Food for Thought

In my two short and inexperienced years of mommyhood, I've heard this (and repeated it to a handful of new mom friends) a couple of times: You either get one that sleeps well or eats well. Kayla belongs to the "Eat Well" camp. She still doesn't sleep through the night, but I think I'd rather constantly coax her to sleep than coax her to eat. It's just easier.

Since she got her full set of baby chompers, she's been busy getting acquainted with all things edible. To my amazement, she loves eating spring onions chopped up and raw, for a snack and will eat pasta, in any shape and form, plain. She likes anything drenched with alfredo sauce, spring rolls, pot stickers, fish sticks, salmon (steamed, baked, fried), meatballs, mushrooms, tofu, eggs, spinach, brocolli, asparagus, olives, bean sprouts, peas, edamame--pretty much anything that doesn't require too much chewing. While her dislikes are few and far between, she has very fierce and strong opinions about them. On the "I DON'T LIKE!" list: carrots, spaghetti sauce (she loves ketchup, but not any else tomato-ey).... and I really can't think of anymore at this point. See, I meant it when I say she eats everything, well almost.

Soon, I'll have to look up recipes and start cooking things on my don't-fancy list (eggplant, okra, squash, tomatoes, pork) and Mike's yuck-list (sardines, anchovies!). After all, I see no good reason to deprive my child of certain foods because our personal dislikes. She can make up her own mind. :)

Oh, and our birthday girl got into a tiny accident earlier today. She was practising her bunny hops near a table when she slipped and hit her chin on the corner. Big, bad bruise with some swelling that subsided a little after we iced it. Plus she scratched her nose pretty badly two days ago, leaving a huge scab on it. Poor baby... looks like her birthday party pics this coming Saturday will need some photoshop magic.

And before I forget, happy Thanksgiving. :)

You're Two!

Happy Birthday Kayla!

My Little Drama Queen

Nov 8: Her little Tinkerbell dance. She LOVES dancing.

Oct 20: At the playground again. It's pretty awesome to watch her go from crawling up the steps of the play structure just a year ago to navigating them all by herself. Listen as she sings one of her fav ditties--"Wheels on the Bus"

Oct 20: Her fav slide at this moment in time. She won't go on any other...

Oct 26: Dancing (again!) and belting what's to my ears the sweetest version of Amazing Grace.

Hush Hush

It's been a pretty subdued November, filled with mostly cold days (save for the past week) and stressful mornings trying to get the holiday issue of the magazine out of the way. Kayla has been very patient most days (which only makes me feel more guilty!), playing quietly by herself and flipping through her books and the mountain of toy catalogs we've received in the past few weeks.

Speaking of toys - with her second birthday fast approaching - we've amassed a whole new generation of thingamajigs. Daddy and mommy bought her a talking dollhouse (it's so cool that even I have fun playing with it), Grandma and grandpa's presents sit unwrapped in the garage, likewise the gifts from Auntie Lynn and Auntie Andrea (thank you so so much babes!). And Po Po and Gong Gong's dress will be saved for summer 09...

We haven't quite decided what we're going to do for her birthday -- most likely a simple family lunch and a trip to Chuck E Cheese (by specific request from the birthday girl). We haven't even ordered the cake, which reminds me we'd better do it today, considering it's Thanksgiving week and all. Who or what's going to be on the cake? I'm not sure. It's a toss-up between Abby Cadaby and Dora the Explorer at this point. Tinkerbell, whom she is obsessed with lately, is another keen contender. I'll keep y'all posted. :)

Halloween Snapshots

Say hello to Princess Halloween!

Every kid got to pick and decorate a pumpkin. And yes, we forgot to take a picture of hers.

It was amazing how they transformed the cafeteria into a Halloween haven, complete with a mad scientist stirring a cauldron full of dry ice and wonderfully frightening witches. Wicked fun!

Not forgetting Chicken Man who obviously ruffled Kayla's feathers.

Mike's office or what some call "controlled chaos."

Pixie power! Bitten by the dressup bug, she's been wearing her Tinkerbell costume on and off all week and going "Don't forget your wings Tinkerbell."

Pretty in Purple

Last year she was a clueless bumble bee. This year, she declared herself "Princess Halloween" after staring at herself in the mirror in her purple princess costume which Grandma bought for her last year. We also got her a little tiara (actually not so little, it's supposed to be for a 6-year-old but was snug on her head) and I think that extra touch really made her feel extra special.

Instead of going trick or treating at church this year, we went to a Halloween party at Mike's workplace. Kayla had a blast at the party. She decorated her own pumpkin with stickers, rubbed shoulders with a witch and a man in a chicken suit, and had lots of mini corn dogs. Plus she got to hang out at Daddy's surprisingly unmessy workspace!

I know, picture speak a thousand words, but those pictures happen to be trapped in the camera (We used our old Nikon and I'm not sure I rem where the attachment to download the pictures is!). But I promise I'll put them up the minute I lay my hands on them. :)