You Look Like A Big Girl Now

Bunny had her first hair cut today. I had a few issues with her getting it done. It was necessary but I didn't want to do it.

So we started off with her hair looking like this:


Then the haircut started. I was surprised that I didn't start crying. I managed to hold it together and she was such a good sport.



But when it was done, I got a bit misty. She didn't look like a little girl anymore. She looks like a big girl, a girl who was getting ready to go to school with her Kai Lan backpack. (Okay now I'm crying) She looks like an angel:


The women at the salon just loved her. She got a sucker. And she also got, what I consider to be an even bigger treat, a free toe and nail polish:


All in all she thought it was fun. She looked at me, yanked the tootsie pop out of her mouth and said "I have rainbow toes, momma." Yes you do big girl.

Ni Hao

Saturday was a big day for Bunny. Her Chinese school had their end of the year presentation. Every class performed a little skit showing what they had learned that year. Bunny is in the Baby Cricket class made up of two and three year olds. They were going to sing a song while dressed up as animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Bunny was the Rooster. Which meant that I had to make a rooster costume. Um, sure, okay? How exactly does one make a rooster costume? I know there are feathers involved. Lots and lots of feathers. Four feather boas to be exact, sewn on to a t-shirt. So many feathers. I am still finding feathers in the strangest places. Now I am positive we will never get a bird because feathers are hard to clean up. But the result was cute.

The only problem was how to make it a rooster? She needed to have something on her head resembling a rooster's comb. But she hates wearing things on her head. So I wasn't too sure and decided to skip it. I mean she was already wearing feathers, did I really want to push it? No.

So the big day came and she was a bit crabby. She had had a sleepover with her cousins the night before and was tired (and cranky). I wasn't sure if we'd even get her in her costume. But then a miracle happened. One of her classmates brought marshmallows for everyone. Bunny recieved a bag with 5 big marshmallows and she was so happy. A perfect opportunity for bribery, if you wear your costume you can eat your marshmallows. Done and done. Hooray!

And then the moment of truth, could she actually hold herself together to walk out on stage with Daddy in front of all of these strangers and sing her song? The answer was a resounding yes! I was so proud. If you care to watch, here is a video of the show. There is a parade of all the animals and then the song. Bunny is the only kid you can hear singing.


I appologize for the shoddy camera work. I was using my Flip and couldn't get a close up view.

Sunshine, Rainbows and Monkeys

Because I think we all could use some.





(Technically not a monkey. Orangutangs are actually apes, but still darn cute)

The Genius At Work

The Littlest Trainer

In my quest to lose a few pounds, I've actually started working out. Right now the weather is a bit to cold to exercise outside a lot (well you could but I'm a whimp and I don't like it cold). And Bunny really doesn't dig the gym daycare, in fact she hates it. So I've been doing exercise videos.

I (along with a millionty other bloggers) have started the 30 Day Shred with Jillian from the Biggest Loser. I love that show. It always made me feel better about myself, even if I was drinking a glass of wine or eating a brownie while watching it. I figure if I were ever on the show, I would want Jillian as my trainer. She's crazy when it comes to work outs. Bob, on the other hand, is nice and everyone loves him. But I would rather have a trainer I hate who is willing to kick or beat my ass in the gym until it falls off or shrinks in size. So Jillian it is.

I used to "do" workout videos before but I would always try to squeeze them in at nap time. But with the potential for no nap or the need to clean or sleep during nap time, I never really got anything done. So this time around I decided to do them in the morning with Bunny around.

I try to occupy her with paints, crayons or toys. Most of the time it works but sometimes she likes to sit and watch me exercise. But today, she decided to join in. When it was time to lift weights, she grabbed one of her cardboard blocks and mirrored my movements. During cardio she hopped around flailing her arms in what I am sure was a spot on impersonation of me. She even joined me in doing squat thrusts (which by the way are a form of torture that I thought I'd left behind in gym class, holy crow they suck). During ab work she literally tried to push me off the mat because it was her turn. "I want the green mat momma, its comfy."

She of course thought the whole exercise things was utterly hilarious. Me? I was panting and wheezing (today was my second day on level two which is much harder). If I wanted to take a break she would say "Don't rest momma, its not so bad." Maybe not for you and your cute three year old tushie but for me and my 39 year old butt its hard as heck.

