Preschool, Year 2

Olivia started school this week. She missed her first week because of Oregon, but that didn't seem to phase her at all. Liv is thrilled to be back with it. Picking her up on the first day she said, "I don't want to go home. I want to sleep there!" I asked if she'd miss me if she did that and she said no. I'm glad she's happy to be in school.

This girl is finally feeling ready to grow up. School helps a lot, I think, but in the past she's insisted she's not a big girl. Whether it was so she could keep her binky, wear a diaper, be held, whatever. Lately, the snuggles aren't as frequent (sad day.) She's ready to be a big sister and tells me frequently that my belly is big enough for Abby to come out. Potty training has been rough lately. Livie had a UTI in May and every since then she's struggled. Then, add a week in Oregon where we had her in a pull-up for a lot of it (no toilets on beaches) and she's just not doing the best. Not the worst either. It's only pee at least. Anyway, the other day she had an accident and angrily said, "I'm never going to get the hang of this!" Poor thing is so frustrated with herself and I don't know how to help her more than I already am so we just keep plugging along and I have to keep telling her that she'll get there. Once we get back into a normal routine that should help. 

Now, that Liv has gotten so silly lately. I feel like she was "sweet Livie" for so long that she was just saving up all her sass and wit for now. Maybe it was a blood circulation thing (that's why we think her hair is so much healthier since her last surgery, so maybe that's why her wit is too?) I kid, obviously, but lately she just cracks me up. So here's a few examples. Her lips were chapped and I gave her my burt's bees to put on. It was stinging and she looks down at it and says, "It stings because there's a bee!" Another instance, we were driving and could clearly see smoke from one of the fires around here. She looks at it and says, "A fire poofed in the air!" Another instance, she wanted to take a bath so I filled it up as per usual. She wanted it all the way full so I explained that it would overflow if we did that. Her response, "That's ok. If it does we can just get a new house...Or we could just clean it up." Another instance, this one was actually sleep talking but I still laughed. Liv and Ella were sharing a bed in Oregon (on the way home.) I hear her whine "Stoooop" in her sleep so I listen to see what's going on. A second later I hear, "Stop calling me gently!" 

I look at the pic above and am amazed. We've made it so far with her and I am immensely grateful that we get to settle into a normal. Of course, cold and flu season are coming which means our normal will include a germaphobic mama bear, but being a year out from surgery will hopefully help...