One of life's little mysteries explained

So for YEARS I've been tripping over Alex's giant shoes left in inconvenient locations. Turns out it might not always be his fault after all...

The state of C today

I haven't been doing a great job of catching up on the blog recently, so I wanted to at least get down the super cute things C is doing right now.

• Counting like crazy, but consistently leaving out five (1,2,3,4,6,7... every time)
• Showing the first sign of empathy ("You ok mommy?" after hearing a bang or crash)
• Sleeping in a toddler bed and mostly staying in there until her light turns green in the morning, and then pointing out the light as soon as someone comes in
• Going all day without a pacifier (yahooo)

Also, eating edamame:

Getting ready...

...for Alex's big day tomorrow :o)

Birthday weekend!

We had a wonderful weekend down in Chicago celebrating the little one's second birthday. She didn't mind the attention one bit:

Milestones (big time)

So yeah, it's been a while. BUT, this video is totally worth the wait. 2 years from C's original due date we have a child who's big enough for a big kid bed. Charlotte and I converted the crib right after nap time. Didn't take her much time to move right in :o)

Who's who of duplos

Alex is in MN for work this week, but C wants to be sure that he still get's his fair share...

Thursday Update

Happy Thursday folks. Best thing about Thursday, when we wake up tomorrow it will be Friday. It's been a long week.

Hard to imagine that is was only last weekend where C and Grammy got to cause trouble around campus!

Zoo & Milestones

I was hoping to process the pictures from Epic today to follow up on the clip from yesterday, but it didn't quite happen. Instead, you get a picture and a milestone.

Picture: Grammy and C watching the prairie dogs at the zoo

Milestone: I signed C up tonight for her first airline mileage programs. Might as well get something good out of the fact that she's getting her own seat - Go team travel!

Tractor Puzzel

A special message for Grammy Sue from Grammy and little C

Bringing back the Thursday update

This week's edition: Dance Party

The Farm

Alternative title - making mad money by making other people's kids feed your kids

Ha - see what I did there?

This past weekend we were up in Door County visiting Grandma Mary and Sahlty with Caroline, Norm and Jean. Saturday afternoon we piled in the car and headed North about 10 miles to "The Farm". Now mind you when we got in the car, no one actually know how to get there and I was totally unconvinced that it was actually called "The Farm", but Jean's iPhone came to the rescue with directions and turns out I'm wrong!

http://www.thefarmindoorcounty.com/

It was a great place to spend the afternoon hanging out with the animals and exploring.

Full album is on google+ - send me an email if you'd like the link! 

Monsters

We had a great weekend up in Door Co. visiting with Grandma Mary, Sahlty, and the rest of the Provan clan.... but I haven't processed the pictures yet (what a tease).

Here's a video from after breakfast this morning to hold you over :o)

Big foot

I was sitting down in c's classroom earlier this week when I looked around and noticed the cute little shoes the other kids had on. Little being the key word there - it was like their feet were half the size of c's. I don't think there's any getting around it; the girl's got big feet. But at least those feet are now covered in snazzy new purple shoes!

and for the record, we're just not talking about the fact they're size eight...

Epicnic

So as you may have guessed by yesterday's post, we were somewhere this weekend. That somewhere was the "back 40" of the Epic campus, where we had our annual staff picnic. Now they've been doing steak and lobster picnics since I've worked there (I know, crazy), but it feels like this is the first time we've really taken advantage of the whole package. It was an amazing day, and they did an amazing job catering to families with kids. After eating lunch we walked over to the bounce house and bubble area, and ran into our friends the Rewalds (you may remember Beckett as the fellow moose onesie baby - he's in daycare with C).

From there we were off to the petting zoo (yes that's me - I died my hair)

And finally - the construction truck petting zoo. Norm, you would have been so proud :o)

Not a bad adventure to get in before nap time!

Man, Baby and Bubbles

I'll explain tomorrow. For now - how great is this picture?!?!

The beginning of the end

C had a big day today. After some awesome morning fuel of Challah french toast, we got our selves put together and headed off for a trial class at The Little Gym. They put a fancy face on things but basically it's gymnastics.And oh my god C loved it.

We walked in and almost walked right back out again when the first little girl we saw was wearing a leotard. She was one month younger than c, and had a leotard. Scary stuff. But luckily I was able to get past that, because once we got on the gym floor C started grinning from ear to ear. She was shy with the instructor for about 30 seconds, but then was running under the parachute with the other "beasties" (what they call kids in C's age group). C did forward and backward somersaults, hung on a low bar and rings by herself, jumped on every bouncy thing in the place, and was even walking the balance beam with a clear as day "NO MOMMY" when I tried to help in any way. The kids chased balls and bubbles and generally had a blast, and even helped to clean up gear when class was done. Who am I kidding we're totally going back.

