Tea Party

This morning David, Carly, and I had a tea party this morning. While this was not our family's first "tea party," but it was our first "virtual" tea party. David is still in China, so while we were chatting through the computer Carly went and got her plastic stacking cups. She handed out the three smallest cups to us. She got the smallest, I got the middle sized, and David got the largest. After all three of us took a drink she was off to get us more water from the sink and facet in her play kitchen. Once our cups were all filled up, we all took sips again. One day our tea parties will look more like a tea party with a tea pot and small little cups, but I really enjoyed our virtual pretend water party today. :-)

Sorting

Carly, her Aunt Julia, and I have been working on Carly's 2nd birthday party over these past few days. One of the tasks we needed to accomplish was the sorting of red, green, and white pom-poms. Thankfully, Carly was very interested in this task and sorted two large bags for us!

Waiting!

This is how Carly waits for her daddy to call...

Five Days Down...

Carly and I returned this morning from spending a few days with my parents. We arrived around lunch time on Friday and spent the remainder of our day playing and exploring.

Saturday began with meeting Robert out for breakfast and then a trip to a local toy store. My goal was to find a few items Carly really liked to spend my two Groupon certificates on and call it a morning. Unfortunately, Carly had alternative plans. She spotted the baby doll section immediately, shouted "BABY," and promptly began playing. Over the next hour she fed the babies, pushed them in strollers, carried a bucket style carrier/carseat around, and had an absolute ball. I purchased an item with my coupon, my mom purchased one with her coupon, and we had a strategy for spending the remaining coupon we were both in possession of. Unfortunately, our desire to leave did not match Carly's. She genuinely had her first, public kicking and screaming tantrum right there on the floor in the middle of the baby doll section. Over my shoulder she went and out the door we went. It really broke my heart to see her so upset, especially since two of her favorite items had been purchased, wrapped, and were on the way home with us. She had also managed to play right up until her normal lunch time, so I knew in addition to not wanting to leave she was also hungry and tired - not a good combination.

Sunday, thankfully, was much more low key. With the exciting time coming after dinner when my family cooked s'mores.

Yummy!

Grandpa, Please hold my s'more please, but don't eat it!

Telling Grandpa all about something.

I need a paper towel.

Carly and I are now settled back in Cornelius, with our heat turned on (it was 64 degrees in our home when we got back today), and anxiously awaiting Aunt Julia's arrival tomorrow. Five days down, and 11 more to go!!

You Would Have Never Thought...

that Carly is not an avid eater based on her performance tonight.

Our dinner plans evolved (aka changed) throughout the day. At first we had planned on grilling, but then changed to spaghetti in hopes of being more accommodating of David's schedule as he prepares to leave for China. Well then, I did a mid afternoon email check and found a recipe from Kraft for Sicilian Sausage & Peppers Rigatoni. For some reason, this recipe hit the spot in my mind and Spaghetti and Meatballs were not going to cut it for dinner. So, at 4:45pm Carly and I headed off to the grocery store to buy the necessary ingredients.

When David got home a few moments after 6, I had the dish in the oven for the 2nd time and was very excited (and slightly nervous about my dinner... based on the photograph I had HIGH expectations for this dish). David inquired about when I planned to start dinner, so I explained our change of plans. At this point I was starting to question what Carly was going to eat. She is a fan of turkey sausage and cheese; however, she refuses bell peppers, pasta, and spaghetti sauce. When dinner was finished, about 20 minutes after we normally sit down to eat, I served her up a cut noodle, a few pieces of sausage, and a cut up strip of bell pepper. She tacked the sausage first, then ventured over to the rigatoni piece. She continued to sign for "more" rigatoni and would accept more sausage on occasion, but she never did touch the bell pepper.

I will not be holding my breath that she will be willing to eat a rigatoni noodle tomorrow, but maybe by Christmas she won't be quite so picky of an eater!

WARNING!!

WARNING: LOCK YOUR DEADBOLTS if Carly comes to visit you. Over the past few days she has been working on opening doors all by herself. In the beginning she would be about 1 for 4 in attempts, now if the door opens to her then she is fully successful. This has been slightly nerve-racking today since both our back door and side door into our garage open towards her and allow her a free escape. The deadbolt has stopped her; however, she understands the concept of the deadbolt and enjoys using it. Unfortunately for her, she forgets which way she needs to turn it prior to messing with the door knob. I am off tomorrow to get door knob covers for both of these doors; however, I've heard they aren't affective long term.

Whee!!

A new slide Carly tried today while at a Teddy Bear picnic to celebrate National Teddy Bear Day!!

Me! Me! Me!

"Me! Me! Me!" is currently Carly's favorite phrase. David may make a comment that it is time to feed Jake and she will immediately interject with "Me! Me! Me!" Or if I say that we need to set the table for dinner she interjects again. Best of all, her "Me! Me! Me!" is followed with a full out toddler sprint to the appropriate location to help.

Highs and Lows

Today has been a day filled with HIGHS and LOWS.

High - Music Class: Carly and I attended her first music class today. The thirty minute class gives the kids a chance to dance, play instruments, and sing. It will run through the first week in November and seems like it will be a wonderful time. Carly spent a lot of time watching other children today, and would join in on an activity shortly before it was time to move on to the next event.

High - Nap Time: Carly took a super nap, almost a solid 2 hours.

High - Discovery Place Kids: We were able to arrive by 3pm and the place was empty. Carly played in a lot of the centers and especially liked the water table today.

Low - Discovery Place Kids: While walking up the two steps to get on the stage for story time (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Carly's favorite book), she started dancing to the beat of the story and lost her balance. She fell off the step and to the floor. I knew it shocked her, but wasn't expecting the two scratches on her face or the bleeding from her mouth. Thankfully, she isn't a big crier and was done with the tears within 3 minutes. This allowed me to look at her and begin cleaning her up. Everything is of course fine, she just has the two scratches and a swollen upper lip and cheek.

High - Popsicles: The nurse I spoke to on the phone from our pediatricians office encouraged me to pick up popsicles for Carly to help keep her mouth cold. She felt this would help the swelling and make it feel better overall.

Low - Popsicles: I bought them, and Dave arrived home a few moments after we did. Carly didn't get popsicles, he isn't as soft as I am.

High - Ball Play: While Carly was eating her fruit after dinner Dave began rolling his wedding band to me. As we rolled it back and forth across the table, Carly became very interested in what we were doing and wanted to participate. We switched from Dave's wedding band to a bouncy ball. Rolling the ball back and forth across the dinner table was a priceless moment. Carly would shriek and squeal with delight whenever the ball rolled towards her and when she was pushing it back towards Dave.

Low - Ball Play: In all of her excitement Carly lost her balance and fell from the chair. It was in super slow motion, and she really rolled out of the chair more than falling. But she didn't like it and it startled her, so we had a few tears.

High - Potty Time: Carly was successful on her potty pre-bath time and then told me during bath time she needed to go again. And was successful during her second turn on the potty.

Low - Bed Time Routine: While getting dried off and ready for a new diaper Carly bumped her head on the basket that holds her diaper cream, comb, powder, etc.

I honestly am hoping Carly sleeps very well tonight, because at this point I am emotionally exhausted from today!!