Overseas Edition Part 3

Eden is 14 months!  He is growing so quick.  He is now a master at walking, and I predict will run to Daddy when he sees him next week!  He loves to walk outside.  After breakfast, on days we aren't rushing out of the house to an activity, he gets his shoes, stands at the door and bangs his shoes against it!  It's so fun to watch him toddling around.

Expanding Vocabulary
Mr.E's vocabulary is growing! He can say: mama, dada, no, more, up, hi, bird, duck, owl (clearly he is a fan of the feathered!), wo-wo (Chinese term for dog), ball, bubbles, Elmo, num (for food) and water.  In the morning, he stands up in his cot and says "Mama. Up. Elmo" because he knows our routine of lying in bed, cuddling and watching Sesame Street until Eloise comes in. If you say "breakfast", he says "num!" and if he sees something he would like to eat (like while grocery shopping) he says "num".  He also calls Pau-Pau "Num-num" because she often feeds him (it's been so nice eating hot food!)  He babbles a lot! I was getting worried he was just going to let his sister do all the talking! Or should I be worried that both will constantly talk over each other?  He likes to sing too! He sings in the car and duets with his sister.

A Pig says Oink!
He's been learning his animal noises although there is not much different between a dinosaur, bear and lion.  They all roar!  His favorite animals are dogs, ducks and pigs.  He is probably the only person in the neighborhood that loves to listen to the dogs (4!) on the corner bark!  Any bird is a duck, and he loves to oink like a pig.

I Love You but You are Driving Me Crazy!
I've said it before and I'll say it again.  3 is hard.  This age is... trying.  We haven't seen it for a while but the throttling 3's have returned with a vengeance.  One day everything is fine and the next my head is in my hands, rubbing my temples, with utter defeat.  Most who have met MissE think "How could that sweet girl reduce me to pulling my hair out?"  It's true though.  She just does not listen, she's defiant (every answer is "NO!") and talks back (after I told her she was being very rude, she turned around and told me I was rude for telling her she was rude!).  Then there was this gem:
Me: Please stop screaming.  I am not yelling.  I have asked you nicely twice now.   If I have to ask you one more time, you will sit in time out.
MissE: Smiling.  I think I will do it one more time.
Seriously.  I'm going to countdown to 4.  It will make me feel better.  I haven't heard anything about 4...
*Note: I complain about 3 but at the same time, it's such a fun age.  So yes, I'll give her few days of naughty behavior because her good days (which is more than the bad days) offset it.

Entomophobia
Don't know what that is? It's a phobia of insects and what I am currently dealing with Eloise over! I am not sure where it came from but it's suddenly become full-blown. She has sat down on a bench at a park, refusing to play because the tiniest fly flew by her when she tried to go down the slide. Sigh. It's only a tiny bit annoying! (I am being sarcastic here) It used to be just spiders and cockroaches (totally understandable! We live in Australia where the spiders are bigger than the palm of my hand) but now it's any black spot.  She shies away and will not go near until I make sure it's only dirt.  She loves farms but after a visit to Deer Hollow Farm and she tried to climb on top of Mrs.M because of the flies, I guess it is now a no-go!  It is going to be a long Summer! Any suggestions on how to tackle this one?

MissE Says the Darndest Things...
So many questions, so little time!
MissE is full of questions. Almost everything is followed with 'Why?' but lately her questions center around her and her brother. Where did she come from? Where did her brother come from? And while "the hospital" was once a sufficient answer, the questions have now become "How did I get out of Mama's tummy?" and "How did I actually get in Mama's tummy?" Umm, she's 3. Do I seriously have to tell her? Isn't "the stork brought you" good enough? And for the record, I've got nothing for the second question though.
While she is no longer asking "Why?" thanks to an enforced Why Limit (she could ask me 10 times then I stop answering.  You say 10 is a lot?  Try living with a 3 year old and you will see that 10 "Why's" are reached by 9am!) She now asks "What if?" questions.  For example:
Me: Oh good, there is parking here today.
MissE: What if there is no parking?
Me: Then we park on the street.
MissE: What if there is parking?
Me: Then we park where we are parked.
See how annoying this can get?  I know it's their little heads rationalizing the situation but I answer this about everything.  I am tempted to tell her "Why" is okay!

Boys have...
MissE and MrE bathe together.  They like playing together, it cuts water consumption and it's easier for us!  However, I'm not sure how much longer we will be able to do this.
MissE: What are you doing?
Me: I'm making sure there is no more soap on Eden.
MissE: Giggling.  Make sure his twirly whirly is clean!  More giggles.



Winding Down
Both are finishing up their activities. Eloise finished swimming this week. She passed to the Intermediate Level (hope that transfers!) and is working on backstroke. She's a master at elementary backstroke (which reminds me of my swim instructor Y days!) Eden is really enjoying The Little Gym and I am so sad to leave this class! Eloise is also sad to leave Wonderkids/ Funny Bugs, she is so good at somersaults now! And finally Eloise is testing for a Mighty Monkee promotion. Fingers-crossed she remembers her Sunrise form!

Eloise dove for all of these rings!

On the balance beam

GNO
I got to enjoy a Girl's Night Out with friends last week. I so needed this. We had grand plans for fondue but who knew fondue was so popular on a Thursday night? Nevermind, Copa was yummy too but the company was even better!

*Side note, this was our infamous Vegas group! Nothing will top that trip... I would go into details but you know, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Mountain View Arts & Wine Festival

Fireman Eloise

Future astronaut?

Dragged onto the Frog Hopper

5-0! 5-0!

Deer Hollow Farm
A free farm located within Rancho San Antonio.  It was a short mile walk to the farm.

Eden sees a "duck"!  (I know it's a chicken)

Peek-a-boo!  I see you sheep!

A few more days!
We are looking forward to seeing Daddy!  It's been 5 weeks, but they have gone so quickly for us... maybe not as quickly for Daddy?  While both have done well seeing Daddy on the computer twice a week, they are looking forward to giving him big hugs and wet kisses!  And I'm looking forward to sleeping in... okay maybe not because Mr.H will have jetlag, but soon?!  Please?!

We'll have one week to hit our final tourist spots, eat our last tastes of America, enjoy a date night (or 2?) and say our goodbyes for 2012.  Hopefully it won't be another 2 years until we meet again!

Until next time... from Down Under!