Aria-20 months

Favorite colors: Purple, then pink. I tried to put pink pj pants on her one evening and she had a fit because they weren't purple. ...as she's pulling them off her legs: "Puur-purle!" "Puuurr-purlllee!!!" She doesn't even have purple pj pants. Big Sigh.


New Phrases:
Aww, cute. (got that from Luc, for sure)
Don't want no more.
You done, Goo-Goo? ...Now? (when she wants his toy, waiting for her turn)
Look, Mommy/Daddy/Goo-Goo! Look.

Look, Daddy!

Food:
Aria will still eat just about anything we offer her (if she's in the mood for it). I can't remember the last thing she tried and did not like. Her newest adventures are: pickles, hummus, raw peppers and carrot sticks, olive medley from the olive bar, and Doritos.

My Cookie Monster

We think Aria may have a slight allergy to strawberries. Since it's the summer and her eczema is gone, we tested tomatoes (which we thought was a culprit) but she's been fine. Which is good because it's one of her favorite foods, and you better watch out for your tomato plants. She will pick those tomatoes right off the vine and pop them in her mouth.
My other hunch was strawberries. My dad had a slight allergy when he was kid as well. Every time she has a lot of strawberry yogurt or strawberry in her pouches, she'll get rashes on her elbows and legs. When she's had a lot of fresh strawberries, it's a little worse. Thank God she doesn't have a respiratory reaction to them. But her Ped recommended we get her tested when we take Luc back to the allergist in December. Just to be sure we know what she's allergic to, how severe, and how we can wean her immune system to accept the food(s).
Aria randomly started drinking milk! What?!? Again, I think it's Luc's influence. Luc randomly asked for milk and Aria followed suit. We're running with it.

So we're not entirely sure what goes on in Aria's head at night. It seems her separation anxiety was peaking again and nothing but holding her would console her. There were lots of sleepless nights. Then she started refusing to wear her footie pjs. Then my mom suggested to layer a onsie under her pjs because she might be cold at night. Since she won't stay under a blanket during the night, I tried this. And so far so good. Let's knock on some wood so I don't jinx it. I know she's always been sensitive to cold, but my goodness. Her vent it already barely open to just to keep air circulating. She better get over her footie pj protest in time for cooler Fall and winter. I have a bunch of fleece ones waiting to be used.

Aria is super excited about her new lil cousin, Alexis. Every time I show her a new picture, she says "Awwwww, Baby!" and then kisses my phone. <3

In The Mind of My PreSchooler

•What is your name? Luc-y

•How old are you? 4

•When is your Birthday? In 3 months, right Mommy?

•How old is daddy? 30 100 10

•What is your favorite color? Purple & blue

•What is your favorite food? Tough one. Red grapes. They're scrumptious.

•Who is your best friend? Ella

•What is your favorite television show? Rusty Rivets

•What is your favorite movie? Nightmare Before Christmas

•What is your favorite song? PJ masks

•What is your favorite animal? Cheetah

•What are you scared of? Spider webs, witches

•What makes you happy? Weekends with Mommy & Daddy

•Where is your favorite place to go? Anywhere on my bike

•What do you want to be when you grow up? Drive a plane

•What is Mommy's favorite thing to do? Cuddle

•What does love mean? Hugs & kisses

Dear Aria,

I've meant to write you more letters as you grow up, but time has gotten away from me. I thought I'd do it after your monthly updates and then got sidetracked with something else.
You're growing up just too fast. You were an infant for a second, a baby for a day, and now you're a full on toddler.
You amaze me everyday. Many times Daddy and I hear or watch you do something and we look to each other with our mouths open. Did she just say that? Did she really just do that? You copy your older brother like you're his mirror image. You don't believe in boundaries, size differences, age limits, or height restrictions. If Luc can do, darn it, so can you! -Or at least you try your hardest.
You're so determined. You know what you want, when you want, and how you want it. You don't take No for an answer, or for guidance. You hear, sometimes acknowledge it, and then go about what you were doing in the first place before you were so rudely interrupted.
Even though you love to do things for yourself, you can also be the most loving and caring. Way before you're even supposed to you, you have empathy. You care about those you know and make sure they are okay if they're upset. You know when to say you're sorry. And you've learned a kiss and/or hug goes along with that. When someone is upset, not only do you ask if they're okay, you then try to make them laugh. You know for Luc, you chase him around, tackle him onto the ground and sit on him until he gives up and laughs. For Mommy, you come right up to my face and give me a big smile or a silly face. Are we talking about a 19 month old baby? Yes. But you might as well already be 2 or 3 years old. Can you slow down a little?
Don't get me wrong, I love your personality coming out in full force. You're full of life, for sure. But I wasn't quite ready to let go of the baby yet and have two young kids.
I look forward to our girl time coming up. We'll paint each others nails, admire the sparkly jewelry in the shop window; you'll play dress up in my clothes and jewels and shoes (which you actually already do). At the same time I'll continue to miss dressing you in teeny tiny clothes, feeding you in my arms, and watching you sleep in your crib.

