(Can I just say that I am NOT loving Yuku!!? I am about ready to give up on posting my updates here... what a pain in the BUTT!. So... After getting
frustrated trying to post pictures for the 33 Month Update I didn't have it in me to post this update when it was time.... but now that it is almost time
to write the update for 35 Months I figured I better try and figure this out!)
I am not sure what is going to be in this update this month. We DID a lot of things but I didn't keep track of a lot of the funny things Willow did or say during the month. Hopefully this won't be a boring read.... I promise to put cute pictures at the end to reward you.
Willow has been very challenging lately. I have heard that 3 is a hard year and just like she hit the Terrible Twos at 18 months she is acting like a three year old early too. Night time has gotten harder. It's not like we ever had great luck with her going to sleep at night but it has gotten worse. She doesn't want to start in her own room and she completely melts down when we tell her she needs to go to sleep in her bed before coming to our room later. She acts like this is new rule and it's just too much to ask of her.
During the days she is having these crazy tantrums and melt downs out of the blue that just suck the energy right out of you. They always make me feel like a horrible Mom and my patience wears so thin I sometimes end up hiding in my closet sobbing. I wanted to just get in my car and drive far away last week it got so bad. This HAS to be a phase or Willow will never be a big sister! I REALLLLLLY want to adopt again but she makes us real nervous thinking about handling a baby and a sassy three year old. Pre School starts next month and I am hoping the little breaks from each other will help like it did back when she went to the other school.
So we took our whirlwind road trip to CA last month. It was our first long car ride with Willow and I was VERY nervous. Thankfully Willow did AWESOME the first day. She wanted Robert to sit next to her so from lunchtime on I got to be the driver. We actually made it all the way to Primm Nevada the first night. We probably could have pushed it the last two hours to Robert's Parents' house but we felt Willow had been so good and deserved a break and treat so we stayed at Buffalo Bill's where she got to go on her first little Log Ride. She thought the dark parts were "a little spooky" but she had a lot of fun. She wanted SO BAD to play on all the games in the casino and it was so hard for her to understand they were only for adults. Luckily they had a little arcade we could play in plus we were all so tired that she didn't fight us too much.
While Robert camped with his buddies, Willow and I stayed at my Parents' house. It wasn't a normal run around and see everyone trip. (I wanted to do as little driving as possible while we were there.) Willow had fun with the dogs and we saw a few friends. We even got to go to a BBQ pool party where Willow got to play with Lesley's nephew and niece.
After our quick weekend visit we started the drive home. That direction didn't go as smooth. I think it was because Willow realized what she was getting into as we strapped her in. She had a few meltdowns and then resorted to arching her back and screaming, "get me OUT!" every 45 minutes or so. Our last day of driving was 11 hours long and we were all done with the drive.
Willow had her first small fractures in her foot at the end of June. (or at least that's what the XRAY tech says.) She was bouncing with her friend Sam on his trampoline and he accidently landed on her foot. It bruised immediately and she cried and limped around that afternoon. The next day there was another bruise near her toes and she was walking different but probably only I could tell. After another day she seemed to walk fine and didn't complain of any pain. Then Robert noticed it was bruised under her foot so I made an appointment to see the pediatrician. He pushed and wiggled and Willow never flinched but he decided to send us for an XRAY just incase. So off we went for the XRAYS. A couple hours later I got a call on my cell from the Pediatrician saying Willow has two small fractures in the bones leading to her last two toes. He gave me the name of the orthopedic doctor who I called the next morning. They had no appointments until after the 4th of July weekend. Grrrrr
SO... we finally get in to see the doctor and he asks how Willow is doing. I said, "She is fine, you would never know there was anything wrong with her." He said, "Tell me about it! This is the second time this morning that I don't see what the XRAY tech is seeing." So here is the frustrating part... even though he just said that, he then said he wants her to wear a walking boot for two weeks and then go back for another XRAY. Luckily Willow doesn't fight the boot too much but it's still a pain. I can't wait til we are done with it.
My Dad came for a visit recently! He got here after we got back from CA. We had fun while he was here. His friend Steve drove in from Utah and stayed a couple nights too. Robert missed out but My Dad, Steve and I took Willow to The Butterfly Pavilion Her favorite part was Rosie the Tarantula that she got to hold. She would have spent her whole time waiting in line and holding her if I had let her. After my Dad and Steve took a little trip my Dad came back to visit some more. He was here with us on the 4th of July. We went to our friend's house for a BBQ and to watch the fireworks. The fireworks show this year were cut short because of some fires started on the hill. We were watching from the back side of the hill and could see the fires starting and growing. The people AT the show didn't know about the fires until they were in their cars driving home (probably wondering why the show was so short).
