There's so much to say, but I think it's best to let her stand on her own for this one.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
11 Months
I remember when A was a newborn, other moms would tell me to savor every moment because it goes by so fast. My internal narrator would scream, "NO! It is crawling by in torturous, sleep-derived seconds!" Going from no babies to one baby was like moving to Mars--other worldy, wholly foreign, culture shock. Adding a second baby was not nearly as dramatic a change. For the most part, we knew what to expect and how to respond. Her little life merged into ours much more smoothly. Now I can echo the other moms' sentiment that those tender moments really do fly by and before you now it, the first year is almost gone. Today is C's 11-month birthday.
I had predicted that she would be walking by Christmas, but I think that was premature. She is crawling really fast, especially when she's heading for the roll of toilet paper. That has got to be hands-down her favorite contraband. I was doing dishes the other day when A yelled at me, "Mom, I need your help." I finished up the dish I was on and dried my hands before going to see what she needed. Baby girl had unrolled the entire roll of toilet paper and big sister was trying to get it all in the toilet. The closer I got, the faster C's little hands pulled. I could hear her speed up and start squealing. Ha! I just realized what we're getting her for Christmas...one of those free-standing toilet paper holders and a mega roll of Scott tissue! (I told J that idea and he said it would be even better if it would roll itself back up. Why doesn't someone make that as a toy?! You could market it to babies and cats. Brilliant!)
Less forbidden are the balls of baby socks that she loves to play with. She's been pretty grouchy lately when she gets up from her second nap, so I cuddle her and let her play in my lap until she's ready to ease into the afternoon. I handed her a couple of socks one time and she must have played in my lap for half an hour with those socks, hiding them in any little crevice she could find, stuffing them under her own leg, then pulling them right back out again. Socks are good friends right now. She really hasn't picked a lovey or stuffed animal to cling to. We've offered several, but can't tell that she really has any preference for them. She falls asleep sucking two fingers, but we seldom actually see her sucking on them. I don't think it's nearly as satiating for her as it is for A.
She's also pulling up and cruising around on furniture. She'll take a few wobbly steps with a push toy or holding on to a chair. But crawling is definitely the way to get around right now. She has three teeth, but that fourth one will be here any day. Still loves frozen peas, and she definitely thinks jar food is so last month. Dad did get her to eat some bananas by holding the jar up to her mouth like a cup. She slurped about half a jar that way. I tried not to watch. Wasn't quite as effective with the jar of carrots.
She's been in a screaming phase for the last few weeks and we are making progress toward curbing that means of communication. Progress, not perfection. We're trying to teach her the signs for "more," "juice" and "all done" since most of the screaming happens at meal times. J says she makes the sign for "milk" for him, but I've never seen it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she understands "no mouth" and I'm actually really proud of her for obeying that instruction more often than not.
Where did 11 months go? Sweet baby girl, it is going too fast. Slow down--the toilet paper will always be there and it won't be long before you know how to open the door.
I had predicted that she would be walking by Christmas, but I think that was premature. She is crawling really fast, especially when she's heading for the roll of toilet paper. That has got to be hands-down her favorite contraband. I was doing dishes the other day when A yelled at me, "Mom, I need your help." I finished up the dish I was on and dried my hands before going to see what she needed. Baby girl had unrolled the entire roll of toilet paper and big sister was trying to get it all in the toilet. The closer I got, the faster C's little hands pulled. I could hear her speed up and start squealing. Ha! I just realized what we're getting her for Christmas...one of those free-standing toilet paper holders and a mega roll of Scott tissue! (I told J that idea and he said it would be even better if it would roll itself back up. Why doesn't someone make that as a toy?! You could market it to babies and cats. Brilliant!)
Less forbidden are the balls of baby socks that she loves to play with. She's been pretty grouchy lately when she gets up from her second nap, so I cuddle her and let her play in my lap until she's ready to ease into the afternoon. I handed her a couple of socks one time and she must have played in my lap for half an hour with those socks, hiding them in any little crevice she could find, stuffing them under her own leg, then pulling them right back out again. Socks are good friends right now. She really hasn't picked a lovey or stuffed animal to cling to. We've offered several, but can't tell that she really has any preference for them. She falls asleep sucking two fingers, but we seldom actually see her sucking on them. I don't think it's nearly as satiating for her as it is for A.
She's also pulling up and cruising around on furniture. She'll take a few wobbly steps with a push toy or holding on to a chair. But crawling is definitely the way to get around right now. She has three teeth, but that fourth one will be here any day. Still loves frozen peas, and she definitely thinks jar food is so last month. Dad did get her to eat some bananas by holding the jar up to her mouth like a cup. She slurped about half a jar that way. I tried not to watch. Wasn't quite as effective with the jar of carrots.
