Sweet LJ is a machine.

Sweet LJ competed in his 2nd aquabike last Saturday, which consists of the swim (1500 meters) and bike (22 miles) portions of a triathlon. Mary Lawton and I did not attend this one, because it was nearly 2 hours away and started at 7:30 AM. We needed our beauty sleep (one of us in particular).

We're so proud of you!
My good-lookin' hubs.

Picture it...

My favorite stress reliever during the workday is to take a short walk and watch my girl play or sleep or eat in her classroom. I feel so lucky she's right around the corner.

This week has been rough. I walked over today for a break and got to see her and a classmate dressing up in kid-sized safety glasses/chemistry lab goggles and fire fighter hats. It's just what I needed. Sorry--no picture.

Thanks for the laugh, Shorty.

18 months old!!

Mary Lawton started this milestone day off with a big bowl of oatmeal and a trip to see Dr. M for her 18 months well visit. She continues to be "long and lean" according to the doc.

Weight: 22 pounds, 6 ounces (25th percentile)
Length: 33.5 inches (90-95th percentile)

Don't get me wrong when I say this--she's not exactly chubby (but she does have cute thigh creases and dimples at her elbows)--but I can't imagine that 75% of kids her age weigh more than she does.

More and more she makes us laugh out loud. For example, last night in the bath, we had this conversation. She was a mess.

Me: We have a very dirty girl.
ML: Yes, you do.

She just moved up to the Toddler 1B classroom, even though technically her birthday falls too late to be in that room. Her teachers thought she was developmentally ready to move up and would be bored staying with the young one-year-olds. We were thrilled. I'd rather her be the youngest kid in the class than the oldest.

She continues to be sassy, willful, and stingy. We have to remind her more and more to say please and thank you and to use her words, rather than whine and demand, and that not everything is hers.

She's stringing together more and more phrases and sentences like:

• Where's Daddy?
• I do walk. (which means I want to walk.)
• No more
• What's that?
• Open this. (Yesterday she tried out, "open top.")
  

She loves to sing. Her favorites are:

• Wheels on the Bus
• Itsy-Bitsy Spider
• 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Thumbkin
• ABC song
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I think because it's the same tune as the ABC song. She merges them into "A, B, C, D, up above..." and that's about all she knows.
  
• If You're Happy and You Know It
  
• Here's a Ball for Baby (one of our family favorites that was passed down from my great-grandmother)

She can only sing a few words of each song. Usually she initiates it with the hand movements, and we have to sing while she moves her hands.

Love you, Shorty Shortcakes! We look forward to finding out what each new day with you will bring. We can't wait!

Car conversations

I've been enjoying the conversations Mary Lawton and I have had on our drives home lately.

Tuesday, August 10
Me, noticing that Mary Lawton has taken off one of her shoes. She has only done this once or twice, ever: Did you take off your shoe?
ML: Yes.
Me: Can you put it back on?
ML: No.
Wednesday, August 11
ML, said in a sad voice: Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daaaaaddeeeeeee, etc.
Me: Where's Daddy?
ML, after thinking for a minute: Home.

Thursday, August 12
Me: What's your name?
ML: [points to self]
Me: Is your name Mary Lawton?
ML: No.
Me: Is your name Shorty?
ML: Yes.