Saying Goodbye and Hello

We had to say goodbye to Grandma, Papa and Kasey at the end of August. It was a hard one since we were able spend so much time together. We had our daily routines and Lucy loved the extra big playhouse where Grandma and Papa slept.

Papa built Lucy a playhouse that will someday become my garden shed and this fabulous picnic table for her and her friends. It's great that adults can sit at the table because we are regularly asked to have a snack with her when a friend isn't over.

Here are Ellie, Ella and Lucy enjoying their morning snack break. They all loved the table and hung out for quite a while. The dogs also enjoy this table. All kinds of morsels land under and around it.
We thought letting Lucy run around without her diaper for a while outside might help her interest in the potty. She does love to sit outside on the potty chair. Rodney is more motivated than I and was happy to sit for 15 minutes reading to her. She was quite happy having the company. I think there was a small success but it hasn't turned into any routine as of yet.

We met our friends at the beach this week as we were enjoying our summer weather in September. Lucy felt that her shirt was unnecessary but that her friend's umbrella was fun. Abigail and Lucy hadn't seen each other in a couple weeks due to family vacations so they kept hugging each other. I realize this looks like a choke hold which is the typical toddler hug. Luckily, we stay close and are regularly reminding them to "HUG and RELEASE!!"
One of my favorite sights this summer has been seeing Lucy enjoy the fruits of the garden. She roams in every day to check for newly ripened tomatoes or strawberries. She is so excited that sometimes she has to sit down and rest while munching.We started school this last week. We are going to the same preschool with the same teacher but this year Lucy is going two times a week and I am only going once. Yes...you are right, that means that I get a little free time each week. YIPEE! And because one of our good friends is attending the same class, we are taking each other's kid on our work-at-school day so we both get a few extra minutes. It's a great deal. Lucy was so excited to be back in the space. It was interesting to watch how different the kids are this year. So many more words. Much more complex pretend play and much less interest in the parents. I'm really excited about it too!

Lucy has also begun to stay with Lucretia a few hours a week while I go to work. Lucretia is an elementary school teacher with a Master's in Education. She lives 4 houses down from us and she was a co-teacher with one of my grad school classmates. She also had a baby 4 months ago and was looking to open a small in-home childcare for toddlers. It all worked out perfectly for us. Lucy gets to stay with a neighbor who is more than qualified and get to play with a baby and have some more space from Mama. All of this is good. She is very excited to stay with "Baby Yuuma". She is learning not to touch her while she is sleeping and that she can't drink out of a cup yet. Oh...and when Lucretia brings the stroller its for the baby and not Lucy. Hee Hee