Adventures of the Big Girl Bed

On Saturday, June 19, we took down Kate's crib and officially set her up in her Big Girl Bed. She picked out new sheets at Target. And was so excited to have the bed in it's new place, she didn't want to get off of it to have the sheets put on. So Daddy read a book to her for a while . . . She's taken to night time sleeping pretty well. A couple of nights I've gone in to check on her, and she's asleep on the area rug (so cute!), but basically much better than I thought.

Nap time is another story. Because of the new found freedom, she HAS NOT NAPPED since moving to the Big Girl Bed. And while I thought I had cleared out every destructive element from the room, I was wrong. On the first Monday, Doug and I heard her playing in her room, making noise, and I figured the worst she could be doing is empting all the clothes out of her dresser.

Nope. Not even close. She monkied up her changing table and got a hold of the Bag Balm. (Think Vaseline, if you are not familiar). This is her 2nd unlawful use of the stuff, but because she had the big container, made MUCH MORE of a mess. Clothes, sheets, blankets, floor, doors. The most disturbing to me, though, was her hair. So. Much. In. Her. Hair. In the first 2 pictures, the shininess is from the Bag Balm, not from the water or the bubbles. I swear she had an adult-size handfull on her head.

1 bath, 2 shampoos, and an attempted fine-tooth comb later, I thought I'd try a different approach. Flour. You know, give the Balm something to cling to so that it will connect with the shampoo and get out of her hair. I probably put about 1 cup of flour in her hair, to give her the 18th century powdered wig look.

A word of caution, however. Wet flour-Bag Balm forms a bit of a paste. But I think it made for a much faster removal process, even if I was worried that we have to shave her head and make biscuits. After the 2nd bath, and 2 more shampoos, we were getting tired of baths. And shampoos. And she was presentable enough. . . . I guess. It only took a bath a day, and by Friday she was nearly as good as new.

Even in the moment it was pretty funny. But I had to put on my stern face, "Bag Balm in the hair is a No No. Only on skin." That and I think the shampoos were tortuous enough for her to not want to repeat the process.

Hawaiian dress

Kate has been quite fond of just tootling around the house in just her diaper. The only way she willing gets dress is if you let her know we are going outside or going bye-bye. Then she can't get her clothes on fast enough.

But for one day last week, she actually wore this Hawaiian dress around the house for about an hour. Worth of photo documentation that she didn't spend the entire summer in her diaper.

While this first one is a little washed out, she has the BEST smile! She also just loves playing on our bed. :)

Step stool

Two weeks ago we scraped off the popcorn ceiling in the family room and re-finished the ceiling. It all looks very nice, but not really worthy of a picture. Especially non when you have Kate being very cute, using the step stool as a combined chair and table.

Fortunately, she wasn't really into climbing up on the step stool. Except when I was also on it. Which I'm sure made it more dangerous for me than for her, but she was pretty good about climbing down when I asked.

The Box

Of course, just as much fun as the new car is the new box. In this series of photos, it was almost nap time, hence the pacifier. The lack of clothes is just the newest thing in toddlers these days. At least she keeps her diaper on. Most of the time. "Kate night night"

"Hi Mama"

The Box

Of course, just as much fun as the new car is the new box. In this series of photos, it was almost nap time, hence the pacifier. "Kate night night"

Kate's car

Kate got a car from Grandma for her birthday. Originally she was thinking about a tricycle, but Kate really seemed in between sizes - so ended up with the red car instead.

Putting it together only required a moderate amount of swearing. And distracting a very helpful daughter with a bath to get her out of the way for a while. Her feet stick out the bottom, so she can push herself along.
Also come equiped with a horn, cup holder, and the every popular keys.

And a nice little door, so she can get in and out by herself.

Mommy's Sweatshirt

I brough home things from my classroom for the summer, including my UP sweatshirt, which I kept around school for the quick temperature changes one has in the portables. Kate wanted to try it on. For about 2 minutes. Pretty long for her, really.

For the generations

Doesn't Kate look great in this dress? It's one I wore as a kid. Made by either my mom or my grandma. (Can someone help with the details here?)

2 candles

Kate loved the candles. Specifically, having us blow them out, and then relighting them. Again. And again. And again.

Ymmmm. Brownie is delicious.

Sharing with mommy

I asked Kate if I could have a bite of her brownie.

"Nooo."

Finally she shared a piece. Can you see it between my fingers?

She did, however, declare that she was "All Done" before finishing the brownie. Hmmm. Do you think Mommy took a few bites of her left-overs?

2 year self portraits

Our darling Kate turned 2 yesterday. Today she got an A+ from her pediatrician at her appointment. 29 pounds. 34 inches. 75th percentile in each.

Kate's birthday brownie.

Kate is enjoying her birthday brownie. And just generally being a cute 2 year old.

Early birthday celebration

We celebrated part of Kate's birthday a little bit early - it's nice to have people who are giving the presents see her open them up. So since my parents were in town . . . and they brought presents . . .

This present was actually from Marla, et al. It's a gardening bucket, complete with a little shovel and rake. Upon opening it, she immediately declared it to be a hat. You can see the shovel and rake hanging from the 'chin strap'.
It's so dang cute!

With each present she opened, she was so animated. "Wowwww!" The chalk is for her new art-easel, of which I still need to get pictures.

Grandma & Grandpa visit

My parents were in town for the weekend. And mom is staying for the week. Here are a few Kate-and-grandparent pictures.

Kate and mom in their jammies.
Grandpa sure is funny!

We have fun reading together!

mid-month self-portrait

You tell by the number of entries posted tonight that it is quiet around the house. Kate is asleep. Doug is at work for a Senior Awards banquet. And I'm eating school-fundraiser-cookie-dough while blogging. Ahhhh.

Baby fruit

You kinda have to know what you are looking for, but this shows 3 of our baby pears. . . . . . . . . and lots of baby cherries.

I'm so excited for all our fruit to come into season!

Very thirsty

She grabbed the container out of the recycle bin, to use with her pre-dinner ritual of playing with the water in the sink. Gotta tilt your head waaaaaay back when there is just a little bit of water inside.

Bandana Girl

I was putting away a bandana, and Kate decided she wanted to wear it. She actually left it on much longer than I thought she would - probably 5 whole minutes. Many time, Kate is just too fast for the photographer to keep up.

This graham cracker sure is ymmmmmy.

Can you also see that I got my bangs cut this evening? The first time scissors have touched my hair. But mama was clear - only adults get to use scissors on hair. I'm sure I don't know what she means by that, though.

22-month self-portrait

Yeah, yeah. I know this is about 2 months late in posting. Maybe it's because I couldn't really get a good shot of the two of us that day. Eh, you can't win them all.