She like it! Marin likes it!

Marin likes....

playing on the cheesy playground in the mall.

Marin doesn't like:

the cheesy Easter bunny that preceded the cheesy playground.

Marin likes:

Walking to the (real, outdoor) park with Norah!

Marin doesn't like:

That the big slide is supposed to be for big kids.

Marin likes:

climbing up to the big slide anyway, without a seconds thought of fear.

Marin doesn't like:

When mommy stops to take a picture at the top before we go down the big slide together.

Marin likes:

trying to climb back up the slide- on the slide.

Mommy doesn't like:

When parents at the park tell their 2 year old, "Do you want to climb up there? Look at the baby, she does it!" Poor kid. Someone tell that mom that when my child is climbing out her bedroom window when she's 15 to steal the car, because she is completely fearless- she'll like her shy little girl then- likely sitting nicely next to her on the couch, reading about how to save the planet.

Marin likes:

Riding on the bouncy frog when mommy sings the William Tell Overture like we're at a horse race.

Norah doesn't like:

Have to sit on the sidelines and watch while all the fun is had.

Marin likes:

Dinner time at the end of a fun day!

All in a days work. What a life!

What's wrong with this picture?

Hopefully Marin doesn't use this hopscotch that I made for her out of sidewalk chalk, to learn her numbers.

Here's where I went wrong: I drew the boxes first, starting in the would be "1" spot, all the way up to "10". But then instead of going back to the "1" spot, I started writing in the numbers up at "10". Problem is- when you get back to one, instead of reading 1,2,3, 4,5,6,7,8,9,10; it reads 1,3,2,4,6,5,7,9,8,10.

Woops. Clearly, not my smartest day. But we have to laugh at ourselves, right? Maybe Marin will learn to say her numbers backwards from 10-1 before she learns from 1-10? If that's the case- it still works! Luckily Marin's too young to know the difference, and still hops right along yelling out "ah, ah, ah!" instead of "1,3,2,4,6,5....!"

Take Me With You!

My parents left today for Sanibel Island- a tropical little island off the southern tip of Florida with only one way in and one way out. Sanibel is littered with white sand beaches with fabulous seashells as big and whole as the imitations they sell in home stores. We spent so much time there when I was young I have committed every nook, cranny and breakfast spot to memory- in fact, it is where I took my first steps.

Last night, we stopped by my parent's house to see them off. Marin must have known what a great place it is (or have seen the weather forecast for Chicago) because she took one look at her Grandma's open, empty suitcase on the ground, and climbed right in! Here she is with the camera saying, "Take me with you, Grandma! I'm all set to go and I fit perfectly!"

I decided she had the right idea, and tried the same, but I didn't fit so nicely. And together, we didn't fit at all. Shoot. :)

Feeding Whom?

Yesterday I noticed a Mommy and Daddy mallard duck couple- a duckle, if you will- in our back yard. So, I quickly ran to get Marin, and a piece of bread, and excitedly ran to the yard to teach Marin how to feed the ducks.

I handed Marin the bread, walked quietly and carefully up to the duckle and began tearing off pieces of the bread to hopefully entice them to come closer to us, all the while explaining to Marin what I was doing, and all but pleading with the ducks to make me a hero. However, either our albeit gentle, but persistently steady advances, or the general throwing of food in their direction, startled the duckle a bit, and they wandered away.

Bummer.

Or was it? As I was off trying to encourage the ducks back into our yard- you know, for Marin's sake- I looked back at Marin.....

who was happily feeding herself the duckle's bread.

"Who cares about those birds, Mom. This bread is yummy!"

A week in review in pictures..

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past week (or so)...

This is Marin visiting my mom's class. The children (girls especially) LOVE when she visits. This gathering and surrounding in circles is what typically happens when Marin arrives. Note that she is carrying around the Dare Bear.

This particular day, Marin was wearing a ruffle laden outfit pledging her love for her Grandma, in bling (not so ironically purchased by Grandma).

Here Marin is very satisfied to be on the couch, repeatedly running its length.

This is Marin with Ms. Kathy and her friends at daycare playing in the yard on St. Patrick's Day, after the leprechaun visited. When I said I was going to take the picture, Lauren informed me that usually whenever they take a picture at Ms. Kathy's, she gets to hold baby Marin in her lap.

A new favorite... of my two very favorite people on the planet playing at the park. I love the look on their faces, and the "chuck-it" dog toy hanging out of Jason's back pocket. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: what. a. guy!

