Worms and Roly Poly Bugs

Can't Beat It

One of the most incredible things about living in the DC area is the resources and activities available, many at no or low cost. There is a huge variety of accessible museums and parks, but that's just the beginning.

Where else can you start the day with a county sponsored swim lesson at a local indoor pool, attend a free children's show at the National Theater about Africa's music, dance and storytelling, build and paint a bird house for $2 at a Nature Center, visit a Vietnamese market for snacks, and then go roller skating at a local community center for just a few dollars?

Ashlawn Science Fair - March 2012

Ashlawn has an annual science fair that Zoe and Mia participated in this year.

They wanted to learn more about what magnets stick to. They collected all types of different things and then held them to the magnet. I was surprised that when they tried sticking one magnet to another magnet, Zoe shared that she thought "north will stick to south but not to north." That is the language they must be learning in school about positive and negative attraction. Zoe also shared that if you hold a magnet under a tray that is holding something metal, you can make the metal move. Mia was happy to share that north can't stick to north and south can't stick to south, and that magnets can stick to metal.

On the afternoon of the fair, Zoe and Mia started to feel ambivalent about standing by their project and answering questions. Once they got comfortable though, they really enjoyed it. In front of each project was a paper for observers to leave notes. The girls enjoyed collecting lots of positive feedback from others. I was a "judge" and enjoyed asking questions about projects and leaving notes for the kids.

Overall, it was a great experience to practice with science and to practice talking to other people about it.

Congratulations Zoe and Mia!

Spring Ballet

We tried a new ballet studio this year, and you both really enjoyed it.

Zoe, you were so happy to find your friends in your class, and you were very excited that you were allowed to use the bar.

Mia, you absolutely blossomed. You were eager to go every week, loved your teacher, and participated in all the movements. What a difference a year makes!

Another One Bites The Dust

Sophie - Two Years Old

The day has come - you're two! I loved celebrating your second birthday with you. You were happy all day. All days have their ups and downs (as in smiles and giggles and whines and cries). On your birthday, however, you were devoted to being happy all day long, and it was a treat! You enjoyed opening cards and playing with the toys as well as the wrappers. You adorned yourself with anything and everything that you could put on your body - glasses, necklaces, clothes, back packs, etc. You loved your millet, whole wheat, strawberry cake care of our milk mom friend Fiona's recipe. This was my one and two year old healthy choice birthday cake. I can't imagine I'll be making it again, but it was good while it lasted.

One your birthday, let's capture a few special things about Sophie:

Whenever you say "Thank you", you immediately follow with "Your welcome." It's a little confusing to strangers who offer you a kindness and hear "thank you, you're welcome" in return.

You like to label things as "silly" to test out what's funny and what's not. You will do something like jump up and down, put on your sisters clothes over yours, or flip your plate upside down, and quickly look at me and say "silly mommy?"

One of the books you like to read at bedtime is called "Ten Little Lady Bugs". I'm not sure what catches your attention, but on page four with the picture of a turtle on it, you insist on pausing and looking at the page for several minutes each night. You've recently begun talking about the turtle a little, and telling me that you need a little more time on the page. Eventually you stroke the turtle picture, and let me know I can turn the page.

Your language continues to really expand, and you like to label everything in your environment. You also mimic those around you. Your sisters are most often around you, and the three of you love to play mimic-games. I am constantly amazed at how quickly you learn new songs and phrases.

Turning two is a big milestone for me too. Your 'babyness' is almost gone. You'll be potty trained and in a big bed soon. I don't need to pay attention to whether or not you're exposed to nuts or shell fish anymore (since the pediatrician didn't want us trying those until you turned two). And, I've provided you breast milk until you turned two which was a personal hope of mine. I will miss the baby times, and I will also thoroughly enjoy the toddler times.

Happy, happy day to my little Soph. I'm so happy you're a part of our family.

Love,

Mom

Kid Speak - Zoe and Mia

On a recent road trip, Zoe said:

Can someone please just pull the car over and let me run next to it.

After finding a gold $1 coin from the tooth fairy, Zoe exclaimed:

Now, I need to collect 3,018 more and I can buy a car.

Mia, waving a wand all around me:

Mom, I'm turning you in to a princess. Don't move or I won't be able to concentrate.

Mia, from the back seat:

Mom, drive as fast as you can. My stomach is telling me it's so hungry it's going to explode.

Mia, at bedtime:

Mom, I love you. I love you. I love you...I'm making your heart really big. I love you more than infinity.

Zoe - First Tooth Out

After weeks of intense wiggling, your wish has been granted. You lost your first tooth tonight Zoe. It seems like just yesterday that we were counting every new tooth that appeared. Now you're eagerly awaiting the next loose tooth! Amazing how things change.

Your tooth was hanging by a thread, and you asked us to help you get it out. I offered you a piece of dental floss to play with it, and you asked me to help wiggle it. I maneuvered it one time gently with the floss and it came right out.

At first you were so excited. Still, you can hardly stop grinning.

But there is also a part of you that's a bit ambivalent. You're not ready for the tooth fairy to come and take it. You miss having it in your mouth, and it feels a bit like you're missing something. We agreed to tell the tooth fairy not to come just yet. You're not ready to part with your little tooth.

When you're ready though, we have just the thing. When I was in elementary school, I sewed pillows for kids to put their teeth in for the tooth fairy. The pillows had a little pocket and usually the child's initials. I still have a pillow I made for myself. You can use it if you like.

Ski Day

Turns out kids don't need all that much snow to have an awesome time on skis. That's a good thing because we've had very little snow this year, but certainly enough to keep the ski school functional. Zoe and Mia had a ski lesson today at Liberty in PA. They got to use the magic carpet, or as Mia likes to call it, the magic mat, and then also went up the small chair lift. Zoe is making turns and Mia has great balance and can go straight.
When we went to pick them up, they were coming down from the chair lift and were skiing holding hands. Putting aside the notion that skiing holding hands probably isn't the best way to learn or the safest, it sure is cute. This is one of my favorite pictures.Ending the afternoon with hot chocolate is sure to give them extra fond memories. :)