Putting on Socks

 We have a new obsession at our house. SOCKS. One of us is soooooo proud that she can put socks on by herself. It doesn't matter big socks, little socks, fuzzy socks, dress socks - we can put them on all by ourselves!

I went to the bathroom and came out to my pajama clad child wearing fuzzy socks. There are worse things she can do when alone for a moment, so...

20 Months...

I no longer count how many months Lydia is. I just lost track of it all. She is 1.5. Almost 2. Walking and talking and in to everything. Really I just don't know how many months she is anymore off the top of my head.

BUT James knows! This weekend he mentioned that she was 20 months old now (has been for over a week now...) and she is growing up so quick. After I thought about I realized that ooopppssss, I forgot!

So Lydia one year ago... Proud to be sitting up. Staying in one place (until she fell over). Toys stayed in the general area of where Lydia was playing. I guess she still even sat in the bouncy seat from time to time (she loved that seat!). She even stayed dressed ;)

And now... Lydia has taken over the basement. She never stays in one place (which is why the picture is blurry - again!). She doesn't ever sit in one seat strapped in - inless she is eating and that is a quick sit, eat, and MOVE! She has discovered the joy of taking off clothes - so far she only does this when asked. And the toys have taken over our house. As I write this Lydia has set up housekeeping on the basement steps. Her doctor's kit goodies are EVERYWHERE - I found the "shot" in the fridge again - seriously I don't know why. We have books all over the living room. Puzzle pieces are taking over the upstairs. And we won't even discuss the basement ;)

We love our 20 month old. And I love that she is on the move and ready to play pretty much 24-7 ;)

SNOW!!!!!!

After a very mild winter, we got snow!!!!! And then 76 degrees three days later. But we did get snow!!!!!!

Typical North Carolina fashion the .8 of an inch of snow did cripple the town. James left for work a few minutes before 7. Got about 10 minutes from home in 45 minutes and decided to turn around and wait for all the Southerners to get to work before he attempted trying to get all the way to his office.

The snow started around 9PM and Lydia was already in bed. We debated waking her up and decided to just let her sleep. I really wish that we did wake her up because in the morning the snow was basically gone. When Lydia got to go play in the snow she was really less then impressed. Silly girl!

Really not the greatest picture but SNOW!!!!!!!

The little bit that is left...

Notice the dry roads.

And I wonder when this is all that is left why Lydia was less than impressed with the snow :(

Finger Paint

Our first experience with "big girl" finger paint (that is not edible!).

The result: my dear daughter does not like being dirty - or that was atleast the mood we were in at the time. AND finger paint must resemble lotion because she did not understand why the "lotion" was not going away.

One Finger

Ok, two fingers mom...

"Look I can have fun AND be messy"

But I think I will clean myself before playing more...

Sick Baby

February has been a very long month for us. Somebody in the house was sick for 16 days (the majority of those days were Lydia!). We have conquered I do believe every childhood disease from ear infection to strep, pink eye (thankfully I was the only who did that!!!!), and then Lydia decided to end the sickness with a terrible rash head to toe. Apparently this is a normal reaction that some children have to the antibiotic (I am not convinced but...).

So we did actually get to go to church this week. And it is Thursday with no sign of sickness so I have high hopes that we may actually get to go back this weekend (two weekends of health in a row - I don't know if we will know what to do with ourselves!!!!).

We took all the movies back that our friends let us borrow because we are all hoping to be healthy and well!!!!!!

But some "sick" pictures - because really being sick is quite adorable if you are under 2 ;)

On the way to the doctor's office

I don't even care to count which doctor's visit this was... 

Cuddling with mom, our favorite pink bear, and the paci...

Finally healthy and not going to the doctor's office!!!!!!

The Last 60 minutes of the day...

Our Valentines Night:

6:30 - James worked late and just got home. Lydia could not fathom her father eating without her joining in the fun. Soooooo I gave her yogurt. Which promptly got on her shirt and jeans. I don't know how.

6:40 - James takes off Lydia's dirty clothes. Lydia overjoyed to be naked runs around the house like a crazy girl AND gets a pony ride from her dad.

6:45 - Lydia throws up all over her "pony", carpet, and socks (which was the only clean item of clothing left from the yogurt adventure).

