Katy's Playroom

Bookshelves and Katy's "Dining Area"

Bench and "Parking Lot"

As I mentioned in a previous post, we said good-bye to the dining room and hello to Katy's Playroom, this past weekend. Daddy was hard at work putting together shelves and I went to work labeling and organizing the umpteen many toys and books that our toddler has somehow managed to amass (one word- GRANDPARENTS! ;-P) in nineteen short months (and it's not even Christmas or birthday, yet!).

While we gave up the dining room table and traded it out for a smaller table in the kitchen, I like this new, more organized look. This new playroom keeps the toys from migrating into either the kitchen or the living room and makes it easier to find specific toys and/or books (and keeps my sanity, just a little bit!).

Since the playroom is on the first floor and very visible, the room had to still look somewhat put together (hazard of the used-to-be interior design profession). I think the baskets and darker wood help make the room still look appropriate for the space, yet casual and family-friendly. Katy gets her toys and we get some organization. Win-win, if you ask me!

BTW, I used http://www.eichild.com/registered.cfm?Restricted=Yes&Referer=/Just4Me.cfm&CFID=2959428&CFTOKEN=76309144 to create the bin labels. I loved that you could customize the words and have a picture on the label.

Share Bear

Katy, your new favorite word is, "Share!" You usually exclaim this in exasperation when somebody isn't "sharing" the toy/food/drink/book (whatever) that you want them to share with you. I guess you've heard us say this one too many times to YOU, Katy Grace, when you won't share with others...

"If I had a hammer...."

Katy hammers away, "helping" Daddy put together some new shelves.

The dining room is no longer. Instead, we've replaced it with a room solely dedicated to your toys and books, Katy. We went to Ikea and invested in more shelves and baskets in an effort to help corral the over abundance of toys, stuffed animals and books. Now, instead of a haphazard mess of toys spread throughout the house, we have most of your toys and books in one place, neatly labeled and organized. Blocks in one bin, dolls in another, dress up in another, etc. I love an organized room!

Shop-aholic

Katy roams the aisles at Harris Teeter with a cart just her size!

Katy, you are definitely my daughter! As if your mini-me looks weren't enough to cinch the deal, you love to shop! The other day, you were quite fussy while trying to get you buckled into your car seat. The moment we said that we were going shopping, you quieted right down and started kicking your legs in anticipation. Daddy blames me for this materialistic love.

Earning Her Keep

"Cinderella, Cinderella.... night and day... Cinderella..."

"Hmm... let's use a different attachment for the hard-to-reach places."

"Helping" Daddy vacuum

Today you "helped" Daddy vacuum, Katy. You were very interested in holding the handle and changing out the attachments all by yourself. Good thing you find this fun because one day, this, too will be one of your chores, Katy Grace! ;-P

"Heather!"

Today you called me, "Heather," Katy. Not "Mommy, mother, mama" or any other motherly variation. Instead, you decided to call me by my first name. Isn't 19 months a little too young for pre-teen rebellion?!?!?!

"The Rainbow Connection..."

I captured this full, stunning rainbow (the picture doesn't do it justice!), yesterday after a day of rain and gloom. Beautiful!

Written by Paul Williams and used by Kermit the Frog, of The Muppets, Jim Henson Productions

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic....

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa"