I remember watching my nieces learn to say "please" and "thank you"; unfortunately, Barney was popular at the time and it meant a lot of requests for watching the show as well. As much as I dislike Barney, I have to admit, the show really drilled into your brain the concept of "please" and "thank you" being the magic words...that and how awful kids' shows truly are. Even when I was a kid I hated children's programming (but that's another story).
Nora's playmates have been learning or exposed to some amount of baby sign language. It's par for the course with Portlander parents much like baby carriers, amber teething necklaces, and discussions about organic baby food (to purchase or to make; not whether or not you choose organic food for your kid because if you were to admit that...well, good luck). I had never any fantasy of being successful at teaching such a thing to Nora. I'm dyslexic and learning foreign languages has always been an embarrassing failing of mine so I didn't have any hope of teaching one to my infant daughter. Imagine my surprise when all those months of my clumsy attempts and her witnessing others would pay off with her picking up signs on her own. She signs "please", "hungry", "all done", "more" and "star".
My heart swelled with pride when she first signed "please" and sweetly said it simultaneously to request her sippy cup. Tonight I almost cried when I asked her if she wanted the purple star jammies her Na-Na gave her and she signed "star" with a big smile in response. All these moments are stored in my heart right alongside the moments that she drives us insane.
There are words that she absolutely refuses to sign (or say for that matter) "thank you" or "sorry". A request for her to say "thank you" will elicit a kiss at best and a raspberry noise in your face possibly or at worst a snotty smile and flounce of her head. A request for "sorry" might get you a hug or a pat but sometimes it results in her screaming "NOOOO!"...this I can understand since it's my fault. I was hoping she might learn to say "no" in an assertive manner to other kids that were trying to pull away a toy out of her hands or push her around. She somehow confused this concept with the kid being forced to apologize to her after their bad behavior, so now when a kid is brought over to apologize for their transgression by their parent my lovely daughter will scream "NOOO!" in the kid's face. It's quite effective.
One little boy approaches Nora and gives her a hug every time he sees her now and she simply turns her face away and says "no". My work here is done.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
October in summary: Nora's favorite things...
She's almost 20 months old. This coming Tuesday she'll officially be twenty months and I'm blown away every day by her.
We were at the grocery store and she started pulling things off the shelves and turning to smile at me, proud of herself. I thanked her for remembering which shampoo I use and asked her to put it back, that we had enough at home. She did. Then she ran over to the soaps and pulled down the shower gel I use and we repeated the process again.
An elderly woman turned to come down the aisle we were in and noticed her right away. She smiled and waved at Nora. Nora dipped her chin and looked at the woman suspiciously but responded, "Hi." The woman giggled and said, "Hello!" Nora didn't like her tone and glared at her. The woman ignored her and asked me how old she was. I answered and explained that Nora wanted to tell her something because she was signing to me "more". "What do you want to say, Nora?"
She turned to the woman and said, "No." She shook her head, grabbed my hand, and started walking away. I'm guessing that's Nora-speak for F-off.
My other favorite moments of the past month are:
- Her nodding and agreeing to a time-out for the 1st time. Then when she placed her hands on my cheeks and turned my face for a kiss afterwards.
- Learning to open and shut doors. She loves to hold her bedroom door close and giggles insanely as I try to open it then launches herself onto her bed once I have it open.
- Playing hide-n-seek behind our bed.
- Dancing. She does the most adorable twirl, ever.
- When she Bugs-Bunny-ed me into taking a soggy tissue by saying, "Trade?" when I was busy unloading the dishwasher and then explained to me, "Hold."
- Her special smile for herself when she's pleased or proud.
- The way she reaches for our hands when we're walking, huge improvement over before!
- When she takes my hand and rolls it over to place a kiss in my palm.
- The way she says, "Hiiiii!" so enthusiastically when I go to get her out of the backseat of the car. We could still be in our parking spot but if I close the door and return only a second later she responds the same.
- Her help pushing the grocery cart. I love watching her frog march behind it and take down other people in the process.