While my Dad was here we also went on a trip to Glenwood Springs Caverns. We took a tour of these amazing caverns. It was very interesting and Willow did real well considering it was an hour and a half tour. After the tour Willow got to go on the Alpine Rush ride. That girl has no fear! After the ride we ate dinner at the Lookout Grill which had an amazing view of the mountains all around.
The other night we decided to sleep on the deck outside Willow's room. Robert brought up the futon mattress and sleeping bags and we all snuggled in. Willow all of a sudden got wired and was jumping and babbling and being a big goof as I tried to go to sleep. It was real peaceful out there and when I woke up at one point to go inside to use the bathroom the sky was amazing and I could see every star. Sadly once the sky got light Willow was up and wanting us to be up too. Why couldn't we have a kid who slept in!?!?!?
So we have been dealing with morning snarly hair for long enough. I go through a bottle of Detangle stuff so fast! So on July 14th I finally decided to take her in for a hair cut. We were in and out of that place so fast! Willow did real well and watched the movie that was playing above her most of the time. I actually planned to get it cut much shorter but the lady told me it only needed a few inches of the bottom and then she would layer it. She said it would help with the mornings and... altho it WAS a little easier this morning to comb through it, there were still snarls to get through.
Lastly, We did real well getting more adoption paperwork filled out recently. We got through a big chunk of it and after getting some information to finish a section of it I should be able to mail it in... of course this depends on Willow!
Ok... so I wasn't as good as usual and I didn't run up and write down all the funny things Willow said or did so the "list" might be lacking this month.
~ On our road trip Robert asked Willow and I if we wanted some Pringles. Willow said, "I never met Pringles before."
~ Robert was blowing up Willow's pool on the deck and I got Willow to say, "Dad, You're the Man!"
Then I started chanting, "Dad, Dad He's our Man. If he can't do it..." Then before I could continue Willow joined in and said, "Somebody ELSE can do it!!" It was SO funny.
~ As we were laying in bed going to sleep I noticed Willow had spilled apple juice in her hair and it was all sticky. I said, "Why did you do that?" and she said, "Because I am crazy" I told her that it was going to hurt when we tried to brush it out and she said, "I'm sorry Mommy" and I said, "You don't need to apologize to me, you need to say sorry to yourself" and she said, "I'm sorry Myself"
~ Pulling into the parking lot of Glenwood Caverns Willow screamed, "I am SO e-sited! I can't wait to see the caves!" Then she turned to my Dad who was sitting next to her and said, "Are YOU e-sited Papa?"
~ At Glenwood Springs we bought a little bag of pretty rocks for Willow. She loves to dump them out and count them and name them. She will say, "I need my beautiful rocks!" When she has them all laid out she will hand them to me one by one telling me their names. She has started coming up with real weird names (and words in general) lately. Some of her rocks are named, EllaMenEe, Boobla, Coral, Cordy, and EllaMenOhPooh!,
~ Driving home from the library today I was talking on the phone to Robert. I was saying, "I am not sure what I am writing on her update this time but I am hoping to get it written during nap time." Willow starts calling from the backseat, "Mom! Mom! Mom!" I said, "I am on the phone Willow, what do you want to tell me?" and she said, "Maybe I can take a nap by myself and you can write the update!?"
After I hung up with Robert I asked her if she knew what update meant and she asked, "What does it mean?" I said, "Well, you know how every month I take a picture of you and Lappy? Well then I write a story about you and all the things we did all month and all the funny things you said and I send it to our friends and family so they know how you are doing." She got this high pitched voice and said, "A story about ME!!!?? and Lappy?!?! And Victoria and Anna?!? (MOMS Club friends)"
oh... and just so you know, she DIDN'T take a nap like she promised! I am being a bad Mom and letting her and Diego have some time together while I write this. Luckily I didn't have as much to say this month!
We hope you are well!!!
Love,
Delia, Robert and Willow
6/18/08 It's so hard to keep her from picking flowers!
6/19/08 Her first Log Ride at Buffalo Bills
6/19/08 Dinner after a LONG day of driving.
6/20/08 Drawing letters with Grandma
6/20/08 I wish the picture came with sound. Her giggles were too cute. We
met Lesley and Keith for dinner while in CA. Willow and Keith had a ball playing chase.
6/26/08 Butterfly Pavillion
6/26/08 Touching a Starfish at the Butterfly Pavillion
6/26/08 Willow with her new best friend Rosie the Tarantula
6/26/08 Napping with Papa
6/26/08 Willow with her cousins Thomas and Rebecca
6/29/08 We took Willow to her first Amusement Park, Heritage Square. There
were a handful of things she couldn't go on because she wasn't three yet but she still had a ball.
