Easter Week

We've had a busy week with lots of fun Easter-related activities. There's just so much I want to post about so I'm going to break the holiday into "Easter Week" and "Easter Weekend". For the week post, I'll combine our Tot School stuff with everything else.

I think I mentioned that I got these cool, new Do-A-Dot stampers that I couldn't wait to show Will. I'd hunted around in stores for them and never could find them, so I ended up ordering from Amazon. We have six colors. Our first attempt at using them went really well and Will loves them! It may be one of his current favorite art supplies. Here's our first tray of practice with them.
He stamped some Easter colors all over two coffee filters. You can see the first one on the counter in the background.

And then "painted" the filters lightly with water to "bleed" the colors.

This was the dry product and then we cut them into two large egg shapes to decorate our mirror.

More practice with the dot stampers... and early attempt at "coloring eggs". He just had to stamp each color into the matching egg.

His finished work. Good job, Will!

I found these cool stripey eggs in the Target dollar bins and Will had fun taking them apart and putting them back together while mixing and matching. Then we had egg on a "spoon" (actually we started with the pasta strainer tool I posted about last week) races where he transfered them to the tray across the living room floor.

Will actually did just as well (if not better) with the wooden spoon than the mesh basket!

More egg decorating crafts - I got these foam eggs at the Dollar Store along with some spring-ish foam stickers of butterflies, catterpillars, snails, etc. Then I gave him some markers and glitter glue and let him just create... until he made a huge mess with the glitter glue and I took that away for awhile. Haha.

I've discovered that Will LOVES STICKERS!!! He can put so much time and focus into decorating any piece of paper with any sort of sticker. He had to really work hard to peel the tiny paper backs off these foam stickers and he stuck them all on one egg. I've decided that stickers will definitely be a must have in our bag of tricks when we go to restaurants and church from now on!

Here are his decorated eggs. Lovely, no?

Totally unrelated to Easter but a fun twist on our peg board... I showed him how to pattern each of our favorite colored pegs and then we placed a marble on the top of each peg. Good fine motor work. He still doesn't fully get patterns.

Another Dollar Store sticker find: glittery, thick, foam, egg stickers. I clipped them all out individually (that was a pain!) and we did all sorts of activities with them.

Will sorted them by size. When I showed this to him, he already recognized the words big and small, so he just had to learn "medium" as the size in the middle.

I know baby toes are a little more popular to photograph, but I just thought it was cute how he was sitting with his little ankles crossed. Maybe his feet are a little rougher on the bottoms than Sophie's, but I still think they're so cute.

We worked on another pattern with the blue and green eggs. And, though I don't have a picture of it, we did a little activity where I put out three eggs, two of which were the same and one different. I'd ask him "which egg is different?" and "which two are the same?"

This was his favorite! I found pictures of all of us (this pic of me is super old but it was one of few where my head was the appropriate size in the picture - LOL) and I glued them down on a piece of cardstock. Then I traced around the egg stickers and spelled out our names. Finally, I wrote the appropriate letters ON the egg stickers and made sure that they formed a pattern. Will had to match and "spell" our names as well as peel and stick the sticker on each letter.

This took him quite awhile because, again, the plastic backing was difficult to peel without much sticking off to get him started. He did it all completely on his own and loved telling me that he was "doing Sophie's 'O'" or "daddy's 'A'". He also actually talked quite a bit while working and we had some surprisingly intellectual conversation, which was so fun! For example, he asked me "do you like peeling stickers, mommy?" And also, he paused thoughtfully to tell me that "Logan (his new friend from our playdate last weekend) would really like this game, mommy. He would hop up on the bed and sit right here with his mommy [pats the bed beside where he's sitting] and do this game and he would be soooo happy!" I thought that was so cute and thoughtful of him to put that whole thing together and be considerate of what his new friend would "like".

Serious concentration. This is such good work for little fingers!

Showing daddy his completed poster and spelling each of the names.

Will has since spelled our names many times (and very proudly) while it hangs on our fridge.

I found these cute "Easter Egg Hunt" printables on Family Fun - basically a Hidden Pictures worksheet and gave Will some markers to color the eggs he spotted. He was only mildly interested in this. On a side note, I LOVE getting Easter lilies each year. They smell SO good! And Will and I have checked and counted the number of blooms open each day this week.

Another super cool dot art activity. I found this one on a very cool website: makinglearningfun.com. Check it out - there are sooo many activities and printables there for free! This one was a color by number, but instead I stamped the appropriate color over each number as it was listed. Then Will used the green stamper to stamp all the number 1's he found, a red stamper to stamp all the number 2's, etc.

Will really liked this and is still very much loving the dot stampers.

On Tuesday evening, he helped me make a special treat to take to the babysitters house. First I cut large marshmallows in half and Will dipped the sticky side in pink sugar.

Then he sprinkled some coconut on top the frosted cupcakes I made the night before.

And finally, I placed the rest of the facial features (jelly beans, mini marshmallows and pink gel) to make Easter bunny cupcakes!