How could you be anything but a strong, free-thinking, spirited girl? I knew you were a fighter for life when I was grieving immensely of the loss of my grandma when you were only a few weeks in my belly. The reality is that stress could have easily effected you, but you hung in there, grabbed tight and refused to let go.

Sugar and Spice. Firecracker. Snuggle Bug. Spitfire. Cuddle Monster. Miss Independent. Mommy's Girl. You're night and day. -The smiley sun by day. The mischievous night under a secret sky.

You are my love.

Love,
Mommy

The Illusion of Motherhood in Today's Society

 The internet can be a marvelous thing and a demon all at once.

Society has gotten worse with this idea of the perfect woman, the perfect wife, the perfect mom. If you're not living up to these standards, you're just not good enough, you're doing everything wrong, and maybe you aren't even fit to be a mom. I love the internet, but a lot of times I wish I was living as an adult before we had it. Less comparisons, less pressure, less hate from strangers.
Then in the same moment, the internet can be a Godsend, like blogs, where I realize there are a million other Moms out there struggling everyday with the same things I'm struggling with, and I'm not alone. And that brings comfort. It also reminds me when I look at a "perfect" wife/mom picture online and I know behind the camera it's chaos, and it took 50 shots to get that one "perfect" one to show off. -because that's what I'm guilty of doing too.

It's also a great resource tool. Trouble with a pregnancy symptoms not well-known? There's a group online all experiencing it as well.  Problems breastfeeding? Youtube videos to make sure you're all aligned and latching correctly. Baby not doing something or doing too much of something else? There's a website and forum for discussion, causes, and solutions. Instant- at your finger tips- any time of day- no need for an appointment.
But post your thoughts that might not be mainstream, or something that you couldn't do or didn't work for you and your baby/life- Mom Haters arrive to rip you a new one and send you into a whirling tornado of self-doubt and confusion.

It's easy to doubt yourself when you see what you think is perfection online. It's dangerous. You had your child a year ago and you still haven't lost your pregnancy weight, why not? This woman did. Look how toned she is too! Or I'm scrolling through Pinterest wondering why I can't be the working mom who can also decorate awesome cakes for my kids' birthdays (which I can't and Frederic has come to the rescue each time!). My most common downfall is seeing Moms/Wives that show they have everything together, they never seem to yell at their kids, and they're never brought to tears because they lost all control and calm in the house. Why can't I be like them? Am I the only one screaming at my kids? Crying because they won't eat dinner? Feeling my blood pressure rise when all the toys get dumped onto floor two minutes before bedtime? Or feeling completely overwhelmed and lost when each kid is fighting and crying, the laundry is done, and dinner is burning on the stove?
On the rare chance I come across a really honest blog or post from a fellow Mom who admits things that are just like mine, I feel a big sigh of relief that I'm not the only one. I'm not a monster mom and not the only person feeling like I'm loosing my mind 99% of the time.
I just wish there was more honesty in the internet and less hiding the realities of life. No one's life is perfect. No one could possibly have it all together, all the time. So why do we pretend? Why do we strive to reach something that is just completely unattainable? Why do we let this Lie make us feel worthless and like a failure?

19 Months Down

When I'm feeling down that Aria doesn't get the same amount, or kind, of one-on-one attention from me like Luc did, I have to remind myself that Luc helps teach Aria a lot too. -And not just bad things. And essentially, he's helping me so I don't have to do so much (though I have lots of other things to do now- like break up fights). So thank you, Luc!
Luc has sat down and taught Aria many things (including climbing onto the bed and jumping, painting with a brush, holding a crayon, how to work certain toys, how to open things) and through copying (walking down the stairs by holding onto the railing, drinking from the thermos cup straw, climbing down from her carseat).
Most helpful though is Luc allowing Aria to come into bathroom with him when he needs to use the toilet. The pediatrician warned me that may have an early impact on Aria, but I really wasn't expecting anything. All the sudden, on the last day at the beach, I was changing Aria's diaper and she asked to sit on the potty. So I took her and held her there. She did nothing, but I praised her anyways. A week or so after we were home she started randomly asking to sit on the potty when I change her diaper. I started doing it each time. She seems to ask more when I'm changing her right before bed. She pats her front and says "pee pee" and pats her butt and says "poop". One evening before bed I sat her on the toilet and she peed a little. We both realized and she let more out. A few days later, before bed, she asked to go potty. I was holding her there for a few minutes and she wasn't doing anything but imitating the pooping sounds and faces I had made to her the other day. My legs were getting tired from squatting down, so I kept asking her if she was done. "No." Okay then. I held her and waited. Then I look and she had pooped. I told her Good Job! And asked if she was done now. "No." oookay... she grunted one last time and more poop came out. Then she pointed to the toilet paper and we were done.
I'm trying really hard not to get too excited that I might be done with (at least day) diapers before Aria is 2 years old.


