Boredom Busters

Here are a few things that have definitely entertained me as of late:

1) Watching Big Belle sing in her microphone headset along with Justin Bieber rockin' You Tube belting out Baby.  Definitely entertaining.

2) Enter, Clara Belle.  Determined to finally assert herself as budding "big girl" she is slowly developing her sense of want for independence.  So when she asks me if she can get her own spoon to eat her yogurt one day, I certainly say of course.  And then watch as she grabs a giant serving spoon.  But I don't stop her, because she did it herself, and it doesn't seem to bother her that the spoon is as long as her arm and the bowl of the spoon is nearly as big as her face.  She eats.  She's proud.  And, most importantly, I'm thoroughly entertained.

3) And Baby Belle.  Now past her first birthday, she's entered this second year of life head on.  Following in the footsteps of each Belle ahead of her, Baby Belle has now developed a serious dislike for sitting in the bathtub.  Don't ask her to sit, and don't try to make her sit.  unless you want to be entertained.  Yes, that's what I'm calling it.  Because I've learned that -- most of the time -- temper tantrums can be really funny. And much like her oldest sister, Baby Belle has seemed to develop the perfect tantrum at a much earlier stage than Clara Belle, but I actually think it's worked out a bit better that way.  Hopefully that continues.  All we have to do is look at Baby Belle and quietly tell her no (as in "no, don't eat that piece of dog food"  "no, stop throwing food off of your high chair" "stop hitting me!" and she goes face first on the floor.  And then pushes forward like a dumptruck.  Her face has slid across the floors of Chuck E. Cheese (gasp, I kNOW!), a hotel room (eesh), every room in our house (possibly eek depending on the day), and the beach -- hello exfoliation!  It's possible I might try to catch this on video...

4) Clara Belle learning to enjoy books, and learning to tell us books by using the pictures as guides.  It's fascinating to hear her interpretations of what she sees, and we're so happy to see her get involved and excited about learning.  I know she doesn't realize it she's doing it, which makes it even greater.

5) Watching Big Belle realize that the world is open to her on a whole new level now.  Meaning, there is very little she can not read when she is out in the world.  Posters and signs and information, she is so eager to take it all in.  She finished her first marking period of first grade with great marks.  I will refrain from giving you exact details, but if you are family and want to know just how great she did, feel free to ask.  :)  <--- I'm trying to rid myself of this horrible smiley emoticon addiction, but it's not going well....

6) Watching Baby Belle move away from being a baby.  Sigh.  I'll save that for another post.

7) I'm refraining from mentioning the great deal of cleaning and organizing that is a part of our existence.  You can thank me for not whining now.