Julia's Sous Chef

Since Gabe can and does cruise on all reachable furniture and surfaces, he has taken an especial liking to Julia's kitchen. It was so funny to find them both playing there for the first time a few weeks ago. It was like they were actually playmates, rather than Julia and her little baby brother. Well, she actually calls him her "sisser." She cannot seem to get it straight that she is his sister and he is her brother. I guess it does sound a little confusing. Anyway, I am not in a hurry to correct it now. I get a kick out of hearing her say, "Oh, Day-dee! I love you, my sisser."

Did Santa really need to bring a 101-piece plastic food set?

As you can see, they not only play like brother and "sisser," but they fight like close siblings too. Of course Gabe is still too young to know that it hurts like the dickens when he pulls our hair, but poor Julia doesn't understand his naivety! (Seriously, this boy is brutal. I am surprised any of us have any remaining hair and eyelashes. Not to mention his biting and hitting. Yikes.)

His black eye has since faded. No doubt it will very soon be replaced with another injury. That kid...

13 years later...

It's amazing how much can change in 13 years - and even more amazing how much can stay the same. When my grade-school friend Amanda Felix contacted me and said we should get together this week because she was tired of "stalking me on facebook," I was more than happy to set a date. But we couldn't meet for dinner without at least trying to contact the other two in our 6th-grade-foursome, Megan L. Wilson and Bonnie Hardman. Imagine my surprise when we were all able to meet! We have seen each other a time or two through the years (Bonnie at my wedding shower, Amanda at my baby shower, Megan at several showers and as my nurse in the delivery room with Julia!) and we've always talked of how we should get together. Well, 13 years later, the old group from Mr. Paynter's "Graduating" Class of 1997 was finally reunited. And you know, I am sorry it took us so long. I have always had a special place in my heart for these three girls. We talked about how we are all very different, but somehow became the best of friends that year at Manila Elementary. And we didn't seem to have a hard time picking up where we left off.

Thanks for the fun evening, you three. Let's not wait another 13 years to do it again, okay?

Megan's darling Tyler and Julia, each with a little brother born in the past year not pictured here.

Who needs an iPod?

A week ago I dusted off my running shoes after a three-month winter break. The few times I have run since then have been slow and heavy. But it feels so good to be outside and moving. This morning my running mates were especially chatty. Gabe babbles and gurgles and yells while Julia comments on the snow in the mountains, the birds she hears, how Gabe looks like a moose in his hat, or all the "parks" in the yards we pass. "Theirs house has a park. And theirs house has one too! Mommy, all the houses has parks. Ours yard not has one! They share with me?" And so on. She also likes to make sure Gabe is comfortable. "Day-dee, no no no take yours blanket off. It's so coooooold. There, that way better, Day-dee."

Just as I was about to turn to take a shorter and more level route home, Julia exclaimed, "Up, up, up that big hill, Mommy!" How could I refuse? She cheered me on the entire hill, also telling me to "Be Careful, Mommy. Be careful." And on the eventual downhill, she encouraged me to pick up my pace by saying, "Weeeeeee!" But she also warned me to be cautious again. We wouldn't want to go too fast, now would we?

So, like I said, who needs an iPod with these two entertaining and motivating me along our run? And since Gabe is not old enough to argue with his big sister while they are in such such close-quarters, we are quite the happy outfit.

P.S. It occurs to me that the title of this post may have misled you into reading it in hopes that I was giving away an iPod. If so, sorry! I better hang on to my shuffle. When my little cheerleaders are less talkative I may need to turn to the Rocky soundtrack and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" for motivation.

Welcome, Penelope Louise

My youngest sister Elise had her gorgeous baby girl on Wednesday. I was thrilled to hold her last night and congratulate the happy Ribeiras on their perfect little one. Really, she is breathtakingly beautiful. We are all excited to welcome her as the 6th baby born to one of us Graham sisters within the last year. We love you, Penny!

Oh, Lili and Jeff, her name is so darling. Penny Lou!? I love it.

Pretty Pictures

My talented neighbor Haylie asked if Julia would come sit for some pictures. Julia thought it was pretty fun to try out all the different chairs and cooperated as well as most almost-three-year-olds would. (Especially considering that she was very anxious to get back to eating her grapes and crackers.) Haylie brought over a cd of pictures and I thought I'd share our favorites. Julia looks so old to me in many of these. I guess that happens. Crazy.

"My Jackson friend"

My friend Jill is in town for a few days and last night Julia had a blast with her darling kids Jackson and Bianca. She had been anticipating playing with them all day and was definitely not disappointed. Before they came I made sure to prep her for a different Jack, not her cousin Jack (who gave her a set of toy jacks a few weeks ago). She said, "Mom, me play with yers (your) friend Jack, not the Jack that gave me jacks." So it was all clear.

Jack had a little accident at dinner that left him happily naked for a time. This morning Julia was reminiscing about last night. She said, "My Jackson friend is so way nice and funny, and way no clothes on." And later, as she was naked herself just before getting dressed, "Me look like Jack!"

So, Jill, there you have it. Naked Jackson has left a serious impression on Julia. And don't worry, she didn't leave Bianca out. She definitely mentioned that your little diva "brought hers purse."
It was so good to see you Springers and other girls who partied on with us. I find it hard to believe these two pictures are the only ones we took all night. At least we caught Jack trying to kiss Julia, with interference from the headlamps.

"If you chance to meet a frown..."

Julia and I used to have four fights every morning. Most days it was almost impossible for us to get her diaper changed, clothes on, teeth brushed, and hair done without a few eruptions. I needed some serious assistance. And since Jonny can't be here every morning (for whom she will do almost anything), I came up with a simplified job chart.She has four cards, one for each of the above-mentioned tasks. As an afterthought, I added a smiley face to the back of each card before laminating them. Little did I know how rewarding four smiley faces in a row can be for a 2 year old! And because magnets are fun, the cards live on a small colorful magnet board I happened to have already.

Here's the system: She gets to choose the order we accomplish the tasks. (Yes, sometimes getting dressed comes before the diaper change. Whatever works!) Upon finishing each one, she turns the card over to reveal the ever-exciting smiley faces. When she gets all four it's high-fives and hugs all around. I had thought she may need a sticker or some other small reward, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Oh man, our mornings are going so much smoother. Those four smiley faces are the not the only happy ones around here these days.

P.S. Julia wanted to show off her toe-gripping skills on film. "Me so way awe-sin girl," as she would say. And I'm not sure why she's making that expression in the picture at the very top. Many of her silly faces and phrases can hardly be explained these days.

P.P.S. I don't profess to be any great disciplinarian. Actually, quite the contrary. I am new to this stuff and would love any other fun ideas to help this little girl learn to be the most pleasant little girl possible.

P.P.P.S. I knew it was a mistake as soon as I colored the shirt pink and the pants blue on her "getting dressed" card. Some days, luckily not all - but some, she insists on wearing clothes to match the card. Oh brother.