12-Month Family Photo Challenge

Here we are at the end of the month and still no family photo ... so we had to take a self-portrait in the mirror before Carolyn went to bed.

More birthday fun

Carolyn belted out the "happy birthday" song once again.... this time, to her friend Oliver. She definitely figured out that cake comes after the song! And, she and Oliver wondered whether anyone was going to cut this cake for them. Should I be proud to mention that Carolyn inhaled her piece of ice cream cake in less than 10 seconds. Really, I am not exaggerating.

The kids played on the slip-n-slide and in a kiddie pool with a slide, but they had the most fun when Lukas, Oliver, and Carolyn went exploring in the garage. They found the potty (Lukas said he had to get the ladder out to get it down) and then dragged it all the way up to the house. They all took off their pants and waited their turn to sit on the potty to go pee.

Old McDonald Had a Farm....E-I E-I E-I-O

On Sunday, Carolyn and I went to Wheeler Farm. It is a county-maintained park with a bunch of animals and beautiful grounds. When I was parking the car, Carolyn spotted the cows and the sheep. When we got out of the car:

Mama said: Carolyn, where are we?

Carolyn said: Old Donald's House!

In her words ....

When she got to her classroom today, there was a new teacher introducing herself to the kids. Admitedly, a little overweight. Carolyn went over to her, tugged on her pants, and said, "You need bigger size pants."

What do I do? Not much. I, along with her regular teachers, just sort of laughed. I am not sure if the new teacher laughed or not.

Given the funny things that come out of her mouth, I am sure this is not the last time she will embarrass me. Ah.

Backyard Fun

Carolyn swimming in the backyard
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

Steve and Carolyn decided to get out the sprinklers and pool this afternoon .... and apparently, they do not know in which drawer the bathing suits are kept.

I got to say, though, this video made me laugh out loud when they showed it to me. Hope you get a chuckle too because someday Carolyn will be mortified.

How did it happen? Two Years Old

Carolyn has been on the world and in our lives for two years already. I can hardly believe how much and how fast she has grown and developed. Lately, we are amused by what comes out of her mouth, and our patience is being challenged as she asserts her independence. The best way to describe her at this stage is to say that she has BIG emotions on all ends of the spectrum: her kisses are as sweet as her tantrums are intense. No one could have prepared me for how much I would completely and utterly fall in love with her.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY CAROLYN.

Today, we went to the doctor for her 2-year check-up.
33.5" tall 27.2 pounds 45 cm head circumferencee * all around the 50th percentile

Today, we also received the photos from her 2-year photo shoot. There were over 300 snapshots taken (all can be found on www.flickr.com/boo4172002 if you are interested). Or scroll below to see the abridged version of my favorites. I know, I know, there are still close to 30 in my favorites. I am a proud mother and can't help but think she is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

A new play area for Carolyn

For her birthday, we turned the downstairs courtyard into Carolyn's play area. She loves it, and we have spent more time down there in the past week than we have in the entire time we have lived in the house. And, thanks to Tess for the home-made chef's outfit that really completes the area.

new kitchen

new kitchen
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

new swing

new swing
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

new airplane

new airplane
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

I love berries

Happy Father's Day

... to Steve, a caring and compassionate father. I love to see you in action with Carolyn. She adores you.

....to our dad's. Thanks for setting such good examples, so that we know how to be the best parents we can be.

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Peanut Butter & Jelly
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

Grandma Lynn taught her a new song and she now wants to sing it all the time.

UH OH, she is an escape artist

If you have ever seen her in action on a playground, you would have been surprised that she did not do this before .... last night, the night of her 2nd birthday, she escaped from her crib. She came down and asked us if she could sleep in "mama's bed." Knowing that there was nothing we could do to contain her at 330 in the morning, we let her curl up with us and decided we would deal with it tomorrow. Ugh. Bedtime is hard enough for this girl. I have a feeling that we are going to be seeing a lot of this little bird in the middle of the night.

She's the only girl

On Saturday, we were at a party (at heather and rudy's) where there were a bunch of kids. I did not realize it righ away, but as I was looking through the pictures, it occurred to me that Carolyn is THE ONLY GIRL among all of our friends' kids. And, Kim, who will have her baby any day is also having a boy.

This second picture is of Carolyn, Oliver, Maxwell -- the three "sociology" kids that were all born within two weeks of each other.
They are getting ready to turn two.

FRIDAYS are FUN-DAYS

Every Friday in the summer is WATER DAY at daycare. Carolyn was so excited to go to school because she got to wear her new water-outfit and pink flip-flops.

How to Post a Comment

A couple of people have recently asked me how to leave comments on the blog. Here it is.

- Click on the blue "comments" link at the bottom of the posting on which you want to comment.

- Type whatever you want in the box on the right-side of the screen.

- Under "choose an identity," click on the radial button that says "Name/URL." Type your name, and leave the URL box empty.

- Click the orange "publish your comment" button.

Now try it.

Hmm, bribery may have its place

Last weekend as Carolyn was playing hide and seek in the clothes racks at Target, she found a shirt that she just could not live without. She squealed with delight when she found it, running over to me saying over and over, "Mama, pay for Elmo. PLEASE." It was great. Everytime she got squirmy and said she was ready to go home, all I had to do is ask her if she really wanted that Elmo shirt. She would then sit quietly in the cart admiring the Elmo shirt on the hanger, smiling and giggling. Now, she wants to wear it everyday. I even had to hide it from her, so I could wash it.

Flower & Elmo
Originally uploaded by boo4172002