Sah-wheeeeeeeeee

Sah-wheeeeeeee:  this is what Millie says when she swings from a bar.  Or her closet rod.  Or the side of her crib.  She has a knack for finding things to dangle from....it's her new favorite thing.  We're sort of impressed with her upper body strength and how long she actually hangs on to the bar.  ;)  Future gymnast?

Or maybe a future artist?  She really loves to color.

super cute and always impressive school artwork

Another new love thanks to that chick-fil-a bday party: juice boxes.  Ugh.  I wasn't planning to start this habit but never say never, right?!  I've found these Mott's Tots apple juice boxes that are part juice, part purified water.  She doesn't know the difference and it feels like a treat.  Guess it's better than kool-aid. ;)

She still says "scary" a hundred times a day and buries her face in my lap...especially when she hears loud trucks.  Please pass quickly "scary" phase.  Oh, hi Sydney @ 36 weeks!

JKK made this adorable magnet board for Millie.  I love it!  I found the idea on pinterest and he executed it beautifully.  We only let Millie play with it for a few minutes, and now we've put it up until Sydney is born...then Mills will have a new toy to play with.

 Awesome weather last Sunday for a park playdate with Grey

we <3 koalas

And finally, my longtime dear friend Christie came to visit yesterday...all the way from Portland, OR.  I'm so thankful she made the trip to see us, even if it was a short one.  Mills called her "kiss"...and wasn't cooperating with the picture taking. ;)

Currently

Scheduling update:  Sydney's c-section has been moved up a day to Thursday, May 16th @ 7:30am.

We got Millie a little playhouse for our back patio.  It was so fun (for JKK) to put it together during naptime on Saturday and surprise her when she woke up.  She loves it, of course.  I think she'll love it even more once she really starts playing pretend.  We haven't quite hit that stage yet, but like I've said before she'll pretend play sporadically here and there.  For example, this house has a phone and she'll talk on the phone and hold lengthy conversations. :)  Most of which we can't understand....

Some recent school artwork

In honor of Earth Day, they talked about recycling at school.  Not sure that she grasped the concept, but regardless these stickers were a big hit and she stuck them on everything in the house.

We met Cayden and Amanda at the neighborhood playground recently.  It is so different to watch the kids these days...last summer we met up here a lot and they weren't able to climb these stairs.  Now we can't keep up with them.  Here is Amanda's blog post with some more pics.

big girl's first time on the big swing

Ahhh, the spray bottle.  I read on one of the many pinterest lists of activities for toddler's that a spray bottle was a fun toy.  Check out Millie's face...pure maniacal laughter once she figured out she could shoot Beansie in the face.

It's a bit too big for her hands, so it is easier for her to turn it around and use her thumbs to press the lever.  Usually she ends up with drenched face and hair.  Sometimes she gets a drink.  She has really enjoyed playing with it.

Step 1 for potty training: get a potty.  The experts say it is good to get one early and have it in the bathroom so the kids can get used to it.  She was so excited for all of two days to take her diaper off and sit on it, although she never actually went in it.  Now the newness has worn off and she rarely has anything to do with it.  Whatever, we are no where near starting the real potty training yet.  She isn't showing very many signs and we really need to get her milk issues under control before we go down that road.  Her body was handling cheese and yogurt so well...I thought it was time to start adding in a tiny bit of whole milk to her formula bottles.  That was almost two weeks ago where I tried it all of 3 times and we are still battling loose stools and a burned bottom.  Poor Mills...going to have to wait a bit longer for the milk switch.

sometimes she wouldn't quite make it on the potty

We have really been enjoying our new patio this Spring!  Can't wait to get our patio furniture in this week... 

Yesterday, we had another Cayden playdate...this time in our backyard.  The water play was a big hit!  These kids love to be outside; they had such a good time and were both soaking wet by the end.  Mills prefers to drink the water, Cayden likes to splash in it.

Millie's saying "scary" here and running away...not sure if it was the ducks or the big construction trucks that make so much noise.  She seems to be adding things to her fear list daily.  I have no idea where this is coming from but google tells me to just reassure her and not to dismiss her fears.  I suppose it is just a phase, but it feels so unlike her...she's never been much of a fraidy cat.

