Friday, April 29, 2011

Chloe

Have I ever mentioned that Maria has an imaginary friend?

She started talking about Chloe maybe 7 months ago. It's pretty funny to hear some of the stuff she says about Chloe.  The details will change from time to time.  We ask her about Chloe every once in a while, but mostly just listen when she tells us about her. I've compiled a list of details about Chloe because I think they are cute and I don't want to ever forget this phase in Maria's life! Keep in mind that the majority of the things she's told us about her are unprompted.  The details just kind of come out the blue.  That's what makes them so funny.

Chloe's last name is Grillford.
She is 6.
She has a brother named Sonja  (pronounced SAHN-ya)
Chloe has brown skin, long dark hair and blue eyes.
Sometimes she wears glasses, like Maria.
Once time Chloe kicked Maria in the face.
When Chloe isn't at our house, she stays with her grandma. 
Chloe goes to the same school as Maria but she rides a different bus, and she is in a different class.
Sometimes Chloe is small enough to fit in Maria's pocket, but most times she is the same size as Maria.
Chloe used to have a brother named Boy Boy, but not any more.

We rarely notice Maria "pretend playing" with Chloe, but Maria talks about her as if she exists.  If we are talking to her about a new concept, or a situation she doesn't understand, she will interrupt as by saying "You know what Chloe did? She......" and it usually has to do with the concept we are explaining to her.

She uses Chloe in situations where we talk about unacceptable behavior too.  For example, if we are talking about hitting or pushing at school, Maria will say "You know what Chloe did? She hit Vanessa and made her cry." Sometimes I wonder if Maria uses Chloe in place of herself to describe something that happened at school. Hmmmm. It's interesting.

Anyway, we love that Maria's creativity helps her think about things and process information.  We love that she uses "Chloe" to understand situations better.  This is such a cute, funny stage in her life and I can't wait to hear what Chloe does next. 


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Bye Bye, Button!

This weekend we said bye bye to Naomi's button. (aka-her pacifier) For those of you wondering, we started calling it a button when Maria was a baby.  My husband didn't like the names binky or paci and we had gotten a pacifier as a gift that had the word "button" on the package, so it just stuck.

Naomi was only taking her button at nap time and bedtime and I really didn't think it was that big of a deal.  She's not even 2 yet and it was her only security..the only thing she'd ever been attached to.  Not the bottle, not a blankie, sippy cup, or stuffed animal.  When the lights went out, that's what she took comfort in.  So it made me sad to make her give it up. 

However, we took the kids to the dentist about a month ago and the dentist had said the pacifier was not only causing her front teeth to stick out (which I had nocticed along time ago) but it was starting to affect the way the bones in her mouth grew (specifically her hard pallate). But she said Naomi was young enough that if we got rid of her pacifier soon, the problem would correct itself.  She also gave us this great idea on how to get rid of the pacifier. 

So last weekend we went out to dinner and headed up to Build-A-Bear Workshop to celebrate the end of an era.  My brother, Kelly and Hailey joined us for the festivities. 



All dressed up for the big night out!


 The idea was to pick out a special stuffed animal and put the button in the back of it, along with the heart and the stuffing, then sew it up tight. This way, she will still have her button with her, just not in her mouth. (we realized this could go one of 2 ways....but we were willing to try and kept a back up button just in case)


For fun and moral support, Maria got to pick an animal and put a button in hers as well, even though she doesn't use a button.

Naomi took her time picking out the perfect friend. She hugged all of them until she found the one that was just right: (with the help of her big cousin, Hailey) a brown bunny with sparkly pink ears and feet.



 Not the tan bunny....

 Nope...not the panda, either!

 Hmm...let me try this brown dog. Nope.

 Ahhh yes!  This brown bunny is just right!

 One last time with the buttons!


She waited in line patientily to stuff her bunny. She rubbed the heart on her head so the bunny would be smart, on her belly so she would be a good eater, on her legs so she would run fast and her nose so she would be a little bit nosy. Thhen she gave the heart a kiss and made a wish and stuck it in. She gave her button a kiss and put it in as well. She also got to add a second heart, just for good luck.







 See ya later button! I'm a big girl, now!


 Maria put a button in hers just for fun!



The lady sewed her bunny up tight and Naomi got to give her a bath and pick out some clothes. She decided on pajamas and slippers.








Maria chose a pink bunny with yellow flowers and picked out a princess dress for her.  She named her Mrs. Flowers.

Naomi also liked the car, but we told her the bunny wasn't old enough to drive yet.





On the way out of the mall, Naomi insisted on carrying her bunny, which she named Jelly Buttons. The box was almost as big as she is. She didn't want any help carrying it around. She drug it all the way through the store until we got outside! Miss Independence!







***Button Update: Naomi slept sans button that first night and we haven't looked back since.  The first night was a little rough.  It was so sad to hear her ask for it in her cute, sweet little voice.  "I need button," she would say.  (((TEAR))) But we just kept telling her she was a big girl now and she was doing a great job. The she would say "But I like it." Heartbreaking. 
We have noticed that it takes her a little longer to actually fall asleep.  She asks to be held or rocked a few times once the lights are out.  But she has also actually been sleeping through the night.  When she still took the button, she would wake up 2-3 times a night and one of us would run in, stick it back in her mouth and pray she wouldn't wake up again.  So although it's a struggle, it's a small price to pay for a full night's sleep.***

Thursday, April 7, 2011

2 weeks????

Holy cow!  I just realized I haven't posted in 2 weeks.  That's crazy. 

Yes we've been busy, but just with the ordinary ins and outs of life.  Nothing too crazy besides a few minor sicknesses, and a bridal shower for my sis-in-law!

In between all that, we have found a few moments to have fun and enjoy the weather and each other.  Our new favorite thing to do is have a picnic...on the porch.  Nevermind the beautiful deck we had built a year ago...my kids want to hoos is up on the front porch.  (Besides, there are wasps out on the back deck)









It's hard to believe that  only 5 days after these pictures were taken...it snowed about 3 inches! Crazy, huh?

This past Saturday was my sis-in-law, Karen's, bridal shower.  I think it was pretty usccessful.  The weather was gorgeous and the kids were great!  Karen and John got a lot of great stuff.  We are looking forward to the wedding in June!!!!




 The balloons kept them entertained!
 Naomi
 The towel cake I made.

 The bride and her maid of honor

 The bride and her mom

 Olivia
 Maria enjoying her cake!

 Opening some gifts

 Karen & Laura

 Karen & I
                                       
 The bride with all her flower girls!

 Karen with her bridesmaids.
Passed out with her balloon!
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