Climbing and Aunties and Eye Doctors Oh My!

On top of the world!

Climbing is where its at. 

 Though the other day she took a break from climbing on everything 

and found my sculpture graveyard.

 She was very excited about it.

It instigated a series of meltdowns actually.

 Then Aunt Amy came for a visit, and despite some toddler shenanigans 

she did eventually come to her to get picked up!
Piper to Amy that is...

My favorite redheads enjoying a hike.

Then Piper scored some major hand-me-downs.

This is a puppet theater with finger puppets and little sticks to move them and all that jazz. 

 She doesn't have the fine motor skills to do it on her own, but we have fun with it. 

 And when she gets sick of me, which is often these days, she just takes them to the stairs.

 She's been "helping" more and more in the kitchen.

 This was right after she learned how to take off her own diaper. 

 Been having more and more play dates at the park! Giselle and her Momma.

 She was introduced to the Grinch 

 So after her last Dr. Apt. with Dr. Wheeler he wanted Piper to see an Opthamologist.

She's not focusing as fast on the left and he wanted her checked out. 

 She did awesome and long story short we'll be headed back in three months to see if she's going to need glasses or if she's just working it out on her own as she develops. 

 Weather is starting to chill up a bit around here, so Piper helped me get some wood closer to the house.

 And then found some new uses for the activity cube Aunt Amy got her.

 More play dates with more new friends.

 And a dress up birthday party in the park.

Growing up.

so fast...

A Lover Not A Fighter

Innocent looking eh?

Don't be fooled.

This cute little fairy gave her mother a bloody nose yesterday.

And she thinks its pretty funny.

In all fairness it was play gone awry, but there's also some other action going on around here.

I know its developmental. I know a score of other Mom's with kids the same age pulling this.

And Momma gets the worst of it.

I thank the friends who share their struggles and the books that clock this developmental milestone as 100% normal or I'd be a hot mess. 

Hitting, pinching, biting.

me.

Only me.

Not all the time, we have lovely moments of play and laughter. But it is hard just the same when your sweet toddler is wailing on you.

I know rationally that Mom is safe to explore feelings that are confusing, 

such as frustration or anger. 

When she does it its like a force she can't control. 

But it still hurts.

But on a lighter note, here is Piper loving her "log" Grandma Sally made her. Just in time for Grandma's Birthday Piper played out the scene just as she imagined and planned it...

 Well done Mom! Thank You and Happy Birthday!

Playing Catch Up

Good Morning Sunshine!

Well...Aoife left us for a month so things are a little crazy. But we're all doing well. Those last three eye teeth are still on the move, but not bothering her as much as they were. 

get ready for a photo bomb.

Its been awhile...

 Jonah came by for a quick visit  - and played dress up with the skirts Grandma Sally Made Piper.

 He insisted on wearing Piper's purple boots with the whole ensemble,

boy do we miss having him close.

 This last Sunday we did a rare thing, threw the schedule out the window and had a family day in Salida. Picnic in the park, shopping - Piper was in heaven.

Especially when we let her climb the wall o' beanbags at Wallyworld.

 Before Aoife left she took some shots of Piper at the stables...

 Weather is starting to get very fall-ish around here.

 Grandma Les Sent Piper a doll stroller. She can maneuver it great, but still keeps trying to get into it.

 Rascal the Raccoon has been in the favorite rotation these days, and he got a ride.

 We've been looking for things to do on the long mornings before Piper's nap. 

She does not like to be at home for long. 

So when we got an invite to head over to Sauguache and see Aunt Joan and Uncle Gary

 - we jumped at it!

Their house is horses, horses and more horses.

And with Uncle Gary looking like Piper's beloved Grandpa...well, 

she took to the whole scene rather quickly.

They had a vintage toy horse for her which is...whoa...very exciting!

And after going nutto over horse pillows, books, figurines...well you get the point - 

it was time to head to the barn.

Barn Cat!

This is Cinnamon.

A poney just the right size for Miss P

 At first she wasn't sure about this small horse. The cat was a distraction, there were bigger horses...

 But after a visit to the tac room

 Which a teething Piper was very intense about watching what Aunt Joan was doing.

 She got to get on him!

 And Boy oh Boy was that a Hit!

 Back and forth and back and forth in the barn (it was raining)

Holdin' the reigns as a good cowgirl should.

She didn't want to get off! But she did without fuss and was promised another ride.

After a 3 hour nap, hey it takes time to process one's first horse ride, Piper tried getting her new horse to go down the wibble's slide...didn't work - but it was worth a try. 

Over all things are going well. Piper is whining these days, so we're trying to get her to use her words and not just respond to the whine. Which is a hard habit for us to break. 

But I'd rather do this now then later.

But she's listening really really well and following directions like a champ. Her patience is just amazing, and because she understands so much of what we say (scary actually) she'll wait when we ask her especially when we explain why she needs to wait. 

Feeling like I won the Momma Lottery.