I saw her standin' there ...

Well, she was just 15 (months),
You know what I mean,
And the way she looked was CUTE beyond compare.
So grabbed my camera and took these (ooh)
When I saw her standin' there.

that's what leprechauns do

This past week we've been reading That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting. It's a cute story of three leprechauns on their way to place the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ... and the mischief they get into along the way.

This morning Natalie woke up to find the leprechauns had paid a visit to our house, and they ...

built a tower out of green blocks, left the green hippo there to watch over it, 

and set out a green plate and cup for breakfast

put the green bear on the banister with an open book, 

"Twas the Night Before St. Patrick's Day"

lined up all the babies on the stairs - the audience for the book reading

placed a few green toys on the mantle

stacked the green cups and Disney characters on the table

left Puppy and Birthday Bear to read an Irish story ... 

on a green blanket

and Big Bunny to read a rainbow story

the one that got the most giggles ... 

those silly leprechauns turned the Princess floor puzzle upside down!

The toilet water was also colored green, to which Natalie exclaimed, "Oh look, mommy, the leprechauns went pee-pee at our house!  {pause}  How come they didn't flush the toilet?  Do you think he washed his hands?"

BeezLegz

BJ Mama is at it again.

She's being her generous, creative, talented self.

{Oh, how I love, BJ Mama!}

As a result, CJV is proudly wearing the cutest pair of BeezLegz 

by LadyBeez Designs.

The photos speak for themselves ... total, ridiculous CUTENESS!

And I am not just talking about that tiny baby of mine! 

These little baby leg warmers are practical, too!

Legs are, well, warm.  

And NHV wears them on her arms as princess gloves!

Diaper changes are so easy - no pants to pull up and down.

Imagine the possibilities with potty training!

Tights are an absolute pain, but BeezLegz can be paired with any skirt 

and look adorable even on a dreary winter day in the NW!

If you need a great gift idea, this is it ... because 

one size fits all and BJ Mama offers tons of different styles ...

dare I say, for girls and for boys!

Go grab a pair - or two - and tell BJ Mama I sent you :)

baby step toward binky freedom

I cannot believe NHV still has her blasted binky!  Apparently I was all talk when I said she would be potty trained, rid of her binky, and sleeping in her big girl bed before Charlotte was born ... 15+ months ago!  I am fairly certain I was 1 for 3 on that proclamation.  The big girl bed transition was smooth; I barely remember it, to be honest.  I remember decorating her room, but the details of her actually sleeping in her big girl bed ... well, that just seemed to go well.  And, at the time, potty training seemed like such a big deal, but it wasn't.  It happened, there were a few accidents, and a lot of reading books while she sat ... but it happened and we survived and it seems like a distant memory at this point.

So, why, oh, why can't I get rid of that damn binky?  Why is that piece of plastic (rubber?) still around?   Why am I dragging my feet and coming up with excuse after excuse?  Charlotte wasn't sleeping through the night, and I was exhausted - that excuse got me through most of the past year. We're traveling in three weeks - that seems like a good enough reason to postpone.  Of course, that's an excuse I've used before.  She was sick last week, and I simply could not bear the thought of taking away that little piece of comfort when she felt so miserable.

But I want - desperately - to be done with it.  We've talked about it ... forever.  Binkies are for babies.  You're a big girl.  The binky isn't good for your teeth.  Perhaps the Binky Fairy will come and take your binky and leave you a special present.  I'd plant that damn thing in the ground if not for the fact that we've had so much rain, I fear erosion may uncover it, and she'd pick it up and start sucking it again ... regardless of the mud!

Since the age of two, Natalie has only been allowed to have her binky in her bed, which meant nap time and nighttime.  My girl is a good sleeper, so that was a large fraction of her day.  But at least she wasn't walking around all day with it in her mouth ... somehow that makes me feel better, but it really shouldn't.  In January she gave up her afternoon nap and replaced it with "rest" time.  However, she continued to suck that binky while in her room "resting" - usually reading books and listening to music.  Lately, she's been asking for the binky all afternoon - long after rest time is over.  Partly because she's tired.  Partly out of boredom - this has been an awful winter, and we have been stuck in the house and not seeing much of our friends. 

I don't want her to have it.  She wants it.  We are both frustrated, annoyed, and grumpy.  Not a good scenario.

