Pre-K Graduate!

Well...my baby has graduated -- from Pre-K.

We were most fortunate that Nana was able to come up to enjoy the ceremony!

Elizabeth did an outstanding job singing the 4 songs -- not just being a proud Mama, but she could be heard and many of the other kids were watching her for the arm motions. Unfortunately for me, I've had the "Tony knows how much I love you..." tune in my head...

She was in a near sprint to get her diploma when her name was called...quite the determined walk!

I can't believe she'll be in Kindergarten in the fall!!! Time flies!

Pre-K Graduation Reprimand

At Pre-K graduation practice earlier today I got in trouble for attempting to do a little work and stay on top of my emails during this hectic time of year. While I am typing away on my phone from the back of the room thinking I'm being quite inconspicuous, from the front of the church Elizabeth yells, "Maaaawwwwwmmmm! You're supposed to be paying attention to me and not your phone! Eyes straight ahead!"

I can't really argue with her...even though this graduation, complete with its Jostens caps and gowns may be a bit much (and a racket for Jostens!) This is really important to her...and a sign of how quickly she is growing up!

Red Chief Rides Again...

Being a 'single' parent this week while Reid is away, I let Elizabeth have chocolate cake for breakfast on Sunday -- of course while singing a la Bill Cosby, "Mom is great! Givin' us chocolate cake!"

After dinner this evening, Elizabeth asked for chocolate cake for dessert. Since she'd eaten well, I obliged. She starts singing my take on the Cosby song, "Mom is great! Givin' us chocolate cake!"

Then she turns to Cate and sings, "Cate is great! Drinkin' her boobie milk!"

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Kennedy briefly walked on the blanket I have on the floor in the living room for Cate to roll around on since we have hard-wood floors...and this is what I hear from Miss Bossy Pants, "Grrrrrr! That makes me so mad!" What, I ask. "Kennenny stepping on Cate's blanket. Mom, can I call her a damn dog?"

Ummmmm, no!

Lamby = Happiness

Cuddling in bed with the girls while Reid is at the national golf championship just hoping to get them to sleep at a decent hour...

Elizabeth says she wants Cate to have Lamby.

I say no that Lamby is Elizazabeth's and she is sooooo special.

Elizabeth says, "But I want her to have happiness."

I've assured E that Cate has plenty, plenty of sweet things to "silk" that will make her happy when she gets bigger...

This picture was taken in September while we were at the Homestead for Rikki & Doug's wedding. Elizabeth squealed with delight as she saw how the housekeeping staff took such special care of Lamby when they made up the room.

Cate Update!

April 1st - No foolin' - Cate is pretty consistently sleeping through the night! (Now, run - no, sprint to knock on as much wood as you can find! Seriously.)

April 13th - Rolly-poly Cate is exactly 19 weeks old...and rolled for the first time!

April 16th - Stinky cereal - Big sister, Elizabeth gets to feed Cate her first bites of cereal, and Cate did pretty well...subsequent days, not so much.

April 17th - Cate has an upper respiratory infection and has been put on a breathing treatment similar to what they do for babies with asthma. So when she has to do her breathing treatments from the nubulizer, we call it the "Willie Nelson Treatment."

April 30th - Look Ma, I have hands! She's really staring at her hands these days.

May 8th - Toes are not only fun for grabbing, but for sucking, too! (Clarification - HERS, not mine!!! Feet other than hers still pretty much creep me out!)

Copper

According to Elizabeth's teacher, Miss Jenn, Elizabeth has a new game. She like to play, "Copper." When Miss Jenn asked her how do you play "Copper." E replied, "You know like a police man..."

So apparently "Copper" is more like Elizabeth not actually playing at the playground but patrolling the playground for violations. Then she will tattle to Miss Jenn on any of the perps.

So why is it that I have the following image in my head?

Chickenlover
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Mother's Day

Elizabeth has declared that it is "St. Mother's Day," and isn't that most appropriate?

Reid fixed me a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. Delicious! Let's not forget about the waffle that never was...

I'm a very lucky girl (not just to have two fabulously beautiful daughters and a sweet husband), but that I dodged eating that waffle! :-)

Miss Bossy Pants

Miss Jenn, Elizabeth's Pre-K teacher replayed the following to me:

Elizabeth: Miss Jenn, ____ (insert the name of any classmate) says I'm bossy.
Miss Jenn: Do you think you're bossy, Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: (after contemplating for a bit) Well, sometimes people just need to know what to do!

