TBT

This Cracks Me Up

This is a perfect picture to represent their 5 year-old personalities.

Dance Recital - June 2014

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - class ballet

"Broadway Babies" - class tap

"Pretty Woman" - tap duet

A text to a snow pea

Too Much Scooby Doo?

Ben bought some JUMBO camping marshmallows at the store yesterday. While the girls and I were watching Scooby Doo in our bed last night, Ben came upstairs eating one. I glared at him for having the nerve to eat a marshmallow in front of the children after they had already brushed their teeth. He responded by stashing the marshmallow in the bathroom. Later, after the girls were in bed, he gave it to me. Since I don't particularly enjoy marshmallows I placed it on my nightstand.

When Lillian came over to our room in the morning, she discovered the marshmallow. Here is the monologue that followed:

"Who left this marshmallow here? Whoever it was must not like eating the whole thing. It's a clue. This is a mystery. We need to solve it, and fast, before it's too late!"

I only speak girl

Lillian was rambling on about something, and neither Ben nor I understood what she was saying.

Me: Was that English.

Lillian: No. I don't speak English. I only speak girl. Some people speak English, but I speak girl.

Booger for Breakfast

Sitting at the breakfast table eating cereal:

Lillian (holding something small in her fingers): My booger keeped an eye on me last night while I was sleeping.

Mommy: O-kay.

Lillian: Now the booger smells like breakfast (puts it in her mouth).

Mommy: No! Don't eat your boogers.

Lillian: It was just a Cheerio.

Mommy is still unsure what just happened.

Fragile Friends

Giving the girls a bubble bath, I asked if they were having fun. Lillian's response: "I love playing with bubbles. They're my fragilest friends that I play with."

Mascara

This is what it looks like when 3 year-olds apply mascara.

Bossy Pants

The girls have been in a phase of telling US what to do. This was a humorous conversation that I overheard tonight:

Ben takes the rug out of the bathroom.
Lillian: Daddy, don't take the rug out of Mommy's bathroom.
Ben: Well, aren't you Miss Bossy Pants.
Lillian: No. I'm not wearing any pants!

Lillijandro

Happy Homecoming Day, Elzi

Dearest Elzi,

Where do I begin? I think you are the most feisty little girl I know. You often tell Lillian what to do, although she does not usually listen. You are also stubborn, which is probably why you are still not 100% potty trained and prefer to do #2 in your pants. I firmly believe that you are just choosing not to use the potty to remain in control. I admire your perseverance.

You have surprised me this year by going down the large twisty tube slide at Duke Park. You went all the way to the top by yourself. I expected you to just walk back down the steps like Lillian, but instead, you chose to go down the slide. I don't know if even I would have made that decision.

You are incredibly smart. You can count to 20 and recognize just about every letter. You love to do puzzles. You have been known to put together the 50 piece "kingdom" floor puzzle all by yourself. This is usually an all-day process where you work on it for a few minutes and keep coming back throughout the day until it is finished. That is unless Lillian decides to walk on it or take it apart.

Although you are normally asserting your independence, you have recently become much more affectionate. You often ask to be picked up, held, and hugged. Every night at bedtime you say, "Mommy, snuggle and sleep with us." You also grab me and try to hold me in your bed. It is so difficult for me to leave you every night. I think we both wish we had more time together.

I remember when you were in the hospital, and we were just waiting for you to be able to come home. Every day for the last few weeks you were there, I was just certain they were going to say you could come home. Those weeks were probably the longest weeks of my life. Although I visited 3 times every day, I always wanted to spend more time with you. I just couldn't wait for you to come home. Now you have been home for 3 years, and I still wish I could spend more time with you. I guess no matter what, I will always feel that way. I love you so much.

Happy Homecoming Day!

Love,

Mommy

Happy Homecoming Day, Lillian

Dear Lillian,

You have grown so much this year. You have gone from a crib to a big girl bed and are almost completely potty trained. You take your naps in Mommy and Daddy's bed, because you and Elzi love to play so much it is hard for you to go to sleep when you are together. You still look out for Elzi, often proclaiming that "we" want something. You also have great manners saying things like, "Mommy, will you please get me some pretzels."

Your sense of independence is certainly growing every day. One thing we often hear from you is, "No Daddy, we're just going to..." You have also gone from being terrified of your "tickly toothbrush" and crying the entire time we brush your teeth to brushing them all on your own. Baths and hair washing are also easier now that you have learned to put your fingers in your ears and look up. However, you are still upset by water in your face. You even dislike the spraying octopus that Santa brought you and Elzi for Christmas, but you are willing to let Elzi use it when you get out of the tub to go potty.

You love to say, "I want to do it myself." You are able to go to the bathroom by yourself, pulling the stool over to the toilet and doing all but wiping. You also really enjoy washing your hands. You even went through a phase where you would go into the bathroom just to wash hands. You also love to help. One of your favorite things to do is to help Mommy cook.

I can't believe that it has already been 3 years since we brought you home from the hospital. I can still remember how scared I was when we first brought you home, and I have to admit that there is always a little bit of fear in the back of my mind. Your are so precious and vulnerable, and it is our job as parents to keep you safe. I am so thankful for every day with you as you grow into a little person. You are so beautiful inside and out. I cannot believe how lucky we are to have been given the opportunity to be your parents. I love you more every day.

Happy Homecoming Day!

Love,

Mommy

Elzi's first joke

We celebrated Christmas with the Harris & Chambers families this past weekend. We were all seated for Christmas dinner when my dad came in and said to my mom, "Are we going to light the candles?" My mom replied, "They are already lit." From across the table Elzi says with a giggle, "Dadpa, you need glasses, haha."

Cute Elzi quote

A few days ago while the girls were sitting at their table eating breakfast, Elzi studied her Eggo waffle and said, "Hey Mommy, these circles look like squares." Even in our early morning haze, Ben and I had to laugh.

Halloween in Wonderland

State Fair 2011

Morganton Festival

The girls had their first independent ride on Thomas the train a few weeks ago. They had a blast...until the very end.

Flashback to Summer

Happy Labor Day!

We had a great Labor Day weekend. Yesterday was the first day (I think) that the girls have stayed dry all day. We even went out to the grocery store in training pants (not pull-ups). Speaking of pull-ups, both girls also woke up from nap with dry pull-ups. We came very close to staying dry on Saturday, as well. Our only accident was when Elzi told us she had to go to the potty just as we were getting out of the car to go into the museum. Of course, by the time we made it inside, she had wet her shorts. Who could blame her?

Our trip to the grocery store was our most tolerable yet. I only had to tell the girls to sit down in the last few minutes of the trip. All it took was the promise of a ride on Harry the dragon (at Harris Teeter) to get the girls to stay seated. They were so excited to ride Harry. Lillian went first and stayed on for about 3 seconds before requesting to get off. Elzi lasted about the same length of time when it was her turn. Regardless, they were very excited about having rode Harry and told Daddy about it when we got home.

Today we had our first movie theater experience. We took the girls to the $1.50 theater in Raleigh to see "Winnie the Pooh." Elzi stayed in her seat and Lillian on my lap enjoying their popcorn for most of the movie. It was not until about 55 minutes into the 1 hour movie that the girls started to get antsy. I can't believe we actually made it to the credits! Besides Elzi's ridiculous new laugh which she used frequently, albeit appropriately, they were remarkably quiet and well behaved. I was so proud. What a great weekend of firsts!