A New Lap

Ellen found a new lap to sit on the other day! Ellen is famous for backing up into our laps --walking backwards to us from miles away it seems (which is why it is so funny) -- when she wants to sit in our lap for us to read a book. One morning before we packed up to take C to school Ellen pulled her "backing up move" on Corinne! It was so funny to witness and Corinne just went with it. C thought it was pretty great and read Ellen the book, too.

Three Girls

...sitting in the parking lot at Skyline.

Playtime

Sophie (blue pants) and Ellen love to play ball. They are both really good at throwing it (no kidding) and they are also good at taking things from each other. However, we noticed months ago that when they have something that they don't want anyone else to get they automatically turn away and shield the coveted object while they walk or play. And have I mentioned that they have both gotten very good at throwing tantrums?! Oh my. It has been quite a learning experience for Brett and I since Corinne never threw a tantrum until she was 2 1/2--and even then it was a total walk in the park compared to Ellen's and Sophie's. All I can say is: watch out! The doctor said it's "normal" but geez...they're just now 17 months old! It's quite a show. But they are doing so many fun things now that it's just so entertaining around our house these days. They still not don't say many words, although Ellen will answer "yeah" for yes and both of the girls shake their head for yes and for no. They communicate quite well with us even if it's not with their own words. It's quite endearing to see Ellen take Sophie her cup or vice-versa. Ellen and Sophie are so different, and even more different from Corinne. And yet all of them have a sweet side.

Books!

We love to read around here! Corinne still loves to sit on our lap to read book after book after book...after book. Reading has been a slightly different experience for Ellen and Sophie though they do (thankfully) still like to read. I'd say only about half of the time they are "reading" books they are doing it in our laps--and even then they might only have half a lap. (But usually they strategically wait until there is a free lap so that they don't have to share) The other half of the time they are enjoying a book by themselves. They will sit and page through it, gawk at it, point excitedly, or silently read it by themselves either off in a corner, on a pillow (as Ellen is doing above) or next to us while we're busy with someone or something else. So I caught a few instances of the girls reading independently for you to see. On a related but separate note, I also love to read but have had little time over the last year to do so. It's only the last few months that I've found the time to finish some good books...and it has been so wonderful. Brett even got on a reading kick over the summer and for a while there we each spent time reading before bed. (Isn't that what all the research says you're supposed to do before bed? Not watch TV or email or text or surf the Internet because it aids in helping you fall asleep--not that I have ever had a problem with that though). But I must say it is so refreshing. And I'm looking for a book to read currently so if you can recommend one I'd love it!

Start Your Engines...

Lately the girls have taken to having "races" back and forth across our family room. Of course it was Corinne's idea, and then Ellen quickly joined in (because she is up for anything C does) and now that Sophie is walking... she's in too! As you can see they each have their own, ahem, vehicle of choice. This is usually our post breakfast routine, if you can believe it.

Ouch!

Ellen and Sophie are each getting their 4th molars and that means persistent runny noses... which have provided the perfect breeding grounds for some nasty cold viruses that have camped out at our house on and off the past few weeks. Ugh. So we stayed home from church and went to the park this morning. Fresh air does all of us some good, doesn't it? With Ellen and Sophie about to jump out of their seats as we pulled up to the park, we got everyone out of the van and were making our way to the swings. That's when Sophie tripped and did a complete face plant on the sidewalk. Poor girl. She's been walking on her own for just about 2 weeks now and doing great at it. But I intentionally didn't offer her my hand for that reason and look what happened! We stayed to play and had a great time, so it was all in a day's work for Soph.

School

Don't be fooled by the smiles. Corinne's first day of school was...a bit traumatic at the drop-off & goodbye. She was "so excited" she said this morning, all the way up until pulling in the parking lot of school. It seemed to get worse from there. I have heard and talked to and read so many of my friends' blogs about how it was the BEST day of their kids' year, going to school for the first time. Full of pictures and smiles, and excitement and energy and anticipation. Well, that was not our experience on the first day. Then again, I was expecting this. I second guessed my decision to send her to school for about 1.5 of the 2.5 hours she was there. Actually I alternated between that and praying for her to have confidence, peace, fun, meet new friends, and feel comfortable and happy in her class. But after working through it all in my heart and in my head I have come to the conclusion that it's just not Corinne to jump into something with both feet, ready to conquer a new adventure. And it may not ever be her. And that is OKAY. She doesn't need to be anyone but Corinne, with her own gifts, preferences and personality. She would probably not choose to go to school this year or next year, or maybe even in two years...because it's new, foreign, unfamiliar. But she has to go at some point. And so I think it's the right thing to push her, just a bit, out of her comfort zone. Because that is life and that is how we grow and change, mature and develop. And she is so ready, from an intellectual standpoint, to learn more and do more--to be challenged--that I think she will actually, at some point, really love school. But that may be down the road awhile. So we'll just wait and see, and love her through this. We'll keep talking about how "firsts" are sometimes scary and hard (swim lessons, school). But that it gets easier and becomes more fun the second, third, fourth times. And we'll keep giving her the tools to succeed with confidence.

Photos from SF

coloring on the plane
watching a movie on the plane
the Golden Gate Bridge (bummer that a random girl was standing right there!)
cupcakes for Aunt Laura's b-day
the Big Girls!
the steps in front of Aunt Laura's
Notice the amazing view from the park! It's right around the corner from Aunt Laura's!
I took Corinne with me to visit Laura in California (along with Marcey and my mom) this past holiday weekend. We dubbed it the "Big Girls Trip" since Ellen and Sophie stayed home with Brett. We had a really wonderful time in San Francisco with Laura, seeing her world out there, and spending time all together. It was also Corinne's first time flying, which was very cool for her. Corinne was great, three hour time change and all, and was totally into everything California. (Especially Lily, our very own former pet, who went to live a pampered life with Aunt Laura a few months ago:) We rode a cable car, celebrated Laura's birthday, saw some of the landmarks from Corinne's "Goodnight San Francisco" book and went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum with some friends...plus there were dance parties and playgrounds in between. It was a full trip and Corinne is already looking forward to next time (as am I).

The Hopper

Corinne has a new favorite past-time. It's literally called, The Hopper! Really it's just a simple ball with a handle on top and the object is to...hop! Corinne loves it and hops all around the house. (It's actually pretty good exercise, too :) Silly girl.

Walking!

Sophie is taking steps on her own now, and it's pretty fun. We've been playing a game the last few nights where two of us will sit across from each other and Sophie starts at one of us and walks to the other...and then collapses into our arms for a huge hug and then goes back. It lasts for a while and she gets so excited! This time Corinne was the one across from me and we were doing the above game. Not the best photos, but enough to get the gist! (I had to stand behind Sophie or else she just wanted the camera!) Corinne and Soph had so much fun and laughed and giggled as they took their hug to the rug. We're hoping Soph will be walking everywhere soon!