reunited with a childhood nemisis

My parents tell the story of this toy cow. That I hated. I was terrified of its mooooo. The mere sight of it sent me running. My uncle and cousins loved to torture me with it. Everyone got a good laugh at my expense. At least that's how the story goes. I have a vague memory of The Cow from when I was about two years old.

I was recently at my parents' house for a visit, and once again The Cow story was told.  Everyone got a good laugh.  Ha. Ha.

And then yesterday we were visiting with good friends who happen to have a collection of vintage toys from childhood.  So cool! 

Amongst those toys ... The Cow.

I couldn't resist posing with the source of some toddler angst.  And I can't imagine why I was afraid of this cute little cow ... except maybe the horns; those are a bit evil-looking!

Now I Know My ABC's

The past month has been huge for Charlotte's language development.  She is talking and singing and pointing out letters - everywhere!  Pretty exciting stuff considering she was diagnosed with a language delay just a year ago and receives speech services twice a month.

Not only does she sing the Alphabet Song, but she also recognizes all 26 letters.  Charlotte loves her Melissa & Doug puzzle (thanks, Aunt Laura).  And we have been playing with a set of foam letters - I swear those things are responsible for my girls knowing their ABC's at relatively young ages!

We play games with those foam letters.  Her personal favorite is "Find Mommy and the Letter."  I grab a letter from the basket, run and hide behind something, she finds me and names the letter I am holding, and then takes it to the rug.  I run back to the basket, grab another letter, and repeat!  She also loves to pull a letter from the basket, name it, and then throw it across the room.  After she's emptied the basket and there are letters all over the floor, I call out a letter and she tries to find it and puts it back in the basket {it's clean-up disguised as fun}.

While she definitely knows the letters, I really love that she's still figuring it all out ... an I is always an H because she turns it sideways.  M and W continue to confuse her - rightfully so!  E and F trick her, too!  She says "L" with her tongue sticking out.  And X is "ek."  When she says, "U" it's followed by "umbrella" and "Z" is for "zipper" - but those are the only two that get words.

From A-Z, I love this little girl!

Happy {Early} Birthday, NHV!

Speaking of birthdays, NHV had the chance to celebrate her summer birthday with her preschool class. 

She held a model of the earth and walked around the sun.  Each rotation marked a year, and I was asked to tell something special that happened during that year.  After five trips around the sun, we sang Happy Birthday and she blew out a candle.  Then the real fun began ... I got to read a book to the class, and - if you know me at all - you know I was loving every minute!  Right back in my role as a teacher - it felt so good and so natural!

Natalie and I chose the book Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan - a gift from Chitown Momma - because you can't celebrate a birthday without cake!  Plus that is one FUNNY book, and her classmates laughed at all the right parts :)

Clearly, CJV doesn't appreciate good bunny humor ;)

Happy Half Birthday, CJV!

I am a big fan of birthdays, and my sweet Charlotte Jane just celebrated two and a half!

Which certainly warrants a stroll down memory lane ... or at least through the image files :)

{December} 

She was and continues to be a good eater and great with a spoon.

{January} 

Water makes her happy, which explains the Mommy & Me swim lessons.

{February} 

Fearless at the playground, she climbs everything 

and zooms down even the highest slide!

{March} 

This girl loves shoes, especially ones that don't belong to her!

{April}  

So easygoing even a long hike makes her cheer!

{May} 

Around crowds she tends to sit back and take it all in.

{June} 

Charlotte is officially looking less like a baby and more like a little girl! 

 And she is constantly on-the-go ... 

even in this photo she's making an escape!

Problem Solving

What are you doing?

Who?  Me?

Just some innocent stretches.

crib climber - escape artist

She may be 28 months old and just shy of 20 pounds, but Charlotte Jane has been mighty and surprising us since day one!  She started climbing out of her crib a few months ago, so we lowered her mattress to the floor - took the metal springs out and set it right on the floor.  But that trick no longer works to contain our "little monkey" who has figured out how to escape once again!



And here is the last official photo of my "baby" in her crib ... {sob, sob}

She's been sleeping in her toddler bed {the crib without the front rail} for three nights now, and she seems to like it just fine.  In fact, after testing it three or four times the first night, she hasn't gotten out of it until we come to get her ... yet!

LEGO® rockstars

Those colorful building blocks are favorites in this family!  Chad's childhood collection - which sat in the basement of his mom's house for many years - has been given a new lease on life!  And now that we have the Lay-N-Go, I love LEGO even more ... and my feet don't suffer!

Even Charlotte gets in on the fun!  While she appears to be sitting so angelically here; deep in concentration on her latest creation.  Don't be fooled!  Her specialty is throw-and-destroy!

This is my favorite recent build.  A rock stage complete with performers and instruments!  Look closely and you'll see a backstage door and dressing room!  There's even elaborate lighting and sound systems.  And that blur in the front ... stadium seating!