tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17676130405157457302024-03-14T08:15:11.712+03:00Scarbrough Fair"...yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
-Habakkuk 3:18Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-91861322302367098292020-04-11T11:45:00.004+03:002020-04-11T11:45:48.885+03:00Quarantine Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a hot minute since I posted in here. Like three years. I really enjoy reading old posts but just don't seem to have the time to keep it up.<br />
<br />
However, since the whole world has gone crazy with COVID-19, I really wanted to document what our experience is like. So that I can remember it later with <i>actuals, </i>not <i>I think it was like this...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So, here goes.<br />
<br />
We have been in Turkey since March 17th. We returned home on March 15th at like 2:30 am from being in the village for a week working on an aquaponics system. On March 15th we slept in, did laundry, met with some of the other Americans in our city to tell them we'd be leaving on our visa run sooner than thought (original plan was April 4th) and to see how everyone was doing with the coronavirus stuff. America had announced it was closing its borders to flights from Europe the previous week so thousands of people were trying to scramble back to the States. That night we learned that Georgia was closing its borders with Russia, and some other countries had also closed their borders to foreigners that day. We decided to try to leave the next day.<br />
<br />
So on March 16th we got up, bought Turkish visas, bought airline tickets, did laundry and tried to pack and send the necessary emails. I took the girls to a friend's house to use their dryer and to play for a bit. Then we went to our other friend's house to drop off our hamster. Then home to pack some more. I honestly was a basket case and spent way more time reading the news than I did packing and cleaning.<br />
<br />
We left home at 11 pm and headed for the airport. Lane got sick in the car on the way there and then again in passport control. We arrived into Istanbul at around 6:30 am to a mostly dead airport. We have been staying in one the apartments we've stayed in before, right down the road from where we used to live. The first week was great, although everything closed the day we got here. No stores (other than grocery stores), movie theaters, etc. were open. Even Starbucks was closed. We got groceries at Carrefour and dinner in the mall. The girls played in the park out back, we saw Greg and Diana (met them at a park near us) and their kids, and that's all we did for the first 10ish days.<br />
<br />
Last Friday night Turkey announced that anyone under the age of 20 isn't allowed outside. So we have spent the past week inside. The girls have not left the apartment other than to go to the apartment upstairs with us for about an hour to visit another family (who actually lives here but had a house fire so doesn't have a place to live). We have been doing schoolwork and playing lots of Bohnanza, which we have learned since being here. We've played Farkle and Sleeping Queens and Rat-a-Tat-Cat and Zeus on the Loose and every other game we brought. Shannon has done Bible story with them each morning and then "Bible story questions" and hide-and-seek with them every evening. We've had three family movie nights and ordered food (although Shannon has to go wait for it outside because we're not allowed to have them bring it into the building). We've done family exercise time each day, doing a dance party and stretches or squats and push ups.<br />
<br />
We have had a lot of fun. But I am exhausted. We didn't bring much to do. The girls didn't bring much. They're not allowed outside. The neighbors have complained that we're too loud. And keeping them quiet and occupied is exhausting. Add in regular stuff (like FaceTime calls nearly every night and emails that need to be written and discipline and cooking and laundry and cleaning) and I'm exhausted.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow is Easter. I feel guilty that I don't feel like I can do more, that I haven't done more. It never occurred to me when packing that we'd be here for Easter. It never occurred to me when shopping that Easter was coming. My heart celebrates Easter every day, but I feel guilty that I haven't been able to do more for the holiday of it.<br />
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Yesterday at like 10 pm the Turkish government announced that there was a $500 fine for anyone who left their home this weekend. So we are stuck in this apartment and are literally not allowed to leave. Any thoughts I had about changing up the Easter menu or doing something special or making deviled eggs instead of just boiled ones flew out the window last night when I learned we couldn't leave.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to be grateful that I went to the store on Wednesday and we do have enough food. That we have a 3-bedroom apartment and comfy beds. We have Netflix and books that a friend lent us. We brought games. We are healthy and fine, and good medical care is a 20-minute walk away should we need it.<br />
<br />
But the unknown of "Will we get new visas in May?", "Will the borders be open if we do have visas?", "Will any tourists come this summer?" is weighing on us. We are weary with the unknown. I am weary, wondering if we should try to figure out how to go back to America or if staying here really <i>is</i> the best choice. We are weary. We are tired. We are hopeful.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-89606969225265700412017-01-20T19:02:00.003+03:002017-01-20T19:02:41.643+03:00And Then She Was Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This blog seems to be mostly dead these days, but we did have a birthday recently, and Lane did remind me to ask them these questions. So here are Noel's answers. Maybe someday I'll get back into the habit of blogging, but not likely soon. =)<br />
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1. Your favorite colors are blue and white.<br />
2. Your favorite toy is your puppy.<br />
3. Your favorite fruit is asian pear.<br />
4. Your favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.<br />
5. Your favorite movie is Walking with the Dinosaurs.<br />
6. Your favorite thing to wear is your sparkle skirt, sparkly shoes, and white t-shirt with sequins.<br />
7. Your favorite animal is a crocodile.<br />
8. Your favorite song is the Dinosaur Train song.<br />
9. Your favorite book is Dinosaur Days.<br />
10. Your best friend is Piper.<br />
11. Your favorite snack is dates.<br />
12. Your favorite drink is hot vanilla.<br />
13. Your favorite breakfast is baked oatmeal.<br />
14. Your favorite lunch is grilled cheese.<br />
15. Your favorite dinner is pesto pasta with peas.<br />
16. Your favorite games are Uno and Sleeping Queens.<br />
17. Your favorite thing to play outside is scooters and dinosaur toys.<br />
18. Your favorite holiday is Christmas.<br />
19. At night you sleep with Raffie, Bunny, Blankie, Porcupine, Fox, water bottle and tissues.<br />
20. When you grow up you want to be a paleontologist.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-67289362985958449922016-05-28T21:02:00.000+03:002016-05-28T21:02:16.886+03:0024 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fREdG3c6z4/VzqPr2i0wUI/AAAAAAAAGr8/pVmn9-QyUf4lIvdz4GPX3X7THgZAyNd1ACLcB/s1600/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fREdG3c6z4/VzqPr2i0wUI/AAAAAAAAGr8/pVmn9-QyUf4lIvdz4GPX3X7THgZAyNd1ACLcB/s400/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
And here we are. My baby is two.<br />
<br />
At 24 months (ok, ok, almost 25 by now) Raye:<br />
<br />
*has 23 teeth. Only one more to go!<br />
<br />
*is paci-free when she sleeps. I took her paci away when Shannon left town for a couple of weeks (told her it went bye-bye with daddy). It was rough, rough going for a couple of weeks but by about a month in all was fine. She's sleeping normally (maybe even better!) now and I don't have to keep up with germ-catching pacifiers. Win-win.<br />
<br />
*loves to dance. She's got the most moves of any of our kids, and every time she hears music she'll say, "Mama. Dance!" and start dancing or, "Mama. Song!" and start swaying to the music. She loves to dance.<br />
<br />
*seems to have come out of the super-picky phase with regards to food. She still has her favorites, but overall she's eating much better than she has been. I think it's because she's gotten most of her teeth and her mouth doesn't hurt as much.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKbdfXjPfS0/VzqPsuIUSnI/AAAAAAAAGsQ/CuUDmxYSkckkfGJk7oWw9QCeGGie-dl6wCLcB/s1600/24months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKbdfXjPfS0/VzqPsuIUSnI/AAAAAAAAGsQ/CuUDmxYSkckkfGJk7oWw9QCeGGie-dl6wCLcB/s400/24months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Sporting her birthday backpack and doing pretty well with do-a-dots.</i><br />
<br />
*<i>loves</i> Mickey Mouse. She has finally decided that she'll watch a <i>little</i> bit of television, but mostly only if it's Mickey Mouse. Which I'm ok with. I've never been one to <i>want</i> my kids to love TV, but gosh it sure is nice when they'll be entertained for 22 minutes so I can do things like clean a chicken without being interrupted a million times. Wow, bunny trail. Anyways she loves Mickey and says stuff all the time now like, "Goofy si-yee, dance, hot dog."<br />
<br />
*is all about doing it all herself. She wants to do everything: put the key in the door, go to the bathroom by herself, put on her own diaper, etc., etc., etc. Of course there's no way we let her do about 50% or more of what she <i>wants</i> to do, but we try to let her do what she can.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tFmtNT-Uhc/VzqPrygxk3I/AAAAAAAAGsE/hpV1Q8erXuk3UG0fb4pdSBB8wcgeOUSLgCLcB/s1600/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tFmtNT-Uhc/VzqPrygxk3I/AAAAAAAAGsE/hpV1Q8erXuk3UG0fb4pdSBB8wcgeOUSLgCLcB/s400/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Still sleeps three or more hours each afternoon. I usually have to wake her up.</i><br />
<br />
*loves bugs. She gets this from Lane. Lane loves bugs. Raye loves Lane. Therefore Raye loves bugs. She's held lizards, baby frogs, tadpoles, and beetles. She gets so mad when someone else is holding a bug and not letting her have a turn.<br />
<br />
*actually likes books now. She'll sit still for whole board books and bring you more of them to read. She likes Goodnight Moon; Panda Bear, Panda Bear; Brown Bear, Brown Bear; and most all of the other standard favorites of toddlers.<br />
<br />
*knows the names of colors but can't always get them right. Still working on this with her for sure, as well as counting correctly. My favorite is when she says, "eight, nine, ten, yellow, twelve..."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4wZFB8Zxfs/VzqPry7_D_I/AAAAAAAAGsA/mylszsTJzr4MIVeDZcfaxM7Pan-qEEWLwCLcB/s1600/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4wZFB8Zxfs/VzqPry7_D_I/AAAAAAAAGsA/mylszsTJzr4MIVeDZcfaxM7Pan-qEEWLwCLcB/s400/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>This girl is a mess when it comes to ice cream!</i><br />
<br />
*is in 3T clothes for the most part. She still has a couple of 2T or 24 month things in her drawers but mostly...3T. So crazy.<br />
<br />
*throws her hands up in the air and says, "Way!" (yay!) when she's happy or when she likes your idea.<br />
<br />
*loves to go outside. Often the first thing she'll ask in the morning (after she asks for "puffs and O's" [cereal]) is "bye bye soon?" It might be quickly followed with, "Watch Mickey Mouse?"<br />
<br />
*fun things she's saying, "Me too __________" Me too bwush teef. Me too co-wur. Me too new paste (toothpaste). Me too bye bye. And so on. "Ma-ma, come git me!" "See ya way-ter, abigador!"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HroiXtKL57g/VzqPsupGHRI/AAAAAAAAGsM/z1DDDE7spSMBrCwuVGKQBxP0XNU3uzPqACLcB/s1600/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HroiXtKL57g/VzqPsupGHRI/AAAAAAAAGsM/z1DDDE7spSMBrCwuVGKQBxP0XNU3uzPqACLcB/s400/24months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Birthday scooters!</i><br />
<br />
She's such a sweetie pie and I'm so grateful for her in our lives!<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D1767613040515745730%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6728936298595844992%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D1%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-HroiXtKL57g%2FVzqPsupGHRI%2FAAAAAAAAGsM%2Fz1DDDE7spSMBrCwuVGKQBxP0XNU3uzPqACLcB%2Fs400%2F24months%252B-%252B1%252B%2525285%252529.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=wU8mgc1duJCk&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2680px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D1767613040515745730%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6728936298595844992%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D1%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-HroiXtKL57g%2FVzqPsupGHRI%2FAAAAAAAAGsM%2Fz1DDDE7spSMBrCwuVGKQBxP0XNU3uzPqACLcB%2Fs400%2F24months%252B-%252B1%252B%2525285%252529.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=wU8mgc1duJCk&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2680px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-32191410966910534122016-05-17T20:56:00.001+03:002016-05-17T20:56:33.227+03:00And Then She Was Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qoC4YSJEVs/VzqQqwHhfrI/AAAAAAAAGs4/h9KtPkXUWxQk9MBusbvE8EJX3jSl8WA_QCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qoC4YSJEVs/VzqQqwHhfrI/AAAAAAAAGs4/h9KtPkXUWxQk9MBusbvE8EJX3jSl8WA_QCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WvBN15nS_gE/VzqQprTaYHI/AAAAAAAAGsc/80xxGpa8KEoqGyPFkqpXKydVjqcl_0_MgCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WvBN15nS_gE/VzqQprTaYHI/AAAAAAAAGsc/80xxGpa8KEoqGyPFkqpXKydVjqcl_0_MgCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Oh6whTzhJQ/VzqQqW4UmhI/AAAAAAAAGss/npe7o_cooaQj44zNojTRahxvn5g42TeZACLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Oh6whTzhJQ/VzqQqW4UmhI/AAAAAAAAGss/npe7o_cooaQj44zNojTRahxvn5g42TeZACLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Rainbow all-around!</i><br />
<br />
Little Miss Raye turned two on May 1st. Shannon was scheduled to be out of town that weekend, so we had planned on having her party the weekend before, but then he ended up taking a last-minute trip to the States, so we had to postpone her party. So, we had it on...the 7th? Whatever that Saturday was. It was really low-key.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kq84D6kYZnw/VzqQqujjXhI/AAAAAAAAGs0/285B6q3VaqEBMIYFfPuAwd1SG0a-xr8KQCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kq84D6kYZnw/VzqQqujjXhI/AAAAAAAAGs0/285B6q3VaqEBMIYFfPuAwd1SG0a-xr8KQCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKx5IKFHruE/VzqQp5wVUcI/AAAAAAAAGsk/fw7JMX9ay7cJRvT6A6TRzntdzW0Mo675wCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKx5IKFHruE/VzqQp5wVUcI/AAAAAAAAGsk/fw7JMX9ay7cJRvT6A6TRzntdzW0Mo675wCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFMO3LPHoaE/VzqQqOZiBuI/AAAAAAAAGso/aPkVLizmtiI1nJ-jZyUiQul1BDCX1XpswCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFMO3LPHoaE/VzqQqOZiBuI/AAAAAAAAGso/aPkVLizmtiI1nJ-jZyUiQul1BDCX1XpswCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
I made a rainbow cake and bought rainbow-colored balloons and streamers. Lane and Noel helped draw/color some rainbow pictures. Some single gals who live in town came over and did all the decorating for me...it was the best decorating job ever! We ordered in for dinner. Raye opened a few presents while people were eating, we sang to her and had cake and ice cream. It was just laid back, which was exactly what I needed after single-momming it for 18 days.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcEzpTqGTpQ/VzqQpwiVu_I/AAAAAAAAGsg/tI5jHsQZWSMSMTAP5SYrnm7ip-BDEg-RQCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcEzpTqGTpQ/VzqQpwiVu_I/AAAAAAAAGsg/tI5jHsQZWSMSMTAP5SYrnm7ip-BDEg-RQCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Opening a present from Papa Buck and Nona Lou.</i><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeWFoWD7KCA/VzqQqrYG5AI/AAAAAAAAGsw/hvYVsPAfJsI0o2SHkJx61iCAgpD8Lx_MQCLcB/s1600/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeWFoWD7KCA/VzqQqrYG5AI/AAAAAAAAGsw/hvYVsPAfJsI0o2SHkJx61iCAgpD8Lx_MQCLcB/s400/two%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Legos from my dad and stepmom.</i><br />
<br />
Raye's actual birthday was really low-key, too. I flew to Moscow to spend a couple of days with Shannon and flew back on Raye's birthday. After I got home we had to go grocery shopping and I had to make dinner, and the weather was nasty. So the actual day was kind of a bust. No birthday pancakes or anything. But her party was fun, and we bought her a scooter (actually we got all the girls scooters since we didn't buy them birthday presents, hoping they wouldn't notice and we could buy them something with wheels once the weather turned nice), so I'm not going to call it a complete failure. We have done worse on our kids' second birthdays...poor-middle-child-Noel had to take an international flight on her second birthday... </div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-90577482910303279462016-04-25T22:32:00.000+03:002016-04-25T22:41:42.587+03:00Baltic Adventures (Part 3)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb0M39mq7GI/VlyFci4MirI/AAAAAAAAGhE/FTr7gCDf5TY/s1600/st.%2Bpete%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb0M39mq7GI/VlyFci4MirI/AAAAAAAAGhE/FTr7gCDf5TY/s400/st.%2Bpete%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Family photo across the Neva River from Peter and Paul Fortress</i><br />
<br />
