The Adventures of Bella and Aspiga...

Holding onto one of the two mermaids!

Up close, Aspiga...she was the source of great entertainment this evening over dinner!

Two mermaids. One girl's wild imagination!

Acquired as a gift for being such a great student at Kaitlyn's first music class today, Dylan and Kaitlyn left Hi-Line Music with two plastic mermaids. Sure. They could have taken a deck of cards, Kazoo, bouncing ball, or even a mini yoyo. Nope. The mermaids were eye candy for Kaitlyn and Dylan always wanting what his sister wants, found a mermaid, too!

On the way home Kaitlyn began narrating the mermaids present life. At one point I overheard her voicing for each mermaid, "I'm MAD." "No, I'm MAD." Yes, both mermaids were mad with each other! By dinnertime, Dylan had really forgotten about these plastic creatures and thus Kaitlyn became engrossed in her mermaid tales. When Steve asked her what their names were, Kaitlyn responded with, "I will ask her."

"What's your name?" Pause.

To Steve, Kaitlyn stated, "Spella," holding up the purple mermaid. Wow! We both were taken aback by her clarity of name. And then Steve inquired about the second mermaid name. After a quick banter of clarification, Kaitlyn stated, "Aspiga," holding up the blue mermaid.

Aspiga? Are you kidding me? This girl's imagination is ON FIRE. Spella morphed into Bella by the time dinner was over-but at no time did Aspiga ever change or simply be laid to rest. These two mermaids were carried around the house, had a splash in the bath and are currently nestled around Kaitlyn someplace in her heaping mound of blankets upon her bed. Everyone, Kaitlyn, Bella and Aspiga are in a deep slumber. I suppose no one is MAD now!

What Happened?

I will spare the photo. Getting into pajamas this evening inspired this note. I'm wearing a blue and white striped tee with pink and black pajama bottoms; to keep me extra warm, I finished my look by adding an army green sweater. Wow. This screams Hot Mama Alert! Watch out Steve....I'm just tantalizing right now, can't you tell!

C O M F O R T.

STOP! Halt! NOW!!!! This is what happens. You see it everywhere, you hear about it...the Mother Frump.

I understand this reality. I understand how it creeps into your daily life, first with the leisure pants (you know those elastic waisted forever forgiving velour pants), then the baggy lifeless shirts and overnight it's like you stop wearing make-up, accessories and daily have hair in a ponytail as you are lucky if you get a quality shower once in a three day span. It's a sad moment right now as I realize I've mastered the look and the lifestyle.

Ugggh. Sigh.

Can this awareness be enough to snap me out of it? I used to be fashionable, sassy and memorable with my selected wardrobe pieces. Now I'm hanging out with a lumpy muffin top adorned with stretch marks, stringy highlighted hair in need of a serious root job, and sorry folks, boobs that are not only smaller than I ever had before, but way more saggy. Wow. I said it.

Hello Beauty. You in Here? I need to rekindle our friendship. It's been a while since I let you out...

Yours truly,

Overly tired, out of trend mother of two toddlers under the age of three!

Bath time at the Patterson household...

Best Buddies

Considering the effect a smile may make....

Jumping to music is a part of our bed time routine...thanks to Daddy. This trend was started when I was traveling in NYC back in December. It really gets the kids energized and then like a train wreck, they crash into their pillows from complete exhaustion!

Mr. Shark and Miss Butterfly...

It's a lovely post-dinner routine that ensures a deep slumber, for all! Bath time is something Dylan highly regards. This big little tank climbs up the stairs when I mention it's time for a bath as if on auto pilot. Soon he's already into the bathroom and finding ways to sling his leg over the bathtub to get it started, clothes on or off, it's water that he wants! Kaitlyn on the other hand will delay every step when hearing it's bath time even so much as to pretend she doesn't hear me. With two children that operate on opposite ends of the bath time ambition scale, I'm pulled literally in two directions. The silly part is that once Kaitlyn actually gets into the tub, with great resistance mind you, she doesn't want to leave. As evident in the top photos, these two are total pals. Bath time illuminates how much fun they have when playing with each other. Side by side, swimming in the tub...they are their own pack. Occasionally things get hostile and finger nails scratch, hair is pulled and head locks are seen. Generally bath time is rich with splashing competitions, including the kind that requires getting me more wet then them. Tonight was a special bath as they each had new hooded towels to greet them when coming out to dry. Uncle Benet scored these cools finds, a butterfly for Kaitlyn and a shark for Dylan. Could they be more cute?