- Her budding fashion sense. She color coordinates better than Jamie and I combined and is very particular about shoes. So it begins...
- The way she cuddles with her dolls as she falls asleep or watches the world go by from her stroller or carseat.
- Her gentleness with other kids.
- Signing and saying "please".
- Family cuddle time in the evening. When she strokes our faces and stares up into them sleepily smiling and then farts on us.
Nora's favorite things:
- Anything with sleigh bells
- Bob's Burgers, How It's Made, and How to Train Your Dragon
- Red shoes
- Kitchens (pretend or otherwise)
- Cuddling on the couch (she rearranges the pillows and cats to her liking)
- Arranging furniture
- Talking on the "phone" (this could be a block, a remote, etc.)
- Throwing things down the stairs through the catdoor. It's awesome.
- Waving and saying "hello" to everyone we pass. For better or for worse.
- Sticks
- Dogs
- Did I mention the sticks? How about the dogs? See the problem...?
- Breasts. And, yes, she will pull open your shirt to look. You too men.
- Hugs and kisses. She won't say "thank you", "sorry", or "your welcome" but she will run over and give you a kiss and hug instead.
- Pork fried rice, pasta, cheese, sweet potatoes, bananas, burritos, beans and rice, and popcorn.
- Simone our cat, especially in the morning when they "talk" through the babygate...oh my sweet f'in jeebus is it maddening.
- Playing on the "weeeee-", her name for swings.
- Water. Fountains, sprinklers, soaking pool - you name it, she'll go in it.
- Taking naps with mama in the afternoon and waking her with raspberries on her belly and breasts.
- Snuggling up and watching a Disney movie together and eating popcorn.
My favorite things: Do you need to ask?
We were at the grocery store and she started pulling things off the shelves and turning to smile at me, proud of herself. I thanked her for remembering which shampoo I use and asked her to put it back, that we had enough at home. She did. Then she ran over to the soaps and pulled down the shower gel I use and we repeated the process again.
An elderly woman turned to come down the aisle we were in and noticed her right away. She smiled and waved at Nora. Nora dipped her chin and looked at the woman suspiciously but responded, "Hi." The woman giggled and said, "Hello!" Nora didn't like her tone and glared at her. The woman ignored her and asked me how old she was. I answered and explained that Nora wanted to tell her something because she was signing to me "more". "What do you want to say, Nora?"
She turned to the woman and said, "No." She shook her head, grabbed my hand, and started walking away. I'm guessing that's Nora-speak for F-off.
My other favorite moments of the past month are:
- Her nodding and agreeing to a time-out for the 1st time. Then when she placed her hands on my cheeks and turned my face for a kiss afterwards.
- Learning to open and shut doors. She loves to hold her bedroom door close and giggles insanely as I try to open it then launches herself onto her bed once I have it open.
- Playing hide-n-seek behind our bed.
- Dancing. She does the most adorable twirl, ever.
- When she Bugs-Bunny-ed me into taking a soggy tissue by saying, "Trade?" when I was busy unloading the dishwasher and then explained to me, "Hold."
- Her special smile for herself when she's pleased or proud.
- The way she reaches for our hands when we're walking, huge improvement over before!
- When she takes my hand and rolls it over to place a kiss in my palm.
- The way she says, "Hiiiii!" so enthusiastically when I go to get her out of the backseat of the car. We could still be in our parking spot but if I close the door and return only a second later she responds the same.
- Her help pushing the grocery cart. I love watching her frog march behind it and take down other people in the process.
- Her budding fashion sense. She color coordinates better than Jamie and I combined and is very particular about shoes. So it begins...
- The way she cuddles with her dolls as she falls asleep or watches the world go by from her stroller or carseat.
- Her gentleness with other kids.
- Signing and saying "please".
- Family cuddle time in the evening. When she strokes our faces and stares up into them sleepily smiling and then farts on us.
Nora's favorite things:
- Anything with sleigh bells
- Bob's Burgers, How It's Made, and How to Train Your Dragon
- Red shoes
- Kitchens (pretend or otherwise)
- Cuddling on the couch (she rearranges the pillows and cats to her liking)
- Arranging furniture
- Talking on the "phone" (this could be a block, a remote, etc.)