Well I am quite behind on blogging about our Baltic Adventures, but here I am. We'll see if I can remember how things went almost nine months ago.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1xp6fm4JKI/VlyFjXP_O9I/AAAAAAAAGjA/DbQwZAo2Uuk/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1xp6fm4JKI/VlyFjXP_O9I/AAAAAAAAGjA/DbQwZAo2Uuk/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddHNv715M1Q/VlyFlkQSXQI/AAAAAAAAGjw/FfuTNk-jpIU/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddHNv715M1Q/VlyFlkQSXQI/AAAAAAAAGjw/FfuTNk-jpIU/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4O2CwDaQIo/VlyFchEV8aI/AAAAAAAAGhA/Fa9w3BeM9Eg/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4O2CwDaQIo/VlyFchEV8aI/AAAAAAAAGhA/Fa9w3BeM9Eg/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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We arrived into St. Petersburg in the early afternoon. After negotiating for a taxi we found our way to our hostel. We stayed at Hostel Club Chao Mama and it was so nice for a hostel. The only drawback was that we had to walk up two <i>long</i> flights of stairs, which was quite an ordeal with our 1, 3, and 5-year olds, 2 carry-ons, stroller, and duffle bag. But our room was big and beautiful and the girls loved the bunk beds. We made them sleep on bottom and while they were so bummed about that, we were very glad when Noel rolled out of the bed in the middle of the night that we had followed our gut and made them sleep on bottom!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvSYB4icWYg/VlyFlI2ssDI/AAAAAAAAGjg/0a-VzcvxtDs/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvSYB4icWYg/VlyFlI2ssDI/AAAAAAAAGjg/0a-VzcvxtDs/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7ixuXxqxBM/VlyFcVyWLMI/AAAAAAAAGg8/u9lx_TvERDQ/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7ixuXxqxBM/VlyFcVyWLMI/AAAAAAAAGg8/u9lx_TvERDQ/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Same church, different angle.</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_ZQoB_FfYE/VlyFeCMLciI/AAAAAAAAGhk/mZxzJbgSdpQ/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_ZQoB_FfYE/VlyFeCMLciI/AAAAAAAAGhk/mZxzJbgSdpQ/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252816%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wOk6R_vmrc/VlyFd46VifI/AAAAAAAAGhY/R97yXEEu8ak/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wOk6R_vmrc/VlyFd46VifI/AAAAAAAAGhY/R97yXEEu8ak/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Trinity Cathedral</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWVlWBaespc/VlyFd9pgtnI/AAAAAAAAGhc/G7Uv34kTBmA/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWVlWBaespc/VlyFd9pgtnI/AAAAAAAAGhc/G7Uv34kTBmA/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I don't remember the exact order of things...we may have made everyone lay down for a bit, but I think we hit to the streets pretty quickly. We walked from our hostel up into the main area of town and grabbed a bite to eat. It was a relief to be back where we could afford to eat out! We ordered burgers and sandwiches and tons of french fries. Then we headed back down the way we had come and got seats on a tour of the canals. Shannon had been to St. Petersburg before and it was something he highly recommended, especially since we only really had about 24 hours there. He said we'd be able to see all the main stuff this way and not have to walk everywhere. It was a good decision.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--W_X2rQjt90/VlyFkHECMsI/AAAAAAAAGjU/kmpLL-OvCiY/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--W_X2rQjt90/VlyFkHECMsI/AAAAAAAAGjU/kmpLL-OvCiY/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zwbZQ_bVpGw/VlyFkDFylSI/AAAAAAAAGjc/lzkUKQ-8M2g/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zwbZQ_bVpGw/VlyFkDFylSI/AAAAAAAAGjc/lzkUKQ-8M2g/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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St. Petersburg is beautiful. It does not feel like Russia one little bit. It reminded me of Western Europe, of Italy, of the coastal cities in Poland, of Maribor, Slovenia. Not Russia. Clean, gorgeous, fun restaurants and cafes everywhere, etc. I'm so glad we went for the day.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jbccT_NOFk/VlyFgqu23yI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/0JJVfVhH7p4/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jbccT_NOFk/VlyFgqu23yI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/0JJVfVhH7p4/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IYM9ugqw6Sk/VlyFdspEOWI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/b0wxiD4FRGY/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IYM9ugqw6Sk/VlyFdspEOWI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/b0wxiD4FRGY/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Lomonosov Bridge</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YE25ug8dfM0/VlyFejlNBII/AAAAAAAAGho/cjYTpaNTmm4/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YE25ug8dfM0/VlyFejlNBII/AAAAAAAAGho/cjYTpaNTmm4/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>St. Issac's Cathedral</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-6uw3xVncs/VlyFdUnc0rI/AAAAAAAAGhM/pZ_GiypFgg8/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-6uw3xVncs/VlyFdUnc0rI/AAAAAAAAGhM/pZ_GiypFgg8/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Anichkov Bridge and Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCOQ7RHNxww/VlyFecp7nUI/AAAAAAAAGhs/2ryqS85HtKU/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCOQ7RHNxww/VlyFecp7nUI/AAAAAAAAGhs/2ryqS85HtKU/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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After our tour of the canals we headed back to the hostel, but not before stopping to buy some snacks, water, and ice cream. We got settled for the night and after what was not a great night's sleep (something about five people in a hotel room) we got up and headed out to look for some breakfast. We walked for <i>forever.</i> But I was looking for something special, the perfect place to eat a breakfast that would also appeal to our kids. We stopped in a few places but they were either too fancy (oatmeal or eggs with all sorts of strange ingredients) or too plain (same ole same ole breakfast rolls that we can buy here). So we kept looking. And we finally found it. I wish I had taken pictures but I think we were so hungry that we weren't looking at anything except the food! We found a great cafe that had pastries and delicious coffee. We ordered two baskets of pastries, four large Americanos, a bowl of oatmeal, and probably some juice for the girls. We ate and had coffee and felt like we were in a fancy place in America. It was awesome.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzrqWuOKZUo/VlyFgPBhxcI/AAAAAAAAGiI/fjRDQXBJlIM/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzrqWuOKZUo/VlyFgPBhxcI/AAAAAAAAGiI/fjRDQXBJlIM/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252819%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The Winter Palace, home to the Hermitage</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToMfRaPVnNE/VlyFgzSfQJI/AAAAAAAAGiU/6tXgUTkL8NY/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToMfRaPVnNE/VlyFgzSfQJI/AAAAAAAAGiU/6tXgUTkL8NY/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Palace Square </i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weMOSGerMbA/VlyFgiaFzpI/AAAAAAAAGiM/pRXe1DLHWZs/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weMOSGerMbA/VlyFgiaFzpI/AAAAAAAAGiM/pRXe1DLHWZs/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Alexander Column in Palace Square</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91iUIEIb1_g/VlyFh2OukaI/AAAAAAAAGio/I4xly8ZNhLA/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91iUIEIb1_g/VlyFh2OukaI/AAAAAAAAGio/I4xly8ZNhLA/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Peter and Paul Cathedral</i><br />
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After breakfast (near the Winter Palace) we walked towards the palace and looked around, headed to the water and took some pictures, and began the walk back to the hostel. We packed up and got a taxi to the airport, which is when we realized just how royally we had been ripped off on our ride from the train station to the hostel. I don't remember the prices, just that the trip to the airport was a lot longer and about 1/3 the price. We had negotiated the taxi from the train station down as far as we felt he would go. Live and learn, I guess.<br />
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On the way to the airport all the girls crashed in the cab. They were so tired but such troopers. We caught our last flight home and were so, so glad to finally make it back with 3-year visas in hand!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AY-yQz7G4E/VlyFjNj-7mI/AAAAAAAAGjE/1DrmeO_GuPs/s1600/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AY-yQz7G4E/VlyFjNj-7mI/AAAAAAAAGjE/1DrmeO_GuPs/s400/stpete%2B-%2B1%2B%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-41284136851461694712016-04-11T21:40:00.001+03:002016-04-11T21:41:00.622+03:0023 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Attacking her sister. A favorite these days.</i><br />
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I'm late. Again. Can't believe my baby, and likely my last baby, will be two in 20 days!<br />
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At 23 months old Raye:<br />
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*has her two bottom molars. They're not all-the-way popped through yet, but definitely on their way and her mood improves the more they come through.<br />
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*loves to sing, do puzzles, be read to, build with Duplos, and play with play-doh. Those are her favorites. Her favorite songs right now are "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep." She sings, "Baa, baa, black sheep have you any MORE!"<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqDHoitoYsQ/VwvuVP2y3rI/AAAAAAAAGrE/CE3xkt_Ru-gnAUjp1VRJmraVIYjs93VJw/s1600/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqDHoitoYsQ/VwvuVP2y3rI/AAAAAAAAGrE/CE3xkt_Ru-gnAUjp1VRJmraVIYjs93VJw/s400/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>What a hoot. She loves, loves, loves play-doh.</i><br />
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*has an ever-expanding vocabulary. She regularly speaks in sentences and although a lot of the words in the sentence are not clear, enough of the words are clear that we can understand what she's trying to say: "Uhh uhh song a bus a beep a baby" = "I want to sing the song about the bus and the horn and the baby." Some of her most-used phrases these days: "Watch dis!," "Mama's turn. Way's turn.," "Help Wayne/Wel.," "Four-tee-tee" (means hide-and-seek).<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHtm4cdtrEA/VwvuaJb9vJI/AAAAAAAAGrU/EIbxyisWSxkXHmy0ZBoKtl4PB4bCV4vhQ/s1600/23months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHtm4cdtrEA/VwvuaJb9vJI/AAAAAAAAGrU/EIbxyisWSxkXHmy0ZBoKtl4PB4bCV4vhQ/s400/23months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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*can count to 12. She usually does it when someone else has started counting and then she'll finish up with all the numbers she knows. She doesn't itemize things yet.<br />
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*is still taking about a 3-hour nap during the day. At night she goes to bed around 7:30-8:00 and usually wakes up around 6:30. She's still in a size 6 shoe and is in all 2T/24 months clothes, but I pulled out the bag of 3T stuff the other day. Some of her 2T shirt sleeves are too short already.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crwlfTPnRsQ/VwvuV0oIebI/AAAAAAAAGrI/0z0cGQtdQ6kYjGoZdMn8tOsl59iv2KYVg/s1600/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crwlfTPnRsQ/VwvuV0oIebI/AAAAAAAAGrI/0z0cGQtdQ6kYjGoZdMn8tOsl59iv2KYVg/s400/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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*has reached the "I do it!" stage. She wants to do everything: put on her clothes, go to the bathroom, climb up and down stairs, wash her hands, and so on. Of course she can't do a lot of these things too well yet so ends up asking for help. It's frustrating.<br />
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*still loves to be outside. She loves to hang from bars. She <i>loves</i> to swing. Yesterday we walked to the store and she pulled a neighbor's toy truck with a string attached the whole way there and back. I think we'll be buying her a pull toy and a couple of large balls for her birthday. She loves to climb, chase after animals/birds, hang from monkey bars, attempt to balance on the barrier between grass and the sidewalk or road, and of course, play in the dirt.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ehs4ykgIWo/VwvuXU5UTRI/AAAAAAAAGrM/8CB-HqqtnKox30JBQuYPN0ZEJENeCvJaQ/s1600/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ehs4ykgIWo/VwvuXU5UTRI/AAAAAAAAGrM/8CB-HqqtnKox30JBQuYPN0ZEJENeCvJaQ/s400/23months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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She's quite the character and is so good most of the time. She definitely has her moments and is still learning boundaries, but overall she's not whiney, is obedient, and loves her sisters. She is a joy to have around and I'm so glad I'm actually getting to enjoy her. This is my first time with an almost-two-year old where I haven't been either exhausted from pregnancy or having a newborn. It's pretty nice.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-81104381005588686922016-03-22T20:25:00.000+03:002016-03-22T20:25:01.391+03:00And Then She Was Six <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, once again, better late than never. We headed to the States for a month one week after Lane's birthday, so blogging has definitely been on the back burner. I mean, it's been on the back burner for years, but all the same...it's worse when you're traveling around and never in the same place more than a few nights in a row.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCWvqHKf7K4/Vtsa3mnzWLI/AAAAAAAAGpc/ok8Ccm2Wl6k/s1600/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCWvqHKf7K4/Vtsa3mnzWLI/AAAAAAAAGpc/ok8Ccm2Wl6k/s400/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>I lost my brain and left the cake on the table in the morning. Raye got a swipe out of it with a bowl, but I think I did an ok job of covering it back up and fixing it. I was so glad I had saved some frosting after decorating the night before!</i><br />
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Lane requested a flower cake this year so I did the best I could to make her a pretty cake. She's pretty much a girly-girl (dresses, hair ribbons, princesses, etc.) with some crazy tomboyish tendencies thrown in there (jumping, running, hanging, roar-ing, etc.). But she's gone for "pretty" the last three birthdays, so I think that shows she's girly at heart.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqJy-OGp34Y/Vtsa38YLhmI/AAAAAAAAGpg/UvPBDewtABw/s1600/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqJy-OGp34Y/Vtsa38YLhmI/AAAAAAAAGpg/UvPBDewtABw/s400/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Her birthday fell on a Friday this year and we started the day with birthday pancakes and some Skype calls. She opened some of her gifts and we just had a pretty normal day. She was supposed to go to her local classes that afternoon but they were canceled so she just got to hang with me and help decorate for her party instead.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikL_gPioqSU/VtsbBtSnxEI/AAAAAAAAGpo/es3UWV_QWuk/s1600/lanebday%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikL_gPioqSU/VtsbBtSnxEI/AAAAAAAAGpo/es3UWV_QWuk/s400/lanebday%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Some of her loot.</i><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7DveQt1t58/Vtsa_kELtRI/AAAAAAAAGpk/6d4z9a_CUwE/s1600/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7DveQt1t58/Vtsa_kELtRI/AAAAAAAAGpk/6d4z9a_CUwE/s400/lanebday%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We had spaghetti for dinner and leftover pizza for lunch. She had a chocolate cake and some vanilla cupcakes, and we even played a game at her party. It was like musical chairs except with dancing instead of trying to sit on a chair, the last person to freeze when the music stopped was out. It was pretty funny because Noel didn't want to play so it was only boys left and most of them were pretty much wallflowers. Lane ended up winning the only game at her own party. I've never been one to do a lot of games or prizes or even special decorations but our girls are getting old enough now that they've been to a few parties and now expect games and that kind of stuff at their own. Sigh. It's kind of hard to find games related to flowers!<br />
<br />
All in all I think she had a fun day and felt special. That's always the goal of birthdays, isn't it?<br />
<br />
And of course we asked her the same questions that we've asked for her last four birthdays. This time she actually has 10 of the same answers, which is kind of fun. For last year's answers you can go <a href="http://scarbrough-fair.blogspot.ru/2015/02/and-then-she-was-five.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
1. Your favorite color is pink.<br />
2. Your favorite toy is your Sleeping Beauty doll.<br />
3. Your favorite fruit is strawberries.<br />
4. Your favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.<br />
5. Your favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast.<br />
6. Your favorite thing to wear is dresses.<br />
7. Your favorite animal is elephants.<br />
8. Your favorite song is, "La La La's" (Brahms Lullaby).<br />
9. Your favorite book is <u>The Boxcar Children.</u><br />
10. Your best friend is Noel.<br />
11. Your favorite snack is crackers.<br />
12. Your favorite drink is juice.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">13. Your favorite breakfast is cereal (puffs).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">14. Your favorite lunch is pizza.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">15. Your favorite dinner is spaghetti.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">16. Your favorite game is Sneaky Snacky Squirrel.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">17. Your favorite thing to play outside is tag.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">18. Your favorite holiday is Christmas.</span><br />
19. At night you sleep with: blankie.<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>20. You want to be a paleontologist when you grow up.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-2098181323408492712016-03-13T20:34:00.000+03:002016-03-13T20:34:17.603+03:00And Then She Was Four (2nd time around)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhZqm1LZeO8/VmxVr1K-HgI/AAAAAAAAGl8/mvkLLXv2SRQ/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhZqm1LZeO8/VmxVr1K-HgI/AAAAAAAAGl8/mvkLLXv2SRQ/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The birthday girl with her cake.</i><br />
<br />
Well I'm a few months late, but better late than never. December and January are always crazy for us, anyways, and this year we took a trip to the States for the month of February. So I'm just now getting back into the swing of things.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ai2Ttd-VikA/VmxVsQ9JYCI/AAAAAAAAGmI/IRwNHwKrcVQ/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ai2Ttd-VikA/VmxVsQ9JYCI/AAAAAAAAGmI/IRwNHwKrcVQ/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oWT8cvidE_0/VmxVsx-SeBI/AAAAAAAAGmM/14WASXsTeH4/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oWT8cvidE_0/VmxVsx-SeBI/AAAAAAAAGmM/14WASXsTeH4/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXgs8SYgBxQ/VmxVsORlC7I/AAAAAAAAGmQ/m0ks0ArKInU/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXgs8SYgBxQ/VmxVsORlC7I/AAAAAAAAGmQ/m0ks0ArKInU/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The morning of her birthday I made birthday pancakes. We skyped with some family members. We opened presents and took her shopping for a couple of presents. Honestly Noel was pretty grumpy that day. Her birthday fell at the very end of my two months of language craziness. Her party had been the night before and all the preparation, combined with the language-learning insanity I had been up to just wiped me out. It did a number on all of us and I really felt like Noel got the short end of the stick this time. She is quite the quality-time kind of a girl and all she wanted to do on her birthday was to play with us. We did our best but we could just tell she was suffering from months of not-enough-time. Thankfully she's much better now, in March, but still. I felt bad for the girl on her<br />
fourth birthday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi-eNVS49Co/VmxVqNjoT-I/AAAAAAAAGlg/x_4r1nRuaCI/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi-eNVS49Co/VmxVqNjoT-I/AAAAAAAAGlg/x_4r1nRuaCI/s400/noel%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>I think this is cupcake batter...I decided at the last minute that I needed more cake (I always think I need more cake!) so we made cupcakes, too. And how could I not let the birthday girl participate in the fun?</i><br />
<br />
Noel is one dinosaur-loving girl. She <i>loves</i> them. It's absolutely hilarious to me but she really does love them. I think she requested a dinosaur party sometime around last January. Lane also had wanted a dinosaur party but I told them that if they both wanted the same kind of party that we'd be having one joint party for them somewhere between their birthdays: I was not going to make two dinosaur cakes only six weeks apart. So Lane chose something different but Noel got her dinosaur party!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mp2BRmMVSGM/VmxVqHfoZ_I/AAAAAAAAGlc/xTqLxv9gLxU/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mp2BRmMVSGM/VmxVqHfoZ_I/AAAAAAAAGlc/xTqLxv9gLxU/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>My first time with marshmallow fondant. It was fun but UGH. Not my preferred way to decorate a cake!</i><br />
