Ch-ch-ch-changes

Spring has been teasing us a bit these days; crocuses and trees in bloom, warm (almost hot) days and windy nights.  And at the Richard house, it is all about change.

As of this past Friday, Delaney exits her crib easily and silently and explores the house on her own.  She uses the potty several times a day but not exclusively. She decided to "get dressed all by myself" on Friday also.  She likes to play that she's going to work or to the "hoffice" as she calls it.  She loves to have her daily vitamin and calls all meals dinner. She enjoys snacks and often asks for cheese, oranges, or "pepperina"(pepperoni).

Owen is so self-sufficient and helpful.  Friday he brought in both the big garbage can and recycling can from the driveway and put them away.  He gets dressed on his own every day (before anyone else) and his favorite outfit is basketball shorts and top. He also picks flip flops or boots over sneakers most of the time.  He loves exploring in the kitchen and making recipes (both real and creative) Last night he helped me make garbanzo bean/yogurt dip and also made and ate his own dinner of pb and j on squaw bread.  He is sniffly all the time (6 months or more) so we think he has allergies. We suspect our cat Luna but are systematically taking other allergens away one at a time (like peanut butter and dairy products) to see if that helps.

Also we wipe Luna with dander wipes more often and try to keep her off Owen's bed.

We are in the process of transitioning Owen into his own bedroom (the studio/office). It is taking us several months to clear the room, set up Derek's workspace in the loft, and decorate, but it is very exciting.

The kids aren't the only ones experiencing change. Daddy got a promotion at work and is now VP of Production.  We are very proud of him.  He recently repainted the master bedroom and we picked out new furniture and decor.  We still need nightstands, lamps, art, and curtains, but it is a restful, modern space now.

Momma cut off all her hair and started doing Zumba workouts on youtube in the living room. And there you go.  ch-ch-ch-changes at the Richard house.

A day or two with daddy/catalyst

A fresh haircut
A pizza lunch

An afternoon outing to Vazquez Rocks
(aka- the filming spot for lots of planetary landings on Star Trek)

and baby boy has shifted

He zips, he buckles, he pours cereal and milk
He toilets, washes, dresses, and feeds himself.

Now my role is shifting with him too.

hmmm.

On the threshold of boyhood

He wants to taste my coffee; he wants to make my coffee
He unloads the dry clothes; "I can do it," he reassures in that deeper edgy "man-voice"

He changes from superhero to superhero over a span of thirty minutes; red cape, green lantern t-shirt,a buckled belt and a hooked zipper, all on his own

And then,
last night at a new pizza joint with friends,

he wouldn't go in the ladies room.

Pointing at the skirted silhouette on the wall, "That's not for me," he insisted.

And all of a sudden, over  a week's time, he was a boy.