All Grown Up

I had a friend over for a play date a few months ago and she was telling me about how different her son became after he turned four. We've totally noticed a change in Bella in the last month or so. She just seems more grown up and is becoming more helpful around the house. We're constantly amazed by her vocabulary and imagination. She's a wonderful artist, independent thinker, and very strong willed.

I let her have her first cup of hot tea last week (decaf, of course). I don't think she liked it but she was so excited, there was no way she was going to admit it. She's been battling a cough for several weeks now and I thought some warm tea might help soothe her throat. I took her into the doctor this morning and found out she has bronchitis. She had a double dose of antibiotics tonight so I'm hoping we'll see improvement right away.

Monkey see, monkey do

The girls have been playing together so well lately. Matea spends lots of time watching Bella and then mimicking whatever she's doing. And it doesn't matter how strange or boring the activity, Matea will jump right in if Bella's doing it.

Steve came home for lunch today and we were sitting at the counter talking. We looked over and Bella was lying on this blanket on the kitchen floor making snow angels or something. Matea had to be part of it but didn't exactly know how to participate.

Cute Tater Pics

from this afternoon...

Well baby visit for a sick baby

Today was Matea's 18 month well baby visit and as usual, she was right on track with everything. She's still a little peanut, weighing it at just over 22 pounds. We've all been battling colds for a few days now and I asked Dr. T if we needed to be more cautious or worried about Bella since she just had pneumonia a few months ago. She said that since Bella's been really healthy otherwise, we don't need to be overly concerned or take any extra precautions.

Dr. T's waiting room was over flowing with patients, apparently many of whom had been in the ER over the weekend. She told us that there's been a big flu outbreak here over the last few days so we're going to just hang out at home as much as possible this week, keep our germs to ourselves, and not pick up any new ones.

Jumping on the Band Wagon

Let me say that I've always hated Crocs. I thought they were hideous and really didn't buy into their practicality. Then Bella saw some $5 Croc knock offs at Walmart last year and begged for them. We liked them so much, we bought a second pair. She wore them all the time and damn if a year later, those things are still in great shape. Anyway, I started to come around and realize that I could look past their ugliness. I love being able to just hose them down after playing outside or camping and I swear, they're indestructible.

Anyway, several people told me that we really needed to try real Crocs, that the fake ones don't even compare. I found this cute Mary Jane style which in my opinion, is way cuter than the original clog style. Then I thought I would get some. Not really sure why, thought they would be good for yard work (which I don't really do), camping, etc. I let Bella pick the colors, dug up a bunch of discount codes and got a pair for each of us.

Steve keeps making jokes about not getting any and I think that he secretly really is sad. I think Crocs on a man is where I draw the line though.

Family Band

The girls are finally starting to play more cooperatively and really interacting more. They still fight over toys but I think that never really goes away and it'll just turn into fighting over clothes when they're older.

The other night they emptied all my pots and pans from the cupboards and started a family band. They had tons of fun playing the drums and I was so happy to see them playing nicely, the noise didn't even bother me.

Zoo....again

It seems like every few months, we spontaneously take a trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo. Totally exhausting driving about an hour and fifteen minutes each way and walking all around the zoo but well worth it because the girls have so much fun.

Matea was really into it this time and had to see all of the animals with Bella. She refused to stay in the stroller which was a total pain in the ass but the girl likes her independence I guess.