too many photos

I think I maxed out my free storage.  I tried to post about San Diego but I can't upload any more pictures.  So...choices...start another blog, go back to weekly (or so) emails, or post pictures to facebook.  Please comment on or email me your preference.  Thanks!

We're off

Erik is coming back from Australia tomorrow (yeah!!) after being gone for 10 days!  We survived!  Of course Erik is so excited to see Janers.  Here are some photos from the last day without Daddy.  

Jane and I went to a new art studio today (we had some issues with the studio we used to go to--not set up for toddlers, loud music, other parents that didn't supervise their kids, and the most annoying and loud instructor, general chaos and nothing really set up for kids to do).  This studio was so much better!!  It was completely tailored to toddlers.  The art teacher was very sweet and had several activities set up.  The teacher let Jane explore and make a big mess!  Jane LOVED it and so did I!!  It was so laid back and calm.  We can't wait to go back!   Janers discovered that she would like an easel for Christmas.  Look how adorable she looks painting at the easel!

Jane spent half the class (30 min) filling little jars with sand.  I think Santa might be bringing Jane a sand art sets for Christmas!  

After the art studio we headed across the street to a local deli to get an ice cream cone.  We sat by the window and looked for trucks that had hard-working dogs in the back (Jane's latest video obsession, see here).  We didn't find any. 

We're looking forward to having adventures with Daddy and all of our extended family this coming week!

20 months

Reading books tonight (headband was all her idea)

Cannot believe our girl is 20 months old already.  If only 4 months, we'll have a two year old!  Jane is a super busy girl!  Favorite activities (in no particular order) include:

1. Sensory activities (e.g., playdoh, sand)
2. Baking--Jane asks to bake by pointing to the cupboard where we keep the flour and sniffing  (she doesn't understand homophones yet!).  Jane insists on doing everything herself--scooping, measuring, pouring, and even cracking the eggs (her favorite part).  Baking with Jane is very messy!
3. Art--painting, drawing, gluing
4. Building--puzzles, blocks, shape sorter
5. Pretend food
6. Being outside--we can't wait for our new house!  We close December 21!!!
7. Reading books
8. Pink dogs--In addition to joining in all the activities listed above, pink dog plays hide and seek, plays catch, chases Jane, and goes for a walk on her leash (to name a few).

Jane's comprehension continues to explode.  Jane understands most common adjectives used in daily language (including color), prepositions, and more labels every day.  Jane counts objects up to 5 pretty accurately (e.g., given 4 objects, jane says, "na na na na"), can indicate 1 or 2 objects using her fingers, and even negotiates for a higher number of items.  For example, I told her she could watch 1 cell phone video, and Jane said, "no, na na na na (1, 2, 3, 4)." Clever girl!  She got to watch 4!  Jane really loves to hear stories about things that we have done or seen in the past and asks to hear them so many times throughout the day.  Recently, we started talking about things that will happen in the future and she seems to understand those as well.

Jane has such a good sense of humor!  She plays tricks on her dogs and her mom, understands simple jokes, knows when we are teasing her, and teases us right back!

Jane's speech is progressing very slowly.  Jane gets by very well with signs, gestures  and the few words she has.  But lately, she's been getting more and more frustrated and whiny (oh do I hate her whine!) when she has difficulty expressing herself.  Speech therapy has been minimally helpful.  Her therapist has given us a few helpful suggestions, but most of the things she suggests we were already doing at home before starting speech.  We've really been emphasizing attempting to say the word along with the sign.  Jane has several of the hard consonant sounds (e.g., b, d, t) but struggles with vowel sounds--most of her hard consonant sounds are followed by the schwa sound ("uh").  Jane likes going to speech now because her therapist has a lot of fun toys.  She will tolerate her therapist but hasn't really warmed up to her. Erik and I are actually discussing stopping speech for a bit.  We feel we've gotten all we can out of it at this point in time and with this therapist.  And the next few months are going to be so busy for us.  We can always reevaluate and start back up again in a few months if there is a need (and sadly, I think there will be.  It is unlikely that she will have 200-300 words by the time she turns 2).  We hope she can learn to make sounds and words soon; life will be so much better for her when she does.  I know she has SO much to say!!

Jane loves to read books! Most days we read for at least 30 minutes before nap and 30 mintes before bed (sometimes longer) and of course several times throughout the day.  Jane remembers things from books and makes connections to things that happen in her day--her comprehension is pretty amazing!  She's also starting to get many of the jokes in books that are supposed to be funny.  Jane is outgrowing most of her old board books, so she is getting a big box of books for Christmas!  Our girl totally has favorite series and authors already--Mercer Mayer's Little Critter (only the old school ones, the new books suck!), Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie, Mo Willems' Pigeon books, and Ian Falconer's Olivia.

We love all that our big girl can do and so looking forward to having a fun holiday season with her.  We are also enjoying our time with Jane as an only child--only a few more months before baby boy crashes her party.  It will be an adjustment.

