Summer Update

Annika is saying more and more words. Pooh, which means either a poop in her diaper or Emma's blue bear or the Winnie the Pooh sticker on her toothbrush. Bye bye is quite common. Mommy, Daddy and Nanny, which means Annie.  When I ask her a question she will say "No", usually with some force. If she wants to say yes, she will shake her head in the affirmative. It is so cute. The other day she busted out with the word boy. Sometimes girls and boys are both, boy. Just now from the back seat she heard me say I really have to pee. So she says, Mama pee. Mama peepee.
The book that Emma got from Tom and Karen with the music box is a favorite. She asks for help. Help, hop hop and up all sound very similar so we have to pay attention to the context clues. She does not always want to listen to the story, but she does know some pages. Like she says me (which is how the book starts). and she will say and pie. We had some strawberry pie (after the girls and I went strawberry picking. They both ate a lot! Annika was covered in strawberry juice and did not actually contribute any of the berries that we bought.) and enjoyed eating it for dessert and breakfast. Annika loved saying pie, even after it was all gone.
When Annika wants us to stop what we are doing and play with her or read to her, she finds us, pushes us and says go repeatedly until we follow her. She glances over her shoulder to make sure we are following the leader.
Here you go and thank you sound very similar. She will say both  phrases (or is it one?) for many different situations. Just now she dropped Pooh and was saying Pooh with a plaintive tone. After I returned the bear to her she said thank you, Mama. If she wants something she will say here you go while pointing. She will hand you things in this same way. But she has the tendency to be an Indian giver, getting upset if you don't give it back promptly.

We finally turned her car seat around thinking that some of the car angst could be due to the fact that she was watching the back of her seat and landscape cruising by backwards. For our trip to Great Grandma's that theory was blown to bits. It wasn't the worst trip but any amount of screaming makes it far worse than plain okay. When she climbs in the car she rushes for the little seat between the two car seats and plops herself down, happily. She is not quite so happy to be strapped into her seat. Who can blame her? If given the opportunity she will try to climb over the middle front tray into the front or scramble in the passenger door and press the buttons and turn the knobs, frantic to get the chance before being whisked away.


Emma was calling herself a pancake today after realizing that cookies can sometimes be thin (and not just chunky).
Daddy: wow, Emma you are one smart...
Emma: little cookie.
Daddy: that's right, you are the cookie.
Emma: Well, I am the cookie because cookies are thin and I am skinny.
Daddy: Cookies can be thick, like big chunky cookies.
Emma: Oh yeah. Well I am a pancake then because pancakes are thin. Annika is a brownie.
Mama: Yeah, Annika is a brownie.

Both girls love the water.!  After taking swim lessons this winter, Emma can handle herself in pools just fine. Annika has no fear and would walk off the edge into the water if allowed to do so. At Grandma and Grandpa's Annika refused to sit in the infant float seat after getting a small taste of freedom. Steve and I both had the experience of holding her while she bounced on the stairs, tried to walk off the deepest one and laughed herself silly. When I talk about the pool or going swimming she makes a swishing sound while moving her arms in a freestyle stroke pattern (or an odd doggy paddle movement).  Annika likes playing with her water at the table as well. If she is done eating but is left alone for just a tad too long she commences Stage One of Water Play- commence water bottle emptying (on her tray). Or she will take a big swig of water and send it out of her mouth in a fountain. Then if we can't get there fast enough she will quickly swipe her hand back and forth, sending the water out to meet the floor, table, her legs, the dog. It's a water world!

Emma got to see a fireworks show for the first time ever this Fourth of July. We went to the Kniola's annual party and had a blast. Emma dressed for the occasion in her red tee that reads "you crack me up". We went swimming and Emma went down the water slide multiple times and loved it. Annika was happy for a long time in the plastic kiddie pool on the edge. She also enjoyed jumping on the pool steps and splashing Mama. We went back with Uncle Steve and Aunt Darcy to their neighborhood for the fireworks show. Emma covered her ears a few times but really liked the display.  Shortly after she actually said that she was very tired and wanted to go to bed- another first! So I took her back to the house and got her ready for bed. Unlike her sister, she slept through the random cracks and booms of neighborhood DIY firecrackers. Annika went to sleep around 9 (super duper late and she was very angry) and woke up relatively happy at 5 am. We left like thieves in the night by 6 am to keep from waking the entire house. Sheesh.

So there you have a very random summary of things since May. Oh so many stories and adventures to try to remember!