6/29/08 My goofballs
6/29/08 Getting ready to ride.
6/29/08 Going down the Alpine Slide with Dad
6/29/08 Then it was Mommy's turn to go down the slide with Willow.
6/29/08 Waiting for her lunch.
7/03/08 Papa, Willow and Dee
7/04/07 I had to post this picture from last year. Look how tiny she is!!
She is wearing a T-Shirt Robert's Mom decorated for her. I waited until the last minute this year to find her a 4th of July shirt and couldn't find
anything. Not even a plain Red shirt. So.. as you will see from the next picture, I found this T-Shirt and crammed Willow in it again this year. I also found a
blue version of the skirt she wore last year and crammed her in those too!
7/04/08 Just a little bigger than last year. She normally wears size 3T but
I stuffed her in a 24 month skort.
7/04/08 Feeding the alpacas at our friend's house.
7/04/08 In her shades with some pretty flowers.
7/04/08 Sparklers
7/04/08 Our MOMS Club friend Karin just had a baby and we had to go give him
some love at the hospital!
7/06/08 Glenwood Springs Alpine Rush ride.
7/06/08 during the Cavern Tour on "Exclamation Point".
7/06/08 On the tram to the caverns
7/06/08 Riding the tram
7/06/08 If we let her, Willow's diet would consist of creamer, jelly,
butter and sour cream. Willow was toasting with the creamer from our oatmeal.
7/07/08 They didn't have a Boot small enough to fit Willow at the
doctor's office. So they sent us home with a splint and we received the boot by UPS the next morning.
7/08/08 Babushka girl. some people wear their napkins on their laps.....
7/10/08 Willow's boot. This was when we were stuck at the car place for
three hours while it was having maintenance done.
7/11/08 Our neighbor saw a snake in his grass while mowing and was thrilled
when Robert went across and got it. Willow was thrilled too. She loves all creepy crawly slithery things.
7/14/08 First Haircut
7/14/08 Hair cut and up in bands.
7/16/08 Willow and her friend Victoria at playdate today. They have a love
hate relationship. It's amazing how they can be SO sweet and play so well one day/hour/minute/second and then beat the poop out of each other the next!
Thankfully this was one of their loving moments.
It's funny how different their coloring is with Willow's big brown eyes, dark hair and skin and Victoria's fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.
7/16/08 Willow and Lappy
I am not sure what is going to be in this update this month. We DID a lot of things but I didn't keep track of a lot of the funny things Willow did or say during the month. Hopefully this won't be a boring read.... I promise to put cute pictures at the end to reward you.
Willow has been very challenging lately. I have heard that 3 is a hard year and just like she hit the Terrible Twos at 18 months she is acting like a three year old early too. Night time has gotten harder. It's not like we ever had great luck with her going to sleep at night but it has gotten worse. She doesn't want to start in her own room and she completely melts down when we tell her she needs to go to sleep in her bed before coming to our room later. She acts like this is new rule and it's just too much to ask of her.
During the days she is having these crazy tantrums and melt downs out of the blue that just suck the energy right out of you. They always make me feel like a horrible Mom and my patience wears so thin I sometimes end up hiding in my closet sobbing. I wanted to just get in my car and drive far away last week it got so bad. This HAS to be a phase or Willow will never be a big sister! I REALLLLLLY want to adopt again but she makes us real nervous thinking about handling a baby and a sassy three year old. Pre School starts next month and I am hoping the little breaks from each other will help like it did back when she went to the other school.
So we took our whirlwind road trip to CA last month. It was our first long car ride with Willow and I was VERY nervous. Thankfully Willow did AWESOME the first day. She wanted Robert to sit next to her so from lunchtime on I got to be the driver. We actually made it all the way to Primm Nevada the first night. We probably could have pushed it the last two hours to Robert's Parents' house but we felt Willow had been so good and deserved a break and treat so we stayed at Buffalo Bill's where she got to go on her first little Log Ride. She thought the dark parts were "a little spooky" but she had a lot of fun. She wanted SO BAD to play on all the games in the casino and it was so hard for her to understand they were only for adults. Luckily they had a little arcade we could play in plus we were all so tired that she didn't fight us too much.
While Robert camped with his buddies, Willow and I stayed at my Parents' house. It wasn't a normal run around and see everyone trip. (I wanted to do as little driving as possible while we were there.) Willow had fun with the dogs and we saw a few friends. We even got to go to a BBQ pool party where Willow got to play with Lesley's nephew and niece.