She's been in a screaming phase for the last few weeks and we are making progress toward curbing that means of communication. Progress, not perfection. We're trying to teach her the signs for "more," "juice" and "all done" since most of the screaming happens at meal times. J says she makes the sign for "milk" for him, but I've never seen it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she understands "no mouth" and I'm actually really proud of her for obeying that instruction more often than not.
Where did 11 months go? Sweet baby girl, it is going too fast. Slow down--the toilet paper will always be there and it won't be long before you know how to open the door.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Really late
These pics are long overdue, sorry. We went to a carnival back in early November and A had a blast! It was one of those local, mall parking lot kind of carnivals, so I was leery at first, but I'm so glad we were brave together and went. We scoped out all of the rides first to determine which ones she really wanted to do (and how much we were going to have to pay). Can I just say that the price of a carnival ride has outpaced normal inflation?! It was $5 to ride the ferris wheel! Per person!! We saved that for our big finale. We started with the little boat ride...
That's the face of pure joy, my friends. She was thrilled just sitting in the boat and moving the steering wheel, but then it started up and went around in circles...in the water. Need I say more?
She also wanted to ride the dragon roller coaster, which I thought was a little ambitious, but I didn't want to squelch her enthusiasm. I was right. But we look like we're having fun.
C felt the same way about that ride that I did; she just didn't have to fake being brave because nobody was sitting next to her.
J got in on the action with the spinning elephants. He assured me that she was giddy about being thrown against the wall of the elephant by the centrifugal force.
We moved on to the little flying airplanes. Because what mother doesn't dream of soaring above the crowds on a glorified merry-go-round with her knees digging into the dash and a frayed rope to hold her in?
And finally, the ferris wheel, which we both agreed was the landslide favorite. You'll have to take our word for it that we're up there.
That's the face of pure joy, my friends. She was thrilled just sitting in the boat and moving the steering wheel, but then it started up and went around in circles...in the water. Need I say more?
She also wanted to ride the dragon roller coaster, which I thought was a little ambitious, but I didn't want to squelch her enthusiasm. I was right. But we look like we're having fun.
C felt the same way about that ride that I did; she just didn't have to fake being brave because nobody was sitting next to her.
J got in on the action with the spinning elephants. He assured me that she was giddy about being thrown against the wall of the elephant by the centrifugal force.
We moved on to the little flying airplanes. Because what mother doesn't dream of soaring above the crowds on a glorified merry-go-round with her knees digging into the dash and a frayed rope to hold her in?
And finally, the ferris wheel, which we both agreed was the landslide favorite. You'll have to take our word for it that we're up there.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sort of, kind of an outdoorsy moment
A has seen several shows recently about camping out, including one with marshmallows roasted over a fire. She's been clamoring to camp out in the backyard so she could participate in said marshmallows. J pitched his tent in the backyard before it got too cold and they played card games until the mosquitos started dealing themselves in. But she wasn't really keen on the idea of sleeping out there. I wasn't either; never been one for sleeping out of doors. I have a lovely Stearns & Foster king-size pillow top that welcomes me to slumber each night. Why would I forsake that kind of hospitality?
At any rate, we certainly wouldn't be making a fire in our backyard. So, we did the next best thing:
I'm happy to report that indoor s'mores are quite yummy. C agrees; she nearly took off my finger tip trying to clean off the sticky marshmallow.
Huge compromise for my manly man. Perhaps one day God will answer his prayers and I'll wake up believing that days on end without proper plumbing is actually relaxing. The title of that post shall read, "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much."
At any rate, we certainly wouldn't be making a fire in our backyard. So, we did the next best thing:
I'm happy to report that indoor s'mores are quite yummy. C agrees; she nearly took off my finger tip trying to clean off the sticky marshmallow.
Huge compromise for my manly man. Perhaps one day God will answer his prayers and I'll wake up believing that days on end without proper plumbing is actually relaxing. The title of that post shall read, "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I'm not
My children are asleep and I am typing a blog post. I am revolting against all things productive for the next ten minutes. I am not:
- Editing my Christmas card list
- Addressing Christmas cards
- Preparing teacher gifts
- Finishing our tree decorations
- Cleaning my house for playgroup
- Paying bills
- Reviewing our budget
- Planning preschool curriculum for next week
- Christmas shopping
- Organizing my gift list for the 19th time
- Making edible gifts for friends and neighbors
- Making other gifts
- Emailing my sister about Christmas lunch
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Knock, knock
Look out, we have entered the phase of "I think my jokes are hilarious and I'm going to tell you lots of them." J is totally responsible for this one. He told her the chicken crossing the road joke the other day and I haven't heard the end of it.
