Princess Tiiime

I have never been a big proponent of Disney princess frou-frou (we like Up, Mary Poppins, and tough girl movies like Pocohontas and Mulan), but as obnoxious as I find the "pining after a future prince" theme, my mom pointed out that encouraging princess-like behavior will work to our advantage. For the most part Disney princesses are kind, courageous, and occasionally smart (with the exception the 1950s-produced brainless "heroines"-  it's okay because I have red lips and sing well- in Sleeping Beauty and SnowWhite and "if I choose to abandon my family for the self-proclaimed love of a man I've never talked to, because, after all, I'm 16 years old and not a child, everything will turn out okay" in The Little Mermaid).

So, with this in mind, Gma K has taken it upon herself to supply Mia with princess attire and memorabilia (cups, tiaras, books, etc.), and, in culmination, took her to Disney on Ice last month. While we were getting Mia ready to go, I was blown away by way she "channeled" her usual energy.  She spent it all on her efforts to sit nicely, smile, and be charmingly sweet.  I think my mom is on to something!

Letting Mom attend to her toilet (regularly, Mia prefers to do this stuff herself):

sitting quietly and reading a little Beatrix Potter while waiting for her escort:

Mia had a lovely time at "Disney Princess" and mom gained some leverage. Win-win!

Crocheting Hazards

Our Friday Fun night this week was spent in the ER after Mia impaled her face with Mom's crochet hook. I felt like CPS would be alerted all night when we were asked what had happened.  I've been trying to finish June's Christmas stocking in between daily activities...the project was thoughtlessly left out on sofa for easy 

access with hook hidden in yarn. Unfortunately, Mia frequently practices her gymnastics moves on said sofa.  We are grateful that the hook did not make contact one superior cm.  She would have been blinded!  Ugh. Yucky mom feeling (understatement). I have had some scary nightmares in the subsequent nights.

ER waiting room entertainment:

Pleased to have a new "bracelet" and binki liberties: 

Post-op photo and first encounter with scene of accident (she did her best to seem pitiful):  

June's Top Ten

1

These Eskimo-esque cheeks are irresistible: 

2

Gpa R will do just about anything to get a reaction out of these babies, and now that June has grown into more than a squishy infant, she is a primary target.

3

Wagon ride in 33 degree weather:

4

This particular Sunday, June and Mom were donning our denim overkill:

5

Sweet, sweet girl...these beautiful dark eyes make me melt!

6

June has begun her furniture-assisted standing. It is currently the THRILL of her life.

7

Cruising around our regional (300 mile radius) Ikea.  

As much as we love this place, it is not always easy to pull off a smile after a thorough browse.

8

9

Some more of Dad's acrobatics on Gma K's freshly waxed linoleum.

and she still likes him after the trauma (mom's definition):

9.5

9 & 3/4

Visiting with Great G & G Heinz:

10

Although this girl seems more demure that her energetic and extroverted big sis, she has picked up some words pretty early (due to Mom & Mia's constant blabbing, do doubt).  Here is her running list:

"MMMMM-ah" (Mia)

Mama & Dada

Uh-Oh (like most babies, this is favorite after an intentional object dropping)

Bye-Bye

"Ni-Night"

"Bee" (bink)

"Mo!" (more, please)
"Hi"* whispered

But best of all is her darling singing voice that chimes, without fail, during every occasion of

Angels We Have Heard on High:

movie

And she is officially mobile!  I am not really excited about this for a variety of reasons: 

disintegrating babyhood, the perils of having two on the move, and the emergence of the human vacuum who seems to inhale particles not initially visible to the adult naked eye.

Mia's Top Ten

1

Mia got to go to work with Gpa R this past month; she had a fabulous time riding int the "high up in the sky" truck and hoking its horn.

2

First attempt at mascara application:

3

Making lovely music with cousins:

4

Fun craft days with Gma R: 

5

Mia built this "big house" this week at library story time...

...but it's an even better day when the librarian pulls out the tunnel!

6

I am always so impressed with the sporadic doodling I find around the house.  When I found this one and asked Mia about it, she said "they are just some little guys."

