Crafty Mama

I am loving this book and want to make almost everything in it.
I've only found time for one project so far - a blanket/sleep sack for you to use at school. It's fleece so no sewing required and it was super easy.

Her blog has fun ideas too. Maybe we can find time for these exciting Octo-dogs.

Your new play room

The basement remodel is finished complete with a new play structure and fort for you and company!

We ordered the set through Cedar Works and it arrived in about 10 boxes along with a giant bucket of screws and bolts. Let's just say all of your dad's "playtime" with Legos was really training for putting this thing together.
The first day it was up, you took your nap inside. Note - you are holding the "princess shoe" you got at the Swap Shop (it's about 4 sizes too big for you and there is only one but you love it and play with it all the time).

All I can think about

I have eaten about 20 pears this week. And I'm looking more and more like one every day.

Reading: Nurture Shock

I am in the middle Nurture Shock, by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman. The book explores the latest findings in child development and its findings challenge a lot of commonly held premises behind education programs and parenting styles.

I am fascinated and want everyone to read it so we can discuss.

The chapter on siblings was a little alarming. Apparently you are going to fight with your new brother at least 10 minutes out of every hour - mostly over toys. That sounds like a lot of fighting over junk. Do you think that will replace the current whining or be added to it? It hurts my ears just thinking about it.

Daycare day 2

It went much better, maybe because you actually napped. I wish I was in love with the whole scenario but alas, I'm only mildly satisfied. This whole parenting thing is really hard!

Daycare day 1

Your first full day went well - almost.

On the up side - you were happy at drop off and pick up, practically ignoring me and dad. You didn't want to leave until you had your face painted. We are told you had a wonderful time adventuring and playing and you successfully used the school's potty - woohoo.

On the down side - you split your lip falling off of a chair (!) and had only a 30-minute nap (!!). Well before bedtime, you were crazed with fatigue and nearly inconsolable. After almost two hours of rocking, reading, and crying, I resorted to giving you a little Benedryl to take the edge off. You went right to sleep and though satisfied, I feel like a crap mom for drugging the baby. (Note - this is not a norm, the only other time I've done it was on a long flight.)

I'm a bit of a wreck. I had a good cry yesterday and slept horribly the night before and after. I did get a long walk in during the day though - something that hasn't happened since oh - March.

So - I was hoping for better than this. It started out great and maybe it's still ok. Is this just how it goes? Will Thursday be better? If not, what will we do?

Defaced personalized books

Once again I'm having fun gluing photo faces onto pictures. The results make me laugh every time. This time I revamped two books of yours - one about grandpas and one about daddies. You were ho-hum about the books before but now that they are plastered with your favorite peeps, I think we'll be reading them a lot more.

The one of papa on the phone is my favorite. It will be hard not to laugh out loud when we read it together.

Window diorama

Your new playroom is coming together. The shelves are stocked with toys and books and the play structure will be here this month!

I took a few of your toys and some odds and ends to make a diorama in the window. I have a vision of changing this out every few months as the seasons and your interests change. This one will probably stay a while since A BABY WILL BE COMING SOON. Putting it together was fun and it turned out well - especially since you have so many ocean themed toys to choose from.