Dr. Sanderford

is on call at a toy box near you.

Potty Time

Amelia's morning potty routine has expanded to include lots of friends. For the record, I would say she is definitely fully potty trained and has been for a month or more. She wears diapers at night and that's it (since she is pretty much NOT NAPPING anymore, we don't have to worry about diapers during naptime). She can climb onto and off of the potty herself, using her little stool (heehee, no pun intended). She can pull her pants up and down. She is very independent about deciding when to go and hardly ever has an accident. Just like some kids are naturally good sleepers or nappers (NOT MINE), Amelia was just pretty easy to potty train. This may be the last post labeled "potty training!"

Harley, Toddler Style

She is still working on pedaling and steering, but she has the bell figured out.

Silly Singer

This illustrates what I wrote a few weeks ago about Amelia making up words to songs.

Tea Party

An actual tea party, not the political one.

In the blue chair is Claire, a baby Amelia rediscovered, named, and carried everywhere (including to the potty) all last week. She is really into her baby dolls right now. She has 6 or 7 that she gathers and feeds and diapers and takes "shopping." And throws elaborate tea parties for.

 The busy hostess

 Making sure the babies are sitting up. If they fall she gets mad and yells "NOOO!"

Aftermath. It was a pretty wild bunch.

Easter Pictures (Finally)

 Fancy new jewel shoes. Amelia saw someone--an adult lady--at the park a few weeks before Easter with very fancy jeweled sandals. She looked at me and said, very seriously, "I wish I had some shoes like that." Somehow, the Easter Bunny knew.

 The Easter Bunny left part of his carrot, which concerned Amelia: "Will he eat it?"

 Candy

 More candy

 Stickers and a bunny

Amelia does not like Butterfinger Eggs, which the Easter Bunny did not know. Amelia's Mama does like them, though.

Dear baby,

(an open letter to Amelia's second cousin-to-be)


You know who you are. We would like to invite you to join us, here, outside in of your mother's womb.

Amelia, who was born right on her due date, is a little appalled. We have been meaning to write to you all week, but as you may have overheard, we've been dealing with a little bout of the flu. Since your due date was 10 days ago, we kept thinking you'd be here by now.

We know it's nice and warm and snugly inside your mom, and we hear that the brain develops a lot those last days in the womb. We understand your wanting to stay there as long as you can, and we know you are happy in there. And we understand your not wanting to be born on Friday the 13th.

But now is a great time to be born! It's spring! There are lots of flowers. Many of your family members were born right around this time! You would be such a great birthday present! We can arrange some cake, if that's what you're angling for. Do you want presents? Balloons? We can arrange for all that too.

Also, many of us were pretty disappointed when your parents decided not to discover your gender before you were born. The waiting is killing us! How long can we keep putting off buying those cute little pink or blue outfits we've had our eyes on for so long?

But most of all, we just want to meet you, the you who is brand new to the world. We want to look in your little eyes and hold your tiny fingers and hear your tiny cries (but not too much crying, okay? and no colic). The world can't wait to meet you! We are being as patient as we can, but please come join us soon!

Much love,

Your Family