Snow Day 2012

Winter seems to have forgotten us in California this year. Like three days of rain (no exaggeration) and maybe two days that a coat has been required. So freaking depressing. Of course, it has been more depressing for my brother that bought a season pass to our local ski resort. Sorry bro.

Anyway, some snow came this past week and we decided to take the kids up to the snow on Sunday. Isla had never been and Connor, I want him to be a fan of the white stuff. Up to this point, he hasn't been a fan (read about Connor's past interactions with the snow in 2010 & 2011).

Well this year, Connor seems to be a fan. He instantly wanted to go down a hill on a saucer. He did back out and wanted Ian to go with him, but seemed to really enjoy going down with Ian. He referred to snow as both "snow" and "ice", and tried eating it at every opportunity, including dirty snow in the parking lot and on walking paths! When I asked Connor what color the snow was, he said "white". Melt my heart. I know, something only a mother would appreciate! I've become such a softie. But back to the snow...

This is actually the same lake we went to this past summer. Kind of funny to see it drained and semi-covered in snow.

We had fun getting out of town and going to the snow...and playing in the mud. There was a lot of that. But we did see the snow. And heck, I even put Isla in the snow for a token picture!

Maybe next year Connor will get to go skiing!

Beauty

Tonight I experienced the most beautiful sunset ever. Well, at least that I have seen in a while.

It started out purple, then turned fiery red. And there was a swirl in the clouds adding to the beauty.

Seriously beautiful. Like take your breath away beauty.

Lately {in Photos}

1. Mama and her boy

2. Good morning world, love Isla

3. Connor and his double-double

4. Hello there happy girl

5. Starbucks valentines cup = LOVE

6. Isla and her huge bow

7. Proud potty moment

8. Smiler

9. Isla looking adorable

10. Coolest cup ever!

11. Train museum in Sacramento

12. Isla's baby book

Perspective

When I used to work out of the house, I remember getting a day off during the week and spending the entire thing at home. I would wake up late. Sit in front of the tv with my bowl of cereal (at 11am). Not shower until 3pm. And put my pjs back on after I did shower. It was glorious. And then Ian would come home and think I was a freak.

Fast forward to now. I spend a lot of my time at home. I now find leaving the house like a breath of fresh air. Of course, when I am too busy and out of the house too much, I don't like it, but that's not my point. Getting out of the house and going on walks with the kiddos is one of my favorite things. Just being outside is a glorious thing to me. Breathing in fresh air. The kids strapped in their stroller, sitting there quietly. The sun (or even rain) hitting my face. It makes me so happy.

Its like back when I used to take the bus everywhere. It is just time to myself. Time to clear my head and enjoy myself. Stopping to smell the roses, if you will. I like that time. No distractions. Nothing to clean, pick up or do. It gives me perspective. It lets me clear my head. It lets me stretch my legs. And it lets me get out of the house.

Connor {2 Years, 3 Months}

Weight: 29lbs (my measurement)

Length: still need to measure him

Accomplishments:
Says three words at a time
Remembers places when we drive/walk by them
Recognizes and says certain colors - yellow, green, white
Starting to say his own name (tawn-er)
Starting to recognize and say various letters

Who knew that talking makes one seem so grown up?!? Seriously. Connor is talking so much these days and it makes him seem so much more grown up. When he knows what something is, he says it over and over for me. Like he wants me to know he knows. So freaking cute! The other night in the bath, he was using "dad's soap" as he reminded me over and over. He started holding it up and saying something over and over, but I couldn't quite figure out what. Then I realized he was saying "white". And he was correct, the bar of soap is white. Like I said before, too freaking cute. And probably only something a mom would find freaking cute. I know. I am a little over the top.

Some of Connor's favorite things include trains, books and Chuck the truck. He is definitely a train boy. He likes watching trains (both real and cartoon), he likes playing with trains, he likes reading about trains. Connor loves all his books. And he certainly has a collection. Of course, he will still fixate on one book and want it read over and over again until I finally refuse to read it. And I often find him looking thru his books by himself. It makes me a proud mama. Now Chuck the truck, this is a rather new obsession. He got a Chuck video for Christmas and a few toys and the obsession began. I limit his tv viewing anyway, but I really have to now that Chuck is in the picture. He always wants to watch Chuck.

After I wrote about Connor constantly getting out of his bed, he switched on me again. He is back to staying in his crib. Though, he isn't back to taking naps every day.  I still put him down for a nap every day, but some days he just lays there and talks to himself...he can also reach his bookshelf from his bed, so brings in some books with him. Because of the lack of naps, sometimes he is really tired. On Monday night, he kept falling asleep at the dinner table and bobbing his head. When his head would fall, it would wake him up. And I think because I kept laughing, every time he would do it, he would laugh too. It was funny and sad all at the same time.

Connor is starting to get really possessive and having a hard time sharing. He doesn't want Isla to play with certain toys and he really has trouble when playing with other kids. But, I think that is just a part of growing up. I can't believe how much and how fast my little man is growing up...

On a side note, can you believe Connor is still sporting the same shirt a year later? Talk about value for my money!

Isla {4 Months}

 

Weight: 14lbs, 13oz

Length: 24.5 inches

Accomplishments:
Rubs her eyes when tired
Looks at herself in the mirror & smiles
Follows people around the room with her eyes

Every time I take Isla to the doctor, her pediatrician always comments on how proportional she is. Such a weird compliment(?) but maybe most kids don't have height, weight and head all around the same percentile. Isla is holding strong just above the 80th percentile. She sure is putting her older brother to shame!

The last few nights, Isla has been going to bed in her own bed. This is growth people! In fact, the other night Isla slept in her own bed from 8pm until 5am! Before this she was waking numerous times a night (sometimes every hour), so was hogging our bed snugging in bed with us a lot. Needless to say, its nice to have our bed back and its nice to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I'm crossing my fingers this continues!

Isla is a smiler. All she needs is for someone to smile at her and she flashes her huge toothless grin right back. And she is becoming more generous with her laughs. A sure way of getting her to laugh is by kissing her cheek. I'm not sure why that is SO FUNNY, but to her it is. And those baby smiles man, they do something to you! They make me like putty in her hands.

Isla loves watching her brother play. She will follow him around the room with her eyes. She'll even arch her back to look behind her to keep watching him. She also likes watching me and Ian. But I am pretty sure Connor is her favorite.

Bath time is still a huge hit with Isla. We are mostly bathing her with Connor these days. Its just easier to kill two birds with one stone. She likes to splash water all over the place. And if a toy gets close enough, she likes to suck on those too.

Speaking of toys, she is playing with them more and more everyday. She already had been pulling on ones dangling above her, but she has now managed to pick a few up and get them to her mouth. Of course, everything goes in her mouth these days, her clothes included. Whatever she can get in her hands and get to her mouth - other people's fingers, her clothes, her fist, her wrist (which seems to be her favorite) - she does. 

It's Raining!!!

I've only been waiting since uh, October for a good rain! Woot, woot!

With no plans to go anywhere, I dressed up Connor and we went in the backyard to play. He had so much fun and didn't want to come back in the house.

Finally, after about half an hour, he came to me and said "hands". His hands were freezing. Then and only then was he willing to come inside and warm up. Even inside, he didn't want to take his rain gear off. But with the promise of being able to play in the rain again later, he conceeded.

Even if the rain is only supposed to last the day, I still love and appreciate it.