Yowza

Bryn is rapidly approaching two, as evidenced by her sharp increase of daily fits over the past month or so.  It is parabolic.  Today was especially entertaining.  For several months she has been in the phase where "Brynnie do it" has been the mantra, but now when Brynnie not allowed to do it we lose.our.minds.  Bryn must climb out of her carseat by herself - if I get her down, she attempts to get back up in it and do it again, after pointing at me with her tiny finger and looking me in the eye and saying very sternly "No ma'am, BRYNNIE do it."  (where did she ever learn that?)  If I put her pants on, she rips them off and sits there and struggles for 5 minutes trying to get her legs in the holes properly.  She will eventually let me do it, but it has to be HER idea for me to do it.  Today there were two events that went beyond the fairly high bar she had set before in her quest for independence.   First, she was in her little seat eating some hummus and pretzels (one of the 5 or so foods she will eat).  She got it on her fingers and said "Wanna wash hands."  I knew she wanted to go in and wash them herself in the guest bathroom b/c that is her new fave thing, but Momma don't allow food to go outside the kitchen, even if it is just washing down the sink (type A?  nah).  So she was waving them around, increasingly frantic as she watched me wet a paper towel and head in her direction.  "NO BRYNNIE WASH HANDS!!!!"  I calmly said "No, Mommy do it" as I wiped down her hands and then closed up the hummus container.  She then LUNGED across the table and grabbed it (screaming all the while), and ripped the top off and stuck her little chubby fingers back in the hummus again, yelling "BRYN WASH HANDS!!  NO MOMMY WIPE!!!"  I could do nothing but laugh as I scooped her up and carried her to the kitchen sink to rinse her fingers off.  She then spent the next 5 minutes writhing around on the floor crying as though I had thrown her down and kicked her. 

The second happened not 10 minutes later, let me set the scene.  She was sitting in my chair at the kitchen table, actually sitting versus her usual standing.  She wanted some chips that we had been eating, but she wanted to hold the container.  I took out a stack and put them on her plate.  As I'm walking away from the table she stands up and starts screaming, leaning over the back of the chair reaching for me yelling "NO BRYNNIE HOLD IT!!!"  Again, increasingly frantic as she realizes this is not going her way.  The death blow is delivered as I shut the pantry door on the container, at which point she turns back toward the table, bends over at the waist and screams in a freaking animalistic manner, with her face no more than one inch from the chips.  She just screams "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" long and loud and C-R-A-Z-Y.  Then she stops on a dime, stares at the chips for a split second and then picks one up with her mouth (no hands, just her mouth since she was right there screaming at them).  Claire was sitting right next to her at the table and just kept looking from me to Bryn and back again with a small, open mouthed smile on her face.  She couldn't believe this was happening any more than I could.  Priceless.  It's pretty fun watching this the 3rd time around since I actually have 2 others with me all the time to appreciate the craziness.  Check with me in about 6 months though, I'm not sure it will still be as amusing.

Sisters

Kaitlin had "special friends day" on Friday, where everyone got to bring up a special friend for an hour in the afternoon to show them around and then take them to the book fair.  Kudos to whoever thought of that b/c 95% of the time the special friend is a grandparent and what grandparent says "no" to buying their grandchild a book to support their school?  Well played educators, well played.  We were surprising Kaitlin with Nanny coming to visit, but when she first asked early in the week we wouldn't tell her b/c we wanted it to be a surprise.  So about Wednesday she started saying "I know who my special friend who is coming up, it's Claire" and would throw out a few nuggets here and there saying she was excited to show her around.  Then on Friday morning she was just convinced that it was going to be me and Claire and Bryn coming up.  Well, when Nanny got there she was surprised (and embarrassed according to Nanny), and a little flustered b/c they had made a special picture in preparation for their special friend, and this is what Kaitlin had:

As soon as Nanny showed me that after her visit on Friday I started crying like a baby.  I pray everyday that they will be close and to see this was just so sweet!

As a somewhat related aside, I took that picture of the picture with our old point and shoot camera, which has become Claire's default plaything at times.  I haven't downloaded pictures off it in over 6 months, and there are some gems!  Here are some highlights:

This actually happens to me too when taking pics, Bryn turns her head too fast.  Cannot fault her for this one.

Actually a decent shot!

Yep.  That's her gum.  On the kitchen table.  Yum.

