Amelia explores grapevines at a local park. 

Amelia's one-liners

Amelia's speech is improving incredibly fast these days, and every once in a while she says something that is especially funny - maybe because it's coming from a cute 2-year-old.

For example, only a moment ago Amelia picked up her newest stuffed toy cow and said, "It's a nice toy." Other funny comments she makes that are similar are, "Good stuff" (when she eats or drinks something she likes...I think she got this from grandma S.) and "That was a great story."

A couple of days ago, when walking home from Starbuck's I spotted a squirrel. Once I pointed the critter out to Amelia she became excited and said, rather matter-of-factly "Let's go get it." She chased that squirrel around for several minutes, but somehow he was always just out of reach.

As I was holding Diana the other day Amelia came up behind her and started stroking her hair (which she often does). I looked at Diana and said, "That's your sister, Amelia" to which Amelia promptly retorted, "No, that's Diana."

A lot of fun and silliness takes place around here between the crazy moments. Days are passing really quickly, but I will still try to document the fun as best I can.

Lisa

At six weeks old, Diana is just starting to smile. This might be the first grin we caught on camera. I wonder what she's smiling about..? 

Amelia puts "daddy's hat" on his head. Funny that daddy never leaves the house with this lovely hat on. 

Babies

As far as Amelia is concerned, the world is divided into two groups: parents and babies. And Amelia loves other babies.

A couple of days ago we happened to be outside when the kids from the nearby after school center were walking by. The kids really liked Amelia, who was a cute little baby girl to them. She followed after them calling, "Babies," and almost climbed into a waiting van with the group as they prepared to leave. Watching Amelia looking longingly at the van was cute. I am really looking forward to getting her involved in classes with other kids.

Last week Starbuck's sponsored a "read to a child" day. I had forgotten about it all together until we arrived at our local Starbuck's and found a few extra people hanging out. A boy, who must have been about eight years old, was there with his big sister. He had two stuffed animals with him: a puppy and a shark. Amelia loved the puppy and the boy let her run around and play with it. He also had fun tickling Amelia with the shark and both of them got to hear "The Little Engine that Could" (and we got to keep the book). When the little boy went to the bathroom, Amelia stood staring at the door (luckily, a few paces away) calling, "Baby...baby where are you?"

Amelia did not want to give up the puppy when the time came, but she had a lot of fun on our afternoon outing. The little boy was also disappointed when it came time for us to leave. (I guess watching your teenage sister talk on her cell phone isn't that exciting.) Amelia also found boys to play with in the park over the weekend. Her toddler soccer class starts in a couple of weeks, hopefully she'll have fun and meet some neat kids there.

Lisa

Have a sundae at the ballpark, leave with a souvenir hat and find yourself wondering, "What do I do with a tiny batter's helmet?" Well, here's one solution... 

Baby Diana's getting big. In fact, she may be outgrowing her hair. 

Amelia the explorer - Looks like she's taking a lesson from Juan Valdez, the coffee grower. I'm glad Amelia likes being outside and can't wait until we have a yard of our own. 

Amelia tests the "buttons" on the tops of jumbo tubs of detergent at Safeway. 

More shopping adventures

I didn't have much choice but to go to the grocery store with both girls this afternoon. Believe me, I wasn't looking forward to the prospect of a trip to Safeway with a baby and a toddler, but we were all out of milk - among other things.
As we were walking out the door, Amelia complained that we were taking the car instead of the stroller. Funny thing is she usually complains that we aren't taking the car. There's no pleasing a two-year-old.

When we first reached Safeway both girls were terrific. Diana was asleep in her car seat (which was placed in the shopping cart) and Amelia held mommy's hand until we walked into the store. After entering the store Amelia helped push the shopping cart, which was frustrating for her since the shopping cart handle was so high and out of reach for her.

Diana slept through our entire shopping adventure. Amelia became a bit unrulely by the time we reached the vegetable aisles. One of the Safeway employees asked if Amelia might like a balloon (is the sky blue?). Amelia picked out a green balloon and hesitantly let the man blow it up for her. He tried to tie the balloon to Amelia's wrist, but she wouldn't have it. I tried to tie it to her wrist, but she shrieked. Oh well, we warned her to hold on to the balloon tightly.

After a few minutes, Amelia let go of her balloon and it became "stuck" on the ceiling. She took my hand and brought me over to where the balloon was floating but I couldn't come close to reaching it. The same employee who blew up the balloon got a long stick with tape on the end (see my earlier entry from Best Buy) and retrieved Amelia's balloon. Again, we tried to find some way to tie the balloon off so it would not get lost, but we had no luck. Roger (I think that was his name) told me, "If she loses the balloon again come and get me and we'll retrieve it."