I saw this fun game on many different blogs recently. It's a sensory sound game. There are six eggs and three different "noise makers" inside - so two eggs (one set) have the same sound. I stuck some rice in two eggs, a marble in two others, and two coins in the last two eggs. Will had to shake them and decide which two sounded alike. I provided the tray to place the matches in.

Daddy played along with this game and Will loved it!

I took the afternoons off on both Thursday and Friday just to buy myself some extra time to get things done without rushing like a crazy person and enjoy the beautiful weather days. So I got my grocery shopping done early on Thursday, got to visit baby Celia again in the hospital, went to Bethany's track meet, did some laundry and finally went to Nana and Papa's house on Friday afternoon to color some eggs and let the kids find the baskets Nana and Papa had for them. Here's Sophie finding her basket in the play house!

Nana shows her the new, cute pj's she gets to wear!

And how cute is this flower headband? It didn't stay on long but I got a couple cute shots first.

Will is still a little sleepy looking from nap, but he found his basket hidden under a blanket on the chair.

Will got lots of cool treats too!

An unsuccessful shot of the three flower girls.

Coloring eggs!

Pausing for a snack - apple slices and pretzel sticks - mmm!

Then papa helped Will place some stickers on the eggs - so fun!

Later that evening Will got to play with some MORE stickers! Inside his Easter card from Nana and Papa were some egg stickers that he had to place on top of the matching eggs inside the card. Woo hoo!

So now we're anxiously awaiting the Easter Bunny's visit to OUR house and a couple fun family parties!

Nostalgia

Well... April has arrived. And you know what that means? Our daughter, our baby... is going to turn one year old this month. We are at such a comfortable and joyful place in our life right now and I wouldn't change that for anything... but I can't help but feel a bit of nostalgia as we count down the days till her first birthday. I imagine most moms feel this as their child nears the close of their first year. It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone and I just keep remembering where we were at this time last year. I plan to write a "year in review" post around Sophie's birthday. But even before that I'm remembering fondly those weeks before her arrival when we were just three.

For most of March 2009, we were packing in all sorts of activities to do with Will and as a couple before our life was, once again, changed. Craig and I planned several date nights to spend some one on one time together. And we took Will on various mini adventures to enjoy our final time with just one child.
I remember feeling so worried for Will. He was my sweet, little boy and he had all of my attention. How would he feel once he had to share my time? More than anything else, I made myself so anxious and sick just thinking about how he might feel forgotten and maybe a little less loved. You may remember my "Emotional Confession" post from March of last year (p.s. I'm sorry I'm so terrible with links - I really need to try and figure those out) and that "Loving Two" poem a friend shared with me. I remember wondering how I could ever love another baby as I did Will. In my heart I knew I just would, but in my head I was anxious. And now, when I read that poem again and remember my feelings back then, it makes me so happy to see how very true those words were. Will and Sophie have bonded and do love and enjoy each other. And my love for them is "as different as they are, but equally strong". It's an incredible thing, being a mom. And I am constantly in awe of how much my heart has grown and how much love I have for both of them.

This was late March of last year.

Also, late March of last year, my "barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen" pose. :)

My 38 week belly. I was looking so forward to the end of the pregnancy and meeting our daughter, and yet I wanted to hold on to things the way they were for just a little bit longer and relish my final days of my last pregnancy.

39 weeks and my last day of work (though I was unaware of that at the time). This was a Friday and I went to bed that Sunday night with a slight intuition that things would be happening soon.

A couple pictures from the hospital that I'm pretty sure I've never posted...

Here's my sexy-self in my hospital gown and sporty slip-on shoes... quite fashionable, don't you think? I was feeling very strong upon arrival despite my contractions being 2-5 minutes apart and dilated to 4cm (likely because my water hadn't broken yet). I was up and walking around the room for most of the beginning.

Craig snapped this during a contraction. With his help I achieved the natural birth that I was so determined to have again. As I mentioned last year, Sophie's birth was the hardest thing I have ever done... and also the biggest high of my life when it was over. I cannot explain how on top of the world I felt when she came out: relief! pride! love! awe! It was incredible and I remember feeling so in love with everyone in the room at that moment. :)

Oh! You should have heard those lungs in action on her birth day! Sophie was born hungry and took to breastfeeding immediately (which was all the reward I needed for my labor). I thought Sophie looked just like her brother in those first days. She weighed 8#14.5oz and 20" long.

I don't wish for those days back. I'm so happy where we are now and proud of how far we've come. But it's bittersweet, you know? I held my newborn niece this week and couldn't believe how tiny she was and how long ago that seemed for me! Sometimes it feels like my kids have been in my life forever and I can't imagine it without them, and other times I think back on their first days (with crystal clear memories) and wonder how we'd gotten to today so quickly! It just goes so fast and I want to savor every moment. This blog is such a blessing for me. I make a point to document my thoughts and feelings at times like this so that I will remember them always.