Had about 50 of these in the download.  Can never have enough pictures of Kitty according to Claire.

Self portrait #1

The tough look

I'm guessing she was going for sad here?

she calls this one "sunday morning abstract"

interesting POV

A pic I was able to snap of the big photog

Bryn 18mo

Sings along with several songs - ABC's, Wheels on the Bus, You are my Sunshine, Night night Bryn Bear, Itsy Bitsy Spider (this was first and heavy favorite)

Likes swimming and is putting her face in and blowing bubbles.  She likes her water table too, and is content to just tool around outside the pool while we swim if she's not in the mood to get in.

Throws epic tantrums, where she throws herself on the floor, so forcefully you can hear her knock the air out of herself.  Her favorite move is the noodle and frantic kicking of her feet together to try and remove her shoes, and then scream "SHOOOOEEYYYY" when it falls off.  Also a fan of throwing shoes and whatever else she can reach.

HUGELY picky eater.  Really only eats in the morning and then only snacks for rest of the day.  Very hard to get her to sit long for meals.  Hates her booster chair and any high chair when out to eat.  She likes waffles with PB, yogurt...and that's about it.  Drinks zero milk.  Doesn't like meat or really any sort of bread products (tortillas, rice, bread).  Will occasionally eat pasta with red sauce but even that is hit or miss.  She does have a huge sweet tooth and will eat pretty much any dessert presented.

Loves to run around after sissies and try to do whatever they do.  Does NOT like to share with them.  Has a fierce "mine" yell about toys and mommy.  Kaitlin is so good at sitting and reading to her, and Claire can make her laugh a lot.  Claire can also drive her crazy b/c she gets all up in her business.  And if Kaitlin tries to pick her up too much she gets annoyed.  But generally will let Kaitlin carry her if they are playing.

Loves to read still.  Will bring you book after book after book to read and plops down on your lap and listens the whole time.

Loves babies and stuffed animals.  Goes to sleep every night clutching one and rubbing the tag.

Talks A LOT.  She is on par with how Kaitlin was, lots of words and phrases.  Easily over 100.  Also speaks a lot of chinese.  ;-)

In general is pretty easy going and entertains herself a lot of the time.  It's just when you're trying to get her to do something she is not interested in, or if someone takes something from her that the tantrums come out.  And you want to avoid that whenever you can.

I showed her the playlist with nursery rhymes, Sesame Street and Barney clips and short songs that we put together for Kaitlin back in the day and she is mesmerized.  Shouts "ELMO" and frantically points when he comes on.  Sings along to the ones she knows.  Super cute.

Sleeps well, generally 8-7.  Likes to read a book and rock a bit before bed and then when you walk out she slams her legs down on the mattress and screams "MOMMMYYYY!" but doesn't get up.  She used to scream her "Night night Bryn bear" song to herself, but that has subsided.  After the initial shock that you left, she gets over it quickly and rolls around and goes to sleep.

Loves to jump off of small ledges and yell "JUMP"  I note this b/c it is really cute and makes me laugh every time b/c she is very serious about it.  Also loves to carry around purses and move things in and out of them.

She is fiery and we are thankful for her!

Apple Bottoms

Literally spent 25 minutes dissecting the song "Apple Bottom Jeans" last night in the car alone with Kaitlin.  She had her recital yesterday and the opening number had a snippet of that song in there, and she fell in love.  Awesome.  It was the part that goes "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club was looking at her, she hit the floor, next thing you know, shorty got low low low low low low low...."  That was it, but immediately after the recital she asked me "Mommy, did you hear that song they played for the first dance, about apple bottoms?" (they were backstage but watching on a TV before they went on and performed).  I told her yes I heard it, and I sang that whole part for her and she was AMAZED that I knew all the words.  My stock shot up a few points in her book.  So cut to 6 hours later on the way home from watching Ginger's football game, just her and I in the car, and she asks me to sing that song again, and she was just all over it.  Asked me to repeat it again and again until she had all those lines memorized.  Then we discussed what each line meant.  I told her Apple Bottom Jeans were jeans that had a picture of an apple on the pocket, no?  ;-)  And she was especially intrigued by "shorty".  "Mommy, is she a kid?  Or an adult who is just small?  Why do they call her shorty?  Is she a normal sized adult?  Does she know that they are calling her shorty?"  And then "How was she low?  Did she just have her hands on the floor?  Was she laying down?  What was she doing down there?"  I mean it was pretty much a mind melting conversation.  But it did lead into a good talk about how she will be in kindergarten next year and she may hear things and see things that maybe she shouldn't, but she can always talk to Mommy about them.  Yikes.  Hoping that little nugget sticks with her.  She is such a perceptive little girl, I have much to fear for.

random

Claire went a whole day today without wearing a head band.  Even mentioned it to me "Mommy, I'm not going to wear a headband all day."

