Pink or Blue? Our Gender Reveal Balloon Release

All in all, I love our balloon reveal and was able to edit it down to this version to share with the masses:

Anna Claire has been hoping for a sister from day one, when we first told her that Mommy had a baby in her tummy. We tried to remind her frequently that we weren't sure, and that it could be a boy or a girl. I do think she finally got that and made peace with it, but she consistently exclaims "GIRL!" when someone asks her what she wants.

I was to the point that had it been a boy, we were going to 86 the balloon idea, and take her out for ice cream instead to soften the blow. ;)

As for the balloon release, I was so disappointed that my camera battery died before the reveal. BUT, I think the video did a much better job of capturing the moment. Everything happens for a reason.

I can now speak from experience on doing a balloon reveal. Things I'd do differently:

• Make sure camera battery is fully charged.
• Get someone to help you transfer the balloons to the box. Nearly had some casualties.
• Have several helpers to video and take pictures, that way mom AND dad can both be in the video.
• Have some sort of unspoken signal between yourself and the videographer on when to end the video.

If the original video's file size wasn't so large, I'd include it here so you can see why I'm so critical of it. But despite it's flaws, I love that we captured a special moment for our family. :)

Dance Recital Practice

The girls have been practicing every week during class, but this morning, all of the girls who take under Natalie met at her studio for their first big recital practice.

It's two hours which I was a little antsy about, as a first-time dance mom - wondering how they would behave for that length of time when mom's aren't allowed in the studio. We had to wait in the waiting area right outside.

We all took turns peaking in on them and they did great. They seemed to like watching the other groups perform, and did great when it was their turn to dance. Confession: I may have bribed Anna Claire with Subway for lunch (her choice) to behave and listen to the teacher. ;)

A couple of the other moms and I made our way in to capture a video of our group doing their ballet number. Precious and priceless, though next time I think I'll bring my flip to get a clearer video.

Show-N-Tell Ideas for Letters of the Week

I've searched everywhere for a list of show-n-tell ideas. I really have needed a list for each letter of the alphabet because each Thursday at Anna Claire's daycare, children are asked to bring in an item that starts with their letter of the week.

I totally believe in this in want to support teachers. It helps makes phonics and learning letters real for kids and gives us a talking point at home every Wednesday night and Thursday on the way to school.

Most weeks, it's fun and easy, but sometimes I get stuck and struggle thinking of something appropriate for school that Anna Claire would also enjoy sharing.

Since I haven't been able to find a list, I decided to make one so I can refer back to it later. Maybe it will even help someone else. ;)

A -toy apple (or actual apple for friends to share), Arthur (book or stuffed animal), Angelina Ballerina book, Ariel
B -Babar, Belle, Barbie, Blues Clues, butterfly wand
C - Cinderella, calendar, toy cupcake set
D - Dora, dominoes, dollhouse
E - energy wand, egg, egglplant, envelope, Easter egg, Easter basket
F - flashlight, Foofa
G - gymnastics Dora, Goldilicious (stuffed animal), gravity noise wand
H - horse, hairbrush, harmonica, hat
I - ice cream cone (toy)
J - jack-in-the-box, jumprope
K - kite, keyboard, keys, kazoo
L - Llama llama (book or stuffed animal), library book, Little Bear (book), Lambchop (puppet), lunchbox, Lalaloopsie
M - microphone, Minnie Mouse
N - notebook, noodles, nickel
O - Olivia, olives,
P - pom-poms, piano
Q - quarter
R - recorder, raisins, radio, ruler
S - sleeping bag, saw, soccer ball
T - treasure chest, tape measure, Toodee, tutu
U - unicorn, umbrella
V - Valentine, vest
W - wand, wallet, wig
X - xylophone, magnadoodle (she pretends it's her "x-ray" when she plays doctor)
Y - yoyo, yarn
Z - zebra, zipper

Rivers and Spires 2013

When I heard it was going to turn yucky and cold for Friday and Saturday, and then considered my aversion to crowds, it only made sense that we would go to Rivers and Spires Thursday.

With the threat of storms, there very few people there. It was super easy to get around and no lines. GRANTED, there was very little going on in comparison to the line-up on Saturday, but we can always go back if it turns out to be nice.

Love the sass.

Of course we had to have a hot dog after posing with the wienermobile ;)

The Leaf Chronicle photographer found her again. He must have taken 20-30 pictures of Anna Claire while she was eating this hot dog. She's supposed to be in tomorrow's paper.

Loved that they had mural painting for the kiddos. So fun!

They let the kids pic out their own paint colors. Of course AC wanted pinks and purples.

What a stress-free fun time with my favorite three-year-old. LOVED watching Anna Claire enjoy the music. and seeing her reaction to her first "concert." She loved the Kopecky Family Band, and I thought they were pretty solid too. She had fun naming the instruments they were playing and we were both impressed with how many instruments each band member could play.