<br />
Shannon's mom sent us some cool dinosaur decorations which helped with the ambiance. Our living room was oh-so-busy for a few days. It was awesome but really almost too much. They moved all the dinosaur wall stickers into their room and they're still up, almost three months later.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8r_GLQvs1s/VmxVrOH-MsI/AAAAAAAAGlw/VDEfuD6QxPY/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8r_GLQvs1s/VmxVrOH-MsI/AAAAAAAAGlw/VDEfuD6QxPY/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBzQa-hjjyY/VmxVt00wQCI/AAAAAAAAGmc/3mfN6R37JM4/s1600/party%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBzQa-hjjyY/VmxVt00wQCI/AAAAAAAAGmc/3mfN6R37JM4/s400/party%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
All in all I think Noel's birthday was a success. She did have some fun and she loved her cake and dinosaur decorations. In fact, she's already said that she wants to have a dinosaur party again when she turns five! So I guess that she had a good time. I think that in the future we will be more careful to guard the time surrounding her birthday. It's hard when you just want your kids to be happy and have fun, and yet you try so hard and they're still not happy. That's the way I felt this year, but I think it had way more to do with the months leading up to her big day than with the day itself.<br />
<br />
Either way, just like that our middle girlie is four. She's kind and sweet and silly and loves to <i>play.</i> She also likes books and likes to be read to, but she'd rather play <i>with </i>you than almost anything else. She is usually kind and generous although is working on being kind to Raye. She really doesn't like it when Raye destroys her creations or takes things. But I'm pretty sure that's normal. Noel is also the loudest person I know. She's so loud. We're always working with her on this but, hey, I think it's because she's the middle kid and is trying to speak up and be heard. Literally. She's also super sensitive (in all aspects: light, temperature of food, feelings, etc.) and while with Lane I though the stubbornness might do me in, with Noel it's the tears. I often have to send her to time-out just because I have no idea what to do with all. the. tears. She's a sweet, sweet girl. And I am so, so grateful for four years of her.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1zwI7c07IA/VmxVqBnulsI/AAAAAAAAGlk/tEmk1OlF-Yk/s1600/party%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1zwI7c07IA/VmxVqBnulsI/AAAAAAAAGlk/tEmk1OlF-Yk/s400/party%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Hot chocolate while watching one of the movies she picked out: Walking with the Dinosaurs.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And here are the answers to the 20 questions we ask our kids on their birthdays, beginning with their third birthday. For fun, <a href="http://scarbrough-fair.blogspot.ru/2015/01/and-then-she-was-three-2nd-time-around.html" target="_blank">here</a> are last years' (well, from her third birthday).<br />
<br />
1. Your favorite color is yellow.<br />
2. Your favorite toy is your dinosaur toys.<br />
3. Your favorite fruit is bananas.<br />
4. Your favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.<br />
5. Your favorite movie is Walking with the Dinosaurs.<br />
6. Your favorite thing to wear is your long pink dress.<br />
7. Your favorite animal is dinosaurs.<br />
8. Your favorite sons is "Angels We Have Heard on High."<br />
9. Your favorite book is the dinosaur book you got for your birthday. (Mommy's guess here since you won't answer.)<br />
10. You don't know who your best friend is, although "you" (to me) and "myself" both popped out of your mouth followed by lots of giggles.<br />
11. Your favorite snack is cashews.<br />
12. Your favorite drink is juice.<br />
13. Your favorite breakfast is O's.<br />
14. Your favorite lunch is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.<br />
15. Your favorite dinner is grilled cheese.<br />
16. Your favorite game is Go Fish. (Mommy's guess here again.)<br />
17. Your favorite thing to play outside is hide and seek.<br />
18. Your favorite holiday is Mother's and Father's Day because "you make us love cards."<br />
19. At night you sleep with Raffie, Bunny, and Blankie.<br />
20. You don't know what you want to be when you grow up.<br />
<br /></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-20573651570822252272016-03-05T21:57:00.000+03:002016-03-05T21:57:33.735+03:0022 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7zBfuNN_Zk/VtspILntTBI/AAAAAAAAGqM/bTAqR2OglMo/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7zBfuNN_Zk/VtspILntTBI/AAAAAAAAGqM/bTAqR2OglMo/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>A middle-of-the-night snooze in Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.</i><br />
<br />
We were traveling the whole month of February so I'm a bit behind on my kids' posts. But as bad of a blogger as I am, I've tried really hard to keep track of their first two years' of life, so here I am. I'm a little in shock that Raye will be two in just two months. It feels like the time has flown by. But I very well remember this time just last year and how much of a pit I still felt like I was in with the first-year-with-a-baby things, and I'm just grateful and glad that we're <i>not</i> still in that first year, as cute as they are. I'm enjoying my toddler.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flMG5IAcYcY/VtspFXJee8I/AAAAAAAAGp4/GYWzs4nOkQg/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flMG5IAcYcY/VtspFXJee8I/AAAAAAAAGp4/GYWzs4nOkQg/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
At 22 months old Raye:<br />
<br />
*is potty trained. I think it's official. She tells us when she needs to go almost always. We flew across the world twice and she only had one accident with all of that. I think it's safe to say she's there!<br />
<br />
*is a chatterbox. It started in January, a week or two after she turned 20 months old, but has just continued and she's just talking a lot. She says all sorts of short phrases ("bye, bye, poops!", "up peeze," "Uh got it," "'Ere are ooo?") and so many individual words that I just never bothered to write them down. She went from just 15-20 words to BAM! a hundred or so in just a week or so and she's getting new ones every day. It's very, very fun, and I <i>love </i>being able to tell her to stop pitching a fit and to use her words and to know that she probably actually can!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzFHTCv4y8o/VtspFp_NgKI/AAAAAAAAGqA/rIDt3ykeaJI/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzFHTCv4y8o/VtspFp_NgKI/AAAAAAAAGqA/rIDt3ykeaJI/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*has 16 teeth and I think is working on a molar or two. Thankfully she's not <i>that </i>grumpy yet, but I do think they're starting.<br />
<br />
*went to the doctor while we were in the States and is a whopping almost-36-inches tall. It's like 98th percentile. And she weighs 27.25 pounds (85th or so). No wonder everyone thinks she's already 2. I guess we have a monster child.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8532eMb6JWs/VtspFt3y90I/AAAAAAAAGp8/izPEkuRd53Y/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8532eMb6JWs/VtspFt3y90I/AAAAAAAAGp8/izPEkuRd53Y/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vHAtu0qX2A/VtspIAM4tBI/AAAAAAAAGqE/ANEgiKK45zs/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vHAtu0qX2A/VtspIAM4tBI/AAAAAAAAGqE/ANEgiKK45zs/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*loves to be tickled. She also loves to play hide-and-seek. She likes to be chased, to throw balls, to run, and all the other crazy things that all toddlers love. She also loves her sisters. Noel is often a little too in-her-face and Raye gets mad at her, but she really does love them and wants to be in on all the action.<br />
<br />
*loves the song, "Five Little Ducks." It's her favorite right now and I'll catch her singing it to herself sometimes. Totally cute.<br />
<br />
*loves animals. She will watch animals and chase them and does not care if consequences might follow. She got scratched by Shannon's parents' cats quite a few times because she just wouldn't leave them alone.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16NAMMahJZ4/VtspIAeiJqI/AAAAAAAAGqI/amduw11hQWE/s1600/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16NAMMahJZ4/VtspIAeiJqI/AAAAAAAAGqI/amduw11hQWE/s400/22months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
*is <i>such </i>a good traveller. She spent 1000 or more miles in the car when we were in the States and she would just sit and look out her window. Sometimes she'd want to play peek-a-boo with us or tell us "Knock knock" (Who's there?) "Daddy" (Daddy who?) "Knock knock..." over and over and over again.<br />
<br />
*loves Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Wiggle Waggle, Peek-a-Who, and Dear Zoo. These are her favorite books and she will actually sit still for them now, whereas before she'd just flip through the pages like a crazy person.<br />
<br />
And there you have it. A snapshot of my crazy-cute 22-month old. She's much more enjoyable now than she was a couple of months ago...she's talking some, not cutting eye teeth, and just generally more fun and less...into everything. I love her. #stinkerbritchesraye.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-65216705291862168432016-01-10T14:42:00.003+03:002016-01-10T14:42:47.967+03:0020 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A week or so ago Raye turned 20 months old. She's:<br />
<br />
*potty trained! Or we're working on it, at least. She's doing pretty well, has an accident every now and then, but for the most part she's doing well and telling us when she needs to go. Hopefully by the time we go to the States in a few weeks she'll be doing even better. Yippee! for only two diapers a day!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hc1RwIP2lY/VpJACZJKG6I/AAAAAAAAGns/XGzhwcbDMR0/s1600/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hc1RwIP2lY/VpJACZJKG6I/AAAAAAAAGns/XGzhwcbDMR0/s400/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Enjoying her Camelbak that she got for Christmas.</i><br />
<br />
*talking a bit more. New words: pee-pee, poo, bowl, bird ("bee"), play (bay), ow, cup, mine, car, bed (beh), bath (baa), bird (bee), treat (tee). And a lot more that are barely words but are pretty consistent.<br />
<br />
*into everything. The other day I was making cornbread and knew I'd need to make another pan so I left a lot of the ingredients on the counter while waiting for the first pan to cook. I came back a little while later and there was salt. everywhere. She loves to pull up the step stool to the counter and play with the utensils and touch everything on the counter...she totally went crazy with the salt that day. I have to be more vigilant at moving stuff out of her reach.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI1kCPY51VY/VpJAB9tV-rI/AAAAAAAAGng/mgh6H22Z2XI/s1600/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI1kCPY51VY/VpJAB9tV-rI/AAAAAAAAGng/mgh6H22Z2XI/s400/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*into issues. She knows to blow her nose with them and is actually pretty good at blowing, but if she sees a tissue or a napkin lying around, or if she can reach the box of tissues, you can be assured that there will be tissues or shreds of napkins everywhere. Or she'll go into the bathroom and try to get some toilet paper to wipe her nose.<br />
<br />
*finally cut some eye teeth. She has three of them and the last one is closecloseclose to popping through.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zG0dPMcl1Yw/VpJACAUHUmI/AAAAAAAAGnk/wdhMD7f9gjk/s1600/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zG0dPMcl1Yw/VpJACAUHUmI/AAAAAAAAGnk/wdhMD7f9gjk/s400/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<i>Thanksgiving morning.</i><br />
<br />
*is in love with a little Duplo cat, swing, and "bridge" thing that holds the swing. These are her most favorite pieces of all the Duplos and she gets very upset if we can't find them. Lane and Noel have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that the cat and swing belong to Raye.<br />
<br />
*pitches quite a few fits, but will take herself to time-out if we tell her to go. She'll stay there until she's done crying and then will come out. It's pretty funny.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0USi0dN_wGs/VpJAAhDGTmI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/814FAB8nKEE/s1600/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0USi0dN_wGs/VpJAAhDGTmI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/814FAB8nKEE/s400/20months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>She loves play doh these days.</i><br />
<br />
*is very empathetic. When one of her sisters is hurt or in trouble she'll bring them their blankies, water bottles, or something else to "comfort" them. She'll also give hugs or just lean into them to help them feel better.<br />
<br />
*is into everything and we definitely have to keep an eye on her, but she's really fun and sweet. She wants to do everything her sisters are doing and thinks she's big like them. She likes to build blocks and play Duplos and snuggle under the sheets in my and Shannon's bed. She mimics her sisters and is a ham, thriving on our attention. She's just altogether sweet.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-39992346188136991752015-12-03T22:34:00.005+03:002015-12-03T22:38:41.349+03:0019 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another month has come and gone. So crazy how quick the time goes! Raye is now the same age that Lane was when we went to the <a href="http://scarbrough-fair.blogspot.ru/2011/09/hello-vacation.html" target="_blank">Canary Islands.</a> When we taught her how to sleep in a big-girl bed (WHAT were we thinking?!?!). When I was six-and-a-bit months pregnant with Noel. She's the same age that Noel was when <a href="http://scarbrough-fair.blogspot.ru/2013/08/hello-cyprus.html" target="_blank">we took our vacation to Cyprus</a> and when I got lasik. Time flies, it's true.<br />
<br />
At 19 months Raye:<br />
<br />
*still doesn't really have those eye teeth. I think the top two have broken through the skin, but if so it just happened in the last day or two. She has a bottom one on its way, too.<br />
<br />
*has learned how to pull our step stool into the kitchen. She likes to fish around in the silverware drawer (often putting things in her mouth and then putting them back, eww), touch all the dishes in the dish rack, see what kind of goodness is being mixed up on the counter tops. It's really cute and really annoying all at the same time, and who knows how many germs of hers we're all getting on our silverware.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UyJfSZSgk0/VmCXulKEQ9I/AAAAAAAAGk0/4xtKeP_Y3Yg/s1600/19months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UyJfSZSgk0/VmCXulKEQ9I/AAAAAAAAGk0/4xtKeP_Y3Yg/s400/19months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*is still interested in the potty. We're hoping to officially train her later this month. She definitely knows <i>how</i> to do it. She just doesn't seem to understand that you're <i>always</i> supposed to do it. After she pees in the potty she starts chanting, "Wuh, wuh, wuh" which means "Raye, Raye, Raye" because it's how we start the "Potty Song" in our house. Then she wiggles her arms around to dance, and this girl can <i>boogie.</i> She's seriously got some moves and loves to dance.<br />
<br />
*is saying some more words. Boots, bow, I'm sorry (I orry), water, more. Have I ever mentioned how she says "more"? It sounds like "moy," with her voice going up on the end. She also says, "ah-HA!" with her voice going up at the end. It's so cute. I've also tried to teach her how to sign "please" She pretty much just rubs her hands all over her belly.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQQvWqFLKvE/VmCXtrN8b8I/AAAAAAAAGkk/zUONnlNhrZw/s1600/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQQvWqFLKvE/VmCXtrN8b8I/AAAAAAAAGkk/zUONnlNhrZw/s400/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*Speaking of her belly, when you take her shirt off she rubs her arms against her bare skin. It's pretty funny.<br />
<br />
*is still in a bit of a temper tantrum stage. She knows what she wants and gets very upset if you get it wrong. Sometimes she pitches a fit just because we say "no" about something, but it's more common for her to pitch a fit because we don't understand her.<br />
<br />
*really likes to build with Duplos or Mega Blocks. She's particularly fond of stacking all the same kind together, so she ends up with tall stacks of the same piece. She also likes to blow zerberts on your belly, and she's still pretty fascinated with belly buttons and will come lift up your shirt to peek at yours (and put her finger in it) regardless of who's around. And she likes to play dress-up, just like her sisters. She puts on their fake heels and everything and click-clacks around the house.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56uSVxeWJ8U/VmCXtWPsefI/AAAAAAAAGko/Z5J1ondvKdY/s1600/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56uSVxeWJ8U/VmCXtWPsefI/AAAAAAAAGko/Z5J1ondvKdY/s400/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
*loves to play in water. She'd be all over washing her hands but I'm not ready to keep up with her doing that yet. She can climb onto the toilet and likes to try to push the button, and she loves to run her hands or toothbrush under the running water, so I'm just afraid to let her discover that she could use the step stool for getting her hands wet...<br />
<br />
*likes to draw or color. She especially wants to be doing whatever her sisters are doing. But she does like to make marks on paper and then bring me her paper and have me "ooh" and "aah" over it. She also likes to vacuum and gets quite mad when I want to do the "real" vacuuming first. She is all about pushing that thing around.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZBkPXfB3jQ/VmCXtmjsKaI/AAAAAAAAGkg/ONlcHw79iQI/s1600/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZBkPXfB3jQ/VmCXtmjsKaI/AAAAAAAAGkg/ONlcHw79iQI/s400/19months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*says some animal sounds (new or not, I don't remember): oof-oof for dog, ee-ow for cat, a low growl for lion or tiger or bear, kuh-kuh for duck, a squeal for elephant, "sass" for snake. We're working on other animals: mouse, donkey, frog, etc.<br />
<br />
*weighs 28 (twenty-eight!) pounds according to a friend's scale. This girl has got a belly on her! She's still in 18-month clothes, and can still wear her size 5 shoes, but she's usually wearing her size 6 boots these days since it's colder.<br />
<br /></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-21217770167507509202015-11-08T20:55:00.000+03:002015-11-08T20:55:24.555+03:0018 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My girlie is a big 'ol year-and-a-half. She's a hoot, too. At 18 months, Raye:<br />
<br />
*is a jabber jaws. Her words are not nearly as clear as Noel's were at this age (nor does she say as many!), but she sure is trying to communicate. She says "more" and "buh-nuh" <i>all the time</i>. It's really too bad we can't figure out what "buh-nuh" means, since it doesn't mean banana (well, sometimes it might). She is also very good at nodding her head now and when we say, "say please," or, "say thank you," she usually just nods her head. She doesn't seem to understand that we want her to reproduce a word. Ah well. She also says shoes, apple, and...I'm drawing a blank. Something like "puh-duh" for potty.<br />
<br />
*can put all the shapes into her shape sorter. And all the big shape pieces into her shapes puzzle.<br />
<br />