- Throwing things down the stairs through the catdoor. It's awesome.
- Waving and saying "hello" to everyone we pass. For better or for worse.
- Sticks
- Dogs
- Did I mention the sticks? How about the dogs? See the problem...?
- Breasts. And, yes, she will pull open your shirt to look. You too men.
- Hugs and kisses. She won't say "thank you", "sorry", or "your welcome" but she will run over and give you a kiss and hug instead.
- Pork fried rice, pasta, cheese, sweet potatoes, bananas, burritos, beans and rice, and popcorn.
- Simone our cat, especially in the morning when they "talk" through the babygate...oh my sweet f'in jeebus is it maddening.
- Playing on the "weeeee-", her name for swings.
- Water. Fountains, sprinklers, soaking pool - you name it, she'll go in it.
- Taking naps with mama in the afternoon and waking her with raspberries on her belly and breasts.
- Snuggling up and watching a Disney movie together and eating popcorn.
My favorite things: Do you need to ask?
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Halloween and things; belated October summary
Halloween was a blast! Minus a few schedule hiccups and toddler related meltdowns, it was awesome. We celebrated it for a week and a half starting with a mommy night out/playdate on the 27th leading up to a full day of storytimes, outfits, and trick-or-treating (giving and receiving).
I'll let the photos speak for themself....
I'll let the photos speak for themself....
Friday, October 12, 2012
Nora and her mad dance moves put on hold; October 12, 2012
Nora loves Mo Phillips (http://www.mophillips.com/) and normally likes to rock out and do her classic moves. The Nora bounce (slight bend to the knees with her hands out to the side), the Frankenstein (legs stiff and rocking back and forth from one to the other), and the weeeee (she does a slow, careful turn while pivoting on one foot).
But today, I saw only a few moments of her dancing before all toddler-hell broke loose at the show.
The owner of the toy store that is now connected to the venue decided to allow one of the kids to bring in a toy from her store. A doll stroller. The toy has collapseable parts to it like a real stroller and is, frankly, an inappropriate toy with metal parts that could harm anyone.
So imagine how thrilled I was when this thing was pulled into the room by her daughter and left unattended in the middle of the group of toddlers who had been happily dancing. A moshpit-esque scramble ensued with my daughter at the helm. No one, and I mean no one, was going to pry her tiny sticky fingers off that thing. That stroller was hers!
I had to physically take it away from her and hand it to the owner. She saw my face and just took it back without saying a word. You have a child, woman, wtf?! Have you no conscience?! Don't pimp out your dangerous toys for sale to my child who is a grand escape artist! I spent the rest of the time trying to calm her down and get her to stay in the room after that because she wanted the stroller and wanted to go play in the store. I use to like the venue but I don't think I want to deal with this situation every time I go there. That was maddening and embarrassing.
The other moms kept staring at me like I was so mean to Nora. Wanted to flip them all the bird and march out of there with every toy Nora and I could get our hands on whilst our exit. Half a mind to just let her run ammock the next time and sit back with my coffee like the hipster trust fund babies do. "Ah, hey, my kid is just expressing their creativity." Oh, really, asshole? I'll be sure to explain that to child services when I report that your kid smells like weed.
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Update 11-7-12
We have since returned and Nora no longer runs off. I bribe her with cheese and let her fart on everyone instead.
But today, I saw only a few moments of her dancing before all toddler-hell broke loose at the show.
The owner of the toy store that is now connected to the venue decided to allow one of the kids to bring in a toy from her store. A doll stroller. The toy has collapseable parts to it like a real stroller and is, frankly, an inappropriate toy with metal parts that could harm anyone.
So imagine how thrilled I was when this thing was pulled into the room by her daughter and left unattended in the middle of the group of toddlers who had been happily dancing. A moshpit-esque scramble ensued with my daughter at the helm. No one, and I mean no one, was going to pry her tiny sticky fingers off that thing. That stroller was hers!
