the great escape

It was a week ago today. We were going around the house opening windows to let the rare bit of fresh, warm NY air into the house. I glanced out the window on the side of the house as I opened it...
and saw Alayna going down the driveway! Barefoot, with a cup in her hand, she was on a mission...
At first I let out a little giggle. It did look hysterical...her cheeks jiggling with every determined step. But, I quickly realized that she was out there by herself. I hollared to Jeremy, who ran out to rescue her from certain rapid tumble into the street.
Since she had been in the house just moments before, it was determined that Kira was in on the plan. She admitted to the crime, saying "I let her out, just like Brittany!" Not wanting to dash her moment, but also wanting to get the point across, we explained that Alayna was NOT like the dog and could not just be let out.
We then locked the doors and thought we were safe...until the next afternoon when the doorbell rang. It was Kira. She had unlocked both doors in the back and went around to the front. Aaaaahhhhhh!
My Dad has since moved the lock higher up, but I still worry. After all there is always a chair or stepstool to get past that obstacle, too!

I think these are Alayna's pants

I knew Kira had been growing. Everyone at church and all her friend's mommys were commenting on how much taller she looked just in the last month. On her birthday in November, when she turned 3, she was still wearing a size 2T and they were baggy and long. But, just a couple weeks ago, I noticed the pants looked like she was preparing for the flood! Luckily, here in NY, we don't go out of the house without our boots on in the winter, so you couldn't really tell how long the pants were supposed to be. I figured we would just wait until Spring and then stock up on shorts and capris in the next size up. Until Monday. I went to put on her (my) favorite pair of jeans and couldn't get the button done at the top.
"Mama, I think these are Alayna's pants!" Kira says distressed.
Ack! What happened to my little toddler girl? Is she really growing up...and right out of her clothes!?!?
So, Off we went to the store for some new duds.
Thankfully, we all needed Easter wear, so I raced around the store pushing the fabulous double stroller cart at Kohls grabbing anything and everything that might fit. We headed for the dressing room. First, mommy. Thankfully, my days at the gym have paid off. Although, I'll never understand how I can wear a size 6 skirt, size 8 in pants and dresses, but still have to go up to a 10 in jeans. Not that I am not thankful for getting rid of my 12s and 14s...but still, a little consistancy would be nice!
Then, it was Alayna's turn. I already knew that my chubby monkey would be in a size 24 month, so we did good there, too.
Then, Kira. Since she was in size 2T before, I grabbed 3T. Imagine my surprise when they were all too small! Yipes! She has skipped a WHOLE SIZE! My I-never-eat-a-darn-thing child has shot up to a 4T overnight! So, we headed back out and grabbed more in the right size.
Now...if only they both had shoes that fit...

3 going on 13

Kira is such a big girl now and is always looking for ways to prove it! She has been wanting to help me around the house...load the dishwasher, sweep the floors, etc. She also loves to "watch" Alayna for me if I need to go into the other room. LOL!
Last night, when Alayna was up ALL night puking, I didn't get any sleep. Alayna finally fell into a good sleep around 8am. Kira woke up right around the same time (of course) and tried to wake me. I told her I needed a few more minutes. I guess she knew I really needed to sleep. She went to the bathroom and carried her rather large stepstool into the kitchen to get a banana off the counter. Then, she got a plastic cup from the dishdrainer and got a glass of water from the fridge. She even found leggings and a shirt in the clean laundry pile and got dressed! Whew! She's never done any of that before.
I think she finally did go out and wake up daddy, who helped get everything else settled, but she was such a proud girl this morning for taking care of herself so well!

Alayna-speak

Here are Alayna's words and phrases to date:

baa (ball)
appa (apple)
nanana (banana)
up
dun (down)
tat tew (thank you)
no, no!
uh, oh!
mama
dada
one geh dun! (juan, get down!)
buh-bye (bye bye)
HI!
go!
sue (shoe) and does the sign for shoe
nite, nite
geh dun sissy! (get down, cici!)
bath
baby
meh (milk) and does the sign for milk
jus (juice) but really means water
het (hat) and does the sign for hat
papa (grandpa)
mamie (grammy)
peek-boo (peek-a-boo)
whoa!
boom!
cat
doggy
bow-wow
cold (her word for ice cream)
zzzzzip (when we zip her jammies at night!)
wee-wee (means "wink-wink", our nick-name for the Baby Einstein videos)
shhhhhhhhh! (with her finger over her lip and nose!)
bo-fie (butterfly)
tootle (turtle)
stah (star)
quee (queen)
mella (umbrella)

sounds:
mow (mew) for cat
bow-wow for dog
moo! for cow
aaahhhhrrrreeehhhh (with "trunk" waving) for elephant
raaaahhhhr (lion)


She has 3 books that she can "read" using mostly babble, a few words and the same inflections that we use when we read...hilarious!
I am sure I'll be adding more as I hear her say things today... she's so talkative!

The tale of the princess and the potty

We are still in this challenge for the long haul, it appears. Kira wouldn't even go near the potty until recently, but seems to be doing ok as far as potty goes...when she wants to. MOST days, she gets herself to the potty, does her thing, even dumps out the potty and flushes before calling to me for hand-washing help. I even saw her streaking past me the other day when I was in my delirious stomach flu bug...taking care of herself just fine! But, when it comes to her poop, we are having a battle. Now, I KNOW she knows she is about to poop...
How? Because she ALWAYS runs into a closet and shuts the door. So, if she knows to run there...it seems she could run to the potty. And the two times she DID poop in the potty (by accident) she was jumping up and doen for joy. So, what gives?
Just pray with me that she learns fast, as we have a preschool beginning in the fall that she needs to be out of the pull-ups and into the panties!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Kira loves the book, so grammy and I took her to see the play today. She was very interested in it, but looked a little overwhelmed at times. Funny girl. She is so social and interactive in "quiet" settings, but throw a lot of noise, lights or distractions in the mix and she doesn't quite know what to do. Although, she was very interested in repeating the whole thing to herself (and anyone else who would listen) this afternoon, so I know she loved it!

Stats

We went to our new doctor today for well visits. Alayna ended up with a lot of shots and we still need lead screenings for both. But, overall, we like her! Here are our latest stats:

Alayna: weight 28 pounds 15 ounces; length 31 1/2 inches; 15 months old

Kira: weight 35 pounds; height 37 inches; 3 years 2 months old