Favorite phrase of the moment - "lawning" and "lawner".  "Mommy, why is he lawning his yard?" "Look at that lawner!!"  Coined by Claire, but used by Kaitlin also.

Walked up to neighborhood pool today and Kaitlin was sooo excited to get to ride all the slides now b/c she is tall enough.  She rode them probably 50 times while Claire and I played.  She was a kid in a candy store and asked me at one point "Mom, can I just go ride them and not have to tell you?"  Big moment.

Bryn is a huge parrot these days.  Will repeat pretty much anything you say.  She is also very demonstrative and is constantly pointing things out to anyone who will listen and having a whole Chinese conversation with us about it.  Strangers, family, makes no difference.  She often talks to people in the grocery store at length.  She loves to read and is always walking around with a book in her hand, looking for a lap to plop onto.  She walks around saying "Brown bear, brown bear" (sounds like "brown bare", kind of a Boston accent where she doesn't really pronounce the end of bear, I need to record it).  They also all 3 play the game that Kaitlin and Claire used to play, where they run around the house chasing each other laughing and screaming.  It is loud but music to my ears!

Kaitlin and the Bible

This girl loves to read the Bible.  Our neighbor Jen got us these awesome picture book Bibles - one for the old and one for the new testament.  She reads them every night before bed.  It is safe to say that she knows more about the Bible than both Scott and I combined.  Tonight we were laying in bed talking after Claire had fallen asleep.  She asked me if people who were selfish got to go to heaven, and I told her that as long as you ask Jesus into your heart that you will go to heaven to live with him.  I told her that we should also try to live good lives, so while everyone sins, we should try not to.  She went on to say "Yes, it's like when the Pharisees were going to throw stones at the lady, and Jesus said "Let those who have not sinned, be the first to throw a stone" and they all had to look down and none of them could throw because they all had sinned.  The Pharisees had TONS of sins.  Only Jesus had not sinned, but he did not want to throw a stone, he wanted to forgive her."  She amazes me at what she absorbs!

Bryn 1yr

This is really an update on all things Bryn from about 12mo-14mo, since I am late in doing her 1 year post.

• Pulls all our hair and yells "Ow!!"
• Knows and can say all names - Mommy, MOM (yelling), Daddy, Nana, Pop, Nannie, Papa, Sissy, Buddy.  Has probably 20-30 words outside of those names.
• Throws herself on the floor and goes "whoa" in an attempt to be funny, while pulling herself along on her stomach.
• Thinks I'm only her mommy and won't let others sit on my lap during story time.  Literally pushes herself in between them and me and pushes them off.
• Throws fits, usually by laying down in yoga "child's pose" on floor, crying pitifully
• Says and signs "more" to everything.  Basically she wants more life
• Hugs and kisses to sissys
• Loves to push babies and bears in stroller
• HATES to have her diaper changed.  Gets fiery mad, must be that slight tint of red in the hair.
• Is first kid to really LOVE her lovies - mostly snoopy, hugs them and is so freaking sweet
• Naps one time usually around lunch, sometimes 2
• Fairly picky eater.  Doesn't really like carbs, no bread, tortillas, biscuits.  Likes beans, pasta with tomato sauce only.  Yogurt, LOTS of fruit, raisins.  Goldfish.  Would carry around snack trap all day if I let her.  Won't drink any type of milk (cow, rice, soy)
• Loves to say "Hi" to everyone and wave
• Cries whenever I come to get her if I've been gone - whether 10 min at home with nanny or at church or whatever.  It's like she remembers "Oh yeah, you left me here!"  The minute I have her she shuts it off.  
• She is on the dramatic side like Kaitlin, but also attempts to be funny like I remember Claire doing at this age
• Sleeps generally 7:30-6:30 or 7.  Still nurses morning and night
• Loves to read, loves to go grab books off book shelf and come over and plop down on my lap with snoopy and read
• Definitely most cuddly girl of the 3.  Will often just give me hugs with head on my shoulder and squeeze her little arms around my neck.
• Loves to brush teeth herself.
• Very loud and loves to yell when her sisters get her riled up.  She thinks she is funny, and does a little squench nose when you look at her when she does it.
• Very brave and fearless.  Loves slides, climbing whatever to get to one.  Climbs everything in our house, and has fallen all the way down the stairs and gotten a black eye.  Thinks she can go up and down them while standing.