This is one of my very favorite pictures of Sophia when she was just two weeks old and holding her head up so strong.

So just 18 days to go now, and I'm just reminiscing while I count them down.

Uh-oh!

"I dropped it again, mom!"

Check out her face. Doesn't it just look adorably ornery as she waits to see if anyone is watching? :) This is how Sophie entertained herself while we colored Easter eggs this afternoon. She discovered an interest in Will's Mickey Mouse cell phone and had been playing with it for quite awhile today. Then while seated in this chair, she discovered an interest in dropping it, saying "uh-oh", and waiting for mommy to pick it up. Cracks me up how she's got her one leg up and her big toe latched on to the edge of the tray. And do you see that arm dangling the cell phone over the side?
"Uh-oh!"

And then seconds after I retrieved it for her...

"Uh-oh!"

Aaaaand again...

I know I shouldn't encourage this behavior, but it was just so cute and look how happy she got when I played along and acted surprised each time.

Note to family and friends: it is not recommended that you ask to speak to Sophie when calling. This is what that might look like. And most of what you'll hear is squeals and raspberry-noises.

Good thing we have awhile before we have to worry about her gabbing on the phone. Although at the rate this world is going, she'll probably be the lone preschooler without a Blackberry.

Uh-oh. She's saying "uh-oh" again. What do you think her next move is going to be?

He's Potty-Trained!!!

I think it's safe to say this time because it has been about two solid weeks that he hasn't peed in a diaper AT ALL! (At least not in my care.) He's even waking up dry in the morning and after nap for me! He's gone #2 in the potty for us, though Lisa (our sitter) said he did poo in his pull-up for her this past week. Mostly he wears underwear when he's at home. The only reason he has a pull-up on in this pic is because we had just come home from Lisa's house. I think if he stays dry while sleeping for the next couple weeks, we may even just go with underwear for bedtime too!

Craig loves this picture because he's holding two footballs while he does his business. :) I just can't even tell you how proud I am of him. As with a lot of things, potty training just suddenly clicked for Will and he's been pretty much perfect these last couple weeks. Woo hoo!!! Go Will!!

This was that potty chart I made quite awhile back. This definitely does not represent all his potty trips since I made this. We're not consistent with rewards because he doesn't always seem to care or need them. But he does love stickers, so we'll have a kick where he likes to put a sticker on the chart for awhile and then he'll forget for awhile. This one was full (note the one odd-ball sticker that I think came from his pal Megan)...

...so I had to make a new chart. Don't you just love how artistic and creative I am? :) In case it isn't clear, this is an ocean (DUH!) and we're using Nemo stickers this time. Again, not consistently...

Good job, Will!

Flashback Friday

It's Friday! And that means it's time for another Flashback!

This week's Flashback is centered around the great sport of Track and Field. Running was a big part of Craig's and my life in high school. He was a sprinter. I ran distance.

Craig ran all four years of high school and was even named captain of the team. His events were the 100, 200, 4x100 and long jump. He says his favorite race was the 100 but he was best at long jump. Craig was always the coach's favorite because of his leadership and hard work.

P.S. - Check out that hair! I absolutely loved it. It was very Hugh Grant at the time.

I only ran track for three years. I used to get SOOOO nervous before every meet, which is why I skipped out my senior year. It was horrible. Everyone gave me a hard time for it, but I just didn't want to deal with the nerves for the last few months of my high school career. Cross Country was my favorite anyway. My track events consisted of the 1600, 800, 4x800 and 4x400. So I ran 2.25 miles at every meet. Before I finished my track career, I succeeded in breaking the 1600m record... twice. The record I broke my sophomore year had been standing for about 11 (?) years. And then I re-broke my own record (and missed the county meet record by one second) my junior year. It still stands, 12 years later, at 5:28. Our 4x800 team also broke the school record, but it has since been defeated.

I'm not sure I have more than a couple action shots of myself during track season. But I'm not too disappointed... the uniforms were hideous. So here's just a picture of me in my cross country uniform. Some day I'll have Craig scan in some old running pictures.

Craig and I would both love it if our kids got into running one day. Personally, I would love to run road races with my kids. (P.S. - Stay tuned for Will's very first race this May!) I've taken Will to one meet back when he was just under a year old. But I've really been wanting to get out and watch some more when we can make the time. And maybe even some cross country meets this fall!

My cousin, Bethany, is a sprinter for Genoa this year. She does the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and long jump. So we made it out to see her first meet of the season last night. What an incredible weather day for a first meet!! A little windy, but heck!... I remember first meets with rain, snow and sleet before!

By the end of the meet, Will had learned that Bethany's jersey is #8, that she begins her races on starting blocks, and that she carries a shiny baton for the relay events. He was also extremely fascinated with the John Deere Gator that was driving around the officials and crew.

Bethany is the tall blonde in maroon at the starting line. She actually appears to be built for distance but she's doing really well in sprints!

After the meet, Nana promised Will an ice cream. He made sure she didn't forget!