Progress

What is better than new appliances? 

Appliance boxes!!! Wooohoooo!!!

There is so much progress on the house from day to day Piper and I poke our heads in daily. 

We're about a week or so out from being able to move in. There will be lots still to do, but it will be livable enough so we're going for it. Rental plus building is just too much.

Plus, we all miss the big views and neighborhood. 

When we go to visit Piper never wants to leave. She's completely enthralled with Gabriel, who's helping with tile. 

Back at home Elmo moonlights as a dragon and fairy catcher.

And fairies get to play with dinner leftovers.

Yes. Don't ask.

I'm still sick.

Better than before but still have yet to get through a day or night without coughing or blowing my nose. I'm 31 weeks pregnant now and I've had some rough days with cold weather, working and packing. Nothing gets past Piper and when she's not testing me into madness she offers up foot rubs. Yesterday she told me I looked tired and took me to her bed to read stories and sing to me.

Sweet girl.

I've been meaning to share ...

Piper has continued to be an oral child. But it's getting crazy these days. Everything- and I do mean everything - goes right into her mouth. Cleaning up and packing I found her with a mouth full of plastic confetti. Paper, plastic, clothing, stickers - pine needles from the Christmas tree she finds on the ground...the list goes on. Needless to say we're telling the Easter Bunny to lay off that awful plastic grass. Between her and Oscar kitty I've pulled too many thin ribbons from throats - my adrenals can't handle anymore.

So back to the house.

The baby's room is a source of curiosity as well, as Piper tries to grok the kicking she gets while sitting on my lap.

And her room is a hit too

By now the floors are all in thanks to the speedy and lovely work of Uncle Gary and Everett. They're all ready to start next week with baseboard trim and the doors should arrive. Josh is cranking on electric and the cabinets for kitchen and bathrooms as we get ready for Marcos to come back for a final plumbing the end of next week.

Packing at home is intense. Our move out of the last house was quick and I'm buried in "stuff"

The new house is smaller, which is wonderful - but it means I am on a mission because three junk drawers in the kitchen is no longer a luxury I need or want. A mission quite difficult when you factor in being 8+ months prego and living with a toddler. Luckily between some extra time at school and Mimi and Papa I'm making progress. As well as many, many trips to the free box.

Mending Testing and Dressing

I'm doing better.

Ear infection, sinus infection, post flu aches have been replaced by the "comforts" of third trimester pregnancy.

                 HA!

I'm still battling soar throats and random cold stuff - but no coughing fits for almost a week now so I'm thrilled!

The house is getting closer and closer to habitation and Piper and I have been packing and weeding through "stuff" in preparation of our next big move. 

Been doing a lot of reading as I've been down about how excess stuff is detrimental to self directed play and creativity for kids. Kids thrive in organization without too many choices. Makes sense to me - So I've been creating play boxes and purging toys. 

Abby LOVES the play boxes.

Piper put away her train on top of him and he sat like that for an hour!

With Momma feeling better we've had a bit more fun lately.

And when I was making dinner the other day things got eerily quiet in the next room...

She had gone through the office and found Josh's map of the area.

She told me where we lived " by the water islands" and where Mimi and Papa live in relation to that.

She traced the path between our houses 

And had several options for adventurous travel planned.

We've been having some major testing lately.

 

Who me? Test as toddlers do?

Noooooo....

Bite and push kids at school after having had the same done to me??

I wouldn't dream of trying that out!

In truth Piper is a sweet and loving child. 

But she's also a toddler.

So we've had some - ehem - new situations to handle.

No temper tantrums that are epic - just an inability to hear.

Running from her very pregnant Mother. And finding control where she can.

Which of course brings up my control issues.

The more I tell her something the more she rebells. To this day I can't ask her if she has to go to the bathroom. 

Ever.

She'll hold it all day.

But if I trust she'll take care of her needs, she does.

Stubborn.

Don't know where she gets it.

And trust a toddler to pee when she needs to????

But she does. If I stay the heck out of it.

In the last few days Piper has taken to wearing every dress and tutu she owns at the same time.

That's a lot of layers.

Her record is 18 tutu/ skirts and 12 dresses

All at once.

And while I have to hide some of them and the house is covered in small clothing - it keeps her entertained and she can now dress herself.

I put the kabash on too many layers at school and this morning she launched into tears about it.

Then stopped herself, took a deep breath, and told me, " I'm not going to cry about tutus."

At which point I thought, "I'm not going to worry about some testing."

Post Christmas Ickies

Christmas is over and what better way to celebrate than for the rest of the house to catch the crud?

Thank Goodness for Mimi and Papa!!!!

I have been dealing with being sick since Sept. Nasty cough that just won't stop. 13 weeks folks. Really I've been in some state of since since June. Sleepless and stressed, by the time I got Piper's crud it was not pretty.

Luckily Mimi and Papa are not only willing, but Piper adores being with them. So while the whole house took a much needed sleep, Piper enjoyed her health with her Grandparents for several days.

Back home for the New Year, Aunt Charlie got in some more playtime while I continued to hack up half a lung.

Piper showing off her undies. That's right folks, she's wearing undies and pants for me. It's the little victories.

The scene at our house at 7:45pm New Year's Eve ...

Piper trying to figure out Japanese kid culture at the annual Shumei New Years Day brunch.

But now Aunt Charlie is gone, saying goodbye to dressing up spiders in Barbie clothes and Baby Baluga on repeat -

And I'm still sick

So back to Mimi and Papa's Piper goes while I do all I can to kick this once and for all. I don't think my ribs can handle anymore coughing not to mention the earache so I'm pretty sure I'm moments from a nervous breakdown if I don't get a deep breath sometime soon.

Christmas Miracle

The Aunties rolled into town in time to see what I had been, ehem, dealing with - and came bearing distractions. 

But come Christmas morning everyone was convinced I had switched the kid in the middle of the night.

A true Christmas miracle - although still overtired, she was well!!! And able to enjoy the day! Yahoooo!!!!

Stockings!!!!

After a slow morning we headed over to Mimi and Papa's

No joke, this was her choice in a story.

After Christmas Aunt Charlie stayed and provided some much needed down time for Mom.

I think Auntie (formerly known as " that guy " was having fun with the Piper vs. Abby antics. 

They were too funny together