When I went to pick up Rory from preschool one day, this is how she greeted me and it made me laugh out loud. I love this little weirdo.
I would say we are all adapting to Coco very nicely. I still don't scoop her poop, but I have been getting up with her in the mornings since Stephen is in busy season and working around the clock. In the evenings she and I watch TV together and it's starting to bond us. I usually stop her from chewing on the girls toys, but attacking this little rocking horse brought her so much joy, plus we never got much play out of it and it is a hand me down anyways. I laughed out loud again when I saw the hole in its neck and stuffing strewn across the floor- quite the battle scene. Coco was immensely pleased with herself.
In preparation for the baby coming next month, I am not doing my dance classes this month and it has given me time and energy to spend on my current babies. I'm tired and grouchy most of the time and everyone has been feeling it, so I really tried to make an effort to create happy memories and relationship-strengthening moments. While Rory was playing at a friends house, Ada and I ran an errand and then treated ourselves to Cold Stone. Ada was in HEAVEN having me and plenty of the ice cream all to herself. In true Ada fashion she screamed at me until I gave her the spoon, scooped herself a large bite, and then immediately spit it out all over us. She then immediately began screaming at me again because she didn't like the mess or the chill of the ice cream. This girl.
Several of our good friends missed the last February dance class, so we did a little make up performance play date. I loved seeing these kids all dressed up- mermaids and superheroes were big crowd pleasers in this group.
Proof that I am a good dog owner- I take pictures of her willingly. How cute is she for real though?!
Spring Break is a weird time for our family because all of Rory's regular activities are cancelled, but we don't plan vacations because that's when all the school age kids are traveling. My friend Alison, whom I met through our daughters taking the same Park and Rec gymnastics class, ended up putting her older boys in a spring break tennis camp at the park right by our house. Every day that week I would walk over with my girls and spend the morning chatting with her while our kids played mostly happily. It was such a fun little routine and made our week off feel so productive. At the end of the week we treated the kids to a ride on the train. We have lived next to this park for Rory's entire life and this was her first time riding it. She loved it, and yes we can be a bit withholding as parents sometimes!
Rory and I found a water table while we were shopping at Costco and while I usually have to sit and stew before buying big things like that, I immediately decided to buy it and we brought it home for Ada. My hope is that it will keep the girls busy when the baby comes and give them an activity to do outside in the summer. So far it has been a big success, though it is difficult to convince both girls not to drink the water.
I'm not sure who gets more use out of this dog bed, Ada or Coco? When Ada is tantruming this is her soft surface of choice to dramatically throw her body down on top of.
Nate and Linne's crew stopped by for a quick visit on their way back from their spring break travels. It was just enough time for a family barbecue, some home made dole whip, and a massive cousin sleepover.
When you say things like, "I wish my real mom would come back. The one without a baby in her tummy." you get to pick your own clothes for errands and then mom buys you guilt cookies as well. What a life this one leads!
In an effort to encourage Rory to stop picking at little scabs on her face, Stephen promised her a date night as soon her face was clear. She was so excited about it and it was the conversation at our house for weeks. They finally went out on a Saturday, and Rory couldn't have been happier. They bought dinner at Taco Bell and ate it in the car together, drove through Swig for some sodas and cookies, and capped off the night at the Dollar Tree where Stephen let her buy some silly putty, or as Rory calls it, silly billy. When she got home we watched a baking show as she told me all about it and this little girl was completely on cloud nine.
The next day, Stephen's Sunday nap got interrupted by an impromptu makeover. Could you ask for a better Girl Dad?
Speaking of makeovers, big things have been happening at our house. First of all, Ada's hair is finally mullet-y enough to put in a tiny ponytail! It makes me remember Rory at the same stage. While Stephen and I went out to celebrate Marisa's birthday at a surprise party one night, Rory stashed some scissors in her bed and while the babysitter was there she cut her bangs. For the third time. She also attempted to open an Amazon box I had hidden from her. Someone send help.
She got in so much trouble from us that she spent all of Sacrament meeting the next Sunday drawing pictures of her crying and writing "notes" that said things like, "Guess I'll find a new family." On Monday morning she came in to my room asking for a bandaid because she was bleeding from a little cut on her finger. As I was getting her one from the kitchen Stephen called me into her bedroom. At some point girlfriend had gotten a stake knife from the kitchen, grabbed the Amazon box she had attempted to open before, and sliced her way into it. The Pretty, Pretty Princess game that I was going to save for her birthday was sitting in her bed with the stake knife sticking out of it. We immediately felt less bad about the emotional stress we had caused her the day before. Obviously we didn't scar her quite enough the first time.
Rory is in a parks and rec Storybook Arts and Crafts class and their craft for St Patrick's Day was another one that had me laughing out loud when I walked into the room.
St Patricks Day is not my holiday. I usually have a hard time finding something green to wear, I don't enjoy eating things that are artificially colored green, and I'm not about to mess up my house to pretend a naughty leprechaun has been there- much less leave presents from said leprechaun. It's weird, since I am a person who loves holidays, but I seriously debated not even telling Rory about it. Unfortunately I have a St Patricks Day door hanging I didn't want to miss putting out, and when I did she asked for an explanation so I said, "It's a day where you wear green. And there are rainbows and leprechauns..." and then she asked me what leprechauns were and I couldn't come up with anything normal to say so I changed the topic.
So imagine my surprise when I went to get her dressed Wednesday morning and she lost her mind because she needed a green shirt AND green pants or she was going to get pinched. The terror in her eyes was so real and there was no convincing her that green shorts and a shirt with green leaves on it was enough green to not get pinched. She had learned all about this fun little tradition from her preschool teacher and I honestly thought I was not going to get her to leave the house that day. I can't remember how I finally got her out of the house, but we made it happen. Sarah ended up inviting her over for a last minute St Patrick's Day party where they painted rainbows and had a blast. She told me later that Naomi had pinched her for not wearing green, and her eyes told me, "So see if I ever trust you again, Mom!" I immediately went out and bought a St Patricks Day shirt for next year.
Ada's hair is getting super mullet-y and when she runs around it parts itself down the middle and Stephen pointed out that she looks like Dwight. I feel like this is something worth remembering for forever.
I was jealous of Rory's date with Stephen and so I planned one for the two of us as well. When I picked her up from preschool we went and got happy meals and chatted while we ate them in the van. Then we walked to Petco to check out the animals and then to Dollar tree to pick out some nail polish for later. We ended the date with a cone at Handel's. She also picked out a lollipop at Dollar Tree to take home for Ada, in hopes that Ada would choose to share. I love this little first-born of mine. In some ways, I think I love her a little differently because she is my first. I have so much gratitude for the fact that she puts up with my inexperience as a mother and loves me through it. She has become the best big sister for Ada and I can't wait to see the love she will have for new baby sister!
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