Fun before bedtime

Staycation

Matt and I had our own Valentine's celebration a week late and without SB. We spent Saturday night at the Hotel San Jose right here in our own hometown. It was great to get to be a tourist in your own city. We checked in at 3pm and got lattes at Jo's for walking up and down South Congress. I got to shop a little bit and wander through stores that we can't contain Sadie in, like Uncommon Objects. Too much to look at and touch for curious toddlers. It was such a luxury to have a glass of wine at Cissi's Market before heading to Imperia for dinner (where we can't help ourselves from ordering the same thing everytime because it is so gosh darn good...mmmm Dragon Rib and Lobster Pad Thai.) Then, we headed back to South Congress where we had Hot Toddies under the oaks at Botticelli's on a cold night. I have to say that sleeping in was the part I was most looking forward to (just talk to any parent of a small child and they will agree). Back to Cissi's for coffee and a to-die-for almond crossiant to go so that we could enjoy the sunshine in the courtyard at the San Jose before we had to check out at noon. Bliss.

Taken with the Polaroid camera that you can borrow at the Hotel San Jose.

Our funny valentine

This is the first-ever Sadie Belle original painting. She created it for her Daddy for Valentine's day. I tried to get her to finger paint, but she preferred to use the brushes. Doesn't that just sound like her? I stripped her down to her diaper and we painted out on the deck on a warm day.

We also had another first on the Sunday of Valentine's weekend. We saw Elmo Live! Matt and I just kept saying what a rite of passage this is for all parents. What we learned: (1) Everyone watches Elmo, (2) the people at Sesame Street are genius merchanizers, and (3) we will not get out of there for less than $100 next year when Sadie can really throw a tantrum for a $10 Elmo balloon.

Pronunciations

Sadie has a funny way of saying most things. I shouldn't say funny, but it is definitely her own way. She has started identifying some of the letters of the alphabet (and numbers) and when she sees the letter "s" she does her best to say her name. Sadie sounds like "Sod-ee." She is even able to use it in the possessive, "Sod-ee's". It is pretty darn cute. She also has progressed to actually saying "I love you" which comes out "I wuv you." But, maybe some of the most heartbreaking things she has learned from her book of signs from the library (which she is now saying all of the words she knows the signs to) are "sorry" ("sowy"), "hurt" ("huwt") and "sick" (sounds like "sick.") She even makes the little sad face when she says it.

School Days

We found out yesterday that Sadie has a spot in the preschool at our church for the Fall. Yay! We were so excited to hear that because the classes are already so full with returning students and siblings of current students. But, since she has been on the list since she was in my womb, we were able to get a Tuesday/Thursday spot. I think this will be great for both of us. Lord knows she is getting bored with just Mommy at home. As Bebe said, "I guess you better start taking her to church" or the drop-offs are going to be a nightmare. I am hoping she will get better about me leaving her, especially if she is having a great time at school!

Naptime for babies

Sadie is saying a new word a minute. This week she is saying, "nap" and putting her babies to sleep. I use the term "babies" loosely. They include Elmo, plastic Little People and her rubber ducky. It is so precious to see her playing pretend. She is also saying "sing." At night, we turn on the aquarium that plays music in her crib (which we have done since she started sleeping in her crib at just a couple of months old). She started humming to the lullably and now she is singing to the tune by saying "sing" over and over again. It almost breaks my heart when she is so sweet.