Just MY size

A lot of this blog (and real life) is devoted to Big Sis, but don't be fooled... I have lots of things that are just for me!

I have a new playgroup with friends just my size.

I had an end-of-the-year party at The Little Gym and showed off all of my talent (just like Sister's recital... sort of).

I get to cry through... ahem, swim at... swim lessons every week with Mommy while Sister looks on.

I even got to spend the night with Nana and DD recently all by myself... just because!

It's good that I have things just for me and just my size. I'm getting to be such a big girl and even though I adore Avery, sometimes I don't want to play Dress Up Twins anymore.

(Mommy says I have to tell you that when no one is looking or paying much attention, I even use words - lots and lots of them! ...But don't ask me to speak on command. I am NOT a performer!)

And even though I still sit at just below 20 pounds, my little toddler body is growing and getting taller every day. I'm most certainly not a baby anymore! So, Mommy, bring on the activities just for me!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Love,

Katie Beth "Just the RIGHT Size" McClinton

The End

This week was The End for me in my Butterfly class at school AND in my ballet class.

For my last week in the 3 year old Butterfly class, I got to eat pizza and have snow cones and celebrate how much I have learned and grown. I will miss this class because it was purple - my favorite color! - and butterflies - my favorite creature! But Mommy says school takes a break so we can swim more and so I think I will be ok.

For the end of my ballet, we had a recycle. I got to practice on Saturday and get all of my makeup on, wear my beautiful dress, and dance on a real stage! And then, on Sunday, was my real recycle! I told Nana when I was through, "I remembered exactly it all this time!" (Video evidence to the contrary? No way!) During the real recycle, I stayed backstage with all the other big girl dancers. By the time the show was over and Mommy came to pick me up from backstage, I had grown to a whole new level of Prissy and Independent. I'm a real live ballerina now!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Love,

Ballerina Avery

That Amazing Avery

The scene: we're all outside, Avery playing in the sandbox.

Amanda and Nanny are talking about a sewing pattern Amanda wants Nanny to look at; she heads to the car to find it. She comes back... it was left at her house. All of the adults talk about how disappointing that was. Suddenly, Avery stops what she's doing and tells me, "I have to go inside. I have to wash my hands and make a pattern for Amanda."

She drops her things, washes her hands, and heads to her drawing area. She proceeds to make Amanda a pattern: a paper with circles on it - purple, yellow, purple, yellow. A pattern. She runs out to give it to Amanda, who assures her that she has now saved the day with her pattern.

Next:

Several weeks ago, we were shopping at Hobby Lobby and Avery was commenting on everything we passed: "Look at that, Mommy!", "Ooooooh... wow!" etc. We passed a purple lamp that she commented on and I replied, "It's even sparkly. How beautiful!"

She asked me if I wanted to buy the lamp, and I don't remember exactly but I'm sure I replied in usual form: something about not spending money on things that we didn't need, even if we wanted them.

When Jordan took Avery out to buy the pinata for Mother's Day, she told him there was something else she HAD to get me: a purple lamp with sparkles on it. (Since Jordan had no idea where this was coming from, he didn't know to take her to Hobby Lobby. They were, however, able to find sparkly purple candles.)

What strikes me about this is that Avery saw me denying myself something that in her mind was a real sacrifice, remembered it, and spontaneously determined to give it to me. She wasn't prompted. Her little loving heart just overflowed right out into her gift. I'm so blessed by my little Avery girl. What a deeply thoughtful child we've been gifted with.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Mother's Day Rainbow Party!

For Mother's Day this year, Daddy let me think of a way to show Mommy how special she is to me. I decided that we should throw a Rainbow Party for her and for the other Mommies in my life. Daddy helped me make an evite, paint a rainbow, get a pinata, and prepare a cake for the big event.

Nanny, Nana, Aunt Amanda, and Mommy were all at my special Mother's Day Rainbow Party (with their families). We ate a special cake I decorated almost all by myself (Mommy used icing to make one arch and then I lined it with red Skittles and then... I did the rest all by myself!), then everyone watched me swing at the pinata. After a lot of trying, DD helped with his pocket knife (that was one tough pinata!). Last, we played Pin the Cloud on the Rainbow. I rearranged each person's cloud once they had a try. I really wanted them all to be in the right place. What do you mean, that defeats the point of the game?

