In Juliana's Bed Today

When I took Juliana up to bed last night she insisted that she needed to take 2 stuffed animals from her play-area with her. As she climbed into bed and added those new animals to the assortment that was already in her bed, I noticed that there is a lot of stuff in there. So today I made a list of the items in her bed today.

3 pillows – 1 large and 2 small

2 blankets – the small fleece blanket that she snuggles in at night and the blanket that covers the rest of her and keeps her toes warm.

3 little silky blankies – originally she had one for home, one for daycare and a back-up in case one needed to be in the wash. When she stopped having a blankie at school she started sleeping with two. Then one of those was in the wash one night and she found out about extra blankie. Since then she has to have all 3 to sleep.

1 blue string from a lacing card set

1 pink foam circle – she discovered this when she came to visit me in the hospital when the boys were born. She insisted that it made a good hat and took it home. I’m not sure when she started to sleep with it.

1 pouch of Kleenex

A jewelry box that winds up and plays Swan Lake and currently contains 3 necklaces and a ring

1 My Little Pony, pink

1 tennis ball, pink

A plastic doll designed for practicing hair-dos along with a bag of hair accessories – she received this from her best friend at school for her birthday and she has needed to keep it close at night ever since.

A sippy cup with water in case she is coughing at night

8 stuffed animals, 2 of which play lullabies

18 books – This started during weekend naps when I told her if she wasn’t sleepy she could read books in bed and have quiet time. I had no idea the collection had grown so large.

I think that we will start by removing some of the books…

Juliana's Birthday - Part 2

After lunch Juliana, Nonni and I went to ToysRUs. Juliana had been in the store on days when other children were celebrating their birthday and she was excited to be the birthday girl. My grandmother and brother both sent money for her birthday so she had fun picking out presents for herself. Before we arrived, she told me she wanted a hula hoop – and just inside the entrance was a big box of hula hoops. She tested a few colors and sizes and decided on the purple one.

From the game board section, she wanted lots of things – mostly games that weren’t age appropriate. She decided on Chutes & Ladders – Princess Edition. She spent a long time at the train table playing.

By the end of the shopping trip, she had decided on the hula hoop, board game, game cartridge for her Leapster, toy microwave with a spinning tray that beeps, and assorted pots and pans and dishes. I let her play with her new toys for a few minutes and then it was time for a nap.

She barely protested when I took her upstairs and I had to wake her up for her evening birthday celebration.  First she needed some hula hoop time.

Nana, Papa and G arrived and she was ready to open presents.

And then it was time for cake.

There was even time for one game of Chutes and Ladders before the day was over. Scott was going to play which prompted her to ask, “Can Daddy learn how to be a Princess.” After a few minutes, she removed his princess from the board (Sleeping Beauty for the record) and told us Daddy can’t be a Princess. Apparently there are some things you are just born to be.

This Morning Before School

I loved her outfit this morning (tried to post this on Wednesday...blogger trouble). The combination of the t-shirt, skirt and socks was adorable. And with the morning sunshine we played outside for a few minutes. After taking the bubble mower for a drive across the lawn she jumped up and down for some pictures.

More Clean-Up

This little dog vacuum barks when you start and whines when you stop - Juliana occasionally pushing him around the living room rug. She is weary of the real vacuum so I usually have to carry her while I vacuum.

Aquadoodle Mat

The Aquadoodle mat is a great concept - draw with water and the design fades away after a little while and start all over again - no mess and a great creative option. Juliana likes to have other people draw and make requests - usually the Little Einsteins and rocket are first on her list and then she wants to see her name. These pictures are from one day when she was asking Daddy to draw pictures for her and she was drawing on her travel Aquadoodle.

Sandbox

At the beginning of the summer, I decided that we didn't need a sandbox this year - after all Juliana already has so much stuff... We quickly learned that playing in the sand was her favorite activity at daycare, so much so that she would cry and refuse to leave if she was playing in the sand when it was time to go home.

So my parents decided that she needed a sandbox and she loves it of course. We have had it since the beginning of July. Here are some pictures of her first time playing in it and more from later in the month.

Why do the Cheapest Toys Become Favorites

We bought this stack of bowls at IKEA for $1.00. They have become one of her favorite toys. She stacks and unstacks them; fills them with puzzle pieces and then dumps them out on the floor or into another bowl; adds ping pong balls and stirs them with a mixing spoon...endless fun with a stack of plastic bowls.