After our quick weekend visit we started the drive home. That direction didn't go as smooth. I think it was because Willow realized what she was getting into as we strapped her in. She had a few meltdowns and then resorted to arching her back and screaming, "get me OUT!" every 45 minutes or so. Our last day of driving was 11 hours long and we were all done with the drive.
Willow had her first small fractures in her foot at the end of June. (or at least that's what the XRAY tech says.) She was bouncing with her friend Sam on his trampoline and he accidently landed on her foot. It bruised immediately and she cried and limped around that afternoon. The next day there was another bruise near her toes and she was walking different but probably only I could tell. After another day she seemed to walk fine and didn't complain of any pain. Then Robert noticed it was bruised under her foot so I made an appointment to see the pediatrician. He pushed and wiggled and Willow never flinched but he decided to send us for an XRAY just incase. So off we went for the XRAYS. A couple hours later I got a call on my cell from the Pediatrician saying Willow has two small fractures in the bones leading to her last two toes. He gave me the name of the orthopedic doctor who I called the next morning. They had no appointments until after the 4th of July weekend. Grrrrr
SO... we finally get in to see the doctor and he asks how Willow is doing. I said, "She is fine, you would never know there was anything wrong with her." He said, "Tell me about it! This is the second time this morning that I don't see what the XRAY tech is seeing." So here is the frustrating part... even though he just said that, he then said he wants her to wear a walking boot for two weeks and then go back for another XRAY. Luckily Willow doesn't fight the boot too much but it's still a pain. I can't wait til we are done with it.
My Dad came for a visit recently! He got here after we got back from CA. We had fun while he was here. His friend Steve drove in from Utah and stayed a couple nights too. Robert missed out but My Dad, Steve and I took Willow to The Butterfly Pavilion Her favorite part was Rosie the Tarantula that she got to hold. She would have spent her whole time waiting in line and holding her if I had let her. After my Dad and Steve took a little trip my Dad came back to visit some more. He was here with us on the 4th of July. We went to our friend's house for a BBQ and to watch the fireworks. The fireworks show this year were cut short because of some fires started on the hill. We were watching from the back side of the hill and could see the fires starting and growing. The people AT the show didn't know about the fires until they were in their cars driving home (probably wondering why the show was so short).
While my Dad was here we also went on a trip to Glenwood Springs Caverns. We took a tour of these amazing caverns. It was very interesting and Willow did real well considering it was an hour and a half tour. After the tour Willow got to go on the Alpine Rush ride. That girl has no fear! After the ride we ate dinner at the Lookout Grill which had an amazing view of the mountains all around.
The other night we decided to sleep on the deck outside Willow's room. Robert brought up the futon mattress and sleeping bags and we all snuggled in. Willow all of a sudden got wired and was jumping and babbling and being a big goof as I tried to go to sleep. It was real peaceful out there and when I woke up at one point to go inside to use the bathroom the sky was amazing and I could see every star. Sadly once the sky got light Willow was up and wanting us to be up too. Why couldn't we have a kid who slept in!?!?!?
So we have been dealing with morning snarly hair for long enough. I go through a bottle of Detangle stuff so fast! So on July 14th I finally decided to take her in for a hair cut. We were in and out of that place so fast! Willow did real well and watched the movie that was playing above her most of the time. I actually planned to get it cut much shorter but the lady told me it only needed a few inches of the bottom and then she would layer it. She said it would help with the mornings and... altho it WAS a little easier this morning to comb through it, there were still snarls to get through.
Lastly, We did real well getting more adoption paperwork filled out recently. We got through a big chunk of it and after getting some information to finish a section of it I should be able to mail it in... of course this depends on Willow!
Ok... so I wasn't as good as usual and I didn't run up and write down all the funny things Willow said or did so the "list" might be lacking this month.
~ On our road trip Robert asked Willow and I if we wanted some Pringles. Willow said, "I never met Pringles before."
~ Robert was blowing up Willow's pool on the deck and I got Willow to say, "Dad, You're the Man!"
Then I started chanting, "Dad, Dad He's our Man. If he can't do it..." Then before I could continue Willow joined in and said, "Somebody ELSE can do it!!" It was SO funny.
~ As we were laying in bed going to sleep I noticed Willow had spilled apple juice in her hair and it was all sticky. I said, "Why did you do that?" and she said, "Because I am crazy" I told her that it was going to hurt when we tried to brush it out and she said, "I'm sorry Mommy" and I said, "You don't need to apologize to me, you need to say sorry to yourself" and she said, "I'm sorry Myself"
~ Pulling into the parking lot of Glenwood Caverns Willow screamed, "I am SO e-sited! I can't wait to see the caves!" Then she turned to my Dad who was sitting next to her and said, "Are YOU e-sited Papa?"
