Our Happily Ever After: March 2016

2016 has been another fast paced year. We seem to have big things happening every month this year. Big things, plus all the little things, means a busy live. Some of our favorite traditions have already been canceled for the year, which is sad. But we are very excited about all the great things coming up.

January:
I can't actually remember January very well. I remember Amelia was sick from Christmas right into the new year. Mid January she seemed to be better and then all of sudden was much much worse. We had to take her to urgent care, and then urgent care sent us to a different urgent care that was better staffed to treat young children. While I was super frustrated to have to go to a second place after waiting an hour to be seen at the first office with a sick toddler, it turned out to be a blessing because the second urgent care was a huge improvement in all areas. Turned out that Amelia had an ear infection and a respiratory infection and she needed antibiotics for her ears, a steroid to help her breath, and a decongestant. She loves going to the Doctor and helped him to do her exam and then happily took all of her medications until she was better.

Amelia also started gymnastics again in January. We decided on a gymnastics studio in Glastonbury because it is just a few offices up the road from Aaron's work. After gymnastics we are able to have lunch with him which makes going to a further studio worth it. With the winter being so mild we have been able to have lunch at the park nearby a bunch of times. Amelia loves the park and we all run around and play with bellies full of Subway. On colder days we like to go to Whole Foods for Pizza and Salad Bar. Amelia's gymnastics teacher is really great. Amelia loves going, but sadly has inherited her father's flexibility, or lack thereof. But she is resourceful and smart so when all the other kids are bending to touch their nose to their knee while seated in the straddle position Amelia just lifts her leg bringing her knee up to her nose.

Aaron started playing pool again in January. He plays on 2 competitive leagues, one of which has the potential to go to nationals in Vegas. He loves pool, but has quickly remembered why he stopped playing before. He is very tired by the end of the week.

February:
Well of course Amelia was sick. She had the stomach flu which passed quickly. Hopefully March will pass without illness. Amelia especially loved valentines. She loved getting cards and gifts in the mail from grandparents and great grandparents, especially a Minnie Mouse card with stickers from her Memere. Of course our big romantic plans for the holiday got canceled because that was the weekend Amelia was sick but on the 14th Amelia was finally ready to eat some real food and get out of the house. The three of us went on a date. First to Snip-Its to get Amelia a hair cut. Snip-Its is the Rainforest Cafe of hair salons and they only do kids. Amelia loved it. And they gave her a heart shaped princess braid and pink ribbons. We hit the mall up for a quick errand and then we went to lunch. Amelia scarfed down lots of macaroni and cheese, fruit, chocolate milk, and we had a chocolate mouse cake for dessert. She was clearly feeling better. Lastly we went to the movies. It was Amelia's first time and she was a big fan. We saw Kung Fu Panda 3 and she has watched the first 2 movies repeatedly since then and plays kung fu daily. Aaron and I both loved the movie as well.

I like to set impossible New Year's resolutions. Last year I gave up caffeine and was successful, 365 days caffeine free in 2015 and still going strong. So this year I set the impossible goal of running a race. So in January Aaron and I signed up for a 10K in May and a 5K in July. Im a bit scared but I like to push myself way outside of my comfort zone every year. January was a struggle with all the illness so in February I finally got to the gym. The first day i ran 2.65 miles and felt like I could have easily gone another mile or more. Why is the 1st day always the easiest? It has gotten harder, but Im still pushing. I also started working in February, babysitting 2 kids 3 days a week just for a few hours. Amelia really enjoys having 2 regular playmates.

Amelia had her first dentist appointment. She was awesome. I was supposed to go to first but Amelia climbed right into the chair so we let her go first. She happily brushed a crocodiles teeth and let the hygienist count, brush, and floss her teeth and then let the dentist count them too. When it was my turn she sat in a chair to the side and cheered me on saying "good job Mommy". She really liked going to the dentist, just as much as going to the doctor. The only tears were shed on the way home when she realized she hadn't kissed the dentist. She is a goofball sometimes.

Aaron checked the bees on a warm February day. He put a video on facebook. They wintered very well and both hives look strong. The only concern now is that they may swarm, but we are doing our best to prevent that. This unusual warm weather poses its own unique challenges for beekeeping.

Lastly in late February Amelia had a big growth spurt. It seemed that overnight she made the move into 4T clothes and size 9 shoes. Clothes she wore earlier this month are now way to small, how does that happen?

Little Tidbits About Amelia from Jan/Feb 2016:
She loves tents. Most days we have to build a tent and she lies inside to "rest" while watching a movie on her kindle.

She loves to go on ADVENTURES with her Daddy. They take off on foot and come back with pink cheeks, messed up hair, and full of giggles. It is my understanding that these adventures involve walks/running/rock climbing/hiding in bushes/etc. Sometimes they involve Amelia helping Daddy to drive the trash down to the dumpster. She loves to sit on his lap and steer the truck, and he lets her, only correcting to avoid collision. No Mom's allowed on ADVENTURES.

Amelia has really taken to saying her own prayers. They are really so sweet, and sometimes funny. Everyone should have the opportunity to hear a toddler pray, I swear the world would be a better place.

The naked phase is ending. Amelia is finally learning to keep her clothes mostly on when going to the bathroom, and on around the house. I had to bribe her with hershey kisses, but after a couple of days the chocolate wasn't necessary. I'm so glad! And she is letting me do her hair again, YAY!

Amelia loves her home schooling program on ABC Mouse. I highly recommend it as well. Amelia will happily work on it for 30 mins - 2 hours a day. And I love that I can track her progress. She recently did a preschool/kindergarten assessment and did amazing so we had to move her up a level.

Other things Amelia loves: Hide and Seek (and she especially likes being the seeker and getting to count. She counts to 12 now), all art but especially painting, legos, Cinderella, singing and dancing, and donuts.

Things Coming Up in March:
My 32nd Birthday. Disney on Ice. Amelia's Cinderella Birthday Party. Easter.