bruiser

When I gave birth to a girl, my mind immediately jumped to all the stereotypical "girl" things I'd have to endure ...

Pink!

Princesses!

Prissiness!

And, yet, my girl (as sweet as she can be) doesn't currently fit that mold.

In comparison to her older brother, she is far more inquisitive (getting into and destroying everything) and spunky than he ever was at her age.

And she's got the battle scars to prove it ...

Lady love is currently sporting a black eye and a shiner (on her forehead).

Tank top: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)

Shorts: The Children's Place (thrifted for $0.50)

But, at least her bruises coordinate with the lime green in her outfit ...

She may be headed down the "tomboy" path like her mother (I hope so!), but that doesn't mean she can't look cute, too!

train wreck

We took Malcolm to a "Day Out with Thomas" event over the weekend and witnessed the (unexpected?) highs and lows of a three-year-old in the span of a half hour.

I think the following photos sum up the experience quite nicely ...

Photo #1: Too much excitement leads to an all-out kicking and screaming melt down, and some tears.

Photo #2: The train is coming back into the station?  Wait a minute ...  This is fun!

Photo #3: Being cooperative and actually posing for pictures (with Gordon, his favorite engine) ... Maybe he wants to come again next year?

 

You've got to love the roller coaster that is life with a three-year-old ... 

As much as I like to complain (commiserate?) about it, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

ninety percent

Pearl took her first steps at the end of April and hasn't looked back.

Today (less than a month later), she is walking about 90% of the time ...  Yet, it is still strange to see her ambling down the hall, or across the room on two feet!  And, although she is showing plenty of signs to the contrary, it is hard to shake the image of her being my little baby.

It feels like I brought her home from the hospital just yesterday ...  And made the adjustment from "mom of one" to "mom of two."

But time is flying by.

My baby is quickly entering the "toddler" phase.

(Seriously?!)

It is mind-boggling the difference a year can make.

chemistry cutie

It's never too early to start learning about the periodic table ...

Especially when it is in the form of a cute onesie that  was passed down from your big brother!

My girl's got beauty and brains!

everybody climb the dinosaur

The kids and I spent an afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History last week.

While Malcolm wasn't too impressed with the dinosaur bones inside of the museum (his favorite thing there was a large, coral-like chunk of calcite), he did greatly enjoy climbing the (life sized?) stegosaurus outside.

It was fun to sit back with Pearl and watch as he gained the courage to climb higher and higher ...  Starting carefully at the tail and gradually making his way up the oversized lizard's back.

Tee-shirt: Garanimals (thrifted for $1.00)

Hooded sweatshirt: Circo ($8.00)

Pants: Old Navy (hand-me-down)
Sandals: Cherokee (gift)
 

Although he isn't there yet, I know that it is only a matter of time before he is one of the "big kids."

He wants so badly to just get out there and do it ...  To break free and be like them.  And with him being preschool-bound at the end of the summer, I suppose that's a very good thing.

My little boy is growing right before my very eyes.

I wonder if I'll even recognize him in a couple of months!