Dance, little girl, DANCE!

Arrena has become quite the dancer. Every Saturday morning, we sacrifice the sanctity of our bed and home and schlep as a family to ballet class. Mind you, this is ballet for 3-4.5 year olds, so it's less "First Position" and more "First....focus!" They "dance" around, acting like butterflies or princesses and generally having a ball. And it's so much fun to watch. All of them in their tutus, looking like little angels (even if we know better).

Today, Arrena had a chance to try out a new class. After ballet, there was an open class called Broadway Babies. In this class, the girls do a combination of things. They still do some ballet moves, but they also do tap (anyone have size 11(!) tap shoes?). But now there's an even crazier element; they sing. No, singing well is not required - it seems volume is more important than actual tonal integrity. Good thing, but it doesn't seem likely that Arrena inherited the singing gene (that seems to exist on Daddy's side of the family, but certainly doesn't exist in mine). I watched her try the class, with two of her ballet buddies, and it was energetic and fun. My hope is that, since it starts 15mins after ballet ends, that if I put her in both classes, I just might tire her little butt out enough that she'll take an actual nap on Saturdays. That's my hope. My wish. My fervent prayer.

If this doesn't work, she'll be the youngest kid to train for a marathon in history.

Our morning

After breakfast this morning.

Arrena: It sure is cold in here.

Arrena's Mom: Yes, it is. But the heat is on, so it'll warm up.

Arrena: But my stomach hurts.

Arrena's Mom: It does? Do you feel like you need to throw up?

Arrena: No, I just need hugs to make me warm.


Arrena's mom immediately complies. :-)

That is all.

Holy Moly! We're Back!

My only useful resolution for 2009 - to resurrect this lovely blog so that all of you can satisfy your jones for all things Arrena. But alas, big changes have come to the household. Introducing:

Master Julian!Julian Mitchell joined the family on August 1st, 2008. Our trio has become a quartet - he sings bass (strangely, Arrena's Dad is a soprano - but that's another story). Since everything is still all about Arrena, I am happy to report that she actually loves her little brother. She happily shoves his binky into his mouth, bounces him in his bouncy chair until his head bounces off the seat, and just generally tries to hug and kiss him. Of course, this behavior would be better if she wasn't Typhoid Mary - spreading her daycare plagues throughout the household. But you really can't fault her - he's a cutie.

And he's generally milder than she was at this age. He actually gives away smiles for free! Just like that. You could walk up to him and say "hello" and he will likely smile at you. As opposed to Arrena, who always had a "tell your story, walking" expression when approached. Ah, good times. Julian is also monster size: born at 8lbs 13oz, and 22 1/2 inches long, he is a gentle giant. I figure he'll need that size just to survive his big sister. He'll be bigger, but she's diabolical. We can only hope they become a crime fighting duo, instead of criminal masterminds. Though now that I think of it, the latter is often more lucrative. Someone has to buy Mama a new house (every 3 years).

Arrena is now every bit of 3 years old. Scary. She's a walking, talking, little person. Sometimes we long for the days when she was just a little lump we could crate around. Back whenshe wasn't plotting her world domination WITHOUT US. Suddenly, we're just two more pawns in her game. She is potty trained - thankfully - and sleeps in a beautiful white "big girl" bed fit for a princess. She has definite opinions on important things like whether to wear the Dora panties or the Ariel (princess) panties. And being a fashionista, if you tell her something doesn't match, she'll take it off. Not that I've used that ploy to get her out of outfits I don't like. Ahem. She's growing up, that's for sure. And nothing we do seems to slow it down or speed it up. We just have to take her as she is. Good thing we love her. Here's to our mutual admiration club.

And just so you don't think little Julian is a punk, check this attitude.