Life Right Now

Last Thursday, Lizzy finished her last day of preschool. Next year, she'll be in pre-K and going three days a week, and she already CAN NOT WAIT. Actually, she cannot wait for kindergarten, and doesn't quite understand why other kids who will be five will be in kindergarten next year and she won't (she's a January birthday, so she's past the cut-off). But, she'll survive :)



After her last day of school, as we were driving home, she was looking at the yearbook that her school does. She told me, "I'm just looking at the pre-K kids, to make sure I know what I'm supposed to look like next year!" She is so funny sometimes.

This past week, I also took the girls around the corner from our house to do an annual sister picture. And because you KNOW I'm a sucker for comparison pictures, here's the batch from last year, June 2013:

And then this year, June 2014:

Becca, at 18 months, is actually wearing the same dress that Lizzy wore in the 2013 pictures, when she was 3. It is crazy to me sometimes how different Lizzy and Becca are, both in terms of personalities, and also in terms of size. Lizzy was a lot more verbal at this age than Becca is, and I think sometimes we treated her a lot older than she really was (we still forget sometimes that she's only 4!). Becca knows plenty of words, and is totally on track for her age, but because she isn't nearly as verbal as Lizzy, it's easier to treat her like the age she really is. I'm sure part of it is a second child thing too--with the first kiddo, I feel like I was more excited for all those milestones and "firsts", and with Becca, I am 100% fine to hold off on some of those things, ha!

On the other hand, there's also a set of things that I think Becca will do more quickly than Lizzy, because she has someone to keep up with!  For example, Lizzy was practicing her scooter on Saturday, and Becca was royally ticked that she didn't have one of her own to ride--she kept yelling "Beppa! Turn!" (her version of "Becca's turn!"). Justin would help her stand and roll a bit, and she could not have been more proud of herself.

Lizzy has been asking over and over if she and Becca can share a room. She talks about bunk beds NON STOP, and I secretly think she's trying to teach Becca to climb out of her crib so that we'll be more likely to want to transition Becca to a different type of bed. On one hand, it would be really nice to have them share a bedroom and maybe have our third bedroom be a toy/playroom. On the other hand, Becca still naps and Lizzy does not, but she usually still goes into her room and reads for quiet time. I feel like going to a shared room is going to eliminate Becca's nap since she'll want to be just like Lizzy, and I am definitely not ready for that! I feel like why rush it unless we have to. We'll see.

The Girls Right Now

The other day, we were playing blocks when I grabbed my camera and asked both girls to "model" for a photo. I totally let them run with whatever that meant to them, and I just happened to get a series for both girls that I thought captured each of their personalities perfectly. And so, along with the photos, I just wanted to give a quick update on both girls and what they're up to as well, because it has been too long.

Lizzy:

-Turned 4 in January, but often tells people that she's "almost five".
-Is going to preschool two days a week.

-Has informed me that she's having a summer party, which is NOT a slumber party, though everyone who comes to her summer party will spend the night. I am in charge of making a quilt for everyone and also the food.
-Wants to listen to the Frozen soundtrack 100 times a day.

-HATES broccoli.
-Is starting to talk back and have some serious attitude sometimes. 

 -If she gets sent to her room for a timeout, she sing cries. She'll cry for a minute, and then sing, "I don't want to clean up toooyyyssssss!" Then cry for another minute before singing, "I just want to play all daaaaaayyyyyyy." Thank you Frozen, for this one.
-Is really sweet with Becca 95% of the time. 
-Could probably really benefit from some one-on-one "dates" with mom and dad.
-Is zero percent shy, and 100% spunky, in the best way possible.

Becca: 

-Is 15 months old.
-Can eat more than everyone in the family, except maybe Justin.
-Just had her bottom two molars finally pop through, hallelujah!

 

-Is a total bruiser. One of her favorite things to do is to push Lizzy over and jump on top of her, or else grab on to her clothes and pull her all around the house, usually resulting in lots of crying and hysterics from Lizzy, which Becca just seems to think is absolutely hilarious. 

-Enjoys giving "loves", but is really super aggressive about it--smooshing her face into us as hard as possible. -Is still a total mamma's girl, and often screams and cries hysterically if anyone else (including Justin) is holding her. Unless she's offered a cookie. Then she's totally fine. Stinker.
-Is starting to sing songs. Her favorites are Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Let It Go (from Frozen)

-Actually knows a lot of words, though our families probably wouldn't believe it--she tends to be very quiet out in public, or else just grunts rather than actually using the words she knows.
-Loves to play "getcha getcha" and peekaboo.
-Likes to read Llama Llama Red Pajama.

