Willa used to be an OK tooth brusher - she'd bite the toothbrush and preferred sucking toothpaste off of the brush (or straight from the tube) - but lately tooth brushing has become a full contact sport. You have to pin her arms down and lie her on her back to have any chance at all. Last night I took a right foot to the face while brushing her teeth. Karri and I debate who has to brush her teeth each night.
On the plus side, when it's done she does like to spit.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Scooters
Ethan's birthday gift from us was scooters, which he had asked for. However, being a good and wise brother he also asked for a scooter for Willa "so he wouldn't have to share". Ethan's is blue and Willa's, per Ethan's request, is pink. Good choice for Willa. Ethan has ridden his all the way to Coe. I have carried Willa and hers all the way to Coe. But both of them are getting better and better at riding their scooters. The playground at Coe seems to be a good place for scooter riding and has the advantage of the playground right there. Nice thing about the scooters (relative to bikes), I can fit two scooters under the double stroller for when we are too worn out to make it back on our own.
18 Days Later
Busy season has ended and we have had Ethan's 4th birthday. Lots to report. Probably a couple of entries worth. Will work backwards from the most recent:
Ethan is back doing swimming lessons. He suggested that he might not want to this past weekend, but was "bribed" with a trip to the movie "Earth". I think Karri's recap was that it reminded her a lot of the BBC Earth videos but was cool to see on the big screen. Ethan really liked the penguins even though they were only on screen for about 2 minutes.
Willa is becoming a big girl with big opinions and big emotions. A couple of her favorite things - dresses and pink - put them together in the form of a pink dress and she will shine with happiness and spin around and say it is pretty. Try to put her in something else (non-pink or non-dress) and you are likely to have a mini-showdown followed by some tears (maybe hers, maybe yours). this morning she tried on three dresses (including one that she had picked out) before settling on the one she would wear for the day.
Willa loves to jump, Ethan (with Karri's help) just picked up the skill over the weekend. We think Willa got jumping from throwing tantrums.
Willa is getting more words and connecting them into little sentences. Makes talking to her much easier. Of course it is still about what Willa wants - "carry downstairs", "blankie, binky, dolly", "Daddy are you?", "read Dora", "potty" - yes, Willa has seen her brother peeing on the potty (our nightly pee race) and now wants to potty herself and get a drink of water before bed like her brother. She like to order people around and needs to be constantly reminded to say "please" or "peas".
Ethan is a huge fan of Jeff Corwin and loves to watch a little Jeff Corwin every morning before school.
Willa has started to do puzzles like Ethan - she is not a puzzle-master yet, but is getting better.
Yesterday was haircuts and Tutta Bella. Good times. Willa and Ethan both had gelato - chocolate for Willa and Raspberry for Ethan.
Ethan is back doing swimming lessons. He suggested that he might not want to this past weekend, but was "bribed" with a trip to the movie "Earth". I think Karri's recap was that it reminded her a lot of the BBC Earth videos but was cool to see on the big screen. Ethan really liked the penguins even though they were only on screen for about 2 minutes.
Willa is becoming a big girl with big opinions and big emotions. A couple of her favorite things - dresses and pink - put them together in the form of a pink dress and she will shine with happiness and spin around and say it is pretty. Try to put her in something else (non-pink or non-dress) and you are likely to have a mini-showdown followed by some tears (maybe hers, maybe yours). this morning she tried on three dresses (including one that she had picked out) before settling on the one she would wear for the day.
Willa loves to jump, Ethan (with Karri's help) just picked up the skill over the weekend. We think Willa got jumping from throwing tantrums.
Willa is getting more words and connecting them into little sentences. Makes talking to her much easier. Of course it is still about what Willa wants - "carry downstairs", "blankie, binky, dolly", "Daddy are you?", "read Dora", "potty" - yes, Willa has seen her brother peeing on the potty (our nightly pee race) and now wants to potty herself and get a drink of water before bed like her brother. She like to order people around and needs to be constantly reminded to say "please" or "peas".
