The Banks Family: April is for big girls

We've had a busy April with amazing weather--sunny and warm every weekend. First, we had Easter. Claudia was very interested in finding eggs this year and woke up to find that the Easter bunny hid plastic eggs with a jelly bean in each one. It took a long time to find them all because she had to stop and eat each candy along the way. Then my parents hosted us for an afternoon party and dinner and we hunted for more eggs. The next weekend, April 15th was Claudia's 3rd birthday. Her theme was Sesame Street and the party was at the Arena Sports Inflatable "bouncy house". They have about 5 huge slides and castles to bounce in. We had a mixture of friends from the daycare and some of our friends' kids, so it was a big group, about 25. Claudia had a ton of fun, but she was so tired after bouncing that by the time we got to presents she lost her steam and I had to open most of them for her.

Claudia is very proud of being 3 and officially a "big girl". More and more she wants to do everything herself ("I can do it") and we really try to install pride in her for being independent. She likes being mommy and daddy's helper with chores or cooking. She got a bicycle (with training wheels) for her birthday and we tried it this weekend for the first time (after helping daddy put it together) and she did great. She can get on by herself and she is getting the hang of pedaling, but still puts the brakes on a lot (pedals backward). And her biggest "big girl" accomplishment is that she gave up her binkies. She doesn't ask at all during the day, but misses it at naps and nighttime, so she struggles there, but not as bad as I thought she would. She has been on a nap strike anyway, so she is definitely not taking one now, but I'm hoping (...please) that she will continue them again. It's good that she is so happy to be a big girl because she is going to be a big sister next October. I'm 15 weeks along.

Also, I started a new job this month. I'm at the UW Department of Neurology on a 6 month contract, which is right when the baby is due to arrive.

Found her Easter basket!