Water Water Everywhere

A few weeks ago I took Gretchen to Six Flags' water park since we had not yet seen it. I have to say I was impressed. As a kid, water parks were one of my favorite things to do. My mother was a sun worshiper so we visited water parks in WI, FL, etc. or wherever we were on vacation. So... as water parks go, I think Six Flags did a nice job. The layout and maps showing what age each area is appropriate for was very useful. Gretchen and I stayed mainly at Skull Island though some of the slides I thought we a bit much for her. Before we left to visit Wiggles, we took a trip on the lazy river. Gretchen and I have done the lazy river at an indoor water park in WI so she wanted to do this one. I think the lack of moving made her cold because she was shivering after that. Overall Gretchen enjoyed it immensely. Every day this week (because it is hot out now) she has asked me when can we go back to Skull Island? The only down side was $11 a day lockers (Yikes!). While I didn't take any pictures that day, I posted some pictures from Father's Day online.

Up!

Steve took Gretchen to see Up! last weekend but it was during her nap time and see fell asleep. We went again this weekend with some friends and she was able to stay awake for the whole thing. I don't know who liked it more - me or her. Whenever I would look over at her she would have that goofy grin she gets when she watches TV on her face. I think Pixar is really smart. I believe we own every one of their movies and I'll end up buying this one when it comes out. I thought it was a delightful little movie (especially Russell, Kevin and Doug......).

Are you going to die?

Gretchen has been asking this question a lot lately - and I think it's my fault. She has started to be interested in fairy tales so I got some books from the library. One of them was Hansel and Gretel where the step mother gets sick and dies while Hansel and Gretel are outfoxing the old witch lady and pushing her into the oven. Ever since we got this book, she has been asking me if I am going to die. Is daddy going to die? Is grandma going to die? Is the house going to die? Of course I tell her yes but probably not for a long time from now so she shouldn't worry about it. I don't know if she was sold on that - I don't want to tell her how my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother all died around age 40 (due their own destructive natures). I plan on living longer than them.... This is not the first time we have discussed death. When Gretchen could understand relationships like mother, father, sister, brother, she quickly realized that mommy doesn't have a mother or father. And then she realized Steve's dad was no longer with us. She asked about them and I told her the truth: that they had died and were no longer living. I am not sure she completely understands but it seems like she understands that we will never see them again. I have shown her pictures of my parents that we have in the basement. She seems so fascinated by them. I know Steve's mom has shown her pictures of her grandpa so I think it's okay. I know this conversation isn't over - it will rear it's ugly head again but I think I am the one who is sad by it, not her. I am glad we had it though.... I am glad she is curious....

Gretchen's First Show

On Mother's Day this year, I got tickets to Elmo Grows Up and took Gretchen as a surprise. I didn't tell her until we got to the theater. Big Bird talked to the audience overhead and she got really excited about the show. I guess hearing Big Bird talk made her realize that we were really going to see the puppets. The usher told her Elmo was taking a nap before the show and would be up soon. She told everyone around us about that..... I am so relieved we waited to take her. It seems like every year there is a Sesame Street show and we have resisted the urge to take her until she could handle it. There were a lot of kids younger than her there AND there was a lot of crying, fussing, and general unhappiness around us. I suspect some of those kids were too young to sit still for an hour or so. However not Gretchen - she was engaged and paid close attention. I bought the CD to the show and we listened on the way home. She was singing along - I am hoping the CD helps keep the memory in her head. We also got a $10 mylar Elmo balloon (sheesh!) because I am a sucker. She loved it though and has been carrying it room to room since we got home. I declare it was worth it!

Chuck E Cheese

I admit it - I have never ever been to Chuck E Cheese before until yesterday.... Gretchen went to her first class/school birthday party. I am not sure how much she even plays with the boy who invited her but we went for the experience. She really liked it though we hardly made a dent in the tokens because all she wanted to do was climb through the tunnel thing they have. She really enjoyed herself and then promptly got sick with a fever and a really grumpy mood. Poor thing!

Patricks Day

If you know me well, you know that I have no love for St. Patrick's day. At least not the excuse to drink holiday that March 17th is famous for.... However tonight Gretchen was telling me how she has to wear green tomorrow for "Patricks Day" as she called it. Well, I don't want to pass on my petty prejudice to her so I found her a green shirt. It wasn't Kelly green but lime green was good enough for her!