Mothers Day 2014

Apparently for three nights in a row this week Emma gave up story time to work on the plan for Mother's Day. How cute is that?  I will have to take a picture and post it-later.
I was instructed last night to stay up late so that I would sleep in. If i snuck down the stairs like Mama  bear in the Berenstain Bears Mama's Day Surprise story, the whole day would be put on hold and we would have to do Mother's Day the next day or the next Sunday. I don't want to ruin any surprises do I?
I woke up to the sound of something crashing (it wasn't anything relating to the meal prep). Not long later a marvelous spread was carried up, led by Emma who wished me a Happy Mother's Day with her gap-y grin. Annika also came in and smiled at me while asking to come into bed. (Steve whisked her away for a diaper change.) Chocolate crepes with sliced strawberries on the side. Yogurt with granola and dried cranberries. Cherry juice. ginger lemon tea. C'est magnifique!  Plus a lovely card that Emma signed from both her and Annika.
I lounged in bed and ate quietly. Everyone else ate downstairs. when I came down, Annika was calling Mama. Not too special of an occurrence these days. she is always wanting Mama/Mommy. But still warms the heart.
After a brief interlude (I had to go to church briefly to try a song) steve hooked up the bike seat to my bike. Emma really wanted to go on a family bike ride and has been asking all week. so we headed out to the purple park but turned down the path through the school property and went along the backroads to Emma's school. Or rather to the park by Emma's school, Heistand Park. Steve walked with Emma across all the cross-streets and we made it there safely. We chained our bikes to the start of the trail and headed off up the hill. Emma first gave us the nature talk. "This will be a nature walk. We will use three senses- sight, hearing, and our noses for smelling. We won't taste anything. Nature stays on the ground and we are going to walk quietly."
Annika was slow going and eventually Steve had to carry her the rest of the way. she picked up a couple sticks and a popped balloon (icky). Emma didn't reprimand her but that might have been because Emma was patiently waiting at a fork in the trail at the top of the hill.
"This is the hill that you rolled down that day that you helped out in class, Mama." indeed it was. that brought back good memories. Emma ran down the hill to the next concrete rectangle (the park has a frisbee golf course embedded in the woods and trails). we caught up and then were advised to wait for a couple of guys who were throwing for the next cage. they were nice and commented on the weather and also wished me a happy Mother's Day. the trees were oaks and very scraggly and stately. (I will insert a family selfie later.)
At one point Emma tripped and got caught on a stick. She started to whine and cry, "i hate the dirt! I don't like the dirt!" She brushed her legs off and got it together quickly. we made it back to the bikes without further incidences. Emma was interested in exploring the stream but not by herself. so she gave up the idea.
We rode back home on Milwaukee street that is a pretty brutal hill- up hill from pretty much the park all the way to the entrance to our subdivision. Emma did awesome!  Even though her and Steve had to stop to walk across two streets they almost caught up to Annika and I!  It was great.
Back home we made some delicious hummus, tomato, cuke, lettuce sandos and had a picnic in the backyard. There were two kinds of potato chips and some sandwich cookies. Plus sliced apples and pear. so good. Annika only ate a couple pieces of bread. she had eyes only for the fruit and chips. We rationed her, though, and she wouldn't eat sando even for a cookie.
Annika went down for a nap and I napped in the chair. :) Emma and Daddy hung out in the front yard until I stumbled out 40 minutes later.
Emma lazed around inside on the couch for a bit while Steve and I did some gardening. eventually Emma came out to help by shaking the dirt off the grass clumps and filling the wheelbarrow. We transplanted the rosebushes (more like rose sticks) from the front yard to the Rainbow Garden area along the front sidewalk. (Emma and Annika picked out some native seeds to plant a Rainbow Garden in a couple weeks- after the seeds have been properly stratified.) The roses secure the red zone for now.
Then the girls and Daddy went to Smoky John's to pick up some ribs and then we have a fantastic rib meal with beans and broccoli salad. Steve made some strawberry-blackberry juice and served it with three kinds of chocolate. Emma and Daddy sang a little bit of Old MacDonald to be silly right before serving. so good.
Then it was a "twin bath night" according to Emma.  Daddy helped scrub and get them clean. Mama helped get Annika into her PJs and Daddy read her stories. Then Mama dried Emma's hair and we organized the bookshelf. Emma helped choose books to share with Annika and some for the garage sale. she is getting so grown up.
I read her stories and Daddy tucked her into sleep. She seemed so proud of herself when we thanked her for her efforts to make the day so fantastic. For once Emma didn't say "you are making me feel too proud!" or something similar.
It was the best day so far this year! thank you to my precious girls and loving hubby for making it happen. I am the luckiest Mama ever. :)

Let it go!

