Its HOT!

Evie is the queen of temperature gauging around here. Most of the time, though, she exclaims, "it's hot!" even when it's not. I guess I must of burned her when she was a baby, because she seems to be permanently scarred. If this continues, I will also be scarred, because hearing her exclaim that every meal I serve her is hot, over and over and OVER again, even when it is not, is pretty frustrating, because she often will not eat whatever it is because it's hot. And of course, it's also funny!!!

She is also starting to disagree with her bedtime. She will yell, "I paying!", and frantically start playing, as if too look busy. It's so hard to pick her up and carry her away to bed crying, even though it doesn't last long. Because it's just too cute.

Four

My baby girl just turned 4 years old.

I think it felt different for me this year because about a week before her birthday, I was cleaning out in her room, and I found myself packing away all the 'shoe jammies', realizing that there would be no more next year. Marea is just too big for them now. I know they still make them in size 4, but really she doesn't need shoe jammies anymore. They are for babies, right? Plus, she doesn't really like them anymore. Once in a while, she may wear them for fun, but she has a preference now, and all the will of a powerful 4 year old to voice it! She likes her princess nightgowns! Nothing else will really do, these days. So as I was cleaning out the shoe jammies, I realized that I had been doing a lot of cleaning out recently, mostly in her room, rearranging and changing things to fit who she is now. I put a lot of the stuff she isn't playing with anymore in Evie's room, and made space for her things in her room. She's into the 'little pieces toys' now, things with itty bitty pieces everywhere! (polly pocket, dollhouse stuff, games, etc). Her fantasy world is really expanding, and it's fun to watch her get into one of her little games, which she seems to play mostly in her head, with a few little props. Bye bye toddler toys, bye bye shoe jammies.

Another thing that is different is that I am relinquishing a little of my control!!! Of course it's slowly been happening, but now I am saying it! Over the past year, I still picked out much of what she wore, and there were several morning battles. But now, I've decided that Marea is a big girl, and who cares if she wants to wear a dress every day! Or, if she wants to change her clothes a few times, then that's okay too. It may be annoying, because it often means more laundry, but she is just doing something that she enjoys, and it's fun and important to her. So i'm not sweating it anymore. She can pick her own clothes, and I will advise her on what I think is best for an occasion, but really it doesn't matter that much. She cares a lot, and she needs that sense of power and control over herself more than ever before. And that is what is most important. I have also given up on my war against the princess dress up thing that she adores so much. I have let those darn princesses into our lives, but not too much, and I think we've found a happy medium. She's got lots of different interests, and the princess thing is just a small part of who she is. And she looks so darn cute in that Tiana dress she got for her birthday!!! I mean come on, it's better than that flowery 'tie dress' (as she calls it) that she wants to wear all the time! I can't believe that the size 4 dress that I bought at the Santa Cruz flea market for $2 when she was one has become her favorite dress. I guess I just knew way back then!! I still like it, but it's ridiculously stained. It's a perfect school dress, I really hope it fits her in the fall. She also fell in love with the pink swim suit cover up I bought her in Mazatlan when she was one. Good thing Auntie Sam just returned from a trip there, and was able to get her a few more in her size! So, i'm not sweating the small stuff anymore. Giving up a little bit of control. And giving her a little more....like, the control to wipe her own butt! I've decided that it's time! Now there's one thing I will happily give up! We're slowly working on it.

This year on Marea's birthday there was no big party. We had a small family party at home. Gary and I decorated the house the night before her birthday, so she would be surprised in the morning. She ended up waking up and coming out that night and seeing everything! Oh well. She really liked the decorations and balloons. On her birthday, we made cupcakes in the morning (froggies in the water), then took Evie to nap at Grandma's house so I could take Marea for a special trip to the nail salon to get her nails painted (see control paragraph above!). She REALLY LOVED that! I was glad to see her so happy to have them painted, since I have made it a special occasion only thing. She had rainbow nails with flowers. Then we went for a fun afternoon swim, followed by an awesome little party at our house with all her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

It was really a special, fun day of celebrating four with my baby girl. She is really becoming a big girl now.

First week of Summer 2010!

Now that Marea is in school, (although only preschool), summer break takes on a whole new meaning. I am excited for summer-what's new about that? I guess I am most excited about all the time I will have with my girls. I've got lots of fun things I want to do with them, and we're off to a great start. Here's week one:

Friday-Marea's last day of preschool for the year. An awesome day with a pizza party and song circle, and we received an incredible journal of her year. Almost made me cry. And then...off to a sleepover for all 4 cousin's at Grandma Susan's house! Complete with night swimming and late night ice cream. Marea was so excited she couldn't focus on the rest of her day because she just wanted to get to the sleepover! Gary and I had our own little party...we went out for drinks with Sam, followed by a late night 'parent' discussion...which is worse, bambi or the simpsons? It turned out to be pretty damn funny. Gary has lost that one!

Saturday-Fathers day celebration/lunch at our house with the Craig family. And it's not even father's day yet!

Sunday-Evie and Gary went to breakfast at the yacht club, while Marea and I went to Marcel and Olivers baptism at the Wayfarer's chapel in P.V. So I kind of got to show her where we got married. She loves hearing about our wedding and seeing the pictures.

Monday-Playdate at Christine and Chloe's with all our 'baby' friends (who arn't babies anymore!) followed by an afternoon of swimming and sun at our own house.

Tuesday-Grandpa Roger's birthday, dinner with the family.

Wednesday-Irvine Park Railroad and petting zoo..we'll escape the June gloom by running to Irvine!

Thursday-Beach day with Mia, Sean and Gabi. Marea's going to be happy to see her BFF's again.

Friday-Back bay nature center walk with the baby friends...i hope to be seeing a lot more of them this summer, I miss the girls!

Saturday-San Onofre with Mary, Geoff, Jonas and Harper...it's kind of a father's day beach day...I guess Gary wants to spend time with us this year!

Sunday-My birthday and Father's day...i'm sure we'll find something wonderful to do as a family.

AND then, My Baby Girl turns FOUR!!!

We're off to a great summer...can't wait!