Streamlining the Morning Routine

Even though Mommy's job is 30 times closer to home this year, she's been seeking out ways to streamline our morning routine.  Here is one thing that she's started doing that has really helped get our mornings rolling...and thereby enabled her to sleep just a little bit longer!

Create a Clothing Plan

Each weekend, Mommy has been planning out what she and I will wear for the upcoming week.  She checks the weather forecast, looks at what we've got going on each night, then decides what the two of us will wear each day.  Once that's done, she pulls all of the clothes that we'll need to make sure that everything is clean.  Then she irons all of our outfits at one time and hangs them up together in our respective closets.  Here's a little picture of our clothes ready to go for the week.

This new habit means that all Mommy has to do in the morning (or usually the night before) is grab the "outfit of the day" and throw it on!

Sunday Best

I know, I know...you are in shock. It's been forever since I've put together a Sunday Best post. And it's been foreverer since I posted two days in a row.

Our Sunday started out like just about any other Sunday.  Once we got to church, though, things became a little more unroutine!  By the time we left church after service, Mommy's jeans had throw up on them (from a little guy in the nursery), my head had been banged twice, and my leg had fallen victim to a painful little bug bite.

Thankfully, all of those things were easily taken care of with a little help from our washing machine, Mommy's kisses, Zyrtec, lunch, and a nice nap.

We had our own little sitcom moment in the evening when I slipped and banged my knee on the kitchen floor.  Mommy took me to the bathroom and lovingly placed a cutie Dora bandaid on that boo-boo spot.  Then, she gave me a great big hug and said, "I sure do love you."  I gave her a big squeeze right back and replied in my sweetest toddler voice, "I sure do love my bandaid."

I'm Still Alive!

I know it's been a while since you've heard from me, so I thought I should probably let everyone know that things are still going well in the Moss household!  Here's what we've been up to in the last month or so:

I started taking dance classes at a dance studio super close to our house.  My class is called Creative Movement and it's designed for 2.5-3.5 year olds.  We meet once a week for an hour and I love it!  So far I've learned the "Bear Walk", "Camel Crawl", "Turkey Tuck", and demi-plie.

Mommy has had two major changes in her life.  The first is that she is back at her old school this year.  Our family knows that this move was God-ordained, but that doesn't mean that it's been easy (in fact, this is a big part of the reason that you haven't heard from me in the last month and a half)!  Even with all the difficulties Mommy has encountered, she is really enjoying being back at her "old" school...and working less than one minute from home.

Mommy's second change is that she has joined a Zumba class...and she loves it!  A little over a month ago, "Aunt" Tara discovered a Zumba studio right next door to my dance studio.  She and Mommy tried it out one night and were hooked immediately.  This one hour workout is jam packed from start to finish, and it has caused Mommy to discover that every single spot on her body is capable of sweating.  Even with all that sweat, though, Mommy generally has a huge smile on her face through the whole workout. And that smile just keeps getting bigger as she's beginning to notice more definition in her calf, thigh, and ab muscles.



Daddy has had a really busy month and a half, too.  At the beginning of August, he spent a week leading a team from our church on a missions trip to Haiti.  While he was there, he learned to listen to the Holy Spirit with greater clarity and developed a greater desire to personally support the missionaries our church is in partnership with. 

Daddy also recently had his acting debut, as he was "cast" in an in-house JC Penney promotional video.  And just let me tell you, most of us have noooo idea the amount of time that goes into shooting a 30 second video clip.  Whoowee.

Katelyn, Version 2.5

I hit the big 2.5 at the beginning of this month!  (That's 2 and 6 months, in case you were wondering)

Here are some things you should know about me at 2.5:

I wear mostly 2T clothes, but can still fit into a few of my 18 month dresses and tops.  I even wear one or two pairs of 12 month shorts (that's what happens when you have no booty).

I'm just getting into a size 7 shoe.

I am a big fan of nursery rhymes.  That's not really anything new, but I have fairly recently started acting them out in real life.  I'll stick my thumb inside a PB&J, pull out a "plum", and declare what a good girl I am...or I'll put on my purple bonnet and walk around the house looking for my sheep...or I'll sit on a countertop and call myself Humpty Dumpty.  While I was in Canada, I got to visit a little nursery rhyme filled park called Storybook Gardens.  I thought I was in heeeeaven!

