Ya Ya is Growing Up!

Over the summer, Sasha started calling herself "Ya Ya," because she couldn't quite say her name.  She also called Morgan "Mo Mo," so the two names kind of stuck and that's what we have been calling the girls for the past few months.  I remember planning on writing a blog post about "Mo Mo & "Ya Ya" at the end of the summer, describing all the ways they had both grown up and what they were up to at the particular moment in their lives.  Well, despite trying to catch up on the blog, here it is October and so much has already changed.

"Ya Ya" is already gone.  She has been replaced by our new-grown-up-almost-two-year-old, who can pretty clearly say "Sasha," said in the sweetest way imaginable.  That adorable little phase flew by in an instant.  And now, Sasha is talking at warp speed, labeling everything she sees and repeating words over and over until someone repeats the correct word back to her.  She is relentless in her passion for speaking, and I love it.  Yet, I do miss my little Ya Ya.

The other day, Sasha started calling her sister "Muggin," and I was both so excited and so sad that she was moving on from calling her "Mo Mo."  Although, I still do hear her say "Mo Mo" when she is trying to get Morgan's attention, and if she doesn't succeed, she raises the volume and yells "MUGGIN!!!"  And Sasha is very much about making sure we all see what she is doing.  She will call out for Sam or I, and when she knows we are watching, she will do some special stunt.  It could be climbing into her high chair (which she can do all by herself!), dancing around  dress up clothes in the basement, or running really fast at the park.  She just loves having an audience!

Painting at the Children's Museum exhibit.

Helping Morgan walk to preschool

Big girl on the slide! 

Sasha has always been passionate (or borderline obsessed) with reading.  She never tires of sitting in our laps reading a book - I think she could honestly do this all day.  Book after book.  Now she knows many of the titles and has a particular order in which we should read books.  If we grab one she is not ready for or interested in, she will swat it away and call out her own version of the title.  As is the case with most toddlers, they like their routines, so she likes to read the same books over and over and over. 

Loves to dress up! 

These leaves feel funny!

 To say that Sasha likes babies would be a huge understatement.  Again, she is pretty much obsessed with all things babies.  She knows that when she sees a stroller with a baby carrier in it (even if the baby is totally covered with a blanket), she says "shhh, baby nigh night."  She loves to "read" my parenting magazines and find all the articles and ads with photos of babies in them.  She love pushing her babies around in their stroller, and always makes a b-line to the babies when she visits her grandmas' houses.   So, with her babies + book obsession, she therefore became obsessed with Morgan's baby photobook, that chronicled her first year.  For a long time, Sasha thought the baby in all the photos was her, but later she learned that it was baby Morgan.  And inside, I was feeling guilty and thinking that I really needed to make a photobook for Sasha's first year, especially before she turned two!  (I suppose this is the way second children make sure they don't get the short end of the stick!)  So, I did manage to finish Sasha's baby photobook, and seeing her expression when it came in the mail was so priceless!  She immediately settled into the couch and flipped page after page and kept saying "Baby Sasha" and hugging it to her chest and saying "mine."  I love this girl so much, and though I find she is growing up way to fast, I love seeing it all happen right before my eyes.

Sasha reading her baby book for the 100th time. 

Go Ducks!

Walking the Walk!

After weeks and weeks ... and weeks of a taking a few steps here and a few steps there, Sasha is officially WALKING!  Last Sunday, she started taking off on her own, and here is a video of her progress just in her first week alone.  I'm pretty sure she wanted to wait until she could hold her own with her sister!  By the end of the week, she is feeling pretty confident and ready for a parade!

From Little Mo to SUPERTODDLER!

It seems in a matter of a couple weeks, our little Morgan has gone from being our sweet, easy-to-parent toddler, to a big girl able to throw a serious tantrum in fractions of a second, say "NO!" to everything we ask or offer her, and melt down in a pile of seemingly authentic tears right before our eyes. Who is this child?!? Apparently, our dear daughter has an alter ego: SUPERTODDLER!

