AKA The Pizzlets

Little Milestones

Kate — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:27:46 +0000

I love that once in a while I am able to add new achievements that Amelia has made. These past few months have been big for Amelia in a lot of ways. Her dexterity and motor skills are, according to her doctor, above average. I always like to hear that she no longer flags up on Occupational Therapists’ radars anymore. We had her four year well visit the day after her birthday and I had been dreading on it since the Summer, certain that something wasn’t going to be right. It’s sad to say that after the MCHAT debacle, and the subsequent scalding over our approach to Autism I have lost faith in allopathic medicine somewhat. Well, imagine her doctor’s surprise when Amelia – signaling that she had had quite enough of the visit – put her coat on and buttoned it up perfectly. She was visibly impressed and said that clearly her motor skills were above and beyond the markers set forth for this visit – phew!

Then, last week I was running to get Amelia to school. I had just about done everything when she scuffed her hair up and I had to do it again. While I was attempting to get it tidy and straight (harder to do than you would think when she is constantly moving), she was asking for help to zip her jacket up. My reply “yes, yes, in a minute, I am in the middle of something”. A few more ‘helps’ and I had finished her hair. I turned her around and she had zipped her jacket up all on her own. Yay for her! This zip is tiny and I’ll be honest, sometimes I can’t do it the first time.

Yesterday as I was making our greek salad, I gave Amelia her dinner early. She has been sick on and off for four weeks (we think it’s severe heartburn) and eating is hard for her as it appears to hurt her tummy. So what should be taking 20 minutes takes at least double that at the moment. Most times she’ll only eat one third of what she would eat last month. She requested fish sticks and beans, no problem with me as long as she cleaned her platter. Over the last month or so, she has been showing some interest in her knife (for it’s intended purpose). Since she hasn’t been feeling well I haven’t pushed it, but last night, as I was up to elbows in tomatoes and cucumber, she asked for help. I helped her cut the first one but she did the rest herself – fabulously, I might add!

Baby Girl

Kate — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:16:08 +0000

We have been receiving lots of gifts from Amazon.com for baby and Amelia has been loving to tear open the boxes and see what baby sister is getting. In fact she will even go and find a place in the nursery for it to go. I fear that I am being lulled into a false sense of security that Amelia is going to be an angel from the start with her new sister. Still, there’s nothing wrong with wishful thinking!

In the afternoons she loves to open up baby’s toy drawer and have a little play with her toys. She is great about keeping them in the nursery and putting them back when she’s finished.

Today wasn’t any different and we even had a walk down memory lane…she used to love her activity center!

Mess

Kate — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:06:11 +0000

We’re in that happy stage in our lives where we seem to have mostly moved past new things that Amelia does and instead it’s new things she says. We love it but it’s hard to photograph words…still, once in a while she’ll do something that I just have to capture.

Had this been right before we were going out or going to bed I may have had steam coming out of my ears but, I can’t say that I was angry, more amused at what I found here when I heard her talking to Bambi after her nap:

It turns out that she wanted a box of toys out of her closet so that she could properly play with her dollhouse. A few things ran through my mind at once…”What on earth is this???”, “Am I deaf???”, “Can I get away with leaving this until Adam gets home so I don’t have to be a part of the clean up operation??”. How did I not hear this noise because it surely can’t have been quiet. But when I asked what all the mess was, she simply asked for me to open the closet to get more toys. Then when I looked at the gigantic pile on the floor, she got up onto her stool to try to open it herself. We have it locked so that she doesn’t pull everything out of her closet. Apparently, it would have saved me time to have left it open today.

On the plus side, she was more than happy to help with the clean up!!

I used to do the exact same thing as her but my motivation wasn’t for toys, it was for sugar!