Annika hasn't seen Frozen but she can sing part of Let it Go.  The neighbors across the street watched the girls on Friday for a couple hours. When I stopped by to pick them up, Karen exclaimed- she can sing Let it Go.  And right on cue, annika started singing.  She only knows that phrase but she can really belt it out. I have a video that I will have to upload later. I do not get this technology!
Anyway, stay tuned for the next youngest star!
It should be noted that after Emma saw Frozen at church a couple months ago she was addicted. We listened to the soundtrack multiple times and she sang Let it Go and For the First Time all the time. Then on our France trip Frozen was one of the free inflight movies. She watched it around 5-6 times there and back. Wow. So it isn't like Annika got the song from nowhere. :)

Making Up Songs

Today on the phone my grandma asked me if Emma is interested in music. I realized that the answer to that question might need to be addressed on this site- for posterity.
It amazes me how musical she is. Not in a prodigy sort of way. If that were the case I am sure that the piano would be used for more than just plunking and random song creation. Emma hasn't composed any sonatas or piano concertos or anything like that.
However, she does on occasion sit and sing songs while playing. She is in fact composing new songs every time, but sadly they are not recorded.
And she does not limit her song creation to her fleeting moments at the piano. Just yesterday morning- or was it this morning?- while she was feeding the dog Emma was busting out a classic song. I so wish that I could remember even a few of the lines. She was rhyming and singing about the dog and herself. She uses some techniques from songs we hear on the radio or (yikes) in the Frozen songs. Things like adjusting the intensity, volume and actual notes. It is pretty cool.
(It reminds me of my singing days as child. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the exercise bike in the creepy basement near the laundry space and belting out totally random tunes. I wondered what my family thought, if they could hear me, and was only a little embarassed when they teased me about my singing.)
We have talked about making music lessons a priority for the girls at some point. Piano and guitar are instruments we have here so that would be easy. But I wonder what Emma would choose if she had the chance to explore different instruments?  And voice is an instrument.

Annika also seems to have a musical bone. She reminds me of Boo in Monsters Inc.- in cuteness, pigtail likeness and the humming/singing characteristic.  I do not have memories of Emma singing much without intelligible words. but Emma talked earlier. Anyway, Annika has been able to hum Happy Birthday for awhile now. Tonight at the dinner table Annika started humming Happy Birthday,  which reminded me that it is Aunt Jan's birthday today. I asked Emma if she wanted to record a birthday video message for her. She was very eager so I recorded her singing Happy birthday while annika smiled along. Unfortunatley she did't hum while Emma sang. Stage fright perhaps.

Some of the best musical moments also involve Daddy. He is great at random singing songs about what is happening using familiar tunes mostly. Sometimes the tune is original.  Emma joins right in- most of the time- and the two of them laugh and sing. I love those moments. And it is clear that they do, too.

Fanny Pack Sister

I had to take Annika to work with me on Wednesday. It made my bosses day. "I love this baby! She is the best baby in the world."
so anyway, I am almost done teaching when Julie comes down obviously looking for something. she asks me if I have any extra pants for Annika, which of course I do not. Is this my first time packing a diaper bag or what? Julie tells me that Annika leaked through a little but she thinks they have spare pants her size downstairs. No biggie!
So i start cleaning up forgetting that my daughter is roaming around in the offices when i look up and see Virginia heading my way along with Little A.
Mommy: (laughter)
Virginia: (laughter) isn't this great?
Annika: (stops, gives a weird half smile and observes my response)
Mommy: oh my goodness, that is too much! Look at you, Annie, with no pants on. You are too cute. (laughter)
Virginia: she said no to the extra pants. All she wanted was her fanny pack back on. (laughter)

There are no photos to go with this post unfortunately. It would have been priceless. so instead my words will have to paint a mental picture.
Annika is wearing a bright green short sleeve shirt. Her hair is half up in an off-center, floppy do. She is wearing white socks with her dirty white Robeez. You can kind of see her bulky cloth diaper with blue flower wrap underneath the adult-size dark blue fanny pack. It hangs loosely in front like a cat's jungle pouch and is weighed down with something. the straps are dangling almost to the ground on both sides of the pack. Every once in awhile Annika's hands rest in the open front pocket. she wears an impish grin alternating with a contented gaze.

Virginia: she wanted to put some rocks and tree cookies in there. (Chuckles)
Mommy: wow, look at your collection. That is really something. (endearing laughter and a hug)

Annika wore the fanny pack up until the moment I strapped her into the stroller and tucked her into my fleece sweatshirt. Thankfully she did not put up a fight at that point.

sleep tent

Who knew that preparing for a plane trip could be so much fun?  I set up the travel sleep crib so Annika could see it and maybe remember it come sleepy time in France.  and I also wanted to see how easy it was to set-up; very!