I JUST LOVE MY BLACK HEADBAND!!!

If you look through pictures from the last 6 or so months, you will notice a trend:

excuse the blueberry stained mouth

just your typical sat morning in feb.  sunbathing and reading.

cheerio craft

this is the definition of claire

another typical sat morning.  sleeping in the driveway

quite possibly the best 3yo scooter rider ever

Notice anything similar in all the pics?  Yes, the black headband is verging on an obsession.  I don't remember when the whole headband thing started.  I think it was shortly after Bryn's newborn pics when we had her wear the rose one.  So going strong for over a year now.  She's very self-sufficient, gets herself dressed and ready every day, usually before coming out of her room at all.  So it's not like she is demanding about it, she just takes care of it herself.  However, if we go somewhere on the scooter or bike, and I forget to keep her headband with me for after she takes her helmet off at our destination - watch out!  She even went through a phase where she wore it at night while sleeping.  She is a bit OCD about having hair in her face, but she won't let me pull it back in any form or fashion (and rarely lets me brush it - she must do it herself you know).  Hair down with the headband is the only option, and preferably the black one.  I think b/c it is a thick one and really does keep the hair out of her face.

The other thing you will notice if you went through all our pics is the same 4 or 5 shirts and 4 or 5 pairs of leggings in heavy rotation.  She refuses to wear dresses or skirts, just leggings and preferably a Hello Kitty shirt.  I just had to finally throw out most of the leggings shown above since they all have holes in the knees.  So funny since at this age, the only thing Kaitlin would wear was dresses.  Of course that would be the way it went, so I had to buy all new clothes for the anti-dress girl b/c we literally didn't own pants for Kaitlin.

Getting back to the title of this post though, this Saturday morning I was hanging out in the girls room while they got dressed, and Claire was (as usual) buzzing around her room in her semi-frantic state getting dressed as efficiently and quickly as possible b/c that's how she does things.  At one point, she wasn't even talking to anyone more than herself, I heard her say, thru clenched teeth in kind of a crazy kid voice "I JUST LOVE MY BLACK HEADBAND" as she passed by it on her dresser.  OMG I could not stop laughing, and have re-enacted it for Scott with the same clenched teeth close to 25 times so far now.  I'm not saying I have a favorite, b/c of course I love all my kids equally, but that Claire Bear - she and I are like 2 peas in a pod.   She is SO WEIRD and I just love her to pieces!

Teeth!

We've got one lady losing them, one lady getting them!  Kaitlin lost her first tooth Monday night  (Jan 14 for the record book) after wiggling it around for a good 3 weeks with her tongue.  The Tooth Fairy brought her $5 (big money for the first tooth!) and SNOW!  Yes, we woke up to snow the next day - I'm not sure what she was more excited about - the snow or the money.  I keep telling her "I remember when those puppies came in less than 5 years ago!"  Time sure does fly!  And then she lost another one this morning (the other bottom middle).  And for the record she didn't actually "lose" them, her dad pulled them out but apparently they came out very easily and didn't hurt (otherwise I'm sure we would've heard about it!)  It is personally making me sick every time she comes walking out with that slightly bloody hole, but I guess I'm a weenie.  Good thing Scott's around to do the dirty work.  And her littlest sister is hating life as she gets some new teeth in.  Ran a little fever today and was extra cuddly and drooly with no other symptoms, and sure enough tonight I reached in there and felt what I think was a molar popping thru on the bottom.  I don't remember, do they get 1 year molars?  She only has the middle 2 on the bottom so what a weird order to get them in if so!  Here are some pics from tonight from the crazy ladies.

She gives a mean stink-eye!

With her tooth and special TF pillow

And she has no teeth news, but she does want to let everyone know the benefits of wearing headphones while dust-busting.  Really saves the ears.