6.28.2011

My Two-er

i let Una pick out her clothes this day...including the fishnets on the hands.



This two thing is pretty crazy. It keeps you on your toes. The other day i was thinking to myself how thankful i am that Una has been such a reasonable and relatively calm little "terrible two-er." She doesn't have alot of meltdowns, you can tell her what you need from her and most of the time she responds well. And she says, "Fankyou, Mommy!" all the time for all kinds of things, like when i help her get on her shoes, or if i give her a bowl of cheerios. It's so darling. Sometimes, she jumps the gun a little and says it before the request is even fulfilled. Like, she'll say, "I want cookies, fankyou mommy!" And it's really hard not to fulfill the request, even if it's inappropriate, because it's so darn cute and sincere. I think, "Damn, she's really putting on the pressure." Anyways, so yeah, she's been totally great. And then, the other morning she woke up and it was like all hell broke loose. There was a lot of "I want! I want!" and a lot of screaming even before i could even react to anything she was saying. And then, the classic terrible two meltdowns over everything and nothing. Suddenly, she didn't want to do anything, like change the diaper, or have some quiet time. however, this little two-er has one weakness. Music. I can say, "we need to change your diaper." and i get the big, "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" But if i start singing, "Follow me to diaper change, diaper change, diaper change (to the tune of mary had a little lamb), she instantly starts singing and follows me right in the room. It's like the Pied Piper. I'm even shocked sometimes, and thankful, for how well it works. Una is in LOVE with music. she sings constantly. She loves circle time at co-op, and she even started the kids singing, "Put your toes on the line on the line!" the other day, i was told, which is what the parents sing to get the kids ready to go outside. my little music freak, i love you.

6.26.2011

Berry Picking

We went berry picking with our Co-op out on Sauvie's Island at Kruger Farms. It was a gorgeous day, and the kids (and the adults) had a great time. Strawberries. We picked (and grazed) Strawberries. They also had some pigs and chickens. Una and Ksenia had a great time running back and forth to the chicken coop and the pig pen together.













Seamus

Baby Mason

Ksenia, Wade, and Hattie
Love the hat, and the glasses, Ksenia!

Ellen and Hattie



Mirabelle


Zane, Olivia and Natasha

Ellen and Hattie

Hope and Olivia


Note the appropriately themed attire on una.



Stephan, Nikolai, and Nastia

Elena and Isaac

Julie and Mirabelle


Nikolai and Una

6.08.2011

Pillow Talk

At bedtime, Una and i were looking at her Feelings Flash Cards that are done by the author Todd Parr. She's really into them. They are bright and have fun pictures describing such feelings as Delighted and Cranky. We looked at a few, but the Cuddly one caught her attention. She said, "i want Cuddly. I want to go to bed and have cozies." Cozies are her blankets that she sleeps with. So i put her in the crib, she laid down and i put the cozies on: Cozy 1(ladybugs from nana sally), Cozy 2(white croqueted afghan by nanny), Cozy 3(mod dots made by momma ra), and Cozy 4(croqueted afghan by aunt marian). Then i said, "Good night, baby. i had a really nice day with you." And she said, "i had a nice dinner. i had peas...and cherrios...with milk," as her eyes grew heavier and heavier, while surrounded by lots of hand made love, minnie mouse, and a piggy or two.

6.06.2011

Weekend of Summer

Summer happened this weekend. We were all in fits of delighted shock and wonder...and we ran outside and stayed there as much as possible. Una decided she wanted to wear her pink bathing suit and promptly dressed herself in her pink fur boots. We left the boots at home and headed down to Jamison Square, a park with a kid magnet fountain in the Pearl District in downtown Portland. It was a success. Saturday night, we had a picnic in Laurelhurst Park with Ivy. We had cupcakes. The park was teaming with people, and babies...and people smoking with babies. Whatever. On sunday we hiked around Powell Butte. Una walked up a super long and steep hill all by herself. i was impressed. Both days were just gorgeous and lots of fun.