-ALWAYS takes off one shoe in the car. I've been hit in the head with flying shoes several times, and we've also lost several shoes when driving with the windows open.
-Is really starting to develop her own personality and sense of humor this month!

100 Questions. Two Minutes. Welcome to Three.

Everybody talks about the "terrible twos", but man...two has NOTHING on three. Not because three year olds are terribly bad (though sometimes they can be), but because three year olds don't stop talking. Like ever. This morning, Lizzy literally asked me 100 questions in a two minute span of time that I was sitting on the couch and nursing Becca. Actually, it was more like 300 questions in five minutes, but who has time to write down 300 questions?! 

Here's a two-minute glimpse into the life of a three year old:

1. Can I climb up the side fridge to get a yogurt?

2. Can I have breakfast yet?

3. Why can't I climb on these plastic boxes?

4. What if my teacher says it's okay to climb on these plastic boxes? You said that it's important to be a good listener.

5. Can I have breakfast yet?

6. Can I have a puppy?

7. Why don't puppies pee on the toilet? I absolutely want to potty train a puppy.

8. Can I have breakfast yet?

9. Can we go to Dairy Queen?

10. What if I am really hungry?

11. What if you are really hungry?

12. What if Aunt Courtney comes over and she is really hungry?

13. Why does my dad have nipples?

14. Would you love to get my breakfast right now?

15. Why doesn't your head reach the ceiling?

16. Does dad have a baseball game tonight?

17. Why does his team wear green?

18. Can today be a special day?

19. Can I watch Christmas Wiggles?

20. Can I watch Pocahontas?

21. Can I watch Handy Manny?

22. Can I watch My Little Pony?

23. Can I have breakfast yet?

24. Can trees talk?

25. Then why does the Grandma tree on Pocahontas talk?

26. Can I marry my cousin Logan?

27. Can I marry my cousin Logan when I'm 21?

28. Today are we going to church?

29. Where are we going today?

30. Do I have swim lessons today?

31. Can I PLEASE have a blueberry yogurt?

32. Why do I have boogers?

33. Will my bottom get bigger like yours?

34. Can I ask for a scooter for my birthday?

35. Can I ask for a puppy for my birthday?

36. How many days are there until my birthday?

37. HOW COME BECCA GETS TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY BEFORE I DO?!!!!

38. Why don't you like oven pancakes?

39. Am I allergic to eggs?

40. Am I allergic to alligators?

41. Can I squirt water out of the fridge?

42. What if it's really hot out?

43. What if I clean it up?

44. What if it's an accident?

45. What if Leah {her imaginary friend} does it?

46. How old do I have to be to drink beard {beer}?

47. Can I eat dandelions?

48. Then why did Grandma Joyce say her dad made dandelion wine?

49. Why do children get energy when they are sleeping?

50. Would you really really love to get some breakfast for me?!

51. Why does Becca drink milk from your nipple and I drink milk from the fridge?

52. Why does my nose snort?

53. When can I wear my just-for-school shoes?

54. Is today a school day?

55. How many days until it is a school day?

56. Do I get to eat something at school?

57. Can Becca be three on her next birthday?

58. Why does Becca poop in her diaper?

59. Is she poopy now?

60. When will she be poopy again?

61. Can I have some frozen blueberries?

62. When are we going to buy a new car?

63. Can I ride bikes right now?

64. What if I put on shoes?

65. What if I put on a coat?

66. Can I have some exercise shorts that have underwear inside them?

67. Are we going to exercise today?

68. BUT HOW CAN I EXERCISE WITHOUT UNDERWEAR SHORTS?!

69. Can we go to Target?

70. Can we go to Wal-Mart?

71. Can we go to Taco Bell?

72. Can we go to the zoo? {We don't have a zoo}

73.  Did Aunt Karla's puppies open their eyes yet?

74. WHEN am I going to have breakfast?

75. Can I have some coffee today?

76. When can I drink coffee?

77. When can Becca drink coffee?

78. Are Daddy's Normans coming over today? {Recently, some Mormon Missionaries have been coming over and talking with Justin}

