Hanna's Home

The Party Continues

Almost  a week later, Hanna is still wearing her birthday hat. We even sang Happy Birthday again for her tonight. She asked for cake...

No luck with that one.

"Two old," she said.

Yes, Hanna, you are two years old.

Kids get it. Every day is a party to them. We adults have much to learn.

P.S. Don't you just love Hanna's curls? We're going for our very first haircut next week.

Hope you are enjoying the sun!

Fun in 30 degrees

Some pictures from our time at the park yesterday.  Water and the 30 degrees went hand in hand.

I'm happy to report no accidents this time.... Oh, did I forget to mention? Last time we were at this park, Hanna darted off in front of a boy swinging on a swing, went underneath him as he swung forward and then she stopped right in his path. He smoked her on his way back and she landed face first in the gravel. Ouch! She had gravel everywhere! Luckily, only her forehead got a scrape and it too is almost healed.

So, this time we kept her a little closer to home -- holding daddy's hand.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes yesterday! The Rudy family singing Happy Birthday on our voice mail was priceless... Taisa, you sing so well!  Thanks Aunty Patrusia (or as Hanna says, Aunty Toofia...)

Too old

Hi there everyone,

Today is Hanna's birthday. I don't know who's more excited... Hanna or mama. It's so hot that we've decided to go to the waterpark to celebrate in the sun. Elmo was a hit on the weekend. I'll be sure to post more pictures this week.

By the way, if you ask Hanna how old she is today, she says, "Two old". The word "years" is not quite in her vocabulary yet.

Is she saying, "two old" or "too old"???

Me wonders!

Ah, to be two again.

Proud Mama

I love this picture. My family cleans up well!!!

Santa in Safeway???

Oh, does Hanna make me laugh. A few days ago we were shopping the grocery aisles in Safeway when out of the blue, Hanna said, "Mama, Santa!"

"Yes, Hanna, Santa will come at Christmas time. That's still a long time away. I think he's sleeping."

"No, Mama," she muttered.

And then a few aisles later, "Mama, Santa!" This time she was pointing and not so quiet.

As I followed her finger, it was clear she was referring to an East Indian man with a long white beard, shopping for oranges.

He smiled at her.

"No Hanna, that's not Santa. That's a nice man. Say hello!"

"Hi Santa!"

Oh, I giggled. Good thing the man had a kind smile! Santa does have many faces.

No Mama, Hanna

I hear these words many times each day. "No Mama... Hanna" which means, "Let me do it myself."

So I do. I watch her put two feet into the same pant leg making it pretty hard to walk around without a nasty waddle. I watch her comb her hair with the back of the brush. I smile at shoes on the wrong feet. I praise her efforts to sweep up her mess herself even if I have to go back later and redo it.

I try to guide without crushing Miss Independent's curious and ambitious spirit. How else do children learn unless they are given the space to try?

Catching up

Hi everyone,

Just writing you to say that we've been really busy lately. We just returned from visiting Hanna's six-week old cousin who was christened on the weekend. What a beautiful and content baby. At the christening, Hanna wanted to jump in to take a 'bath' as well...

"No, Hanna it's not your turn." But I think her little cousin would have gladly switched spots.

The weekend before, we went camping for the first time as a family.  Hanna did really well and enjoyed all the young children to play with. She even convinced them to push her around. She hasn't yet realized that she can peddle herself... or maybe she does. But, heh, as long as there are people to push, why expend the energy?

The scrape under her nose came from the weekend before when we were at a wedding. Running too fast for the fancy shoes caused skin to say hello to pavement. Ouch! It's healing better now.

Hope you are enjoying your summer! It sure does go by quickly. Doesn't it? In just two weeks from today, Hanna will be turning two. Oh MY!!!