Nina Nina Ballerina

Lili had her first dance class today. She was going back and forth on whether or not she even wanted to go, but once she had her new (purple!) leotard, dance shoes and Ballet Book from Mee Maw she was raring to go. In classic Lili form, however, she was not willing to join the group of 3 year olds and the instructors. She wanted to do all the positions, she even INSISTED on getting her Ballet Book and looking up what positions would be coming up next and how they were supposed to look while she was dancing, but they all had to be done right next to me. And I had to do them with her. I was snapping photos and every time I took a picture ("no mama! Don't take my picture!") I had to scoot back to get the shot- so she kept scooting back, too. I'm suprised we didn't end up in the parking lot... She also did great waiting her turn for the balance beam and trampoline (in ballet class?) but I think most of that was because she was a bit intimidated by all of the people. New, big groups always show a completely different side of her. The child walks "on the edge" of everything and can scale things you wouldn't believe, but when her turn came (she was last in both lines) she had to hold my hand on the balance beam and missed her turn altogether on the trampoline. She didn't need me for balance, just security :) She also tends to step back to the level of those around her- she did that with coloring at the library. Always naturally colored fantastically and shockingly in the lines but at the library the kids just scribble all over everything so she started doing that, like she didn't realize until she watched them that's how she was "supposed" to do it. It is so interesting. She's also been playing this back and forth game recently- I want that, no I don't, no I desperately need it- that kind of thing. That's how she missed her turn on the trampoline. She waited so patiently as she was last in line then her turn came and she turned around, looked at me, said she didn't want to do it, and then looked heartbroken when the instructor put it away. At least when she was putting her boots on she asked if after she was all dressed she could go to another dance class. I guess we can at least convince her to go again next week.

Toy Hoarding

We had so much fun (note the sarcasm) this morning that Lili is taking a nap and I'm insisting that we start the day fresh when she wakes up. The child needs a serious Do Over right today. We did manage to make it to CICDC this morning but, um, we had a few issues with sharing. Note the toy hoarding. Yup, that's my girl. Even if she can't play with it, she doesn't want anyone else to either. And, she didn't realize how much she wanted to play with THAT toy until she sees someone else use it. Then she remembers she was DESPERATE to have it. All.To.Herself. Right. Now. I'm hoping that when Jax gets big enough to defend his toy territory she'll be forced into the art of compromise and sharing- or that she'll just have outgrown it at that point. If not, I'll probably end up with two kids sitting on a pile of toys that they can't play with, and me "protecting" another stash so that no one touches those either...

Life under the laundry pile...

5.
This is the laundry pile living in our back hall today. It's all clean, but with the amount of laundry we do here- not to mention other "life" stuff that distracts us- the folding and putting away steps always are the ones to fall to the wayside...

Hide and Seek

4.
Scott and Lili spent some time playing Hide and Seek yesterday while I was editing and we got to play a few family games today. She was loving the Hot or Cold part of the game we added when she couldn't find Scott after...well, after awhile. In fact, she wanted to keep on being the counter instead of taking turns so that she could play Hot or Cold again. We figured she thought that was hilarious because once she couldn't find Scott when he was basically in the middle of the room...That's okay, though. We loved hearing her count. "...nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fourteen, sixteen, eleventeen..."

Great hiding spot, don't you think?

I *heart* space saver bags

Lame, right? I can't help but be a total dork sometimes. Space saver bags rock.

We used to have a queen sized bed. It was awesome when we first got it (in college) but as it started to sag a bit we bought a huge down featherbed for it. That was wonderful. Huge, so big in fact that we needed bigger sheets to accomodate it, but it was worth it. When we added another kiddo to the family and moved up to the King we couldn't use it anymore. Well, we could, but someone would have probably spent alot of time rolling off of the flat spot on the edge where it didn't fit. All of our family is out of town so we decided we'd keep it for our queen sized air mattress. It fits perfectly and makes it feel like a real bed instead of a pool inflatable. But where do you store a gigantic featherbed? Space Saver Bag. Oh yeah. Less than 4" wide it now slides easily under any bed in the house. Sometimes, it's the little things. :)

3.

12 hours of photo editing today. That round thing is Jax's head in the hammock ;)

2.

We had a check up for Jax today, as I wanted to go over a few things with Sheryl about his sleeping (or lack thereof) and Scott is working on a computer program for her. I actually enjoy them because we just get to chat about what's going on but there isn't anything to do except measure and weigh the little dude. I did get to vent for awhile about the sleeping thing and we've decided to try some Omega 3 supplements (thanks for the suggestion, Alisha!) to see if there is a hormonal issue we can address. And, for the record, at 7.5 months the little dude weighed in at 19 lbs and 28.25 inches. Yup, bigger than I was at one year. I think we've decided I make heavy cream instead of milk. ;)