I had to physically take it away from her and hand it to the owner. She saw my face and just took it back without saying a word. You have a child, woman, wtf?! Have you no conscience?! Don't pimp out your dangerous toys for sale to my child who is a grand escape artist! I spent the rest of the time trying to calm her down and get her to stay in the room after that because she wanted the stroller and wanted to go play in the store. I use to like the venue but I don't think I want to deal with this situation every time I go there. That was maddening and embarrassing.
The other moms kept staring at me like I was so mean to Nora. Wanted to flip them all the bird and march out of there with every toy Nora and I could get our hands on whilst our exit. Half a mind to just let her run ammock the next time and sit back with my coffee like the hipster trust fund babies do. "Ah, hey, my kid is just expressing their creativity." Oh, really, asshole? I'll be sure to explain that to child services when I report that your kid smells like weed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update 11-7-12
We have since returned and Nora no longer runs off. I bribe her with cheese and let her fart on everyone instead.
Friday, October 5, 2012
The many hats of Nora; October 5, 2012
She's almost 19 months, talking up a storm and dancing so well. She has incredible rhythm and loves to play jokes on people (offering food and jerking it away, playing hide-n-seek, and blanket monster). Unfortunately her allergies have taken a turn for the worse lately and she's battling a sinus infection this past week. Her head hurts and she gnaws on her hand due to yet more teeth she's cutting.
I pulled the curtains back so she could watch the leaves blowing on this blustery day and she said, "Walk?" She brought me her shoes and hat, how could I say no? We bundled up and headed out. She made it only two blocks before she squatted down in the middle of the sidewalk and said, "Up mama?!" I picked her up and asked if she felt alright, "No good." I nestled her in and hefted her up against me. She gave me a kiss and patted my back as I reassured her, "Colds are no beuno, huh baby?" She wiped snot on my sweater and said with a stuffed-up head, "Nooo."
We spent the rest of the day on the couch watching Shaun the Sheep. As sick as I am of watching the show, thank you yet again to the creators for saving my sanity. As many of us know, taking care of a sick kid while you yourself are sick is very much "no beuno".
I pulled the curtains back so she could watch the leaves blowing on this blustery day and she said, "Walk?" She brought me her shoes and hat, how could I say no? We bundled up and headed out. She made it only two blocks before she squatted down in the middle of the sidewalk and said, "Up mama?!" I picked her up and asked if she felt alright, "No good." I nestled her in and hefted her up against me. She gave me a kiss and patted my back as I reassured her, "Colds are no beuno, huh baby?" She wiped snot on my sweater and said with a stuffed-up head, "Nooo."
We spent the rest of the day on the couch watching Shaun the Sheep. As sick as I am of watching the show, thank you yet again to the creators for saving my sanity. As many of us know, taking care of a sick kid while you yourself are sick is very much "no beuno".
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Under the weather; October 3, 2012
I'm fighting off feeling ill ever since I got the flu shot on Monday the 1st. Nora's allergies are worse and she's not herself. It's hard to say why exactly with so many changes occurring concurrently for her but I imagine she's probably reacting to the shot like myself. But let's not also forget the rapid languange acquisition (she identifies bad smells and announces "pew!"), fine motor skills developing (she can open doors now...yay), or the ability to announce her feelings with a definitive "noooo".
Being cooped up with a toddler makes for moments of madness as well as heart melting highlights of tenderness like when she was so tired (yet fighting it off physically by banging her head on me) that she layed her head in my lap and fell asleep standing up. Or her reinacting her timeout by using her Cabbage Patch kid as a role-play stand-in for herself propped up in her booster seat with an emphatic finger waving and "no....NO!". Or her announcement of "bath!" for the first time and running in to the bathroom to bang on the side of the bath tub with her favorite block. (My excitement was replaced with horror when I realized she had poop seeping through her pj's above, below, and to the sides of her diaper on her back half.)
