That smile....

Someone said to me recently that Berit always looks so happy, and that 'she smiles with all her might.'  I thought that was pretty much right-on.  When she smiles, she smiles hard.

We love you Berit Bean and your endless smiles!

Catching Up

I guess we've been busy.  Doing what, I'm not sure.  Just the day-to-day stuff-- ballet, going on runs, running errands, play dates etc...

Hanging' with her buddies in her chair.

Got another bang trim from Auntie M.

 I guess there are two major things were are working on.  First- potty training.  Part of me doesn't want to deal with it because nothing grosses me out more than the thought of having to take Berit to the bathroom in a public place.  I can just picture her putting her little hands all over a dirty toilet seat not knowing any better, and me freaking out.  Just lovely, I'm sure.  So, we've been potty training at home (basically when she feels like it) and when she feels like wearing her little undies.  She does good if you are CONSTANTLY reminding her, but definitely doesn't quite 'get it' just yet.  I'm sure the parenting books will tell me I'm not doing her any favors, by not just going for it all at once, but taking baby steps seems to be working OK.

The other issue is that she has decided she's scared of her crib.  She says there are 'guys in my bed.'  Wonderful.  So, for about 2 weeks now we have fought with her at bed time.  At first we were letting her fall asleep in our bed (without us) and would move her to her bed when we went to bed.  We got sick of that, and didn't want to start a bad habit so we quit that.  Then we would just try laying with her in her room while she fell asleep (us laying down on the floor and holding her hand through the crib).  But eventually that didn't work either because she just refused completely to get in the crib...and, it was taking up our entire night to put her to bed because sometimes it would take her forever to fall asleep!  Finally, what we've been doing the past few nights is letting her sleep in her room on an air-mattress.  It's going pretty well but the past two nights she has fallen out of bed three times each night, so I'll have to go in and put her back, and you just have to pray that she will go back to bed without you laying with her.  Plus, we've learned to basically make her a little 'fort' around it so if she falls out, she's got some major padding.  So, we will probably be buying her a 'real' big-girl bed in the near future.  

Other tidbits:

• Loves to discipline Maya ('Maya, bad dog!' or 'Maya, go outside!')
• Tells us Maya eats dog food and Berit eats people food.
• Smart! Told me today when there was a song on that she heard a violin (and it really was a violin) and as she ate her sandwich she took a few bites and showed me a 'triangle', which she had made via taking bites out of it. 
• Loves to take me to the pantry and say 'It's our secret'...meaning, give me a cookie and don't let Daddy see.  
• Still loves her cucumbers and pummus (hummus).
• Becoming an expert on her tippy-toes at ballet.
• Has a cute, curly pony-tail (when she allows it!)
• Love to say 'i have an idea', 'wait a second', 'hang-on' 'two minutes'.
• Loves to call herself 'Berit Bean'.
• Loves to read to herself.  She has a handful of books that she has memorized that she can now 'read' to us. 
• We joke that she is like 'Switzerland'.  She has so many buddies (stuffed animals) that she loves!  She'll have a favorite for a few days and then she'll switch it up a bit and choose another one.
• Weighs 24.2 lbs (I put her in a 12 month onesie the other day and it still fit!)

Historic Moment!!!

As of September 9, 2012, we are now Popo free.....No more of this.

We were dreading getting rid of this dang thing because she was so addicted.  Literally, it was like crack to her.  We had tried taking it away before, but we always ended up giving in because she would cry and cry and cry...and honestly, we just wanted some sleep, so we would give it back.  We would try not giving it to her during the day and make her leave it in her crib, and it worked for awhile, but ultimately she would always 'win' and find one and walk around the house very triumphant in her victory.  Finally, we decided enough was enough.  We basically bribed her.  We told her if she gave up her Popo's she would get to go to Target and pick out a treat.  And it worked.  Here's what she picked out.

Don't we already have an Elmo doll?  Why, yes we do.  But this is 'Baby Elmo' (as she calls him).

That first night she had a little whimpering, but made it through.  However, she was in a bad mood in the morning when she woke up and couldn't find one.  Then the next nap time I was dreading it...but she had Baby Elmo and she did just fine.  She also likes to hold a teething ring and occassionally chew on it.  I guess she likes to hold something and needs a substitute, but she has been asking for it for nap time/bed time and it works so I'm excited.

She will tell you now 'I'm a big girl' or 'I got a treat. No popos'.  Now, onto potty training......

First day of school

This year we have a kitten!

Kittens are very busy.  Here is her schedule for every Tuesday.

9:30-10:10  Wash hands/open play
10:10-10:25 Wash hands/story time/snack
10:25-10:45 Music class
10:50-11:30 Art
11:35-12:05 Playground time
12:05-12:20 Wash hands/Bible time
12:20-12:50 Lunch time
12:50-2:30   Rest time/pick-up/clean-up

After her first day she had a nice surprise....Auntie M got to pick her up, and then took her to play at Monkey Bizness, out to eat, and out for some yogurt.

We are looking forward to another fun school year!!!

OMG.

Lately she's been saying the funniest things.

• Everything is 'oh my gosh.'  And I mean everything. 'Oh my gosh I love it.'  'Oh my gosh so pretty.'  'Oh my gosh pretty sunset.'  'Oh my gosh yogurt.'
• If you ask her who her favorite swimmer is she says 'Missy Frankwin'.  And every now and then she will talk about Missy Frankwin randomly.  The other day she was crying at her crib, wanting a popo and all of a sudden she just started crying for Missy Frankwin.  
• So independent.  Wants to get in the car seat by herself, get in the wagon, buckle everything, get dressed....she says 'I do it, self.'
• Loves to play catch.  And she's got quite the arm. 
• She has her own gymnastics routine which consists of twisting and kicking her legs.  Picture Elaine dancing on 'Seinfeld'  
• She loves to 'exercise.'  She lays on the ground and copies Steve while he is stretching.  
• When going to bed she says 'Mom, blankie legs'.  That means cover me up with my blankie.  
• Today at the pool she says 'I see boys swimming.  So cute.'  We are in trouble.  

August already?

Here's what we've been up to:

We celebrated Dad's 35th birthday

Steve and I went to a wedding in Seattle, so Granny & Big A came up to watch Berit Bean.  They had a great time-- and Auntie M was able to hang out and help a lot too.  We are very greatful for all their help while we were gone.  Berit had a blast!!!

Shopping with Granny

Nekkid at the frozen yogurt shop

Changed into my swimsuit

Silly Girls

Some Seattle pics-- we had a very nice time just being together.

Pike's Market

Fun Ferris Wheel in background- wish we had time to ride it!

Steve the Groomsman

Beautiful wedding at UW

Us after the wedding

Also, Berit is proud to be sporting pig tails these days.

Finally, we celebrated our ninth anniversary (crazy!), and Berit has started gymnastics.  Perfect timing because we can watch gymnastics on the Olympics and she can see what she has to work towards (kidding!).  She is taking it with Luca, Elena & Noah and it's fun to watch!