Ski Trip 2010

We just returned from our ski trip to Copper Mountain in Colorado.  This was a really special trip because it was the first time Handley got to try skiing.  

She picked it up right away and loved it!  I think part of the fun for her was riding the "magic carpet" up the bunny slope.  Robby and I were so proud of her and can just imagine what our family ski trips will be like in the future.  

***See the bottom of this post for a video of her skiing***

There was an ice skating pond you could go on without ice skates.  They had these little things you could push along to help you balance.  Robby kept walking in weird directions with Handley, but then I finally realized what he was doing. 

He wrote her name in the snow that was on the ice skating pond!

 To say Handley liked the snow would be an understatement.  She loved making snowballs and playing in the snow. 

She also had a blast playing with her cousin, Rylan, who lives in Colorado.  We don't get to see him as often as we would like, but she took full advantage of the time we had and copied his every move.  

Rylan is a natural skier and rides all the way up the big chair lift with his mom and dad.  I was so impressed for a kid that isn't even 3 yet! 

We spent one morning at the tubing hill. I took a ride down with Handley and it was a lot faster than I was expecting.  

While everyone else was tubing I let Harper check out the snow. 

The kids had fun playing in the snow cave.  Handley called it the snow house and didn't want to come out.  

I thought we had skipped the terrible two's...

and that we got lucky to not have to go through the trying time everyone describes.  Well, I was wrong.  We just came into them at the tale end of her 2's.  Handley was always so even tempered, quick to follow directions, and had the sweetest disposition.  Over the past month that has changed though.  Don't get me wrong, she is still sweet as can be, but I'm not kidding when I say that every single day is a test of my patients.  She is going through a whiny phase that makes me feel like I am going to pull every hair on my head out.  After we get through one outburst/meltdown/tantrum and I thing I have my sweet angel back, it happens again.and again. and again.  I'm trying to nip this in the bud before it gets any more out of hand.  I'm just praying we come out of it quickly.  

Now on to sweeter thoughts - and several glimpses into my future with my little girl who is growing up too fast right before my eyes. 

This weekend I did something I swore I'd never do...bought her licensed character clothing.  Robby was working so the girls and I headed to Macy's to exchange a too-small gift Handley had received from her Gigi.  I had told Handley she could "help" pick something out since her gift was too small.  While we were there she fell and chipped her front teeth AGAIN (not as bad as her fall in June) but I was trying everything to keep her spirits up and get us in and out quickly.  I was really disappointed with the sale/clearance racks in the kids department so I steered us over to the PJ section.  I looked up and saw what I knew she would pick, only two seconds before she looked up and I knew there was no time to block the view.  Her mind was made up and that was what she MUST have.  A Dora the Explorer nightgown with matching slippers.  At least it is a night gown (her first I must add) and she will only be wearing it in the house.  I must admit though, she does look cute wearing it and looks about 3 years older than she really is. 

Handley has a thing for "lipsticks."  She got some lip gloss and scented princess chap stick for Christmas and I'm not kidding when I say that was her favorite gift.  She went through about 3 tubes of lip gloss in the first week and got so mad at me when I told her she'd had enough. The other day I was trying to get her to come downstairs with me when she ran into the playroom towards the lip gloss and said, "Wait! I have to get some lip stick first." Oh my...

Tonight she went to sleep in her bed, in her sleeping bag.  She said she was having a sleep over in her bed.  Before I know it she will be having sleepovers and this whole "terrible two's" thing will be a distant memory.  I bed I'll be wishing I could just have these days back again. :-)  

Handley pedals by herself

This is how we ended our week yesterday afternoon...

Pushing both of them to the cul-de-sac and back all while trying to keep them both going in the same direction is quite an arm workout for me! 

Handley is just loving her new tricycle that Santa brought her.  After the first few times she tried to ride it I wasn't sure that she would ever figure out how to pedal on her own.  However, we have practiced almost every day this past week and now she can ride all by herself (for very short distances).  

There are a few things Handley has said recently that made me smile - 

I have been working on manners with her and recently when I ask her if she needs to go potty she'll sweetly reply, "no thank you." 

Yesterday she was getting some goldfish for a snack and Harper started fussing and crawling towards her.  She said, "Don't you worry Harper, I'm going to share some with you."  