Needless to say, it's been a challenging couple of weeks, that has left Sam and I raising our voices, rolling our eyes, and laughing at how crazy our daughter and lives have become. And in the back of my mind, I keep telling myself, "Ohhhhh, THIS is where the term 'terrible twos' comes from." I get it now. I was hoping we had escaped all the nonsense that most other parents have to go through with their kids, but I was wrong. Morgan was just saving it up, brewing things in her quick little mind, until she finally figured out that she wanted to be the one in charge...not us. It's her way of testing our love, I guess, making sure that we still love her to pieces regardless of the things she says ("NO!" and "I don't like ____" to everything), or the things she does (the opposite of pretty much every daily task). And yes, we still love her to pieces, but there are moments. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior seems to be fairly contagious because I find myself with a short fuse and an inner desire to blow up in a temper tantrum as well. Not the greatest role model, I realize. So, Morgan and I are both practicing taking deep breaths and "breaks" (lots of breaks!) when we find ourselves butting heads. At times, I'm not sure which one of us is more stubborn.
Yet, at the same time, I find her making leaps and bounds into new territory. She has started playing indepen-dently with great enthusiasm lately. From the minute she wakes up, she is inventing some new game or imaginative scene with her toys. She scurries around the house, muttering to herself, as she plays and arranges. It's wonderful! Wonderful for her not just to need to be entertained by one of us, but wonderful to see her amazing imagination at work. She plays with her baby doll more now and gives it the sweetest kisses. And her passion for reading is taking on new levels, as she demands we read her a book whenever she is forced to sit still (like on the potty, at meals, and at bedtime). We go to a weekly story time at the neighborhood library, and I am amazed at her confidence and excitement for new situations and people. She has no problem walking right up to the librarian or chatting up other kids. And, like a true superhero, her physical skills are quite out of this world. She can now jump off of things with two feet, and seems to think that with that cape she can actually fly! She also runs faster than ever - meaning, I have to run to keep up with her or I will never see her again!

Yet one of the most touching things in the last few weeks has been the conversations we are having about her being a ........Yes, Morgan will be a big sister come December, and she is understanding the idea much sooner than I expected. At first she thought I was playing some pretend game where we were both playing with babies. But now she knows that she is going to be a big sister and that Mommy's tummy "is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger!" She seems (at this point) willing to help out with the new baby and very excited about it. Although in the last couple days, she seems convinced that she also has a baby in her tummy. I'm not sure how to clear that one up, but apparently she is just trying to keep up with me!

So despite the adjustments we are having to make in order to live with our daughter's new alter ego, we know that she loves us more than anything. And that more than anything, she wants us to be proud of her and cheer her on in all her adventures. When I think about all the unconditional love she shows me every day, it makes me realize that I need to cut the girl some slack and let her be the supergirl she needs to be at the moment. This phase isn't going to last forever, and there is still a lot of pride, love and laughter in the midst of what, at times, feels like pure chaos. And somehow, through all of this, I think she is turning me into a superhero as well.

It's Never to Early to Start Thinking of Careers....

BUS DRIVERPEDIATRICIAN
VETERINARY DENTIST
HULA DANCER
PRODUCE MANAGER & CHECK OUT GIRLCIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMER

HAWAIIAN NANNYPERCUSSIONIST FOR PINK MARTINI
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

LIZA MINNELLI IMPERSONATOR

All Aboard the Potty Train!

About three weeks ago, Morgan and I hopped on the Potty Express in hopes of a smooth journey to Diaper-Free-Big-Girl Land. It's been an interesting ride so far, and since it has consumed my waking hours lately, I can't help but tell everyone about it. I never would have thought I would have so much to say (and even sing) about pee and poop, but that appears to be yet another perk of being a mom.

What I didn't anticipate is the roller coaster ride that it would be for me. Morgan seems to be taking it in stride, but somehow my emotional barometer is tied to whether or not something appears in the potty. This probably has to do with the fact that we have been in a pretty steady parenthood groove for a while. Having a toddler, instead of rapidly changing infant, has given us a sense of confidence, knowing how to handle most things that come our way. But potty training was something I secretly wished Morgan would just teach herself. For several months we'd been talking and playing potty time - with her pretending to go, making her doll go pee, watching Mommy use the bathroom, and all the other publicly inappropriate bathroom-related activities you can think of. Even though I know it's something that all parents do at some point....and everyone I know over the age of 4 or 5 seems to have this mastered, it still made me second-guess my parenting skills.

