Picking Up Sticks

Kariana and I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Bergen for a few days and I think the theme of the trip was picking up sticks.  I mention this because this type-A mom constantly worries about Kariana's playtime activities.  Is her playtime structured enough?  Is it too structured?  Is she learning anything?  Honestly, these thoughts keep me awake at night even though I already feel like a harried parent racing off to music class, swim class and playgroup each week.  It's back-to-school time and many of Kariana's peers are starting mother's-day-out programs this fall.  We've opted to keep Kariana home until next fall.  Again, the second guessing and questioning.  Should I add another activity this fall to compensate?  Does she already have too many activities?  But then I take a deep breath and watch Kariana.  She is perfectly happy picking up sticks, collecting rocks and chasing bugs.  I honestly believe that perhaps we may be overscheduling our kids in an earnest attempt to raise smart ones.  Give me a break - Kariana isn't even two yet and most of the time she is still fascinated by light switches!  This is what toddlers do!           

Cousins

A few weeks ago cousins Josh (age 4) and Sophie (age 5 months) were in Texas visiting so we took a trip to Round Rock to see them.  Josh and Kariana (age 21 months) were typical toddlers each of them having their own issues with sharing toys but swimming in the pool was a big hit and Kariana was her typical show-off. Seeing Kariana with her cousins made me think about how I was the baby of the family with my cousins but Kariana will be an older cousin to Sophie and unless someone surprises us with another kiddo, Sophie may end up being the baby of this generation.  Kudos to Uncle Jerry for trying to get a photo with everyone looking in the same direction.  It's so hard at this age. 

Noah's Ark Pool

This summer we've had a ton of fun swimming. We are lucky to have so many fun pools (besides the one in our backyard) nearby. Last weekend we attended a neighborhood pool party at Noah's Ark Pool and Kariana had a blast. Considering she is only 21 months old, Kariana is becoming quite the swimmer. She has no fear in the water and I've seen a huge improvement in her swimming abilities over the summer. She holds her breath under water, dives for rings and at Noah's Ark Pool she couldn't get enough of going down the slides . . . SPLASH! Hopefully it's the mommy & me swimming lessons that I constantly complain about paying off.

SPLASH!

PIZZA BREAK!

A great way to kill an hour!

We had an hour to kill this morning so I decided to head to the Galleria. There is a play area outside of the new Borders so I thought Kariana and I needed to check it out. Kariana had a blast jumping and climbing and sliding on everything. It was a great way to kill an hour in the AC during the summer heat!

Chatty Cathy

We have our own Chatty Cathy in the house. Kariana loves to talk on the telephone. I don't even try to talk on the phone when Kariana is around because she is on my heels and whining for me to hand her the phone. Out of sheer frustration I usually just let her have the phone and she happily chats away to the person on the other end. Luckily, it's usually dad or grandma who is happy to indulge her. They carry on their own conversation and Kariana walks around the house motioning with her arms and pointing at things. Occasionally she will repeat certain words or make silly animal noises but for the most part the conversation on our end is incomprehensible. Who knows what Kariana is talking about but she is very engaged. Here she was talking to dad while he was at work.