Ethan is a huge fan of Jeff Corwin and loves to watch a little Jeff Corwin every morning before school.
Willa has started to do puzzles like Ethan - she is not a puzzle-master yet, but is getting better.
Yesterday was haircuts and Tutta Bella. Good times. Willa and Ethan both had gelato - chocolate for Willa and Raspberry for Ethan.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Weekend of Fun
Next week is Ethan's birthday, but this weekend should be packed with fun too:
Friday: early pick up from preschool, then to a playground in Ballard at the St. Alphonsus school that we hadn't been to before (Ethan really like the tire swing, Willa the slide), then home for dinner (stir fry with rice noodles, beef, broccoli, and baby corn - not a big hit, but it was good), then watch part of Dumbo, then stories (3 by Mo Willems), then bed.
Saturday: french toast for breakfast, prep dinner (slow cooker chili from Cook's Illustrated), egg hunt at the QA Community Center, swimming lessons for Ethan (he got in off the waitlist - whew!), while Ethan is swimming Willa and other parent will troll Queen Anne Ave for fun (maybe go to Urban Kids Play), lunch (TBD), die eggs in the afternoon, then play, eat, then promised either end of Dumbo or beginning of Jungle Book
Sunday: pancakes (maybe with bananas and walnuts), down to Nana and Zayde's for an egg hunt at the farm and hanging out with Micah, Kaia, Marcela, and AJ, lunch, and home in the afternoon.
PS: On Wednesday we did a Seder through Kavana. Willa loved chopped liver and parsley in salt water. Ethan loved kosher hot dogs and meeting new kids.
PPS: Really looking forward to April 15 as are Karri and the kids.
Friday: early pick up from preschool, then to a playground in Ballard at the St. Alphonsus school that we hadn't been to before (Ethan really like the tire swing, Willa the slide), then home for dinner (stir fry with rice noodles, beef, broccoli, and baby corn - not a big hit, but it was good), then watch part of Dumbo, then stories (3 by Mo Willems), then bed.
Saturday: french toast for breakfast, prep dinner (slow cooker chili from Cook's Illustrated), egg hunt at the QA Community Center, swimming lessons for Ethan (he got in off the waitlist - whew!), while Ethan is swimming Willa and other parent will troll Queen Anne Ave for fun (maybe go to Urban Kids Play), lunch (TBD), die eggs in the afternoon, then play, eat, then promised either end of Dumbo or beginning of Jungle Book
Sunday: pancakes (maybe with bananas and walnuts), down to Nana and Zayde's for an egg hunt at the farm and hanging out with Micah, Kaia, Marcela, and AJ, lunch, and home in the afternoon.
PS: On Wednesday we did a Seder through Kavana. Willa loved chopped liver and parsley in salt water. Ethan loved kosher hot dogs and meeting new kids.
PPS: Really looking forward to April 15 as are Karri and the kids.
Baby Animals
Karri and I were talking about Ethan and his imagination. Over the last year or so, he has deemed himself to be, in no particular order, a:
baby seal (after Seaworld)
fawn (after seeing Bambi)
kitten
puppy (in honor of his stuffed animals)
joey (after Who Are You Baby Kangaroo)
penguin (after Tacky and the Emperor)
There may be more, but I think that is it. When he has been in that character mode, you must (1) refer to him as the appropriate animal, not Ethan and (2) must tell him that his food is the appropriate item, not dino nuggets from Costco but fish balls or something similar.
baby seal (after Seaworld)
fawn (after seeing Bambi)
kitten
puppy (in honor of his stuffed animals)
joey (after Who Are You Baby Kangaroo)
penguin (after Tacky and the Emperor)
There may be more, but I think that is it. When he has been in that character mode, you must (1) refer to him as the appropriate animal, not Ethan and (2) must tell him that his food is the appropriate item, not dino nuggets from Costco but fish balls or something similar.
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