Tree's "bark"?

At a rest stop on the 12-hour drive back to Denver from St. Louis, I asked Hailey what the skin of a tree is called. Her response: "Ruff!"

First day of school

Today was Hailey and Logan's first day at St. Andrews Children's Learning Center. They'll be going Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Hailey was really excited to use her rolling Princess backpack. Those huge bags behind them are their nap mats with home-made carrying bags (because no one sells them!) Every day I have to carry their mats, sheets, pillows, blankets, lunches, backbacks, sippy cups and diapers to and from school. It's a little ridiculous, not to mention exhausting!

Logan had a familiar face in his class...our neighbor Peter. They're good buddies. They started playing with each other as soon as they got there.

Hailey was a bit more apprehensive and just watched for a bit. I snuck out before she realized what was going on. Thank goodness, no crying when I left!

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These were their very first packed lunches. Hailey had some Hello Kitty sandwiches and Logan had some bear peanut butter and jelly sandwich bites. Sides included blueberries, cheese, crackers, cereal and freeze-dried veggies. Too bad they didn't really eat any of it. (Not that I'm surprised.)

When I picked them up, the first thing Hailey said was, "Tired". Apparently she didn't nap. The first thing Logan said was "Nai nai" (milk in chinese). You can see their reactions in the videos on www.youtube.com/artsypug Logan only napped for 45 minutes (they both usually nap from 1-4pm) so they both took a long nap when they got home.

Overall, Hailey said she had fun, so that's good. We'll see how they do on Tuesday when they knows what's coming!

heels

Hailey went into my closet and emerged with my heels. She's such a girly-girl!

Hailey's first dance class!

Hailey had her first dance class today: Kinder Rock at the Dual Star Dance Academy. She loved it! Although she didn't exactly "participate", she didn't come screaming out of the room looking for me (it's a drop-off class) so I took that to be a good sign. She was adorable in her ballet shoes and outfit, which she loves to wear. Can't wait til she actually does some dancing in the class! She loves to dance at home. In fact, just after class outside of the school she was dancing up a storm!

Meeting Red Robin

Hailey and Logan met Red for the first time at Red Robin today! They were a bit skeptical at first, but then Hailey kept looking to hug him during dinner!

It's been a while!

Logan is now 14 months old! He nods his entire head yes, very cute. Very good at shaking his head and saying "no, no!" especially when I ask if he has a "tsou tsou" (dirty diaper). He's still very into drinking milk more than eating food. I try to limit him to 4 x 7 oz bottles a day. For breakfast he likes fruit/veggie yogurt and some cereal. He tends to skip lunch and eats more for dinner. He sometimes takes a 15 min nap around 11am but I wake him up so he'll nap at 1pm with Hailey. Then they both sleep for about 3 hours on a good day. He has a bottle before bed and we read lots of "booh" (books). He can say quite a few words, "more", "nai nai", "boo(k)", "di di", "jie jie", gou gou. He's very smiley and happy. Always falling down and hitting his head because he's not afraid of running or falling off of things.

Hailey is now 27 months old! People still thinks she looks like she's three since she's so tall. She's only speaking in single words so she's starting speech therapy next Friday. She's very attached to my mom now and throws tantrums when she leaves and always asks for "po po" when she wakes up. she's not drinking as much milk anymore, but she loves soymilk. She shares a protein smoothie with me for breakfast. She's been trying to skip her naps, and some days she'll just play in her room for a couple hours instead of sleeping.

Belt!

I had just put the kids in the car and was driving out of the parking lot of Babies 'R Us when Hailey started yelling, "Belt, belt!" At first I thought she saw something outside but then I realized I hadn't buckled in her seat belt! I didn't even know she knew that word! Ever since she's been able to climb into her seat by herself (thank goodness!) with the aid of a little step stool I keep in the car, it's easy to forget to buckle her in. But at least she warns me before I start driving now!

Hailey's first painting

Ben and I have slightly different temperature preferences in the car.

So happy to have found a source of awesome and cheap french bread...and yummy banh mi sandwiches too!

At the pediatrician again...poor Hailey has pneumonia and asthma.

Love that the kids are holding hands in the car!

3 kids in a cart...ha ha!

Just realized Hailey's hair's long enough for braids!

"I see you Mommy...get me outta here!"

Logan's first haircut...he's not so happy about it.

Hailey trimming the tree

Logan just pulled himself up!

Look who's cruising!

And the winner is...Hailey!

Hailey won our neighborhood "Winter Wonderland" photo contest! She got a $50 Visa gift card (which will go towards her numerous Christmas presents) and her pic in the newsletter. I like to call this pic: "Hailey vs. Snowman...the staredown".













Here are some other pics from that snowy day in November...the second big snowstorm of the year!

What's that crinkling sound?

In the car we heard some noise, only to turn around to see Hailey chewing on a travel pack of Benedryl. I asked, "Hailey, are you eating Benedryl?!" Without taking it out of her mouth she nodded "yes".

Big girl bed

Hailey spent her first night in her big girl bed. She only got up a couple of times but overall it's been pretty smooth! In the morning she now bangs on the door in addition to her yelling.

new pack-n-play

We just got this super-light Phil & Ted's Pack-n-play and the kids love to play in it cuz the size opens up like a tent. And it's indoor & outdoor and folds up really small! Now they don't have to sleep in icky hotel cribs anymore.

who's that handsome fella in the mirror?

Logan stands!

He tried to pull himself up today for the first time! Didn't quite make it so I helped him get up but after that he stood quite well!

learning tower

Grandpa assembled the new learning tower today! Until now, Hailey has a little white plastic footstool that she carries around the kitchen to see what I'm doing. Now she can stand on this big platform and I won't worry as much about her falling off! Logan seemed to like it too. BTW, that's Hailey waving at the camera.

Logan's still working on crawling

He's getting closer. He leans forward to crawl but just doesn't move anywhere. Today he managed to balance on his hands and knees though! Not that I'm in any hurry for him to be mobile...

mega blok tower!

Logan eats his hippo

Just having dinner at Sweet Tomatoes...which we haven't been to for months and months!

Eating macaroni impaled on chopsticks...it's gonna be a long meal.

Cooking

Hailey discovere the real pots and pans in the kitchen so she was "cooking" on the floor while I was making dinner. So cute!

Basement playroom

Hailey playing with her "blocks" of tp and kleenex

what's with this cheesestick?

Shopping and riding at CO Mills

New tents, tunnels and ballpit