Favorite things to say:

-That's Mine! (she loves to make sure everyone knows what belongs to whom. "Mommy's Car!", "My Goo-Goo!" "Daddy's shoe!" "Goo-Goo seat!". If she knew how to write, I'm sure each thing in the house would have a label.)
-What's that? (when she's hears something unusual, or sees something new)


-Can count to 2, and then thinks 3 is 2 also. "1,2,2."
-Every color is purple. Even when you correct her, she repeats purple. 
-When Luc is crying (because he hurt himself, or is having a tantrum over something he didn't get), she follows him around and asks, "Goo-Goo, okay?" "okay, Goo-Goo?" And then tries to climb on him to give him a hug and kiss, and ends up making him laugh and feeling better. (She calls Luc Goo-Goo, because we often call him Luc-Luc).
-She's good at saying "Sorry" and giving kisses when she hurts someone.
-Responds to "Thank you, Aria." with "Thank you, Mommy." instead of You're Welcome.
-Likes to pretend she's a dog, hands you things from her mouth while crawling on the floor (she got this from Luc, of course).
-Walks down the stairs, holding onto the railings.
-Walks on the curb like a balance beam.
-Climbs out of her car seat by herself when unbuckled.
-Takes off her shoes and puts them in her shoe basket.
-Started putting our names into her ramblings when she sings: "Balamalalalaaa Mommy, Daddy, Meee" ... "Laaalaalalalaaa Mommy, Goo-Goo, -Mommy-GooGoo!"
-Hums along with me when I hum to her before bed

Marine's Visit

Frederic's aunt and cousins came to visit the USA this summer. Marine stayed a little longer and spent the weekends with us and the kids. We did a lot of hanging around- at the pool, at a winery, at the house, but it was lots of fun. Aria warms up to Marine so quickly and let's her hold her right away. She sits contently on her lap and in her arms. It's so sweet to see her being so comfortable with her even though she only sees her once a year (but it will be twice this year!). Luc was completely in love with Marine, again, this year. Though I think his love was the strongest it's ever been. And of course it's nice to hang out with Marine and talk, etc; it's also nice that she loves playing with the kids and I can get a little break when she's around. Too bad she doesn't live nearby all year. ;-P

At Elk Run Winery:

Even though it was really hot, Elk Run has nice event tents set up and lots of picnic tables. There's also tons of trees to keep out of the sun. We were able to kick the ball around with the kids and explore the grapes on the vines. Even though they were little and tart, Aria kept taking them whenever Luc would offer it- and then spit it right out.

Can you Feeeeel the love [today]?

Thanks, Marine, for taking a family photo

The last weekend Marine was here, we celebrated my dad's birthday at my parent's house with a BBQ on Saturday. Sunday we went to Wegman's for breakfast and then picked up ingredients to make homemade strawberry ice cream. After lunch, we made the ice cream and while it was doing it's thing, we hung out on the deck and the kids in the pool.

ah, pics with kids...best out of 20.

Long Beach Island, 2016

I am happy to say this year at the beach was a little more relaxing and fun (for me) than last year. Aria being a year older made it a lot more interesting, fun, and chill. She loved playing with the sand and having her feet in the water. She would spend lots of time just sitting and sifting the sand through her hands or with a shovel. Content as can be. By the end of the week she wanted to walk out into the ocean.

 We bought Luc a boogie board this year and he had a blast! By the end of the week he was really getting the hang of riding in the waves.

Tuesday night Frederic and Dave went home because they needed to go back to work. One of the days we decided to go to the beach in the morning and leave at lunchtime because low tide was at 10am. It gave the kids a chance to be in the water without worrying about the waves, there weren't a lot of people out yet, and they got to look for shells. Luc dug up a sand crab by accident and freaked out. I didn't want him to be scared of them, so I took him with me to the water and dug up one and showed him how it walked on my hands- and it tickled. Well that put him at ease and he wanted to hold one. Then we spent a good 30 minutes+ digging up more and more and letting them go.

Frederic's boss told him Thursday that he puts in enough hours that he should go back to the beach to be with us the last day. So Thursday night around 11pm, Frederic was back at the beach. We surprised Luc, who was really really upset when Frederic had to leave on Tuesday.

Luc wanted to go fishing almost everyday, but we just went once. He got really good at casting his line out pretty far. I caught something in the deeper waters but it ended up snapping my line when I tried to wheel it in. Next year Luc will be a little bigger and we're thinking of taking him to the lighthouse really early in the morning where all the serious fishermen go. Maybe with some better bait we'll catch lunch. 

We had some amazing sunsets that week too.

Last year our beach slogan was Luc constantly saying: "I LOVE the Beach!"
This year it's Luc asking Aria: "Aria, are you happy?" And Aria responding: "Happy!"
And even though Aria and Luc both loved the beach, we could tell Aria was happy to be home as well. As soon as we were in the house, she started grabbing all her toys we left behind and hugging them. But then after they ate lunch, they immediately wanted to get out of the house and play in the water on the deck (even though it was a heat index of over 100 degrees).