First Day of "School"

First day.

Today was our first day of the Parent/Child Program at the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor. It's a bit like pre-school, except parents are there, and it's just one day per week. Every Thursday morning we meet outside to play with other moms and toddlers, regardless of the weather. Today we dug happily in the dirt for at least 30 minutes. Then we gathered inside for circle time and singing. Snack followed, which Anna was especially excited about - oatmeal. While some kids played, some worked with the adults, cleaning up and slicing apples or rolling oats for next week's snack.

Anna stayed pretty close today, especially during the free play time; there were 7 other kids, and while we have as many or more in music, the dynamic and structure of the class is different. She particularly liked helping slice apples with the kid-safe slicer and rocking in the wood rocking chair during the final minutes of class. After 1 hour and 45 minutes, we finished with a little story and song. I think it's going to be a great learning experience for both of us.

* * *

This is a totally unrelated photo that I took this week, and I just had to include it. Anna insisted on wearing this hat around the house all day, along with her new slippers. I'm not sure why she was sans pants, but the ensemble makes me smile. Maybe she's going to have a fetish for hats and bandanas like her daddy.

Overnight

Anna has been calling me "Mom" more often than anything else these days. It's cute and sweet the way she says it, and it makes me a little bit sad.

She just sounds so much older than 2 when she uses "Mom" rather than "Mommy" or "Mama." Usually she uses it at the end of sentence: "I'm sad, mom," or "I have to go potty, mom," or "I want it now, mom!" When did I become "Mom?" Apparently, it happens overnight.

Pumpkin Picking

The pumpkin patch.

But, first, we had to feed the cow. Anna is absolutely fearless with humungous farm animals (behind bars).

She fed the cow multiple handfuls of grass.

Mommy and Anna on the hayride.

The Great Pumpkin (Anna picked this monster out). Overexposed background, but a gorgeous smile.

Just too cute.

Happy Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Blake...and to me, too. Blake turned 31 today, and I'm 34. Way back when Blake and I started dating, I felt it was somehow romantic that we shared the same birthday. It's not quite so romantic anymore. Who gets to sleep in ON their actual birthday? Who cooks and cleans? Who golfs or gets a pedicure? Today it all balanced out, so even though neither of us got all-day-pampering, we both relished some special treats.

This morning arrived too early. Anna woke at 5:50am, so she and I watched Clifford in bed while Blake slept in the spare room for a while. He, sadly, came down with a cold for his birthday. Blake awoke shortly after Anna was dressed, and he made pancakes, despite his illness. After we all snuggled on the couch to watch giraffes eat the trees for the 100th time on National Geographic's kids creature feature website (Anna's latest obsession), Blake opened a couple of books from Anna and I, gifts inspired by our interest in food and his new love of Gin. Blake and Anna ran to the grocery store for a few items while I vacuumed, dressed, and started the Winter Squash Soup for lunch, which Anna surprisingly devoured with hunks of farm bread. Not surprisingly, they returned from the store with a few treasures for me.

Roses, People magazine, and an appropriate birthday card featuring Twilight characters (I was engrossed in the books this past month).

Blake and I actually already enjoyed some big gifts in the last couple of weeks, so we didn't do much in the way of birthday presents. His birthday treat was a golf getaway to New York, while I received some beautiful diamond earrings for our 5-year anniversary. I think these satisfy any gift-giving requirement for the coming year!

Anna napped this afternoon, Blake cleaned up after lunch and napped, and I painted my toes, read People, and did some other much-needed cleaning. After nap, we sought out pumpkins at a small farm Anna and I spotted on the way to a play date Friday. Anna was thrilled to discover a friendly, hungry cow whom she fed handfuls of hay. We took a hay ride and even picked our own pumpkins (pics from this outing will have to wait until tomorrow). The afternoon concluded with a perfectly cooked pasta dinner with mushrooms from the CSA, prosciutto, green onions, cream, and parmesan cheese along with a salad and a small glass of Rombauer Chardonnay. Blake made the meal and cleaned the kitchen - the ultimate birthday gift for me.