Her favorite colors are red and pink. She can say "red" and "green" but not pink yet. She loves red or pink shoes (especially the colors together) and she picks out every red or pink toy she has and shows them to you. I think this is the pre-verbal toddler version of illustrating her Christmas list. We broke down and took her to Ikea to do something for free that would wear her out (it also allowed us the chance to sit at moments depending on the displays that were handy) and we discovered a free play area, the kids department. Now mind you, they provide a well labeled shortcut from the living room and kitchen displays to this area (clever bastards). She discovered the kitchen playset. We took turns sitting on stuffed animals and watching her cook for a good 45 minutes.
She has the most wonderful laugh...ever. I wish I could capture it on video but it would take someone videoing us together and that doesn't happen. Maybe I'll ask Grandma to do this for us (hmmm?). She loves being tickled and runs from you to jump on her bed. Remember the days as a kid when you had a favorite safe spot, a "home base"? I can't remember having one but I do remember loving to sit inside the forts we would build, especially the indoor ones. Nothing like taking a nap under the canopy of a blanket surrounded by pillows.
Her favorite word is still "hi" and she loves to run up and give kisses (now with a decidedly loud pucker noise), leans her head out towards you for a kiss as well, hugs you around your knees if you're standing and lays her head in your lap if you're sitting. I love seeing her face light up as she sees me, runs towards me, and puckers up for a kiss at the last moment.
She doesn't like to hold your hand when you're walking but she will to cross the street. She runs to us if something is scary and cocks her head in wariness if she doesn't like the sound of something. She thinks squirrels are small dogs. Insects don't scare her, dogs amuse her, cats bore her (she has those at home), and she loves rocks. I've learned to check her pockets before doing the wash.
Water is awesome. Freezing, warm, bubbly, salty - all forms are a delight to her. Her favorite spot in OMSI is the water play area in the science playground. It's the last stop on the way out before we commence the dance of the resistant toddler getting out of wet clothes, into a dry diaper and outfit, and strapped into her carseat. She's normally asleep before we exit the parking lot.
This video was taken at the fountain in front of the Water Resource Center in Vancouver, WA, in early September.
Being cooped up with a toddler makes for moments of madness as well as heart melting highlights of tenderness like when she was so tired (yet fighting it off physically by banging her head on me) that she layed her head in my lap and fell asleep standing up. Or her reinacting her timeout by using her Cabbage Patch kid as a role-play stand-in for herself propped up in her booster seat with an emphatic finger waving and "no....NO!". Or her announcement of "bath!" for the first time and running in to the bathroom to bang on the side of the bath tub with her favorite block. (My excitement was replaced with horror when I realized she had poop seeping through her pj's above, below, and to the sides of her diaper on her back half.)
Her favorite colors are red and pink. She can say "red" and "green" but not pink yet. She loves red or pink shoes (especially the colors together) and she picks out every red or pink toy she has and shows them to you. I think this is the pre-verbal toddler version of illustrating her Christmas list. We broke down and took her to Ikea to do something for free that would wear her out (it also allowed us the chance to sit at moments depending on the displays that were handy) and we discovered a free play area, the kids department. Now mind you, they provide a well labeled shortcut from the living room and kitchen displays to this area (clever bastards). She discovered the kitchen playset. We took turns sitting on stuffed animals and watching her cook for a good 45 minutes.
She has the most wonderful laugh...ever. I wish I could capture it on video but it would take someone videoing us together and that doesn't happen. Maybe I'll ask Grandma to do this for us (hmmm?). She loves being tickled and runs from you to jump on her bed. Remember the days as a kid when you had a favorite safe spot, a "home base"? I can't remember having one but I do remember loving to sit inside the forts we would build, especially the indoor ones. Nothing like taking a nap under the canopy of a blanket surrounded by pillows.
Her favorite word is still "hi" and she loves to run up and give kisses (now with a decidedly loud pucker noise), leans her head out towards you for a kiss as well, hugs you around your knees if you're standing and lays her head in your lap if you're sitting. I love seeing her face light up as she sees me, runs towards me, and puckers up for a kiss at the last moment.
