Sunday afternoon whine.

Last gymnastics Saturday

On Saturday, Mama took me to gymnastics. After this week, I am going to start going on Thursdays with NannyG. Mama says she is too big to help lift me in the gym and needs to rest more. That's okay, I will go any day someone wants to take me!

Princess Party!

On Friday, I went to a princess party at Tati's with some of my friends from school. We played for a little and then Princess Cinderella arrived!

We played with the parachute, did some limbo, blew bubbles and got our faces painted.

After Cinderella left, I played the piano.

And took a call from Daddy.

Some of the things I say to or about baby brother and baby sister...

"Mama, I love them SOOO much"... When Mama responds, "I love you, too"....."No Mama, I love the babies". Mama: "Oh, they love you, too, baby".

"Can I feed them? ... Can I hold them?"

"Mama, baby sister is MY baby and baby brother is YOUR baby"

"Can I kiss them? Can I hug them?"

Mama says, Gigi be careful/gentle...."I am just hugging them, Mama".

"The babies are tiny"....When Mama said to me that when they are bigger, I can hold them, I said "No, I don't want them to be big....they are tiny"

At a yard sale when I see baby boy clothes..."I want to buy these for baby brother."

Princess Bean.....Take 3!

I think I am Princess Bean's biggest fan. Not only have I gone to see her 3 times, but I play her music every day. This time, I took my friend, Nyla.

With Prince Charming (and the dragon)

Dancing during intermission

Few words...lots of pictures

At the park with Grandma...
Grandma on the slide

At a yard sale on Saturday, I bought a Hello Kitty purse for 50 cents!

Making spaghetti squash

Where else, but the Farmers Market?

Yum....chocolate

At Michael's birthday party

I love Dad!

Dress UP!

Spinning on the tree

Making more dog biscuits

Jumping across my new rug in the playroom :)

Weekend Fun...

Grandma is visiting and we had a fun weekend....at the park....on my tricycle....at gymnastics...and a few barbecues. The webmaster is too tired to do much more than supply photos of some of the fun!

My boyfriend, James, and me in my princess costume.

My half birthday!

Friday was my half birthday. I didn't really get it when Mama told me because I know my birthday is in September. I must have told her 3 times this weekend that my birthday was in September....but, she explained to me that I am officially 2 1/2....on my way to 3. So, we had a low key celebration with Zoe and family....a little dinner....some dress up and Princess Bean music and dancing.....and cupcakes. Anything that celebrates with a cupcake is okay by me.

I am almost an expert....

at going to the potty. Notice how I am wearing my undies at gymnastics on Saturday? I went almost a whole week without one accident since I gave up my diapers. Mama and Daddy are so proud of me. I am proud of me, too!

I got into Harvard! (by Mama)

For those that don't live in Los Angeles or have a similar problem where they live (many 3 year olds living within a 10 square mile radius all wanting to go to a "good" preschool), you may not be able to relate to the preschool mania of the Westside of Los Angeles. I did my best to stay calm. But, I refused to start touring preschools when Gabrielle was in utero, or even when she was 3 months old. Even starting in November 2008 when Gabrielle was 14 months old, almost TWO years before we wanted to enroll her in preschool seemed early.....but, it wasn't. We toured 10 schools, applied to six and so far, got into none of those six. Well, more or less, we got into none. One of our top choice schools is a school where Gigi's good friend, Zoe, goes and where our Nanny's son, Richard went 8 years ago. You would think applying in January 2009 and having our connection to a current student should help....We were supposed to hear in March (this month), but I heard a rumor that acceptances had gone out, so I followed up with the school a few weeks ago. First, I was told they were full....then I was told they might have 2 days to give us....I should call after the weekend. We got the two days! BUT, the school knew that 2 days didn't work for us, so it was really more of a gesture than anything. I thought that perhaps we could figure out a solution - like Gigi could attend preschool two days per week at her gym and the other two days at this school. When I followed up to let the school know that I just needed to figure out what to do with the other two days, they were condescending (well, it doesn't sound like this is going to work for you, I can't promise whether you will get more than two days, I don't want you to join and be unhappy, etc. blah blah f*ing blah). Without saying so, they took the days back after giving them to us a few hours earlier. But, then after they told me all 15 slots for the class were not only offered, but accepted and paid for, I was told they were waiting to hear back from two families who have until Friday to accept or not....when I said I would follow up on Friday, she said that she might give them over the weekend and she would get back to me. That would have been this past Monday....and I have heard nothing (no surprise). This is a school with the HIGHEST application fee of $200 JUST to apply. Ridiculous.

The great news is that people who actually care about the children and not just the money side of things know that there are just not enough good preschools for the number of people interested. Accordingly, two new preschools just opened up in the last FEW weeks and somehow, I was lucky enough to learn about them. We toured one a few weeks ago, applied and were accepted. We were ready to enroll Gigi, but we thought we should at least tour the other school recommended by someone we trust. We went with Gigi on Saturday and had a very difficult decision to make. Gigi loved the school. We liked both schools and she didn't go to the other one. Truth is every school she has ever gone to (we visited Zoe's school and she was invited on a tour of one school we didn't even apply to) she has loved and fit right in immediately. So, we had to quickly go with our gut. We really couldn't lose....they are both great schools that are a perfect fit for us and Gabrielle.

Who knew? If I knew that this would have been how we would find the right school for us, I would have never wasted many mornings touring preschools when Gabrielle was barely just walking.....and spent up to $200 for the privilege of receiving a rejection letter almost two years later. What I learned through the process is that because of the lack of supply of preschools, some of the well-reputed schools have lost track of their mission....to serve children and their families. This is a process I don't wish on anyone. Luckily, we won't have to go through it again, because siblings automatically get accepted to Gabrielle's school. What a relief!

I did it!!

Today was my first day without diapers ALL DAY. I wore my Ariel panties and didn't have one accident. We left the house around 10 am and went to Noah's for a bagel and then off to the Farmers' Market where I rode my tricycle all around. I napped for a bit (no diaper during nap!) and then this afternoon, I dragged (literally) Mama to the duck park on my tricycle. I rode all the way there and back....no accidents.

By 7 pm (old time) and 8 pm (new time), I was so exhausted from so much exercise today....I was out like a light.

Happy Big Birthday, Daddy!

Yesterday was Daddy's birthday! A BIG birthday!

We woke up and celebrated in bed with birthday cake (the wooden kind) and breakfast in bed....I sang Happy Birthday to Daddy....he was so happy.

Then, at night, we went to dinner at The Penthouse...here we are before dinner at the bar.

And, here are two pictures I took before we sat down for dinner.

Yum! Daddy had mussels and french fries....I had burgers and french fries and Mama had a steak with truffle/creme fraiche potatoes!

And, then we all shared the "cupcake" for dessert.

Visiting Saya in the afternoon...

We went swimming in Saya's pool this afternoon....maybe I had a premonition this morning when I put on my bathing suit and told Mommy and Daddy that I was going to the pool that it would actually happen today!

Then, we played upstairs in Saya's room while all the moms and dads chatted downstairs. Right before we went home, we posed in front of Judy's Japanese doll display.