*is very empathetic. If someone is crying or upset she'll give them a hug. She loves to give kisses at bedtime or when someone is leaving. Or if someone else is kissing someone, she wants in on the action. She's sweet.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a_eIxWPUMvI/Vj-J-sISFYI/AAAAAAAAGgg/rPuQHYMGTWs/s1600/18months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a_eIxWPUMvI/Vj-J-sISFYI/AAAAAAAAGgg/rPuQHYMGTWs/s400/18months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*still has not gotten those stinkin' eye teeth. In general Raye is laid back and easy going and I can just tell that she's more irritable than usual. Just waiting on those teeth.<br />
<br />
*is still interested in the potty and showing us that she needs to go sometimes. She goes through phases of being completely interested (going 4-5 times in a day) to being completely uninterested. I think we'll try to train her around Christmas/New Years when we have a little break in routine. I really just feel like she's too young. She <i>can</i> do it, I'm sure, but I worry about her communicating to us that she needs to go since she's not as verbal as Noel was when we trained her at 20 months old.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YHQqCf3V3Ew/Vj-J9G4XD5I/AAAAAAAAGgU/_eWmuCs_P8Q/s1600/18months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YHQqCf3V3Ew/Vj-J9G4XD5I/AAAAAAAAGgU/_eWmuCs_P8Q/s400/18months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
*gets <i>very </i>excited about a treat or M&M after going on the potty. When I mention a treat she kind of pants and goes "oh, oh, oh" with her mouth all smiley and open. So cute. She also does that when she's just excited in general, about going bye-bye, eating when she's hungry, and so on.<br />
<br />
*is becoming interested in drawing with markers or crayons. She used to just want to put them in her mouth...she's actually put some marks on paper this month. She also likes play-doh.<br />
<br />
*loves it when we dump all the blocks or legos out and they make a loud noise. She says, "OOOHHH!" She also likes to put legos or Mega Blocks together, most of the time she stacks the same kind of blocks together, but sometimes she'll try to add onto a structure. She's not as big on the regular wooden blocks, I think because we don't have as many of them and her sisters come and build with them, too, so she isn't left with many to stack. But she does enjoy them when she can have a minute of peace.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PEgk4xLHJs/Vj-J-e06CVI/AAAAAAAAGgc/EN_D3ucz36A/s1600/18months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PEgk4xLHJs/Vj-J-e06CVI/AAAAAAAAGgc/EN_D3ucz36A/s400/18months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*loves to be chased, tickled, given zerberts, and so on. She loves for you to sing with her and kiss her neck, blow on her cheek, anything that shows that you've got all your attention on her.<br />
<br />
*is into everything these days. She <i>so </i>wants to play with her sisters but of course she doesn't play the way they want her to, so they do everything they can to prevent her from playing with them. She's getting better at actually playing: stacking blocks, wanting clothes on or off a doll (speaking of dolls, she gives their baby that makes noise hugs when it "cries"), and so on. But she's also all toddler and quite a destroyer.<br />
<br />
*is definitely an extrovert. She waves to everyone when we're out and about and will let people (usually she's more ok with men than women) pick her up. She might be a little more reserved with people in our home, but not much.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-79898164581304037282015-10-08T20:25:00.001+03:002015-10-08T20:25:33.707+03:0017 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
17 months. Shannon and I are still in shock that Raye is as big as she is already. It really is true: the days are long but the years are short. And oh how long the days sometimes are!<br />
<br />
Raye is:<br />
<br />
*expressing lots of interest in the potty. She's peed in the potty a handful of times in the past week or two, and none of them were initiated by me. She's patted the front of her diaper area and I took her and she peed in the potty. I have been completely shocked each time but we're going with it! Maybe she'll be potty-trained by the end of the year!<br />
<br />
*is yakking up a storm. She still babbles a lot but she has quite a few words, too. She started saying "Noel" (o-el) this month, which has been so fun for all the girls. She tries to say "Lane" but it just doesn't come out right. Other new words: shoes, James, apple, night-night, spoon (poo), water, flower, and surely others I'm forgetting.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye3NwilMNBg/VhamAKzONfI/AAAAAAAAGfw/9AUOey2qtDI/s1600/17months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye3NwilMNBg/VhamAKzONfI/AAAAAAAAGfw/9AUOey2qtDI/s400/17months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*is in the "I want to do it myself but am not actually able to do it myself" stage. She wants to feed herself her food with her spoon or fork, but isn't very good at it yet. So she wants help, but then she gets mad. And the cycle continues. She wants to climb stairs by herself but she gets tired after ten or so of them and then needs help, but doesn't want it. But then decides she does.<br />
<br />
*wants to play with her sisters <i>so</i> badly. But she doesn't play the way they want her to, so they do all they can for her to not play near them. We have nicknamed her "Raye the Destroyer," because she's best at destroying.<br />
<br />
*isn't quite so picky about food this month, for which I am very grateful. She still loves fruit (grapes, especially) but is doing better this month at eating her veggies, eggs, chicken, and casserole-type dishes.<br />
<br />
*is teething, I think. She's been quite cranky and clingy lately. She should be getting her eye teeth next, and I seem to recall all our kids having problems when they were coming in, so I think that's what's going on.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSV5IHjDitA/VhamB4kASDI/AAAAAAAAGf4/L2BStBAD1lc/s1600/17months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSV5IHjDitA/VhamB4kASDI/AAAAAAAAGf4/L2BStBAD1lc/s400/17months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*still loves to be outside. She always wants to go bye-bye. She loves sticks and rocks and dirt and leaves. She likes to climb ladders and go down slides, but in general, she loves the outdoors.<br />
<br />
*sleeps from 7:30 at night until 6 or 6:30ish in the morning, with a nap from 12-3, or thereabouts.<br />
<br />
*still could care less about the television. She has no interest in watching anything the bigger girls watch, but would much rather play.<br />
<br />
*gives the <i>best </i>snuggles at bedtime or nap time. She lays her head on your shoulder and just leaves it there while you sing to her. She never cries at bed or nap time and only very, very rarely wakes up in the middle of the night.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">***It's been a month of not many pictures...too much craziness going on around here to bother with the camera much!***</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-19284108225183173662015-09-25T22:43:00.001+03:002015-09-25T22:43:32.631+03:00Baltic Adventures (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cDcmXhpwWtM/VgGwjg9s4jI/AAAAAAAAGYY/lNZHDpWEWms/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cDcmXhpwWtM/VgGwjg9s4jI/AAAAAAAAGYY/lNZHDpWEWms/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We arrived in Helsinki on a Sunday afternoon. After figuring out how to get a transportation pass we took a tram to the train station (but of course not before getting off at the wrong stop with all our luggage first!). We found our correct intracity train, took it to our stop, and was met there by the man in whose apartment we'd be staying. He took us to his place, showed us a few things like how to work the keys/locks, the washing machine, where clean sheets were, and so on, and then left us to get settled in. I ran to the store to pick up a few basics and threw together something for a meal (grilled cheese, maybe?). We got everyone fed and in bed and got a good night's sleep.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ShioJSEdxl0/VgGxDJ9WgmI/AAAAAAAAGck/sv9lfEo3AJ0/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252837%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ShioJSEdxl0/VgGxDJ9WgmI/AAAAAAAAGck/sv9lfEo3AJ0/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252837%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Starbucks! Quite the treat for us since there isn't one where we live!</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJro1l49re0/VgGw7IXDgaI/AAAAAAAAGbg/YKGnYG5_mzY/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252828%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJro1l49re0/VgGw7IXDgaI/AAAAAAAAGbg/YKGnYG5_mzY/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252828%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-Wj3UN8co/VgGxBV-MqII/AAAAAAAAGcc/Ipxj0re1yRk/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252833%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-Wj3UN8co/VgGxBV-MqII/AAAAAAAAGcc/Ipxj0re1yRk/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252833%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7bFKSkJk0A/VgGw_YaOoDI/AAAAAAAAGcI/ljB5pbwbCbI/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252831%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7bFKSkJk0A/VgGw_YaOoDI/AAAAAAAAGcI/ljB5pbwbCbI/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252831%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFcAZWA85IY/VgGw8I6tQBI/AAAAAAAAGbs/xQUOdqn51gs/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252829%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFcAZWA85IY/VgGw8I6tQBI/AAAAAAAAGbs/xQUOdqn51gs/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252829%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ0OrUIOZxk/VgGw6eQtuyI/AAAAAAAAGbc/3UCn6nSnkpI/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ0OrUIOZxk/VgGw6eQtuyI/AAAAAAAAGbc/3UCn6nSnkpI/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252827%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Monday morning we all got up and headed into town to turn in our visa applications. And then we breathed a big sigh of relief. Shannon still had a lot of work to do so we spent most of our first week with him plugging away at the computer while I watched the girlies. The girls and I spent a lot of time at the local parks and we found a really great one nearby. In Finland there are a lot of playgrounds that have someone working at them in the mornings, kind of like a preschool teacher. They also have toys that are communal toys, and we saw this at almost every playground we visited. There were tricycles, buckets and shovels for the sandboxes, balls of every kind, and various other toys that are shared by the children of the community. It was such a blessing for our kids to have these things to play with!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HS-PKp3Eh-c/VgGwpvyOObI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/qWCvLDRA43M/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HS-PKp3Eh-c/VgGwpvyOObI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/qWCvLDRA43M/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tbNKzCt8kX8/VgGxMwKVimI/AAAAAAAAGeA/EGjCKa_VD24/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252849%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tbNKzCt8kX8/VgGxMwKVimI/AAAAAAAAGeA/EGjCKa_VD24/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252849%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The Church on the Rock. Worth checking out if you're a big fan of architecture or in the area, but not worth a special trip.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6ymk2bq3O8/VgGw4asoGFI/AAAAAAAAGbI/nt-8P7nb574/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6ymk2bq3O8/VgGw4asoGFI/AAAAAAAAGbI/nt-8P7nb574/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252825%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOLhkdOBFaM/VgGwf1U9ZKI/AAAAAAAAGX0/K-HiX6xneIk/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOLhkdOBFaM/VgGwf1U9ZKI/AAAAAAAAGX0/K-HiX6xneIk/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The Central Train Station.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzt66a-lOAA/VgGwm6H-ObI/AAAAAAAAGY8/sa33-UNrpIw/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzt66a-lOAA/VgGwm6H-ObI/AAAAAAAAGY8/sa33-UNrpIw/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>View out of the SkyWheel.</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RpGqYaNSw4/VgGwjwzAwQI/AAAAAAAAGYg/rFSAC_lSm6I/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RpGqYaNSw4/VgGwjwzAwQI/AAAAAAAAGYg/rFSAC_lSm6I/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The glass is tinted blue, so be prepared for all your photos to be tinted and to need a filter!</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pgBkUmqZRU/VgGw4BYmioI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/yM3mfJWjHGU/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pgBkUmqZRU/VgGw4BYmioI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/yM3mfJWjHGU/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Senate Square.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNfr983kU70/VgGwe2iyMdI/AAAAAAAAGXs/AvaQOicIuaw/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNfr983kU70/VgGwe2iyMdI/AAAAAAAAGXs/AvaQOicIuaw/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eyqAMC1gIAw/VgGw5tCPtnI/AAAAAAAAGbU/Tce-BljsAPA/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eyqAMC1gIAw/VgGw5tCPtnI/AAAAAAAAGbU/Tce-BljsAPA/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Market Square.</i><br />
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So the girls and I spent a lot of time at the playgrounds and local parks. There was a forest right behind our apartment and it was beautiful. There are lots of paved paths for bikes and then other paths cutting through the forest that are more like hiking trails. Everything was so green and beautiful, and it reminded me strongly of home in Alaska, just without mountains. There were fireweed and wild roses just like in Alaska...the whole place even smelled like home. It was so nice for me, especially since we didn't go to Alaska when we were in the States last time, to get a little bit of feeling like I was at home.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0b0aMM5AKc/VgGwiEEHJGI/AAAAAAAAGYI/56J-xEcIRwE/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0b0aMM5AKc/VgGwiEEHJGI/AAAAAAAAGYI/56J-xEcIRwE/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>No filter or editing on these...it really is this green.</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUIS_Y4Ov_o/VgGwgRhv1hI/AAAAAAAAGX8/dBvbBPUXBMU/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUIS_Y4Ov_o/VgGwgRhv1hI/AAAAAAAAGX8/dBvbBPUXBMU/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LR1tzU3dZc/VgGxGiT__sI/AAAAAAAAGdI/bKZQWtbDas4/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252841%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LR1tzU3dZc/VgGxGiT__sI/AAAAAAAAGdI/bKZQWtbDas4/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252841%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M03w9gmXyUM/VgGxIKbkssI/AAAAAAAAGdU/uRko9J9GeeY/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252843%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M03w9gmXyUM/VgGxIKbkssI/AAAAAAAAGdU/uRko9J9GeeY/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252843%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>When in Helsinki, if you climb things like this...</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Su98G_dBPpA/VgGxJz_Sd2I/AAAAAAAAGdk/CHMxFtShOTs/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252845%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Su98G_dBPpA/VgGxJz_Sd2I/AAAAAAAAGdk/CHMxFtShOTs/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252845%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>You're rewarded with views like this.</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tl_S22TsXwI/VgGxIyUz-9I/AAAAAAAAGdc/GeGSj_66d3E/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252844%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tl_S22TsXwI/VgGxIyUz-9I/AAAAAAAAGdc/GeGSj_66d3E/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252844%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUfgi3Ee9Yg/VgGxLSg0SII/AAAAAAAAGdw/AlBlmh7wU7M/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252847%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUfgi3Ee9Yg/VgGxLSg0SII/AAAAAAAAGdw/AlBlmh7wU7M/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252847%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>There was an observatory in Kaivopusto Park.</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyc4adlZB7U/VgGxKW2ciXI/AAAAAAAAGds/c4K5ajSUV2I/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252846%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyc4adlZB7U/VgGxKW2ciXI/AAAAAAAAGds/c4K5ajSUV2I/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252846%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Other than Shannon working and the girls and I hanging at the parks, we took a day and went and did touristy stuff. We bought two Helsinki Cards, which I wouldn't recommend unless you either a) really like museums, or b) have children who would otherwise have to pay for things. We actually saved money since we would have had to pay for the bigger girls, but otherwise I'd say it's not worth the money. But. We rode the Finnair SkyWheel. We took a cruise down the canals. We ate yummy food down in Market Square. We took the ferry out to Suomenlinna Fortress, walked around the island, and checked out the submarine that's been turned into a museum. We also went to Linnanmaki, which is an amusement park. But the best part about it, at least for our little family with three kids five and under, was that there were ten rides for free. And you don't have to pay an entrance fee to get into the park, so we spent a few hours there, our girls rode all the rides, and we didn't pay a single euro. It was amazing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKt4TWyalQ0/VgGxKeu3TuI/AAAAAAAAGeY/26Ubs2hvRTk/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252836%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKt4TWyalQ0/VgGxKeu3TuI/AAAAAAAAGeY/26Ubs2hvRTk/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252836%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEjxYGNzjgU/VgGwoe1RuLI/AAAAAAAAGZI/k8Js32Ya7OU/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEjxYGNzjgU/VgGwoe1RuLI/AAAAAAAAGZI/k8Js32Ya7OU/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>I, the fish snob from Alaska, actually ate the salmon in Helsinki and enjoyed it!</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WqttNIWgBH4/VgGwlkgScOI/AAAAAAAAGY0/QLDF1ld2svc/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WqttNIWgBH4/VgGwlkgScOI/AAAAAAAAGY0/QLDF1ld2svc/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>At Suomenlinna Fortress.</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-32eeQNMsbws/VgGwpIpyhBI/AAAAAAAAGZM/b_rY3EW0NUo/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-32eeQNMsbws/VgGwpIpyhBI/AAAAAAAAGZM/b_rY3EW0NUo/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO5apVV_M0g/VgGwl65VU3I/AAAAAAAAGYw/IfEaJ85PjyI/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO5apVV_M0g/VgGwl65VU3I/AAAAAAAAGYw/IfEaJ85PjyI/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252825%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7bss6yHt90/VgGwkZvbFoI/AAAAAAAAGYs/9z4A6J1_SI8/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252822%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7bss6yHt90/VgGwkZvbFoI/AAAAAAAAGYs/9z4A6J1_SI8/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252822%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MS0KxPKNNQE/VgGwen2gzTI/AAAAAAAAGXw/qN14821RmyQ/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MS0KxPKNNQE/VgGwen2gzTI/AAAAAAAAGXw/qN14821RmyQ/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Cruising in the canals around Helsinki.</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAlhG2YHDJg/VgGwehtehbI/AAAAAAAAGXo/FYcxacMrTMw/s1600/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAlhG2YHDJg/VgGwehtehbI/AAAAAAAAGXo/FYcxacMrTMw/s400/helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
