One of These Kids is Doing Their Own Thing

One of our favorite things about Lamorinda is that everything seems to cater to young families, even the gyms! Our new gym not only provides awesome childcare while we work out -- the most powerful incentive I've ever had to do some cardio! -- but classes for kids are also included in the membership.

For the fall session, white belt Tae Kwon Do and Beginning Dance happened to be scheduled at the same time, in studios right next door to each other. In other words, the stars aligned perfectly in my mommy world, and I'm able to usher Joey and Clara into their respective activities, take a seat in an armchair where I can see both classes, and nurse Molly for a peaceful half hour.

Here's Clara, going against the grain in a class that is exploding in pink (thanks Aunt Meredith, for helping out this novice mom and supplying our little dance student with everything she needed for class!). Thanks to her birthday party, Clara now has an assortment of tutus in every color imaginable!

Meanwhile, Joey was the lone student in his class who wasn't properly outfitted for Tae Kwon Do... next week we'll be more on the ball!

Tales Out of School

Anthropologists interested in the differences between the sexes need only ride shotgun in my SUV after a school pick-up. I never realized just how different boys and girls could be before shuttling two of these little creatures to and from academia.

On Teachers

Clara: "Mommy, I love Miss Luci. She helped me use the bathroom, and let me paint, AND let me play with Play-Doh!"


Joey: "Mommy, what are my teachers' names again?"
Mommy: "Miss Kristi and Miss Jill."
Joey: "Oh yeah. Miss Kristi and Miss Jill. Miss Kristi and Miss Jill. Miss Kristi and Miss Jill. Miss Kristi and Miss Jill. Miss Kristi and Miss Jill. I need to remember that."
(One minute passes.)
Joey: "Mommy, what are my teachers' names again?"

On Playing

Clara: "I helped Henry a lot today. Can I play with Brooke at her house?"

Joey: "Well, I play kind of rough at school. Some kids play more gently, so I don't play with them. I don't play soooo rough that I hit or kick anyone, or kill anyone, though."

Mommy: "Oh, good. That's a relief."

On Discipline

Clara: "Mommy, I'm so sorry. I was bad during clean-up time. Miss Luci said 'Clean up, clean up! Everybody clean up!' And I didn't. I sorry."

Joey: "Playing on the playground is not so fun when the teacher says you can't play with swords. Why can't you play with swords, Mommy?"

A Losing Proposition

After a trying day with a little sister, Joey resorted to making this sign for his door... we think he may be in serious denial.

"Copper Top" at Four Months

Molly May got a new nickname last week, when a mom at Joey's soccer class peeked in her stroller, and said, "Well, hello, little Copper Top!"

At four months, Molly's red hair and big blue eyes are her most complimented features, and she's earning her keep around here with another outstanding trait -- sleeping through the night for the last month and a half! She's starting to really enjoy kicking at and grabbing toys, and is probably a week or so away from rolling. She got propped up in the exersaucer for the first time today, and couldn't believe the view!

She had her 4-month checkup at the pediatrician last week, and despite her slow start, is chunking up in true Cecchin style. She weighed in at 13 pounds, 5 ounces (50th percentile), and is 24.25 inches long (25th percentile). She vehemently objected to having her head measured (maybe she knew this was a sensitive topic for big brother Joey?), but was relieved to learn that her noggin is safely in the 50th percentile.

Extra-Wide Smile

Could that smile and that dimple be any more adorable? It's getting more infectious by the minute, which makes her looming lip repair -- now scheduled for October 29 -- a bittersweet date on our calendar. We're looking forward to having this milestone behind us, but we're dreading seeing a different smile, and dealing with what may be a really uncomfortable recovery for our little "copper top."

Molly May turned four months last week, and had checkups at both UCSF - where her surgery will take place - and her regular pediatrician. She turned on the charm at both locales, and met the entire cleft team at UCSF, including the director, geneticist, nurse, social worker, speech specialist, and, of course, her surgeon. Her cleft is still one of the most minor they have ever seen, and her crooked cupid's bow was was referred to more than once as "cute." A few of the cleft team members couldn't hide their shock at how minor her cleft was, and the speech specialist (who happened to be looking at her while she was asleep, and her lips were completely relaxed), asked us, "Why is she here??" We feel very fortunate to have one of the least challenging and complicated cases on their docket right now, especially after meeting other families in the waiting room. One dad peeked into her carseat, and said, "Wow, did she already have her surgery?"

The cleft may be small, but it still is definitely a candidate for correction, and the earlier the better, according to our surgeon. Her skin will heal faster, her scar will be more minimal, and it's best to do the procedure before the baby is crawling and walking. It's also easier to manage a 5 month-old during the recovery process than a willful toddler. We'll have our work cut out for us, though, with Molly in arm restraints for two weeks, and strict instructions that she can't have fingers, thumb or pacifier in her mouth while her lips heal. We have a confirmed addict on our hands, so this may be as painful for us as it will be for her!

Luckily, she'll still be able to breastfeed -- which may be our secret weapon for pacifying an out-of-sorts baby on pain medication!