The things we do for you sweet girl - may we go many, many years without buying a leotard :o)

Paradigm babies

Alex's company had a bring your baby to work day today. C felt right at home...

Counting

C's been doing this for about a week now, but I was finally able to capture it on video. This girl totally gets the concept of two is more than one!

Welcome back!

As in, welcome back to the world of blogging!

It's be a while (I know, i'm sorry), but I'm going to try to make a better effort to keep up this summer. To get us started, some weekend fun :o)

Start 'em young

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice! Practice! Practice!

It's never two young to start 'em singing :o)  Thank you Jean for leading the tune!

Yup, we're in trouble

Hair Cut

I've been thinking for a while now that C needed a hair cut. Sure it's fun to show off what long hair your 18 month old has, but when it's been almost a year since her last hair cut, something got to give.  So today, we went from pony plus clips...

to hair on the floor while Alex tried to keep her attention facing forward. (Let the record show he did an admirable job).

The result, an cute little bob that's off her neck and easier to keep out of her face.

And for the record, she still likes boots :o)

I can do it!

Scene: we're all sitting in the living room.

C grabs the baby dinosaur book. Walks by Sarah.

Sarah: Hey kiddo, do you want me to read that to you?

C: No

C walks over to Alex.

Alex: Do you want to read that with me?

C: No

C walks over to the chair. Throws the book up on the chair. Wriggles up on the chair by herself, and stars to read.  Guess we've done our job :o)

More puddle

So if you're sick of the puddle in our back yard, stop reading now :o)

This afternoon Alex was around.

(shhh, let's not tell him I posted that picture) 

With backup on watch, I was able to get out the nice camera and take a few shots. C is so funny about this puddle. Half the time she just stands in it totally serious, the other half of the time shes dancing and splashing and cracking herself up.  For the sake of our grass I hope it drys up soon, but man has it been entertaining.

Max, however, continues to be unimpressed.

Spring

We are just starting to see the first of spring in Madison. This afternoon was sunny and almost 45! Things are melting like crazy resulting in big time puddles everywhere. Turns out 18 months is the PERFECT age for rain boots...

What a difference a year makes

A year ago, c made her first trip to California
http://madcityprovans.blogspot.com/2012/03/california_25.html
She was still breastfeeding, not really moving, and all cheeks.

Then Wednesday, c and Alex left for California again. Max and I held down the for here, but were REALLY grateful for face time  path, and other updates. Including this one. Looks like c was a little more active this time around :o)

Sunlight and baby girls

This weekend we finally saw the sun for the first time in a long time. That, combined with a too cute to pass up daughter inspired a photo shoot. Turns out I still have a LOT to learn about capturing light with a camera, but I got a couple keepers!

Indoor fun

We can't wait for spring around these parts. Until it hits, this is the best we can do:

Old school

Yes, that is an honest to goodness touch tone phone that you see there. And I'm excited about it. Thanks to the wonders of Android and Google voice my main number (the 7171 one) will now ring my cell phone when I'm out and about, my work phone when I'm at my desk, and our home phone when I'm at home. One number, three different phones.  How cool is that?

Growing up

Let the milestones continue - presenting little c's first ponytail

Well, I guess she's speaking

Here's the scene: C and I are at the breakfast table. I have a plate of pancakes, and C has both pancakes and banana on her plate. She turns to me and starts making the sign for more. I respond "more what? you already have both pancake and banana." C looks at her plate, looks at me, and then says:
"ssssssssssssssssrrrrrr- up"

"Do you want some syrup?"

"Yes" (accompanied by a head nod and a HUGE smile when I put some on her plate)

Bring back the milestone label. This girl is definitely talking.

Conference time

Break out the milestones label! We had our first parent teacher conference today. All and all not very exciting. We caught up with C's lead teacher, laughed about the goofy stuff she does, and confirmed she's on track. It is always nice to hear your kid's on track though.

From the written report we got, under "What we appreciate about your child"
We love being able to goof around with Charlotte and see her silly side.  Charlotte is very smart. She understands more than she lets on, and we love when she lets us see the connections she's been making!

Way to go little c :o)

A very warm pup

Continuation of the "we have the best dog in the entire world" series, part 57.

Escape!

I was planning on posting this as "c learns how big her head is", but turns out she pulls it off!

Fort!

It's been a rough week at the Provans. I'm still fighting a cold that I first came down with the week before Christmas. C got it pretty bad during the week and was send home from daycare Friday, and Alex is barely upright today. Needless to say, Netflix classic Disney has been used more than I'd care to admit over the last couple of days. So this afternoon when C and I were upright at the same time, I took the opportunity to turn off the TV, and turn on some imaginative play. A sheet and a coffee table later, we had a fort!

Max wasn't allowed in...

So he went and found a hiding place of his own

Ha - my fort has a view.I win.