Anna fell asleep easily this evening, and Blake and I are relaxing on the couch now, contemplating a very early bedtime. Despite being tired and sick, we both really enjoyed our day. We both had very happy birthdays.

Vintage

Anna is wearing a vintage shirt today. It was in the back of her closet, waiting to be worn for the first time in 30 years. She thinks it's pretty cool that Mommy is on the front of her t-shirt.

Posing.

Good Bugs, Bad Bugs

Katie came to play with Anna yesterday while I went for a run. Before I walked out the door, Anna was eagerly pulling Katie outside to "Watch!!!" as she jumped in the Jump-o-lene that Mo D found at a garage sale recently. They were playing happily there at 4:00pm when I left. And, that is where I found them around 5:00pm when I returned.

It turns out Anna found and fell for a cute little bug who enjoyed bouncing on the "jumpy thing" too. She attended to (terrorized) the patient bug with great care. She named it Go-gee (a made up word that has become THE name for all kinds of things lately). Sadly for Anna, and happily for the little bug, it found its way back into the grass shortly after I arrived home, but not before I snapped a couple of pictures of their fun time together.

I love this one simply because of the look on Anna's face...wonder what she was thinking?

The bug isn't nearly as cute as those little fingers.

Tickling her arm.

Here I come to get you...

Being very gentle with Go-gee.

Searching in the grass.

Last night after Anna had her fill of pizza and after showing Daddy and I numerous times how she will now bravely lay down flat in the bathtub with the water coming up over her ears (exclaiming "Watch, watch!!" over and over again), she fell asleep. Then she woke up with a stuffy nose, complaining that she wasn't feeling good. She woke a second time an hour later and was unable to sleep. Daddy and I took turns on her floor, nobody sleeping soundly. Today she's feeling crumby, harboring a different kind of bug. I hope this one goes away as quickly as our friendly bug did! This afternoon you'll find us snuggling on the couch with a snack and a movie.

Happy Tears

Dear Anna,

Today we made music in our first music class of the season. We've been going to the same class with the same teacher since you were a few months old; only the kids and the music change each time. Of course, you change each time, too. I remember when we started, you were just learning how to sit up. You would throw yourself back, unaware of the rock hard cement floor underneath you. You mouthed the egg shakers. While you seemed to enjoy listening to the music and dancing with me, you couldn't exactly sing or dance on your own.

As time went on you developed favorite songs, and although you spent more time learning by observing, you would show off your skills when we listened to the music at home. By last spring, you were banging the drums, shaking the shakers, and asking for Angela by name.

Now, today, you decided it was OK to venture into the center of the room to retrieve your shakers and drums without my hand. Last spring I would nudge you to do just this, but you refused. You'd sit without an instrument before you'd go get one by yourself. What I marveled at the most today was just how truly You you were in this effort. I said nothing to suggest the independent trek, knowing it was our first class with all new kids and you'd already told me, somewhat teary-eyed, that you wanted to go home. But, minutes later, you tip-toed away. You stopped when you saw all the kids running for the instruments and turned back to me, looking for encouragement, maybe? You were waiting - waiting to go on your terms, when you felt more comfortable. When the pack of kids dispersed, away you went. Angela, knowing you very well by now, looked at me when you approached her like this for the first time ever with a proud smile, and I couldn't help but cry a few happy tears. It was a first - a very big, confident step. Later, for the first time ever, you didn't ask to be carried as we danced around in a circle with our flowing scarves. We held hands, and you danced next to me.

What moves me most about today is not that you took this huge step. What moves me is that you did it your way. You pushed your Self and stayed true to your Self in your two-year-old way. I tell you often that you are special and wonderful just because you're you. Yet, I'm often inviting you to do things that are out of your comfort zone, that don't come easily to You. I love that you found a way to stretch and be You at the same time. I love You.

Books We Love, September 2010

We've been reading two books non-stop for the last week or two. We picked them both up out of need for some assistance...