Wish us luck!

Princess Palooza

Clara channeled her inner princess on Saturday and partied it up with 35 kids under the age of four. They bounced, zoomed, and toddled their way around our new backyard -- most in costume as princes and princesses -- while their moms and dads enjoyed slushy margaritas and yummy BBQ! Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped us celebrate both our birthday girl and our new digs!

Here's the birthday girl in action, as Cinderella.

We invited kids to come dressed in full regalia...

King Mark decided to come in costume as well -- any excuse to break out the kilt and sword!

The bouncehouse was happening, as was the castle:

But the most popular attraction proved to be the cake!

Tim and I each caught the birthday girl before she flitted off to play again.

It wasn't all about Clara... I managed to catch up with a lot of friends while Molly snoozed on me, and we also snagged some pictures with Molly and her Lamorinda BFFs.

We had many outtakes and blooper photos -- thanks to Crystal and Heather for capturing some of these moments!

Joey was at the center of a love triangle, but in typical male fashion, he was oblivious to the drama (Megan was highly put out that Joey was playing with a new little Moraga buddy!).

All three of the 17 month-olds -- Tessa, Annie, and Olive -- set about demolishing the remains of the ice cream cake when no one was watching.

And finally, Clara proved that pearls dress up any attire, even red polka dot underwear.

Now, time to get this kingdom cleaned up!

Three Years: The Stats

After being dragged along to the pediatrician's office many, many times for Molly, Clara finally was the patient yesterday, and got to properly introduce herself to her new doctor for her three-year check-up. She was a charming little chatterbox, and was apparently one of the toughest kids the nurses had ever seen when it came time to get her shots. She winced at the first one, grimaced at the second, and then finally cried at the third -- for about two seconds, and then she wiped her tears away with her sleeve.

"Did that hurt a little bit?" I asked, genuinely astonished that she actually cried.

"No," she said, "It didn't hurt a little. It hurt like big, big pinchers!!"

Without further ado, here's a rundown on our brave little girl at three!

Weight


31.5 pounds (50th percentile)

Height

36.25 inches (50th percentile)

Clothing Size

3T

Shoe Size

Size 8, although she's been known to squeeze her little feet into size 6s and 7s lately, in a desperate bid to hang on to some favorite pink slip-ons and Converse.

Favorite Foods

Fresh fruit of any kind, but especially strawberries, blackberries, bananas, and pineapple! She also loves pizza, olives, garbanzo beans, red bell pepper, cucumber, chicken nuggets, french fries, and anything and everything that can be dipped in ketchup!

Bedtime

After moving from her crib to a big girl bed, our formerly wonderful sleeper is now up to no good when the lights are out, playing with her dolls, her books, and her shoes. Once she's accepted that it's truly bedtime and we mean business, she puts herself to sleep by singing "Twinkle, Twinkle," hugging her dolly with one hand, and playing with her bellybutton with the other hand.

Naptime

It's a rare day that Clara doesn't nap, and she definitely needs that two-hour break from shenanigans with Joey!

Health

I think Clara is our healthiest child, and even when she has the sniffles, she soldiers on, thanks to her superhuman pain tolerance!

Milestones (colors, numbers, letters)

Clara knows almost all of her letters, can point to them and identify what they are, as well as a word (or words) that start with the letter. She can count to about 16, and knows all of the basic colors and shapes.

Newest accomplishment/ skill

She's been potty-trained for about a month and a half!!

Vocabulary

Clara's vocabulary amazes me every day, especially when I compare her sentences and phrases to Joey's at the same age. She's our little chatterbox as well as our little eavesdropper ("What did you say?" "What are you talking about??"), channelling Aunt Shawna, but most of all, she's our little copycat. She parrots Joey all the time, and is alarmingly quick to parrot Mommy and Daddy, especially if we're using colorful words.

Favorite activities

Dressing up (as a princess, pirate, musician, or animal) tops Clara's list, but she also loves dancing, singing, and playing with blocks. Being naughty is also a favorite activity, especially when in cahoots with Joey.

Favorite TV Shows

Max and Ruby, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch, Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer

Favorite Books

Fancy Nancy
The Ladybug Girl
I'm the Big Sister
Good Night Train

Happy Birthday Clara Jane!

Yes, this birthday wish is two days late... that's par for the course around here lately, with construction chaos inside and outside of the house!

Seemingly overnight, our little toddling Clara has turned into a little girl, and we celebrated her third birthday with dinner at home, presents, and ice cream for dessert. She loved blowing out her candles, gushed over all of her presents ("I didn't know that was going to be BLOCKS!!! I love blocks!!" and "I got new sunglasses!! WOW!"), and no sooner had she turned three, than she was announcing she was three and a half. Hold your horses, little lady!!

Big brother Joey was happy to partake in the birthday festivities, offering advice all along on the most effective procedures for unwrapping presents and blowing out candles... our little efficiency expert in the making!

Stay tuned for more birthday fun after a princess explosion - I mean, party - takes place on Saturday!