So this morning, we had a conversation about the binky only being for bedtime.  Natalie agreed to try going without her binky during rest time.  It was a tough decision for her, but she was so brave and said, "I will try, mommy."   I gave her a big hug, put her binky up high in a cabinet, and mentally prepared for a terrible afternoon.

Surprise.  Surprise.  She did it!  Just as I was putting CJV down for her nap, Natalie asked for her binky.  I pulled her close and whispered, "Remember, you decided to try not having your binky until bedtime.  I know you can do it."

We went about the rest of our day.  We played wooden blocks and baby dolls.  She watched a show while I made a few business calls.  We baked cupcakes.  She played while I prepped dinner.  We played with Charlotte and waited for daddy to get home.  She didn't ask for it again until 7:00.  Natalie said, "Mommy, I'm ready for bed now.  I'm ready for my binky now."  There was such relief in that statement.

Natalie got lots of praise and hugs.  Here's hoping tomorrow will be another baby step toward binky freedom ...

CJV - 15 months

Weight: 14 pounds 12 ounces

Length: 27 inches
Head Circumference: 17.3 inches (on the charts!)
Teeth: 2 on bottom, 2 (big ones!) on top

Clothing Size: mainly 9 month, 6-12 month

Diaper Size: 2 (which is crazy!)

Shoe Size: 0-6 month Robeez

What I love about you, Charlotte Jane ...

1. Your crawl is the cutest!  You're so quick and determined.  And that little butt in the air just makes me smile :)   In the past few days, you've started pulling up to your knees and then getting one foot down ... like you're 'taking a knee."  You've even gotten to your feet once or twice. Seems to me that taking steps is in your near future!
2. You are officially sleeping through the night now - and have been for a while.   However, you have the hardest time falling asleep at night.  It can take you two hours of chatting, playing, pulling up and getting stuck, ... crying out so mommy will come give you pats. 
3. You love putting your index finger into tiny openings ... like the spout on the GoGoSqueez or Penne pasta or the tiny hole in the plastic on the shopping cart or up your nose.
4. You adore your big sister and give her the best giggles!
5. You have a love affair with Louie.  As soon as we come down the stairs in the morning, your eyes are searching for the cat, and you say the "T" sound for "caT" ...
6. Of course, you also really like Louie's food and water bowls.  When mommy says, "No.  No.  That's yucky," you give me this sweet innocent look and then crawl right back to me for a hug.
7. You say, "Uh-oh" at least twenty times a day ... every time something drops you chime in with "Uh-Oh!"  It's so cute, I drop things just to hear you say it!
8. I am fairly certain (and worried) that you love your binky almost as much as your big sister loves hers.  Just tonight, you crawled into your room, found three binkies, put one in your mouth and carried one in each hand ... and continued crawling around and playing. Big sister thinks it is so funny when you put your binkies into the Little People school bus!
9. When you find a cuddly baby doll, you pull her to your chest, pat her back, and say, "Ba-bee!"
10. You love music, and I give a lot of credit to our KinderMusik class for that.  Whenever you hear music, you start to bounce and rock - with the biggest grin on your face.  If it's a song you really like - or mommy starts dancing like a goof - you clap your hands and tap your feet against the floor.

However, I am not all that crazy about ...

1. You really want nothing to do with books.  I try and try to get you to sit on my lap and read, but you simply won't have it.  I am lucky to get through one small board book before bedtime.
2. We are experiencing some major separation anxiety.  You only want your mama, and there have been a lot of tears lately.  When Grammy was here she barely got to hold you, and our two recent doctor's appointments have not been pleasant.  But I am proud of you for stay at Adventure Kids for an hour today without me!
3. You poop all day ... every other day.  I cannot understand why it takes 5 or 6 dirty diapers to get the job done.  Why can't you just get it all out at once?  While we're on the subject, you are one stinky little girl! 
4. Just before you turned 15 months old, you were sick with a high fever for about five days.  It was heartbreaking to see you so miserable.  Turns out you had an infection and had to take antibiotics for the first time.
5. You throw food off your high chair tray with reckless abandon.  You pick through a pile of food and select pieces for your mouth while others get tossed to the floor as if they just didn't pass inspection.  Again, mommy and daddy get the sweet innocent look when we correct you ... or you blink your eyes and scrunch up your face, which makes us laugh and forget about your mischief!