I'd read books that had ways to tell if your child was ready for potty training. I bought "supplies" to get ready (big girl undies, stickers, potty books, reward charts, pull ups, special wipes, etc. etc.), but none of that magically taught Morgan how to do it, or made me feel any more ready to take this on. And I didn't want to be one of those pushy parents that forced their kid to do something before they were ready. After all, she's the one in charge here - I really don't have much control over what she's doing (a lesson I'm sure I will be reminded of over and over over the next couple decades).

Then, as if there was a sign from the potty gods, we had the first annual "Naked Poncho Day." I could also have called it "No, Mom, I'm going to be naked and not get dressed and not go to play group where you have a chance to talk to adults and you will be my hostage here at home and yes I will wear only my green poncho Day!" but I didn't. Instead, I turned a moment of toddler spontaneity/insubordination into the kick-off day for potty training my daughter!

Fortunately for me, Morgan caught on pretty quickly once the diapers were off. We are slathering on the praise and cheers and hugs for all her success (as you can tell in the video below). In the beginning, every time Morgan made a "deposit" she got to call and tell someone - like Daddy or Grandma Dinda. She liked leaving detailed messages to like, "Hi, I went pee pee... in the potty. Bye." Once, we called Sam who was in the dining hall at the university and he had to discretely tell Morgan he was proud of her without the students around him catching on. Another time, we called Grandma Dinda and Aunt Amy and cousin Amanda happened to be at her house. Morgan received a round of applause and cheers from them over the phone - it was like a celebrity endorsement.

So while we are definitely not at the final destination on this journey, we have crossed some bumpy terrain and are well on the way to Diaper-Free-Big-Girl Land. And while I am not very proud of how much I have talked about the potty in the last few weeks to anyone who would listen, I am very proud of Morgan...and yes, a little proud of myself too.

[PS: I dedicate this blog post to my mom, who made sure I mastered this potty thing long ago. Thanks, Mom!]

Change is in the Air

It's here...almost. It's that smell that has been absent during the cold, rainy months of winter. Yes, I realize we are still in one of those months, but I can smell things starting to come alive and grow. I also smell a lot of mud, but I think the plant world is trying to rise from its winter sleep. I have also seen bulb sprouts pushing up through the ground and, my absolute favorite, daphne buds forming on shrubs. (I have already began scouting neighbors' yards where I can snip a few branches when they bloom - at night of course.)

I'm not quite sure what has been going on the past few weeks, as this is my first blog of the new year. I don't even think I wrote much about Christmas. In a nutshell, it was really, really nice, full of traditions, fun with family, and the joy of seeing it through my daughter's eyes. Then came New Year's, the de-Christmasing process, friends visiting, trips to the beach, family stuff.....and a huge let down. I had such a wonderful Christmas and was excited for 2010, but now that it's here, all I can think about is spring and sunshine (rather, lack thereof).Hanging out in Pioneer Square with the umbrella man statue.
The first of many trips to the Children's Museum - Clifford was a real treat!
Learning how to build sand castles on the beach.
But this week, we were blessed with some sunshine, AND (most importantly), I was able to get out of the house with my independent-minded toddler and enjoy it! Our house is very quiet, nestled into the west hills, but also devoid of much direct sunlight, especially at this time of year. Most days I don't know what the weather is doing, and by the time I do (because the weather forecasts seem wrong most of the time), Morgan is napping, eating, or just plain impossible to get dressed and out the door. Add the fact that we are potty training (another whole story), and I am getting a bit of cabin fever!

One way to get Mo out outside is on her "big girl" bike, that was handed down from Noah and Avery. She loves "riding it," and I love seeing her explore yet another part of growing up. So the past couple days we have spent time at the park riding her bike, sliding, swinging, soaking up some vitamin D, watching kids, and chasing after her persistent shadow. If the days are getting longer, we can get outside more, signs of spring are slowly appearing, and I get some yoga in a couple times a week, I think I can hang in there.

"Morgan Do It!"

It's been a while since I have blogged solely about our daughter. In the beginning, she was my main topic, so it's kind of nice that I have branched out. But lately, so much is changing in our lives as well as with Morgan's personality and what comes out of her mouth, that I feel the need to share all that she is becoming!