But its a good thing. I've got Jillian yelling from the TV and Bunny pushing me from the sidelines, with trainers like that you can't go wrong.

Just Call Me Babe

Bunny is growing up. She is not a baby anymore. And she no longer wants to be called baby.

I cannot call her My Baby, Angel Baby, Baby Girl, Sweet Baby or any combination of words including baby.

When I utter the word baby she says "No mommy call me babe." And so I do. But in my heart I know she'll always be my baby.

So That's How Babies Are Born

* I am still looking for one more person to share the love with. Seriously people, I am going to send you free stuff (including something I made, like jewelry). I want to share with you, I'd like you to pay it forward too but that is up to you.

Bunny knows that some animals have babies by laying eggs and the eggs hatching. She also knows that some animals (and people) have babies in their tummy. She has no idea what this means but she knows there is a difference.

Today Bunny and I were watching a video of Kevin Henkes' "Crysanthemum". Its a cute little story about a mouse named Chrysanthemum. At school all the little girl mice make fun of her name because is a flower's name. One of her teachers is pregnant and says she loves the name and will name her baby Chrysanthemum if its a girl. So then the girls like the name and all want flower names too.

Well the story says the teacher had a "healthy baby girl". Bunny asked what that meant. I told her the baby was born and was no longer in the teacher's tummy.

She turned to me, all wide eyed innocence, and said "How did she get her hand in there to get it out?"

"Um, the doctor does it," was my reply.

Is This What A Mother of a Teenager Feels Like?

Today, Bunny's cousin A "called" to see what Bunny would like for her upcoming birthday (the answer - a pony). Well actually her mother called but A and Bunny spoke on the phone for 10 minutes.

That is if you can say that a three year old and an almost three year old can have a conversation. It went something like this:

Bunny: Hi
A: Hi
Bunny: Hi A
A: What you doing?
Bunny: Playing with water dinos (puts phone down runs to get one of the dinos) See.
A: Hi
Bunny: Hi
A: I play with make up.
Bunny: What make up?
A: Bubblegum
Bunny: What?
A: You come sleep over.
Bunny: Yeah.
A: You can sleep in my bed.
Bunny: Hi
A: unintelligible
Bunny: Hi
A: Stop saying hi
Bunny: Hi
A: What?
Bunny: (puts phone on mute) Where A
A: Bunny you hang up?
Bunny: Hi
A: (hangs up phone)
Bunny: Hi

Its A Hard Life

Actual dinnertime conversation:

Bunny: "I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. Let's go play."

Grampa: "Now is when we sit and talk. How was your day?"

Bunny: "Well I had a very long day. I played silly dino games. Then I played silly tree games. Then silly dino games again."

Grampa: "Did you go to a party?"

Bunny: "Yes. Mr. Panda gave me Curious George stamps. Let's go play with them now. Let's go, let's go, l-i-t-s g-o."

Hair, The Musical

Let's just put it out there - I have good hair. Its the one thing about myself that I am vain about. I used to hate it but give me some good color and a good cut and I love it.

The cut and color are so good right now that I get stopped on the street and complimented about my hair. People have even taken pictures of it to show their hairdresser. It was better than someone complimenting your outfit. Your hair is a part of you, it is who you are. I was the girl with the cute blond(ish) bob.

Which is going to make what I'm about to say sound weird. Yesterday I cut it. I cut it all off.



Why would I do that if I am so vain about my hair? Because I also have a short attention span. I want change. I've changed jobs a lot (since graduating from law school 10 years ago I've had 9 jobs). But the easiest thing to change about yourself is your hair. You can color it, cut it, grow it out and do it all over again.

I was born with blond hair that grew into beautiful little waves. Then when it turned darker, my mom cut it short (boy short). Then I had a Dorothy Hamil and several million perms (what was I thinking). I started leaving it strait and it looked much better. It was short (really short), it was long. I also experimented with color, blonde, red, brown (my natural color, I think) and combinations of all of them. I always wanted pink streaks but never got them, maybe next time.

I discovered my safety zone is a bob with bangs. I had it in college, in law school, when I got married and recently. I know I'll always go back to it. But it doesn't stop me from trying new things.

So yesterday, I cut my hair short. It looks great. Its much easier to do. But I know that within the year I will start to grow it out and start all over again.