Happy 20 months to our smart and funny girl!  

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Happy 30th birthday Daddy! 

(Yes, I know when my husband's birthday is...

Erik is in Australia on business; in Australia it is Nov. 15th).  

We had an early birthday celebration since we wouldn't be able to celebrate

together on his actual birthday.

Jane was so excited to give her present to Daddy!

She painted him a coffee mug at one of those ceramics places.   

Jane helps Daddy blow out the candles

We made Daddy a birthday sign.  Jane is upset because she noticed an Amazon box just inside the door when I went to grab my camera.  She wanted to open that box immediately!  Our girl is going to LOVE presents at Christmas time!

BUSTED!

Jane discovered that we have 2 dogs last night.  I thought one was in the car, but turns out they were both inside.  She had one dog in her hand and found the other one.  She didn't say anything when she found the second dog--she just picked it up and carried her two dogs to her room.  When she wasn't looking, I sneaked 1 of the dogs away and hid it under her blankets.  Silly me!  Shortly after that Jane noticed it was missing!  She walked around saying, "Huh? Huh? One, two? One, two? Huh? Huh?"  

We are now a 2 dog family.

Jane is so happy about her two dogs.  She kept showing me her dogs and telling me that she has "one two!". She took them for a walk on leashes; she walked up and down the hallways repeating, "one two, one two, one two..."  It was pretty adorable.  I only hope that 2 dogs isn't double the annoying for mom and dad!  

the love for dog just grows and grows

Janers LOVES the dog that Nick and Dani Jo gave her for Christmas last year!  She carries the dog around EVERYWHERE!!!  I've had to get over some of my germ issues, as stuffed animals that get dragged around public places are little sponges for germs.  YUK YUK YUK!  The dog gets a bath in the washing machine several times per week.  

We ordered a new dog to have in case we misplace the original dog...or if the original dog is out of commission due to being too dirty.  Jane doesn't know we have 2 dogs.  We were looking at pumpkin patch photos on my computer the other day and she saw the 2 dog picture below.  She laughed and laughed at the photo!  If only she knew what was hiding in the office (the second dog)! 

We drew the dog on the chalkboard

The dog hangs with the gorilla statue at the zoo

The dog LOVES to eat! I should also note that I cannot have any food, only the dog can...

The dog sweeps the floor.  Jane is really into doing EVERYTHING herself.  

Recently,  Jane insists that the dog has to do everything also.

Jane and the dog read books

the dog rides in the stroller.  yesterday Jane pushed the stroller all the way around the zoo.  It took us a REALLY long time to move anywhere!

the dog smells the flowers

the dog draws with chalk

Jane walks the dog on a leash (i.e., ribbon)

The dog got star tattoos on her arm just like Jane got at the aquarium

months ago (yes, she still remembers!)

The dog got into the paint when I was switching the laundry

(Jane knows that the dog is not allowed to paint!)

The dog takes pictures with mom's camera (all Jane's idea)

The dog plays trains at Barnes and Noble (YUK!!  Dog got switched when we got home!)

the dog plays with all of these toys

The dog signs books (also all Jane's idea)

Baby Boy Update

I am 26 weeks and feel SOOO pregnant.  Playing on the floor, getting up and down so many times per day, and carrying Jane around makes me feel even more pregnant!  The stomach aches and nausea should have subsided weeks ago but never did.   My doctor prescribed medication and I feel much better but still not back to normal. Looking forward to having this baby in a mere 11 weeks (Did you hear that baby boy!?!?  Mama's sending you an eviction notice at 37 weeks!).  

Baby Brother is still unnamed.  We chose Jane's name so early..starting to get

nervous about finding the perfect name.  We bought a baby name book, but that

isn't very helpful.  I'm not even sure where to start...

Jane wanted some say in the naming process...I asked her what we should name baby brother.  She said, "Dog!"  She also said that she wants to pet baby brother and said baby brother should lick her nose.  I think she's hoping baby brother will be an actual dog.  Girl is in for a surprise!

Baby Brother has quite the stash of adorable little baby clothes (I just hope they fit over cloth diapers)!

I especially love the two sweater sleepers!

He even has a coming home from the hospital outfit already.  Now if only we could find a name...

I'm a little sad to say that I don't have an official baby belly shot. I didn't take many with Jane's pregnancy  either and wanted to do better this time around.  Well, there's always baby #3 and #4....

We're still not sure where we're going to deliver.  Moving to the northern suburbs really complicates things.  The birthing center where we had Jane (a FANTASTIC place) is in Seattle.  Depending on when baby decides to come, it could take a really, really long time to get there (especially if Erik has to come from work).  Seattle traffic is really bad!  Jane took her sweet time to arrive, but I hear things happen faster with #2.  This is a good thing because we don't have any solid  plans as to what we are going to do with Jane yet and I'm not sure how she'll manage without her mama!  This will be my first time leaving Janers overnight.