Once Upon a Potty is a book I stumbled upon at the store while looking for something else, one that I remember my little sisters having when they were potty training. Anna fell in love with it immediately, and whether or not it's the book, she is having an easier time with pooping on the potty.

We found Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day while looking for a book about feelings. This one is perfect...it normalizes all feelings and moods and puts little stories with them to help kids understand what might make someone feel grumpy, frustrated, excited, silly, etc. I love the little "wheel" at the end of the book, which allows kids to match facial expressions to moods.

More Baking

Anna and I made pumpkin muffins this afternoon. We make muffins a lot, at least every other week. Sometimes they have carrots or zucchini, pineapple or bananas, raisins or dried cherries, blueberries or chocolate chips. We've been getting an overwhelming amount of gourds from our CSA, so this round called for pumpkin.

I started with Alton Brown's recipe, mainly because I didn't have to cook the pumpkin first. I substituted 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup quinoa flour for 1 and 1/2 cups of the white flour, I added 2 Tbsp of wheat germ, I substituted brown sugar for white and only used half of what he called for (I'm not fond of super sweet muffins), and I added raisins and dried apricots. With a little honey on these warm muffins, they were quite good.

I really enjoy baking with Anna, even if it makes a rather big mess. Pretend baking, however, makes very little mess, and Anna loves this too. On Friday, my friend Dori came to hang out before our girls' night. She and Anna sat at the table for ages, followed a recipe, and made some really yummy pretend cookies. Anna fell in love with her and how she makes cookies!

Great Mo Richards

Mo J brought Great Mo Richards over to visit with us this afternoon. Anna and Great Mo spent some quality time reading and playing on the couch. My picture-taking was less than ideal, but I captured a few of their moments together.

Yes, Anna is wearing a life jacket while Great Mo reads to her.

Running and jumping on the couch with Great Mo (Anna was running and jumping, Great Mo was in the end zone).

Kisses for Great Mo.

The Truth Stinks

Anna (to our new friend and babysitter, Katie, this afternoon while enjoying an afternoon snack outside): Mommy has stinky toots!

Katie (smiling and maybe politely pretending she didn't hear her correctly): What?

Anna: Mommy has stinky toots!

Me (blushing and realizing Katie is still unsure of what Anna said that is obviously hysterical): She said 'Mommy has stinky toots.'

That's one way to ease someone into our family.

Good for A Laugh

I hope you enjoy this little video of Anna as much as we enjoyed taking it. Please refer to this post if you're wondering why on earth Anna would be saying, "Ma, how are your spasms?" or more appropriately, "Ma, how you pasms?" Someday, Uncle Blair, you may have a child, and we may just have to teach him or her a few choice phrases!

Sentimental

In between the pulling-out-my-hair and trying-my-patience moments with Anna as a two-year-old, I'm really missing these fleeting days with her...if it's possible to miss them when I'm still in them. I think the changing season has me "seeing" the future. The cool mornings make it feel like someone should be carrying a back pack and plodding to school. I see Anna in the not-so-distant future with her new shoes and her lunch box. I see bittersweet tears in my eyes and a proud smile on my face as I kiss her good-bye in her classroom.

It's difficult to describe how it feels when the moment strikes me. This week I've become repeatedly teary eyed during the most ordinary activities - eating "cereals" at the breakfast table, grocery shopping, devouring mac and cheese at lunch time and in the bath tub (the latter being not-so-ordinary), snuggling in the rocking chair at nap time. It felt as if I was watching these everyday moments from outside of myself, like I was looking back on a home video or watching them through a lens that made everything look sharper, brighter, and more passing. I saw that our days, as they are now, won't be like this for long. Anna will start school, we'll have another baby (maybe, hopefully) and life will forever be more chaotic and loud and busy. Now, even though there are really busy days and difficult days when it seems like all I hear is "I want" or "Right now," even when it feels crazy, it's not too crazy.

Change is inevitable, and change is good. It will be a happy day when Anna goes to school and when we add another little one to our family. So many beautiful days await us. Nonetheless, I'm feeling a bit sad to say good-bye to this stage of our lives, one that we'll never experience in this way again. So, while I'm still in it, I'm soaking it up, missing it, and trying not to wish away the hard parts all at the same time. I'm guessing I'll be feeling this way again - when she's 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and...

