We finally went to the annual Messy Art Day at ECPC - El Cerrito Pre-school Cooperative. It took awhile for both kiddos to get into the day. There was a huge amount of kids and parents and activities. I'm sure they experienced some sensory overload and was probably quite overwhelmed at first but then, they really got into it - right about the time we needed to leave so we didn't have a level 10 meltdown.

By the way, Raima picked out those shoes. They are slightly too big and used to be Jax's but he never actually wore them. I tried to take them off and put on her actual sneakers she always wears and she adamantly refused and really threw her back into the demands of those oxfords, if you know what I mean. Kid's not even two yet and she's already making outfit choices!

How was your weekend? I'm sure I will have the Monday blues, and things are really picking up at my desk job (though not much has really changed, if you know what I mean) and picking up in my photography business too (yipee!).

PS. Our kids don't actually go to ECPC, but if we could afford it, had the time (its a co-op) and lived in the area, it would be a great choice for us.

So, we gave Jax our old point & shoot - and let me tell ya, that kid is having a blast. I wonder where he gets it from? I'll post some of his photos when I get a chance!

Usually my Toddler Tuesday posts revolve around Jax, but hello! -  I have two toddlers! Raima is a toddler! As much as I would like to not admit that is the case. I still look at her and think of her as a baby, since she's so petite and in relation to Jax, she is still much more like a baby than anything else (but I guess not really!). Also, with this I have to realize that Jax is transitioning out of being a toddler and into the pre-school age (YIPES!)

Raima is strictly walking these days, but often looks as if she's inebriated while doing so, which is probably why they call em toddlers. Cause they toddle. What's her favorite thing these days? She loves to help undo things, like create a better pile for your once nicely folded laundry. Or rearrange your color coded bookshelves (just kidding, I don't have time to be that design organized with my books! but she does like to rearrange the bookshelves and create a lovely pile on the floor. and often). But she is pretty good at putting toys back in the basket (and then dumping it all out to do it all over again). She's also pretty good at following some simple directions - like when you ask her to give something to someone or to pick up something or to put away something. She loves to give kisses and high fives and she definitely likes to dance (The Clash is one of her favorites as is ESG from my recent playlist). She also says hi, bye, jax, and can shake her head and say no.

She also loves this very much:

Even though it has me cringe each time Charlie decides to do it - often trying to give me heart palpatations. And this is saying a lot, because there's not much that will scare me (trust me others have tried) or make me queasy (one of my favorite rides in Disneyland? the Tea Cups of course!) but this?..there isn't anything like envisioning the worst. UGH, just typing that out and thinking it makes my stomach turn! Oh the horror!

Anyway, I guess I'm sort of glad that Charlie treats his daughter much in the same way as he treats his son:


Fun, is gender neutral ;)

What about you? What cringe worthy things does your partner do that the kids just love?!

Raima is 2 months old today! (Pretty polka dot bow courtesy of Eve's mom, Mathilde - THANK YOU!)

She coos, gurgles, laughs and smiles. She sleeps a good chunk at night, which I am not used to and am enjoying it while it lasts!  During the day, it's a different story. She usually will go down fine until I realize I need to use the bathroom or oh say, figure I should eat something and right then and there she will decide to wake up from her nap. no, seriously. She got her first shots today :( but did as well as she could of have.

In other news, related to my fears - after having it put out there in the ether..somehow, miraculously or whatever, I got a voicemail from my boss stating that work is jumping and that they could really use my help right about oh NOW and so yeah..I called and we're trying to figure out how it'll all look for us, but its looking pretty good. Still going to be working part-time at least which is actually a blessing in disguise, since I've been fretting on putting Raima into daycare at 4 months old. So this way, we won't have too :)

*the ghetto birds are whirring & whirling right above our place right now due to the Occupy Oakland stuff (they got raided a 2nd time) down at Oscar Grant Plaza which is less than a mile down the street (0.7 mi and about a 16 min. walk to be google exact). I forget what quiet sounds like these days since this whole Occupy stuff. Don't even get me started on how the media is portraying all this (like terrorists, that's how they are portraying the occupiers). I believe in what they are doing, since last I checked we are definitely the 99%...but what is the solution? I know it's not easy to answer nor is there an easy answer.

Raima's one month old today! and therefore cannot object to the silly pink (i know, i know) bow atop her head. plus, she's asleep (but not for long. once i start to think of, oh, say make myself some lunch - she will wriggle herself out of her deep slumber)...yep, she's awake now and i think she's angry.