1.5 and 3.5

Alena has changed so much over the past 6 months - she has her own language now - most words we can understand, but some of them are still gibberish.  Some of her favorites are: mama, daddy, nonni, sissy/Luci ("deedee"), pappy, babci ("bubby"), shoe ("doo"), juice ("joo"), baba (sippy cup), bow, hi, bye, night-night, eat, ear, eye, school, mine, teeth.

Her gait is back to normal since her cast was removed - it only took 10 days.  She is trying to jump and can't get the hang of it just yet, but it is so cute to watch her try!  She is also into coloring - as long as the crayons stay out of her mouth!  She adores her big sister and wants to play with her all the time.

She is a great cuddler and give tight squeezes around your neck when she gives hugs and she loves to give kisses too.  I will be washing dishes and she will run up to me, squeeze my legs and kiss them - she's so sweet!

Luci is doing great as well.  She adjusted well to school and loves to go.  She also goes to dance school and has no problems there - unlike last year. 

She recognizes letters and is starting to write them as well.  She will be sitting at the table with her paper and crayons, and then I'll hear "look - I made a capital I" - and she did.  She can draw faces too - she used to draw them upside down, but now she draws them right side up.  She struggled with using scissors at school, but she has gotten much better at using them now.

Luci plays very nicely - even by herself.  She will get out barbies, dolls, and other toys, and role play with them.  There's always a mom, dad, little sister, and big sister - I love to listen to her play the different roles. 

Her lastest obsession is watching how to bake cakes and now we have turned it into our new hobby that we do together - we love it!

We are looking forward to the holidays up  - and I hope to be a little better with my updates!

I did it!

I set a goal for myself to do the Great Race 10K.

I have done many 5K's before - but nothing farther.
Until today.

Despite the down pour of rain for the 2nd half of the race -
it was a great race - no pun intended!

I did pretty well for myself too -
I wanted to come in under an hour,
and I did - 56:45 - ~9:00/mile pace.

Next goal - half marathon!

The things we do for our kids - part 2!

Here is the latest cake that Luci watched on youtube:

The things we do for our kids

Luci loves to play with my iPhone.

She gets on to uTube,
and finds videos -
how to bake different kinds of cakes.

She watches how to make
princess cakes,
mermaid cakes,
castle cakes,
purse cakes,
doggy cakes,
etc.

Her latest obsession is a
rainbow magical unicorn cake.

She has been asking for weeks
to make this cake with me.

So I finally caved.

Here are pictures of the progress
and the final product!

Good reads!

When I first saw the trailer for The Hunger Games movie, I was not intrigued.
I had never heard of the book series until after the movie was released.
I had no interest in seeing the movie or reading the books.

Then I would hear people talking about the books-
how good they were,
how they couldn't put them down,
how they had read all 3 books in one weekend.

I became curious.

I saw the first book for $5 at Sam's Club.
So I bought it and read it on vacation.

Seriously - I couldn't put it down.

I watched the movie - pretty good adaptation.
Of course the book was better.

It took me a while to get to the store to buy the other 2 books.

I started book 2, Catching Fire, on a Friday afternoon,
and finished book 3, The Mockingjay, by Monday night.

Yes, they are THAT good!

I may even read them again soon!

Our first broken bone!

2 weeks ago, Alena had an accident.

She was standing on her little rocking horse seat -
- and of course I do not encourage that!
The seat is about 6-8 inches off of the ground.
She fell.

I knew immediately.
The cry was different.
She wouldn't stand.
She wouldn't stop crying.

Off we went to Children's Hospital.

Diagnosis: spiral fracture of her right tibia.

Treatment: long leg cast (aka above the knee cast)

 

She adapted well - too well.
She started crawling, then standing, then walking.
We were assured that all of this activity was fine.

Then I noticed a weakness in the heel of the cast.
I brought casting material home from work to reinforce it.
But when I got home, the weakness turned into a blow out.
I could see her skin.

Back to Children's Hospital we went -
a new cast now.
This one has extra padding and extra fiberglass around the heel.

Hopefully this one will last-
I can't wait until September 24!

He strikes again!

2 years ago, we got kicked out of church due to Luci's behavior - which really wasn't THAT bad!  You can refer to this incident in a prior post.

Well - last Saturday night, it happened to us again - this time with Alena.

Ironically, she is pretty much the exact same age as Luci was when it happened before.

The age span of 12 months - 18 months is a challenge at church, but it's worth it to muscle through it so that the children can eventually learn how to behave appropriately during mass.

I refuse to go to the cry room for multiple reasons - my top 2 are these:
1. I wouldn't feel like a part of the congregation - I don't think that there should be segregation at church.
2. The cry room is basically another play room, and how are children supposed to learn how to behave in church if they know there is a place the play there?

My children have never been in the cry room and they will never go in there.

So - the obvious question is - why don't we just leave this parish and join another one.
Trust me, I am considering it - but there are 2 things keeping me from doing just that:
1. I LOVE our parish (excluding this priest, obviously). We have made such great friends there, and I can't bear the thought of leaving them.
2. I don't want this priest to drive us away - he can't win.

Therefore - I am being proactive in making sure that he understands that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. 

I already composed a letter to the bishop.  I actually wrote this letter 2 years ago, but  never sent it - it was more of a venting outlet for me at that time.  I edited the letter by updating it with this most recent offense, and I have every intention of sending it.

The thing that I am struggling with right now is my attitude toward attending mass - which consists of anxiety, paranoia, fear, and even anger.  These are not the emotions that should be associated with going to church.  Therefore, I have contacted our parish's deacon so that I may be able to obtain some spiritual guidance during this time.  I am hoping that he will help me through this and give me some good advice.

I am open to more advice too - hint, hint!

I probably should just go directly to this priest and confront him, but he will twist everything around and I will end up even angrier - and will probably have to go to confession afterward.

I will keep you updated on what occurs...