Oh, if you haven't been yet, you should know you pay for everything with tickets and that tickets have to be purchased with cash. :)

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Sooo....we went back today! Too nice of a day not to.

Only, we get there, and Anna Claire turns into a total grump-a-saurus.

She was mad at me for making her wear a sweater (temps were in the 50s, 40s in with windchill in the shade).

She refused to try or do anything:
Do you want a hot dog? "No!"
Would you like to jump in the bouncy house? "No!"
Do you want to go hug the Chick-fil-A cow?" "Uhh!"

We were just about to declare the whole outing a total FAIL, when we ran into Anna Claire's little friend Amy and her mom Paige. From that point on, things went great and AC was having fun.

Oh, and you'll notice she's not wearing the sweater in the pics below. She insisted she was really hot and needed it off. And I remembered she's her father's daughter and that they don't get cold like me. ;)

Look who we ran into at Rivers and Spires!

Sweet friends waiting their turn at "the bouncy house."

Wanted nothing to do with bouncy houses until we saw Amy. Our friends help us to be brave!

The girls were able to watch part of the parade from inside the bouncy house.

I love watching little girls hug each other. So sweet.

Canola Fields

As soon as I laid eyes on the beautiful fields of canola flowers behind the mall, I was inspired to return for pics.

So Tuesday we took Anna Claire back out there and I shot a few. These didn't turn out to be the beautiful images I hoped for, but I didn't forsee her becoming so agitated that she couldn't actually pick the flowers.

We let her try, but the stems are too hard. Anyhow, here they are...

Found some purple flowers that she COULD pick :)

Love the contrast of the dark clouds and bright flowers!

Dance Recital Costumes!

Anna Claire was is so excited that her recital costumes are in. She couldn't wait to try them on.

Tap Costume...this will be the costume the girls have their group and individual portraits made in. So cute!

Maybe we should work on sitting "like a lady" ;)

She has been doing this since she was 18 months...rubbing her tummy when she likes what she's wearing.

Favorite.

Ballet costume! Does this pose look familiar??

She loves it!

You can see the bodice in this one a little better. 

These costumes have Anna Claire excited about dance and recital. Before they came in, she wanted to quit dance, but now she's saying she loves it and wants to keep going. Let's see how recital goes!

Celebrating Progress

I have learned in the past three years to make "Comparison is the thief of joy" my personal mantra, and it has really helped me to enjoy my own child for who she is and to not compare her to other children and what they are able to do. I remind myself to live in the moment and to see the good in this sweet baby. That's not hard at all, because there is plenty of that - she's awesome!

However, I am human, and like everybody, I slip back into my old nature and catch myself thinking things like, "All the other children her age are climbing all over that playground like monkeys. Why can't Anna Claire be more confident and take more risks like that?"

Well, I know the answer to that - we've been overprotective of her, shy of wrapping her in bubble wrap. Larry and I agree that we have unintentionally held her back by avoiding or discouraging her from doing anything that wasn't safe.

We've made a conscious effort in the past few months to step back and encourage Anna Claire to take more chances and it's paid off really very quickly. I am so, so proud of her! And of us!

 

Anna Claire is finally riding her tricycle by herself. We worked on riding a trike all summer last year, but she would try pedaling and get frustrated and quit every time. We really encourage her to keep trying and not give up, but it has taken this long for her to figure it out and/or be determined enough to do it. I have to remind myself, though, that she didn't learn to walk until 18 months, so developmentally, it probably makes sense that we are just now riding a trike. I'd also like to give a special shout out to gymnastics for helping her to physically catch up with her peers and give her a confidence boost!  (I swear, no one passed gas in this video...I have no idea why that sound is in the video. lol ;)

 

Anna Claire wouldn't have even attempted this last summer. But since we've started stepping back and encouraging her to take more chances, we are amazed at what she really can do. With no visits to the ER. ;)

 

 Wouldn't have dared to try this either. Check out how proud she is of herself at the end!

Baby Bunnies - Spring 2013

We found a baby bunny nest in our yard, just a few feet away from the front porch.

The nest...

We had to move them to the porch to safety so we could mow the yard.

We worried about the mama rabbit not returning to care for them, but she did. The nest has been rebuilt each morning.

Remember the torrential downpour at about 9:30 Thursday morning? I called Larry and asked him to construct some kind of structure to protect them, since their nest is very shallow and we worried it would fill with water. AC's picnic table umbrella made the perfect shelter.

The bunnies actually crawled out of their nest immediately after as if to say, "thank you!"

Anna Claire is so sweet to the babies.

We knew from reading about cottontails that they would be able to care for themselves at 14 days, and could likely run off. So day 13, we held and pet them and said our fairwells.

Precious baby bunnies. I am seriously getting attached.