Saturday Field Trip to the Safari

Last Saturday, we journeyed out to the Gentry Wildlife Safari.  It is only about 45 minutes from our house, and it has both a drive-thru Safari and an awesome petting zoo.  My parents took me here when I was little, and even though I don't really have many memories of it, it definitely surpassed my expectation.  This place is pretty cool and has tons of different kinds of animals...some to just look at and some to pet (like kangaroos and lion cubs!).

Mills loved the drive-thru part, especially since she got to ride up front with me...but she also recognized a lot of animals that we have talked about: camels, zebras, tigers, lions, bears, buffalo, monkeys

She didn't really love the petting zoo...it was a little too up close and personal.  She wouldn't touch any of the animals, but really you can't blame her...they were kind of stinky and strange looking.  Had it been kittens and puppies, it would've been a different story. ;)

Afterwards, we hit the local McDonald's for some lunch and she fell asleep in the car on the way home.  What a fun little field trip!

Just Shy of 35 Weeks

Sydney arrives 4 weeks from today!  I'm getting very excited knowing the big birthday is almost here.  Also very anxious and nervous knowing how much is going to change, but excitement is definitely the main emotion.  I'm also excited to get my body back....sort of. ;)

There isn't much to report on the pregnancy...things have been going extremely well.  My doctor appointments are pretty uneventful since I'll be having a c-section.  Her heartbeat is always strong and my blood pressure and weight have been fine.  Thankfully the weight gain has slowed considerably, although that's probably only because I get heartburn all the time and there isn't much room in my stomach to put away too much at once.  One item of good news is that we were able to move our surgery slot from noon to 7:30am on the 17th.  This has been a source of anxiety for me because I wasn't sure how to work it with Millie that day. Of course I want her there, but I didn't want her to be having a major meltdown the first time she met Syd because she didn't get a nap that day.  So this works out perfectly...she'll get to meet Sydney and still be home in time for lunch and nap.

There are plenty of other things I worry about when it comes to Millie going through this big adjustment.  I know every older sibling has gone through it, and I know it all turns out fine.  But I also know that doesn't change how it will be hard on her...I feel sad that she's a little too young to grasp what is about to happen.  I won't be able to explain to her why I can't pick her up for awhile or why she has to be quiet or why she has to wait on me to finish feeding Sydney.  It's going to be a big adjustment for all of us.

On the other hand, I feel so calm going into this knowing how much we will love Sydney.  The first time, we had no idea what sort of emotions we would be feeling...but it is so awesome to know that the amount of love we feel for our one child is about to be doubled.  We are so lucky to get to experience this twice.  And if Syd just happens to love the car seat, then we'll feel like we won the lottery. :)

Bubbles Are...Scary?

Last week, I was grocery shopping with Mills and she spotted a bottle of Elmo bubble bath.  She didn't know it was bubble bath, she just liked that Elmo was involved.  I put it in the cart thinking "hmmm, that could be fun for her".  That night, we filled up the tub and bubbles were everywhere.  I plopped Mills down in the tub and she flipped out...she was actually shaking.  I immediately picked her back up thinking the water was too hot, but nooooo, it was the bubbles.  She was scared.  Whuuutttt?!  No amount of coaxing would get her back in that tub.  I stripped down and got in myself, and she still hated every minute of it.  The next couple of baths have been an issue because she's scared there is going to be bubbles in there.  We've had to talk a lot about how bubbles aren't scary.  Still though, at random times, she says "bubbles scary" or "bubbles in bath".  I can't believe how long the fear is lingering, but we just keep telling her that bubbles are fun and not scary.  And we keep promising that there won't be any more bubbles in her bath. ;)  At least not anytime soon...

sometimes on school days we have to multitask with breakfast in the bathtub...is that gross??

Currently

Last week, JKK & I got to go on a movie date night!  This was only our second time leaving Mills with a babysitter (who isn't a relative); it was the same girl as last time and Millie did great with her...only cried for less than a minute when we left.  Too bad this girl is graduating and moving away in a month. :(

 serious face

 cheese face (she still isn't tired of this bucket, thank goodness...)

Mills loves that we got out this rocker sleeper for the new baby...she just thinks it is for her.  Things are going to get interesting when she tries to climb in this thing with Sydney.

