current obsession > drawing

In the last month to date, Lucy has drawn more than she has her entire life (3.6 years).  I am so exhilarated its finally happening! I thought there was no hope that my daughter would be an artist...then my hope lessened when I thought she disliked art all together... But now...!! I realized I don't care how good or bad she is, she is at least into it.  And just in case this is fluke, a short time fling, I am going to soak it up as much as I can.  This I could get used too...

Oh, in case you couldn't tell - That's Lucy (her first self portrait) and Theo on the left.  Mommy is on the right with Daddy in the corner.  We are all in the grass, by the water...with some really big belly buttons :) And those two circles on dad... she said it's a hat...

...So all those coloring books that we stocked up on with maybe one page scribbled in...are almost completely filled in..with both hands...although, she stays much more in the lines with her left.  Not sure what made the switch, but a little bit of me thinks she saw her very artistic cousin, penny drawing in tahoe, and somehow it clicked...or she wants to be just like her?  Her baby has since been named penny.

One of those child comments you will never forget...

Penny: "Lucy that drawing is really great!!"  Huge Smile.

(Her eyes looked over to me with a sort of.."you know I'm just saying that, right?!")

...later in her room alone with her mom...

Penny: "Mom, Lucy isn't a very good artist...I was just saying that to be nice!"

Well, whatever you did or said penny...I kind of give you credit for the push :)

my theo > first foods

 

Baby food. Meh. I much more enjoyed the jello mom put in my mouth much sooner than she should have. 

outing > alameda flea market

She bartered for her first time.  As Queen of Manipulation & Negotiation...I knew she would be fine making the deal on her own.  And she did just that.  For the rest of the walk through, she sewed her heart out in the fort she made out of the stroller :)

(...her eyes somehow got bigger.....)

move me > her eyes are big even behind that mask...

Major improvement in one week's time.  Last week, she never moved once on her own...

move me > first day of ice hockey...

...and she loved it.

let's adventure > it's a new year

New Year's Resolution: To do something new once a month. (Explore the San Francisco/Oakland/East Bay area, and/or travel to CA destinations that are so close, but seem so far). 

We opted for Ice Skating until we collect enough snow gear to go sledding in the snow... Lucy wanted to keep going - so adventure #1 was a success!

in the moment > jello jigglers was a pretty big deal

 

Over a month later, and she is still talking about it...

current obsession > t is for tornado

I finally pulled out some real reading material.  To my surprise, Lucy loves it.  We have been reading at night, taking breaks and picking up the following day.  I wasn't sure Lucy would remember or anticipate whats to happen next - but she does :)    Bonus: The letter of the week in preschool is T.  T is for Tornado.  We've been kind of obsessed.

now & then > summer lessons

Summer seems like it is dwindling away... Looking back - it's been a good one :)  Summer Swim was one of our highlights.  Kind of crazy to see how much Lucy and her bestie, Brooklynn have changed in one year.  I love these two coneheads.

 

 

current obsession > her lucy backpack

 

 

She had a Great First Day of Preschool!

(We were the only parents told to leave by our daughter before even entering the doors)

in the moment > a big girl bed for our sugarplum

It's a Big Week.  First night in her Big Girl Bed.  Plus, off for her First day of Preschool.  I'm more proud than anything...

in the moment > new paints = new ideas

These paints soon after went all over our hands, feet and faces...I had some other ideas in mind on paper, but she won.

our phones > some of my faves this month

She's smart, independent, beautiful, creative, silly, thoughtful...and she's my little girl.  I hope someday we can be best friends like I am with my mom now. She makes me so proud, I could only be so lucky to be that person to her... xo

in the moment > a birthday countdown

She cannot wait until her birthday.  A Christmas tradition turned birthday.  She loves it.

in the moment > some day soon when I feel like crud, she will be there for me

I know this looks scary, but she gets it.  Crazy as it sounds, she listens best in the kitchen.  It's all she wants - for me to get her stool out.  She amazes me everyday with her knowledge and passion of cooking.  Whether it's listing off the ingredients correctly, to pulling out the correct pans/utensils, or even correcting me on order of operation.  She's 2.75 years old, and she gets it.  I can only hope it continues - and that she someday becomes Master Chef Junior of course :)

(btw - she scrambled these eggs from start to finish.  I was by her side the whole time except to take this single photo.  For her first time at the stove, she killed it)

move me > sous chef lucy > cuts olives

current obsession > herve tullet 'mix it up'

Press Here was a favorite of ours prior to Christmas.  When I saw the color theme in this book, I knew I had to get it for my artistic niece, Annie.  I couldn't help myself at our recent library visit...had to snag one up for Lucy too.  It's been 1.5 weeks since we checked it out...and in a dreaded 1.5 weeks, we have to return it... I don't know who will be more upset - Lucy or me.  It's kinda the best book ever :)

move me > cracking eggs for breakfast

She has been doing this for some time now...but we realized we didn't have on video (oh the horror)... so yes, both phones were out - i think we got it this time :) Have a great weekend! Hopefully you too have an excellent egg cracker for your weekend brunch!

my lucy > new wheels

(....hmmmmm... this was posted a while back, although I was making changes to the blog and this post's date changed - so here it is! Not sure what the date was I posted it...but boy, I do love this photo...so here it is again)! oops!

move me > a nostalgic starry night

We did a free trial "Discover Dance" at the Valley Dance Theatre this week.  I'm trying to decide what would be best for Lucy at this age (based on what's offered at 2.5 yrs).  It's close between gymnastics and dance.  Here is a cute clip of a short 'free dance' the kids did with the pom poms making the sound of rain.  I thought Lucy expressed herself oh so eloquently :)  With the Beauty of the Song chosen, I had to post.  It put me in a slight trance - kind of like being inside of a nostalgic home video at that exact moment.  This is the type of song I hear in my head...a perfect fit in the soundtrack of my life, or maybe my Lucy's...

[Side Note: If anyone has heard this song before please let me know from where...a movie soundtrack?  a wedding?  I feel like I've heard it before and it's driving me mad.  Maybe that's why I feel the nostalgia.  All I have found is that it is on "Baby Genius - Starry Night"....I know that's not where I heard it from...]

Thank Miss Kristin for opening the door to something new ~ xo ~ lucy.