The move to Portland a few weeks ago seemed to suit Morgan. She settled in pretty well and seemed to like the new digs. Occasionally she would say things like "See Sondra in a couple days" (our old Eugene neighbor), or "Go to duck pond" (which was where we would go on bike rides). Those moments break my heart, as there is no possible way or point of trying to explain how her life has changed.

Yet as we march on toward Morgan's 2nd birthday in less than two months, I feel like I am in uncharted territory. The baby stage is long behind us and we are in full-on toddler land. I see other kids around 12 months old and I realize how much Morgan has changed. Her looks haven't changed too much in the last 6-9 months, but she is a completely different person. "Morgan do it" is a frequent command that we hear - she is growing up into such a big girl! But I am loving the personality that I see emerging everyday, and it makes me laugh, roll my eyes, sigh in exasperation, and feel sappy.....all at the same time. These are interesting times and I wonder if I am handling all these new behaviors the "right" way and creating the right amount of structure, boundaries, and consequences. My teacher brain can now be put to use more than when Morgan was tiny, but I still never taught kids this manic and unpredictable. Give me twenty-five 10 year olds any day!

One of Morgan's new things that she fixates on is climbing...on EVERYTHING! She loves to climb and stand up on chairs (and knows she's not supposed to), despite our attempts at "No, sit on your bottom please" a million times. And the kid is so clever that she will negotiate with a smile, like "sit on bottom? stand on chair? on knees?" "Hi mommy," she says to me the other day while I'm washing dishes. I turn and see her sitting in the middle of the dining room table... with a smile! Fortunately she is pretty cautious and steady, but if look away for a second she is up to something. I guess that's her point - she doesn't want us to look away at all!

On the other hand, she is beyond cute sometimes. She sings Barney's "I Love You" song word for word in a cute falsetto voice. She kisses the stuffed animals good-bye and tells them she loves them when we leave grandma's house. She asks us for "big hug" where Sam and I sandwich her and squeeze her tight. And she has gotten into the (probably bad) habit of cuddling and watching TV with us in bed in the mornings lately. She is so amazed by the world around her too - the butterfly in the yard, the garbage man picking up our trash, the streetcar and MAX trains that whir by, and definitely other kids! "Lil' boy!" she exclaims as she chases after one in the park. And now that we are back in Portland, seeing her spend more and more time with her grandparents is pretty priceless. There are times when I (and Sam too) wonder if I will keep my sanity in the coming year while I stay at home with her. I'm used to being busy and productive. I guess I will just let Morgan help me do that!Morgan likes to stand on and in everything!
Mo has finally decided she likes ice cream! Good thing there is an ice cream shop right by Papa Ron's house!
Morgan does this puzzle all by herself. She can also count to 11 and sing most of the ABCs! Morgan plays "Row Row Row Your Boat" with the laundry basket, serving spoons, baseball (?), and Mom's swim goggles. Sweet!
Morgan's infamous left arm hustle.A rare smile caught by the camera in our new back yard. The flowers are gorgeous, and our tiny deck is great for bubble blowing, playing with the hose, and eating popsicles. Morgan rides her "horse," Grandma ("Damma") Dinda, who always comes up with fun games to play.
Our first city bike ride along the Willamette last weekend. We loved it, but Mo doesn't seem that impressed.

And here are some funny videos of Morgan's latest antics: a new form of tennis she invented and yet another phone conversation, this time to her former nannies, Elizabeth and Justine ("Teen"). She definitely misses them! (Listen for the "how you doing?" and "what's up?")