A: "Hey Mom, why did the chicken cross the road?"You get the torturous idea. Totally non-sequitur, totally not funny. Then I decided to step it up a notch and teach her knock-knock jokes. No, I don't know what I was thinking, why do you ask? It only took about half an hour to get the format down right.
me: "I don't know, why?"
A: "Because the other side was there! Ha, ha, ha."
A: "Hey Mom, why did the chicken cross the road?"
me: "I don't know, why?"
A: "Because the boat was too full! Ha, ha, ha."
A: "Knock, knock. Who's there?"We did eventually get it right, but that doesn't mean the jokes are funny. Ready? Knock, knock. Who's there? Annie. Annie who? Annie body wanna listen a 3-year-old's bad jokes? (Hey, don't blame me, you're the one who answered the door.)
me : "No, you say 'knock, knock' and then I'll say 'who's there?'"
A: "Oh, okay. Knock, knock. Who's there?"
me: "I don't know because you're the one who knocked."
A: "Who's I don't know?"
me: "No, you say 'I don't know who?'"
A: "No, now it's your turn to say 'Knock, knock. Who's there?'"
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Smellin' Coffee
We were all in the car recently and A was in rare form as a comedic genius. She loves to make us laugh. We try to be careful at what we laugh at because we know she'll beat that horse into the ground if we laugh at it. This particular night, though, she had us rolling. Most of these are probably "had to be there" moments, but I'm sharing them anyway because I was there and I will always giggle when reminded of them.
She started our little trip with a game of "I Spy." She took a turn spying something, whereupon it is customary for Mommy to take a turn. Not so this time. I was informed that it was C's turn. Then we heard a squeaky little high-pitched "baby" voice come out of the back seat in A's general direction. "I spy with my little eye something red." Then change back to her normal voice, "Oh, is it the stop light?" Never falling out of character, she flipped back to C's voice, "Why, yes, it is! Good guessing." And the follow-through with good manners, "Thank you, C. Now it's Mommy's turn." I know...you had to be there. You'll just have to take my word for it that her ventriloquism routine was hilarious.
We tried not to laugh at her rendition of the Larry Boy theme song, but it was complete with falsetto echos. It did cease to be funny after the 209th round of it. Which reinforces my earlier statement about being careful what you laugh at.
On our way home, we all piled in the car and had barely closed the doors when I noticed an interesting aroma slithering amongst us. My mouth was open to make a remark when A piped up, "WHAT is that smell?!" Life experience had already acquainted me with the smell of J's caramel macchiato grande venti upside down latte or whatever doctored coffee it was. And I have slowly learned to temper my opinion that not all humans appreciate the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. But A is still learning. She may as well have been me five years ago, lamenting the recirculated air that she was forced to inhale, tasting that smell with every breath. It was stinkin' hilarious. J just looked at me as if I was somehow responsible for her anti-coffee indoctrination. I started laughing, which made her laugh and then we both laughed together as Daddy actually drank the stuff making that smell. It's nice to have another super-sniffer in the family, especially if she's going to take my side on the coffee debate.
She started our little trip with a game of "I Spy." She took a turn spying something, whereupon it is customary for Mommy to take a turn. Not so this time. I was informed that it was C's turn. Then we heard a squeaky little high-pitched "baby" voice come out of the back seat in A's general direction. "I spy with my little eye something red." Then change back to her normal voice, "Oh, is it the stop light?" Never falling out of character, she flipped back to C's voice, "Why, yes, it is! Good guessing." And the follow-through with good manners, "Thank you, C. Now it's Mommy's turn." I know...you had to be there. You'll just have to take my word for it that her ventriloquism routine was hilarious.
We tried not to laugh at her rendition of the Larry Boy theme song, but it was complete with falsetto echos. It did cease to be funny after the 209th round of it. Which reinforces my earlier statement about being careful what you laugh at.
On our way home, we all piled in the car and had barely closed the doors when I noticed an interesting aroma slithering amongst us. My mouth was open to make a remark when A piped up, "WHAT is that smell?!" Life experience had already acquainted me with the smell of J's caramel macchiato grande venti upside down latte or whatever doctored coffee it was. And I have slowly learned to temper my opinion that not all humans appreciate the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. But A is still learning. She may as well have been me five years ago, lamenting the recirculated air that she was forced to inhale, tasting that smell with every breath. It was stinkin' hilarious. J just looked at me as if I was somehow responsible for her anti-coffee indoctrination. I started laughing, which made her laugh and then we both laughed together as Daddy actually drank the stuff making that smell. It's nice to have another super-sniffer in the family, especially if she's going to take my side on the coffee debate.
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