Athena catchup

• Lately Athena must do everything by herself, get herself dressed, brush her own hair, fill her glass up with ice and water, even get her own snacks (sometimes resulting in Goldfish all over the floor) now if only we could get her to play by herself (she usually demands constant adult interaction).
• The other day, Athena and I were snuggling and she had her head on my belly. John Patrick kicked her in the ear, which she thought was enormously funny. Other than that the primary form of contact with the "baby in Mommy's belly" is giving me zerberts or poking him when a little foot, head or bum presses against Mommy's belly. Every now and then, Athena does talk to my belly and introduces us: "Hello baby brother, I'm Athena and this is Mommy".
• Athena is really curious about vocabulary and she's beginning to ask me to define words that she doesn't know, which is great, but try giving a definition of "emergency" or "personal" in kid language off the cuff...it's not easy.
• She's becoming scarily good on the computer! She's only allowed to play with three games, a Caillou CDRom, a Sesame Street CDRom and an online webpage called Starfall. But we've created her own profile on the family computer and she knows how to turn it on, click on the frog icon and load either the internet or one of her games. She's already better with a mouse than Yiayia. Zoe enjoys her proficiency too and plays along, so it's a group activity.
• She recently told me she wants singing lessons.
• Her main fault right now is her constant playing. She walks into a room and starts to play with three different things at once. She cannot sit still. I see other children her age standing quietly in line at the library or post office, but this is impossible for her. She must be spinning or singing or laughing, she's very joyful, but it's frustrating when you are trying to get her dressed and all she wants to do is put her shirt on her head (arms dangling) and pretend to be a puppy. I have to tell her "Athena! Focus! We're getting dressed right now." I have explained to her what "focus" means and just the other day she was telling me a story about an elephant and his Mommy or whatever, I wasn't really listening and she said "Mommy! Focus!"
• We're going to attempt a little homeschooling soon. Athena and I spend our afternoons together while Zoe naps, sometimes we watch a movie (aka Mommy sleeps on the couch) but often we do "work" on the kitchen table. I check and respond to work emails and she does an activity from a workbook, paints or colors. I'm going to try to start focusing these activities on big picture, kind of scientificky, concepts (i.e. magnets, the solar system, geography, animals, plants, etc.). I have big plans (and a book) we'll see how it goes!
  

Zoe Catchup

• Zoe is obsessed with purple. If something is purple, then it belongs to her. She must have purple lids on her sippy cups, purple snack bowls, purple socks and outfits consisting of mostly purple. It's really really hard to dress her in nothing but purple, I only have about three outfits that are in constant rotation now.
• She has her Daddy wrapped around her little fingers. She can get anything out of him, but just asking sweetly enough. She asks to be picked up, she looks him in the face (sometimes with a hand on his cheek) and he just melts. If we ask her "Why" she wants something she wants her answer is usually "Because I miss you and love you."
  
• We forget that she is only two because she is so advance verbally and with her letters and numbers, she is literally just one step behind her sister. And sometimes we have to remind ourselves that she isn't as old as her sister and cut her a bit of slack.
• Even though Zoe is an amazing conversationalist for a two-year-old, sometimes her words are a bit muddled. Chris and I get 90% of what she says, Athena however understands 100%, and if we don't know something she's saying we'll look to her translator for help. Athena answers very matter of factly and sort of impatiently ("She says she wants a sponge!") like we should have known the first time.
  
• Zoe and Athena are best friends. It is a wonderful sister friendship. At their school they are in separate rooms and I constantly get reports that when one sees the other in the hallway or through a window, there are tears because they miss each other. They can be cruel however, if Zoe is mad at her sister she says the worst thing she can think of, which is "You're not my best friend anymore" and it always causes Athena to burst into tears.
  
• Every night as I tuck her in, she thinks for a minute and then asks me for the most obscure stuffed animal she can think of. It's her special delay tactic, however, she hasn't stumped me yet and even if that particular animal is on the bottom of the toy box, I have found it.
• She is still straddling the line between baby and child. I know she'll soon phase out of her morning, noon and night demands for being held and, like her sister, those moments will be rare rather than the normal routine. And I'll miss that so much.
  
• She has no idea how much her world is about to change.
  

My Bathing Beauties

We shook up our nightly routine tonight and the girls got to take a bubble bath in Mommy's big bathtub. They loved loved loved it and could practically swim from one side to the next. I've got alot to catch up on and about six or seven unfinished posts waiting in the wings...I'll probably just finish and post them all at once!!

Unca Stu says this reminds him of this classic photo of a wee Julie and Auntie Mimi.

