Swimming, Snow, and Snuggles

Maliana ~

Nothing like hitting the week with a huge curve ball. On Monday you cornered me in the shower, peppering me with questions about your body, my body, Daddy's body, and where babies come from, so by Tuesday when your age appropriate books about the "birds and the bees" arrived, it was not a moment too soon for this mama...and it went better than expected. Here's how I shared the news with FB:

Mali's had a LOT of questions about the body and where babies come from lately. She's about the same age I was when I started asking so I suppose she's right on track. This book finally arrived tonight and we had our first detailed discussion about ALL of it. *eek!* Have to say it wasn't as awkward as I thought it might be. *whew!*

Wednesday we celebrated Uncle Flint's birthday at Red Lobster where you learned two things: 1) you like potato bacon soup and 2) the fate of tank lobsters at restaurants.

"yo kid...help me outta here, would ya?"

poor little lobsters

being silly

Thursday Daddy went to your 'soon to be' Uncle Jeff's bachelor party so I ended up taking you to the Y with me so we could get some pool time in. I realized how much I really love having joined the Y, the fact that I can take you with me and it is so family friendly makes it feel like such a good fit for our lives right now. The water was a bit cold but I sucked it up as it made you so darn happy to splash around, laughing hysterically at all of the made up games we played. You cracked me up too as you now have another wiggly tooth that you are constantly messing with...not even swimming could keep you from reaching up to periodically wiggle it from time to time...swim, wiggle, swim, wiggle, swim, wiggle. You are so funny. It was great too because all of that swimming wore your butt out and you were asleep within 3 minutes in the car on the way home. Score!

Being so tired bled into the next day as we were all wiped out by the end of the week. It was a cold night and you snuggled in, falling asleep in my lap on the couch that night. I can feel you getting so much longer and heavier, your limbs that much more awkward as you snuggle in to my arms. I count my blessings that, at least for now, you can still fit into my lap.

such a peacefully sleeping little girl

Saturday was welcomed after a cold and exhausting week. The snow that was promised had begun and made for the perfect opportunity for a "nest" while you hunkered down to watch some of your favorite Peppa Pig episodes...

M requested I build her a "nest" with as many of her blankets as I could find,
then says..."Ahhh! This is my dream come true!" #soeasytoplease

And speaking of Peppa Pig, here's another tidbit from the weekend as shared on Facebook:
~ Mali has now adopted a British accent...thank you, Peppa Pig.
You crack me up, child!

We hung out inside all morning before heading to some friends' house that afternoon. They were old friends for Daddy and I so it was so nice to get back in touch and have lots of laughs again. An added bonus perk was that you discovered a new friend in their son, Landen. You both did amazingly well together, sharing so easily with each other and having so much fun since you both have nearly all of the same interests, including but not limited to everything super heroes. We went bowling and it warmed my heart when Landen ever so sweetly offered you a huge bouncy ball that he had just won when you had trouble doing the same in the 'grippy claw' game in the arcade. It makes me beyond happy when you form friendships with other children who are so kind and giving. Surrounding ourselves with good role models at any age is always a good thing and such a wonderful gift. 

two peas in a pod

getting everyone's names squared away

what happened here, Landen?

rooting for the ball

"leaning" the ball back to the pins

thank goodness we found these chairs for
you "short stacks"!

Our Sunday was filled with cinnamon pancakes, more of a gorgeous snowfall that blanketed the entire city while we slumbered (and kept on coming down all morning), silly shenanigans inside the warmth of our house, and then a fun family sledding trip in the 'hood followed by a late lunch of tomato soup, leftover Kingy's pizza, and hot cocoa.  There were other places to go and other things we could have done, but this just felt so good. Like a friend said, the cold and snow gave us the perfect excuse to hibernate and spend time as a family. That's what it's all about, after all. 

showing me how deep the snow is on our back deck

ate a little snow on that run

laying there like a slug

with one of the neighborhood kids, Victoria

riding with Daddy

you were really putting Victoria to work
hauling you back up the hill

ambition..."I can do it, Mom!"

about to go down with you and a little girl we
just met from our 'hood

frozen but having fun!

The weekend wrapped up with you preparing for Chinese New Year and stuffing some red envelopes (hung bao) to pass out to your friends at school on Friday. I love that your class will celebrate it at daycare this year! Yay!

such a sweet kid you are...

Here's to a great week!!
Love,
Mama