Bean Sprout

Where has the time gone? Clementine has sprouted into a little girl right before our eyes! There is nothing baby-ish about her anymore (except maybe the night-time binky routine). She is tall and lean, she speaks far more clearly and is totally insulted by baby-ish things. She is not down with highchairs, strollers or baby cups. She wants whatever the big kids have.

During dinner, we noticed that not once did Clementine hum during the meal. Neither Cam or I could remember the last time she did it. It was such a small quirky thing she did but it was such a reminder that she *loved* her meal intensely. And now it's gone. I miss it.

Gone is her obsession over certain vegetables. I used to have to distract her with keys and post it notes in the produce aisle--she would grab red peppers and start crunching into them immediately. Peppers are out. Sliced cucumbers are in. She still loves her Elmo but there is a new man in her life: his name is Buzz Lightyear. "Buthz?" she starts saying as soon as we get home from pre-school. "Where's Buthz?"

Tonight after school we played in the backyard for awhile. She held up two bottles of bubbles and handed one to me "Mama your pink," and handed me the pink bottle of bubbles. "Mine yellow." She's such a genius. She finished up playtime in the backyard by putting on my gardening gloves and digging in the vegetable beds--then she came in and put on my heels, grabbed her purse and took her dog for a walk. She is a perfect mimic.

She is the happiest person I've ever met and she lives to make us laugh. I had no idea two and a half would be so much fun. For the millionth time in the last 31 months, I wish I could freeze time and keep us all just as we are right now.

Slam Dunk!

She could do this all day!

Random Pictures

May has been an extremely busy month for us, but I can't say exactly what we've been busy doing.

Cam's birthday was last week and I had absolutely no idea what to get for him. He is extremely difficult to shop for.

So I made him a cupcake psyche-out. When it's his turn to make dinner, he will often make fried chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies. So I made him his own creation out of cupcakes! I'd wanted to try this idea out for ages. It was so much fun and so realistic looking, we kept it on the counter for a few days!

We celebrated May Day by making our own flowers out of toilet paper rolls. Clem got to use big girl markers for the first time to decorate this lovelies.

Now that the weather is nicer, we're encouraging our animals to spend more time outdoors. We started by getting them a pet door insert...that neither of them will use.

Jack is such a weenie, he freaks out and will only come in if we hold the flap open for him. Penny just doesn't get the idea. Good thing Clementine's here to show them how it's done!

Sesame Street Live

Last weekend, we took a little trip to Sesame Street!

Sesame Street Live was playing in Everett so we went for Mother's day! Clem didn't quite understand what was going on but when we got to the arena, there was Elmo and Sesame Street characters EVERYWHERE--she knew something fun was about to happen.
This was Clementine's first real journey to a stadium to sit in seats. She had to have her own seat, but she mostly sat like this; on daddy's lap.
We weren't sure how she'd do in an arena watching a show, but we got tickets pretty close to the front and she was enthralled the entire time.

I love Sesame Street so much and am happy to support them, but BOY! did they have this money making down to a science! There was a 20 minute intermission where a guy came out holding an enormous balloon bouquet. There were at least 50 Elmo balloons.

I sent Cam on up there to get us one. He got up to the front just in time and bought one of the last $10 balloons! I couldn't believe it!

Oh well, Clem loved it and a wonderful day was had by all of us!

Best. Invention. EVER!

This is as still as Clementine gets. She is one busy girl! From now on, when I need a picture of her I'll be setting her in a tree! I love this adventurer and I love that she is always down to try something new.

On this trip to Hovander Park, a place we know intimately, Cam and I decided the light was right for some portraits. We sat her in that tree and snapped away! Daddy put on a show to get her laughing. It never fails! You can see in these pictures how much she lights up!
Of course, my favorite. She looks so big and grown up in some of these but this last one reminds me of itty bitty baby Clementine. It's the tongue! She's made this funny smile with her tongue out since she was about 5 months old.
Love her.

Hotel Shenanigans

During Spring Break, Cam was SUPER busy with his new job (and still is)! He even had an overnight trip and since Clementine and I are always up for an adventure, we came with!

We got the neighbors to watch Jack and hit the road. Cam was working in Kirkland which is quite near where we lived when Clementine was a baby! Oh, the memories! We stayed at a lovely hotel in Redmond that was so well decorated I wanted to take notes. And the staff there was SO helpful with Clementine, too!
When we pulled up I realized I had to check in and unload the luggage AND crib by myself--with Clementine in tow! That was a little nerve wracking, especially once I realized that the hotel lobby was decorated with blown-glass art! EEK!
Lucky for me they had a ton of these trolleys out front. Clementine hopped right on her chariot and she stayed put till we got to the fourth floor! I think the chariot ride might have been her favorite part of the trip!



She also loved the gigantic hotel room bed where she could jump (we only jump on hotel beds) and wrestle with daddy once he got off work! She could also cuddle up with Kirby and watch Sponge Bob from the bed!
I had bought these water wings for Clem as swimming pools are still pretty new for her. She gladly wore the water wings when it was just the four of us, but later some "big kids" came down to the pool. They were maybe 5-8 and did not need water wings. They had goggles and could dive. Clem watched from the edge, peeled off her water wings and then whispered to me: "Go away, mommy."
She so badly wants to be big.
I let her walk on the stairs by herself but she wouldn't let me reach out for her. She confidently stepped off the third step toward the fourth and was literally in over her head. She wasn't scared but that was enough to let her know she does need mama nearby.
We played the rest of the time together, but without the water wings.



Then Nolan came up to the room where these two shared a snack of goldfish crackers and explored the nooks and crannies of the hotel room.

The next day while Cam worked, Clem and I visited my friend Ann on Tiger Mountain in Issaquah. Driving to her house, I couldn't remember why we'd ever left--I was filled with so much nostalgia!
I had hoped to visit more friends and my old school but we just didn't have long enough! Next time we'll have to take a longer mini-vacation.