life is not always fun with a preschooler (I can’t believe she is not a toddler anymore)

Av was bad this weekend. Not herself at all. Not sure what in the world was going on. Jealously? Not feeling great? Tired? All of the above! She was sooooooooo whiny. She didn’t talk she whined. Everything she said was in a whiny tone. On Saturday she was tired and we were having the party that night so I wanted her to nap. She said she would if we put her PJ’s on. So I helped her put on her PJs with a pull up. I put her in bed with her books and went to vacuum the basement so football could be on down there while the party was going on. When I was done vacuuming I heard Camille screaming (she had been sleeping). I went upstairs to see what was going on. Av was completely naked in their bathroom brushing her teeth. Now you see the need for the tape on her diaper. She knows not to use that bathroom while Camille was sleeping. I got mad at her so she started screaming which really got Camille going. So frustrating when all you want your kids to do is nap so they will have a good time at the party you are throwing for them. I brought Av to the basement and left her there for a time out. Few minutes later she was sound asleep. Thankfully Camille went back to sleep too. On Sunday the whining continued. At Hubers when we got to the pumpkin patch our neighbors wanted to take some pictures of their kids so I wanted Av to give them a few minutes together as a family. She of course didn’t really understand but she would not come be with us. She threw a tantrum in the middle of the pumpkin patch which included biting me. Not usual Avery behavior. I picked her up and told her if she didn’t knock it off her and I were going home and leaving everyone else to have fun without her. She said fine. I could not believe it. Then I had to talk her into staying. Not at all how punishment is supposed to go. It really hurt my feelings though. I know she does not know any better but here we were trying to have fun as a family doing something that meant a lot to me and all she wanted to do was go home. John thankfully came over and took over with her. I was at about my wits end. Once back from the pumpkin patch we had a long talk with her and the rest of the day at Hubers was fun but it all started up again when we got home. She stood right in the middle of the kitchen and had an accident on purpose and then threw a fit when I would not go get clean clothes for her. Then after asking her several times to pick up her toys they ended up in the garbage. She didn’t even care until Mickey went in. Then she lost it. Yes we got them back out for her and yes they were in a clean garbage. Needless to say I was glad I had to work today.

first steps

All the sudden on Sunday Camille starting taking her first steps. First thing in the morning she was trying it out. I was the one up with her and I saw her try and fall once. A half hour later daddy got up and the minute I walked away was of course when she did it and was successful!!! She did it about 3 times for John before I could get there (helping Av get up and get her diaper off (we still have to tape it on) and underpants on). She proudly showed Av and I though when we did get there. She did it all day long even outside. She still is very unsteady and at most can only take like 6 steps without falling but the look on her face when she does is just priceless! So proud of herself. This morning while making Av’s breakfast I heard Camille clapping. I looked up and she was standing with nothing around her clapping. She must have taken a few steps and then stopped to celebrate. It was about the cutest thing I had ever seen.

steer

Finally on Saturday Camille learned to steer her walker!!!

Hubers

Sunday we took the girls to Hubers. It is an apple cider/pumpkin patch/apple picking place with many more fun things to do there. Going to an apple orchid every fall is one of my favorite memories from when I was growing up. I hope to carry on the tradition with the girls. We went with our neighbors and had a great time. The weather again was perfect. We ate lunch on an outdoor patio listening to a band and watching the kids dance. It was very cute. After lunch we took a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch. The girls picked out a perfect pumpkin. Then it was another tractor ride to the apple trees. It turned out that the area of apple trees they were letting people pick from that day were right behind where the tractor picked us up. The kids didn’t notice but it was funny to us. Camille picked an apple right up and starting eating it. Right before leaving we went to see the ducks. While hanging out with the ducks and trying to keep Camille from the water we noticed these big orange things in the water by this dock type thing. After making our way to the dock we realized they were the BIGGEST coy fish I had ever seen. They looked like big orange ugly catfish. They were under the dock fighting for the food you could buy for a quarter. I wish I had taken a picture of them. I had never seen anything like them. Very gross. The day was perfect and topped off with a warm cinnamon sugar (not powder sugar) donut that John found for me just like I had when I was a kid!!

Camille’s Party - take 2

On Saturday we threw a BBQ birthday bash for Camille. We invited over 8 families, fired up the grill and got a pony keg (hey it was a Sat. night BBQ). It was a perfect sunny fall day. State had beat that other school in MI and after that I was ready to party. I ditched the cute leggings outfit I had planned to wear in favor of a beautiful green MSU shirt. Again Camille didn't ravage her cake like I was expecting. She kind of stuck her fingers in it and licked. I even got a spoon and tired to feed it to her. Once she got ahold of the spoon though she had a great time playing in it. Everyone really seemed to have a great time and it was nice having all our favorite (local) friends together!

“Why does Camille get another party?”

That was Av’s question to me on Saturday morning. Valid question I suppose from an almost 4 year old after her sis got to open presents twice already before the party in question. She apparently does not know the Welsh (my mom’s maiden name) way yet. Birthdays last for 2 weeks in the Welsh family. She got gifts from AA last weekend, gifts on her b-day, gifts on Sunday after the BBQ, and she will get a few more this coming weekend when G&PP come to visit her. Poor Av but she will be loving it when it is her turn!

Camille’s Party - take 1

Camille turned 1 on Thursday and we of course wanted to hold a little party for her on the day of. We invited John’s family over for dinner and cake. As always it was nice to see them and the girls ate up the extra attention. I made an ice cream cake and we sung to Camille and opened presents. She didn't seem to totally love her cake. Maybe becasue to her it was this cold blob sitting on her tray. I don't know but she didn't dig in like I thought she would.