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| I stand at the top of the stairs and people watch as the students walk by. I also like to say "hi" to the crows and howl at them. (Please note she picked out her outfit. She's very particular.) |
She doesn't like to hold your hand when you're walking but she will to cross the street. She runs to us if something is scary and cocks her head in wariness if she doesn't like the sound of something. She thinks squirrels are small dogs. Insects don't scare her, dogs amuse her, cats bore her (she has those at home), and she loves rocks. I've learned to check her pockets before doing the wash.
Water is awesome. Freezing, warm, bubbly, salty - all forms are a delight to her. Her favorite spot in OMSI is the water play area in the science playground. It's the last stop on the way out before we commence the dance of the resistant toddler getting out of wet clothes, into a dry diaper and outfit, and strapped into her carseat. She's normally asleep before we exit the parking lot.
This video was taken at the fountain in front of the Water Resource Center in Vancouver, WA, in early September.
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| Nora chasing her boyfriend, Rowan. It's always the boys we like that we end up chasing...so it begins. |
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| No, she did not fall in...she did poop her pants though. |
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Our budding artist; September 27, 2012
This was Nora's first time painting, ever. We've done finger painting but mostly with food or unintentionally with her snot. This was her first forray into using brushes with paint and gluesticks.
I'll let the pictures speak for themself.
I'll let the pictures speak for themself.
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| She blew all of us away that she understood how to use the brush the moment she had it in hand. |
Nora and her friends.
Mama giving her encouragement.
Nora wouldn't share the hot pink paint.
Her boyfriend, Rowan, was giving instruction.
Nora let Rowan use her paint. He traded the finger paint for it...Nora gave herself a mustache.
She wouldn't let me clean it off. She kept telling me, "No!"
Post art class. She had one smudge of paint left on her arm.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Don't mess with Nora; September 14, 2012
My offspring is asleep after being mauled at the Mo Phillips show. Some little shit decided to forcibly hug her from behind/tackle her not once, but twice, and then got smacked himself by Nora in response and cried like a little byatch. It was pretty awesome. Nora clapped and smiled as he got dragged out. I was so proud.
The other moms were laughing in shock and open amusement. The mother of the brawler was not amused, I just smiled. Nora adjusted her clothes and sat back down to watch the show and clap along in time. My friend, Bekki, exclaimed, "Whoa, Nora is badass!" She has a sense of decorum and etiquette that you dare not cross...I wonder who she reminds me of?
I'm off to clean/cook/write as fast as possible before my love creation awakens to torture me and ransack our house.
The other moms were laughing in shock and open amusement. The mother of the brawler was not amused, I just smiled. Nora adjusted her clothes and sat back down to watch the show and clap along in time. My friend, Bekki, exclaimed, "Whoa, Nora is badass!" She has a sense of decorum and etiquette that you dare not cross...I wonder who she reminds me of?
I'm off to clean/cook/write as fast as possible before my love creation awakens to torture me and ransack our house.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
September 4th, 2012 - 1st sentence and so much more...
Nora has mastered naughtiness. She'll get angry and throw her sippy cup on the floor. We calmly respond with, "Nora, pick that up, please." If that doesn't get a response then we follow it up with, "Nora? What do we do with our cup?" This normally elicits her naughty smile and the placement of her sippy cup on the nearest table (mind you she's just shy of 18 months).
Her new exchange these past two weeks? "Nora, please pick up your cup."
Response: "What's that about?" (With her hands on her hips and her head cocked to the side back and forth with a smile.) Oh no? Oh, yes.
New words these last couple weeks: Pepe (short for Peter the cat), down, no-no (in response to naughty behavior or cat behavior, take your pick), ow-cha...haahaahaa (hot things are funny because adults in pain are hilarious), shhhh-dowg (dogs are to remain silent), and ba-bah smah (babies are small and apparently beneath her or at least should remain quiet in her presence because, after all, don't they realize they're in the presence of a BIG girl?).