Of course, Amelia let the balloon go again as we were leaving the checkout line. She asked me to get it and I demonstrated that I could not. I did not want to bother Roger and I felt it was important that Amelia realize that there are consequences to her actions, so I apologized and told her the balloon would have to remain in the store. She was unhappy, but did not cry or fuss at all.

We reached the car and I attempted to juggle Amelia and the groceries (Diana was still happily asleep). Just when I was beginning to unload my shopping cart, here came Roger with Amelia's balloon. I thought that was extremely nice of him. He also helped put the groceries in the trunk.

So, I have to say that my experience at Safeway was excellent. I may choose this particular Safeway (there are at least three in town) as my regular shopping place. Though I think I would still prefer not to go shopping with two kids in tow, if I can help it.

And yes, Mike, I did use my $5 off coupon ;).

Lisa

"You aren't very good at this mommy; let me help." 

Amelia the trickster

Saturday Mike's parents hosted a baby shower for little Diana complete with cake, decorations and balloons. Diana received many lovely gifts - some of which were quickly annexed by Amelia. There were also party games, which Amelia took to immediately.

For example, the first game was a test of skill. The goal of this game was to drop clothes pins into an empty plastic gallon jug. Mommy got to go first. My first attempt to drop a pin into the jug was a miss, and so was the second attempt. However, whatever pins bounced off the side of the jug were quickly collected by Amelia and carefully placed inside the container. Amelia thought this was so fun she placed herself between mommy's hand and the jug intercepting the following seven pins and putting them in place giving mommy a final score of 9/10.

Daddy went next and Mike was much better at the game than I was. Luckily, Amelia stepped up acting as my secret weapon and dumped the pins Mike had successfully landed almost as quickly as they hit the bottom of the container.

Yes, I won by cheating - but it was all in fun.

Today Amelia again proved that you can't turn your back on a toddler. During our trip to Starbuck's today Amelia and I shared a cupcake and a mocha. Once the mocha was fairly cool and safe for Amelia to sip I held the cup to her lips. Well, Amelia dribbled mocha on her chin, so I sat my drink down and went to get a napkin. When I returned (seconds later) I saw Amelia carefully set the mocha back on our small table after having spilled a large amount of the beverage on her clothes.

You just never know what a two-year-old will do next. I'm surprised so many of us make it to three.

Lisa

Amelia the multi-tasker trades stocks while confirming her attendance at a weekend party. 

"That's mommy's world!" - A peek into Lisa's life as mommy. 

Diana feels refreshed after a trip to Mommy's Spa. (She already looks much bigger, doesn't she?) 

Expect the unexpected

Just when you think you have things figured out, your daughters change on you. For example, during today's trip to Starbuck's Amelia (who is a fiend for pound cake) asked for fruit instead of desert. She only really wanted the strawberries and cantaloupe, but this was a much healthier alternative than the usual coffee cake.

Then, as Diana and I left Amelia's room so she could take a nap I told her, "You have been a really good girl today - I'll see you after your nap." Instead of crying or fussing as usual Amelia waved to us as we left saying, "Bye-bye."

Diana, on the other hand, was a challenge all throughout the early morning hours. From two or three this morning (it's all kind of a blur) until nine she was constantly demanding to be fed or burped. She seemed to be one big bag of fussiness until I gave her a needed bath. Diana always hates baths, but was content when I washed her today and seemingly happy to be in new, clean clothes.

That's the funny thing about Diana - she hates to be changed, for example, but doesn't like wearing a dirty diaper either. These girls sure are complicated...or maybe it's my sleep deprivation makes them seem so.

Lisa

Amelia sets her new-found friends in a rack of bows and ribbons at Borders. 

Sometimes you lose when you win

This morning I had my heart set on a trip to Borders. Because I spend a lot of time nursing the baby in the evenings I have extra time to read and having finished The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell and Choke I've been eager to buy some new reading material.

Unfortunately, my eagerness was not contagious. Amelia had no desire to go anywhere today. After I gave up on getting a positive response to the question, "Would you like to go out with mommy?" I decided to simply change her out of her pijammas and take her with me. That didn't work very well. Every time I tried to change her she would slap at my hands and cry out, "Ouch! Ouch! Don't do that!"