A photo shoot...

In early February my girlfriend (Lisa O'Donnell Photography) met the kids and I in Claremont for a morning jaunt with her incredible camera. I'm super happy with these photos-so much so that you have to see them ALL if we get lucky and have you visit! Here are just some highlights to this wonderful morning...

See Lisa's blog for her latest developments: www.lisaodonnellphotography.blogspot.com

Best Friends....

This year has already brought incredible changes...Kaitlyn is officially potty trained. It's apparent she can be a panty-wearing big girl for the rest of her life! Dylan has developed an intense strength-so strong in fact that he has broken through the plastic film on two drum toys (one which was quite thick and durable), bruised his sisters head probably permanently, and crushed Cosimo's leg on more than one occasion. As of tonight it was declared by Kaitlyn in the bath as she placed her arm around her brother, 'we are best friends'. The two toddlers I have surrounding me at all times are blossoming at a rapid pace that my attempts to document any new milestone is a miserable failure!

In an effort to capture a brief history of moments here are a collection of candid shots sure to bring smiles and even a few stories:

Water. This boy would be in the fountain if I'd let him...

Too cool for even himself...maybe.

Taking over big sis's rider!

Dylan really loves Cosimo. Taking a tender moment.

One silly morning in February taking photos from my phone!

An accomplished slide-goer.

Daddy's little Search and Rescue helper.

Artsy Kaitsy

We hosted a body stencil playdate...Kaitlyn wasn't into the stenciling, but rather doing her own family of stick figures!

Out of the blue she gave me these statements. I had to document her art of Nana and that Nana was proud. Are you kidding me? I just love this one!

I drew the red from the opposite side, I was going to draw a triangle and Kaitlyn insisted she finish what I started. Wow. I didn't see this one coming!

Chalk drawing. She works with all mediums these days!

My letter A is in blue. All other markings are from her. Not bad is what I say! She's pretty proud about doing the letter A...she does it often and in the most random moments! I've seen her do B and C...I think we'll focus on her name soon!

At 32 months she has an elephant's memory. Kaitlyn can remember details that I had simply forgot or recall names of people, places we traveled to, stories we spoke about to imagined pretend-play scenarios as if we engage in the topic regularly. This memory bank is certainly a daddy gene and as for my gene influence it is evident that our Special K could make Picasso's in her sleep.

She has now grown into a new phase of art...first comes the circle for the head. Next are the two eyes, with pupils-mind you, then the nose and finished with a smile. She goes straight to the two ears, generally making multiple circles on each ear indicating the wearing of earrings. This is then followed by two straight lines that are drawn directly from the lowest curve of the circle to become this stick figure's legs. Each leg is finished with a cluster of overlapping circles/ovals to illustrate the wearing of shoes. Her final touch always ends in the hair after she either does or does not do arms with hands. The hair is one of my favorite elements of her work, generally big, but as of late it's been drawn with curls, spikes and even bows! She's a trip. It's very methodical. Yet, she never ceases to surprise me.

Over the weekend she was spending quality time with her dear cousin, Natalia. The two of them were engrossed in drawing. Kaitlyn drew one of her infamous stick figures but from an upside down perspective. Everything was upside down. The steps she took to create this figure were a truly remarkable unfolding of talent. She's going places, that's all I know!

There is this sassy-smart-assy edge to her blossoming character right now. Hmm. Yes, I know it will further emerge and challenge me, exhaust me. Heck, it already does. The key I find is simply engaging her. Play dress-ups with her, act like wild animals or make up our own songs and pictures....it's through this engagement she is calm, focused and in a sense, providing me with a mini respite from her often unannounced tantrum outbursts-you know those kind that make you realize you did have ears!

