Experienced

2009-04-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

I had bought some material for sewing and when I got it home there was a ladybug on it. I thought this would be a great opportunity for Stinky to get a lesson in biology and experience other forms of life through her senses. I put the ladybug on her hand and it slowly crawled up her arm. At first she wasn't sure about it. She watched it intensely as it made it's way up and at the same time she felt it's little legs as they scurried on her skin. She was so intrigued and as soon as she felt more comfortable she wanted to hold it. I showed her how to hold it carefully and I told her to be gently. Holding only last a few seconds. As she became excited her grip began to tightened. I removed the ladybug and told her that we didn't want to squish it. She spent about 20 minutes examining this new creature. When she began to lose interest I told her it was time to let the ladybug go home and we let her go outside on the plant. It's moments like these that I really enjoy being a mom and giving Stinky the opportunities to experience new things.

Daddy's New Camera Lense

2009-04-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

My husband is so excited. He bought a new lense for his DSLR camera. This camera has documented Stinky's life since the day she was born. We walked out of the hospital with 1,000 pictures. While taking pictures of her my husband has regained an enjoyment for photography. He loves taking pictures and he is truly excited about his new lense. The 50mmF/1.8 shows Stinky's darling face with even more clarity. As if she wasn't the cutest thing ever pre new lense.

In Memory of My Husbands Dearly Beloved Discus

2009-04-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

One of my husbands favorite hobbies is fish and the habitats they live in. We currently have 3 fish tanks in our house. A few years ago my husband happened upon discus. They tend to be really expensive and at the time we had a little money to play with so we invested in four of these fish. My husband has spent many hours cleaning their tank, arranging and rearranging their habitat, learning and researching what is best for these fish and staring at them. He has even taught my daughter how to say fish and often she will point at them and ask to look at them. We have grown a custom to having these beautiful creatures in our living room. On Monday our fish passed away. We believe that something went wrong in the changing of the tank the day before because when we woke up they were all floating. I am sorry honey that your fish died, I know you have enjoyed having them around.

Family Playdates: Ah so nice to feel warm weather and Get Outside

2009-04-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

We took advantage of the 80 degree weather and attended a family playdate with Stinky's playdate friends. Warm days means so much more now that we have a child. Before it was, "Yeah it's warm maybe we will take the dogs to park and pick up a Starbucks cold drink." Now it is "Warm weather? Let's go to the park, play in the water, take a walk and most importantly just enjoy watching our little Stinky have so much fun in the great outdoors. Well as great as you can get living in urban San Jose. We packed a picnic, bathed in sunscreen and off to the park we went. We enjoyed eating snacks with all our friends, playing in the water, and the nap afterwards. Stinky was sure wiped out.

Easter Party with my Playdate Friends

2009-04-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Stinky is in a playdate with children her age and live in the same area as us. We had an Easter party for the little ones. We made Easter cards with the children's hands and the children went on an Easter egg hunt. Each parent brought a few eggs with healthy snacks in them. The children were really interested in the eggs until one broke open then their interest changed. The eggs were filled with puffs, cheddar bunnies and Cheerios. They were so excited to eat what was inside the egg that all children migrated to the one opened egg and began eating all the pieces that had fallen on the floor. The Easter egg hunt ceased to exist. But it was cute watching our children celebrate Easter together. For most of them it was their first Easter.

Happy Easter

2009-04-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

This was Stinky's second Easter but definitely more fun than the last. Last year she was only 3 months old and she was just there. Although she was the cutest little 3 month old ever. This year in her fancy little dress that Grandpa bought her she was able to pick up eggs all by herself. She was so excited to carry around the basket and each time she picked up an egg and put it in her basket we all cheered. This last about 3 eggs then she was done and ready to open them. Daddy was lucky enough to pick up the rest.

Spring Break Vacation with Grandpa and Anutie B.B.

