You My Sweetie Pie

Piper: Daddy, you not a boy anymore.

Josh: I'm not? What am I then.

Piper: you're my Sweetie Pie.

Piper is up to all kinds of thing. New interest in unicorns, talking up a storm, art projects at school, striking naps and all around shenanigans.

 

We caught up with our soon to be new neighbors at the park. Kieahi is a year older that Piper, his little sister with be one next month. They live across the street from our new house- in our old house! Fast friends, I think we're going to be seeing a lot of them.

Piper and I had some Mani/pedi time. Found this all natural stuff we both like :)

Dry wall is being hung at the new house.

Piper's reaction to seeing her new room?

Wow!!!!!

Grandma Sally sent Piper a couple of horses and stickers as an atta girl for her diaper free time. Piper was beaming!

Shane and Carrie have moved back to Crestone for the time being and we had dinner last night. Piper adores them, Shane in particular.

Look at this!!!!! Piper is NOT in her princess dress!

A unicorn told her it was pretty, so she thought she'd try it. 

Yahooo! Inquiring minds wait to see if this is the break in obsession! No expectations of course ;)

And in bigger news...

Looks like Piper is getting a little sister!!!

Catching up

Where does the time go ? 

Oh yes, between toddler antics and explorations, work, house building and pregnancy exhaustion - time slips through egg beaters and sink purchases pretty easily.

Piper and I have been spending a bit of time in the kitchen.

I just can't imagine why she keeps asking to bake with me...

She's been building "houses" 

There is one by the window that remains, as well as a "cave" on the bottom bunk in her room. But these little structure, ehem piles, show up every other day. There is a lot of concentration that goes into them.

And she's had some practice at the land.

In true 2 year old fashion she changed her mind about 101 times about what to wear for Halloween. 

And actually was unfazed by a scary haunted house the teens in town put on.

The bigger the mess made, the happier she is. Crayon soup anyone? 

And these are some shots taken at school. She absolutely has to pick out her own outfits. Promotes creativity I am told, so I'm all for it.

Brendle the witch showed up at school a few days before Halloween 

And this year Piper designed the jack o lanterns.

A festive snack

And some face painting

an awesome card from great grandma,

And now we 're ready...

In hindsight I should have known the final costume choice would have to include the beloved princess dress.

Checking out Papa's eyebrows...

She is still talking about Mimi and Papa dressing up with her.

And this is pretty much how she spent Halloween. In the arms of her PaPa.

Things continue to be ridiculous around here. Josh hasn't had a day off since July. And with his eyes crossing and deadlines looming PaPa stepped in and has been helping wire the new house on the weekends. Ever grateful for his help and for Mimi watching Piper so I could chip in. And actually see my husband for more than 20 minutes.

 

And Piper loves helping PaPa help us ;)

Piper has spent the last week having epic parties in her room at night. Laughing, singing, ohhh it's a good time. Not so much for her pregnant Mother on the otherside of a very thin wall however - So we are currently limiting day time sleep in an effort to find a balance. Could this be then end of naps as we know them ?

We shall see. But for now she's happy to play while we figure it out.

Mother - Daughter Bonding

Our neighbor Decil came by to visit a few weeks ago.

Things have been insane. I won't lie. Josh is working like crazy and spending every free moment on the new house. I totally appreciate it. This home birthin' Momma is a little anxious to be settled.

So when a free weekend came up Piper and I headed north on our own and left Daddy to roofing.

Piper's Halloween obsession continues. 

The scarier the better.

Especially if it comes with fro-yo!

Really, shopping with Aunt Amy at Target was a highlight.

And despite a 4 hour crib disco we both did great. 4 hours each way on our own is no joke. But we had a great visit, well worth it.

Back at home she tormented the cats and we both managed to get wicked sick.

I don't even know what that bite is.

The cold brought out a side of Piper I'd rather not see again any time soon. 

5 days of no nap, up all night coughing and she was angry. Really angry.

My sweet girl was long gone and much missed. I have never been so challenged.

She's now averaging a 40 minute nap ( a cry from her usual 2 hours) but with no wake ups last night my girl is well on her way to returning. Melt-o-minute at times. But she'll take her deep calming breaths and listen to reason. Sometimes.

So we ran to Alamosa for some Halloween fixings. It had been a long week and we needed out. See, while sick The Nightmare Before Christmas was on repeat and the "jumping spider" she saw with Aunt Amy was a constant topic. So Halloween stuff here we come!

She was in heaven.

I kid you not - these were all her pickings. No prompting whatsoever. A Tim Burton movie and a screaming haunted house?

Okay...

And when we practiced our face painting she would have nothing to do with butterfly wings and swirles. 

Nope.

Scary monster face to scare Daddy with was on order.

Wonder if this fascination is going to extend past the season.