Macaroni and Cheese

What kid doesn't like mac and cheese...in the bathtub? Anna has been asking for this special treat since she found out that "it's OK to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub." One of our favorite books inspired the idea. She wouldn't let go after she read about it, so I told her we'd try it the next time we made this favorite dish for lunch or dinner. Today was the day. I think it was her best bath ever. Maybe we should all enjoy a treat in the bathtub once in a while.

First bites.

She was all smiles!

We lost quite a few in the bath water - she proceeded to eat some fairly soggy pasta before I realized what she was doing.

I think she may have been eating the water logged ones here - but I was too busy snapping photos to notice.

Engagement

At yesterday's engagement party.

Uncle Blair and Aunt Carolyn came to visit our side of the country last week, and it was so nice to spend some time with them. It's the first time any of us have seen them since their engagement, so there were a few celebrations since their arrival on Wednesday. Blair, Carolyn, Blake and I enjoyed a delicious celebratory meal at Eve on Wednesday evening; ten of us, the old gang, indulged and laughed late into the night on Friday; and yesterday, Judy and Jerry hosted an engagement party with friends and family from all around Michigan.

Anna thoroughly enjoyed our time with Blair and Carolyn. She relished the extra attention, loving their company on our trip to the farmer's market, at the mall, walking around campus, and just playing at home. One unknowing woman from Blair and Carolyn's flight provided some laughable material for the weekend with "Ma, how are your spasms?" being the most frequently quoted line of the weekend. Anna's emphatic version (Ma, how you pasms?) got quite a laugh, so she continues to recite it, even as she's going to sleep. Blair...remember this for the future! Watch what you say around Anna.

Congratulations Uncle Blair and Aunt Carolyn! We can't wait to see you again.

In the diag.

"Hanging" from a tree.

Happiness.

Peek.

Autumn Anniversary

Blake and I are celebrating our fifth anniversary today. Five years ago on a cloudless, unseasonably hot Labor Day weekend, we were married outside under the sun surrounded by our friends and family. While it didn't feel like it at the time, it was the end of summer. And it was the beginning of our lives together. I've always loved Autumn - the rich colors, the crisp air, the apples and cider and pumpkins, the start of the school year, the donning of sweatshirts and jeans and new school clothes. Now we've added our anniversary to the list of things that make Fall my favorite.

The weather has been hinting at Fall for days now, with hot days melting into cool nights. I've noticed leaves changing colors already. I've savored opening the windows in the morning to feel the breeze cross our bare legs at the breakfast table, wondering if we'll squeeze in one more afternoon at the pool before the afternoons are chilly too. Last night we joined our friends for dinner and drinks to toast the engagement of Uncle Blair and Aunt Carolyn. When we woke tired and full of happy memories, Daddy invited Anna to the pond to "go fishing" while I stayed in a bed (after snapping a few pictures). It actually felt like Fall today; it was brisk and breezy with a bright blue sky as Anna and Daddy made their way down the street, leaving me behind smiling widely and proudly as I watched them walk hand in hand.

Sunglasses first.

Reeling it in (so she can carry it).

Ready.

They're off.

This afternoon overflowed with more moments like these. We were tired, unshowered, and happy to just be together to take in this new season on this special day. After Anna's nap we snuggled on the couch to watch our wedding video, an anniversary tradition. Anna was mesmerized, asking to watch it again and again. We looked at photos, reminiscing about one of the most amazing days of our lives. We played dress up for, what seemed like, hours, demolishing the living room with fairy costumes and plastic shoes and pirate hats. The brisk air blew threw open doors, football sounded from the TV, Daddy alternated between chopping vegetables for our pasta dinner and cheering on U of M, and we just felt happy and grateful for this kind of anniversary, spent lazily with our little family.

Outfit Number 1

Outfit Number 2 - a reflection.

Outfit Number 3 - Bag Lady.

My little fairy.