May 10, 2013

The third and final installment from our beach trip. Seriously, the best vacation ever.

May 10, 2013

Beach weekend, part 2. More from the land of adorable.

May 9, 2013

We were supposed to be in Holland last week roaming tulip fields, eating cheese and bread and floating along the canals. Well, for many many reasons, that trip has been postponed for at least a couple years. Once the decision was made not to go, we still knew we needed a vacation and I decided that a little week long trip to the beach was just the thing to do. A woman I know owns a little home on the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington state so we booked a week and were on our way. Arlo had NEVER been to the ocean and I was thrilled for her first introduction seeing as she loves any sand she can get her hands on.

The week was everything we had hoped for and more. The house was only a mile from the beach and yet felt like it was in the country. Peaceful and quiet with deer roaming through our yard. A giant expanse of grass for Arlo to run and spin in. Carpeted stairs and a lofted second story for her to play and peek and practice her solo stair climbing. A “hot fire!” for her to sit in front of (on her potty, of course). A bathtub she could bathe herself and her babies (we have another new bathing baby named Cate) in daily. Exposed rafters that we attached our hammock to and quickly learned that our daughter is bound for a life as a Cirque de Soleil performer and lots of little vacation treats like chocolate milk and “poppysicles”.

Arlo’s first trip to the beach was pure ecstasy. So much sand! We buried her feet, she laid down on it and smashed endless sandcastles. Once she saw the water, the new pronouncement was, “Ocean!” She ran full force toward that water and the fact that it was freezing did nothing to slow her. Back and forth, back and forth through the waves. Such glee I have never seen.

We invited our friends to come stay the second half of the week and Arlo and her friend Loretta had a blast together. We explored historic Oysterville (where this Mama found her dream home), ate fresh shellfish (Arlo even liked raw oyster), flew kites, threw water balloons and of course, ate poppysicles in the bathtub.

What a lovely vacation. Can’t wait to go back and do it all again next year.

April 23, 2013
She took matters into her own hands this morning. Helmet on and ready to ride! It should also be noted that this kid is awesome. She now tells on anyone who she sees riding a bike sans helmet. She looks, points and says “helma!”. We’ve trained her well.

She took matters into her own hands this morning. Helmet on and ready to ride!

It should also be noted that this kid is awesome. She now tells on anyone who she sees riding a bike sans helmet. She looks, points and says “helma!”. We’ve trained her well.

April 22, 2013
Arlo and new baby Gabe bathing together. I swear they were in there for almost an hour.

Arlo and new baby Gabe bathing together. I swear they were in there for almost an hour.

April 22, 2013

All the little babies

Arlo is a kid who LOVES her babies. It started with one, the baby now affectionately referred to as “Tia” that my brother got her for her first birthday. Then, Mama thought it would be fun to introduce her to the baby that had been mine when I was a child, a baby that became known as “big (buh)”. Little by little, we increased the number of babies that were talked about, played with and dragged everywhere. Every time we try to leave the house, the battle begins.

Arlo: bayas! (babies!).

Mama: You can bring one baby. Which baby do you want to bring?

Arlo: Tia

Mama: Okay, you can bring Tia.

Arlo: Two!

Mama: Okay, two. What other baby do you want to bring?

Arlo: All! (This is a new word that she’s found and uses liberally)

Mama: We can’t bring all the babies, Arlo.

and on and on it goes…..

When I could convince her to bring just two, Big was usually included in this equation. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVED this doll as a child but now, as the parent, I slowly started to hate it and understand what my parents dealt with every time I took her anywhere. When you take a doll that looks exactly like an 8 week old baby anywhere, people do a double take.

“Oh! For a minute I thought that was a real baby in the car cart with your toddler!”

“Why is that toddler carrying around a newborn?!”

It gets old. Not to mention the fact that Mama ends up carrying her most of the time anyway and she’s “Big”! Also, she’s at least 25 years old at this point and her glory days are over. She’s slowly falling apart and filled with scary foam pieces.

I decided that the only way I was going to be able to retire this beloved baby was to replace her with one that was even more amazing to Arlo. Enter: Gabe.

After watching my friend’s son for a couple weeks, Arlo has a new found love for penises. Yes, she’s finally discovered that some people have something that she’s never seen in our house, and she’s fascinated. At first, it was “pe-a!” “see!” and then it morphed into “pe-a!” “touch!”. I decided that the best solution, aside from explaining to her that other people’s bodies are their own, etc., was to get her an anatomically correct boy doll that she could see and touch as much as she wanted. And thus, Gabe came into our lives this week (I named him because I was tired of our babies not having names and she took to it instantly).

Not only does Gabe have a penis that Arlo can touch and see as much as she wants, Gabe is also waterproof making him a perfect bath companion. This kid has had more baths in the last three days than in the last three months combined!

So now, as of today, Big is finally retired and Gabe has quickly become a new favorite. She takes him everywhere and proclaims to everyone that she sees that he has a penis (he’s always naked but just in case you were wondering….)

Ah, toddlers.

April 21, 2013
Arlo’s first self-portrait.

Arlo’s first self-portrait.

April 21, 2013
Comparing tattoos.

Comparing tattoos.

April 21, 2013
Too young for sleeve tattoos? Never. Arlo loves stamps and today went a little overboard when she insisted on me imprinting her with every stamp I own (well, almost).

Too young for sleeve tattoos? Never. Arlo loves stamps and today went a little overboard when she insisted on me imprinting her with every stamp I own (well, almost).

April 21, 2013
No peas!
Arlo’s latest refrain