Advent

I have struggled some with the mix of both Santa and the true meaning of Christmas with Celia. I have somewhat let her take the lead and Pete and I do not push Santa. In our house he exists but we really do not bring it up a lot. Celia is more into the Jesus part of Christmas this year so that is what I am trying to reinforce. She receives that push at school. I downloaded a day by day ebook of advent crafts that correspond to bible verses. There is also an interpretation of the verse for little ones and me because i have a hard time too. So here is the first craft. We read a verse from Isiah, talked about it and then made it. She also made frosty with my Mom.

Sunday we had an advent festival at church. Pete did an amazing job making our advent wreath, I was Audrey's tour guide of the pottys at that time. She evidently likes the toilets in the adult bathroom. Friday night we saw our town's annual Christmas parade with a good size group of adults and children. We had a blast hanging out with everyone and watching the parade. The adults even had fun watching the parade and sipping their "coffee". You can imagine why i put the coffee in quotes, some had too much of that special coffee.

Stronger

So if you have not heard "What I Am" that is played some on Sesame street and was in the MACY's day parade, go to Youtube and search it.  I love this song.

If what I am is what's in me

Then I'll stay strong 

(celia)

That's who I'll be

And I will always be the best

Me that I can be

There's only one me

I am it

Have a dream

I'll follow it

It's up to me to try

Oh, imma keep my head up high... HIGH!

Keep on reachin' high... HIGH!

Never gonna quit

I'll keep gettin' stronger.

And nothins gonna bring me down... No!

Never gonna stop gotta go... Go!

Because I know

I'll keep gettin' stronger.

And what I Am is THOUGHTFUL.

And what I AM is MUSICAL.

And what I AM is SMART.

(audrey)

And what I AM is BRAVE.

And what I AM is HELPFUL.

And what I AM is SPECIAL.

There's nothing I can't achieve 

Because in myself I believe in love

Gonna keep our heads up high... HIGH!

Keep on reachin' high... HIGH!

(celia)

Never gonna quit

Just keep gettin' stronger.

(celia)

And nothins' gonna bring us down... No!

Never givin' up gotta go... Go!

cause I know I'll keep gettin' stronger.

Song to be continued on another post

Guess Who's Two!

Miss Audrey Marie you are two today.

We will get your stats on Monday at your appointment but I believe that you are 25 1/2 lbs, close to 26 lbs maybe and around 33 inches.  You had a GI appointment a few weeks ago in which we found out that you gained 4 lbs in 2 months!!

Okay so for the not so great stuff first.  Audrey, you are a high maintenance kid, I love you to pieces, but you are high maintenance.  Since Mommy started working part time you are a bit better but you still remain difficult during many times of the day.  You are not always sweet to your sister and if she dares to sit on Mommy's lap you scream, try to push her off, and throw a fit.  You have the best big sister and she basically ignores your fits.  Although she tends to not ignore it when you hit or push her but she never hits you back.

Now to most people, especially to your school, you are very sweet, very quiet, and very well behaved.  I guess that is the way we should want it.  When your Grandparents have watched you, they can not believe how sweet and quiet you are and, well, we can not believe that either!!  One-on-one with Daddy you are often super sweet too (although there have been some moments).  I (Mommy) am enjoying the one on one time I have with you on Wednesdays when Celia is in school all day.  I have really been able to see all that you do and it has been so nice to see.  You are awesome when I take you on errands.  You have never given me any problems in a store and you sit in the shopping cart without an issue.  At Target you love to check out the toys and you are great when I let you know that we can not take a toy home.  That toy goes back on the shelf and sometimes we say "shh" because we put the toy to sleep.  You also love to go grocery shopping and sometimes you tell me what to buy.  You have to hold certain foods like the bananas and apples.

You are talking so much and in full sentences.  Your top phrases are "I don't like it, Mommy", "I did it!", "Come on", "I want this one", "I do it".    You can say most anything but you often become so shy around others that the outside world has not heard all that you can say!  That is okay, you will work on it.

You are doing so well with the potty.  Right now you are basically telling us when you need to go and you often want to do it yourself, push us away and say "I do it".  We are very proud of your accomplishment, we never thought that we would have two early potty trainers.

You absolutely love to help Mommy cook and you often know what is needed when we are cooking.  When you want eggs cooked,  you tell Mommy "that one" and point to the pan, "cook eggs, stir it, cheese".   Your favorite foods seem to be changing but right now you like "soup" which is rice crispy cereal, yogurt with honey, barbeque chicken, harvest grain mix from Trader Joes, freeze dried edamame, hummus, and bread with honey.    You do love to eat, but sometimes we think you are trying to eat to deal with your reflux.  We are still working on watching the signs and making sure that we keep up with your medicine.

You love elmo, playing with candy corn (scooping a bunch, pouring them into containers, etc), puzzles, cats, coloring, building "towers", and your baby dolls.  Your most favorite thing in the world is your sister.  You call her "Boo" and you will often say "i call her" and then I hear "Boo" being yelled to find her.

I love you little girl, here's to an amazing year!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had Celia and Audrey's Thanksgiving show at her school yesterday.  It was the first time that I was able to see the show and it was so very cute.  Celia was very worried that she was placed in the back and no one would be able to see her.  Her entire class was in the back and we certainly could see her.  She is one of the oldest girls in her classroom but she is certainly not the tallest at all so I can see why she feared that no one would be able to see her!!  She is actually now in the 50% for height though!  Slightly under that for weight but her pediatrician said that he does not see many kiddos that are right on that average growth curve and he appreciated her diligence in trying to stick to that middle growth curve, ha ha!!

In any case here are a few pictures.  I am experimenting with using picasa web albums to upload my photos. I just upgraded my photo storage for the month as I ran out and then figured out that I could have been uploading them free from picasa, argh.  Well, next month I will save the $2.

Miss. Audrey was very confused as to the situation.  She sat in the buggy the whole time but she did enjoy the music.  She was dressed as an Indian.  All of the costumes were adorable.  The youngest room had turkey hats on.  They were basically stuffed turkeys that were also hats.  They were so cute.  I love the fact that at their school they can also have a religious background to the show.  

Our family is very thankful for our friends and families.  We are spending a quiet Thanksgiving at home with just our immediate family and my Mom.  On Saturday (Miss. Audrey's birthday) we are going to have another Thanksgiving with Pete's family.

We had a small celebration for Audrey's birthday yesterday and we will give her some presents on Sat.  She is so shy that I really wanted to keep it quiet.  She loves the gifts she received from Grandma, Grandpa, Granny, and Paw Paw and our neighbors.  Our gift to Audrey is a bit boring but hopefully she will enjoy it!!

Mini version has a replacement

So Celia continues to say mini virgin but Audery has a replacement phrase that has left me in hysterics.

She calls Celia boo

Well can you imagine what " Boo Sit" sounds like?

I give you a hint the first part starts with bull.

Crafting

Celia has been into crafting for awhile and whatever Celia does Audrey must do!

Stringing Beads with a not quite 2 year old

I like doing some table top work with both of my girls. Celia is reading, knows numbers and quanties, and writes well. So she is easy to find table top activities.

I wanted to try Audrey with beads. Stinging them is too hard just yet and I do not have any pricey peg toys. I had a foam block and beads and chopsticks. So i stuck the chopsticks in the foam and she strung beads on the sticks. It is a great finemotor activity and we also count them and talk about the colors. I am ok with her playing with the sticks but I could glue them in place if needed.