~ At Glenwood Springs we bought a little bag of pretty rocks for Willow. She loves to dump them out and count them and name them. She will say, "I need my beautiful rocks!" When she has them all laid out she will hand them to me one by one telling me their names. She has started coming up with real weird names (and words in general) lately. Some of her rocks are named, EllaMenEe, Boobla, Coral, Cordy, and EllaMenOhPooh!,
~ Driving home from the library today I was talking on the phone to Robert. I was saying, "I am not sure what I am writing on her update this time but I am hoping to get it written during nap time." Willow starts calling from the backseat, "Mom! Mom! Mom!" I said, "I am on the phone Willow, what do you want to tell me?" and she said, "Maybe I can take a nap by myself and you can write the update!?"
After I hung up with Robert I asked her if she knew what update meant and she asked, "What does it mean?" I said, "Well, you know how every month I take a picture of you and Lappy? Well then I write a story about you and all the things we did all month and all the funny things you said and I send it to our friends and family so they know how you are doing." She got this high pitched voice and said, "A story about ME!!!?? and Lappy?!?! And Victoria and Anna?!? (MOMS Club friends)"
oh... and just so you know, she DIDN'T take a nap like she promised! I am being a bad Mom and letting her and Diego have some time together while I write this. Luckily I didn't have as much to say this month!
We hope you are well!!!
Love,
Delia, Robert and Willow
6/18/08 It's so hard to keep her from picking flowers!
6/19/08 Her first Log Ride at Buffalo Bills
6/19/08 Dinner after a LONG day of driving.
6/20/08 Drawing letters with Grandma
6/20/08 I wish the picture came with sound. Her giggles were too cute. We
met Lesley and Keith for dinner while in CA. Willow and Keith had a ball playing chase.
6/26/08 Butterfly Pavillion
6/26/08 Touching a Starfish at the Butterfly Pavillion
6/26/08 Willow with her new best friend Rosie the Tarantula
6/26/08 Napping with Papa
6/26/08 Willow with her cousins Thomas and Rebecca
6/29/08 We took Willow to her first Amusement Park, Heritage Square. There
were a handful of things she couldn't go on because she wasn't three yet but she still had a ball.
6/29/08 My goofballs
6/29/08 Getting ready to ride.
6/29/08 Going down the Alpine Slide with Dad
6/29/08 Then it was Mommy's turn to go down the slide with Willow.
6/29/08 Waiting for her lunch.
7/03/08 Papa, Willow and Dee
7/04/07 I had to post this picture from last year. Look how tiny she is!!
She is wearing a T-Shirt Robert's Mom decorated for her. I waited until the last minute this year to find her a 4th of July shirt and couldn't find
anything. Not even a plain Red shirt. So.. as you will see from the next picture, I found this T-Shirt and crammed Willow in it again this year. I also found a
blue version of the skirt she wore last year and crammed her in those too!
7/04/08 Just a little bigger than last year. She normally wears size 3T but
I stuffed her in a 24 month skort.
7/04/08 Feeding the alpacas at our friend's house.
7/04/08 In her shades with some pretty flowers.
7/04/08 Sparklers
7/04/08 Our MOMS Club friend Karin just had a baby and we had to go give him
some love at the hospital!
7/06/08 Glenwood Springs Alpine Rush ride.
7/06/08 during the Cavern Tour on "Exclamation Point".
7/06/08 On the tram to the caverns
7/06/08 Riding the tram
7/06/08 If we let her, Willow's diet would consist of creamer, jelly,
butter and sour cream. Willow was toasting with the creamer from our oatmeal.
7/07/08 They didn't have a Boot small enough to fit Willow at the
doctor's office. So they sent us home with a splint and we received the boot by UPS the next morning.
7/08/08 Babushka girl. some people wear their napkins on their laps.....
7/10/08 Willow's boot. This was when we were stuck at the car place for
three hours while it was having maintenance done.
7/11/08 Our neighbor saw a snake in his grass while mowing and was thrilled
when Robert went across and got it. Willow was thrilled too. She loves all creepy crawly slithery things.
7/14/08 First Haircut
7/14/08 Hair cut and up in bands.
7/16/08 Willow and her friend Victoria at playdate today. They have a love
hate relationship. It's amazing how they can be SO sweet and play so well one day/hour/minute/second and then beat the poop out of each other the next!
Thankfully this was one of their loving moments.
It's funny how different their coloring is with Willow's big brown eyes, dark hair and skin and Victoria's fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.
7/16/08 Willow and Lappy
