Pack-pack...

We have started to practice for our upcoming hiking trips to Hocking Hills and Switzerland. We busted out the baby backpack (or "pack-pack" as Alex calls it). Last week we walked to Washtenaw Dairy to get some ice cream. We were a bit worried that a bigger, more active Alex wouldn't like the ride, but she loved it. Here she demonstrates how it works using her baby doll...


Then Wednesday afternoon she refused to take a nap. After a couple hours of her screaming at me ("But I'm not TIRED!!", "Naps are for BABIES!!"), we decided to hike to the park. This was the first time I tried to load her up without assistance... but after a little fumbling and almost dropping her, she was on and we were walking.

It was hot. I was sweaty. She was singing... we must have been quite a sight. But we made it to the park and she spent an hour swinging and sliding, and hasn't stopped talking about it since.

I may have created a monster...

This morning Michele took Alex to daycare. They had a conversation that Alex and I have almost everyday... but it concerned Michele a bit.

Alex told her that she was going to play, and then take a nap, and then Papa would pick her up, and then she would have a snack, and then we would walk down and watch the construction. For some reason Michele doesn't think it's healthy for a two year old to plan out her entire day in her head... heck, she doesn't think it's normal that I do it.

Maybe it isn't normal, or even preferred. But who doesn't want to have a plan? Who doesn't want to be prepared? Isn't it possible that it will give her just a little bit more confidence?

Maybe she'll be the perfect combination of retentive (me) and free spirit (Michele).

ABC...

...FYI...

Garden party...

With all the rain and cold lately, we have been a little behind on year two of our veggie garden. But this morning was beautiful so we turned this weedy, trampled plot
in to this tilled, trimmed, ready to plant garden
We planted some greens and plan to add tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and more greens next weekend. We also got some herbs that will be going in pots tomorrow. A pretty productive morning! Hopefully we can keep the unwanted visitors to a minimum.

Early morning mayhem...

Our nephew Maxwell has stayed with us the last two nights while his little brother (Felix!!) was being born. It has been a blast. His bedtime is a little later than Alex's (and mine to be honest), and his wake up routine starts a bit later... but we have all worked together to make it work. Yesterday morning Michele and I got them up and fed them and packed them in two seperate cars, and then met back up at daycare to take them in together... holding hands as usual. It worked out nicely.

This morning was different. Michele had an early meeting and an hour commute. She left before either of the little angel started to stir. So, it was me and two two year olds. Alex woke up and immediately wanted to start harrassing Max. Max is a slow-waker-upper, and spent some time stretching and giving Alex dirty looks for being so energetic. Then we all had breakfast and played a little. Both needed to go potty, so we spent some time discussing the difference between boys and girls (graphically, but with proper medical terminology). Easy peasy.

Until it was time to get cleaned up and dressed up and out the door. You would think that two two year olds is twice the work of one. You would be wrong. There is an exponential multiplier at work... egging each other on. It was like wrangling cats, if cats could giggle, jump, and scream "NO" while still being adorable. It was enjoyably frustrating... because they looked like this:



Eventually I got them both in the car and we danced all the way to TutorTime. It was a hoot, and I don't think I could do it everyday. Good luck Michael & Cheri.

Short story...

Michele just asked Alex why she didn't take a nap today. The answer?

"Apparently I wanted to play!"

I think we're in trouble.

Bigger girl bed...

Remember a couple months ago when Alex climbed out of her crib and we had to emergency shop for a big girl bed? Well, we didn't tell the whole story....

She did climb out. She did bonk herself a good one. We did run out and buy a new bed... to pick up the next day. But that night, as Michele went to put the little monkey in her crib, Alex leaned in close and whispered, "Mama, I won't climb out of my crib anymore." Just like that. So we slow played it a little. We eventually took off the front rails to convert her crib to a mini-big girl bed. She dug it. She could climb in and out on her own. But now...

We finally set up the big-big girl bed. The whole thing is a bit surreal. It's a real bed. And, she digs it...
She's taking her first nap in it right now. All grown up...