Playdate At The Southside Works Fountain

Last Friday, our "Friday Morning Playdate Group" decided to take the kids to the fountain at Southside Works to play.

We parked at the river, and while we were waiting for the others, Vivian got to chase ducks and geese (luckily, they all ran away from her, and did not turn around to bite her ;) and saw a fish up close when one of the fishermen caught one and showed it to her. Me? I was just happy he was doing catch and release and I didn't have to explain anything else about the fish's fate :)

When we got to the fountain, it took Vivian all of 30 seconds to get stripped down to her diaper and be soaking wet. She was squealing with delight at being wet and sprayed upon by the fountains. Even getting water in her face unexpectedly (they turn on and off at random intervals) didn't stop her from enjoying the water.

The half-dressed, half-wet crew:


Emma wasn't going to be seen hanging out with that ragtag group, so I got a shot of her separately :)

Stylin'

2.5 Year Check-Up

Ok, so how did this girl manage to turn 2.5 years old already? Wow!

The stats first: 34lb (no wonder she's getting too heavy to carry) and 42in (again, no wonder the bathing suit I bought the other day that was for 36 months was too small).

According to a chart I just found, this put her at the 92nd percentile for weight and way way way off the chart for height. In fact, so much way off that I think I will re-measure her height tomorrow just to check. She's not REALLY as tall as the average 5 year old.

She's doing extremely fine. The doctor came in and immediately got an ear full of information from Vivian ("I have a bug in my belly" (no idea where that came from). "I peed in the potty." "I have a bu-bu on my knee." "There's my name" (spotting a "v" on my travel mug)) ... I feel I didn't even need to be there to provide information.

She did very well with the ear check etc (much better than previously) and even wanted to sit on the exam table rather than my lap. Everything looks good. The pediatrician is impressed that she's in daycare but has only been in twice in the last 6 months. Let's hope she keeps that up.

Based on Vivian's potty-"training" success so far (I can't really call it training), the pediatrician also thinks we should just bite the bullet and start having her wear only "big girl underwear" all the time, so I went out and bought a few more cheap clothes so we can handle the accidents. Project "no diaper" should commence soon.

Vivian needed one vaccination and I managed to get her all excited about getting a band-aid, although I did also explain it would involve an injection first. She was a total champ ... whined a bit, but didn't even cry. She did cry when I pulled off the band-aid tonight. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

All in all a good visit and let's hope Vivian doesn't need to go back for anything until she's 3! And that she doesn't outgrow her summer clothes before summer is over! ;)

Sleep-over

During the first May weekend, Vivian's almost twin and friend Emma spent the night with us. We spent most of the afternoon and evening outside, tiring out the girls. Fun was had by all!

We started out with the sidewalk chalk.


Then we moved onto the playground, but only briefly, because it was just too hot. We did stay long enough to have a snack though.


Then we headed home again to cool off in the pool. Yes, Vivian's bathing suit (or "baby-soup" as she calls it) is too small, since it was last years and I hadn't bought her one for this year yet. That quickly became a non-issue since the girls decided to run around naked instead. Sorry, no pictures of that ;)


Emma sat in a bucket. I can't quite remember how that one came about. But we documented it anyway. :)



Will and John (who was visiting from VA) grilled hotdogs and bratwurst for dinner, which were enjoyed by all.

Corn on the Cob

Nothing says "summer" like a messy toddler enjoying corn on the cob straight from the grill. Yum yum!

Frick Park

A couple of Friday's ago, Vivian and I met the usual gang at the playground at Frick Park and went for a hike and lunch. It was a lovely way to spend the morning.



We stopped at a little creek. The kids enjoyed throwing in rocks.



Lunch at Lulu's

Donner ist laut!

We had our first thunderstorm of the season a couple of weeks ago. In the middle of the night. Vivian woke up at the first few claps of thunder and was rather excited and wanted to watch at the window. I was able to convince her she'd see just as much from her bed and she went back to bed. A few minutes later, the thunderstorm moved right overhead. Flashes of lightning and loud claps of thunder got Vivian out of bed again and into ours. Where she proceeded to sit up and cheer and shout at each thunder "Daddy, thunder!!!!". She took the German sentence "Donner ist laut (Thunder is noisy)" away from the experience and has been casually throwing it into conversation at random times ever since.

We've had two thunderstorms since then. Both in the afternoon, toward the end of nap time. Both found all three of us either sitting in bed, cheering at the thunder, or huddled on the inside of the sliding doors in the living room, doing the same. Apparently, watching thunder is a family sport!

While Will and I are VERY glad that she is excited rather than frightened by thunderstorms, and we could not stop laughing at her enthusiasm that first night, I am hoping it will diminish over time. I don't think I can take this on the many nights during the summer where I anticipate us getting thunderstorms. Especially when you throw the already existing sleep-deprivation caused by a newborn baby into the mix come August ...