Speaking of Syd...33 weeks this past Sunday!

doesn't she look so grown up here?

We've been spending tons of time outside.  She loves playing with the water table, which always results in a strip down out in the backyard.  This pose looks so redneck ;)

knucks!  After she balked at Sawyer's knucks last week (she only knew high fives and got confused), we've been trying to teach her how to bump knuckles.  This is a terrible angle, but she loves doing it now...back in the cool kid club.

I love that my mom sends me & Mills pics of Buddy.  He recently had a big canine tooth removed and his lip keeps getting caught.  Elvis kitty.

This morning before school...silly Millie, for sure.

21 Months Old

After her year birthday, I was only going to do these updates every other month.  However, the change and growth from month to month has been phenomenal...so I think I'll do a quick update or I'll forget everything.

she still loves shoes

Millie's first four molars were all cutting by 19 mos, but I think we can officially say they are all fully in by now.  The only teeth left to cut are the very back second molars and I don't think those come in until after 2 years old.

It took forever, but she finally calls us by name!  Mommy is pronounced "mah-ee" and daddy is pronounced "dah-ee".  Every morning on the monitor, I hear "mah-eeeee, mah-eeeee", and then when I pick her up she asks where dah-ee is. ;)  Or vice versa.

She has started putting words together to make small phrases; here are a few:

• go potty (she tells this to beansie when we put her outside)
• night night owl
• where go? (where did it go...this could be anything)
• see birds (wants to look out front window for birds)
• go play (when she wants to go to the playground)
• thank you mah-ee (heart melter)
• get down
• help please

Millie has this group hug thing that she likes to do at the table.  Usually in a restaurant, JKK & I sit on either side of her high chair.  She pulls both of our arms in and squeezes.  So cute.

The way she answers a question from us is either with a big fat "nooooooooooooooooooo" or a simple "k".  Not okay, just k.  If we say "Millie do you want some milk?".  She answers "k" and then runs to the kitchen.  It cracks us up.  Or when we finally figure out what word she's been trying to tell us and we land on the correct one, she'll say "k"....as in, yes, that's what I've been trying to tell you.

She's been learning some new stuff at gym...her jumping is getting better and now she knows how to bear walk.  It's like downward facing dog pose and then walk forward.  She does it at home and shows off for us.   Video: bear walk

We call this game "going on a bear hunt"...we give her a bucket and let her wander around outside putting rocks and leaves and trash into the bucket.  Keeps her entertained for long periods of time.

Another step closer to potty training:  she wants to put diapers on her baby dolls.  Last week, she took one off of her Minnie Mouse (BTW, she says "mouse" in such a cute way) and declared that the diaper had poop in it.  Before nap time one day this week, she put a diaper on her baby and then made her baby walk up the stairs to her bedroom.  The pretend play is sporadic at this point, and when she does it, it always cracks me up....and then kind of makes me sad because it reminds me how fast she's growing up.

A new game: she closes her eyes and tries to follow mommy around the house.  Last week, this resulted in her slamming into the footboard of our bed and getting a new shiner. :(

A new frustrating game:  she holds food in her mouth for extended periods of time (like a half hour).  Then instead of eventually swallowing it, she lets it out and mommy has a mess to clean up.  For example, at walmart this week, I let her have a fruit pouch while I grocery shopped.  Halfway through shopping, she decided to hold a big mouthful and then decided to let it out in the checkout line.   She turned around in the cart and let it out all over our groceries.  I only had a single dirty kleenex in my pocket to try and clean up the mess.  I was not happy.  Yesterday, she let a mouthful go all over JKK's computer keyboard.  Ugh...let's hope this phase passes quickly.

Friday, we went to one of her classmate's birthday parties at Chick-fil-a.  Here is sweet little Will, the birthday boy...now 2 years old.

I've never taken Mills to the play area in chick-fil-a, so she was a little cautious.  She did manage to follow Sawyer up there once or twice. ;)

Mills & Sawyer eating lunch...Millie ate so much, she was the last one at the table. ;)

She had the best time!  All day after the party, she kept saying Will & Sawyer's names.  So fun...

6 more weeks until this girl is a big sister!!