Two!
Mina is now officially two! Her actual birthday was on Friday, and I was actually off of work to have an allergy test (I'm allergic to a particular mold and to grass, so I was told not to have any live plants in my house, including Xmas wreaths or trees) so I was home early to pick her up from daycare. We met Brian at the house and went out for dinner at On the Border Burlington. She likes that kind of food and the sounds/sights there would appeal to her social nature. After dinner we went to the Barnes and Noble down the street to get our free cupcake (I was e-mailed a coupon for her birthday since we're in their kid's club). Who knew that the big kid's area upstairs near the toys had some cushy chairs, a lego table and a train table? She had a blast running around, picking things up and putting them down, and playing with other kids around the tables.
We actually had her party for family and close friends at our house on Sunday. It was a smaller scale than last year (less extended family) but still crazy. There were 10 kids and 1 active teenager, running around the house. Most kids and some adults dressed up (Superhero theme!) and Brian suited up in his Dr. Doom costume for a brief villian appearance. The superkids prevailed, of course! I think we had a nice balance of fun/creative 'stuff' (decorations, favors, foods) that were all very much pro-Mina without being crazy, over the top or stress-inducing (or pinterest worthy). We bought cupcakes at BJs this year rather than ordering frouffy bakery ones, and we made a simple trifle with store-bought stuff (lady fingers, fruit, cool whip) that went over very well. We made lots of use of empty cardboard boxes and superhero duct tape (I can't even remember where we found that tape, but we put it to good use). I made felt capes for the kids (no sew) and the goodie bags were all from post Back to School Target Sale stuff, all things that Mina would love (paper, crayons, stickers, tattoos and a lollipop). Photos are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancerjodi/sets/72157640034473406/with/12085915943/
We had weeded out a lot of old toys that she didn't care much for anymore in prep for Xmas and Birthday gifts, and it was fun to see her excited about the new stuff, and fun to find a place for things. I think this is a magical time where she's actively interested/engaged in toys and games, but not yet old enough to ask for them specifically. She may ask if we are out at a store for something while it is in front of her, but we are able to easily distract her and she moves on and doesn't remember it later. It is so fun to see her developing her own interests and seeing her interact with folks on her own. She really is a kid and less a baby. It is just wild!
We continue to go back and forth on the sleeping situation. The twin mattress is awesome, since we can fit on it with her. The lack of a frame, not so much. The mattress moves and her toys (and her) fall into the crack along the wall. I did buy a body pillow to put on the wall side of the mattress, and that is working to prevent this (also: super cushy/comfy!). Now our problem is that she falls out the other side, albeit only a short distance and onto a cushy rug, onto the floor. It does wake her up sometimes though. We are probably going to suck it up and get a low platform-style Ikea bed for her this weekend that we can put a rail on. Something low to the ground, more structured, but that we can lay in with her. When she is older and has an opinion we may opt for a nicer mattress/boxspring (something more natural/costly) and a nicer wood frame, but for now, the cheap mattress/cheap bed will be it.
Her MO lately with sleeping is to go to sleep generally OK, wake at 1 or 3 am, and settle down only if one of us stays with her. If we settle her and leave she will wake again soon after, and we'll just end up back in the room again, so we just stay with her. She has no interest in coming into our bed anymore. The snuggle time is really nice, though sleeping through the whole night would also be nice. We went a big stretch where miraculously we were doing that, but it has been a while. She tends to be up for the day around 6, regardless of how the night goes (there are rare mornings where she will sleep to a glorious 7 AM!). Brian usually takes her downstairs and snuggles on the couch with a blanket, some milk and some kid's tv while I shower. Then she and I have some snuggle or play time so Brian can shower, and then I head to work. On the weekends we usually all come down and bum around in PJs for a bit, eating some fruit before a full breakfast, and then eventually get into showers, etc. It is not that my life isn't busy, but I surely love this kid-mandated slower pace compared to our pre-Mina life. Snuggle and PJ time and bowls of fruit, there really isn't a better way to start the day. :)
We actually had her party for family and close friends at our house on Sunday. It was a smaller scale than last year (less extended family) but still crazy. There were 10 kids and 1 active teenager, running around the house. Most kids and some adults dressed up (Superhero theme!) and Brian suited up in his Dr. Doom costume for a brief villian appearance. The superkids prevailed, of course! I think we had a nice balance of fun/creative 'stuff' (decorations, favors, foods) that were all very much pro-Mina without being crazy, over the top or stress-inducing (or pinterest worthy). We bought cupcakes at BJs this year rather than ordering frouffy bakery ones, and we made a simple trifle with store-bought stuff (lady fingers, fruit, cool whip) that went over very well. We made lots of use of empty cardboard boxes and superhero duct tape (I can't even remember where we found that tape, but we put it to good use). I made felt capes for the kids (no sew) and the goodie bags were all from post Back to School Target Sale stuff, all things that Mina would love (paper, crayons, stickers, tattoos and a lollipop). Photos are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancerjodi/sets/72157640034473406/with/12085915943/
We had weeded out a lot of old toys that she didn't care much for anymore in prep for Xmas and Birthday gifts, and it was fun to see her excited about the new stuff, and fun to find a place for things. I think this is a magical time where she's actively interested/engaged in toys and games, but not yet old enough to ask for them specifically. She may ask if we are out at a store for something while it is in front of her, but we are able to easily distract her and she moves on and doesn't remember it later. It is so fun to see her developing her own interests and seeing her interact with folks on her own. She really is a kid and less a baby. It is just wild!
We continue to go back and forth on the sleeping situation. The twin mattress is awesome, since we can fit on it with her. The lack of a frame, not so much. The mattress moves and her toys (and her) fall into the crack along the wall. I did buy a body pillow to put on the wall side of the mattress, and that is working to prevent this (also: super cushy/comfy!). Now our problem is that she falls out the other side, albeit only a short distance and onto a cushy rug, onto the floor. It does wake her up sometimes though. We are probably going to suck it up and get a low platform-style Ikea bed for her this weekend that we can put a rail on. Something low to the ground, more structured, but that we can lay in with her. When she is older and has an opinion we may opt for a nicer mattress/boxspring (something more natural/costly) and a nicer wood frame, but for now, the cheap mattress/cheap bed will be it.
Her MO lately with sleeping is to go to sleep generally OK, wake at 1 or 3 am, and settle down only if one of us stays with her. If we settle her and leave she will wake again soon after, and we'll just end up back in the room again, so we just stay with her. She has no interest in coming into our bed anymore. The snuggle time is really nice, though sleeping through the whole night would also be nice. We went a big stretch where miraculously we were doing that, but it has been a while. She tends to be up for the day around 6, regardless of how the night goes (there are rare mornings where she will sleep to a glorious 7 AM!). Brian usually takes her downstairs and snuggles on the couch with a blanket, some milk and some kid's tv while I shower. Then she and I have some snuggle or play time so Brian can shower, and then I head to work. On the weekends we usually all come down and bum around in PJs for a bit, eating some fruit before a full breakfast, and then eventually get into showers, etc. It is not that my life isn't busy, but I surely love this kid-mandated slower pace compared to our pre-Mina life. Snuggle and PJ time and bowls of fruit, there really isn't a better way to start the day. :)