The Gold in a Field

We live right next to an empty lot.

No one has ever come to tend to it and it's really overgrown.

On this Spring day, I really didn't mind.

Easter

Easter!  She seemed to catch on this year and it sure makes everything more fun.

 We dyed just a few eggs.  She counted them over and over again.

What do you mean they aren't ready yet?

Okay, I'll wait.

Easter morning we had a mini egg hunt at our house to prep her for the biggie at Grandma Great's house later that afternoon.  She called it egg hide and seek and we still play it:)  We also had a snuggle in Mommy and Dada's bed in our Easter finest.

Sweet Easter girl.

Even house sized Mommy got into the Easter spirit.

Sunshine on Easter!!  We'll take it!

 We had a fantastic egg hunt and dinner but the highlight was all the kids playing with Alexander's magical bubble machine.

 Cousin Michelle showing all Grandma Great's lawn decorations that she used to play with when she was little.

Bubble madness.

A lady stroll.

Too.  Many.  Bubbles.  Too much fun.

*We snapped a family pic with someone's camera but I can't remember whose.  Stupid pregnant brain...

Catch up..

  So, guess what?!  I got an iphone thanks so my dear sister in law and her awesome hand-me-down.  along with the iphone came an incredible ap called instagram.  It allows me to share photos in a very private way pretty much instantly.  It also allows me to be even worse at blogging.  I'll try to keep up with both better than I have but for now, a catch up in pictures....

Marigold is growing, thriving and amazing us at every turn.

Ripping it up in the kitchen with her bff Finn.

Learning new skills, like how to sit in a chalk tray.

Finding her inner "mommy" by wearing heels and being bossy.

 Adventures in hairstyles.

Discovering the joy of new technology.

Exploring the great outdoors.

                                      

Puzzle obsession.

Mastering the art of hiding.

                                    

Parks!

Cracking up at a good book.

Showing off her flair for fashion.

Giving dictation to mommy so she can see her favorite names.

Kicking it with a few pals.

Being a "gamerina" (ballerina) is serious business.

Hanging with ladies who lunch.

As many Croasdale playdates as possible.

Showing she never ever has a lack of excitement or enthusiasm.  We love it.

Old Friends

These two cuties may not have a standing playdate every week anymore, and sure, their friend group may have doubled in size, but they still have the best time when they get together.

Giggles!

Hats!

Tickles!

Cash and Marigold forever!!!

Bubbles and Pearls

Spring is here... kind of... well, at least for today and we'll take it. We love going outside to play and looking out the window if we're inside. The sun is a fun topic for us. I feel so bad that it seems like a new thing to her. Oh, Seattle.

We love blowing bubbles and what's better than bubbles when you're all dolled up. They are still magic to her and she's getting pretty good at catching them.

We get the whole room full and it looks like floating fairies.

Our other favorite game is Hide and Seek. Can you find her? She's getting better at her hiding places. This one doubles as her secret fort/hideout.

A Few More

I know I could go on forever but I thought of a few more I didn't want to leave out.

"Hold that." It can be a question or a statement.

She says "Hi" or "Hello" when I catch her doing something she shouldn't like standing on a chair or pulling her barrette out. Especially if I've just asked her not to do it. It's so funny to me because she's just drawing more attention to what she's doing.

Lately if she finds a fuzzy from a blanket etc.. she calls it a "mouse". No idea why but it's hilarious.

"Where did _____ go?" Kitty, Dada, etc. Followed by "____ back!"

"hug" and "kiss", and "oops" and "uh oh" are always adorable. If she drops something, even on purpose, she picks it up and asks, "are you ok?" Or announces, "uh oh, it broke."

When she catches you or a balloon or whatever she's chasing she says "gotcha!"

When she hits said balloon she says "hi-ya!".

When you put a blanket or something like it on or around her she says, "So cozy!"

*In the above photo she's counting her cookies as she puts them away. As we go to brush her teeth before bed she yells, "Night-night cook!" (to her kitchen)

I'll try to stop now.

New Wave

It seems like every time I turn around, Marigold is saying or doing something new. It's all clicking by so fast I thought I'd better blog a few things before I forget.

She loves to ooh and awe while eating. "So yummy!", "Mmm, mm, mmm" and "Hey Ma, Da, we eat!" are among her faves. She also likes to ask for "A bite?" while I'm cooking or eating. Favorite foods to ask for are:

Raisi's - raisins

Appysauce

gilk - milk

cheese

yam

amon - banana

nack - snack, general term for crunchy stuff like pirates booty or cheerios.

strawberries or blueberries - said surprisingly clear.

She loves to open conversation with, "Hey, I know!" followed by whatever idea she has. That can also be jazzed up by including who she wants to pay attention. Like, "Hey Ma, Da, I know!" She calls us Mama/Mommy and Dada but when addressing us together she turns us into one entity, MaDa.

She loves to play hide and seek and is terrible at it! She's great at the counting part. She covers her eyes and counts to ten, sometimes farther which sounds like, "too-tee, too-ee, too-tee." That's the "teens" to her. Pretty smart right?

She loves to play on the bed. "Bed on?" Which is usually followed by, "a ball?" She and Casey have a game where they bounce the ball off the walls and catch it. Dad game. She also loves to play night-night. She says night-night and pretends to sleep, including a copy of her mama's fake snore which cracks me up every time. Next we excitedly get "up!" "it's light!". Over and over. You know how it goes.

My favorite thing she says that melts me every time is "happy". She says it a lot. When we are leaving the house to go visit Eva, Finn(her fave person right now) and Welles. When we're sitting down to dinner. When we're playing outside or at a toddler gym. I'm always blown away at her ability to identify that about herself and articulate it. The other side of that is she says "sad" when we're at a store and a baby is crying. What a little feeler I have.

Coloring is still a favorite. She loves to do "spirals" and draw grandpa. She still loves to name all her letters and now numbers too. House/kitchen is still the king or should I say queen in our house. The cookie baking set from my Mom is played with every day with out fail. She asks to get the "cookies out?" and we set them up on the tray and return them to their container for hours. This love of all things kitchen has turned into her standing on a chair and watching Mama cook.

She loves to find the "moon at night", she says "Yes" and "no" with equal enthusiasm, loves Elmo and could read books all day. She repeats everything. You think she can't say it, she can. She loves to say "sister" and repeat and approve of the names we throw her way. She is joy.

I always knew I'd love being a Mom but every new turn and shared experience with her makes my heart grow in a way I never thought possible. I can't believe I get another one:)