Much Thanks

Well, after weeks of denial and months of night time parties I've stopped even offering the nap. The nap, as many parents know, is a place of calm sanity in the roughest of days.

Goodbye sanity...

Piper is on the fast track to growing up. She's basically potty trained. I can't remind her or she holds it. But left on her own she's a champ. 

Except her freak outs about clothes extends to undergarments.

Potty training aside we've entered winter. So we're spending a lot (A LOT) of time inside.

Stir crazy.

Luckily Aoife and baby Saoirse have been up for regular visits.

We did a winter hot springs trip too.

We'll be doing that again regularly once this artic freeze passes.

Did I mention my child refuses pants? 

High of -5? 

Ya.

Aunt Amy came the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Good times!

She spoils Piper rotten. Between princess dresses and mini snowmen Piper's head exploded by the time the got to playing in her " cave"

Amy got her decorating it with tutus and ribbons.

Which creates hours of quiet play time.

Thank you Aunt Amy !!

Checking out toy catalogues

And with Aunt Amy in town we got some rare photos with me in them! Imagine that!

There was a Belly Dance gathering.

The little gis performed and there was food and music and dancing.

Piper is still talking about this hug from CeCe.

So here is a funny thing I'm not sure I've mentioned: Piper hates large organized expressions, rituals - whatever you want to call it - we won't be taking her to any services any time soon. People singing Happy Birthday together, people chanting - it's when the entire room participates she totally looses it. 

So it took some convincing to get her to handle the opening ceremony.

I think it helped that not everyone did it.

But when it was time to watch the performance?

She was into it!

So by the time we started playing she wS warmed up and having a ball!

A short night, but a nice night.

So I've been trying to figure out what to do with Piper's hair. She had the little kid mullet and it was time for her first cut.

A little bob and she looks so much older!

First big snow and still no pants. But at least she's got a cute furry vest Aunt Amy got her that she 'll wear to and from the car.

It's gonna be a long winter...

She loves the Magic Cabin and Hearthsong catalogues. She 's been very clear what she wants from Santa. And he's in the know.

So what this is is Piper taking the little glue sparkles from a school craft project and carefully placing one on each finger nail.

 

She may be girly - but she loves the ax!

Thanksgiving was a perfect quiet evening with the Grandparents.

Piper got to check out her new bed there.

The last time she spent the night Mimi asked her if she was comfortable, to which Piper said no Mimi, I'm not. 

The Wilfong genes have kicked in and she's way too tall for the pack n play.

And much to all of our delight- she's showing an early interest in Papa's favorite pass time: chess.

We also had a wild night with friends.

Alison and Marcio were in town with they're littles and we had to celebrate Marcio's Birthday!

Piper 's first photo bomb ;)

First Hair Cut

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.