The Ox Child

THE OX CHILD

This child will not be a crybaby. He is unusually tough and can endure hardship. A rugged individualist, he tends to begin speaking late and would rather settle arguments with his fists. Stubborn and unyielding, he can turn the house upside down when he puts his mind to it. He is not the fussy type but will be adamant about the few concessions he demands. One of them will be his privacy.He won't resent discipline and in fact will welcome your fixing a schedule for him. He may insist on having his meals served at the same time each day but he will not be particular about food. He thrives on regularity; knowing where everything is and what is expected of him will give him a sense of security. Being the strong, silent type, he may not readily reveal his feelings. He can be deeply hurt and no one may even suspect it, because the Ox child is a very private person.

Yikes.

At least an Ox soulmate is a Rooster (Athena and me), Zoe and Chris (Dog and Rabbit) are also soul mates. At least there will be some harmony in our home.

Introducing...

John Patrick!

To be arriving March 9, 2009 at 7:30 am, that is, unless he has other plans for us. What do you think? Does he have Chris' nose? Or mine? The ultrasound technician said he is perfect in every way, even outlined his little bow mouth for me (although I couldn't really see what she was talking about).

Also, we are 100% certain that he is a BOY. No mistakes here.

Photo of the Week

As I was cleaning out the girl's closet I found a basket of clothing that had been weeded from their dresser and tossed aside: bathing suits, ugly ill-fitting tee shirts and cold weather gear.

Zoe was fascinated by the clothes that she had not see in forever and wanted to put everything on at once.

Then she struck a pose.

She's sooo fashion forward.

Buddies

Twice a week, the girls and I attend a class at the YMCA that teaches preschool basics: arts and crafts, circle time and, of course, the chicken dance. Since Zoe is under the 3-6 age requirement, they let her attend as long as I stay in the room with her.

It's been a real treat to see my girls interact in a group setting together. They're like best friends, they sit together, get in trouble for talking and sometimes even hold hands. Zoe always looks to her sister to make sure she's 'doing it right' as she's inexperienced in such a school setting. And Athena in turn always makes sure she's sitting "criss-cross applesauce" or prompts her when it's her turn to do something.

When they're at home, they will fight about the most ridiculous toy, but out in the world they have a unbreakable bond and seem to really like being with each other.

The saddest face in preschool

We just can't find the right childcare for Zoe and I think I have looked at every daycare in town. I'm still working 15-20 hours a week and need a block of time where both girls are in school.

Earlier this year, we had Athena at her preschool three days a week and Zoe enrolled in a wonderful non-profit, parent cooperative nursery school four mornings a week. Zoe loved it and I got to be in school with her one day per week. Athena started to attend along with Zoe when I volunteered and liked it so much, I was going to transfer her to the same place. However, this parent cooperative, which was "organized by parents" closed down after 52 years serving the community due to infighting and unresolved issues with the Executive Board.

So, as of December, I enrolled Zoe in Athena's school two days a week and it's not going well. Above is the sad little Christmas card she made for me. Her little face says it all, she looks like she's in prison. When I drop her off she cries and when I pick her up she is still crying. The teachers say that she stops in between, but, I don't know...

Athena and Zoe have different classes but they share outdoor time. Athena tells me that she finds Zoe outside crying for Mommy. Athena just holds her hand and walks with her until she stops. Another time, Athena tells me, she found Zoe crying because there were several boys running too fast around her, Athena told them to go and played with Zoe until it was time to go inside. When Zoe's class lined up she cried and cried for her "Sisss-taah!"

Tuesday was the first day that I didn't get any reports of crying, so hopefully we're turning a corner. We'll see how today goes.

Bye bye fammame!

We've had a lovely holiday season with so many wonderful visits from family and friends. Thank you everyone for coming to check in on us and see our new life in California.

It's been a whirlwind three weeks, Mimi and Yiayia arrived on December 17th to help us set up for Christmas. We hosted Christmas for Baba, Grandma, Anthony, Jessica, Aunt Mave, Mariana and Lisa. Then, Aunt Katie and PopPop arrived just in time to help us ring in the New Year.

And this morning everyone left. Holidays are over and we're back to our regular programming.

Zoe clung to her Mimi all morning and
Mimi promised to come back soon.

PopPop got a last snuggle before bed.

And this photo makes me laugh as Zoe ruins
what could have been a lovely parting shot with her YiaYia.

Now let's start planning visits for the baby's birth! Only 10 more weeks!

Happy New Year

New is the year

New are the hopes and the aspirations
New is the resolution
New are the spirits and forever my warm wishes are for you.

Have a promising and fulfilling 2009!