I spend a lot of time singing, and even make up my own songs from time to time.

I love to dance!  Mommy and Daddy have been thinking about enrolling me in dance classes soon.

Before I take a nap or go to bed at night, I like to make sure everything is picked up off the floor in my room. (And Mommy said, "Amen!".) 

I am very into clocks.  Digital, analog, and (especially) cuckoo versions are all just fine by me!  This is a picture of me trying to show my "Animal Baby" magazines to the cuckoo bird inside my great uncle's cuckoo clock. 

I will eat just about anything (at least once, anyway), but my very favorite foods are macaroni & cheese, chickpeas, mango, plain M&Ms, black beans, and scrambled eggs.  I am not such a fan of olives, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, or soy milk.

I really want a baby brother and a baby sister.  I tell my mommy that at least a few times a week, hoping that she'll eventually get the hint.  So far, though, I don't think it's working.

My New House

Last weekend, Gramma and Grampa decided that I needed a new house.  That's right...my very own new play house!

Daddy and Grampa have been slowly putting it together (way too hot to tackle this thing in one fell swoop!), and I've been enjoying every bit of the process.

I even invited a few family members into the partially finished house for a little dance party.

I kind of doubt Grampa and Daddy will be playing in here too much once the roof is put on!

Here's what the finished product should look like.  I can't wait!

FAQs

This summer I have become a master at the art of questioning.  I ask questions all day long.  Although I love to hear the answers, I often keep asking follow up questions until I finally arrive at the answer I'm most interested in: "I don't know."

Isn't it just so much fun to stump people older than you?!

In case you're wondering, here are a few inquisitive statements that have caused delight, agitation, confusion, and/or uproarious laughter in my home:

"Should we cuddle?  Should we snuggle?"
Mommy and Daddy just love to hear me ask this one.  I utter these words just about every time I wake up from a nap...even though I know the answer will always be "Yes!"

"What is that smell about?"
My olfactory senses have become much quite keen over the past few months.  In fact, I probably ask this question at least 5 times a day.  Body odors, certain foods, animals, and unsanitary conditions all drive me crazy.  Earlier this week, I had a mini gag fest over my own gass passing!

"What is heaven?"
This question seemed to stump Mommy the most!  I'm pretty sure she thought she had another year or so to prepare for this one.  For all of the heaven-related thinking, singing, and learning Mommy has done in her lifetime, she was really suprised at how difficult it was for her to explain heaven to me.

"Mommy, when you were in high school, did you poop?"
By far, this is the question that has elicited the most laughs.  I can't even tell you how many times I've heard Mommy repeat this question to other people...which, of course, has only ensured that I will keep asking it.  At least it's one Mommy always knows how to answer!

Exciting News

Mommy opened up an email on Sunday afternoon that got her super excited.  It was from the mother of a girl who was in Mommy's first grade class last year.  In the email, the mother explained that she...well, why don't you just take a look:

Wanted to let you know that over the last few months I have been working really hard on a new project, a Magazine for little girls ages 6-11- "SPRINKLES for girls like you!!"

After being challenged with what was next (entertainment wise) for [my daughter], God laid it on my heart to do something about it and I did! The first issue is complete and has been little girl tested and mommy approved, lol.

I am pretty amazed with how God has put it all together and is continuing to bless! I would love for you to visit my website www.forgirlslikeyou.com. You will see previews of what's inside the first issue, as well as information on how you can subscribe or show your support. Also PLEASE feel free to SHARE it with anyone you know who may be interested!

There are two main reasons this email was so exciting to Mommy.  The first reason being that she completely agrees with the writer of the email- it is difficult to find entertainment that is appropriate for girls in the middle & upper elementary years.  They're too old for Dora, yet too young for Beiber Fever (even though they don't think so).

The second (and main) reason this email excited Mommy was the fact that she was inspired by another mother who saw a problem and created a solution.  Mommy sure is good at finding problems around her...but she's not nearly so good at the solution side of the things.  This email reminded her that she shouldn't be resigned to a victim mentality when facing problematic social issues.

Oh yeah, there's also the excitement of the magazine in and of itself.  Knowing the creator of the magazine (as well as its inspirer), it's bound to be good!

Please check out www.forgirlslikeyou.com for more information!