Zoo Day, Hooray

Today Bunny and I are going to the zoo. We will meet up with her aunt and 2 cousins. Bunny loves going to the zoo and hanging out with her cousins so it will be a big day for her.

We have a zoo pass which means we can go to the zoo for free. Since the beginning of the year, we've gone at least 25 times. Its our default activity. And its also pretty cool.

My favorite thing to see at the zoo is the baby orangutan, Mahal. Its amazing how much he looks like and acts like a real baby (just ask baby on bored or see above.) There are always huge crowds around his enclosure. Some there just to see him.

When I found out his story, I realized how important he really is (you can read it here, here and here.) He was rejected by his birth parents, one surrogate mom died and he was rejected by another. He came to our zoo to be with a new surrogate. His story mirrors what a lot of human kids have had to go through. And he's also become sort of an ambassador for the endangered orangutans.

So I hope you read his story and learn a little more about him and his species. (Gets off soapbox) But if you just want to look at a really cute baby, you can just watch his webcam.

Friday Finds

Today's Friday Find is something for the kids or for the kids at heart - wonderful plush animals and mosters from Zooguu by sweetestpea.

I am in love with these fat little creatures, especially the elephant and the cute but deadly fugu.

Check out this great shop. I am sure that you will find something you or your kiddos can't live without.

Toddler Gardening

Yesterday it hit 70 degrees so I thought it would be a great time to plant some flowers in the front yard. So Bunny and I went to the garden store to look for flowers. I told Bunny that she could pick the flowers and she wanted pink and purple ones. No problem.


She happily ran up and down the aisles looking for her pink and purple flowers. Finally she settled on a few - petunias, fuschia etc. I picked out some white ones to finish out our boxes. Then we went inside in search of toddler size gardening equipment. We picked up a set of Dora gloves and a Barbie shovel and trowel. Bunny was in heaven and insisted on carrying the shovel with her in the car.


Once we got home I put Bunny in an old t-shirt of mine so she wouldn't get too dirty. Then we proceeded to get to work. We planted two flower boxes and two small pots. We had to fill them with potting soil and then the plant the flowers. Bunny happily helped fill the first box with soil and then she discovered the bird feeders, the slide and well anything other than the planting. She helped a little after that but mainly she didn't. Its a good thing we were in the back yard with its own version of baby jail - a fence across the driveway. That is until she figured out how to open it. But I managed to get it secure and keep her contained.



Once everything was planted and transported to the front yard, it was time to water the plants. Bunny was in heaven. She wanted to carry the watering can but it was about half her size (I forgot to look for a toddler sized watering can but its now on the list). She helped water the plants and managed not to water herself - too much.

All in all they turned out pretty good. I'll need to add some greens to the flower boxes and plant the other pots but we may limit Bunny's helping time to 10 minutes. Maybe we'll even plant vegetables - or maybe not.

Eavesdropping

I admit it. I love to eavesdrop on Bunny. Its so much fun to find out how a 2 yr old mind works.

We still have our baby monitor hooked up. I generally only turn it on when we are sleeping or if I am in another part of the house (sound travels pretty well here so I know when she is crying). Mainly I am paranoid that she will try to get out of her crib, fall and hurt herself. She did it once and once was enough for me (and for her it seems).

But when she is still awake in her crib she carrys on these wonderful conversations with her stuffed animals. One day we went to the bookstore and that afternoon at naptime Panda bear also went to the bookstore. He had to find his coat and hold her hand. Stuff that I had said to her earlier. But then the 2 yr old took over, she said "that's not your coat Panda, that's a circle. No that's not it either that's a worm." Huh?

When she stayed over at my parents' house they reported her saying "I love ice cream and ketchup." Well don't we all. But too cute nonetheless.

Last night she talked for about an hour. She told her animals about our trip to a restaraunt with a playland. Then she started repeating the cats' names over and over, almost like a chant. "Basco, Basco, Basco, Basco, boo." (Tabasco) "Miss Troit, Miss Troit, Miss Troit, Miss Troit" (Detroit - yes I know its a weird name for a cat but that's her name). This chanting went on for about 5 - 10 minutes. It was almost like she was summoning them to appear before her. But they are too lazy to go up there and open the door.

I cherish these conversations and will miss them when she's 15 and yells at me for even being in the same room with her when she's on the phone.