After a week had passed we went to check on our visas and lo and behold, they were already ready! But they didn't start for another week, so we go to just hang out in Helsinki for another week. It was actually a quite needed break, since we headed straight from our crazy summer to leaving the country to a quite busy week with Shannon working all the time trying to catch up on computer work he'd let slide over the summer. So that additional week was very nice, almost like vacation (on a strict budget, since Finland is expensive!). We went back to the amusement park. We visited a farm that was free where the kids could run around and pet animals and play in the "kid-sized farmhouse." We went back to Market Square and wandered around a bit, had some Starbucks, got strawberries (long since out-of-season where we live!), and just enjoyed some family time. It was so nice.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PG35tvqD3VE/VgGw1ZFvBKI/AAAAAAAAGa0/QggjcJlFCh0/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PG35tvqD3VE/VgGw1ZFvBKI/AAAAAAAAGa0/QggjcJlFCh0/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Linnanmaki.</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MVRcZg9pzU/VgGxQ2_883I/AAAAAAAAGew/UGbSK6UPV4w/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MVRcZg9pzU/VgGxQ2_883I/AAAAAAAAGew/UGbSK6UPV4w/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykaKBsGBlh4/VgGw0GSNKjI/AAAAAAAAGas/4o8zlAm6X5E/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykaKBsGBlh4/VgGw0GSNKjI/AAAAAAAAGas/4o8zlAm6X5E/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Learning how to wait in line.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSgHXTGXfq8/VgGwz84NTvI/AAAAAAAAGao/P1ibM9vhE74/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSgHXTGXfq8/VgGwz84NTvI/AAAAAAAAGao/P1ibM9vhE74/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DHxk8xSP40/VgGwrejtv8I/AAAAAAAAGZk/O0ixo0eoXEM/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DHxk8xSP40/VgGwrejtv8I/AAAAAAAAGZk/O0ixo0eoXEM/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Shannon really wanted to ride this roller coaster, so he did! You can buy a ticket for just one ride, which is a little ridiculous since the price is horrible that way, but it works out really well when you only want to do one thing!</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neMrW98are8/VgGxRJYzU8I/AAAAAAAAGeo/PP44S6w5NpE/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neMrW98are8/VgGxRJYzU8I/AAAAAAAAGeo/PP44S6w5NpE/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>He's the one in the back, right, top, with his arms in the air.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIS2-HPKB2g/VgGwvRA23WI/AAAAAAAAGaA/-TXKT4_3chg/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIS2-HPKB2g/VgGwvRA23WI/AAAAAAAAGaA/-TXKT4_3chg/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIwWpuFTymI/VgGxN3eECvI/AAAAAAAAGeU/pig4z_sIa5g/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIwWpuFTymI/VgGxN3eECvI/AAAAAAAAGeU/pig4z_sIa5g/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDYy-zJYVqQ/VgGw1oK5MeI/AAAAAAAAGa4/QEkezorInwc/s1600/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDYy-zJYVqQ/VgGw1oK5MeI/AAAAAAAAGa4/QEkezorInwc/s400/helsinki2%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We thoroughly enjoyed Helsinki. It was a nice break from most of our other trips to Asian countries...this was Europe through and through. It's clean. Everyone speaks English (or very nearly everyone, anyway). Kids under age 7 travel free on public transportation, as do parents with a child in a stroller. There are elevators in the metro/train stations and sidewalks are stroller-friendly. There are great parks for children and lots of free things for young children to do. The only downside to Helsinki that we found is that it's quite expensive. We ate at home almost all of the time and still spent probably nearly double on food than we do here. And food is not cheap here! But overall we enjoyed it and have actually decided that we'll probably often head to Finland when we have to leave the country in the summer. So I'm already looking forward to next summer and a trip to somewhere new in Finland!<br />
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Two days before we planned on leaving we bought train tickets to St. Petersburg. The kids all traveled for free (this time. We learned on the train that technically they should have charged us for one of them...only one free child per adult!) so this was a very economical way to see a new city on the way home! (And it was much more enjoyable than airplane travel with a 1-year old!).</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-16742773992441172952015-09-05T22:40:00.000+03:002015-09-05T22:40:51.258+03:0016 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0MbqsI-HWHE/VetCwzE0mxI/AAAAAAAAGXA/WWykoKZ1b9A/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0MbqsI-HWHE/VetCwzE0mxI/AAAAAAAAGXA/WWykoKZ1b9A/s400/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Raye is such a cutie-pie these days. She's:<br />
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*talking a lot. Lots of words that start with "b": ball (buh), bye-bye, bird (also "buh"), baby, and something that sounds like ah-ne, which we think means "another." I've heard her say "I love you" this month, too, which was really sweet. She says some other things, too...I'm just having a hard time remembering them at the moment.<br />
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*working on more animal sounds now: "oooooh" for a cow, "buh buh" for a chicken, "kah kah" for a duck, "baa baa" for a sheep, "nay nay" for a horse, and of course the ones she already knew. For an elephant she'll raise her arm in the air and make a squeaking sound, and for a lion she'll do a very quiet, low growl/roar sound. It's awesome.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUoY4GzLvHU/VetCwd7NPMI/AAAAAAAAGW8/4cGFDTOsSkY/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUoY4GzLvHU/VetCwd7NPMI/AAAAAAAAGW8/4cGFDTOsSkY/s400/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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*more picky about food this month. I think a lot of it is due to all the fruit we've been having...'tis the season for yummy, cheap fruit, and we have been enjoying it. And so has Raye. She always loves fruit, crackers, and cheese...it's actual meals she might not be down with. Honestly, she's still a pretty good eater and not too picky, but she gets <i>really</i> grumpy when hungry so if it's not meal time yet or we're out and she's a grump because she's hungry, well, I give her a snack. So she often doesn't want all of her meal. And so the cycle continues. Mama can't handle the crying. #thirdborn.<br />
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*very sweet when someone else is in trouble or just upset. She'll pat them on the head (she also loves our friends' new baby...she loves to give him kisses and hugs), give them a hug, or just break down in tears that they're so upset.<br />
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*saying, "oooh" when putting on a necklace or a skirt/dress, and "mmmm!" when she likes something she's eaten.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9O9YttjvX30/VetCvSWuxoI/AAAAAAAAGWw/Ujai0EvKDV8/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9O9YttjvX30/VetCvSWuxoI/AAAAAAAAGWw/Ujai0EvKDV8/s400/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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*picking up phones, pushing buttons, and holding them up to her ear and saying "heh-doh!" Over and over and over again. She'll also do it with things that are not phones...pretending already. This is one of my favorite things she's doing these days...it's too cute.<br />
<br />
*loving books these days. She doesn't necessarily want to listen to all of them, but she loves to look at the pictures and point to things she recognizes, saying them if she knows the word. Her favorite book is this book about feelings, and there's a page with a girl who is grumpy who's saying "hmph!" Raye will grunt and make "hmph!" noises forever...it's so funny.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2kKTJlhCK9g/VetCvb0kheI/AAAAAAAAGW4/V0O8G5wcYG8/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2kKTJlhCK9g/VetCvb0kheI/AAAAAAAAGW4/V0O8G5wcYG8/s400/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*finally back in cloth diapers! I'm so happy to not be going through packages and packages of diapers each month. Speaking of diapers, she likes to get a wipe when I'm changing her and wipe herself. And she's interested in the potty. This month she actually stopped going in her diaper once in order to go to her potty. She didn't actually go in the potty, but she knows what it's for, I think. It gives me hope that we'll have another one potty trained early and be done with diapers.<br />
<br />
*climbing up and down stairs while holding onto the rail, up a ladder if the rails aren't too far apart, and practically running, although she's still a bit clumsy. She loves to slide and swing and just be outside.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaEuMuB514A/VetCvTn3xrI/AAAAAAAAGW0/bktEg6xI5dI/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaEuMuB514A/VetCvTn3xrI/AAAAAAAAGW0/bktEg6xI5dI/s400/16months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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*solidly in 18-month clothes. I think if she were in disposable diapers she could still wear 12-month onesies, but the cloth-diaper booty dictates 18-month onesies and bottoms. She's in a size 5 shoe.<br />
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*loving to dance. She'll look at my computer and start bouncing, which means, "come on, mom, turn on the music!" And then she loves to be picked up and bopped around, although she's also perfectly happy and capable of bouncing on her own. If she hears music while out-and-about she often can't contain herself and starts bopping up and down.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQH9i2RBG1c/VetCxKwxUfI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/pk0wHZXiMgU/s1600/16months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQH9i2RBG1c/VetCxKwxUfI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/pk0wHZXiMgU/s400/16months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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*learning more body parts. She can identify her hair, head, tongue, teeth, mouth (she either opens and closes it or she'll put her hand over her mouth and make that "uh-buh-uh-buh" noise that happens when you move your hand in front of your mouth), hands, ears, nose, and eyes. Oh, and don't forget the belly button!<br />
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*surprisingly good at following directions. She waves when told to "say hi." She'll take something to the trash can or go find someone's blankie, take a toy to another room, put her spoon in the sink, and so on. She understands <i>a lot</i>, even if she's still not saying too much.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-14764736396443703352015-08-25T23:21:00.001+03:002015-08-25T23:21:37.422+03:00Noel: 3 til 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mf94Q5-dwdI/VdzNk4icCTI/AAAAAAAAGV8/182OjmrLlpk/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mf94Q5-dwdI/VdzNk4icCTI/AAAAAAAAGV8/182OjmrLlpk/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Dear Noel,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wow, girlie, I love you so much. I know you might feel shorted in attention or blog posts or photos or whatever (since you're the middle child and all), but I love you. You are so funny these days. Your most recent hilarity is talking about where all of the food you ate for dinner went: your green beans are in your toes, your noodles are in your elbow, your chicken is *right here* in your tummy, and so on. You call pretzels "kretzels" no matter how many times we correct you. The other day you were <i>so</i> hungry and I told you that you were just going to have to be patient. You looked at me oh so seriously and said, "But my tummy doesn't know how to be patient!" We all bust up laughing at that. And you're just generally silly and funny, which just makes you fun.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahzSDSnXN00/VdzNjpd0mCI/AAAAAAAAGVo/5oruRUB9m6Q/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahzSDSnXN00/VdzNjpd0mCI/AAAAAAAAGVo/5oruRUB9m6Q/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
You're very sensitive, still, and we're constantly working on teaching you when it's ok to cry. For example, if you answer my question, "Why are you crying?" with "I don't know," then probably, just probably, you are not crying for a good reason. You get very upset when you feel like people aren't listening to you, looking at you when you're talking to them, have hurt your feelings, or have criticized you for something (recently you've gotten very upset when I've told you that your words were not kind and could hurt someone's feelings, even though you were joking). You want so much to be a big girl and to be doing things the right way that you get very upset when frustrated and unable to do something as well as you want.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yO3TLaQa3dI/VdzNmIcflRI/AAAAAAAAGWU/wl8K9n6BBg8/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yO3TLaQa3dI/VdzNmIcflRI/AAAAAAAAGWU/wl8K9n6BBg8/s400/noel%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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You, my dear, are so different than Lane in a lot of ways. Lane is incapable of sitting still and being quiet for more than about 30 seconds. You, on the other hand, can lay in your bed quietly for an hour at rest/nap time. The other morning you came out at 6:30 and asked if you could get up and were so disappointed when I told you to go back to bed that I decided to let you lay in the hammock instead. I told you to be quiet and lay down and look for airplanes. And you did. For 45 minutes, without making a sound. On days you don't take a nap you usually fall asleep at bed time within 3-5 minutes, because you actually lay still and close your eyes and then you're just out.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62yEoBqDpbA/VdzNjhR2GgI/AAAAAAAAGVw/J5igvYeSc28/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62yEoBqDpbA/VdzNjhR2GgI/AAAAAAAAGVw/J5igvYeSc28/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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You love to play. You always want to play something and you almost always want to have things in your hands. We have to remind you to put toys down when you're, for example, going to the bathroom or putting on clothes. You are starting to enjoy coloring and drawing and doing "school pages" more these days. You still like puzzles but can end up very frustrated very quickly, so puzzles that are too hard are usually off the table for now. You love to be read to and love to snuggle up and listen to books. You have your favorites, but most any book will do. You know how to write most of your letters, can recognize them all (in capitals), and know most preschool-ish things. I'm exited to officially do preschool with you in the fall when Lane starts kindergarten and to work on some things with you that I just haven't had time to work on.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wrNQuEX-f0/VdzNlP9ZDbI/AAAAAAAAGWA/cb28snknUzg/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wrNQuEX-f0/VdzNlP9ZDbI/AAAAAAAAGWA/cb28snknUzg/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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You are a great sister. You love both Lane and Raye, and frequently give Lane something she wants "just because I love you." This usually does not pertain to toys, but to privileges, like picking the prayer at dinner time or which book to read first. You don't usually want to give up what you're playing with! You love Raye, sometimes a little too much, I think. You get very upset if she doesn't give you "enough" hugs at bedtime, if she doesn't want to play with you, and so on. You want her to want to be <i>thisclose </i>to you any time you decide it's time to play with her. But you are a great helper and are loving and kind to both of your sisters most of the time...you are kind-hearted and like to see others be happy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eff08OtvxMc/VdzNkypDT9I/AAAAAAAAGWE/PYrjGLm6ong/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eff08OtvxMc/VdzNkypDT9I/AAAAAAAAGWE/PYrjGLm6ong/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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You are a much better eater than you were a year ago. The other day you actually ate your three bites of spaghetti with sauce without complaining about them, and while you wanted your other noodles with just butter and cheese, I was so thrilled that you didn't whine over your three bites with sauce! You are generally a good eater (the exception is things with red sauce, but you're much better than you used to be!) and especially love the crunchy things. Your words. Peppers, cucumbers, and anything else that's crunchy is a win in your book. You also love milk and would never drink anything else (except juice, which you don't get very often) if I didn't make you have something else occasionally. You are the messiest ice cream eater I've ever known, and if the ice cream is in a cone and we're on the street, I can guarantee that you cannot finish the ice cream because the bottom half melts and you squish it out of the cone before you can eat it. You don't know how to do it any other way.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej6mAqHbDF8/VdzNjh9iQoI/AAAAAAAAGVs/LyvgE0TvfOY/s1600/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej6mAqHbDF8/VdzNjh9iQoI/AAAAAAAAGVs/LyvgE0TvfOY/s400/noel%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Noel, you are such a joy. You're a challenge these days with your emotions, but we're working with you a lot to help you control them and learn when it is appropriate to cry and when it is not. You are usually obedient, although you tend to get very distracted and forget what you were supposed to be doing. You are sweet and love to help and be in on the action, and you love to play with Lane, as long as you can agree on what to play: you do not like being bossed around, but you can also be pretty bossy yourself. I love the dynamic that you add to our family, and I'm so grateful that I've gotten to parent you for these almost-four years, and I pray for many more. I love you.<br />
<br />
Mommy</div>
</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-88879930691605850612015-08-06T20:03:00.000+03:002015-08-06T20:03:00.175+03:00Baltic Adventures (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You may remember in my last Life Lately update that I mentioned that when we were in Istanbul we received new visas so wouldn't have to leave the country again for a visa run. Of course, life on this side of the world is never like you expect it to be, and a month or so after we arrived back in the country the government revoked Shannon's work permit, therefore rendering our visas null and void. So another visa run was on the horizon.<br />
<br />