2009-04-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

So I am a little behind in my postings. Now that Stinky can walk we are walking and walking and walking. Which leaves me little time to sit down and catch up on my blog.

Every year my dad has taken my sister and I on a spring break vacation. It started when my mom was in school and had a different spring break then we had. So my dad would take us down to my Grammie's in Oceanside, California and we would spend the week playing at the pool, going to the beach and shopping for a new bathing suit and summer clothes. My Grammie has long ago moved. We have kept this tradition up even after we went to college got married and had children and now Stinky gets to join in the fun. Grandpa and Auntie B. B. loved the new addition to our tradition. Stinky loved the sand (this was the first time in previous trips to the beach she has hated the sand). But most of all I think she enjoyed all the attention she was given from her family. Every time she did something there was somebody right there to praise her, give her cuddles and feed her treats. Feed her treat? Yes, Stinky got her fill of candy and yummy snacks while on our trip.

Once home it was hard to adjust back into life. She missed all the love, hugs and playing time she had with her Grandpa and Aunt. It was a few days of straight whining before she got back into routine. There is always next year!

She's Walking!

2009-04-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

On March 15th Stinky's Momo was holding something that she wanted so she pushed off of me and just walked to her. We were able to get her to do it again for the camera. So while this isn't her exact first steps they are steps that came soon after. She is still learning and every day the ratio of crawling to walking changes more and more in favor of walking. This past week she realized that when she walks she can carry items in her hand. She has enjoyed this new found freedom with her toys.

Walking for me has been the most scary of all developmental changes. It looks like she is going to face plant at any time. With her hands in the air she slowly teeters from one side to the other. On cement it is the worst. I am however looking forward to less dirt stains on the knees.

6 Flights of Stairs, What?

2009-03-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

In Puerta Vallarta Stinky decided it would be fun to climb the stairs. We were staying on the 7th floor so little did she know she had a bit to go. She got all the way to the 6th floor before she pooped out. She brought Chu with her for some of the trip.

My Swim Bug

2009-03-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

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Stinky loved being in the pool, but when she found out how fun jumping in the pool was. We couldn't stop her. The whole time she would point to the edge. She either wanted to jump in from sitting position or she wanted to turn around, put one foot in my hand, then the other foot in the other hand. I would say 1,2,3 and she would stand up and jump down so her face was in the water. The cutest part is that every time she would anticipate her facing going into the water she would cover her eyes with both hands

Off to a Good Start

2009-03-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Off the plane and Stinky was ready to go with her too cool sunglasses. She actually kept them on. No problems through customs and there was someone there waiting to take us to the hotel.
A little Tequila for the grown ups. Well maybe a little more than a little, it was the size of Stinky.

The girls were a big hit at the pool. They floated around the pool in their little floaty's and flirted with everyone they came across. There are a lot of retired folk down there and they just loved the girls. Of course I never got tired of hearing how cute my baby girl was. The daddies gave us a bit of time in the sun while they played with the girls. Stinky really enjoyed spending so much time with her daddy. All I herd all week was "papa" "papa".

Puerta Vallarta Here I Come

2009-03-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of Stinky's first trip out of country. And there is no better way to enjoy it than with friends. Stinky and Chu started off their vacation by riding on the escalator. They loved it. They gave each other high 5's and giggled with gee.
The smartest thing we did was pick up these $5 strollers at a consignment sale. We didn't want to bring our expensive strollers for fear they might get damaged, lost or stolen. Stinky has never really liked riding in the stroller. Most of the time she is in a carrier on me, but boy did she love this stroller. Every morning she would climb into the stroller in the hotel room and clap. We turned it upside down for fear she might fall onto the marble floors, but that didn't stop her. She just climbed on top of it.
Stinky thought this was so funny. Do I fit, can I go on the airplane.

All that fun in the airport pooped the girls out. Awesome! They both slept on the plane making the plane trip a bit more pleasant. Off to Mexico we go!