Feeney Visits

Feeney is in town from Phoenix this week.  We walked around Patriot Place Saturday morning before dropping him off at the Mansfield train station to head south. 

Jill was reallllly excited to see the commuter rail train up close.

"Bye, Mike!"

Snip, Snip

It's only fair to post my Parent of the Year moments after sharing Tony's in Broken Plastic = Broken Dreams.  After the hectic yet fun weekend of family, friends and house guests, Jill decided to get up at 3:30 Monday.  Too much excitement?  I think so.  She would not go back to her bed.  We were too exhausted to make her.  I caught myself pushing Jilly's hair out of her eyes.  Constantly.  The holiday and time off lasted through the day while Jill kept pulling elastics, barrettes and headbands off her head, sometimes violently.  Fast forward a few alcoholic beverages later, and suddenly Mom had garnered the confidence to cut Jilly's hair.  Just a few snips across the front.  Not exactly the first haircut story I had in mind.  Maybe we will count the "first" with an all-over snip, snip at the salon!

Some Christmas Excitement

strawberry treats from Shelley, my talented co-worker. Which one would you eat first? I picked coconut!

cheering for the Patriots and blowing bubbles with Heidi on Christmas Eve afternoon.  EVERYthing was sticky!

excited for guests Christmas Eve at my Mom's house - running and yelling to prove it!

Gram Furze and my cousin, Danny

Gram may be getting up there in age but she's not afraid to get right down on the floor and play with Jill.

opening gifts

Christmas Day in Quincy with the Musantes

a rein'beer' craft project, also Uncle Chris's gift - idea straight from pinterest

wearing her new bathing suit; she didn't want to take it off!

opening gifts with Nana

a wooden train set??!

a carriage for Big Baby?  (let me tell you, she whips this stroller around the house!)

helping Nana

new outfit in 3T - a little baggy but not for long

the Musante ladies

Getting Into the Christmas Spirit

Disclaimer: Our neighbor Stella gave this Santa top to Jill last year.  She seems to like it!  She picked it up this morning to wear on top of her jammies to her holiday party at school.  (It was a combo pj/Christmas deal.)

I photoshopped a pimple off her cheek.  You can judge; that's fine. 

Jill came home with this frame wrapped in candy cane paper with a tag,
"To Mommy & Daddy"

So sweet!

The Reason Behind 'Terrible Two' Behavior

I've mentioned in the past - at least I think I have - that I enjoy receiving weekly newsletters from Isis Parenting.  I found a portion of this week's update to be very interesting, informative, even comforting.  Take a look at the reason behind "terrible two" behavior:

Emotional growth and brain hemisphere

You may have heard of someone who was described as being "right-brained" or "left-brained" at one time or another. It's true that the different sides of the brain control different functions that make up the emotional and behavioral things we do. It's also true that in toddlers, the left and right brains grow at different rates at different times, almost in an alternating pattern. Since the right side of the brain controls a great deal of emotion and emotional growth, don't be surprised if your toddler is sometimes a model of good behavior and happiness and sometimes a "terrible two." As the sides of her brain alternate in their development, her behavior and emotions will follow.

¿Como Se Dice 'ABCs' en Español?

The look on Jill's face this morning was priceless.  She must've hit the English-Spanish switch because she looked very perplexed when her activity table started the ABC song in Spanish.  It was the, "Hey!  I thought I was getting the hang of this song.  What the hell is this?" look.

Just before we left for school, Jill discovered a new magic game.  She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her pink fleece and waited for us to ask her where her hands went.  Out flies her hands with a huge smile on her face.  Repeat 12 times.

Nine Years and Counting

Thirteen days from now we will welcome a new year.  We'll enter 2012.  Although our wedding anniversary isn't until June - another six months away - I'm thinking of it as a year-long event.  It's 10 years.  It's a big deal.

And while something tin is the traditional gift by year, I'm thinking of something warmer, sunnier, sandy-er.  I'm thinking of a trip to somewhere tropical.

Now taking destination recommendations and donations.  Will accept PayPal.

Daily Reports

A collection of recent reports from day care.

Things I Did Well Today:

• helping with younger friends
• sponge painted
• yoga (downdog, butterfly, cat pose)

Things I'm Still Working On:

• keeping feet on floor
• using my listening ears and gentle hands
• throwing lunch on floor
  
  

Saturday Night at the Aquarium

Reserved for the Genzyme Children's Holiday Party

Words and pictures can't begin to describe the fun we had Saturday night at the New England Aquarium.  Jill wanted to stop at each window as we made our way up the ramp by the four-story ocean tank.  She squealed, pointed and yelled, "MORE FISHIES!"  She loved the penguins, the turtles, the fish, everything.  She bravely touched a ray at the Shark & Ray Touch Tank.  The look on her face reminded me of why I became a parent. 

Watch a video of the touch tank here on YouTube.  (We didn't see any of the larger sharks while we were there.)

The Lip

Put that lip away or Santa's birds will come sit on it!

Yes, back in the day when there was no Elf on the Shelf, my Mom invented "Santa's birds."  They looked in every window and somehow always showed up when my brother and I weren't getting along.

Two Year Check-Up

Jill's two year check-up was last Thursday.  Poor thing had to get a shot and have blood work.  It was miserable!  The stickers and pink bandage made it more bearable though, I would say.  Jill also received extra hugs and attention from Miss Cindy at drop-off.

The stats: We are holding steady in the 94th percentile for height and 40th for weight.  She hasn't gained much since the last visit; she's just stretching out!

Message from Santa to Jill

Nana sent this video last week.  It's personalized for Jill and obviously direct from Santa. 

Mom's message to Jill: Santa visits good little girls and boys who go to bed before 8:30 pushing 9 p.m.  Get your act together, kid!

Sleepovers and Ugly Sweater Parties

Jill's first sleepover Saturday night at Uncle Scott & Aunt Jess's house. As you can see, she was happy to spend time with her cousin, Guy!

Jill: I'll help you with tummy time.  See, it's not that bad!

soooooo ready to crawl!

My Mom's a Saint. She stayed at the house while Jess, Scott and I went to Tyla's Ugly Sweater Party.  Sorry, Mom, your scrubs aren't really ugly!

Jess is crafty.  She broke out the hot glue gun for these bad boys!

me & Ty

This is what I came home to.  A sweet angel asleep on a "big girl" mattress. 

Sunday morning: Everyone's still asleep.  Let's color!

Visit With Gram

opening her birthday present at Gram's house in Portsmouth on Saturday morning

No decadent muffin for you?  How about vanilla ice cream at 10:30 in the morning?  It's Gi-Gi C.'s house.  Anything goes.

Rustle of Spring?  Sure, no problem.

loving the piano

and the stuffed animal dog too; it's battery operated and breathes. a little creepy if you ask me!

everything in Gram's house was an adventure, or accident waiting to happen, for Jilly

Jill inherited Gram's musical genes, for sure! I wonder if she will speak French too...