I didn't want to force the girl, so I put on The Tigger Movie (which she had been clamoring to see - AGAIN) and made some lunch. After we had eaten we were both more agreeable. I changed Amelia and started to get Diana ready for our short trip. As soon as I felt I was making headway, Diana transformed into an incredible pooping machine needing repeated diaper changes and belly reflills. Finally at two o'clock, everyone was ready. Yes, this meant that Amelia's nap would be postponed, but I was simply unwilling to spend my entire day watching toddler-friendly DVDs.

I found my way to Borders easily. Diana was great and Amelia held my hand as best she could with three silly toys clutched in her fists as we entered the store.

Mind you, getting around any store with a toddler is a lot like herding cats, but it was great to be out.

Amelia grabbed three pink, stuffed monkeys off a shelf and carried them all over the store. I dreaded telling her we were NOT going home with three more toys and then she found a stuffed cow. Oh brother!

On a positive note, Amelia met two boys (ages 2 and 4) and had fun sharing books and toys with them (the boys' mom was really nice to talk to, too). On the negative side, neither of the books I was looking to buy (Last Child in the Woods or Homage to Catalonia) were available in the store. (And you wonder why I shop amazon.com so often.)

I finally, FINALLY herded Amelia to the check out counter and told her she could have one monkey or the cow. She threw a tantrum and cried and cried. There was a line behind us, so I chose for her. She was mad for quite a while, but seemed okay shortly after we left the store. Diana, once back in her car seat, cried all the way home through the early 580 rush-hour traffic.

Despite everything, the trip wasn't terrible, but I think I will confine much of my unnecessary shopping to the Internet for a while.

Lisa

"I'm not leaving without my posse!" 

Amelia's entourage

Our Family Blog Yesterday Michael went to Brentwood with a real estate agent to look at houses. We had decided it would be too much to bring both kids, so I stayed home. When it came time to make dinner, I had no idea what time Michael would arrive, so I wasn't sure what to do. Mike came home hungry, so we decided to forgo making dinner and instead go to Cattlemen's.

As we were heading out the door, Amelia grabbed her seven favorite stuffed toys of the day: her white and brown bunny hand puppets, her white bunny rattle, two monkeys, a small pink bear and (of course) her pig.

Michael tried to talk her out of bringing so many toys to dinner, but I assured him that most of these toys would remain in the car. When we reached the restaurant Amelia had two bunnies and a monkey in her hands. She asked for the rest of her toys (still sitting in her car seat) and I handed her a second monkey (she prefers her toys to come in pairs). She cried for the rest of her toys, but we managed to make it inside with four of the original seven.

At the table, Amelia quickly forgot about her toys and I stowed them away in the diaper bag. Diana was great and slept all through dinner, until the end when she decided she was hungry and cried and cried.

It was nice to get out, but it was also nice to think about how much money we've been saving by not going out to eat dinner. After all, we still have to save for that house.

I'd better run, as Amelia has pointed out, "I hear baby."

Lisa

Amelia and daddy explore a playground in our new hometown. 

Maybe it was just a fluke. For a brief period of time this afternoon (too brief) both girls were asleep in their own beds. 

Diana wonders if nap time with mommy is a thing of the past. 

End of an era?

The girls and I all went to Target today, and I allowed Amelia to walk around the store...which demands a great deal of patience on mommy's part. On our way out the door we got pop corn and an Icee. At home we watched "My Little Pony" and then it was time for everyone to take a nap.

Amelia protested nap time, but not too forcefully. She was quiet shortly after I left her room. I felt a bit fatigued myself and decided to take a nap with Diana.

Diana and I were relaxed and both of us were almost asleep when I heard some odd sounds. The noises weren't familiar, and they sounded like they were coming from the living room. Maybe Mike was home early; I didn't know.

Then Amelia walked through the bedroom door. She looked very pleased with herself and was carrying her "animals" (a puzzle with eight farm animal shapes). She surprised me further by using the bed rail to boost herself up onto our high matress top.

Of course, she wasn't at all interested in napping.

So the question is can Amelia open doors? It isn't clear if I simply forgot to latch her door (making it easy to push open) or if she has figured out how to open it. If this is the case, no place in the house is safe and naps may possibly be a thing of the past.

Lisa

Amelia the artiste - Amelia spent some time this afternoon constructing and deconstructing a sculpture she likes to call, "Duck inside there." After filling my water cup with measuring spoons (smallest first, largest last) and a rubber duck she would carefully top the piece with a rooster. She would then describe the sculpture using some new prepositions she's working on. Taking the sculpture apart she would lift the rooster and say, "Peek-a-boo" to the duck. The whole thing was messy (my water glass was about one-third full when she started) but fun to watch. Amelia's becoming more and more creative as time goes by. 