Since we were just in Istanbul, a number of the families we know with children who live there were gone for the summer, and generally summer in Istanbul is <i>hot</i>, and I knew that an 8-hour bus ride to Tbilisi with a 14-month old was not going to be preferable, I begged Shannon to let us go north instead of south to apply for our visas. He agreed, so I started investigating.<br />
<br />
We decided to go to Helsinki via Tallinn, since neither of us had been to Estonia, and while Shannon had <i>technically </i>been to Finland before, it was a very long time ago and he didn't really spend any time there. So we investigated the visa application process in Helsinki, made all our reservations, packed our bags, and headed on our way!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-slP42WsjU/Vbi5dpJewtI/AAAAAAAAGRs/IgEh3eqBg8w/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-slP42WsjU/Vbi5dpJewtI/AAAAAAAAGRs/IgEh3eqBg8w/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252821%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>The five of us in Tallinn.</i><br />
<br />
We flew to Tallinn, Estonia, arriving on a Saturday evening. We went through passport control, picked up our pack-n-play and <i>one </i>bag (umm, we packed for five people in one bag. I was majorly patting myself on the back for that one), and grabbed a taxi. We checked into the Old House Hostel (only 10 minutes from the airport and right in the middle of Old Town), got everyone in bed, and crashed for the night.<br />
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One of the lovely ironies of raising children is that no matter how tired they are, they rarely sleep in if they go to bed late. So we were all up at our normal time of around 7 a.m. We got everyone dressed, packed back up, ate a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal that I had brought with us, and headed out on the town.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-qe6pMOWEY/Vbi5mZpl6SI/AAAAAAAAGR8/Xwt_FjGuiSE/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-qe6pMOWEY/Vbi5mZpl6SI/AAAAAAAAGR8/Xwt_FjGuiSE/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252823%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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From our hostel we headed out the door and turned left, then right to work our way up to Town Hall. On the way we passed Goodwin Steak House, where the girls couldn't resist snuggling up to the cow statue.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDM0CLMjCHY/Vbi4e5mWocI/AAAAAAAAGQM/_4JiUOjKLwM/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDM0CLMjCHY/Vbi4e5mWocI/AAAAAAAAGQM/_4JiUOjKLwM/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CPeERQb232Q/Vbi5TbSiwlI/AAAAAAAAGRY/skV1Mn4wHq0/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CPeERQb232Q/Vbi5TbSiwlI/AAAAAAAAGRY/skV1Mn4wHq0/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3U0q7AOkTQ/Vbi52zFjQLI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/Y3a1rsK-j5Q/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3U0q7AOkTQ/Vbi52zFjQLI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/Y3a1rsK-j5Q/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ7LNUkUyoo/Vbi6TG8camI/AAAAAAAAGS8/T58DkLB4kYs/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ7LNUkUyoo/Vbi6TG8camI/AAAAAAAAGS8/T58DkLB4kYs/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25289%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Lane and Noel absolutely loved all the cobblestone streets and small alleyways, all the "princess towers" and "castles" that they saw. It was fascinating to them.</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnSmbx0HHnA/Vbi52lw4PjI/AAAAAAAAGSM/AT6xIszfEeQ/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnSmbx0HHnA/Vbi52lw4PjI/AAAAAAAAGSM/AT6xIszfEeQ/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Our first view of Town Hall.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov3szxpUAJA/Vbi6De_e78I/AAAAAAAAGSk/hFwxoNi1V3Q/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov3szxpUAJA/Vbi6De_e78I/AAAAAAAAGSk/hFwxoNi1V3Q/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>A better view.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a212iWCHAcQ/Vbi6JclX6KI/AAAAAAAAGSs/utd9P6tTe3Q/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a212iWCHAcQ/Vbi6JclX6KI/AAAAAAAAGSs/utd9P6tTe3Q/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>My guy and my girls.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Town Hall Square reminded me of all the town squares I've seen in Poland, Czech Republic, and other Eastern European countries.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd1Yukx4jOE/Vbi6LH9LofI/AAAAAAAAGS0/oIZPfTR3O1E/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd1Yukx4jOE/Vbi6LH9LofI/AAAAAAAAGS0/oIZPfTR3O1E/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7hkmKEr_CfM/Vbi58AymciI/AAAAAAAAGSc/3TfXroGLmC0/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7hkmKEr_CfM/Vbi58AymciI/AAAAAAAAGSc/3TfXroGLmC0/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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We wound our way up to St. Nicholas' Church, which is also home to a museum.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cDAim1pYD4/Vbi4eMEfg9I/AAAAAAAAGQE/iMqI8tsp9cQ/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cDAim1pYD4/Vbi4eMEfg9I/AAAAAAAAGQE/iMqI8tsp9cQ/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyYHRu5p5_g/Vbi4eWdg9FI/AAAAAAAAGQI/nE1wWTK-ULg/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyYHRu5p5_g/Vbi4eWdg9FI/AAAAAAAAGQI/nE1wWTK-ULg/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252811%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Found it!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We walked down Harju street, checking out the gardens on our right while heading to St. John's Church.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xa8anIc6wXg/Vbi4u4S0L5I/AAAAAAAAGQs/CufwLE5bT_g/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xa8anIc6wXg/Vbi4u4S0L5I/AAAAAAAAGQs/CufwLE5bT_g/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a6j6XUS_kk/Vbi45SmAWvI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/CymxQCDHbxM/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a6j6XUS_kk/Vbi45SmAWvI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/CymxQCDHbxM/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252815%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>St. Nicholas' Church from the...front? side?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We found St. John's Church and then, after checking the time, turned around and headed back to Town Hall Square.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kc1PD_T-Yzw/Vbi4rQe2q6I/AAAAAAAAGQc/AKE_vJSyd8M/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kc1PD_T-Yzw/Vbi4rQe2q6I/AAAAAAAAGQc/AKE_vJSyd8M/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252814%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>St. John's Church</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdfaAB66wNo/Vbi4uCQtVJI/AAAAAAAAGQk/mmdIslFTC7A/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdfaAB66wNo/Vbi4uCQtVJI/AAAAAAAAGQk/mmdIslFTC7A/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252812%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We knew that we didn't have a lot of time left, but wanted to go to the overlook, so we went hunting for it. We didn't realize that we passed up the best way to get to the top when we headed back to Town Hall Square, so we ended up doubling back, walking uphill the whole time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7QWjHhBzfKU/Vbi5Aaql0iI/AAAAAAAAGQ8/YQWeivu_s3E/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7QWjHhBzfKU/Vbi5Aaql0iI/AAAAAAAAGQ8/YQWeivu_s3E/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252816%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>But at least we got to check out St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral up close on the way!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And when we got to the top we were rewarded with some awesome views.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_MxqsFl4rA/Vbi5AzdjxSI/AAAAAAAAGRA/mpxJor3jY8E/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_MxqsFl4rA/Vbi5AzdjxSI/AAAAAAAAGRA/mpxJor3jY8E/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_jhRtP814Q/Vbi5Hx_jWAI/AAAAAAAAGRM/s3Wa1OO9dOA/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_jhRtP814Q/Vbi5Hx_jWAI/AAAAAAAAGRM/s3Wa1OO9dOA/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FprOXCghuEQ/Vbi5TWQ4NoI/AAAAAAAAGRU/3p2DDEeVqM0/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FprOXCghuEQ/Vbi5TWQ4NoI/AAAAAAAAGRU/3p2DDEeVqM0/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252819%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zFk84a4wTw/Vbi5Wvu2DvI/AAAAAAAAGRk/Vx_2H8aRQO0/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zFk84a4wTw/Vbi5Wvu2DvI/AAAAAAAAGRk/Vx_2H8aRQO0/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We looked around off a couple different lookout points and decided that we needed to head back to check out and head to the ferry port. We walked down <i>a lot</i> of steps, booked it back, gathered our stuff, and grabbed a taxi to the port. Even though it wasn't more than a kilometer or so away, we knew we'd have some very whiney girls if we tried to walk the whole way after our morning of sightseeing!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9oyHYG1rS4/Vbi5txe0P1I/AAAAAAAAGSE/nD9jhRuH9eQ/s1600/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9oyHYG1rS4/Vbi5txe0P1I/AAAAAAAAGSE/nD9jhRuH9eQ/s400/tallinn%2B-%2B1%2B%252824%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
We got to the port, tried to get onto the boat but were told we actually had to go and get boarding cards (they didn't just want my print out of our reservation?). So I went to do that and then we hurried aboard the ship. We found a nook in the cafeteria where we stashed our things, we bought some lunch, and settled in for the 2.5-hour journey to Helsinki.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQjvMkui3Ws/VbkHW9bSdvI/AAAAAAAAGTs/olX-FTdMZi0/s1600/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQjvMkui3Ws/VbkHW9bSdvI/AAAAAAAAGTs/olX-FTdMZi0/s400/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMyo2uCDIxc/Vbi6dxESZGI/AAAAAAAAGTU/eaJcgVmVAzA/s1600/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMyo2uCDIxc/Vbi6dxESZGI/AAAAAAAAGTU/eaJcgVmVAzA/s400/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXA4acmV0_E/Vbi6ce3ZvrI/AAAAAAAAGTE/eTFNr8_3670/s1600/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXA4acmV0_E/Vbi6ce3ZvrI/AAAAAAAAGTE/eTFNr8_3670/s400/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf_OgFx9hvc/Vbi6hRAthpI/AAAAAAAAGTc/oBT61gACkGI/s1600/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf_OgFx9hvc/Vbi6hRAthpI/AAAAAAAAGTc/oBT61gACkGI/s400/tallinn-helsinki%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The bigger girls played in the play area most of the time, Raye took a little snooze in my arms, and we ventured up onto deck once or twice to see the sea and feel the wind. We pretty much just stayed put in the cafeteria because it was <i>easy.</i> And anyone traveling with small children knows that easy is always a bonus. Overall the ferry was an amazing way to travel, and other than having to lug our pack-n-play around, it was really easy. I think we'd do it again in a heartbeat...but maybe wait until we don't have to bring the pack-n-play. </div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-48895931216170165432015-08-02T20:21:00.001+03:002015-08-02T20:21:22.594+03:0015 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCBJlF3Dsg8/Vb5MQGQLPLI/AAAAAAAAGUU/szDP-GUtnMo/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCBJlF3Dsg8/Vb5MQGQLPLI/AAAAAAAAGUU/szDP-GUtnMo/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
At 15 months old Raye:<br />
<br />
*says "oof oof" for a dog sound.<br />
*loves to be outside. Just yesterday she brought me her sweatshirt, throwing it in my lap and grunting to go outside. She'll also bring you her shoes or your shoes, bring the girls their shoes, and so on, when she thinks it's time to go. When we're outside she is pretty content to walk around, chase birds, pick up rocks and sticks and pull up grass. When we're inside...she pretty much just wants to go outside. Or look out the window. But mostly to go outside.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67dnc05Ibgg/Vb5MVZXsbTI/AAAAAAAAGUc/ZOgIK6qyd3s/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67dnc05Ibgg/Vb5MVZXsbTI/AAAAAAAAGUc/ZOgIK6qyd3s/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAkHN6cjd2c/Vb5MlOGz7xI/AAAAAAAAGU0/YJeMiL5yBZc/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAkHN6cjd2c/Vb5MlOGz7xI/AAAAAAAAGU0/YJeMiL5yBZc/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Trying to be big like her sisters and climb up rocks.</i><br />
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*<i>loves </i>animals. I mean, there are not words to describe how much she loves them. If we're outside and she sees a bird or a squirrel she will chase them until she can't see them anymore, and if they're in a tree she'll stand at the bottom of the tree, looking up, and yelling/jabbering at them. If you pick her up she's content to just be at the bottom of the tree watching the bird/squirrel. She likes to pet dogs or cats, and she got to pet a sheep the other day and was in hog heaven.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqz_y4MImLY/Vb5Mw14nbOI/AAAAAAAAGU8/qlFCNyW4tME/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqz_y4MImLY/Vb5Mw14nbOI/AAAAAAAAGU8/qlFCNyW4tME/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Her face perfectly displays her excitement at being with the animals.</i><br />
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*says a few more things, although not consistently. We've heard her say "amen," "thank you," "I love you" (unfortunately for me only Shannon has heard that). And maybe some other things, too, but like I said, she's not consistent yet. She is very much a jabber-er and is constantly chattering, but we don't have any idea what she's saying.<br />
*is a great eater. She especially loves most fruit, cooked carrots, and pizza.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulXdqJqPZww/Vb5M2nUtVqI/AAAAAAAAGVM/AkplrfQ7b8c/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulXdqJqPZww/Vb5M2nUtVqI/AAAAAAAAGVM/AkplrfQ7b8c/s400/15months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>4th of July outfit. Totally ridiculous, but I loved it.</i><br />
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*loves balls. She says "buh!" and just loves to have a ball in her hands. She doesn't really care about throwing them, but she loves to carry one around.<br />
*loves to swing. There are lots of really great swings for babies / small children here in Finland so she's gotten to swing a lot and will sit there for 30 minutes at a time some days.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBSBaIfjb-I/Vb5MgGphCqI/AAAAAAAAGUs/sv95128i4mA/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBSBaIfjb-I/Vb5MgGphCqI/AAAAAAAAGUs/sv95128i4mA/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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*will sit down when she comes inside and take her shoes off.<br />
*knows where her belly button is and if you ask her where it is she will immediately lift up her shirt and start looking for it. If she sees your belly button she'll immediately start looking for hers, or sticking her finger in yours. If she hears "belly button" at all she'll start looking for hers, too. It's really cute.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYfRGpGPkNE/Vb5MZBSIZQI/AAAAAAAAGUk/JLCBAnH11w8/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYfRGpGPkNE/Vb5MZBSIZQI/AAAAAAAAGUk/JLCBAnH11w8/s320/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="256" /></a><br />
<i>Speaking of belly buttons. She loves to hang from this bar...usually she's grinning from ear to ear. </i><br />
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*is very attached to her pacifier. We had already taken Noel's paci away by this point, but we just can't do it yet with Raye. While Noel only used hers at bed/nap time and if she was <i>very</i> upset or cranky, it seems to be the only thing that will help Raye calm down a lot of the time, as she is still quite the tantrum-thrower.<br />
*is super sweet. She still has her moments (umm, almost any time she's told "no" about something or made to do something she doesn't want to do, like sit down in a chair), but overall she's very sweet and good-natured.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8UabAZQQTU/Vb5MxVLj8qI/AAAAAAAAGVA/V6yqkcAW9zs/s1600/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8UabAZQQTU/Vb5MxVLj8qI/AAAAAAAAGVA/V6yqkcAW9zs/s400/15months%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-10581058470028998022015-07-27T21:42:00.000+03:002015-07-27T21:42:20.956+03:00Antalya 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well. I'm a bit behind on...life. But my "baby" is almost 15 months old, all the summer interns and tourists are gone, life is getting easier, and we have no plans to add more babies or more interns to the mix anytime soon, so...a catch-up post is in order!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-_b0uGmckc/VZg1SED2juI/AAAAAAAAGNU/6L6LyH8OoNw/s1600/antalya26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-_b0uGmckc/VZg1SED2juI/AAAAAAAAGNU/6L6LyH8OoNw/s400/antalya26.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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When we had to leave the country in April to renew our visas, we decided to take a vacation first. And it was a real. vacation. I mean, the grandparents even came to visit!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQx_FEtAnUA/VZg1U13OBBI/AAAAAAAAGNk/ZLV_d_hcnXA/s1600/antalya29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQx_FEtAnUA/VZg1U13OBBI/AAAAAAAAGNk/ZLV_d_hcnXA/s400/antalya29.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjCC3vceBO0/VZg1HhmVlpI/AAAAAAAAGMw/F-cH_scG77k/s1600/antalya20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjCC3vceBO0/VZg1HhmVlpI/AAAAAAAAGMw/F-cH_scG77k/s400/antalya20.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>And this is what you look like when the only flights out of the country leave at 3 a.m.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihpzmIWygu0/VZg1RtK7oxI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/Um9iy0E3gFw/s1600/antalya25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihpzmIWygu0/VZg1RtK7oxI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/Um9iy0E3gFw/s400/antalya25.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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We went to Antalya, Turkey, and spent eight days on the beach. It was still April, so it wasn't hot at all (at least not hot enough to swim in the non-heated outdoor pools), but it was warm enough and a welcome break. The resort was all-inclusive, so all we had to worry about was making sure we made it to the restaurants during meal times and to the pool during its opening hours. We went swimming every day, most often twice a day, and let the girls eat dessert after every meal. They had a "slumber party" in Mimi and Papa's room a couple of times, and overall we just had a good, relaxing vacation.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-njAq-waO3A4/VZg1SriF3sI/AAAAAAAAGNc/y8EFPFE_4BQ/s1600/antalya27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-njAq-waO3A4/VZg1SriF3sI/AAAAAAAAGNc/y8EFPFE_4BQ/s400/antalya27.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Special kid drinks from the lobby bar.</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ouqLTfPtDQ/VZg1Bg7bXLI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/Z6r-Ne7RrFU/s1600/antalya17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ouqLTfPtDQ/VZg1Bg7bXLI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/Z6r-Ne7RrFU/s400/antalya17.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_jnxHEZkoc/VZg1Cw1fAMI/AAAAAAAAGMY/NGICAIRXqSM/s1600/antalya18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_jnxHEZkoc/VZg1Cw1fAMI/AAAAAAAAGMY/NGICAIRXqSM/s400/antalya18.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Chocolate spread on their pancakes was definitely the highlight of breakfast every day!</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4V4ENeEUWKg/VZg1Yt-7GSI/AAAAAAAAGN8/e2vsSN3mmEM/s1600/antalya4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4V4ENeEUWKg/VZg1Yt-7GSI/AAAAAAAAGN8/e2vsSN3mmEM/s400/antalya4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Ice cream almost daily from the patisseries near the pools.</i><br />
