Maxx

 Miss Piper sported some Grandma Sally wear this week.

And hung out in her new chair...

Oh, and spent a lot of time with Maxx.

 As many of you know I've been on the search for the perfect gnome. 

After the death of the last one, and with teething as it is it was obvious a wood gnome was needed.

Really anything with a face in the figurine realm is very exciting to Piper. If she finds one of my sculptures she goes nutto.  But wood is necessary. Everything else is too dangerous with how she "loves" them. Do you know how hard it is to find wood figurines these days? My obsessive research found me Don Daily. http://sundaywoodcarver.blogspot.com/

He made a custom gnome for Miss P.

He's perfect. 

Food grade paint, edible wood sealer

and his eyes? that nose?

Piper is in love.

She loves him.

I mean really really loves him.

We had to have a whole explanation on how Maxx can't swim so no, 

he couldn't come in the tub with her. But he could sit on the sink and wait.

 He gets a taste of every meal.

and she even plays peek-a-boo with him (totally her doing, I did not instigate this one)

Poor this is tired. Hence the staring into space. 

The eye teeth seem to be creating a congestion which then creates a nasty cough. A cough that only comes up when she goes to go to sleep. 20 minute nap, 5:30am wake up. She's so tired. But despite that she's still a crack up. I can't get over how well she's handling the pain and the lack of sleep.

More play dates.

This is Charlotte. 

I love Charlotte.

Piper is in awe of her.

She's 2.5 years old and asks more questions than anyone I have ever met. 

Why?

When?

Where?

What?

She should be a journalist.

I know I know, a glimpse into my future...

Her Mom is taking dance classes and so she came over to play with us. 

Yep.

Me and the two girls.

Charlotte is unbelievably patient with Piper and Piper, well Piper is entertained for sure, 

so all well smashing.

Piper-isms

This week has been full of Piper-isms.

Patting people on the head, arm and back and kissing just about everything.

Last day of swim lessons after I had her all dressed, she went around the dressing room, patting, hugging and tweaking noses of all the kids.

all of them

Some were really not sure what to do about the attention, but she just kept on with it - smiling and nodding her head as they looked at her in surprise.

While she's still shy (or downright doesn't like) most adults, she loves other kids.

So it was play date time. 

This morning we headed over to play with Cece, Flower and Quinny.

Piper was way into the older girls.

who loaded her down with dolls...

And then it was dress up and dance time.

she was game ...

She also played with their toy kitchen which included wooden sushi,

Whoa!

sat down at the table and had a snack with them, 

and was more than ready for a nap by the time it was time to go.

Thanks Girls! We'll be back next week!

A Little Swim Before Bed

Piper and I were reading on the couch, like any other night. 

She's been getting up and running around a bit these days until we move into her bedroom.

First she went into the kitchen and said "bananam"

which for a kid who almost never talks ... well lets just say I was shocked.

We get settled again on the couch, "bananam" in hand 

and after awhile she gets up and goes out to the porch.

When she comes back in a few moments later her hair is wet and she's grinning.

Beaming really.

"Were you practicing?" I asked.

She takes me out on to the porch and shows me the following...

Missing Daddy

My little faerie on her way to stop in on a belly dance class.

Da-da has been working out of town. 

Leaving several days in a row, stopping back in and then heading back out.

His girls have been doing pretty good.

But we miss him.

Piper is used to her Daddy getting her in the morning, so each morning I do it she points to the door and says, "Da- da- da"

But it had also helped her grasps the phone concept a bit more. 

She wants to hear his voice when he calls and pretends to call him through the day.

 This photo does not give the curls justice.

They're out of hand.

Lately she wants to do everything I'm doing.

Helping me sweep.

And running off with the broom.

The weather has been incredible.

And knock on wood - no bugs so far.

So I got a bee in my bonnet to work on the space across the street.

We raked up some sticks...

and found dirt!

Real, actual DIRT!

 We did a dance of joy!

Daddy came home and we went for a few hikes.

 

 

In the end we had to bribe her with blueberries to get back to the car without hearing damage.

But truly she really did quite well for a kid who hates to be strapped into anything.

And I've spent some time letting her try to feed herself. 

This is something I have to come to grips with.

I mean...have you ever seen the damage a toddler can do with a hand full or food, 

let alone a spoon? 

Impressive. 

Just two more classes left in swim lessons this season.

At Piper's age I'm hearing she's doing really well. We're stopped all the time with praise for her comfort in the water. She will even stick her face in intentionally.

Though more so at home and when no one is looking/ putting pressure on her

 (goodness she is SO like her Dad). 

She's now holding her breath 90% of the time when she does this and then lifts out of the water and blows out - which is hysterical to watch. Despite some serious melt downs from other kids around her, she's still excited to get in the water and often wants to walk around, neck deep, and doesn't want me to touch her. She's the youngest of the class by a year or more. Some of the kids are already doing off the diving board! But for 16 months old I think she's doing stellar and I'm super proud of her. 

And in all of this we have another tooth. Three more to go until the 3 year molars!!! Not that I'm counting or anything.

As requested...

more video.

Grammy and Grandpa's

 On the rocking horse Grampa made for her.

 Chillin'

 This is what teething looks like after the tell tale teething

6am wake-up.

Thank you Grammy and Grandpa, such troopers!

Getting ready for swim lessons to start tomorrow 

in her new pink pool at Grammy and Grandpa's!

Piper is so NOT scared of water it is very clear swim lessons are needed. 

She sticks her head in the water and doesn't know what to do. 

Comes up coughing and grinning (most of the time).

She starts two weeks of lessons tomorrow!