Formerly known as Domesticated Wild Animals

This past weekend, Lola's Aunt Chee Chew and cousin Elliott came into town. Everyone had a wonderful time. On Saturday, we visited the local animal sanctuary so the kids could, in Lola's words, "Look at the peacocks."

They did see numerous peacocks, although most of their time was spent racing from one exhibit to the next.

A more accurate description would be that Elliott maintained a constant baby jog, while the rest of us sprinted after him.  

 We occasionally slowed down enough, so I could snap a few photos. Here is Lola with her turtle backpack, which has essentially replaced the diaper bag. (I make the kid carry her own water bottle, hand sanitizer, and extra underwear, which sounds mean, but I'm really just trying to instill some self-responsibility, or I'm being lazy, whatev.)

Elliott with Chee Chew. (He might be smiling, but his arm says it all.)

Snack time: the only time they would both sit down.

Next to the animal sanctuary is a great city park. Lola loves the ponies.

It's going to be 76 degrees today.

It might not be winter weather, but that's okay because there is t-ball to be played.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lola Jane.

For weeks, I agonized over what to do for Lola's birthday. Should I throw a big party at our home? Should we go sledding in Tahoe? Should we drive out to SF and see friends? Given that her birthday is in February, and that our winter weather has been completely unpredictable this year (no snow in Tahoe and yet it rained on her birthday), I opted for a small gathering. 

On the morning of her birthday, she woke up to see her birthday crown that I had, once again, stayed up late the night before to handcraft for my birthday girl. You would think, given that this is the 3rd crown I've bejeweled, that I would have remembered to do it in advance. Nope.

Lola loved it.

 

She wore it as she ate her banana pancake breakfast. And, she enjoyed the birthday cake candle warm-up.

After breakfast Josh, Lola, and Auntie Andy (who was in town to visit), took off to meet Josh and Lola's daddy-playgroup pals at the library for story time. I stayed at home to prep for lunch. 

I made all of Lola's favorite foods:

Homemade Hummus

Trader Joe's Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce

Roasted Broccoli

and of course, Birthday Cake with Ice Cream

 

Lola loved her birthday cake, but had a little trouble with the candles.

Lola had a wonderful day. She was, and is, a happy girl.

Let's Slow That Clock Down

Last week, we celebrated Lola's birthday.

It was a whirlwind which turned into a busy couple of days and a nonstop weekend, and now here I am, nine days later, finally finding the time to sit down and write a little bit about it.

I can't believe she is three years old.

I mean, I can.
I have been awake for probably 70% of it. Maybe more. But still, in my chronic sleep deprived (yet highly functional state), it is just hard to believe that three years has passed since her birth.

This past year, like the ones before it, has been one of many transitions. The clingy, nursing, crib-sleeping, diaper-wearing, sippy cup yielding toddler has been replaced by a little girl who tonight was rocked to sleep with a story of a duck riding a bike, while she wore her Hello Kitty underwear and snuggled Mr. Bun Bun in her "big girl" bed.

While her strong spirit has always been fiercely independent at home, she has started to feel more comfortable in the world and occasionally, she detaches herself from my hip and interacts with other pint-size kids. The relief this has provided me is immense. On occasion, she will even request to go to the gym or the grocery store, just so she can participate in the daycare services those places provide.

This weekend will mark the start of another transition as she has her first independent swim lesson. Lola and I have had many discussions regarding how her lesson on Saturday will be different from the usual parent-and-tot class we take together. At the end of these conversations, she always quick to remind me that in exchange for her cooperation (i.e., getting the pool by herself), I have promised a lollipop.

Her ability to remember things, even the tiniest of details, always surprises me. I know that it shouldn't, but it does. Her curiosity, her ability to absorb information and process it in a way so she can understand the world, her need to slow down and just observe. I feel as those these things are uniquely Lola, while simultaneously knowing that they are part of this new age.

Tonight, when we left the gym, she asked if we could pause our walk to look up at the night sky. She likes to look at the stars, search for an airplane, and tell me that she is going to catch the moon.  So we stood there in the cold, bundled in our coats, holding hands on the sidewalk, and stared at the blackness above us.

She is a wonder.
She is 3 years old.