She loves to sing and make up songs.  Some of her newest lyrics are "Harper is the best baby I've ever seen." :-) 

She loves to put on chap-stick and this morning she asked me for a specific one.  "I like that blue one, it's my favor" (favorite)

Loving the warm weather

We have been loving the warm weather in Atlanta.  Mid-50's feels like summer after our two weeks in the mid-30's and imagine how happy I was today when my car said it was 64 outside! We spent lots of time playing outside...took several trips to the neighborhood playground, Handley rode her tricycle to the cul-de-sac every day, and I started running again in an attempt to prepare myself for the approaching bathing suit season. 

Today while running errands we somehow managed to loose both of Harper's shoes. :-(  As soon as we got back to the car I realized the were gone.  She likes to play with the velcro on them and I guess she was playing with them and dropped them out of the stroller without me noticing.  We back tracked as much as possible and I made a few phone calls when we got home, but I'm just accepting that they are gone.  I guess for now I'll stick to the not-quite-as-cute, but much more reliable Target-brand Robeez.  

A busy day of playing

We had a pretty relaxing weekend with nothing too exciting to report.  We did have a busy day of playing at home today though.  We did it all: 

- took a walk so Handley could practice riding her tricycle - she's getting a hang of peddling on her own 

- played in her little playhouse until we got too cold

- had a dance party where Handley insisted that EVERYONE get up and dance

- Handley got all dressed up so she could go to "the store"

-Harper had fun playing the piano, one of her new favorite things to do (she isn't wearing any clothes because she was getting ready to get in the bath)

And the girls ended the night with their favorite - a "boat ride" to the bathtub.  

She discovered how to dance

We love having dance parties.  Every evening after dinner and before bath time I turn on music downstairs or in my bedroom and we just dance, dance, dance.  It's a fun way to end the day and get all that extra energy out before bed.  Usually I hold Harper as we dance, but not any more...she discovered how to dance all by herself and it is just about the cutest thing ever.  Here's a video of both my girls shakin' their booty! 

 (side note - the music playing in the background is actually my brother, Cameron, and his friend.  He's an aspiring musician.  :-) He gave me a CD for Christmas with a lot of his/their music on it and we love dancing to it). 

Kitchen curtains

Making curtains for my kitchen has been on my house to-do list since we moved in over two years ago.  I just couldn't seem to decide what style of window treatment I wanted so I  kept putting the project off.  A few weeks ago we were over at a friends house for dinner and I loved her kitchen curtains.  I asked if she minded if I took a closer look at how they were made and decided to search for fabric that next week. 

I've only sewn with a pattern a few times and that has been for clothes I've made for the girls.  I usually just draw out what I want, make my own pattern using wrapping paper (if I even do a pattern) and then start piecing things together.  These were definitely the most involved/technical ones I've done, but I love the way they turned out.  

Harper - 9 Months

9 months is one of my all-time favorite ages.  We are more in love with our little scooter every day and her personality just continues to grow.  As I posted before, she went from being a great sleeper, to a not-so-great sleeper.  We've just finished our sleep training and she has improved so much.  She is back to putting herself to sleep and is sleeping through the night again!  Sleep Lady Shuffle does work. :-)  

Her 9 month apt. was this morning and here are her stats:

Weight- 19 lb 15 oz (70%)

Height- 27 1/2 (50%) 

Head cir- 17 3/4 (80%) 

At 9 months she: 

• is a speed crawler
• pulls up on any and everything
• gets into everything and loves exploring 
• cries every time she is put in her car seat, but quickly stops as soon as she gets buckled
• likes to "voice" her opinion and "yells" when she wants someone's attention
• says "Mama" and "Dada" and knows who she is talk about.  I think she's starting to call Handley, Ne-ne. 
• loves to bang things to make noise 
• doesn't take a bottle very well anymore
• loves Goldfish 
• laughs at Handley and tries to keep up with everything she does
• enjoys being held and loves to cuddle
• has discovered the stairs and likes to climb them 

SNOW!

The forecast was calling for snow yesterday and we ended up getting a little last night!  School was cancelled for today because of the icy road conditions so we've been having a fun snow day at home.  Right after breakfast we all bundled up and headed outside. 

Handley had fun digging and trying to make a snowball, but it was really fluffy snow and we couldn't get it to stick together.  (Rylan - you'll have to teach Handley the trick for this when we see you in a few weeks!)

Harper didn't know quite what to think of her first experience with snow, but liked looking around at the pretty white scene.  

Sydney had fun running around in the snow and trying to eat it.  

A view from our back porch...all the water behind us was frozen.