The makings of a fish

This summer we've had a few adventures to the pool.  Though most of the time we're all getting wet and don't bring a camera.  Since Amalyn was napping and Tristan took Kalia I decided to run over and snap some pictures of our budding fish.

The beginning of the summer Kalia would flip out in the bathtub when we washed her hair.  She didn't like getting water in her ears or eyes.  When I took her to the pools she wouldn't venture from the steps except to jump from the side into my arms.  She took a few falls into the water and seemed to recover from them.  Not once did she insist on going home after an accidental dunking.  Miraculously she managed not to swallow water.  I think that was a big part in getting back in the water.  She hasn't had a truly scary moment in the water.

Progressively, as we've visited more and more Kalia has gotten more comfortable floating in the water.  She no longer clings to my neck but will float and kick.  I was worried she'd never get comfortable in the water and pick up my reservations. (I don't like deep water, or submerging my face)  I'm thinking next year we'll definitely start lessons.

It's a good thing kids are durable!

We have a play group that meets on Thursdays.  We decided to visit a local park.  The kids were having a great time playing on the playground.  There were a good number of kids there and we were loosely supervising so part of the story is missing.  Kalia and her friends were playing on these steps stools up to a platform that were spaced out like mushrooms.  There were three of varying height starting at about 18 inches off the ground to about 3 feet.  I think Kalia and her friend were standing on the same one when they lost their balance.  Kalia fell and hit her head on the lowest one.  I saw her fall and thought she'd hit her chin with the angle of her head snapping back.  I handed off Amalyn, who was drinking a bottle, to the nearest hands and ran for my fallen kid.  By the time I got to the screaming girl and picked her up the spot on her forehead had already swollen to the size of a golf ball.  We got some ice and sat for a few minutes to calm down.  Sister fell asleep and we headed to the car.  I was a bit nervous when Kalia nodded off during the 15 minute drive home since is was a head injury.  All the more experienced moms told me the swelling was a good sign but to watch for unusual tiredness.  Since she's not really taking naps I was a little worried.  She roused when I took her from the car to her bed but took a few minutes to finish waking up.  She was acting just fine.  Happy.  These pictures were taken about an hour after the fall.  She seemed ok.

I told her she was getting a third eye.  She wasn't impressed and gave me quite the funny look.

Tristan called her a tricyleunicorn.

Here we are 9 days later:

Much better.  She still has some bruising above her nose and in the corners of her eyes, not to mention a few additional marks.  Such is the life of a two year old.

How children survive childhood.

Or rather, how parents survive childhood.

The serenely sleeping child.  She's not yelling, or screaming.  She's not defiantly staring you down daring you to follow through with the threat you just made.  She just... sleeping.

I'm not going to lie, being a single mother must be SO hard.  I've only had a few days of being the sole parent and it's tough.  I know you do what you have to do to get through things, but I don't believe anyone would purposely choose to go at parenting by themselves.  In a perfect world (as in our Heavenly Father's plan) each child is entitled to two parents.  Kids need it and parents do too.  I'm so grateful for the time Tristan spends with the girls to give me some breathing room, now more than ever!

Plus, if children didn't look so angelic in their sleep, I think we'd kill them all off.  She has her cute moments to balance out the ones that make me crazy.  Good thing!

Surprise Packages!

 How we love surprises in the mail!  Thanks Aunt Marilyn!

The girls wore their matching dresses to church today.  I love that they are so long, but don't get in the way of Amalyn being able to crawl.  Mama happy, baby happy.

Sisterly love

Kalia is coming around to the idea of Amalyn as a playmate.  I think watching her friends playing with their little sisters is rubbing off a bit.  This is especially evident in the TYPE of play

What Amalyn is up to

All these posts about big sis, I can't forget my little Bug!  Amalyn is:

Finally self feeding.

 Climbing/pulling up on everything, and everyone.  

This is one of my favorite things to do with her.

Exploring the toys when she gets a chance as big sis thinks anything Amalyn is holding must be taken away.  Kalia is getting better at giving 'ok' toys for baby sis to play with, with some prompting.

Ten month olds at play.  Learning about paper and turn taking.

watching Kalia

It always amazes me to watch Kalia take care of her baby doll.  She watches mommies, and not just me.  I see her do things in a very particular way with lots of miming.  She mimes buckling straps and putting on clothes as well as feeding.  This is a common sight:

The baby up on the shoulder.

Checking for a smile.

I know the framing is horrible, but that grin is awesome.

We went on a five minute walk to get the mail but it stretched to twenty minutes coming home.  Kalia had to stop her stroller, pick up her baby, put baby to her shoulder and pat her bum EVERY ten feet.  When I asked her what she was doing she told me she was "keeping baby doll safe."

What do you do on a hot summer Saturday?

Grab your net and head to the stream for some critter hunting.

pictures

 Kalia loves to grab the camera and take pictures.  There are lots of closeups of things that you can't really distinguish, ceiling, floor, but this shot caught my attention.  I thought it was sweet.

thanks Grandpa

Kalia got your card.  She was giving it kisses.

Friends for dinner

Tristan's been out of town this week for Ohio project.  Rather than commuting the 1 1/2 each day he's spiting a hotel with his future business parter.  Bonus: they have lots of work time to finalize their business plan for a contest with a scholarship prize.  Downside: I have to be alone for four days.  On the upside, I have good company.  Our friends in the building are also spending weekdays this summer apart as he completes an externship in Cleveland.  We've been seeing a lot of each other and Tristan's only been gone two days.  I decided to invite Cami, Max, and Jena over for dinner.  When I told Kalia they were coming she decided to help get things ready.

She even set the table!  Too bad she used dirty dishes.  It was so cute to see her so excited.

To feed or not to feed?

Amalyn has stubbornly refused to feed herself.  Why should she do it, when a mama is there to do it for her?  Well, this mama is a busy one and I was losing patience.  We'd all sit down for dinner, but I'd have to eat last because Amalyn would make such a fuss if I didn't feed her first.  I started putting food on her plate hoping she'd figure it out.  I took a video of her trying to bend down and get the food in her mouth without using her hand when she did it herself for the first time (Jun 28).  Huzzah!  I haven't had too much luck getting videos posted. The ironic thing is Kalia became much more interested in feeding her little sister now that she could self feed.  Amalyn doesn't mind.