There is a distinct fascination with hats, shoes, spoons, and anything that is related to babies which is amusing. She rarely used a pacifier and thinks they are ridiculously funny. This would be cute except it is incredibly awkward in public when she steals them from infants and runs away with them. She's like an earth-friendly guerrilla warfare front of one against the orally-fixated infants of the greater Portland area. Let's just say she's about as good as her mom at making friends. I try to return them and make a joke but the sleep-deranged mother with the wailing infant is never amused. I don't blame her.
Nora has figured out how to open doors, unscrew caps, open purses/bags of every type, unleash dogs, and draw with anything that will leave a mark...It's tempting to put her in daycare just to see what havoc she could wreak in a week. I should find one of those new-age ones with live video links. I could make millions off the feed. Or, I could stay home with her until she's ready for school and truly prepare her for terrorizing others. Yay, family values!
Her new exchange these past two weeks? "Nora, please pick up your cup."
Response: "What's that about?" (With her hands on her hips and her head cocked to the side back and forth with a smile.) Oh no? Oh, yes.
New words these last couple weeks: Pepe (short for Peter the cat), down, no-no (in response to naughty behavior or cat behavior, take your pick), ow-cha...haahaahaa (hot things are funny because adults in pain are hilarious), shhhh-dowg (dogs are to remain silent), and ba-bah smah (babies are small and apparently beneath her or at least should remain quiet in her presence because, after all, don't they realize they're in the presence of a BIG girl?).
There is a distinct fascination with hats, shoes, spoons, and anything that is related to babies which is amusing. She rarely used a pacifier and thinks they are ridiculously funny. This would be cute except it is incredibly awkward in public when she steals them from infants and runs away with them. She's like an earth-friendly guerrilla warfare front of one against the orally-fixated infants of the greater Portland area. Let's just say she's about as good as her mom at making friends. I try to return them and make a joke but the sleep-deranged mother with the wailing infant is never amused. I don't blame her.
Nora has figured out how to open doors, unscrew caps, open purses/bags of every type, unleash dogs, and draw with anything that will leave a mark...It's tempting to put her in daycare just to see what havoc she could wreak in a week. I should find one of those new-age ones with live video links. I could make millions off the feed. Or, I could stay home with her until she's ready for school and truly prepare her for terrorizing others. Yay, family values!
Monday, August 27, 2012
August 27, 2012 - August in review: "Up!"
The beauty of your toddler's burgeoning language skills is that they're still at an age where they assume that any demand will be acknowledged and met. If only the world would comply.
So our daughter becomes frustrated and irrate when her proclomations of "Up!" are not complied with at every utterance. Say, for instance, when you're on the toilet or trying to pay for groceries or sound asleep. Her other favorite request is "Shoes?" which need to be replaced since she enjoys practicing taking them off every five minutes. Not to be outdone by her capacity for watching her favorite BBC claymation show, Shaun the Sheep, or taking walks.
Walks that normally took us ten minutes now take two hours or more because she stops to say hello to everyone, pet the lavendar bushes, chase bees, and laugh at dogs. Every walk needs to be marked with a memento as well. Normally a prized pinecone, an especially sharp stick, or a cancerous cigarette butt. Yard sales are beauty contests where she plays dress up with people's belongings, sprinklers are water parks no matter what outfit she has on, and flowers are for petting.
She's learned to eat with a fork in the past two weeks, sits at the table like a big girl, and pulls her pants up with a little bit of assistance. She listens intently when we're on the phone and mimics us by holding up a rectangular block to her ear and says "hi?...hi....bye" while nodding and smiling.
We setup a play kitchen in our kitchen for her so she can cook while mama does. She zig zags across the kitchen while chattering and singing to herself and dancing. Apparently I walk very fast while cooking and dance while standing in place in front of the stove. She helps put dishes away and picks up items that she drops and puts them back or in the garbage. The cats help eat the food she drops.
I love her prideful smile, eyes downcast and the slow rising of a smile from an expression of consternation as she achieves her intent. Whether that's setting a bowl on the table or managing to figure out how to put on a dress. She's incredibly intelligent and gentle, even forgiving her cousin for kicking her or stealing her toys away. Not once this past weekend did she cry or get angry with her older cousin but quietly watched her and tried to please her. I hope she learns to stand up for herself and I see signs of it when she takes her toys back or moves away from kids that are being rough with her.
