Swingin'

Yesterday my mom bought a used swing-set for all her grandkids to use when they come over. It's a hit!

Evie, Lily & Mike yesterday

Mike and Auji

I think I know what we'll be doing in our spare time this summer!

Lily & Audrey today!

Trying to keep up

I have a lot of plans of things I want to get done before our anniversary and before Lily's birthday that I honestly probably just need to let go of. Maybe if I had a personal assistant, but on my own, and having to kind of baby my toe right now...there is just no way I can accomplish all the things that I'd like to do. Oh well, right!? Yeah...easier to say than to really let go.

I am debating about having a theme for Lily's party this year. In some ways having a theme is easier because you can just run with the idea and you have decorations, cake, invites all planned out...but I am concerned that with having one I will run too far... So I am wondering if I should just avoid it and concentrate on good food and laid-back fun - not so much on the decorations. You can come up with so many cute ideas with the help of the internet these days that it's hard to pick and choose. Some things I've come across online were definitely over the top! The parents probably took a lot of time and spent thousands of dollars decorating these parties, dressing up like characters and acting stuff out, buying food and candy and all for 2 or 3 hours when the child probably would have been happy just playing with balloons and running around with their pint size friends giggling over their own jokes. I asked Lily what she wanted for her birthday party and she thought about it with a pause, an 'Ummm...', and a finger up to her chin.... and then requested rainbow chip cake, and balloons. Good kid! - you've got it! I am debating between 2 themes or no theme right now, and I need to decide soon to get out the invites. Any thoughts or experience in this department is welcome!

I was cleaning off my desktop and found this file of 'Lilyisms' I'd recorded and never blogged about. --Just in the last couple of weeks so much has changed! I figured I'd better put it up or I'll forget about this little period in time, just keep in mind this is from December - the 4th to be specific (yay for file created dates!)

Resternaut instead of restaurant (- that still hasn't changed)

Singing:

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, for - ever!

...The little lord Jesus lay down his sleepy head...

"ABCDAFGHI-KLMNOPQRSTUVWXYandZ....say your abc's don't say, an ab seal is a abc!" (or sometimes "a dooby-c")

I got a Ziggy Marley cd and she is starting to sing along.

Sometimes she makes up songs of her own.

If I start singing along to a song she shouts "No, I say it!", but other times she still asks me to rock her and sing from the little children's songbook I keep in the side pocket of our glider chair.

She loves for Mike and I to "Feed me, when I was a tiny baby!" which is just to hold her cup to her mouth while she leans back in our arms to drink.

Can't open doors yet, sometimes I wonder if this should worry me, but mostly I thank my lucky stars. The other day when Mike was washing windows a little 2 year old baby was found walking down the middle of the road by herself blocks away from her home. It was lucky a lady spotted her and stopped to make sure she was safe, because she could have easily been hit by a car coming fast around the corner moments later. Don't worry - she made it home safe. I am just glad Lily isn't trying to venture out like that. I can still shut her in our room for a timeout if I need to.

I worry that she might be a bit lazy. Sometimes when she doesn't want to do something she says she can't walk, or "I can't reeach it - Aagh" - pretending to try, but not really trying, or "I'm too tired!" Ha!

She has imaginary boyfriends. 'Bunna' and 'Cone'. (At first we thought she was saying 'Colon'.) She met them at their houses. Lily wanted to go visit them at their houses one evening so Mike took her. It turns out neither one was at home. After they got back Lily called them on the telephone to see if they were home yet. They told Mike they were both at the store. They went together, so she couldn't go to see them.

She said she wanted to put on a show for Grandma and Grandpa, but she wouldn't sing Jingle bells, and she didn't want us to either. "Mom, I'm gonna go to our room to make my audition!

Thanks for playing with me Grandpa, I sure had fun!

"Dad, Mom's gonna get some cool music on, You'll like it!"

"Thanks, again mom!"

