Walk Of Life

Dancing with Daddy. Love the laughter and that they were holding hands through two full plays of that song. Lina came in to capture just as we stared the song for the second time.

Physically, my arms were near spent - a good work out for anyone with 55lbs of kid.

Wonderful Weekend - another for the books.

This was a weekend for the books. We had a great time, both days. Saturday was hair cuts and some shopping for Soda Springs gear (ie. REI).

Amelia's First Hair Cut
Both Amelia and Miles went in for a haircut. This was Mia's first. I wasn't totally behind getting her hair cut. I kept thinking "She still so young, let it grow and grow." But as usual, Mommy knows best and Amelia came away looking "Mavelous". She aged a good 9 weeks. :)


Big Boy Bike Ride
Sunday was the 25th Annual Burlingame Criterium and 8th Annual Ryan's Ride (for kids). We were uncertain if Miles would want to participate so we left the game time decision to Sunday morning. We had hyped the ride up to Miles for several days in advance to spark his interest and anticipation. Knowing how competitive he is, we made sure to stress that the ride is about finishing and having fun; that its not a race to win but to finish. "Anyone who finishes and has fun get a medal, ribbon and ice cream!

To say Miles surprised us would be an understatement. He was poised, calm and focused. When the ribbon dropped, Miles was off like a bullet! This was the fastest we had seen him go on his bike.

Sadly, though you can argue the lesson was fortunate, Miles was distracted by motherly cheers and collided with another racer. He fell, hurt himself, though not as much as his pride and spent a good 2 minutes in tears and barely moving forward.

We repeated "Its ok, you can finish. You can do it." After composing himself, he started running again and wound up finishing with the boy who started at the same time as him.

After giving high-fives to his start and finish buddy, Miles rolled down victory lane to receive his ribbon, Medal and ice-cream.

Like a true champion, he didn't give up.

On your mark, get set, gooooo!



Miles finishing what he started.


Miles on the podium.


Miles celebrating his victory.

One determined little girl

We have always thought of Amelia as determined, and she continues to prove us right. This was take on Sunday from the top of a high slide. She wasn't confident, she wasn't brazen, but she was determined to do it - so she did.

...and I just love her little back lit head!

Smart Girl

I was trying to figure out how Amelia pronounces Miles' name and the following conversation ensued...

"Can you say Miles?"

"Mikuh"

"Can you say Miles?"

"Mikuh"

"Can you say Miles?"

"Blah bluh"

"Can you say Mommy?"

"Mommy"

"Can you say Daddy?"

"Dada"

"Can you say Baba?"

"Baba"

"Can you say Miles?"

"No"

Chatterbox

Words, words, words. While this isn't the best video of her speaking, it gets the sense of our little chatterbox. She is clearly a little distracted by the playground & her snack.

Amelia is just exploding daily with more words. At her 15 month visits we counted about 20 words and the list is growing daily. For the sake of documentation, here is a likely un-comprehensive list:

• "chen to" (thank you)
• Mine
• Dada
• Mommy
• Mikuh (Miles? she has a name for him, but I can't totally figure it out - and sometimes like above, she just refuses to say it)
  
• Mamma
• Poppa
• Yo-yo (Uncle Kevin)
• Ni-ni (Aunt Jeanie)
  
• Nana (Banana)
• Fish
• Socks
• Shoe
• Cracker
• Milk
  
• Book
• Car
• Sit
• Nigh Nigh (good night)
• Hi
• Bye bye
• Ball
• Baby
• Dog
• Ra, ra, ra (as in "rock" in the rocking chair)
• No, no no no no no
  
• All done
• Baba (her Bubby)
• Whoa
• Uh-oh
• Down
• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
  

Last night at dinner, she combined thoughts for the first time and made her first sentence "all done, Mommy". I just want to jump across the table and hug her when she does things like that.

She also knows what a cow says, a duck says & a horse says.

Happy Father's Day

We had an intensely chaotic Father's Day dinner at our local go-to restaurant. They greeted us with a great bottle of wine, and we were just about to settle into a wonderful dinner, when Miles had to go Poop. Fine, good for him. I took him to the bathroom and the poor little guy had "the runs". I brought him back to the table. "I have to go poop again." "ok, come with me." etc. I think Tim and I took him to the bathroom over 6 times. We had the chance to stuff the kids with bread and some buttered noodles, we got to eat 2 small appetizers and chug a bottle of wine before it was time to go.

We did stop for a little frozen yogurt on the street corner as the live-cultures actually help with stomach bugs. I took the chance to "coach" Miles on saying happy Father's Day, and Miles took the "chance" to coach Tim on being happy when he says it.

Dancing Face

Our kids love music - and tend to dance in all situations upon hearing it. Though not the most appropriate behavior at the dinner table, we let Miles let a bit loose while dealing with his diarrhea (see next post).

"I want a yogurt"

Miles woke up this morning crying at about 6:10. I went into his room to ask him what was wrong and he told me he wanted a yogurt. I am not sure how wanting a yogurt at 6:!5 in the morning came about, but not having one was very upsetting. I rubbed his back, put his blanket over him, and he quieted down... for about 10 minutes until he had to pee. But then he quieted down for about 10 minutes until he woke Amelia up and gave her books.

Morning start early in our house...

