Ita's here!!!

My mom drove up from the valley and arrived here Friday evening. She's moving in with us until she sells her property in the valley, and buys a home here. We're so excited to have her here...especially Mia. When Mia saw her Ita and Max (my moms dog) at the front window, she squealed with delight!

Saturday, my sweet husband had to work pretty much all day. Mia hung out with her beloved Ita while I took lunch to Daryl and ran all sorts of errands. Compliments of Ita, Mia now has a car seat for Ita's car, a mattress that fits her Ikea bed...mattress found at Ikea. Also found at Ikea were a new quilt and duvet set for Mia's toddler bed. Mia thinks they're nice and all, but is still hooked on her crib. Daryl and I have decided to let that ride for a while. She's happy and safe..why mess with that?!?!
After errands, Mia and I took Ita over to Katherine Fletcher Park in the neighborhood. It was a beautiful day, but just a tad chilly. We played with pebbles, slid down slides, swung on swings, played in the sand and had a picnic lunch until it was just too chilly to be out. Even with a thick sweater and gloves, Mia's poor nose was red and cold. It was a short but sweet perfect introduction for Ita.

Yesterday, after a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon and homemade biscuits, we drove out to Mills Pond to check out the ducks. This also was Ita's first time. There were the regular duck, but also a whole flock of northern puddle ducks wintering in our pond. Obviously wild ducks, they didn't come to the call of stale bread, and all the local ducks were so full, so we just feed the bread to the fish we couldn't see :)
While Mia napped, I was able to steam clean the downstairs. It was a labor of love. The carpet is so fluffy and clean now. I don't even want to talk about how dirty the water was when I was done. I think Daryl has a little devilish streak to him. While I was cleaning the carpet, he kept walking through it, and it really bugged me. His shoes were clean and all, so I just couldn't figure out why it bugged me so. Knowing it bugged me, he had a bit of fun with me..teasing to walk all over the living room. Then I realized that he was messing up my 'lines'. You know, those lines that show the the carpet has been cleaned...sort of how some men are particular of the lines they make when mowing the lawn. Once I figured it out, and I realized how OCD that was, I gave him free reign over the carpet :)

Since Joe and Gwen had been coming over the last few Sunday afternoons to play, they had us all over to their house yesterday afternoon for the Cowboy game. Even thought the Cowboys lost because of an interception in the last 9 seconds of the game, we all had a fun time. Melissa made some yummy crock pot chili. Once Gwen stopped trying to hug on Mia, and Mia realized that Gwen wasn't trying to maim her, they all settled in for a good play. Melissa's brother, Pete, was there, and he played with Mia so well...like usual. After dinner, Melissa broke out the snowflake stickers and then the real fun began. Mia, Gwen and Melissa were covered in stickers when it was over. Mia even stood still long enough for her cousin Gwen to place a sticker on her nose. Good Times :)

On a side note, Daryl has taken on teh responsibilty of teaching Mia how to dress and undress herself. So far, she's managed to make herself look like Cornholio the Great.

Duck pond

Sticker fun

duck water is delicious

My very good mama friend/neighbor, Jillian, is pregnant with their second child. Kayli is going to be a big sister!! Poor Jillian is going through the worst morning sickness ever. She was severely dehydrated Friday, so her wonderful husband, Steve, took her to the ER for a few IV bags of liquids. While all that was happening, Mia and I got the pleasure of hanging out with Kayli on Friday.

Kayli digs Mia's tiger

Kayli is almost 17 months old, and a pure joy. Mia and she have been hanging out quite a bit, so they play very well together. While she was here, she feel in love with one of Mia's tigers. The girls played, had lunch, and Kayli took a long nap in Mia's crib. This left Mia cribless. I tried to put her down in her big girl bed, but since Kayli was in the room, that didn't work. We tried mama & dada's bed, and that didn't work. So, Mia went napless until Kayli went home. Kayli was here for about 6 hours, so Mia and she got a lot of playtime together :)

Mia diplomatically offers her hippo for the tiger...DENIED!

On to the duck. Mia's uncle Joe, auntie M and Gwen gave Mia a duck for Christmas. Mia made sure he had a little 'pond' to swim in... in the form of Niles' water bowl. She had a great time, and even said the pond water was delicious :) YUCK!