These Two

Kate — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:54:18 +0000

These two are as bad as each other when it comes to play. They chase each other, push each other, throw pillows at one another – you get the gist. There comes a point where either Betty or I have to tell them to belt up, quiet down or stop it!! You can imagine the noise and squeals of delight that come from Amelia. But perhaps it’s just a dad and grandpa thing? When Adam plays with Amelia at home it’s much of the same. Now you have chaos running through your mind, picture them both trying to sit still and smile for the camera…um, no. But, I love these nonetheless as they are everything Amelia and Baz are about…

Checking Herself Out

Kate — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:57:22 +0000

If you remember here (and a bunch of other mentions throughout her life) she has always liked her reflection. That hasn’t changed. You can’t see it but she’s checking herself out in the french doors! It made me laugh because of her expression and that she is getting every angle!!

We were so happy to enjoy a proper spring day running in the garden and getting some color. Finally, in the middle of April we have some spring weather…though I really shouldn’t complain because since I am running considerably hotter than anyone else right now any warmer weather is going to make me miserable and that means that everyone will suffer! LOL. Adam, watch out!!!

Silly Goose

Kate — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:45:55 +0000

We’ve entered a phase…no matter the question the answer is always ‘NO!’. Problem is, Amelia doesn’t always mean no. It’s frustrating and has led to an argument here and there because she is so intent on her answer until she realizes that whatever I offered will not be given without the right response. Does it always have to be a battle? No!

When it comes to taking pictures I can be walked all over because there is no way that I am going to get what I want by shrugging my shoulders and putting the camera away. Today she wanted pictures but she didn’t say yes…she laid down, turned to me and smiled but by the time I had moved the camera so I could see through the viewfinder, this is what I got…

I’ll take it it…it’s so her when she’s being a silly goose!

25 Weeks

Kate — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:46:58 +0000

Well, I have finally managed to get a picture! I wanted to get some of Amelia and I together and, since I have been emailed a couple of times, a picture of me. I have to say, despite the hole-picking that I have been doing about how I look, I love how these turned out. Whether I like how I look or not (no one likes having their picture taken), Amelia will love them and that’s what counts…adding memories to our family albums…

So far everything has been the same as Amelia, well except for wanting cake (I really don’t want it)…heartburn sucks, everything is widening and I have my own climate!!! It’s great

Birthday Morning

Kate — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:12:26 +0000

What a busy morning!

Bombarded with balloons at 5:30am, a present opening fest, s’more’s pancakes (not forgetting the candles to blow out), school and her celebration of life, homemade strawberry muffins and then onto the playground with her buddies. That took us to 11:45…the afternoon was much of the same with more presents from Betty & Baz and later a visit to see Grandma & Grandpa Pizzo for more goodies before homemade pizza. Not surprisingly, she was in bed before 6pm.

4

Kate — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:44:33 +0000

You hear it everywhere…all the time…where does the time go?? Four years and it feels like it’s gone by so quickly.

She’s our most special little girl who has helped us to love more, show more patience and care more.

Some of our favorite things:
Her tinkling little voice is something I hope never to forget.
Her love of movies at breakfast, coooookies (as she says), and, at the moment, ice cubes.
That she can rock a gaudy princess dress and the next day be hipper than hip.
The way she tries to kiss you to fix anything that she’s done wrong…
Her love of picking weeds for us to put in a vase (I have a vase of clovers at the moment).
Using the phrase “I want to show you, show you” but not telling us what she wants…
That she’s talking to us.
That everyone who works with her and knows her, really loves her too.
She’s ours .

My four years of 52 week projects are done…I am shattered, thrilled and overwhelmed with all that I have captured and accomplished. She will have so much to look back on.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, we love you!

The Zoo

Kate — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:05:00 +0000

The weather looked to be great so we headed to the zoo a weekend early. If there was ever a doubt about whether the zoo was right for her birthday, it was quashed once we got there. Amelia’s face lit up and we knew we had made the right choice. It’s a hard call as to which she preferred more, the ponies or feeding the giraffes. Either way, I hope that she’ll remember it in years to come. Even if it’s only a flash of a memory.

Enjoy the snaps!!