Sometimes I hear stuff I often say comin' out of her mouth: "Just in case..." and, "In case you change your mind."

Update: June 2011

Well Lily's imaginary friends didn't last long, but she loves to pretend and has been playing by herself really well the last couple weeks. Lately she loves to make pretend doors all over the house that she wants you to ring the doorbell and knock on before you pass through.

Now Lily will sing much more and even do hand motions. Some songs she loves to perform include: "One, Two, Buckle my Shoe" and "My 'Doggy' Lies Over the Ocean." I love that she will sing with me now (instead of No! I do it!) it is so much fun! It is one of my favorite things to sing with my girl. She has the whole "Soap and Water" song Evie sang at her school carnival memorized and just needs a little prompting to get going. She thinks the "Bringing home a baby bumblebee" song is hilarious right now and always wants to sing that with me when she's using the potty. She also loves the Farmer and the Dell and Old MacDonald -too much for my taste! Too repetitive. I could sing "Where is Thumbkin" 20 times right now and she'd still want to hear it again (it is new to her).

Lily and her cousin Isaac performing during their fashion show

Lily sings the whole alphabet now and says "Now I know my ABC's..." at the end like everyone else does instead of her own little made up thing.

She can open doors now (since we changed the locks  -they were getting old and sticking).

I can't remember the last time she used being tired as an excuse or pretended not to reach something she didn't want to have to go get. I guess I didn't give in enough and she gave it up - Yay! She comes down the stairs on her own with only a little hesitation now instead of whining to be carried.

She'd still love to be fed "like when |she| was a tiny baby.." but we've been telling her she needs to eat like a big girl so it isn't as often.

She is a good kid, so sweet and smart - I feel lucky to be her mom!

2 going on 3 or 13?

Kids grow up fast, but it's so weird to see toddlers and kindergartners acting like teenagers already. I'm not talking about the way they dress...though I have seen some much too teenage-style dresses in 4T. My 5 year old niece is 'in love with' with Justin Bieber. She dreams of marrying him...and when watching a Justin Bieber video with a girl in it the other day was all jealous that Justin liked that girl. Ha ha ha! Just wasn't expecting that kind of thing so soon!

Lily still has a little girl attitude to boys - probably partly from reading Francis stories. She wanted to make a 'No boys allowed' sign the other day. She thinks that kissing is yucky and she told me confidentially this morning that she didn't like boys except for Daddy. So cute. I asked: "What about Isaac (her cousin)?" She responded: "I like Isaac a little bit."

Mike recounted a conversation she had with him when they were out and about together earlier this week. It went something like this (only I just can't tell it as funny second-hand):

Lily: "Da-ad! You're not supposed to wear your hat backwards! Only little boys wear their hats backwards!"
Mike: "Sometimes I wish I was a little boy...can't I pretend?"
Lily: "You're not a little boy, Dad! -- Look at yourself!"
Mike (looking in the rear-view mirror): "You're right."

This girl cracks us up. Sometimes the conversations she starts just sound too mature for an almost 3 year old. Here's a couple cute pictures of her from Memorial Day.

 
I think it may be true what they say about toddlers being easier to deal with around their full birthdays and more difficult around the halfway mark in the year. It seems like she's been more mellow lately. I'm not saying always, but more! We finally started really pushing potty training last week and it has gone a lot smoother than I was anticipating! It's not really so bad...but I'm so glad I didn't force it sooner. When we tried before we weren't ready, and now she's suddenly being much more cooperative about stuff than she was a month ago.

Because I know you don't like cards...

Here's a little look back at your 3rd year being a Dad!

You are a great one. Lily and I are lucky to have you as the man in our life and we love you very much!

Happy Father's Day, Mike!