7

Great Gma Heinz visited this past month, and Mia found her highly entertaining.  

8

9

So pleased to be wearing dad's re-purposed shirt.  "It is like squeeze from daddy."

10

Thankful 2012

We had a glorious Thanksgiving Day.

It began with a Turkey Trot with friends and some pre-trot victory dances.  David and I were on competing relay teams--  I am pretty sure David won the dance competition simply because of the subtle moves he was daring to pull in his stretchy pants (which may be difficult to see on this low-quality, cell phone recording).

At least you can hear the featured song..."Do the gobble."

Time to eat!  We like to mix up the traditional menu a bit as an excuse to try out new recipes.  This year's huge hit: Gma K's Corn Bread Stuffing.  It had turkey sausage, apricots, cranberries, lots of crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs.  I probably ate five pounds.

More removal from norm...no pie here...just Gingerbread Trifle and Pumpkin Brule.  

And after three rounds of food, the day was complete with some board games to burn it off.  Mia's fave?  Pretty, Pretty Princess with her aunts.

We are richly blessed!

June's Top 10

1

2

As June gets more solid, Dad gets more and more daring with acrobatics.

3

June has graduated from the Bjorn to the cart for shopping trips.

Her little legs and arms flap with excitement over the sheer joy perceived freedom.

4

We discovered one morning that June likes to shout (or sweetly declare, rather) "hooray!"

Here she is celebrating her 8 month birthday. 

She will be 9 months on Thursday, so I'm a little behind in documenting.

5

Over the last month, June's hair has become more and more curly.  

Here it is as it began to curl earlier in October. 

6

7

June does not care to be spoon-fed baby food, so lunch-time is often a chore.  

This day, however, was the first the whole jar was finished in <30 minutes.="minutes." p="p" whew="whew">

8

Puffy early-morning eyes and debut of June's first two teeth!

9

Here is a sampling of June's pass-times.  Note the fact that June has never produced a traditional laugh...only a Pterodactyl-like squeal :

10

Further evidence of June's best tricks:

Happy Honkin'

The words "haunted" and "haunting" are not a part of Mia's vocabulary.  

Instead she refers to scary displays as "honkin" houses."  

One such display at Home Depot had a life-size goblin or something.  Mia spotted it the instant we entered the store and Mia had been dead-set against venturing within a 50 yard radius.  David figured by the end of the trip that it was time for Mia to face her fears...get up-close-and-personal with the display in order to realize that it isn't real.  Mom tried in vain to convince determined Dad that "she will have nightmares!  she is only three!," but a whimpering Mia was wheeled deliberately toward the goblin.  

Upon arrival the previously stagnant goblin leaned forward, reached out a hand, and cackled.  

Mia did a full fledged backflip out of the cart onto the concrete floor and proceeded to SCREAM her heart out until we had made it to the car.  Needless to say, we provided a good show for the onlookers. 

Here is a much less spooked-out pair (well, June is a little spooked by her new, rounder shape), pausing on our way to the local library's Halloween activities.

Our flapper girl's elementary rendition of the Charleston:

Well, trick-or-treating last night was a failure.  Mia spent a day full of practicing her "TRICKOTWEET"s and "thank you's" and "I'm a flapper" phrases, but horror set in as we neared the "honkin'" neighborhood (we have to travel into town for Halloween-participating neighborhoods);  Mia became mute and rigid.  Her friends were sweet to try and include her,  but as far as she was concerned,
those bodies in the masks and hoods were NOT any friends of hers!
And apparently there is something terrifying about receiving free hand-outs:

June, however, had a fabulous time.

She even had an encouraging ring of cheering audience around her as she wiggled her body with all her might to Cotton-Eyed Joe at the church party.

This photo is for sentimentality.  We took one three years ago in the same spot with a different pumpkin:

P.S.

David and I got into it too.  David even wore eyeliner (after some feigned hesitation).

Aaand, SURPRISE! 

We each won our respective gender's doughnut-eating contest at our friend's Halloween Party.