THAT'S A Kiss

As of yesterday, our twoddlers (or "twids", as Mimi likes to say) officially hit the 2.5 year mark. To celebrate, although we certainly aren't really into the whole half birthday thing, I took the girls out to lunch after their gymnastics class. This was my first time venturing into a restaurant without backup. We had the best time! We went to the Westwood Pancake House, a diner that I used to frequent (by myself) when I was pregnant with the girls. It's right across the street from my ob's office, and I can remember barely being able to squeeze into a booth towards the end of my pregnancy. The girls were so well-behaved, and I of course, was oh so proud. It was almost as nice as lunching with my lady friends....we had real conversations! Of course, our conversations mostly consisted of talking about the obvious--like, the ketchup in the bottle is red, and how chocolate milk is just so yummy. But, it was fun, and it was really precious to see how darling and well-mannered the girls can be.

We had a fab weekend--weekends are always great because Daddy's home and it makes life so much easier on me. Even if he is as messy as the monkeys :). On Saturday night, we went to the Eustic's house for dinner, or "Lisapete" as the girls call them. Pete's sister Cheryl, her hubby and their daughter Riley were also there. Riley is a few months younger than the girls and so the girls were happy to have a new partner in crime. We both love watching them interact with other kids their age. At one point, the three girls were just running around the first floor in a loop, and it was hilarious--it was like watching a high-energy game of "Simon Says" as they sped around mimicing each other. Riley did try to bite Julia's cheek when we were saying goodbye, but we played it off and managed to do a satisfactory job of convincing Jules that Riley was just giving her a really sloppy kiss.

Kate has a new game that I absolutely adore--I like to call it "That's a Kiss." It's quite simple--she comes up to me, asks if I want a kiss, and when I lean in lips all a-puckered, the game begins. She leans in with the fake-out, lips pursed, and opens her mouth at the last minute, just in time to slobber all over my face. Fake-out kiss is followed up by Kate proclaiming, "that's a kiss, nooooooo, that's NOT a kiss." This is repeated until she finally ends up giving me a real smooch. She has a second variation of the game where kisses are substituted for hugs, and I freaking love it!! When she does deliver the real deal, she gets so rambunctiously excited and has to yell "that's a kiss/hug" as loud as possible. It.doesn't.get.old. Especially because she often sounds like she's speaking in some weird hybrid comprised of a Jerseyish British accent. Try and imagine THAT one if you can!

We have a super-busy week this week, which is good because Scott's in California right now. Between preschool, playdates, gymnastics and the playground, time should fly.

I know there's something I'm forgetting, but I've got to go--The Biggest Loser starts in five minutes and I can't miss it! Thank goodness the fall line-up is back in swing :).

As I sit down to type, I'm again flummoxed by the fact that I can't seem to post more than once a month....this is a problem. So, I think I'm going to make Monday's my new official blogging day......maybe a schedule will make me a better blogger....we shall see.



So, monkeys, wow......in just three days you will be 2.5 years old! My little preschoolers are getting old :). And big--we were at the doc's office recently, and Julia weighed in at 25lbs., while Kate--you behemoth babe, weighed in at 28.5lbs. This is the first time in your lives that there has been more than a one-pound differential between the two of you. Up until recently, Kate, you've never been more than 3/4-1 lb. heavier than Julia. Looks like you hit a growth spurt, my love--not surprising though, considering that your dresses were getting shockingly shorter as the summer came to an end (which I thought was adorable--you won't be able to get away with that much longer). You guys are just now able to wear 2T bottoms--you need the length, for sure, but man--we have to steer clear of pants/skirts that don't have adjustable waists. Thank gawd 2T is when most retailers decide to include those handy-dandy buttony things so we can keep those pants up! I can't believe how skinny minny you guys are--you have no tummies or waists!



You two have been in preschool for almost a month now, and you are loving it. You have yet to cry during drop-off, which has been wonderful, but part of me does wonder if I should feel bad that you can't wait to walk into your classroom and leave me all by my lonesome? Kidding--it's so sad to watch some of these moms whose kids are struggling with the whole separation issue....I'm really not sure who it's harder on, the moms or their babes.



