April (Lily 3 years, Clara 16 months)

Lilys April update:
Right now Lily is very much obsessed with being first....its adorable....and exhausting....like living with a pint sized Ricky Bobby....minus the racecars and country accent. It makes no difference whether its going up the stairs, walking out the door or pushing the button on the microwave when it dings she HAS to be the FIRST. Normally isn't too big of problem and I must admit I've used it to my advantage (who can pick up the most toys first). The problem comes in when Lily body checks Clara out of the way like they're in the NHL to be the first one up the stairs. We're working on it....sigh.

Other than that Lily is doing really well. She's incredibly fast on her balance bike, she likes to play at the water table and is still waiting for the pool to open. We went to the zoo for the first time this year and she says her favorite animal was the "new tiger" in the tiger exhibit. She also got her first haircut and did really well. Why did she finally want to get her hair cut (after wanting to be Rapunzel) you ask.....she wanted to look like Mowgli from the Jungle Book.

Within the last month Lily started having a lot of tantrums at stores when she saw something that she just had to have. It became a problem when she would wander away from me when my back was turned to find whatever trinket caught her eye that day. To remedy this if she finds something she wants I take a picture of it and "send it to Santa" so he knows what to get her. The pro: we've avoided store tantrums since I started doing this and now "Santa" won't have to guess what she wants.....the con: I look like a nut in the grocery store taking pictures of extra bubble gum, Minnie mouse utensils, cranberry granola and troll toothpaste.

Personality wise (so far at 3 yrs) Lily is sassy, smart, a leader and a bit more reserved than I would have expected when it comes to making friends. She's gone up to older kids at gymnastics and asked if they would be her best friend and then is hurt when they say no. She tries to negotiate herself out of trouble and into special treats all the time. While negotiating she also likes to use words that she has heard (ex: expensive) but she doesn't quite understand what they mean....it's really funny. She loves drawing pictures for her friends and planning surprises.

Loves:

-peas

-being first

-getting in Clara's crib

-science projects

-her balance bike

-water play
-drinkable yogurt
-the zoo
-books: Berenstein Bear books, Clifford and Dr. Seuss  

Hates:

-not being able to do something first
-bath time

Favorite phrases:

-"I dust a little punchy tonight"

-(singing to her twin cousins) "Happy birthday to.....yous"
-"When I get older I gonna touch da sky"
-"The otter didn't sniff my hand"

Clara April update:
Clara is into EVERYTHING. No chair, table, stair, box or toy is safe from being climbed on. I think that when my back is turned she goes into hyper-drive and can clear several shelves in the pantry in a matter of seconds. So far Clara has been a lot less cautious than Lily with regards to physical play. It might be because she's tougher as the 2nd child or maybe she's just gotten used to everything be padded at gymnastics but she seems to have very little regard for her own safety. She loves to play in the water but doesn't understand why bathing suits are necessary.

Clara LOVES Lily and is constantly trying to copy her and we're always reminding Lily that if she does something Clara will try to copy it. She gets incredibly frustrated when something that Lily is doing doesn't come as easily to her yet.  She's talking a little more in addition to the words she was saying last month and now is trying to say more (Momo= Elmo, walk, pup= dog, cook= cookie). I'm guessing that her favorite animal at the zoo was the Lion because she just kept roaring at it.

So far Clara is very sweet and loves to give kisses. She's still not a big cuddler unless she's sick or hurt.....or Lily is throwing a tantrum. She so can give some pretty epic scowling faces. The other night had struggled to get her into her diaper and PJs after bath and told her "Thank you Clara for letting me get you dressed" and she hit me with a scowl that made her look like a storm cloud. Even now when I get onto Lily about something cuddling with Mommy makes it better.....not for Clara....maybe her memory is longer. If I tell Clara no and she throws a tantrum I only try to give her a hug if I want to slapped repeatedly across the face by a vengeful toddler.

Loves:
-putting dishes in the sink
-bubbles
-washing hands
-rain boots
-purses
-climbing on everything
-books: Sandra Boynton books, 'How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight', 'Who Said Red?'

Hates:

-not being allowed to climb on everything

-getting he diaper changed or getting dressed

 proof that at one point she enjoyed cleaning

 queen of the living room

 sisterly love or a smothering in progress.....I'll let you decide

 painting the deck with water

 this x 2500 per day

"HI DADDY....mommy why can't daddy hear me?"

 typical progression of bike rides.....from this

 to this....

 to this.

 the amount of personality in this picture kills me

 CJ and Clara have a special relationship

 Clara shares her food and the both enjoy sticks

 Clara loves rainboots

 cousins visiting from NYC

 they went on a bear hunt and found a bear (nana)

 exploring at Nana and Pop's house

 investigating a hole 

 picnic lunch

 Rachel, H & B

 "HEY.....don't you tell me to chew my food"

 bubble wands Nana and Pop brought back from Disney

Side note: as a parent I ask the question "where are

your pants" a lot more than I thought I would

 Aunt Rachel is awesome

chillin with baby Henry 

 Photographer tip: give them food and they will sit still enough for a picture

 Andy meets baby Henry

 making the perfect Easter bonnet

 perfection

 watching the Little Mermaid

 "Clara.....Clara Crockett queen of the wild frontier"

 So one day I found a fair in my bathtub.....reading a book of golf anecdotes

 Easter morning

Thank you Easter bunny

 Lily was all about hunting eggs

 and Clara was confused about what was happening

 "Did you get anything good?"

"No....just some colored plastic eggs"

 Dinner at our house the night before the NYC family went home

 Nana and Pop with their 5 grandkids

the 3 Stevenson kids with their 5 kids 

 Clara and Uncle Travis

 

one of my favorite milestones.....Clara can climb up the slide by herself

  

 not 2 seconds after I took this pic Clara face planted

 Lily's first hair cut

 I promise she was exited

 before and after

 bubbly colors science experiment

 visiting out Kingston family

 Lily and Uncle Matt

a great day for water play

 nice hat

 this is Clara's first time playing at a water table

 swinging at Ross and LGs house

 Ross' arm workout for the day

 morning at the zoo

 the only snake Lily would get close to

 first carousel ride. She was so excited until it started moving 

 Photographers tip: Don't try to get a nice shot of you and your kids......

if you're being upstaged by an elephant

 Clara roared repeatedly at this lion

nothing to see here....just 2 red pandas

peace out til next month