Duck pond

Once Daddy got home, we all went outside to grill some burgers and play in the sand box. In the drainage ditch behind our house, was a random cow. Mia was very excited, and I think Daryl needs an update on his glasses, because he couldn't tell the difference between it's head and hind end. Mia found the moon and decided that when there is only a sliver showing that the moon is 'hiding'.

The cow that didn't jump over the moon...because the moon was hiding

Duck pond

Cow & Moon

She swims & plays

After a long holiday break, we were back at swim class this morning. Mia was soooo ready to get back into the pool, her grin was from ear to ear. She was so excited she just wanted to wriggle out of my arms, that made her sink, so that kind of made her mad. Then she'd giggle and wriggle again :) We have one more class in this session, then she graduates to the next level. I'm so ready to sit and watch her without getting in a suit and all wet.

One of my best friends, Stephanie, has embarked on a new adventure. She sews little monsters and tooth pillows and even has an Etsy site where you can purchase them ;) They are the most adorable ever. So, I've purchased 2 tooth pillows and had my eye on a pink monster, but when I saw it, I fell in love. So did Mia. She wouldn't stop squeezing it and sucking on one of its horns :) Thankfully we purchased it BEFORE she stuck it in her mouth. Even though it's super cute, I somehow doubt anyone else would want a pre-sucked on monster. Mia played very well with Cole and Roarke. Roarke is almost five and very into his Gameboy. He proudly showed me almost every step he took. Cole tried very hard to share his toys, but sharing is hard sometimes :) He's always with bigger kids, and not so much around younger, so he gave Mia some of her own medicine. Mia was a little rough with some younger kids for a while. Mama Stephanie was on it. She's a very present and caring mom. I love being around her and her kids. After some yummy pizza, piano playing and hugs we had to head on home. Naptime ;)

Creative Cool Collages

Old pals Lora & Liam opened up their home for a bunch of toddlers, their mamas, and a big ole mess! It was a create a collage playdate with some of the O' Mamas.

First the kids snacked on yummies like cheese, mango, dried pineapples and crackers. Then they played for a while. Once Mama Lora was set up in the kitchen, the kids joined her to stir up some glue. They each had their one spoon and really enjoyed stirring and stirring. There wasn't even that big of a mess on the floor. All the girls were on task while cutie Liam wanted to close the pot with his lid.
Then I think it was more playtime in the other room. Sweet Sarah tried to coax Mia into the tent with her, but Mia had other plans. All the kids played so very well together. One big hit was little 3 month old Gavin. Big sister, Ava, made sure he was ok. Dawn was such a smiley mama today :)

Back to the kitchen for shredding fun! Lora brought out all this wrapping paper saved from Christmas for the kids to tear and shred. They had a WONDERFUL time! They shred and shred and shred, then had a ball throwing it up in the air and screaming as it came down. Mama Anjalika started that bit, and Mia just LOVED it and couldn't stop laughing. We had to let the kids settle down a little bit after all that excitement, so they played in the living room until it was time to glue and stick. Sarah & Mia really gravitate towards each other. Sarah, always looking out for Mia, gave Mia a brush to get started with. Little Anika joined in the fun, while all the other kids had their own board to paste and cover.

Mia loved spreading the glue, but she wasn't so much into sticking the colored paper on, so I did that part for her. I started to take the brush from her so she could do the paper part, but I pulled back and remembered 'it's not the product it's the process'. Mia went to town doing whatever pleased her, and I pulled out my camera to keep myself busy so I wouldn't get up all in her kool-aid! that even included letting her eat a copious amounts of homemade glue (salt, sugar, flour and water). The kids created such beautiful collages, and when we held the finished products up, they all seemed rather proud of themselves.
LOTS More Pics Here

Off to a great start!

This morning Mia and I slept in till about 9 :) Then we snuggled in our bed and read books until she was ready to try the potty. She pee pee'd & poo'd. Yay! Mia!!! It's what's going on over here, I can't help it. After all that excitement we got ready and headed out for our Social Mamas Playdate at Chick fil A

We hung out with our pals Juliet & Blake, Martha & Bethany and met new friends Kathy and her two awesome kids Julian and Clara. Bethany & Julian are almost 3 while Blake and Mia are around 2. Both ages were well represented. Baby Clara is only a few months old, so she stuck with her mama while the kids went wild on the playscape. Mia followed Bethany's lead and went up a few flights, but really enjoyed trying to climb UP the slide with Blake. There was this little pod the kids could get in with 2 wheel they could use to 'fly' the pod. Mia loved it, but wasn't into sharing. When Blake wanted to join her, she whacked him! Not hard, but a few smacks to deter him. That wasn't nice, so Mia was promptly removed from the situation.