I love this one of Marin eating her snack of crackers and hummus. She loves hummus, as you can tell by the excitement in her eyes as she quickly shovels it into her mouth, thereby, smashing it all over her face.

Another one of my favorite expressions of Marin's. Here Marin eyes her strawberries waiting for her on the table with an "Ooooo!" and quickly tries to put her bib on so she can feast.

The Transitive Property of St. Patterson Day

Top 'o the afternoon to ya!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, or as we say in our house- St. Patterson's Day! It's perhaps a bit self absorbed, but it's only for one day, so it's okay, right?

Marin was all decked out for her St. Patrick's Day party at Miss Kathy's in her finest green attire. Enjoy these pictures of the "Shamrocker" dancing this morning in the kitchen with her St. Patty's treats for her daycare friends.

I myself, am not even a tiny bit Irish. But Jason is, which means Marin is. So, by the transitive property, I would like to claim Irish heritage for the day. It makes sense to me: my child whom I carried and birthed and feed and clothe is Irish, so shouldn't I also be?

In any case- from one Irishish person to another: I hope your day is filled with the best of Irish luck, sunshine from rainbows and a sprinkling of good leprechaun jokes.

Outside!

We have been doing a lot of playing outside since the weather has been nice.

This morning Marin and I played outside in the front yard for a little while before her nap. When it was time to come inside, she let it be known that she was NOT happy about it.

I took this short video of her on our front porch because like any bad mom would do, I thought we could all laugh at her expense.

After her lunch, she went right to her coat and pointed to it, asking to go outside. And, since she had a good morning nap and a good lunch, we walked to the park. No temper tantrums since. Fingers crossed.

Weekend at Nana and Pappy's

This weekend we traveled to Nana and Pappy's house for Happy with Pappy weekend, and a celebration for Nana's birthday. We were able to visit with a lot of family and friends, and true to pattern, Marin went with the flow and enjoyed making friends at every turn.

Marin played nonstop. She and Pappy climbed up the stairs and down the stairs, and then up again... and down again. Then they played chase and ran from room to room. Pappy no doubt slept well last night. Nana's house is stocked with every toy imaginable, and Marin loved playing kitchen, and store, and shopping, and toolshop... you name the toy, and I guarantee you it is in Nana and Pappy's basement.

On Saturday, Marin's cousins came over to play! They had a great time playing together. Uncle Derek also stopped by with presents for all. My sister-in-law, Holly, made this darling cake for our mother-in-law's birthday. Everyone devoured it as I looked on drooling, since I moronically gave up sweets for Lent. Never again.

Saturday night we visited with my mother-in-law's parents, and they watched Marin so that we could have an adults only dinner with Jason's parents, and my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Marin read books, discovered legos, and made herself right at home.

Sunday, we met our friends Neil and Valerie, and their three darling, giggling children for lunch!

Followed by a visit with Marin's Great Grandpa Hinrichs, Great Aunt Vee and Great Uncle Bob, and extended family that we rarely have the pleasure of seeing all at once! What a treat! Marin loves her Great Aunt Vee- and who wouldn't; she is as loving and sweet to her as a chocolate dipped cherry on top of an ice cream cake! Marin enjoyed climbing inside Great Grandpa Hinrichs' cabinets to play with the tupperware- finally a cupboard that isn't locked! Jackpot!

And, on the way home from the weekend, we got a call from Jason's cousin, that he and his wife delivered healthy, happy, beautiful twin boys. An enormous shout out to Gretchen; for after a VERY long four days, birthing two babies without the choice of an epidural. Someone give her a medal. Scratch that- TWO medals. And a glass of champagne. And the biggest pack of Pampers that you can find. The world, and the Patterson family welcome our Godson, Jacob Paul, and his twin brother, Robert John, born 12 minutes later. We love them so much already. March 14th will never be the same again!

A Hoot and a Howl!

Marin got a little red piano for Christmas, and has been playing it ever since.

Norah, our dog, who never barks or makes a peep at anything (we joke that if someone broke into our house, Norah would walk up to the burglars with her rope, hoping they would toss it to her before they carried out the silver), howls up a storm when Marin plays her piano. She has been doing this since the Marin first got her piano. It's hilarious.

I caught her "singing"on video Wednesday night. I hope it is some good mid-day entertainment for you. The two of them might take their act on the road. You can say you saw it here first.

Doing it Herself...

Marin has been interested in holding the spoon while she eats, almost since we began introducing solid food. But lately, she is holding the spoon, and using it correctly. She is so patient and works so diligently to get the food on her fork or spoon.

Here a few pictures of her practicing at dinner last night.