<br />
We only went down to the beach a couple of times. The water wasn't really warm enough to swim in, but there was a good playground nearby, so we went once to play in the sand and water and once or twice to play on the playground.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYXunysFqU/VZg0-hwDN5I/AAAAAAAAGL8/oIxUnJJXJLI/s1600/antalya13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYXunysFqU/VZg0-hwDN5I/AAAAAAAAGL8/oIxUnJJXJLI/s400/antalya13.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYbB9mMw9Ds/VZg0_a4hSjI/AAAAAAAAGMA/4xUs0_O0JL4/s1600/antalya14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYbB9mMw9Ds/VZg0_a4hSjI/AAAAAAAAGMA/4xUs0_O0JL4/s400/antalya14.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>This girl would have totally gone swimming in the sea if Shannon or I had been willing to brave the cold water for her! She was all in!</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PnppnBnQdE/VZg1AUjxTUI/AAAAAAAAGMI/taL-NVir66c/s1600/antalya16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PnppnBnQdE/VZg1AUjxTUI/AAAAAAAAGMI/taL-NVir66c/s400/antalya16.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>But this one preferred the sand to the surf.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21EB1M5OJVs/VZg1EbXHdGI/AAAAAAAAGMg/BVah2t6_hM0/s1600/antalya19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21EB1M5OJVs/VZg1EbXHdGI/AAAAAAAAGMg/BVah2t6_hM0/s400/antalya19.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QoDWNefyfQ/VZg08X2GLtI/AAAAAAAAGLw/ERLVE_iStrU/s1600/antalya11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QoDWNefyfQ/VZg08X2GLtI/AAAAAAAAGLw/ERLVE_iStrU/s400/antalya11.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The pool(s) was definitely the girls' favorite part of the whole vacation. Lane got to brush up on her swimming skills from last summer and by the end of the week she was doing really well, even able to swim the length of the pool. Mimi and Papa also brought her some good goggles so she wasn't afraid of getting her face wet.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9nZEUdkTJU/VZg1ce7q7SI/AAAAAAAAGOM/MP9RRQsugVA/s1600/antalya7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9nZEUdkTJU/VZg1ce7q7SI/AAAAAAAAGOM/MP9RRQsugVA/s400/antalya7.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu6mMHimigk/VZg1bUd71II/AAAAAAAAGOI/HD_dFY9Wtik/s1600/antalya6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu6mMHimigk/VZg1bUd71II/AAAAAAAAGOI/HD_dFY9Wtik/s400/antalya6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Noel, on the other hand, is still pretty much terrified of getting water in her face. It's kind of funny, because sometimes she'll jump right off the side and get her entire head under the water and wet, and other times she's scared to death of getting a splash of water on her cheek. But she's still just three so I guess she has some time. She enjoyed swimming with floaties or sitting on the steps. Papa Buck and Nona Lou sent them mermaids for the tub/pool, so they had a lot of fun playing with those in the water.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bzACk4o1eJ4/VZg1eynAdbI/AAAAAAAAGOU/KeR4PqA5jWA/s1600/antalya9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bzACk4o1eJ4/VZg1eynAdbI/AAAAAAAAGOU/KeR4PqA5jWA/s400/antalya9.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIo9-lntCMI/VZg1iGlhvII/AAAAAAAAGOg/53GEi05h8gU/s1600/antalya5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIo9-lntCMI/VZg1iGlhvII/AAAAAAAAGOg/53GEi05h8gU/s400/antalya5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
And little Miss Raye just got to enjoy being loved on by her grandparents, an endless supply of simit and pastries from the restaurants, and by the end of the week she was actually enjoying the pool, too!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6znphbmWSM/VZg08W9DAxI/AAAAAAAAGL4/zvQbn3V9gNE/s1600/antalya10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6znphbmWSM/VZg08W9DAxI/AAAAAAAAGL4/zvQbn3V9gNE/s400/antalya10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pj3h_isSRDQ/VZg1dYU8GMI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/muQGGrh96yQ/s1600/antalya8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pj3h_isSRDQ/VZg1dYU8GMI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/muQGGrh96yQ/s400/antalya8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sYJYTaAX1JE/VZg1QVt1_kI/AAAAAAAAGNM/FxGvSW6NhgY/s1600/antalya24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sYJYTaAX1JE/VZg1QVt1_kI/AAAAAAAAGNM/FxGvSW6NhgY/s400/antalya24.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Oh my gosh a baby in a bikini is just too cute!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We enjoyed just hanging out with Shannon's parents, leisurely eating and not having to worry about cleaning up or washing dishes afterwards, taking the girls around to the various pools, restaurants, nearby shops, playgrounds and beach, and so on. We just took it easy and actually relaxed (well, as much as is possible with young kids!) for a week, and it was a great break! It was our my third time to Antalya and Shannon and the bigger girls' second time, but it was our first time to go without having meetings to attend. And I have to say...I think we'll be back.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84mvC1drQ7Q/VZg1avK6yCI/AAAAAAAAGOE/Jx4x2OfkciE/s1600/antalya22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84mvC1drQ7Q/VZg1avK6yCI/AAAAAAAAGOE/Jx4x2OfkciE/s400/antalya22.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Mimi and Papa out for a walk with the bigger girls.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yT8kMiXNFU/VZg1UemNXqI/AAAAAAAAGNo/BFB6xgoVPAk/s1600/antalya28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yT8kMiXNFU/VZg1UemNXqI/AAAAAAAAGNo/BFB6xgoVPAk/s400/antalya28.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zgl5Kx2nZNE/VZg08QtlP6I/AAAAAAAAGL0/8IMkF4LB8j4/s1600/antalya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zgl5Kx2nZNE/VZg08QtlP6I/AAAAAAAAGL0/8IMkF4LB8j4/s400/antalya.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>I think this is the only picture I have of the five of us from this vacation.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGjY-1KgcNo/VZg1XGWyXHI/AAAAAAAAGNw/kRMsA31W3hg/s1600/antalya30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGjY-1KgcNo/VZg1XGWyXHI/AAAAAAAAGNw/kRMsA31W3hg/s400/antalya30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-54978704613269165012015-07-09T06:09:00.003+03:002015-11-18T13:18:12.316+03:0014 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm a little late, as usual. This month has been a fun one for Lil' Miss Raye. Her personality is just coming out more and more each day and it's just really fun.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QsYuUPVw708/VZg6exTQTGI/AAAAAAAAGPU/loqVFdht_fQ/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QsYuUPVw708/VZg6exTQTGI/AAAAAAAAGPU/loqVFdht_fQ/s400/14months%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
At 14 months, Raye:<br />
<br />
*can climb on anything. Ok, maybe not <i>anything</i>, but she can get onto our chairs, the table, the vacuum cleaner (today she got her foot stuck inside the spot where the canister sits while I was emptying it), the step stool, the girls' small table and chairs, and so on. She's fallen <i>a lot</i> this month and has gotten many small pops on the thigh for crawling on the table, trying to climb the bookshelf, and so on. It's exhausting. She's also walking well and although she's still a little wobbly, she doesn't <i>usually</i> fall down.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6p9i_wjndo/VZg6b8qZkwI/AAAAAAAAGPA/s2Pm8Tkmyts/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6p9i_wjndo/VZg6b8qZkwI/AAAAAAAAGPA/s2Pm8Tkmyts/s400/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*absolutely <i>loves </i>her sisters. She will immediately walk to them in the mornings (she's usually up before they are) and give them open-mouthed kisses and a big hug. It's really, really sweet.<br />
*can drink from a regular cup w/o help, is trying to use a spoon or fork but usually ends up eating with her hands, and loves coffee. Yup, coffee. And my CamelBak. Weirdo.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVqpyebJjSw/VZg6dwyuUCI/AAAAAAAAGPI/97IJMF0oQpo/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVqpyebJjSw/VZg6dwyuUCI/AAAAAAAAGPI/97IJMF0oQpo/s400/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
*has got a temper. She doesn't seem to go back immediately to doing stuff she's been told "NO!" about, but she sure does let you know she's unhappy. She'll cry for a minute about getting told "no!" or for getting a pop on her thigh, but then she switches to just whining/crying/screaming very loudly. Sometimes she'll stop if we give her her blankie, but other times she just wants to pitch a fit for awhile. I put her in her crib a lot of the time if it goes on too long.<br />
*says "ooh ooh ah" or something similar for a monkey sound and "aaoooww" or something along those lines for a cat sound.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RE1X4U1nDw4/VZg6biQw-TI/AAAAAAAAGO8/8t-QxLHo0Nk/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RE1X4U1nDw4/VZg6biQw-TI/AAAAAAAAGO8/8t-QxLHo0Nk/s400/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*loves animals. She gets <i>so </i>excited when she sees birds or a dog or a cat...she'll bounce up and down in excitement or just start jabbering up a storm...she loves to walk after them, chase them, touch them, and so on. The girl likes animals.<br />
*has some new words: "BAH!" for boo!, something that sounds like "Ah do" (I do) for yes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXBkhBDDbQ/VZg6cylwkkI/AAAAAAAAGPE/fKWlrGt5-wg/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXBkhBDDbQ/VZg6cylwkkI/AAAAAAAAGPE/fKWlrGt5-wg/s400/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
*can usually follow simple instructions like give the phone to mama, put your diaper in the trash, etc.<br />
*can identify her belly, tongue, and teeth when asked where they are.<br />
*is mostly in 12-month clothes but since her sisters were wearing 18-month clothes in the summer I pulled some of those out the other day and she's wearing them, too. All of her 9-month things have been put up.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGysu4tZZs/VZg6b1hqTQI/AAAAAAAAGPk/Vn9eXWgOuE0/s1600/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGysu4tZZs/VZg6b1hqTQI/AAAAAAAAGPk/Vn9eXWgOuE0/s400/14months%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-35087371778291755982015-06-09T23:18:00.001+03:002015-06-09T23:18:14.624+03:0013 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRTZ8VpTFM8/VXdHopH0CXI/AAAAAAAAGLE/AASSxYipJ5U/s1600/13%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRTZ8VpTFM8/VXdHopH0CXI/AAAAAAAAGLE/AASSxYipJ5U/s400/13%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
At 13 months old Raye:<br />
<br />
*says a few words: mama, dada, baa (ball), and buh-buh (bye-bye). She also is a babbler, yakking up a storm but we have no idea what she's saying.<br />
*has 12 teeth. Her bottom two molars have popped through...one of them is almost all the way in and the other has broken the surface but is still working its way all the way in.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2Zh9W2Te_g/VXdHmJRLjSI/AAAAAAAAGKg/4Zg_5qVzQvk/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2Zh9W2Te_g/VXdHmJRLjSI/AAAAAAAAGKg/4Zg_5qVzQvk/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Get a good look at all those teeth! And the scrambled egg on her face...</i><br />
<br />
*<i>loves </i>rocks. She especially wants to eat them and gets mad when we won't let her.<br />
*is finally walking! She still falls a lot but overall she prefers walking these days. She's still pretty wobbly and uses her arms to balance herself (flailing them everywhere), but she's super cute waddling around.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovkuiT2Wgj8/VXdHn5ZMvXI/AAAAAAAAGK8/JttLwHpdQB8/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovkuiT2Wgj8/VXdHn5ZMvXI/AAAAAAAAGK8/JttLwHpdQB8/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Practicing walking.</i><br />
<br />
*points to herself when you ask her, "Where's Raye?" She also usually points to or pats her belly when you ask where it is. And <i>sometimes</i> she'll stick her tongue out when asked where it is, but it's pretty hit or miss.<br />
*loves to go bye-bye. I've caught her climbing into her stroller, standing in the seat, and yelling (while waving) "buh-buh!"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FaJ4CeHTovo/VXdHnsi_NNI/AAAAAAAAGK4/tUj1fqLv3qo/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FaJ4CeHTovo/VXdHnsi_NNI/AAAAAAAAGK4/tUj1fqLv3qo/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>She loves to be outside. Here we're working on "the grass is really ok to touch..."</i><br />
<br />
*loves to eat. She's not a fan of raw vegetables yet, but other than that...anything goes. I don't think we've fed her anything that she refuses to eat (except raw veggies). She especially loves strawberries these days.<br />
*likes to sit in her high chair and wiggle/shake the whole time. I'm not sure if she likes the fact that the whole table is moving or what...but she rarely sits still.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4n4Z3I8tNs/VXdHni89gMI/AAAAAAAAGLA/s-xh2-S3ifg/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4n4Z3I8tNs/VXdHni89gMI/AAAAAAAAGLA/s-xh2-S3ifg/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Just doin' some playin'.</i><br />
<br />
*has figured out that she can make a noise when we're on a bumpy road and that it will make her voice vibrate. She thinks it's hilarious.<br />
*can climb on our couches and onto Lane's bed if Noel's bed is pulled out. She also can get onto the lower step of our step stool, which is kind of funny because she can't get back down.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms13nw1oxpk/VXdHmNaIoPI/AAAAAAAAGKo/5iyvDukUU1g/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms13nw1oxpk/VXdHmNaIoPI/AAAAAAAAGKo/5iyvDukUU1g/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>She loves to collapse onto pillows or beds.</i><br />
<br />
*has a short attention span. I think this is pretty normal, but most of her toys don't hold her attention for very long. She's always wandering off to find the next forbidden thing: rifling through my purse, climbing on the couch and then the TV table to grab the remote, trying desperately to get the toilet seat up so she can fish in the water. She's a hoot.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqXa7E8jShg/VXdHmKIRoiI/AAAAAAAAGKk/AAG8FsRYAQ4/s1600/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqXa7E8jShg/VXdHmKIRoiI/AAAAAAAAGKk/AAG8FsRYAQ4/s400/13%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>She loves the slide. Going down it, too, but mostly just playing on it.</i><br />
<br />
*likes books but will. not. sit. still to look at one. She prefers to turn every page and try to rip the book out of your hands. She does like to look at pictures of animals, though, and had correctly identified the cat on a page before.<br />
*does <i>not</i> like to have her fingernails cut or her face wiped. But she'll sit almost perfectly still for me to put a ponytail holder in her hair.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-40482999857018290382015-05-31T21:21:00.002+03:002015-05-31T21:22:03.156+03:00Life Lately<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A bit of life lately, since my blog gets no attention these days. (This seems to be the trend since having our second child 3.5 years ago. How I wish that when I only had one child I realized that I <i>actually did have free time.</i>)<br />
<br />
1) We arrived back home a week ago tonight from our 6-week stay in Turkey, waiting on new visas (and all the paperwork that was required). We received work visas (or Shannon did, while the girls and I received accompanying family member visas) and the wonderful news about that is that we shouldn't have to leave the country again for visa purposes. Wahoo!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WoKmrfydp7Y/VWtQSge98PI/AAAAAAAAGKI/yXwkbi_1UB4/s1600/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WoKmrfydp7Y/VWtQSge98PI/AAAAAAAAGKI/yXwkbi_1UB4/s400/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>One of the positives of visa runs: hooking up with friends that you've known for </i>forever.<i> And letting all the munchkins play together.</i><br />
<br />
2) Upon arriving we decided that it was high time to put Raye in the same room with the bigger girls. We have a lot of people coming in and out this summer and moving her bed back and forth from the guest room into our room just wasn't going to cut it anymore. So we moved her in a few nights ago and they've done pretty well together. Of course we haven't had anyone wake up in the middle of the night sick or anything yet (praise the Lord) but still...overall it's going pretty well. Much better than when we put Noel in with Lane for the first time! I did move the furniture around in their room so that Raye's crib is between the window and the chest of drawers, so she can't see the bigger girls' beds. While I don't love the set-up, it works well for a transition time because while she can still hear them, at least she can't look at them (and them at her).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PTrACwvi8TQ/VWtQTOyUotI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/rrcei3ZLZm8/s1600/lifelately%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PTrACwvi8TQ/VWtQTOyUotI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/rrcei3ZLZm8/s400/lifelately%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<i>Classic third child syndrome. One year old and finally getting her first toothbrush.</i><br />
<br />
3) Today I started the multi-day process of cleaning off our balconies from their winter accrual of nastiness. Buckets and buckets and buckets of mop water later and they're still <i>so</i> gross. Tomorrow I'm going to get on my hands and knees to scrub, and maybe on Tuesday I'll vacuum the bit of stuff that's left. And then maybe on Wednesday I'll start on the smaller balcony.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THED2mfSrMA/VWtQRzgDqYI/AAAAAAAAGJs/hvI0v8FA8jc/s1600/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THED2mfSrMA/VWtQRzgDqYI/AAAAAAAAGJs/hvI0v8FA8jc/s400/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>One kid's getting teeth while another is losing them.</i><br />
<br />
4) In June the city usually turns off the hot water in apartment buildings for about a month. Since tomorrow marks June I'm feeling pressure to do things (like clean the balconies) that will just be a lot harder with limited hot water. We do have a hot water heater that we have piped in to our bathroom pipes, so we'll have hot water in there, but no hot water in the kitchen is going to make for lots of simple vegetarian meals.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAjqBKqzujs/VWtQR92CoEI/AAAAAAAAGJo/MEcJl7Pcvec/s1600/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAjqBKqzujs/VWtQR92CoEI/AAAAAAAAGJo/MEcJl7Pcvec/s400/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