My little T-Rex Gretchen

I have decided for now to keep Gretchen and the twins’ on separate blogs. I reserve the right to change my mind but for now, it makes sense to write about them separately.

Gretchen’s day care was closed on President’s day so we went to the Field Museum to see Sue the dinosaur. Gretchen had a unit on dinosaurs a few weeks before so it made sense to go see some dinosaur skeletons. She really enjoyed it, more than the Museum of Science and Industry. I was surprised that she really liked looking at the stuffed animals and skeletons. She was especially fascinated with the whale skeleton on the ceiling. Whenever we have an outing with just the two of us, I always let her pick a souvenir (with price limits of course!). Every time, she picks a cup, which ends up being a piece of junky plastic (I’m looking at you Disney world!) that leaks or spills. Thankfully, this time she picked a Sue T-Rex mask. We have had fun with it with all five of us wearing it though Sean and Evan did not enjoy it as much as the rest of us!

In other news, we finally have Gretchen potty trained more or less. We haven't had an accident in over a week. December and January were challenging in this area. I have never done so much laundry but we made it! We still have to cajole her into sitting on the potty but that's better than cleaning up accidents!

Gretchen is already planning her next birthday party... It sounds like the motif will be "ladybug". I guess I better get to work on that now.....

We took a lot of pictures. Go check them out on my Flickr page.

Museum of Science and Industry

I started my vacation right with a day for me and the girl to bond. I took her to my favorite museum. Steve had told her about the baby chick hatchery in advance so that's all she wanted to see but she really enjoyed the airplane too. Oddly enough, she could care less about the Christmas trees.... Sigh.....

Kissable

We did a little trick or treating at my niece's house yesterday. Sharon got Gretchen these wax lips and she couldn't wait to eat them.... Hee! I put her pictures out on Flickr if you want to see her as the Cat in the Hat (the twins were thing 1 and thing 2)....

Last Summer of One

With the boys still in the hospital, we have been careful with Gretchen. She isn't sure really what to think: mommy's not pregnant yet there are no brothers here.... She knows I visit them in the hospital; I usually get the cold shoulder from her when I she know that I was there ("no! I want Daddy" or "I don't want you Mama"). So hospital time on the weekends is minimal.

Every weekend we try to do something fun. A few weeks ago was the annual carnival/summer days for our town. We went to the parade and then to the carny rides. The week after that we went to the beach. Steve and I were not thinking! We didn't bring towels or swimsuits. I guess we thought she wouldn't want to go in the water. Boy were we wrong! She really liked it (see here for yourself!....
This past weekend Steve's friend brought over his son so they could play. This week we took her to Six Flags. We took her on smallest coaster they have and she really liked it. It scared me to death (I was worried she would fall out) but she was fine.

So our little girl is doing fine - she's getting a lot of attention but since it's the last summer she'll have as the only child, I think it's okay. She certainly is a free spirit. The other day we were leaving the library and Gretchen saw a bald woman wearing a bandanna on her head. Gretchen saw her and said at the top of her lungs: "Mommy, SHE'S A PIRATE!". I wanted to crawl under our car..... But once I got in the car and we pulled away, I could help but laugh a little... (hopefully the woman saw the humor in it as well.....)

Here are pictures from this summer.... (and pictures of the twins)

Girls Day Out

Gretchen is in need of a little one on one time with me so I took her to the Kohl's Children Museum today. She is at a good age for this place since it's so hands on. Their water room, music room, and Potbelly's play restaurant were the big hits of the day. We spent four hours there and she did not fight me to leave which is good because I had a pounding headache. It was worth it though!

My Good Girl

A lot of people have asked how Gretchen has been holding up now that the babies are here but not at home. She visited me in the hospital daily just about and I was very honest with her about what was going on. She knows that they are not ready to come home but she kind of thinks they are sick which I guess isn't untrue. I don't want her to be scared of them. Anyway, she is doing really good. In this picture, we were trying to occupy her during one of the hospital visits so I let her listen to my nano (I picked the songs). She didn't like anything I was playing so who knows what kind of music she's going to like!