Mommy says this is the best Mother's Day she's ever had. Me, too!

Click here to see pictures from the week

Love,

Avery Rainbow Princess McClinton

First Swim of the Season!

Today I had my first swim of the season! It has been getting warmer and warmer, and today... swim time!

Earlier in the week, Mommy pulled out the small blow up pool and let Katie Beth and I splash around some. But nothing beats climbing in a real-life, honest-to-goodness pool.

My first dip wasn't a planned one. After naptime, Mommy and Daddy were finishing up a movie that was a bit too scary for me, so Nana took me in the backyard to "dip my toes in the water". Somehow, when Mommy came out to check on me, I was wet all the way to the top of my head. In my nap shirt and panties...

Well, it was so much fun that Sister joined in in nothing but a swim diaper. Heavenly.

I have a little bit of remembering to do yet. Like, how to keep my mouth closed when I go under water so I don't come up coughing every time. But I'm not too worried... I have an entire summer ahead of me and lots of plans to swim!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Love,

Avery Fish-Back-In-Water McClinton

How Is This My Fault?

Dear Mom and Dad,

Let me start with this:

I hear what you have been saying about me and my sister Dottie. You talk about me with disdain and open frustration as if we're not right here listening to you. It's very demeaning.

Next, I'd like to set the record straight on several topics of discussion.

One:

I am the first child in this family. If you wanted me to believe I was just a pet, you should have treated me as such from the beginning. But instead, YOU coddled me and babied me and taught me to think I'm the most important thing in your life. If I act spoiled sometimes, it's on YOU, not me.

Two:

I use the floor as my own personal bathroom. So does Dottie. This is non-negotiable, and nothing can change it. It will be much more peaceful if you come to terms with this. Your choices are:

a) Leave us to do what we want while you are gone.

b) Lock us in a kennel. We've proven before that this is disastrous. You get home to poop-smeared dogs and kennel every time. Learn this already!

c) Lock us in the back yard. Also worth learning: you'll arrive home to mud-covered dogs, a dug up back yard, and us sitting on your front porch when you arrive home.

It should be said here that again, this is not on us. YOU are the one who chooses to leave us in the first place. Make sure you understand where the fault lies here.

Three:

Basic 'human' food rules: If it is on the short table, it's mine. If it is in a child's hand, it's mine. If it is on the dinner table and you aren't home, it's mine.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise when you arrive home to find my paw prints on the chair and a cake half-eaten. If you were supposed to deliver it in an hour and worked on it for a whole day... not my fault. You didn't want it eaten? Don't leave it out!

And a side note on this: I don't get it when you popped me after I stole Avery's pb&j a few hours later. What? This is what I do. I'm not sure I understand where your anger issues come from.

Listen. I am a gem. If you don't get that and can't start appreciating me for who I am, then Aunt Sandie says she'd be happy to take me back. And I'd probably be happier there anyways. She loves me for who I am.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK (including my handiwork)

Cordially,

The Sadly Misunderstood Oscar Mayer

Boys Vs. Girls

Mommy and I have been noticing some basic differences between us girls and some of the guys in our lives.

Boys: Have camping parties with live goldfish and caterpillars and crickets.

Girls: Give royal nicknames to the ladies in my family: Princess Maya (me), Princess Candice Alicia (Kate), Princess Bat Girl (Mommy), and Princess Polka Dot (Amelia). (And when people ask me if Mommy is a Super Hero, I get very confused. A Super Hero? No, she just happened to get a bat ring in a prize box the other day.)

Boys: Go camping and eat their share of wild game. Including a rabbit. And a snake.

Girls: Go to Disney on Ice. Dressed as princesses.

It's probably better that Mommy had girls. And so far, that we're happy being girly for the most part. She's good at tea parties and dressing in princess attire. Not so much with acting brave around bugs.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Love,

Princess Maya McClinton