Of course I cannot forget to mention she is also a touch on the aggressive side. I often wonder where this gene comes from as I think my husband wouldn't touch a snail somedays and then I shatter that image with the reality that as I type he's completing his SWAT medic training which basically equates to: man + gun shooting + suspense + medicine = aggressive happy man. There is aggression everywhere in his world. Ok, for real, this has no influence on Kaitlyn, yet. I just think she's VERBAL & PHYSICAL and will always be this way. She seems to tackle Dylan either with love head locks or serious body slams any opportunity she desires. He simply just rolls along with her unpredictable shoves, pushes, grabs and even finger pointing bossy comments like, 'knock it off Dylan' (a common phrase of mine....ha, it's an eye opener when your child begins to imitate you). Ultimately I imagine this aggression will translate into a very confident young lady who has educated opinions she is willing to share (solicited or not), have a history of competitive sports and be one to still give me hugs and everyone else for that matter, well into her adult hood!

So here it is...a snapshot of our Sweet Wonder Girl K! I may be her biggest fan.

Body Language

My little guy isn't so little. While he has yet to develop much of a vocabulary, his expressions sure say a lot. Some of my favorite moments with him occur during our bedtime routine. In the bath he will stand up and stare straight into my eyes for a reaction and as always, I give him the standard 'on your bottom' statement sternly looking right back at him. Without hesitation Mr. Obedient sits down only to do it another five times, each time with the same mischievous look. What's unbearably adorable is something that lasts for a mere second...once he stands up his initial face and body language is that which radiates "I'm proud, look at me! I stood up!". Some nights I hate to interfere with his moment of glory, but the fear of slips in the tub would haunt me (they already do as almost 90% of Dylan's baths are shared with Kaitlyn...and the two of them in the tub can turn into a war zone of pushing, hair pulling and shoulder bites not too mention splash raids)!

Kaitlyn can't get enough of Tinker Bell these days. Since Christmas it's been Strawberry Shortcake or Tinker Bell that gives me respite in the afternoon and her a touch of quiet time. If not napping, Dylan will engage in the quiet time showing a sincere interest in the Disney castle that pops up when the show starts. This results in a house shake as his hearty voice turns to ON and out of his mouth comes a drawn out and LOUD, 'MOMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA'! The best part is not so much what he is saying but how he looks. Both palms, facing upward, frozen at mid-chest height. He's sure to be a crowd pleaser.

There has been a shift in my confidence and I'm not certain where the credit lies other than I've been a mom now for over 3 years (yes, I'm including the pregnancy since really...your life changes when you see that + on your home pregnancy test). I can hardly wait to see what confidence I'll have in 13 years and then in 23 years! Other than the drastic changes that happen both physically and intellectually from the infant to toddler stage, I think the only other comparable era in ones life is designated to motherhood. What you prepare for, actually endure and learn in a short span is mind-blowing. It must taper out eventually, but right now it does seem like I'm trying to push through a self-inflicted barricade of lessons. The little confidence that is developing has helped tremendously!

I've had a series of Ah-ha moments. Some worth mentioning here and others intended for my inner think tank: 1.) always keep time on your side which translates to....plan your day so Kaitlyn has ample time to do all tasks on her own since she will undo whatever you do anyway (dressing and undressing herself, putting toothpaste on the toothbrush, going in and out of the car, buckling herself in the seat...the list does go on); 2.) preschool is awesome which means I give credit to the school environment for often teaching or at least reinforcing excellent manners, demonstrating compassion, and encouraging independence (the latter is not in need of anymore encouraging, Kaitlyn is fiercely independent)!

As always stories could be abundant, but time is limited so with these last statements I do bide thee farewell....

Kaitlyn has been known to exclaim to me in mid-day, as a complete random statement un related to anything in her surroundings or even day's experience....'Mommy, I need chocolate.' Oh how the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Dylan has come to really master the melt-down-into-the-ground-lay-upon-the-floor-crying action on cue when I walk into the room (mind you this only happens when he has been spending what would be considered quality time with someone other than me...I apparently make his world shatter upon arrival)!

I continue to stay up way too late, get up only when the kids are awake (can't seem to get out of bed earlier than the two of them to squeeze in a morning work-out) and still consume too much sugar, probably too much fat and way too much caffeine! Hmmm. What a combo.