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Ear infection, sinus infection, post flu aches have been replaced by the "comforts" of third trimester pregnancy.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

Pre Christmas Ickies

On the Evening of Josh's birthday something went horribly awry. 

During tub Piper curled up on her side in a ball and announced that she would like to sleep in the tub.

I'm sorry? What?

Things went down hill fast from there.

101-103 fever, juicy coughs and a nose...well, I'll spare you details. 

She hasn't fallen asleep on me since she was an infant!

She was doing better- fever was down she was more alert - just in time for a visit from Uncle Tim and Uncle Matt.

Who came bearing crown and jewels.

But the next morning, although the fever was down - she was angry. Really angry. She claimed her ears and throat were fine, but something was wrong.

She was distracted momentarily by "baby diamonds" Aunt Amy sent for the tree.

Here she is reading to them ...

But only for a moment.

She really was a mess. Crying, screaming, hitting.

Who is this child!?!?

So off to the clinic we went.

She has an ear infection.

And the juicy cough continues...

All

Night

Long

So here we are. 

The Sultan of Christmas

So Piper couldn't wait any longer so she took it upon herself to decorate the house plants earlier this week .

I wasn't sure the poor jade plant could handle it, but I was willing to sacrifice it in the name of house bound toddler fun.

Luckily the tree made it this week and the plant was spared any loss.

It wasn't until I had a toddler that I realized how many of our ornaments are glass. I made some felt ones last year. But apparently not enough.

With two kittens and said toddler, all that glass just isn't gonna work. 

We've already had a few disasters.

Sharp shards of thin glass and a curious little? Makes clean up loads of fun.

So Piper started putting anything on the tree. Stockings, ribbons, scarves. 

Oh who am I kidding? 

That would have happened short on ornaments or not.

And why stop at the tree?

Daddy could use some bling too after all.

Enter the sultan of Christmas.