So <i>thankful this girlie still takes a nap most days.</i><br />
<br />
5) When we arrived back in town we got to see how beautiful it's all become while we were gone! Spring has come and with it is that wonderful rush of energy to get things done. It's come in handy for all the furniture-arranging and balcony-cleaning that I've been doing. I'm looking forward to purchasing a bookshelf and some more plastic bins to continue organizing our books, crafts, and homeschool materials that should arrive later this week. I bought some knobs and hooks to make myself a jewelry holder. And we got family photos taken while in Istanbul so I'm looking forward to printing a few more photos and hanging some prints on the wall. After five years of parenting we do finally have photos of our kids on the wall...I'm ready to get one up of our whole family.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_EdwNGQxzY/VWtQR64CB7I/AAAAAAAAGJ0/SqnzwabLkqo/s1600/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_EdwNGQxzY/VWtQR64CB7I/AAAAAAAAGJ0/SqnzwabLkqo/s400/lifelately%2B-%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Like one of these. This might be my favorite of all of us.</i><br />
<br />
6) Raye turns 13 months old tomorrow and since we've gotten back I've been reminded over and over again how <i>hard</i> the first year with a baby is. I don't think it matters which number it is, just that the first year is <i>hard.</i> So many transitions, they can't eat by themselves, teething, learning to be mobile, and so on...it's just hard. In the last month Raye has gone down to one (glorious, three-hour!) nap a day. She's learning how to walk. She can feed herself a lot of foods. She has 11 teeth and number 12 is nearly through. And my life is so. much. easier. So mamas of young babies out there, take heart and push on: it does get easier. You will make it, and you will come through the other side of the first exhausting year (or so. There's nothing magic about 12 months...it's just around then). And you will be stronger for it.<br />
<br />
And there are my thoughts for now. One of my goals for the month of June is to come up with a schedule of some kind that allows me some <i>me </i>time for things like blogging, reading books that have substance, exercising, and so on. I've realized that I haven't been taking very good care of myself over the past ten months or so. Part of that is because of point number six above...it's just hard to do <i>anything </i>(let along take good care of yourself) when you have a baby. But part of it is because I haven't been intentional or purposeful in these things. So I'm working on learning how to care for myself. I'll (hopefully) let you know how that's going when I figure it all out.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-67212151730459062972015-05-06T22:24:00.000+03:002015-05-06T22:24:00.050+03:0012 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Raye,<br />
<br />
Well, girlie, you've gone and done it. You turned one a few days ago. It's just as hard to believe that you're one as it was when your first sister (and your second sister!) turned one. The time really does just fly. Being my third child you got a little bit of a different attitude from me than Lane did, or even Noel. With you I knew that it ("it" being any inconvenience or "hiccup" in our lives due to your infant-ness) wouldn't last forever and that I really could just roll with the punches for a year. And roll we did.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqEXX4DwnZw/VUkXAHxczUI/AAAAAAAAGIc/pxftP9NrYTU/s1600/raye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqEXX4DwnZw/VUkXAHxczUI/AAAAAAAAGIc/pxftP9NrYTU/s1600/raye.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Raye, you're still the sweetest baby. You love attention and love to play peek-a-boo, be sung to (Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle, etc.), and in general just have someone's attention. But generally speaking you're content with playing in the same room as someone else: you don't have to have their full and undivided attention, as much as you love that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXjxy5gRi38/VUkXBKZQdTI/AAAAAAAAGIk/xIviHL-d2MM/s1600/raye3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXjxy5gRi38/VUkXBKZQdTI/AAAAAAAAGIk/xIviHL-d2MM/s1600/raye3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
This month you got two of your molars. They're not all the way through yet but both of your top molars are at least part-way through, and I can tell that at least one of your bottom molars is on its way. You handle the whole teething thing like a champ, though, and are not usually very fussy. You are very drooly, though, and the front of your shirt is often wet these days.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZiLINkFUhE/VUkXDW7hlvI/AAAAAAAAGI0/wKlqytOP444/s1600/raye6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZiLINkFUhE/VUkXDW7hlvI/AAAAAAAAGI0/wKlqytOP444/s1600/raye6.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
You learned how to drink from a straw and while you <i>can</i> do it, you make a huge mess. It's like you suck in and then blow half the water that you just sucked in out. Your shirt ends up soaked anytime you drink from a straw. You're also eating almost everything. You've tried some strawberries now and you really like them, as long as they're soft enough for you to gum. You've also tried some rice cakes, many kinds of crackers, new veggies (cooked mushrooms), and some other things. I've lost track and honestly if you can gum it, you can have it, and usually you like it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1M1WpnSIv8/VUkXE322WNI/AAAAAAAAGJE/5_VZpQdi0ps/s1600/raye7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1M1WpnSIv8/VUkXE322WNI/AAAAAAAAGJE/5_VZpQdi0ps/s1600/raye7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
You've <i>finally</i> expressed some interest in walking and standing on your own! You're not walking yet but you can stand on your own for awhile (if you have something to do, like put things into something and take them out again) and <i>love </i>to walk if holding onto our fingers. It's mostly your favorite thing to do these days. And we've dropped you down to one nap a day in the past week and while you're a little grumpy in the mornings, overall you're doing well with the transition. These days you usually wake up around 6:30 or 7 and go to bed at 7:30 or 8, and nap at around noon for 2.5-3 hours.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_9Nod71D80/VUkXEOcX84I/AAAAAAAAGJA/flzuf3CXCOY/s1600/raye4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_9Nod71D80/VUkXEOcX84I/AAAAAAAAGJA/flzuf3CXCOY/s1600/raye4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Gotta love a baby in a bikini.</i><br />
<br />
You're a jabber jaws and like to babble and make a whole lot of nonsense words and sounds. You can sign "all done" and "more," and once this month you actually said "aww done," but you haven't said it since. You love to crawl all over anyone who's in your way or in your space. You got a few new toys for your birthday that you really love: a radio thing that plays [real] music and some balls, and you got a touch-and-feel animals book that you really like. You love to destroy lego structures and to put things into baskets/buckets and to take them out again.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3wSiGhBuEr8/VUkXAdS4HAI/AAAAAAAAGIg/JFe1gGsipIg/s1600/raye2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3wSiGhBuEr8/VUkXAdS4HAI/AAAAAAAAGIg/JFe1gGsipIg/s1600/raye2.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a><br />
<i>I actually can see a bit of me in you in this photo.</i><br />
<br />
Raye, you're so fun and so sweet. You're content and joyful and a bottomless pit, acting like we never feed you. You love your sisters and your daddy and to pull books off shelves and to rifle through my purse. I love you and am so, so grateful for a whole year with you, and I look forward to many, many more.<br />
<br />
I love you,<br />
Mommy</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-21952545148657195142015-05-04T22:02:00.000+03:002015-05-04T22:02:40.629+03:00And Then She Was One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS1SEyEeVWQ/VUe7EaYKgVI/AAAAAAAAGGI/jdtDf8RwXxs/s1600/bday10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS1SEyEeVWQ/VUe7EaYKgVI/AAAAAAAAGGI/jdtDf8RwXxs/s400/bday10.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Little Miss Raye had a birthday this past Friday. We've been out of the country for almost three weeks now so her day wasn't quite the shindig we usually do for first birthdays, but she still had a bit of fun.<br />
<br />
First thing in the morning: presents! We've been hauling around birthday presents for three weeks...they even went to the beach with us first! And Mimi and Papa brought a few presents from Shannon's dad and stepmom as well, so even though we didn't buy her anything (didn't want to haul even <i>more</i> gifts around), she still had a few things to open. And she has a few more back home that she can open in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RvVI6JdqluM/VUe7GOx-_SI/AAAAAAAAGGU/_ew_NdM_r3k/s1600/bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RvVI6JdqluM/VUe7GOx-_SI/AAAAAAAAGGU/_ew_NdM_r3k/s400/bday.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VQ-Af6nis/VUe7OFXJPiI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/W0ig7P0Agx4/s1600/bday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VQ-Af6nis/VUe7OFXJPiI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/W0ig7P0Agx4/s400/bday3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV6zzVbJvs8/VUe7QNIlm8I/AAAAAAAAGHc/NLBhDmuZYaA/s1600/bday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV6zzVbJvs8/VUe7QNIlm8I/AAAAAAAAGHc/NLBhDmuZYaA/s400/bday2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkQXxrJoTZ0/VUe7PYyb0KI/AAAAAAAAGHY/A1TpVLxO1c0/s1600/bday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkQXxrJoTZ0/VUe7PYyb0KI/AAAAAAAAGHY/A1TpVLxO1c0/s400/bday4.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--I6xyB7Xfa4/VUe7RTYRHNI/AAAAAAAAGHs/jnx3GG7meSQ/s1600/bday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--I6xyB7Xfa4/VUe7RTYRHNI/AAAAAAAAGHs/jnx3GG7meSQ/s400/bday5.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JwsQ5_e6gs/VUe7RX1nC3I/AAAAAAAAGHo/cdYNnLVABUs/s1600/bday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JwsQ5_e6gs/VUe7RX1nC3I/AAAAAAAAGHo/cdYNnLVABUs/s400/bday6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
After presents and breakfast (no birthday pancakes this year...while I had everything to actually <i>make </i>the pancakes, we didn't have anything to top them with. So we opted for birthday cereal instead.), Shannon took the girls to Starbucks and to the park so I could finish the cake. It definitely wasn't as pretty as I would have liked, but considering I had to bring the sprinkles and vanilla and almond extracts with me and borrow cake pans and use a regular plate as a cake board...I think it'll do. I'll do it up right for her second birthday. Hopefully.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-re2rYjLUJ08/VUe7T51INMI/AAAAAAAAGH4/9m9zBMWPAfA/s1600/bday8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-re2rYjLUJ08/VUe7T51INMI/AAAAAAAAGH4/9m9zBMWPAfA/s400/bday8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Then it was lunch time and nap time and I chopped veggies and chicken for stir fry and cleaned the house a bit. Around 3:30 friends started showing up. We're lucky to have lived here before and to have a few pretty good friends who still live here, some who even have small children. So the kids came and the dads took them to play at the park while the moms chatted and watched the babies/toddlers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dl_DJinQ4U/VUe7JzhdE-I/AAAAAAAAGGo/lZeIM0lEWTk/s1600/bday15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dl_DJinQ4U/VUe7JzhdE-I/AAAAAAAAGGo/lZeIM0lEWTk/s400/bday15.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2X4TjLfqCg8/VUe7GDXqj-I/AAAAAAAAGGQ/7uNTWxWbbxo/s1600/bday11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2X4TjLfqCg8/VUe7GDXqj-I/AAAAAAAAGGQ/7uNTWxWbbxo/s400/bday11.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Other friends arrived and we ate stir fry and sang to the birthday girl and let her dig into her first piece of cake. She, like the other girls, was not the biggest fan of the cake. My silly kids get too full of their dinner to enjoy their first birthday cake! (But the next day, when I let her eat it for lunch, she was all over it.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ-DZbgRqiE/VUe7L7_4UOI/AAAAAAAAGG4/aqPMrdsr3V0/s1600/bday16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ-DZbgRqiE/VUe7L7_4UOI/AAAAAAAAGG4/aqPMrdsr3V0/s400/bday16.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LD-Ubv98z8c/VUe7NBRi2lI/AAAAAAAAGHI/DLd-hEJkZ8I/s1600/bday17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LD-Ubv98z8c/VUe7NBRi2lI/AAAAAAAAGHI/DLd-hEJkZ8I/s400/bday17.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Everyone left and we put the kids to bed and I think we watched a show. Shannon and I reminisced just a little about the last year and about her birth, about how quickly the time goes. And while yes, it's fantastic and amazing that our little Raye is one now, the bigger miracle is that we survived a year of parenting three children. One year down; only a lifetime to go.</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767613040515745730.post-88721710691379642582015-04-06T21:38:00.006+03:002015-04-06T21:44:43.617+03:0011 Months Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Raye,<br />
<br />
A few days ago you turned 11 months old. You'll be one soon, and I'm a little amazed at how quickly this year has gone by. Before I know it <i>you'll </i>be the five-year old in this house. But for now I'll just soak up your grins and giggles.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Mjm-hEgVF8/VSLL_VKTIBI/AAAAAAAAGEs/-jqNoopGKEE/s1600/11months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Mjm-hEgVF8/VSLL_VKTIBI/AAAAAAAAGEs/-jqNoopGKEE/s1600/11months.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
This month you got three teeth, all on the top. The last one gave you a lot of trouble for awhile but it <i>finally </i>came through and you were almost immediately happier. I think you might be starting to cut some molars already, though, because you're still pulling on your ears and have some pretty nasty diapers, as seems to be par for the course with teething Scarbrough babies. But you're pretty cute for now with your front eight. You bite your tongue on accident quite frequently which is oh-so-sad and yet oh-so-funny at the same time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJyDmOYGQM0/VSLMAuYcKnI/AAAAAAAAGFg/5-Ktvea_s9c/s1600/11months5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJyDmOYGQM0/VSLMAuYcKnI/AAAAAAAAGFg/5-Ktvea_s9c/s1600/11months5.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Showin' off the chompers. And the haircut.</i><br />
<br />
This month I finally had to give you a little haircut. Your bangs were just getting a little out of control, long and stringy, so I let you lie down on the floor and hold onto something forbidden while I snipped them a bit. It's made for a lot less food in your hair these days.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr76GO_Lrpg/VSLMAJ8uDiI/AAAAAAAAGE8/4GTeJhvIzIQ/s1600/11months4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr76GO_Lrpg/VSLMAJ8uDiI/AAAAAAAAGE8/4GTeJhvIzIQ/s1600/11months4.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
Speaking of food, you're a fan. Seriously, you eat a ton. We can't figure out where you put it all, but you are <i>hungry.</i> You've had just about everything except citrus fruits, nuts, honey, and obviously anything really sweet (although you have had things like waffles with a bit of syrup, applesauce, sweet breads, etc.). You drink really well from a cup and we're working on getting you to drink from a straw, but you're not very interested yet. We'll be traveling next week and I'm really hoping you figure it out before then, but if not...I guess I'll just have to tote a plastic cup around with us.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YnYwfBbtMd4/VSLMBP_-jII/AAAAAAAAGFI/BYmVnEls7xs/s1600/11months7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YnYwfBbtMd4/VSLMBP_-jII/AAAAAAAAGFI/BYmVnEls7xs/s1600/11months7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Raye, you weaned yourself this month and it made me really sad. You bit me once and I gasped and told you "NO!" and you went on strike for a day. And then the next time you bit me and I gasped you just decided you were done. You haven't nursed since. I would have been more okay with the whole thing if you had given me some indication that you were about done, but to go cold turkey on me...really not cool, girl. I've upped your daily cheese and yogurt intake and have let you go straight to cow's milk. You don't seem to love it, but you get probably 8-12 ounces in a day so far, so we'll take it. I tried to give you a bottle and you would have nothing to do with it, so it kind of limited my options, you know?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjYih8Ig70w/VSLMApNtFHI/AAAAAAAAGFE/aZQaI1-D9HY/s1600/11months6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjYih8Ig70w/VSLMApNtFHI/AAAAAAAAGFE/aZQaI1-D9HY/s1600/11months6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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You are a crawling <i>machine </i>these days. You're fast. And you're quick at cruising, too, but you have no interest in walking <i>at all.</i> If I try to hold your hands and let you walk you just drop to your bottom, or arch your back and push your tummy forward so that you're forced to your knees. I'm quite curious as to when you actually will take interest in trying to walk, because as of now, your interest level is about .05%. Or practically non-existent.<br />
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You're into all 12-month clothes these days and you <i>hate </i>shoes, which is alright since you don't need to wear them often, but is really annoying when they need to stay on and you're doing everything you can to kick them off. I guess it's a good thing you're not interested in walking yet, because with walking comes...you guessed it: shoes. So maybe you'll decide you like shoes about the time you want to walk. And then we'll have a winning combination on our hands.<br />
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You figured out how to stick out your tongue this month, and you love to stick it out, especially if someone else sticks theirs out at you. You also love to clap. You clap at the right point in "pat-a-cake" and if someone says "yay!" You wave bye-bye anytime someone says "bye-bye," and sometimes for "hi," too. And sometimes you look at us and just throw both of your hands up in the air with a big grin. It's super cute. You finally said "mama" this month and say it frequently now, but it's usually when you're crying about something and want me to rescue you. You're also doing lots of babbling and spitting, much like last month. You're just a cutie-pie, all around.<br />
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Raye, we love you so much. You're so laid-back and content to crawl around and play with whatever you can get your hands on. You love to be tickled and played with and give us great bit laughs and grins when we play one-on-one with you, but you also enjoy playing alone in the room with someone else or getting into whatever your sisters are playing with. You're easy-going and content if your diaper is dry and your belly is full. You sleep all night and take 1-2 good naps each day. I love you, sweetie, and am so grateful for you.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mommy</div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11924662196042197585noreply@blogger.com0