In like a lion...out like a lamb

The month of March was very busy for us. Full of birthday parties and thunderstorms, milestones being reached..almost (i.e. potty training), the preschool anxiety, Greg working ALOT (tax season) tears, laughter, and just everyday life.

On the preschool news, we got into our favorite one! I know, I know, is this such a hard task, acceptance into PRESCHOOL? But yes, as anyone who has been through this in San Francisco will tell you, it is a difficult and emotional process, involving applications and essays and tours and thank you letters and follow up emails and anxiously waiting for the mail everyday. And we had to deliberate over a couple of school for the one which would be best for Cecily. In the end we picked a charming school located on the Presidio, gorgeous surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. She will be going 5 days a week, mornings (8:30-12) starting in September. She will also go to a summer program there in July, just two days a week for a couple hours a day.

Potty Training- Halfway there, probably would be all of the way there if I wasnt so wishy washy and kept her in diapers most of the time. Jasmine (Ceci's nanny) is much better with her about it and she is much more consistent during the week. As a matter of fact most things go better during the week. With her nanny she uses the potty (even goes in public places like Starbucks and the Zoo!) and takes pretty consistent naps in her crib. With me on the weekends she fights me about the potty and makes me drive her around to sleep in the car. I need to get tougher, I know.

Singing-One of Cecily's obsessions is watching movies. We let her watch a movie or two on the weekend and she much prefers a movie to an episode of Word World or Angelina Ballerina. She can stay interested for the whole movie, although plays and dances around and talks about it while watching it. Her favorites: Nemo, Tinkerbell, Sleeping Beauty (which is very scary), and all time fave: Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Her favorite part is to sing the songs from the movies, to which she memorizes the words pretty well. Her favorite songs to sing: "Once Upon a Dream" (Sleeping Beauty); "You've Got a Friend in Me" (Toy Story); "I've got no strings" (Pinnochio-she's not seen this one yet); and "Prince Ali" (Aladdin). Its very cute, maybe I'll figure out a way to post a video.

TV Trance

Happy Valentines Day 2009

Cecily and I made home made Valentines to send out to people. Well, actually I made them and she threw a tantrum unless I let her have the glue stick and lots of tape. And then we didnt send them out, since it was already Valentines Day so they would be late. But we had a good day anyways!
Greg had flowers (for me) and chocolate covered strawberries (for Ceci) delivered while he slaved away at work on the rainy Saturday.
We ended up having to take Luca to the emergency vet that night because she was acting very sick after stealing and eating alot of food, but she turned out to be fine, just too much banana! We did discover from the xrays that she has very bad arthritis though which is why she was crying at the foot of the stairs. Poor baby girl, she is on glucosamine and Rimadyl now.

Cecily is having some big advancements in the way of potty training. After reading Once Upon A Potty she decided she too would try to 'poo poo' in the potty, which she has been doing now almost more times than not! We still have diapers on her bc I havent taken the plunge to start dealing with accidents, but I am thinking about doing it soon. She'll be 2 1/2 in April so I havent really worried about it yet, but she is very ready to be potty trained. Though she seems happy to still go in her diaper as well, she announces it very loud so that everyone knows what is going on.

She has started saying the cutest little things, such as instead of "I dont know" she always responds "I dont know either" (I guess if we're asking her, she assumes we dont know, why else would we be asking?) She also loves Sleeping Beauty and will sing "I know you, walked with you p'once a time" (her version of the song) over and over while spinning around.

Bedtime is definitely a challenge of late, and more nights that not we end up with a little snoring girl in between us in bed.

Tahoe Weekend

We enjoyed a fabulous weekend in Tahoe hosted by Scott and Cara. There were four couples and 5 kids and it was a wonderful time. The snow has not been great, but there was enough for snowmen, sledding, and snowball fights! Cecily, Addison, and Ryland (Steve and Andrea's son) are all about the same age and they had lots of fun running around, doing art projects, watching countless movies (Brave Little Toaster, Tinkerbell, and Nemo of course) and fighting over toys. The pink strollers were the fave toy, especially for Ryland.

Cecily hadn't been to the snow since last January. She loved it! The weather was very nice (sunny, not too cold) so they didnt have to have as much bundling up to go play outside. She especially liked sledding, and screamed with laughter as we'd race down the hill and snow sprayed in her face. She is quite the little daredevil. (Should I be worried?)

Favorite friends

Cecily is starting to appreciate the value of friendship and really enjoying time with others BESIDES mommy and daddy. She and Addison, her "best friend" get to see each other alot and play very nicely together. Cecily has a hard time sharing sometimes, but is working on her oh so important social skills.

Her language has really snowballed. She went from having an ever growing vocabulary, to short three word sentences to now full sentences that get more complicated every day. I watch her as her little brain furiously works to add in more words and communicate more complex ideas. Such as before it might have been "go zoo, saw giraffe" now it is "mommy, i went to the zoo, and there was a giraffe, and the giraffe ate food, he was hungry, giraffes eat leaves". It makes for a very impressed mommy.

Below are some pictures of Cecily and some of her favorite people.

Playdate with Addison

At a Christmas event at the Firehouse with her Nonno

"Auntie Leen" came to visit

With beloved Berit. Her nanny from April to now. Sadly Berit moved to Seattle this week to pursue nursing school. Cecily loved her lots and we will miss her terribly.

Oh Cecily

Oh Cecily Oh Cecily, my little girl so lovely

Your little laugh is such delight, but you wont go to sleep at night

Oh Cecily Oh Cecily my little girl so snuggly

Your kisses sweet and full of love, but when you're mad you push and shove

Oh Cecily Oh Cecily my little girl so cuddly

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I spent a few mornings desperately trying to get Cecily to take some good "card worthy" pictures for a Christmas Card. Here are some of my results.

Cecily with Santa

Another year, another creepy mall Santa. Cecily was all pumped up to see Santa as we waited on the brisk Saturday morning at Corte Madera. When she got on his lap she froze, and barely whispered what she wanted (a pink guitar). It was a bit overwhelming for her. Afterwards she was all smiles again as she drank her hot cocoa.

At the Botanical Gardens

In Palos Verdes (where my parents live) there is a wonderful garden museum of sorts where I used to take field trips as a kid. It is not 5 minutes from the Rainbow ridge house so we took Cecily there on Thanksgiving weekend. There is a darling "Children's Story Book Garden" complete with the three little kittens, a troll under a bridge and, Cecily's favorite, Goldilocks' house.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Palos Verdes.

My parents are still at the Rainbow Ridge house, awaiting the completion of the remodel. We drove down and brought Luca. The house was full of dogs running around (Luca, Xena, Rascal and Sophie) and only one child, although Cecily certainly makes her prescence known! She was the center of attention and loved it. She especially adores her "Auntie Leen" and even gave Uncle Brian a little love! Cecily's impression of a turkey "Boggle Boggle"

Dinner was excellent as always. Michael came for dinner. The weekend was great and it was wonderful for Ceci to spend time with her grandma and grandpa as they are so far away (well SF to LA isnt that far but it seems like it)

We checked out the progress of the Via Rincon remodel, it should be great when finished!

All pictures courtesy of "grandpa"

At Via Rincon