Emma: can I go in?
Mama: I don't think thats a good idea.
Emma: aww.
Annika: gibberish

The next thing I knew, Emma was in the tent, too.
Emma: she wanted me in here.

I have to admit that it certainly seemed that way.

Annika: all kinds of happy gibberish. Plus- "that, that, that, " while pointing at things she wants in the tent with her.

Emma: here, Annika, we are making this a little baby house.
She added some water (in bottle form and then had to promptly wipe up some droplets), a book, plush toys and plastic toys. Annika still seems content. When I asked Emma to unzip the crib Annika whined a bit.
Emma: see, she wants it zipped up.

Bleak Winter

I wish I could say that this posting will be the start of a new era- keeping up with this blog!  But I will not make promises I cannot keep.

My only guess at why I have not written since November is the weather. This winter has been an absolute nightmare. I should not really be complaining. The winter before was when we were in the throes of colic and potty regression. That was a different kind of nightmare. The dark days of this winter were literally due to the large number of cloudy days. No sun is bound to make things dark and dreary.

Besides the lack of sunshine, we were confined to the great indoors a majority of the winter because it was too cold to go out. School children were in their classrooms for weeks at a time. Emma and her friends had a rough transition to a new set of teachers (Miss Beckie stayed the constant and positive beacon) while also having to remain inside. The outdoor classroom is a magical place that allows for the release of excess energy that can lead to unusual behaviors inside.

Miss Beckie asked me to lead music every Tuesday from 12-12:30 in exchange for Emma staying late on Mondays without a fee. It has been really fun and I think Emma loves having me in the classroom regularly. It is that part of the week and day that I am guaranteed and enthusiastic hug!

On the days that were warm enough (we are talking even 20 degrees or less if the sun was shining) Emma and I longed to go outside and play in the snow. But it became apparent very early on that Annika had different ideas. After one trip outside where snow may have come into contact with her skin (in December) she cried as soon as she saw her boots or snow pants being moved from their semi-permanent location in the entry way. I am not exaggerating her crying.  If the boots ended up on her feet her cries turned into howls. It was amazing. I did try powering through the crying and pulling her in the inner tube sled one day when it was just us two. No amount of enthusiasm on my part could convince her of the fun she was having. That lasted 5 minutes and I am sure the neighbors thought I was torturing her. Maybe I was in her eyes, poor thing. So we limped along and only went out if there was someone to watch Annika inside.

Sue at the nature center reminded me that bringing snow inside could help increase the desire for outside trips. I can't believe that I did not think of that myself- even though I did it with the preschoolers at the nature center. Duh!  So one day while I was making dinner I laid a towel on the floor and brought in a tub of snow. I pulled some measuring cups out of the drawers and tried to get her excited. But as soon as she saw me carrying the snow, Annika started to whine cry and ran in the other room. She tentatively walked close to it after several minutes but cried when I touched it myself.  Emma discovered the tub not long after and was really excited. She had a great time playing with the snow, but not even that was enough to entice little A. That was the last time we tried that.

Once we got closer to spring according to the calendar I tried again to take Annika outside. I let her wear her Robeez and calmly explained when her feet got wet that that is why we wear boots when there are puddles and it is cold outside. So we calmly walked back inside and I grabbed her boots. She immediately started whining but I persevered and just kept calmly stating facts: your feet are going to be so toasty and warm in the boots; now you can splash in the puddles and your feet will stay dry; oh this will be so much fun.

Out we went and she actually stopped whining once we reached the sidewalk. Then she actually smiled a bit and after a couple minutes was confidently strutting up and down the sidewalk, tromping in the shallow puddles. It was magical!  When she tired and began to whine a bit we went right inside. Better to quit while we are ahead.

And that was the genesis of her desire to go outside. Of course winter had other more nefarious plans- there were many days when it was too cold still to venture out. But at lunch time one day Annika pointed out the sliding glass door and grunted happily. She was asking to go outside! so we did for a couple minutes.

Since then spring has still been losing its' battle against the cold convictions of winter.  But the sisters have enjoyed a few days outside together- the first two days of spring actually. Those were a couple of heartwarming, if not ground warming, days. Annika tries to do everything Emma does and finds her so funny.  I wish I could remember the statements and specific interactions. That should be reason enough to blog more regularly!  Emma did take a notebook outside and wrote (phonetically sounded out) some of the spring things she saw around her. I am saving it and adding the page to this beautiful stamped, bound nature book Grandma sent to us awhile ago. It is the start of the family special nature moments book. ahh. Spring get her already so we can explore!!