My two-year old can party

Leila turned two...so we partied for two days!

Leila enjoyed turning two, twice.

On Friday morning we casually celebrated with friends at a local park.  I just love watching her interact with kids her age!  When everyone sang "Happy birthday" to her, her face lit up, just as I had hoped. 

On Saturday evening we took our San Diego family (plus Uncle Jay and Grandee from out of town) out for a pizza celebration.  For Leila's enjoyment everyone wore party hats.  Betsy made her a delicious strawberry cake decorated with a favorite Yo Gabba Gabba character.  (Check out her foolproof cake decorating tips here.)  Leila was spoiled with gifts. love, and attention.  She was in heaven! 

Two days of celebrating for my two year old!  Thank you everyone for making this day extra special.  XOXO

My fun girl

Last week Leila and I spend a lot of time together, just the two of us.

Jeff was working late, her friend Charlie wasn't feeling well, and I didn't feel like leaving the beach.

On Thursday, we kept it simple and went for a bike ride along the ocean boardwalk.  On the way back home we discovered a new park on the bay side.

The location was beautiful, but the children were lacking. Leila had no one to play with (except me!) so there was lots and lots of swinging.

Leila is such a fun girl to hang out with!   

18 months

Leila is one and a half!

She's changed a lot since last month.

The biggest change this month is that Leila's language has exploded! Last time I counted she was saying fifty words and seems to say a new one (or two) each day.

Today I asked her what she'd like for breakfast and she answered me with, "Waffles cook." Well then...waffles it is! This is only the third time she's put more than one word together (that I understood). Seriously amazing.

We all know that when your toddler starts talking, they also start saying, "No." Leila not only says that dreaded word, she also says, "Nope." I try to respect her wishes, but let's get real, that is just not possible. Half the time she says "no" she really means "yes" anyways. (I swear!)

Look who got up on the bouncy ride all by herself

Leila did some things this month that melted my heart AND things that drove me crazy. I'm honestly saying I don't remember what drove me crazy, but I remember she did!

Luckily, I wrote down the things that do matter...

This month Leila asked ME for a hug! Best day of my life.

She made her stuffed animal pals "play" with her toys by using Minnie Mouse's hand to press a button and later Geoffrey the giraffe matched a puzzle piece.

Leila was feeling great on day and let me know it by saying, "Happy, happy!" It's so cute and genuine.

This month Leila learned her name. She will point to herself saying, "Neigh-na". She's slowing learning things are HERS.

Discovering her shadow

Happy half-birthday Leila. You are Momma's girl! XOXO

Toddler activities {Park play}

We are park people. With no back yard (or front yard) to speak of, we spend our outdoor time at the park. Some days Leila is into digging in the sand or swinging, but on this particular day she was into the play structure.



Weeeeeeeeeeee


Hiding spot


Up until last week I was able to keep Leila off the large climbing wall leading to the "big kid" slides. It's not the slide I'm worried about, she knows how to slide. It's the fireman pole and two other drop-off edges that make me want to climb up there with her. She's getting so big and brave!

Happy Friday! The weather is suppose to be gorgeous today. We're headed for some water play in the bay right next to the park (of course!)

I'm that mom

I was that mom at the park today.

We go to the park, a lot. We practically own the park we go there so much.

Leila is very comfortable hanging out with all of the children and adults there. She'll try to play with each group of kids in the sand. Then she'll head to the play structure so she can climb. After a while she'll head to the grass and sit on other families' blankets (and laps). She even tries to convince the other moms that she needs that goldfish cracker from their snack baggie.

Basically it's a free for all.

A few months ago you could find me following behind Leila about ten feet back. Always ready to apologize for her invading their space.

Not anymore.



I'm that mom that lets their toddler run across the park while I am building sandcastles (with the kids she was just playing with). I'm the one that doesn't make my child "ask" to play with your toys. I'm the one that waves from afar when I see the nearby adult scanning the park for her mother.

I'm the mom that panicked today when she couldn't see her child.

As usual, she left me playing in the sand with a bunch of kids I don't know. She went off to climb around, in, over, and through the play structure. She's so tiny that I could barely see her behind it. The next moment I looked, she wasn't there.