Unpacking

It took a week or two before Mike got the time or inclination to get his art stuff out of storage and into the studio. Not his typical speed of unpacking at all - he's usually done within a day or so whenever we move. I think we just needed a break after all that concentrated effort! Then all of a sudden one night Mike was pulling his old trunk out of the garage. He'd already taken out his last unfinished painting he'd been planned to start out painting on again. I excitedly grabbed my camera and ran to help!

It was kind of emotional getting out and going through all this stuff. At least for Mike and I... It had been over 3 years. Mike finally started painting again the other night! So glad! It was good to do this.

Ah, memories :)

Lily was very interested in all the art supplies and excited to start painting too! We've been promising her she could paint with Dad in the studio, and she does not forget promises like that!

Future artiste?
 As long as you have a back-up plan, my dear. Or perhaps I should specify: a more practical career path!

First oil painting

Donut Run

We finally tried the legendary Peterson's Donuts earlier this week. It was just a donut kind of morning. Not exactly in line with my goals, but sometimes...you just need a donut! Lily chose pink with sprinkles. Mike got old fashioned chocolate dipped. I went for a mega size chocolate bar - pictured partially eaten with Lily, but probably still larger than her head! I shared, but we still couldn't eat it all. I think I actually prefer my grocery store bakery (their chocolate frosting is just so good), but sometimes it's about the experience!

Bedtime Stories

Lily is still amazing me every day. Kids really do grow and learn so very fast! Lately she's been memorizing and performing all these songs... I will have to devote a post to it because it's pretty cute and I'm sure I've got some video. The last few days she's also been surprising me with how much she hears and understands. I know she's smart, but I guess I didn't realize just how much she listens and processes things - it kind of scares me actually. Just a little bit.

Anyway, Lily often asks for stories out of my head when I'm putting her to bed. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood (meaning: too tired to think straight), but I can usually come up with something. Most of the time it's a story about a little girl named Lily and something she did that day, or something she should have done, occasionally it get a little more creative. Last night after a slightly more creative version Lily told me a story! It started off:

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess with dark hair...It was mom!" Lily was smiling up at me with her arms around my neck as I knelt by her little low bed. I felt so surprised and loved in that moment and glad to be the mom of this little sweet girl! I admit I had tears in my eyes. She proceeded to describe my crown and then tell about a monster called a "Yucka-monster" who came along and slimed me with it's slime-juice, but it was OK because I washed it off in the sink.

Life is better with little ones in it. I love you, Lily!

Our Life: Under Construction

Things don't always work out how you plan them to. Since Mike and I started our lives together our plans for the future have changed a few times. We've moved, changed jobs, launched various businesses, started our family... We aren't getting any younger, and we still haven't got it all figured it out. I know there are other people in the similar boats. But I hate feeling like I'm living in limbo. Most people at this stage in their lives have at least a few more of the big life decisions already made by now. Career path, house, at least a desired destination. It's not that we didn't have any dreams for our future - it's just that they mostly don't seem to be working out... Right now we are still living with my parents trying to save up for our own house, and trying to decide what to do and where to go next. I must admit -- sometimes it gives me something of an inferiority complex, but I couldn't be more grateful to be here right now, saving instead of incurring further debt, and able to be at home full time with our daughter. That's something I always dreamed of anyway! There are sacrifices - like not having my own bathroom...I could - but I won't go on.... With all the hard things about sharing a house, there are blessings too!

Anyway, we have been researching and praying about our future plans for a long time. Recently we both really felt like Mike needed to pursue art again. He hasn't painted since we moved back here. He just hasn't had a place to paint and has felt like he should spend all his efforts towards things that could support our family - pursuing art just didn't seem likely to do that. But drawing and painting has been such a big part of Mike's life since he was a little kid! It's a part of who he is. It's tough to make it, but if he could land a position where he could paint and we could have benefits and retirement how sweet that would be! He'd be a lot happier teaching and painting than doing anything else we can think of. My awesome-super-wonderful parents agreed to let us built a shed/studio on the side of the house so that he could have a place to paint. Our hope is that he will win a scholarship to grad school and become a professor, but even if he's just painting and entering shows again - I'm glad he'll be pursuing his talent. Mike talks about how he's not sure how he feels about painting again, but after my parents gave the OK he immediately started planning. It's obvious he's excited about it by how fast he's moved forward with this project!

