Happy Hallow Again

Jackson and his friend Charlotte had a great day in San Jose at Happy Hallow. It is the end of our 1 year membership and it finally get much more age appropriate for them.

 Checking out the lemurs.

 We got an awesome view of the jaguar who came right up to us, but we too excited viewing to get a picture of him.

This is the first time either of these two have mustered the courage for the big kid rides that they have to do without Mommy.

Joint Visit

I called in reinforcements (Dan) for our most recent pediatric well-check, a 4 month and 2 year-old combo. It can get really crazy in the exam room waiting for the doctor and it's hard to control Jackson from destroying things while holding Cosette.

Playing and waiting to be called in

In getting weights and measurements taken

 Skeptical of the nurse

Jackson is staying on the lowered end of the spectrum, still under 25lbs and 33in tall, around the 5th percentile. We're just glad he's not dropping off the bottom of the chart. Cosette, on the other hand is 13lb, 6oz and is hitting just around the 50th percentile in all the measurements. It's nice to have one who's more average sized (there's only about a 10 lb difference between them at this point!). There were shots and crying all around, but we made it out unscathed and found a lion sticker in the reception area that cheered Jack up completely after the shot.

Baby Won't Sleep!

This sweet baby has decided to give up naps, at least for the time being. The one sure think I've learned about kids is that everything is a phase and as soon as you've come to grips with one reality, it changes. I'm sure she'll start napping again soon. She pretty much wants to be awake, held, talked to, looked at, and bounced all day. That is simply not possible, but I try to come as close as I can. There's only so much time she'll want to be cuddled before she's off and running away.

A rare sleeping moment at about 10:30pm. Who looks more tired here?

 Little Angel...

 ...is awake!

Toddler Science

We have been really focused lately on helping Jack learn to explore and play independently at our home. We have decided not to send him to preschool this year, so I want our home to be a safe and stimulating environment so that he can have many of those same exploratory experience doing day to day things at home.

I'm finding this involves allowing things that seems like more work for me: letting him get soaked at the water table, letting him riffle through safe cupboards, let him draw on his hands and arms with his dry erase pens outside, basically allowing him to try things that aren't harmful, but may be messy for me to clean up. Of course there are times to say "no." We're not jumping in mud puddles in our church clothes. But there are a lot of chances to say "yes" and let him see how things work.

I found a wonderful advice blog (http://www.playcreateexplore.com/p/activites-for-ages-1-3.html) on things that toddlers love and I was inspired to intentionally set up an activity for Jackson this morning. I filled a cupcake tin with real food with a variety of textures. Then I set up his cooking pots and spoons. It also turns out that the recycle bin is a treasure trove of containers with lids, tops, little boxes, and other free "toys."

The set-up

 Curious Cosette looks on

 Jack was excited about the opportunity to touch and make a mess in the kitchen "cooking" and I settled down to do my bible study reading nearby. I was planning to report on this successful playtime where Jack played independently for an hour having so many new sensory experience (with Cosette watching, also entertained), BUT of course these things don't go quite as you plan. He enjoyed figuring out that some of the food was snackable - Cherrios! Raisins! and that he could mix the foods together and scoop them into pots. However, he soon wanted to incorporate other toys from his room and within minutes we were getting out trains, books and other toys and had completely diverted from the activity I set up.

Checking things out when he first woke up.

 Cracking the pasta

 Cosette loves the camera!

 Scooping with the measuring spoons and trying to get into the oven to "cook" his creation.

What I learned: know my kid! On a morning at home, I should let him wake up and play with the toys he is drawn to first. When he inevitably gets bored, that could be a better moment to bring out a new activity. Also, he is always slow to warm to new things. This might become a favorite playtime for him if we repeat it a few times. He just doesn't love new things. I have to remember that he is only 2 and I might have to demonstrate more how to interact with a new experience before he knows what to try. He may not have known what to do and was afraid of getting scolded for making a mess since we usually avoid messes.

Goofing around with Mr Potato Head's glasses.

He was excited that I was taking pictures and he wanted to take lots of pictures together with the timer. Toddlers know how to have a different kind of fun than the fun you planned for them. They just have their own ideas.

Different poses - surprised!

 Silly

 Cuddly

 Chicken head

 Happy to be cookin'

Angel Island Mother's Day

On Mother's Day my family celebrated with a day trip to Sausalito and Angel Island. I hadn't been to the island since I was a kid and I didn't remember anything about it other than the ferry trip. Luckily Dan's been countless times and knew which way to hike and where the good views where.

We ran to catch the ferry at 10am, only to stand in a snaking line for 30 minutes where they let everyone on in the end. The ferry was very windy, but Jack's first boat trip so we had to stand on the deck and take it all in.

What a chilly baby!

Peaking with Papa. Predictably I felt sea-sick after a 10 minute boat ride. My stomach is lame.

 The $3 Yo Gabba Gabba kite Auntie brought was so awesome! It was a very windy day.

Kite repairs. You can only expect so much when you pay $3.

He's got the tail!

Hiking around the island, looking for a less windy lunch spot. We found a spot with great views, but it was not less windy :(

 Overlooking the bay with the Golden Gate over Dan's shoulder.

 Everyone having fun.

Checking out the old WWII battlements that used to guard our shores. The men in our group know a lot about these things.

 Posing in front of awesome sights. You can see the whole bay, Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, SF, Oakland, East Bay. Plus the sun finally came through the clouds.

Soaking up sunshine. There was a hilarious reenactment of the Odysseys going by every few minutes with trumpeters, singer, actors, and a golden bike coming off the mountain. We got a kick out of it, unlike the mob of people taking it seriously and following along. 

Both kids got their naps in.

 Coming back

Enjoying hot drinks and desserts in Sausalito

Jack keeps himself occupied by getting tangled in this sign.

 What a great 2nd Mother's day! Plus Dan did a bunch of dishes when we got home, and that was a very thoughtful treat!