Hawaiian Delights

It has been a while since I traveled anywhere, so going to Hawaii on a family vacation for 8 days was something I had been looking forward to for months. I knew this time would be different because we had a toddler along. I have traveled to Mexico, San Antonio, and Denver with Morgan, but as she enters each new phase and age, it is like starting from scratch - I really had no idea what to expect.I have learned, that just like teaching, the secret to parenthood is overplanning mixed with a lot of flexibility. Planning is something I am pretty good at, so I did it and did it and did it. Stuff was laid out a week ahead of time, I packed all kinds of presents and distractions for the plane rides, I had contingency plans for how to get by without a high chair, kitchen, and Morgan's favorite toys. I was set! But despite all of that planning, I didn't really realize how much I would have to continue putting Morgan's needs ahead of my own. (Duh! I am a mom - you think I would know that by now.)In reality, the plane rides, which I was dreading the most, went better than planned. Morgan actually slept for parts of them (taking off always made her crash) and between new toys and a DVD player, she was pretty occupied. Once we were in Hawaii, the 3-hour time change and weird nap/eating schedule, combined with lots of playtime with relatives and in the pool made Morgan very tired....overtired, in fact. Most days we were there we spent at least an hour trying to get Morgan to nap, to no avail. I didn't have high expectations she would sleep regularly, but when she was tired, I figured a nap was a good idea. Morgan had other ideas, however, like getting up at 4:30 in the morning. Then when she finally did sleep, Sam and I had to tag-team our activities while one person stayed in the room with her. One night I stayed home so Morgan could sleep while everyone went to a nice dinner in Kona. We all were a bit exhausted from not sleeping well, and eventually Sam and I began to realize that we had very little actual time together on this trip. I think we thought that with all the relatives along, we could be all carefree - like not even having a kid! Wrong. It had nothing to do with our family's willingness to help. They all loved hanging out with Mo and would always offer to watch and entertain her. But gradually, we had to adjust our own expectations of what kind of fun we were having with our toddler along. I finally realized that parenthood (and life, for that matter) is filled with little moments of bliss, surrounded by often frustrating, tiring, and annoying bits. It is not going to be a series of fun-loving hours to enjoy all day long. So instead, you must be aware of those little moments, like when you feel your heart warm with pride in your child, when you can't stop smiling, when you see something so beautiful you want to burn it into your memory, or when you are filled with a deep sense of gratitude at what life has brought you - regardless of how or when it got there.
So here are some of those special blissful moments I will always remember from our trip:

* Sipping yummy Mai Thais and Fredericos at the Hua Tree beachside bar and talking about life - something I rarely have time for these days.
* Despite already being awake for two hours, getting coffee and watching Morgan play on the shady sand at 6:30am before the sun came up over the hotel.* Swimming with sea turtles and at least a hundred species of fish, I was re-amazed at the huge diversity and beauty of sea life in a coral reef - it took my breath away.
* Breakfast! Everyday it was a delight to peruse the yummy buffet, indulging in Eggs Benedict, freshly made waffles, tropical fruits, bagels with lox, and topping anything off with coconut syrup and macadamia nuts!
* Taking time for a beach side yoga class, where I could gaze out at the sea or look up at the waving palm trees. It reminded me how much I miss and need yoga in my life.* Jumping the waves to get our kayak out to paddle in the peaceful bay - it was one of the few quiet moments Sam and I had together. :)
* Watching our daughter play with her parents, aunt, all four grandparents, and great-grandmother - four generations together. She delighted them all and adored being with them, especially with her emphatic shouts of "Come on, guys!"* Taking "Mimi" (the monkey harness) and Morgan for walks to see the koi fish pond and birds (parrots) that she couldn't get enough of.* Spending a wonderful grown-up night out with my husband, where I was treated to a beautiful lei, a surprise dinner, and an amazing sunset. I can't believe that after 9 years of marriage, it gets better every year.* Swimming laps across the bay in the early morning as the sun rose over my shoulder. The water was amazing and it felt so good to swim in the sea.
* Seeing Morgan and Aunt Kimmy's love and bond with one another grow with every moment they were together, whether it was going for walks, singing, dancing, visiting the Buddah statue, or just giving each other a "big hug" and a "big kiss."* Our pot-luck cocktail parties in Kim's room and beach side for the 4th of July.
* Swimming and floating and chatting in the ocean with my dad - like we used to do in Hawaii and Mexico.* Being thankful for the gift of family. Despite health challenges and life's ups and downs, I have an amazing family and am thankful for being with people who love me so unconditionally. * Although sometimes frustrated at the "inconvenience" of having Morgan along, I relished seeing her discover every little thing, all for the very first time. I continue to see life in new ways through her curious, joyful eyes.