The past month of our lives has been pandemonium as Mike - the one-man powerhouse - has almost single-handedly constructed a building in our backyard. I have to say I am pretty impressed by my husband. I knew he was a hard worker, and self-driven, but I know now he can be absolutely tenacious when he sets his mind to something! Even when I know he was dead-tired he would be out there pushing forward to get it done. He really wanted to make it look nice - for one so that my parents would be happy to have it in their backyard and use it after we leave, but also so that it would be a place he'd feel like going out and working in (probably after putting in a hard day's work already!). He's been racing to complete step after step so that the materials and parts he'd already built wouldn't be spoiled by bad weather. Mike is a very start to finish kind of guy so this project was driving him crazy. I think it would have taken most people much longer to pull off a project like this pretty much by themselves. Seriously - EVERY spare moment he was out building the studio, and Lily and I were doing our part to help whether it was chipping in or just staying out of his way... It's been a lot work and very little rest or play. Hence my serious lack of blogging lately. We are all so excited for the labor to be over, and the painting (artistic painting) to begin! As the last finishing touches are being completed I thought I'd take a little time to put together a photo-journal of this crazy time.

Our Life (literally) Under Construction:

Lego playing turned studio planning

Trying to imagine the amount of lighting it would get

Lily giving her 2 cents :)

Breaking ground to lay the foundation posts

Way to help with that tape measure little girl!

Helping mark the cutting lines

Building her own thing with some scrap wood

1st wall up! Thanks to help from our friend Mikey

A little more help from my dad as Mike gets the walls framed in.

A little extra help keeping out the little helper.

My hot construction man

A little tired of all this construction work

But not kept down for long :)

Working, working, working...

Framing the roof

All the walls up

Finishing the roof

Construction snack: One day when Mike took a break he grabbed a package of pop-tarts and called it a construction snack. Lily wanted in on that and started suggesting construction snacks a lot after that :) Kids and snacks. Here's a cute little video that shows how excited she was (she was actually making up a song about it):

Lily and her dad enjoying their construction snack outside

Lily fell in love with these goggles and the attention they got her and hammed it up!

Mike getting cheesy for the camera woman

Oh yeah! ;)

Installing the windows Mike got for a great deal off craigslist

The windows are in!

Ga ga over goggles

Putting in the door

Drywall and not in the mood for photos here, I think :) He hee

Helping Dad clean up

An artist should always sign his work - Lily and I were collaboraters.

Painting the inside

A master painter can continue to paint while simultaneously keeping a two-year old from getting paint on her clothes.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes like when you are using power tools,  sitting your kid in front of the television is a safer option. Lily enjoyed her My Little Pony movie and PB&J while mom helped dad lay the flooring and paint the trim.

The flooring Mike got for only $25!

It took longer than expected to get it in - Lily moved her shows into the finished corner when it started to get colder. It cracks me up how much she still laughs over Little Bear after seeing all these episodes so many times! (One of my favorite kids shows, too)

Finishing touches - the door frame, paint touch ups

 

Lily's had enough of all this constuction, but she loved playing pretend school in her little schoolhouse. She'll sit on the floor and I'll sit on the chair and she calls me teacher. She's been really into learning songs lately I will have to post some video's later!

The final stages - a front step and planting flowers!

Mike strikes a pose when he knows he's getting his picture taken. 

Can't have any normal photos :)

A row of pretty flowers

The Lily is the prettiest, I think.

And the silliest :)

Us looking pretty worn out, but the studio is finished!!! Hooray!

A look inside while it's still pristine...

All white and full of light

 The big wall like a blank canvas - ready for anything!