Panic.
Look for her hat...moving.
Safe!
She was following some older girls and was trying to sit on the swing.

I sat back down like it was no big deal. Still watching her play by those swings, I saw how happy she was.

The smile plastered on her face, as she stared up at the big girls, reminded me that I know I'm doing the right thing...for both of us.

(I met three new friends at the park this week! No real play-dates scheduled, but it was great to relax and chat with some Mommas I see their regularly.)

Mommy friends- Where are you?

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Leila is sixteen months old and we've never been on a play-date, until today.

It certainly is not her fault. She's got the best personality around! Leila loves playing with kids of all ages at the park. And yes, that's about the only place we go where she interacts with other kids.

Sad, huh?

I have only a handful of friends in a town I've lived in for eight years, and one of those is my sister. And of those friends, only one has a baby. I hang out with people who write things like...This is why I don't have a baby.

Leila's only chance for picking up a play-date was at the park.

Actually, we all know that when your kids are young, you are the one making the date. So, the first time I ever swapped numbers at the park I was so pumped. Unfortunately after a couple attempts to match our schedules, it just didn't work out. Since then, I have left the park two times without a phone number of a mommy I clicked with.

I was just too shy, maybe? Worried about being awkward? Afraid of being turned down?

But last week it happened.
We clicked.
Our girls clicked.
She mentioned getting together.
I was brave enough to ask for her number.
We had our first play-date.

And bonus...it wasn't at the park!


Walking to her first play-date


Am I the only one that has trouble making Mommy friends?
Can you suggest any other places to meet Mommas?

I don't make sense

Not even to myself.

Ever since I went three months without showering (maternity leave was rough!) I make it my priority to take a shower during Leila's morning nap.

I shave my legs, style my hair, and apply make-up. Then I put on pajamas. Technically they are yoga pants, but I have worn these to bed before. I pull out my most decent tank top from the dresser (the same ones I sleep and workout in) and throw it on. I add small stud earrings, but feel too under dressed for my diamond engagement ring. Flip flops are usually on my feet although barefoot would be best, even flip flops look silly with yoga pants. There I am, all dressed and ready to go looking like I should be on TLC's What Not to Wear from the neck down.

Why can't I put on regular clothes? I have plenty of casual tops and jeans (my entire wardrobe) but I am just going to the park or grocery store so I wear my pjs!?

This does not make sense, I know. I know I promised myself that I would work on ME this year. Why can't I get out of this clothing rut? Maybe I need to turn it into a challenge and trick myself into wearing my real clothes. Or maybe I will just buy some more yoga pants.

I love this town!

Living in decent sized city has its advantages. There is always something to do!

San Diego is the perfect sized city for me! No matter where you go it will take you 25 minutes or less to get there. We have beautiful beaches, harbors, bays, and parks galore.

Last week I took Leila to Balboa Park for the first time. I have no idea what took me so long to finally take her there! So much to see and huge open areas for her to walk around without worry.

She ran through the botanical gardens (and quickly found the exit),

Was mesmerized by the musicians,

Walked around like she owned the place,

Explored to her little heart's content,

And found the people watching to be equally as exciting.

Definitely heading back to this place more regularly. Free museum admission on Tuesdays, beautiful architecture, a carousal, a playground, fountains, big trees, an International village, wide open spaces, and the San Diego zoo...what's not to like?!

Our favorite spot

I have taken about a million pictures at this park. I consider it our backyard, since we don't have one. We visit this park at least once a day. It's so close to our apartment Leila can walk all the way there!

Such a big girl, who suddenly has an opinion about wearing a hat.


We've been teaching her our own version of baby sign language and she's getting the hang of it. She signs "milk" for milk or water, "more", "all done", and this is her showing me "up".


Leila likes to collect treasures from where ever we go. Sometimes they are for me. Other times they end up clenched in her fist until we get to our door. Today I got a seashell, a juice box, two rocks, and a piece of plastic that some how ended up coming home with me.


This picture is so typical of her these days.

It seems like Betsy is the only person that can get her to look at the camera. (Check out how we spent Thanksgiving at Betsylife!)



She picked out her own outfit today. (Too cute!) We have so many sundresses in her size right now. I'm glad we're having unseasonably warm weather this week!