Totoro! Fimo!

Well first off, I have to brag a little about the dress I just finished making for Violet. She loves it. Me, too. Those are Totoro on there, and if you haven't seen the movie, do so immediately. It's called My Neighbor Totoro. Go ahead and see Spirited Away while you're at it.

I made the buttons out of Fimo last night and Violet was desperate to help. So she made some buttons, too. Here are mine.


And hers. I was duly impressed. I didn't do anything but put the holes in and cook them.

I don't know why I never thought to give her polymer clay before now. She was thrilled. She made a duck family and a pig. You knew she was going to make a pig, didn't you?


The ducks fascinate me. Look at how she made the bodies. And they have such - character. Do all parent's think their kids art is something more than kids art? I mean, I love Violet's art, but her sculptures and 3-D stuff really amaze me. I think I'll be getting her more Fimo. Besides the result, she was so intent while working with it. Calm, organized, and working on those fine motor skills and finger strength.

Quiet

Firsts

If you don't already know, Stella is allergic to a number of foods; eggs and dairy being high up on the list. There is hope that she will outgrow it, and those chances increase as her consumption of said allergens decreases. No pressure, right? So not only are every toddler's go-to snacks banned - think string cheese, yogurt, goldfish - but anything containing even a little dairy. Think donuts, french fries and... chocolate.

I think she has had a bite of my extra-dark espresso laced chocolate before, but I can't say I've been exactly keen on sharing. But the other day I gave her a spoonful of milk free melted chocolate that I was dipping our homemade marshmallows into.


Have you ever seen her so maniacal? Needless to say, she loved it. She's not so fond of marshmallows, though, so it was with great reluctance that upon her insistence I gave her some of those to lick. She absolutely would not be convinced that the chips I put in front of her were the same substance. But hey, it was valentine's day, after all.


And in other firsts, Stella and I have had a nice quiet morning laying on my bed in the sunshine looking at the things in my special box. This is an activity Violet used to adore, and I had quite forgotten about.

Stella was particularly interested in the small magnifying glass and the rings.


Here is Violet just before her second birthday. She was all about the rings, with her parent's old IDs and drivers licenses coming in a distant second.