Visiting family

The best thing about being back in California is being close to family. Amelia loves visiting all of her grandparents. Of course, as I have mentioned before, you can't talk about future events in front of Amelia.

Thursday afternoon I made the mistake of telling Amelia we were going to visit grandma and grandpa. She picked up a favorite toy and headed straight for the door saying, "Open...open!" When I told her we weren't leaving quite yet, she became upset and started crying.

Almost the same thing happened as we were driving to Fresno. I had been looking at a community course catalog and was happy to find that they offer soccer for 2 - 3.5 year olds. I asked Amelia if she wanted to play soccer and she said, "Ok." For the rest of the drive Amelia would periodically and fairly randomly say, "Soccer."

I think Amelia would love playing with other kids her age and look forward to signing her up for community classes. I'm sure that will provide many great photo opportunities and blog material.

Lisa

Diana's trip to the doctor

Diana had her two week check-up this afternoon. Things seemed to be going really well with her, but part of me was a bit concerned that she was sleeping too much at night (not like I couldn't use the rest) and not eating enough.

I managed to get both girls out the door and to the doctor's office on time. Amelia insisted on bringing three toys and a sippy cup - two of which I had to chase down because they had fallen on the sidewalk. Diana was good once we got out the door (she cried constantly for a good 15 mins. before we left while I dressed and changed her and her sister).

Both girls were great at the doctor's office until the end when Diana decided she was incredibly hungry and couldn't stand to wait any more. As Diana was crying to be fed, Amelia began to cry. Her source of anguish was the lollipop the doctor mentioned but did not immediately produce for her - that and the fact that it was way past nap time.

But here's the information we're all waiting for: Diana weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces at birth (dropping to 6 lbs. 12 oz. in the hospital) and she now weighs 7 lbs. 15 oz. She was 19 inches long at birth and is now 20.75 inches long! It's incredible to think that she's grown almost 2 inches in length already. I thought she weighed more but looked thinner...I guess now I know why.

Well, Amelia is napping so I think Diana and I are going to try to do the same. There's a lot of work I could be doing around the apartment, but Amelia may outgrow her naps soon, so I'd better take advantage now while I still can.

And of course, I will always try to share the girls stats when I get them.

Lisa

"What is this weird thing on my lip?" (Diana discovering her hands.) 

Amelia brings so many toys to bed I'm not sure where or how she lies down herself. 

To bed, to bed

Grandma Chris was here last weekend and while she was here she slept on an air mattress in Amelia's room. Well, the mattress is still there on the floor and Amelia figures that's a good place for daddy and I to sleep. Whenever I try to put Amelia down for a nap, she insists that I stay and "nap" too. (I have to put nap in quotes, because more playing than sleeping takes place.)

If I put Amelia down to sleep and either make a move toward the door or make a statement that implies I will be leaving soon she will grab my arm or sleeve and say in a sweet voice, "Mommy's tired." If I lay down, she'll be happy until I make a motion to leave again.

During the preparations for today's nap I got to watch Amelia lay each of her toys on the bed, tuck everyone in by covering them with her favorite blanket, and then wake them up again one by one. ("Wake up Mickey...Wake up Minnie...Wake up pony...Wake up swan...") Amelia's cute and fun to play with.

Yesterday Diana took a page out of Amelia's 2004 playbook and spent the entire day either nursing or crying. In fact, the insanity of the whole day convinced me to pack up the girls for a trip to Starbuck's. Diana rode in the sling (the same sling Amelia outright rejected as an infant) and Amelia sat in the stoller. Both girls instantly became happy and quiet as soon as we left the apartment. Diana fell asleep and stayed asleep through a trip to Starbuck's and the grocery store. Amelia was, well, a rambunctious toddler at Starbuck's. She walked around and around the store and emptied a crate of colored plastic water bottles setting them in an orderly fashion in the middle of the floor. Each time I tried to put the bottles back in their proper place Amelia would tell me, "No, don't do that!" and pull the bottles back out of the box. She also shrieked so loudly and so shrilly at one point I thought she must be trying to communicate with sea life in the San Francisco Bay. Luckily, I finally managed to put Amelia back in the stoller (where she was good again) and put the bottles back in their display crate.

I really need to tip my barristas better.

My world fell right back into a spin of chaos once I returned home yesterday, but today Amelia has had her nap and Diana is dressed more warmly (so she's back to sleeping and nursing like usual) so I'm hopeful that we can maintain order in the house. Still, I'm looking forward to another walk in the sunshine followed by another mocha with my girls this afternoon.

Lisa