Your teachers are Miss Mohr and Miss Chomiak (pronounced Ko-mee-aak), and you.are.in.love. You are constantly asking, on your days off, where your teachers are, and when you're going to see them. I especially love that even though you know they are two people, whenever you refer to them, they become one--"Miss Mohr Chomiak". It's very reminiscent of cousin Livvy and what she would do with "Brosini Fehr". I'm so glad we decided to sign you up for school--you two are thriving and it melts my heart to see how happy you are. I love waiting to pick you up with the other mom's--we all stand in the hall gathered around the closed door, and listen to you talk. Julia, you surprised the daylights out of me on your first day there--for some reason, I thought you would be a bit shyer than Kate, and I won't forget eavesdropping in the hall, and how you were just talking a mile a minute. Miss Mohr Chomiak :) would ask a question and you would be the first to shout, and I do meant shout, out the answer. Talk about Mommy being guilty of Mommy Pride!



Daddy and I are really enjoying watching your relationship with one another blossom. You two still fight, much more than we would like, but you are definitely enjoying one another so much more than you ever have. I could listen to the two of you (when you're not fighting) talk to one another for hours and days and weeks on end. You love to play games together, even though you aren't actually, ya know, playing GAMES. You're just playing......you both just love to say "I play games with (insert name here). Kate, the way you continue to look out for Julia, especially when she's crying, just crushes me. Who would have thought that at 2.5 years old you would be more compassionate than many adults I know. It isn't unusual for you to bring Julia her lovey, or a drink when she's hurt, and you particularly love to offer her hugs and kisses. Sometimes she even accepts!



We were getting ready for school the other morning, which is not an easy task.......I swear, for loving preschool as much as you do, you sure make it a total pain in the patoot for me to get you guys out the door. Anyway, Kate, I dressed you first, and Julia, you walked over to Kate and got sooooo close to her face (the way you do when you're telling Daddy about your day--you seem to think we're all a bit deaf). You put your hand on Kate's shoulder while crouching down and said "wow, Kaaaate, you soooo bootiful, you willy pwitty today." Stomach stabbing pangs of love, hello! What an angel you are.

Since I last posted a lot of cool things have happened.....Kate, you've peed in the potty three times now--way to go Tatie-T! Julia, you are now correctly pronouncing words like ladybug and butterfly, which I know is good, but I do admit, I miss leakybugs and bubbaflies. Both of you are getting closer to correctly pronouncing Julia's name--since you started talking, we've gone from Buggy to Gia to the latest, Jooo-eeea-ah. It was so funny, Kate, the day you figured it out. We were driving home from Wee Play, and the entire 20 minutes, you sat in the back of the car saying "Joooeeeah" over and over.andover.andoverrrrr. It was hilarious.

You two are just so funny (when you're not whining or fighting--there's been a LOT of that too, but I don't want to focus on that right now). Kate, we've been call you various versions of Potato-derived monikers since you were born (Taters, Tash, Tatie-T, etc), and you've recently decided that it's ONLY okay for ME to call you Tatie-T if Daddy's around. We were driving home from somewhere the other day, playing the "on the waaaay" game, and you told me "Mommy, no call Tatie-T, I name Kate." This was followed by "Mommy, don't call Cinda-ILLA, it name Cinder-elllla." You, my dear, were the one who started the Cinda-Illla craze, but apparently, we all need to be as mature and articulate as you and pronounce things the right way.

Julia, you are such a polite little wonder--you love to say "thank you" as you should when the situation calls for it, but what cracks us up, is the way you follow your thanks with "wah welcome". Never mind that somebody else should be giving you the wah welcomes. You are still so extreme with your moods--and when you're happy, you are truly a ray of effusive sunlight and giggles. You laugh so easily, and you often laugh for no reason at all. You spend so much time singing, and we're so impressed with your ability to carry a tune.....we actually tried to videotape you over the weekend, but you weren't really having it.

I need to wrap this up as I've gone on long enough. You two are giving me a run for my money, but I am oh so in love with you.