On-point, but unrelated, about 5 frozen yogurt shops have popped up in Burlingame over the last 3 years. We have it as a stand-by treat when they behave themselves at dinner. It's gotten to the point that if "Fozen Yogie" is on the line, they'll do anything....

Pull-Up Hat

The other night, Amelia took tremendous delight in wearing her brother's Pull-Up "underwear" as a hat. She has always loved an accessory of any variety, but this may be stretching the bounds of acceptable...

Pick Me Up, Dangit!

Amelia sometimes settles for nothing less than what she requires.

A victory?

Dare we call it done? After Tuesday's accident, Miles has been accident free! He's peed at an open house for what might be his new school, in Target, and even held it all the way home from the park on Sunday since the line was too long. He is just as comfortable telling us he has to #1 as he is with #2 and is now trying (operative word) to keep his pull up dry at night. He gets the brightest little smile on his face when he actually pees - its almost like it surprises him every time. "I'm peeing!"

Clearly he was ready and the transition has been smooth with minimal tears. I was expecting a MUCH bigger deal for training him than we have gotten and am just thrilled with our little man.

It couldn't last....

After a mostly successful day at Mama Sue's, Miles had an accident. Right after peeing on the toilet, he pooped in his underwear. I think he learned from it, but we'll see. When he got home last night, he actually told Tim he had to pee and did so very successfully in the potty. It's a big deal when it is self-initiated and what we need to continue to work on. Having said that, we are still unbelievably proud of our little guy who has only had 2 accidents since we started on Saturday morning. Well done, you!

The "joys" of polite children

Here's the scene that took place last night after we put the kids to bed.

Miles goes and gets a book to read. He also gives one to Amelia to she has something to "read", she is grateful.

"Thank you"

"Your welcome"

"Thank you"

"Your welcome"

"Thank you"

"Your welcome"

"Thank you"

"Your welcome"

......

It went on for over a minute.

He then decides she needs more books - and gives her ALL the books.... which is just a little too much for her crib. Needless to say, a little parental intervention was required.

I love that he shares so well, and he knows that giving her a book will make her happy -- so all the books will make her really happy. We always kiss the kids before we go to bed, and we usually have to remove a book or 2 from underneath their warm and perfect little bodies.

And Day 3!

No accidents at Mama Sue's!!!! He pooped twice and also peed.

Given.... I think Miles held it. When he got home, he refused to use the potty, wouldn't get on it before the tub, and when I finally tucked him in at night, he asked if he was wearing a diapy.

"Yes, you're wearing a dippy. Why? Do you want to use the potty?"

"I have to pee. And I want to pee in my diapy."

"You don't want to go in the potty?"

"No. I want to go in my diapy."

Well, so I don't think we're all the way there yet, but since we haven't had an accident since before Saturday at noon, I think we are a lot farther along than we were on Friday night. Good job Buds!!!!

Day 2 Success!

Yesterday we had no accidents!!! Miles was such a good boy and had no accidents yesterday. We even left the house twice and stayed dry. At the recommendation of the book, we actually put him in underwear and then a pull up so he would get the sensation of being wet, without too big of a mess - but he still did it!

I have to admit, Tim and I are a little concerned about sending our sweet and sensitive boy off to daycare today where he is likely to get distracted, be a bit unsure, and have an accident, but I guess that is part of the learning journey. He did so great this weekend, that I am really hoping it doesn't come to that, but you know what they say "accidents happen"... I just hope it doesn't break his heart!

Flashy Toothbrushes!

Nothing is more fun than a toothbrush that blinks, right?

Right.

BIG NEWS!!!

We've been talking up potty training for the last couple of weeks that we were going to start today. "In 2 weeks", "In 10 days", "On Saturday", "tomorrow"....

So we woke up this morning to no more diapers for Miles. I followed (loosely) the advice of the Potty Boot Camp, and we had a really successful day. We only had 1 bad accident where Miles peed on himself, but after he cleaned himself up, took a bath, and then had to practice going to the potty a number of times, that was it - no more accidents, and he peed 4 times and pooped twice on the potty. He even napped dry! We're sleeping in diapers, but tomorrow we're back to no more diapers. We're incredibly proud of our little man, and I think he was pretty proud of himself, too.

A day for photos

Apparently it is June in the rest of the world, but here in northern CA, we're still stuck in February weather. After an incredibly rainy morning, the afternoon cleared into lightening that was perfect for pictures. We spent a decent amount of the afternoon riding biked up and down the driveway, running up and down the side walk, and otherwise being goofy. I adore my goofballs!!!

A tree is re-planted

For my 35 birthday (which won't happen for another 8 years since I am only 27), Tim and the kids planted a japanese maple for me in front of the house. After the loss of our apricot tree from front and center of our yard, we invested in massive stump grinding episode and transferred the maple out front. We can't wait for the tree to grow up with the kids!

Memorial Day Recap

Another Memorial Day, another weekend surrounded by Reeths! This time we spent the weekend up in wine country, which was a great addition to Yosemite, Shasta, & Mendocino of years past. We headed up Saturday morning, and despite a little rain, had a great time in the pool, at Train Town in Sonoma, at various eateries, and generally around the hotel with the cousins - its amazing how exciting an elevator is for the under-4 set. It was a great tradition, a great weekend, and we're already looking forward to next year.