79. How old do you have to be to drive a car?

80. How old do you have to be to wear make-up?

81. How old do you have to be to like naps?

82. Do I have to take a nap today?

83. AFTER my nap, can we go to the Wal-Mart with a little potty?

84. Can we climb Table Rock?

85. Can I spend the night at grandma and grandpa's house?

86. Can I spend the night at my cousins' house?

87. Can everyone we know spend the night at our house?

88. Can we adopt my friend Shila-Lucy? She doesn't have a family to take care of her.

89. Can we adopt a puppy who needs a family to take care of her?

90. Can I have sprinkles for breakfast?

91. Can we go to Oh Maybe {Old Navy} and get a balloon?

92. Where is heaven?

93. You are really old and have a big bottom. How old are you?

94. Can I toot on you?

95. Can I toot on your foot?

96. Can I toot on Becca's foot?

97. Can I have some breakfast yet?

98.  Can I have popcorn for breakfast?

99. Would you please call me Elizabeth instead of Lizzy?

100. Why do people wear underwear?

These Girls

Over the past year, Justin has had night class for his apprenticeship once a week. Usually, he heads straight there from work, and then gets home sometime between 9-10pm. It makes for a loooonnnggggg night for both of us. I don't know why, but doing the whole dinner/bath/bed routine solo is infinitely more difficult than doing the day-to-day stuff. Anyway. Last week was his last class until the fall! I was trying to keep my sanity last week, so I took the girls out to the front yard and for a quick little walk around the corner to take some photos.

Because while this is a hard, sleepless, time peppered with some serious separation anxiety for Becca (just for good measure), it's also a sweet time with these girls--Becca's personality is really starting to show, and she is really pretty hilarious. Lizzy is still getting used to the dynamic of having to share time with Becca,  and three may be the most dramatic age to date, but she's also full of such straight-up belly-laughing FUN.

And these girls together? They kind of blow me away. They love each other so much, and I hope that never changes. My sister and I never got along growing up. In fact, we're really just starting to get along now. I was nervous to have two girls, because for me, that whole "SISTERS ARE BFFS FOREVER" thing never happened. I find myself kind of holding my breath with Lizzy and Becca. Because Becca just lights up whenever she sees Lizzy. And Lizzy is generally so sweet with Becca. But I also see, sometimes, those tinges of jealousy. On occasion, I see Lizzy trying to knock Becca over when she doesn't realize I'm watching. I see Becca get irritated with the never stopping, never ceasing kisses and hugs and slobbery kisses from Lizzy. Time will tell, I guess. And until then, I hold my breath and hope for the best.

Why not pick the wildflowers?

This morning, while Becca was down for a nap, I tried to coax Lizzy outside. It's been rainy here for the past few days (because what would spring in Oregon be without rain?), and Lizzy has been BEGGING to go outside. So, I thought she'd jump at the opportunity to get outside since the sun was finally peeking through the clouds. I thought wrong.

But MOM, it's a little bit windy and the wind will knock me over!

But MOM, there is some sort of little bug on the blanket and he is NOT MAKING GOOD CHOICES AND NOT BEING A GOOD LISTENER TO ME.

But MOM, I just want to watch another episode of Dora.

But MOM, there is no snow for me to make a snow angel and I really want to make a snow angel.

I was getting frustrated. Because this was our chance for some one-on-one time. Time I know she craves. The stuff that she acts out if she doesn't get. And she was being so ridiculous that it was making it almost impossible to give it to her.

"Hey Lizzy, do you want to pick some flowers? We can take them inside and put them in a vase."

See, Lizzy loves to pick flowers. And I feel like I'm often telling her, "Please don't pick the flowers Lizzy!" The problem with Lizzy and flowers is that she will pick every. single. one. And sometimes, especially at other people's houses...they actually want the flowers that they purchased to remain in tact, rather than pulled apart and strewn about the lawn. Heck, sometimes *I* want that. But we've planted wildflowers in a few places in the backyard, and there's really no reason why she can't pick those. So, we did.






And then we went inside and picked out a mason jar, and I watched and took some photos as she arranged the flowers just so in the jar. The ones with too-short stems and all.  Then she smiled.






As a mom, these are the little moments that I am thankful for. However fleeting they may be. And today I can't help but think why NOT pick the wildflowers?

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone,

 but also on trees, and in the flowers, and clouds and stars. 

~Attributed to Martin Luther