June Updates

I know I said I would add to the blog weekly but over the past few months, monthly is all I seem to be able to do. Here's what happened since the latest post...........

May 17th - Olivia turned 3 year old. How did she get to three so quickly??? She was so excited to open presents and blow out candles and eat birthday cake. It was a lot of fun for all of us. Here are some photos from her actual birthday and her party on the weekend. Yes, that meant 2 cakes and lots of fun!

She loved all of her gifts and really felt like it was her special day. Addie didn't understand what was going on but she had fun too. She even had a little bit of birthday cake too.

Olivia has been doing very well with not wetting her "big girl undies" but continued to poop in her pants. Who would have thought that the little girl who hates to be dirty would not care about having poop in her pants. We tried and tried to figure out why she was afraid or what about pooping on the potty was scary but we couldn't figure it out. We asked the doctor at her 3 year old check up but she couldn't explain it either. She tried to comfort us with the "some kids are just afraid" answer and "she'll grow out of it with time" answer but didn't have a whole lot of suggestions that we hadn't already tried. Fortunately, I think it's safe to say (or at least I hope it's safe to say) that she has stopped pooping in her pants. It has been 9 days since she pooped in her pants. Who would have thought that this would be something I would cheer about one day???

Liv and Addie went to Oil City with Bill last week to visit her grandparents. They haven't seen the girls since Christmas and I'm sure it was a surprise to see how much they (esp Addie) grew since then. Olivia is a sweet little girl who can talk and talk and is smarter than some adults I know. (Don't worry, I won't name names. Ha-Ha) Addie was not even crawling the last time they saw her and now she's walking all over and zooms up steps. I'm sure they were sad to see them leave but happy to get some rest after they were gone.

Liv and Addie successfully completed their second set of swimming classes. The teacher said Olivia can move up to the next class where she would swim without a parent. She loves the water and loves going down the slide into the deep end. She's still a little scared about jumping into the pool not holding onto someone's hand but she's getting there. Addie loves the water too. She loves to splash and gets a big smile on her face when you move her through the water. She may move up to the next class due to her age but will still be swimming with a parent.

Olivia completed her gymnastics class. Paying attention to the teacher (and not the other gymnasts in the room) was a struggle sometimes and some of the tasks they asked her to do were a little difficult for her but she tried and tried and really had a good time. I wasn't pleased with one of the teachers because I felt like she didn't always remember that she is only 3 and has a shorter attention span and different abilities than the other 2 girls in the class who are 5. For some reason the YMCA combines the Tiny Tumblers with the Little Tumblers. Liv was a TT and the other girls were LTs. The teacher appeared a little frustrated with Liv some days (even commented on by another parent). One day the teacher told me that Liv didn't get 2 of her 4 reward stamps because she didn't always pay attention to her and ran to me to go to the bathroom without her permission. I reminded the teacher that Liv is 3, the gym has a lot of activity going on and it's tough to just sit and not watch the other girls swinging on the bars, flipping on the mats, and walking on the balance beams. I also reminded her that Liv was newly potty trained and she probably didn't realize she has to ask permission. Of course I talked to Liv about paying attention and asking to use the potty but I was very annoyed by the teacher. Fortunately there were only 2 weeks left and that teacher didn't teach the last 2 weeks. We're going to hold off putting her back into gymnastics until she's a little older. The good thing was she loved the class and didn't realize the teacher was being a little rude. She loved to come home and show Billy how she can tumble. Plus, she looks cute in her bodysuit.

Olivia was accepted into the Harrisburg Academy's HATS program so instead of going to daycare, she will be attending school. The HATS program is an amazing program for 3 year olds and we're so excited for her to go. I know there are some people who think we're pushing her to start school too young but we look at it that since we have to pay for daytime care, why not put her in a wonderful educational setting where she can get a jump start on learning? Olivia has learned a lot at the daycare....they have an educational program built into their day....but it's not the same as a school. Don't worry, she will be playing and learning as she plays, not sitting at a desk all day being forced to learn algebra or physics. I promise.

Addie is growing so fast.......can you believe she will be 1 year old in less than a month?!?!?!? She is walking like a pro and can manage to sneak 1/2 way up the steps before you can say "no". She is a happy little girl who loves to play and eat. She's transitioning to table food and seems to like anything you offer her. She has mastered the sippy cup and tries to steal Liv's as often as she can. She tries to do whatever she sees us do and really loves to imitate her big sister.

Liv doesn't always appreciate Addie trying to play with her. She developed a move she uses when she doesn't want Addie to play with her. As Addison is approaching, Liv sticks out her hand....Addie bounces off her hand and falls on her bottom. Liv has learned that when she gets caught using "the move", she goes right to time out. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often (we think).

Addie loves to climb on the "sit and spin" and loves the cats. We are trying to teach Addie that you pet a cat by running your open hand along their back not by grabbing a handful of fur and shaking it. We're also trying to teach her that a tail looks like a fun thing to grab onto and try to eat but really isn't. Jinx gave her a lesson of her own one day when Addie grabbed her tail. She nipped at her but didn't hurt her.

We are enjoying the girls so much. Bill is doing a fantastic job as Mr. Mom and it's giving us a change to spend more time playing in the evening and less time with baths and cooking dinner. Most nights, he has dinner at least started if not ready to be put on the table when I get home. He gives the girls a bath in the morning so we don't have to do it at night. I'm not looking forward to him going back to work in August and having to go back to the rush, rush, rush 5 days a week....getting up earlier, making sure I leave work on time, etc. However, I am looking forward to the company in the car again.