6:50 - Lydia is escorted upstairs. While I get her bath going she decides to practice sitting on the potty. I did notice that she was grunting and was singing a little song about "big girls putting their poop in the potty" (totally - we might as well be excited over this!). But while finding pjs and getting a towel I did not think about Lydia finishing this task and popped her body in the bath tub.

7:05 - There is poop in the bath tub. A crying toddler. And YUCK!!!!!

7:25 - James rescues Lydia and decides to finish the bath process in our bathroom (good idea!). At this rate, we will be midnight getting to bed!

7:40 - bathroom cleaned, toddler clean, and PJs on her cute little body.

And by 8 PM she is finally in bed and CLEAN! AND (drum roll please - SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!)

Photo Shoot

Sometimes when a little girl picks out her outfit and is in a great mood, you should just snap a few pictures!

Tinker Toys

Lesson learned - plastic tinker toys are TONS easier to assemble then the wood tinker toys.

Lydia has been enjoying tinker toys at the children's museum and I found a big box of Tinker Toys for sale on Craigslist so I thought this was perfect.

And it was perfect...

Lydia walking away...

James working very hard...

Lydia has given up on building anything and is just going to destroy Dad's tower! 

...for James...

Success!!!!!!

Yogurt with a spoon. I view this as a HUGE accomplishment!

We are still working on taking small bites (the entire spoon does not need to be dripping yogurt!).

Movie Night

 We thought it would be fun to have a movie night with Lydia. In the past she has really enjoyed this.

Movie night attempt #1:

Lydia decided to PARTY during nap time (seriously no clue what was up with that!). Needless to say she was very tired that evening. We debated about doing movie night but we had popcorn and picked out a movie and decided to just do movie night early.

The microwave was giving us fits and not popping the popcorn. So we decided to start the movie and let the microwave do it's job without an audience.

The movie starts.

Lydia falls asleep in minutes.

The microwave has a small fire. James burns himself on the microwave.

Lydia continues sleeping.

James and I eventually look over at each other and ask "why are we watching cartoons on the floor, smelling this horrendous smell, and the child is sound asleep?"

Lydia is in bed and sound asleep by 7pm.

Movie Night Attempt #2

Not to be discouraged we decide once again to do movie night the next weekend. Pick the night. Pick the movie. Get snacks.

And then Lydia is running a fever and sick.

We should have just surrendered but we were having a hard time keeping Lydia from running around the house (and thus making the fever go even higher!) so we decided movie night was the perfect distraction from fevers, snotty noses, and crabby toddlers.

Five minutes into the movie:
Lydia and I are both sound asleep (hard to sleep at night when a little person is holding a big grudge against mom because she feels yucky - defiantly mom's fault that somebody can not keep her hands and toys out of her mouth!). James takes a picture and escapes the fevers, snotty noses, and crabby toddlers!

Moral of the story - I am not planning any more movie nights for awhile...

Dear Pediatrician's Office:

I hate to bother you again but my child is once again sick. Yes, I realize it is February and she has really basically been sick since early November. I do try to keep her healthy and well but we can't live in a bubble - although the last two weeks we have been HOME so you would think we would be healthy but we were symptom free for a couple days and went out into the world to play with "friends"...

Can you give me a frequent visitor card, buy 5 visits get the 6th free?

A standing Friday appointment (because she prefers to be sick on the weekend - so much more fun!)?

Do you have any deals coming out on the daily deal sites? Maybe a free antibiotic with an office visit? 50% off a visit?

Maybe you could make your waiting room less exciting - does my daughter enjoy reading the books and magazines so much that she fakes sickness just to come read the books and play with the nurses???

So Pediatrician's Office I have a sinking feeling that you will get to see our bright and shining faces tomorrow, so tonight we will try to sleep (although we may just be so excited to come catch up with you again that we can't!!!!).

Update: Friday Morning. We are healthy and well. So pediatrician's office I hope you miss us but we are going to miss seeing you this Friday!!!!!!!

Spooning Beads

Our new favorite activity! Spooning beads. I thought this would be a bit too old for Lydia (and she defiantly is not trustworthy to be alone with this activity). Yes, by the end of the activity beads are all over the living room floor but she has been working hard on scooping and dropping these little beads. Pouring the beads. Naming the colors. Basically spending many many many hours a week transferring and playing with these little beads.

Why do we buy real toys for this child??? She is much happier with activities and toys like this!