Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Thanksgiving Week Pt. 2

Thanksgiving Day with my family - small and quiet. Nora opened a few gifts which she enjoyed. 

Able to get a family photo - finally! My Dad has been on a mission for what feels like a year and a half. I make no guarantees if my girls will cooperate!







Friday was the Kron shindig; lots of people and lots of noise! [A lot from my girls] They were able to see their cousins from in and out of town. I couldn’t really relax at either party - just too much Hannah-wrangling and making sure she was eating food. 



Saturday we tried to check out downtown Milford’s holiday event. However, Nora did not want to go into any shop; no candy canes, no hot chocolate, no Santa, nothing. Lame. 

We did put up our Christmas decorations which was fun - Nora helped a lot and then I re-arranged the ornaments once she went to bed - ha!


Always love our cozy Christmas set-up!



Thanksgiving Week Pt. 1

The three days prior to Thanksgiving were awkwardly choppy because our sitter took the week off and Nora still had two days of school. So I stayed home on Tuesday while the grandmothers took Mon/Wed. 

Tuesday was a full day: 

8am: Aunt Katherine arrives
8:20: Mommy & Hannah go for her annual hearing exam [more about that later]
8:30: Aunt K takes Nora to preschool
9:45: Mommy & Hannah arrive home
10:45: Mommy leaves to be the Secret Reader at preschool
11:45: Mommy & Nora arrive home

Aunt Katherine had fun with Snapchat!



Lunch 
Wrangle the cat - er, Hannah, down for a nap. 

At this point I’m trying to be a good Mom and play with Nora, but also - housekeeping. So Nora has me as “Mindy,” her servant. Because obviously she’s the Queen. She throws a party which means she has emptied ALL the small bags of Popchips and PB crackers into a bowl. Ailo is also invited so his food bowl is now in the living room. She has taken my lip pencil to her lips like a clown. 

Remnants of the clown lips.

Laundry waiting.

Dishes waiting.

Forgotten Legos and apple snack.

Nora’s party - complete with dog dish.

The list of chores the Queen gave to me, Mindy.


Hannah naps maybe 1.5 hrs. I do not finish my housework. 

Since I have a random Tuesday off I decide I need to tick some things off my To Do List. So what do I do? Load a four and two year old into the car along with a 60-lb dog to get the mats trimmed out of his hair. 

*I also realized once we were out the door Nora’s mouth was still clown-y.

I manage all three [with a stroller] fairly well. Then we head to the eye store to get Hannah a new glasses strap and lens cleaner. However on the way home, Ailo gets anxious - as he always does in the car - and starts to whimper loudly. 

This sets Hannah off - the only thing that makes her cry are dogs’ noises - and she starts losing it. The drive home was loud and nerve-grating. 

We made it through the day and I’m pretty sure I had a beer that night.


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

BIG Hannah Accomplishment!

Ack, I posted this over social media but neglected to do so here!

Sooo just before Thanksgiving our big girl decided it’s time to experiment walking on her own - Huzzah!! I’ve been dreaming of this day... wondering when this huge milestone would happen. I was terrified she’d be three, going into preschool and still scooting on her butt!

Granted, this doesn’t mean she’ll be walking all on her own in a week - it will still take some time for her to get consistent. 

We are all so proud of her!! 


Friday, November 18, 2016

Nora 4's Class

We had new photographers for Nora’s preschool photos (which I still think is bizarre those even exist). Unfortunately, the photographer styled Nora’s bangs to split down the middle. Our sitter said they did something to her daughter’s hair also that wasn’t like her. 

*Again, I let Nora choose her outfit and accessories - because why not?



I’m a bit disappointed and Tim and I aren’t even going to get a photo because it just doesn’t look like her! And in this day and age, we have plenty of other great photos of Nora. 

Next up - the school Christmas play. Nora came home with a script and has lines. The most lines in the play as a narrator!! The play includes the morning 3’s, 4’s, and Pre-K class - ! Not sure how she landed this, but I’m proud and now nervous to get her lines down! (The teachers do sit at the front to help out)



I told Nora she’s following in Grandpa Batty’s footsteps of speaking in church. And Mommy’s too - I’ve been known to narrate and win some speech contests... !

Wish Nora luck!



Monday, November 7, 2016

Hannah Updates

Hannah’s gross motor has been doing really well lately; the orthotics seem to be supporting her ankles very well and she’s taking off [with help]! She’s now walking with a push toy all by herself without help turning and most help going between floor surfaces. 

Very low profile!

Being tempted to shift forward with bubbles.






She’s getting good at squatting and we’re getting her to shift her body weight from a leaning position - which will help those independent steps. 

We’re also working on fine motor skills - the coordination of smaller muscles, namely in your hands. For Hannah this is coloring, stacking blocks and rings and putting small items through small holes. 



We also continue to work on communication. Not just signs [I now know colors!] but Hannah communicating her needs instead of just whining - which she does a lot! She can put two signs together - usually a need + “please.” At least she’s learning manners! We also are trying to get her to obey small commands like “Come here, Hannah!” She’s good at “Give Mommy _____.”

Speech Therapy - I sit back and observe - lots of play!


Hannah’s only words are “Dada,” “Yeah” (with no context), and a ton of babbling. We’re working on Ms, Bs and Ps. She can do the M and B-sound; I’ve heard her multiple times. We all know D is just the easiest! 



On our last trip to PT it was very rainy and I drove right into a full (nearly double) rainbow - it was pretty breathtaking and it hugged Cincinnati Children’s Eastgate building. Made me feel warm inside. 




In the Words of Elvis - TCB

Ohhh trying to catch up!

Back on October 14 my parents amazingly took the girls for the day/night so Tim and I could go out for a late anniversary outing. It was bizarre to walk into a quiet home and not rush to get dinner on the table. 

We first hit 50 West Productions - local brewery in Mariemont. We love that place. Second was Mad Tree in Oakley - my favorite beer in town. Crowded, no where to sit. Next we hit Habits in Oakley [our old pre-children neighborhood] for appetizers. We wrapped up with dinner at Sammy’s in Blue Ash - a diner-type place with really good food and an even better beer list. 

Asleep by 11pm and we knew the girls would be back after lunch so we got sh*t done!!

- flu shots
- will documents notarized
- thrift store stop
- Michaels knick knacks
- Lowes
- painted two coats on the garage door and front door [because new siding]

Amazing what you can cram into half a day without kids around. 

As for the house, we’re very happy with the result - grey siding with a super light grey trim. Ochre is the new door color. Not something we want to spend money on, but it had to be done. The neighbors are all thankful - ha! Previous owners sounded like a joke. 

Beer and horror movies


Old door color

New door color