Going to Church

First time at the movie theater

We took Lizzy to the movie theater for the first time this past weekend. Lizzy was so excited to go. We told her she would be watching Winne the Pooh and she kept saying "Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, popcorn" until we got there. We saw Winnie the Pooh at the dollar cinema during the matinee showing. There were only a few other people there and the movie was a dollar so if we had to leave it wasn't a big loss.

We have been having family movie night at home and Lizzy has been getting use to watching movies. The Winnie the Pooh movie was an hour long and age appropriate for Lizzy.

Lizzy ate lots of popcorn and sat through the whole movie! I was expecting we'd have to leave before the movie ended but Lizzy did better than I expected. Winnie the Pooh was a cute movie, I think we all enjoyed it.

We may be back to the movies the next time there is a movie out that would interest Lizzy. Until then we will continue to have family movie nights at home on Saturdays.

Splash Pad Fun

We took Lizzy to the splash pad to wear off some energy and have some fun. Lizzy went to bed on time so I guess she was tired out.

Mini Wonders at the Children's Museum

We took Lizzy to the Children's Museum for their mini wonders week. With the older kids back in school they dedicated this week to toddlers and had activities for toddlers to do all throughout the museum. Lizzy hadn't been to the museum in a few months and her awareness has grown since the last time she went. Lizzy of course had lots of fun and didn't want to leave.

Update on Lizzy's 1st Dance Class

Lizzy did great on her 1st dance class she did everything they demonstrated and was very involved. In the toddler class moms and dads are allowed in the room with the children. The class consisted of dancing with ribbons, rhythm sticks, hula hoops, balance beams, tumbling, bubbles and parachutes. It was a lot of fun. Lizzy had a blast and did great. The dance studio we went to is the same dance studio I took dance lessons at as a child. It was fun to go there again this time with my daughter. (I didn't get to take any photos...I will try to next time)

Swimming

It's so much fun swimming with Lizzy now that she swims on her own. I can't rave enough about this floated swim suit. Lizzy is very independent...she doesn't want us to help her do anything anymore. When she wanted to swim on her own but I knew she couldn't she would become frustrated but now I can let go of her and she swims on her own with the swim float.

Preparing for Lizzy's 1st Dance Class

Lizzy starts dance tomorrow. To prepare Lizzy dressed in her dance outfit and we watched Angelina Ballerina. Lizzy had fun showing off her dance skills.

Sliding and Jumping!

Lizzy had a blast at the fun jump place. This is probably Lizzy's favorite place to go. In the summer. When it's so hot outside it's a good place to go because Lizzy can get out and have fun but still stay cool. Before we went to jump Lizzy had rice and beans at a mexican restaruat and on her way out she found the ice cream machine! Lizzy had an ice cream cone then we headed to go jump. Lizzy had a good day.

Rainbow Pudding

I bought a bunch of pudding thinking Lizzy would really like this sweet treat but she isn't too fond of vanilla pudding. Not letting it go to waste we used it to make edible pudding paint. Just add and mix food coloring to vanilla pudding. Lizzy had fun finger painting with the pudding paint.



Afterwards, we used the leftover colored pudding to make rainbow pudding pops. Lizzy LOVES popsicles so i knew she would love pudding as a pudding pop. Popsicles are great! I often make our own out of left over smoothies, and juice. Lizzy loves it as a cool treat.

Traveling Working Mom

I have never been away from Lizzy other than one night when she stayed with her grandparents and now I have to travel for work and leave her behind. I feel Lizzy is aware of what's going on around her and she wants to see me everyday. I have to go to San Diego for a four day conference and Lizzy will stay with her daddy. I'm freaking out because I don't want her to wonder why I'm not home with her and I will be missing her too. I've come up with a few ways to keep in contact from afar. I bought one of those recordable books and recorded myself reading the story and added a personal message for Lizzy at the end. I read to her every night and even when I'm away she can open this book and hear my voice reading to her.

Another thing we have done is gotten webcams so we can Skype every night I'm away. Skype is free all you need is a webcam and you make video calls over the internet.



I'm working on putting photos of Lizzy and I in her toy photo album. Lizzy has always enjoyed looking at photos of our family so we have a couple toy photo albums with photos in it for Lizzy to look at.

I got Lizzy a gift to open the night I leave. It's a bumble bee pillow pet with a message "Mommy will bee home soon. I love you. See you soon." I figure she can cuddle with it and sleep with it while I'm away.

So far that's all I have planned but I hope to include her in packing and explain to her that I'm leaving for a few days but will be back. Thankfully, my job doesn't require a lot of travel because I'm a wreak thinking about leaving Lizzy for a few days. If you have any tips please comment!

Play-doh Pizza

Lizzy tossing play-doh pizza

Taking Pictures of her Piggy

Aiden's Birthday Party

Tired Out

Lizzy tired out after a long day at school.

More Changes to our Rhythm

We will be experiencing some changes to our rhythm again. I stayed home with Lizzy until she was 20 months and at that time she started Montessori School 2 days a week in preparation for when I started working. When Lizzy was 21 months I began working and Lizzy started going to her grandma Tita’s 3 days a week and 2 days a week to school. The transition from being home with Lizzy to working was not as hard has I had imagined. We don’t do as many activities as we did together before I started working but we have dinner every night, and time to play and relax a bit before Lizzy goes to bed.



Now things will be changing again because Mike will be home now that he has been laid off from his job. Lizzy will go to grandma Tita’s 2 days a week and Mike will be home with Lizzy the other days. Lizzy will not be going to Montessori school anymore. Lizzy really liked going to school but she prefers staying home with daddy or Tita so we are eliminating that expense and Lizzy is happier anyway. Lizzy will be starting dance classes and gymnastic classes to allow her time to be around other children her age and get some energy out. I have a flexible schedule and hope to adjust my schedule to be home earlier most days.

We hope this change is temporary and short but for now we will make it work.

1st time using scissors

With all the sales on school supplies right now I went school supply shopping for Lizzy. I got mostly art supplies, paper, and I found some toddler scissors. Lizzy really wanted to cut paper. It was challenging for her but she cut some pieces on her own. I used card stock paper and drew lines on it for Lizzy to cut on. We'll try this activity again in a couple months and see if her coordination has gotten better.

Tea Party!

Now that Lizzy's vocabulary has expanded she asks to do things she enjoys or wants to try. Lately she has been asking to have a tea party. Lizzy had a tea party with mommy, daddy, and Brobee! Lizzy ate 3 little cakes and had 3 cups of "tea"(apple juice).

The Beach

We took Lizzy to the beach today. We hadn't been to the beach since March or April this year so we thought it would be nice to take Lizzy again now that the water is warmer. Lizzy has been asking to go to the beach lately so it was a perfect time to go. When we got there Lizzy got right into the water and didn't stop smiling the whole time. Lizzy jumped into waves, used her kick board, played with sand, and ate watermelon. Lizzy is truly a water baby.