Cupcakes!

B is getting a bit picky about her sweets--imagine! My own daughter! She turned up her nose at birthday cake this past weekend and doesn't seem to like chocolate, so I wanted to make sure that she would get to enjoy her birthday cake at her party on Saturday. Elisabeth knew of a great cupcake bakery (New York Cupcakes) at Crossroads in Bellevue so we went up for a tasting--oh who am I kidding, it was just an excuse to eat some cake!

As the pics show, B absolutely loved the cupcakes. Pengis one and two got some as well. I can't wait to serve them at her party. What a treat. And HEY! Crossroads is a cute little mall with some fun shops (one was called--I think--Common Folk Clothing Co.--adorable clothes and neat toys) and a great food court.

Two more Thanksgiving weekend photos

B with aunt Julie, and back at home, trying her tiara on Syl.

Giving thanks

I'm not sure that B really "gets" Thanksgiving yet...we checked out a book from the library, but without big visible symbols (like Santa and Christmas trees) it just doesn't make a lot of sense to a 2-year-old. What Thanksgiving really needs is a mascot, just to get the kiddos on board. The turkey fairy, perhaps?

Anyway, we had a great turkey day in Redmond. Bianca had a blast running around with her cousins--they ran around and she followed, laughing and thinking that she was every bit a "big girl" too. :) Unfortately I didn't get too many photos of the actual day.

The following day the Jacobson's threw a fourth birthday party for cousin Sophia. Bianca wasn't sure about wearing her tiara but she was happy to try it on the cat when we got home. :)

B at the piano.

Farmor helping B with her tiara.



Sophia's got hops!

We have so many things that we're thankful for--our beautiful healthy daughter, our family and friends, and the fact that we're finally back home in the Puget Sound.

Storytime

Reading to her baby. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. More and more, we're finding out little bookworm happy in her glider, reading with a pile of books. If this is what two is like, I think we can handle it!

Tears and scissors

Well, molars suck. Big time. My poor girl is suffering, and she barely napped today, but with the holidays coming up I was desperate to get her hair trimmed, so off to a kiddie-hair salon (Zoie and Friends at 6th and Orchard) we went. I didn't take a camera and I'm glad because it was a bit hairy, no pun intended. The stylist did a good job of being patient with us, and I ended up holding her for her entire cut. But, we managed, and B's little locks are finally evening out. She looks like such a big girl I can hardly believe it. I think when other people look at her, they see a child, not a baby. I still see the baby. Maybe I always will--maybe that's part of being a mom.

Today at Costco she had to touch every red thing she saw. This week she's thrilled by triangles, and the letters H and W. It's not from Sesame Street, because we're leaving the TV mostly off during her waking hours. At Costco, she was entertained by an audio recording of some CDs for sale, and she stood and danced(Steve stayed with her) while I picked out some gifts for family. She had a ball dancing but when it was time to go, she simply said "bye bye music". And she pushed the stroller all the way to the car (braking, of course, for red things).

When we got home, she decided, completely on her own, that she wanted to reorganize her bookshelf. Her obessions and ideas come from the same place as her dance moves--the incredible, mysterious toddler brain of hers. Can't wait to see what's next (I think!!!)

One more

One more from last night: I call this one her "aunt Laura" pic. :)

Fun in front of the mirror

Oh, B looked like such a big girl, preening in front of the mirror. Heartbreaking.



Reading on the bathroom floor--sometimes you've got to meet your kid where they are.

At home today!

I have so many pics to post that I hardly have time to write anything. We made gorgeous playdough and hung out at home ALL day--amazing! Usually we're out and about. Just another action packed toddler day!







Two tiny girls--Sylvie and her pint-size companion. Believe it or not, Sylvie actually likes this attention.

Muse cafe on 6th

I got some work done at the new Muse Cafe on 6th. It's close to home with free wifi, and on those bases alone I'm a fan. It was a little hard to work with the live music, although I loved (most of!) it. I just can't work with any noise, whatsoever. I took home some killer chocolate cake for Steve, to thank him for being an awesome daddy and putting B to bed. NUM! And we know our chocolate cake!

Little mama

We put B's sling away for a bit because she's been in a "big girl" phase, but today she got it out and wore it herself. She wanted to be "worn" so into the sling she went and we baked bread and apple muffins together. She's getting into baking, which makes me hopeful that she's ready for the play kitchen I have my eye on!

B's first press clipping!

We were chatting with a reporter at the Green Families fair yesterday and ended up in the paper along with another mom from our playgroup. Some of our quotes even made it into the story. How funny! It's a good event and I'm glad that the paper devoted so much space to it--hopefully they'll get more participation next year!

Green Families Fair

This morning we went to the Healthy Kids Green Families Fair at South Park Community Center. Another local mama had told me about free lead testing, so I wanted to get B tested. Our house was built in 1900, and we spend plenty of time outdoors in the dirt (which can contain lead and arsenic), so I wanted to be on the safe side. The test was quick--she didn't even cry!--and her level was low-normal. Also picked up some new cloth wipes in yummy colors and a couple of new books. I would have loved to buy more diapers but I hope to be OUT of diapers soon, as much as I love cloth (B are you reading this?) Saw some friends from playgroup too! A fun morning.