The Ransom of Red Chief

For some time now, I've been telling people who "threaten" to take Elizabeth home with them because she is so cute that it would be like the Ransom of Red Chief. They think I'm joking, but I'll let you be the judge:

• Sunday, January 16th - Reid, being a smart-ass, put the Catholic Mass service from Wheeling's Cathedral of St. Joseph service on the television. Elizabeth came downstairs from playing tea party in her bedroom and inquired, "Oh! We're staying home???" (Okay, I get it, this one isn't so bad...it's actually as if she was Jake's & my love child (it is West by God Virginia after all...) fast forward several years and I'm sure she'll enjoy watching service on TV while having "communion" (eating Italian bread, with a little butter, and drinking a bottle of wine!) Consider this one the warm-up for the next story...
• Monday, January 17th - Elizabeth's 5th birthday - Reid & E were playing on the Wii playing the boat racing game. Elizabeth lost the race to which she exclaimed, "What the Hell happened here?" Reid and Grandma quickly exchanged glances to ensure that they had actually heard her say what they thought they heard...Digging the hole a bit deeper, Elizabeth then says, "Jesus Christ, I lost!" When asked by Reid & Grandma what she said, Elizabeth explained, "I talkeded [sic] like a man!"
• Tuesday, January 18th - Elizabeth is obviously having a banner week at this point... I asked her to help me with dinner, she wasn't having any of that. She further wasn't thrilled about having to come to the dinner table for our family dinner - wanting instead to watch yet another episode of iCarly. She did as she was asked though...and upon my request, she called Grandma to the dinner table with, "Grandma, dinner's ready. Blah, blah, blah..."
• Monday, February 14th - Valentine's Day...actually, late night Valentine's night - 11PM - despite having been cuddling (aka wrestling with a jumping bean) for well over an hour and reading books, Elizabeth was not yet asleep. (That's not exactly news, just setting the stage...) I told Elizabeth to go upstairs to Mommy's & Daddy's bed and I'd be up in a minute. My throat is really sore (thanks to whatever bug that both Reid & Grandma have had), so I was making a cup of Russian Tea to take up with me. Just when I was about to go upstairs, I heard a little voice from the top of the stairs saying (but not so loud, for once, that she thought Mommy would hear), "Come on, Mommy, I don't have all day!"
• A while later we're still wrestling, I mean cuddling, in bed. I am continually telling her to stop fidgeting to which she responds, "But my heart keeps telling me to do it."

I'm still hoping that Red Chief will work up the courage to get her picture taken with her favorite basketball player, John Wolosinchuck, but for now this one will have to do (Disclaimer: Some objects in this picture may appear larger (E) or smaller (C) than in real life! And, John is a real sport for us trying to get E's picture with him!!!):

Doctor Check-Ups

So we all survived the regular check-up appointment to the doctor this morning -- or should I rephrase to say that despite Elizabeth passing her hearing test but refusing to listen to her Mommy and Daddy (like lying on her belly on the doctor's stool and whizzing herself across the floor in our room), Elizabeth managed to survive the doctor's appointment. (Likely only because Reid and I figured there were too many witnesses around so we restrained ourselves from beating her...)

Elizabeth had an ear ache last week (right ear again) with a significant amount of drainage that came out of that ear -- good thing she has tubes in those ears! She does still have a little bit of fluid behind that ear, but both tubes are in place...and she passed her hearing test. She also passed her vision test. She gained 12 pounds since last year and is in the 90th percentile in weight (she now weighs 48 pounds). She grew 4 inches (!) since last year and is in the 95th percentile in height (she's 46" tall!). The growth spurt mostly came in the fall/winter -- as the pants that I bought her in September have long been stored away. She's wearing size 6's now to get them long enough for her limbs...

When asked what her favorite vegetable, Elizabeth said "broccoli"...her favorite fruit "oranges"...her favorite meat (and I'll do my best to quote -- but it was said in under 5 seconds and I'm not a stenographer!) "Well, I like deer meat...my Papi shoots deer...Papi smokes but Grandma doesn't...he's gonna get in trouble for smoking because it's naaaasty."

Elizabeth was most elated that she didn't get any shots this appointment! She was also thrilled (twisted sister!) that Cate was getting two shots (in addition to one vaccine orally). So excited that she videoed a little bit of it on my phone...

Cate grew 1-1/4 inches in the past month (she's currently 22-1/4") keeping her in the 50th percntile in height. Where she made some major gains {literally} were in the weight department. She went from the 50th percentile to the 90th percentile as she gained 3 lbs., 8 oz. (she now weighs 12 lbs., 11 oz.)! Even her rolls have rolls!!!

Cate's doing a pretty good job of holding her head on her own. (Or maybe it is just the fat rolls propping up her noggin...) She's trying to talk and will engage with you quite a bit. Her smiles will just melt you heart!