Blake and Mia also had a fun time rearranging all the shoes in the shoe bins. Mia does love her shoes :) After a lot of playtime we all went back in to the restaurant for some lunch. Mia was ok with her chicken (she used it primarily to scoop up ketchup) and her fruit, but LOVED the watered down lemonade. Mia was also into everything Juliet had around her. She even took Juliet's honey mustard sauce and put it in her own chicken box. Sneaky little girl! After a good chat and lunch, we hit the playscape again. Then we were gone in search of a nap. The 1 1/2 hours there wore Mia out. Me, too, so I think I'll go take nap while I have a chance :)

A Drum Roll, Please.....

Today Mia went pee pee in the potty!!! Not once, but TWICE!!!!!

Since hanging out (and watching them on the potty) with almost fully potty trained Isabel, and potty trainer in training, Livie...Mia was been MUCH more interested in her potty. Like Lori says, there's nothing like peer pressure :)

The day before yesterday she sat on it once for about 5 min...a great introduction. Yesterday, it was 2 times for about 10 min each, and today 4 times about 20 min each, and the last two times, she pee pee'd in the potty!

Now, it's been MIA'S idea to sit on her potty. I asked Sarah how it worked at their house, and Isabel just sits there while they read books and play...then off when she requests or is 'done'.

So, we have a few books and a magna doodle by the potty for entertainment while waiting. Mia prefers her Elmo potty book, Llama Llama Mad at Mama, a shape book and an alphabet book...and her magna doodle of course. It's really a fun bonding learning time for Mia and I. The world stops while we're in that bathroom.

When she pee pee'd I got so excited, she was amazed as to what happened, then got pretty excited, too. We wiped, flushed, washed hands... the whole 9 yards! Then we went out to the living room and did the pee pee song and dance...'Mia went pee pee in the potty, pee pee in the potty' to a conga line beat :)

I called Ita and Nana with the great news. Ita was excited and oh so proud. Nana was on the phone in a meeting, so I talked to Paw Paw. I was a little embarrassed I was making too big a deal of it all, but he hooted and hollered, too. I LOVE him!

You'll be happy to know, I don't have any pics or video :) I'm off to order another potty seat for the upstairs bathroom. Our little girl is growing up so fast!!!!

X-Games

This post X-mas O'Mama playdate event was a series of games and challenges that utilized all the leftover packing materials from the holidays. We were asked to save wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, gift bags, empty wrapping paper, paper towel, or TP tubes, cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc. and bring them for use at this event. The kiddos worked independently and together to complete a series of events utilizing these materials.

Before the games started, some of the kids played a little b-ball. Ellis & his brother Evan great shooters, while Mia preferred to DUNK!

After snacks were served and eaten the X-Games started!

Mia & Colton waiting for snacks

Mia, Sarah & Alara are Ladies Who Lunch

There was the ball race where the kids took rolled up gift wrap and tissue paper that were made into balls from one bag and ran to put them in another bag. They boys and Sarah really got into this. Mia was confused with all the running and chaos. She did get one in.


Then it was time for larger than life blocks. The mamas built up this huge structure with some large boxes and demolition squad made them come tumbling down....again and again. The kids even enjoyed building it back up just to knock it down again. The guys were naturals, while Sarah and Mia did there share, but didn't want to put their yummy muffins (thanks Mama Elsa) down :) Priorities.






Two boxes were propped sideways so the kids could either kick or roll the balls into them. That was a hit. The guys kicked, Sarah rolled, and Mia just walked up and put it in the box.

This is how Sarah rolls

Some wrapping paper rolls were brought out so the kids could play hockey with them. Mia was a fan of this game, but every time she swung, she let the roll go!

The younger kids had a fun time just wandering around and playing with the odds & ends laying around. Colton's playscape was especially cool. There was a swimming pool of packing peanuts that weren't ever used...not sure what the game was going to be. The wind kept carrying the peanuts into the yard, so everything went inside, and Mia had fun burying her feet :)

One other added attraction was Shiva....Colton's dog. Colton took Mia over to the dog run to intoduce her to his beloved Shiva. Mia LOVED her and said she was a 'good girl'. It was such a super fun day! Thanks Andrea & Colton!!!!