But she still pats you when you pick her up, leans her head in your lap to check in periodically while playing, carefully sits in your lap after bringing you a book to read to her, and gives the most gentle kisses like the whisper of a butterfly wing ever so primly to you when you have to leave her.
She loves looking at her picture book of family photos and talks our ears off with gibberish stories after seeing her cousins. She's becoming a big girl, she's not a baby any more...I'm a little sad about that at moments but I can't wait to see her grow over the years.
So our daughter becomes frustrated and irrate when her proclomations of "Up!" are not complied with at every utterance. Say, for instance, when you're on the toilet or trying to pay for groceries or sound asleep. Her other favorite request is "Shoes?" which need to be replaced since she enjoys practicing taking them off every five minutes. Not to be outdone by her capacity for watching her favorite BBC claymation show, Shaun the Sheep, or taking walks.
Walks that normally took us ten minutes now take two hours or more because she stops to say hello to everyone, pet the lavendar bushes, chase bees, and laugh at dogs. Every walk needs to be marked with a memento as well. Normally a prized pinecone, an especially sharp stick, or a cancerous cigarette butt. Yard sales are beauty contests where she plays dress up with people's belongings, sprinklers are water parks no matter what outfit she has on, and flowers are for petting.
She's learned to eat with a fork in the past two weeks, sits at the table like a big girl, and pulls her pants up with a little bit of assistance. She listens intently when we're on the phone and mimics us by holding up a rectangular block to her ear and says "hi?...hi....bye" while nodding and smiling.
We setup a play kitchen in our kitchen for her so she can cook while mama does. She zig zags across the kitchen while chattering and singing to herself and dancing. Apparently I walk very fast while cooking and dance while standing in place in front of the stove. She helps put dishes away and picks up items that she drops and puts them back or in the garbage. The cats help eat the food she drops.
I love her prideful smile, eyes downcast and the slow rising of a smile from an expression of consternation as she achieves her intent. Whether that's setting a bowl on the table or managing to figure out how to put on a dress. She's incredibly intelligent and gentle, even forgiving her cousin for kicking her or stealing her toys away. Not once this past weekend did she cry or get angry with her older cousin but quietly watched her and tried to please her. I hope she learns to stand up for herself and I see signs of it when she takes her toys back or moves away from kids that are being rough with her.
But she still pats you when you pick her up, leans her head in your lap to check in periodically while playing, carefully sits in your lap after bringing you a book to read to her, and gives the most gentle kisses like the whisper of a butterfly wing ever so primly to you when you have to leave her.
She loves looking at her picture book of family photos and talks our ears off with gibberish stories after seeing her cousins. She's becoming a big girl, she's not a baby any more...I'm a little sad about that at moments but I can't wait to see her grow over the years.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Trip to Astoria: August 25th, 2012
Originally this was to be the trip out to Astoria to place Peter in his new home, the great outdoors, at Betsy and Colby's house. At the very last minute, as Jamie was hunkered down in front of Peter's carrier loaded in the back of the Subaru, as Peter yowled and dropped anxious clumps of sweaty fur, as I tried to console Jamie and gritted my teeth - he backed out.
With plans already made, a car and child already packed up and ready to go, and with a stomach full of fury - we were off! Biting your tongue for two hours while trying to keep your toddler amused on a car ride can work up a hunger. I did my best to eat my way through my anger for the next 48 hours and try to enjoy the time with extended family and friends.
Nora and her cousin, Della, are more like siblings than we anticipated. Nora gets beat up and Della gets in trouble all day for her abuse. They fight over toys, fight over who sits where, play tug-of-war over furniture and people alike, and generally terrorize each other at every possible moment. We attempted to put them in the bath together...it was interesting.
The most memorable moment was when Colby was playing the piano and Nora approached him in rapt attention and requested, "Up?" He gleefully placed her next to himself on the bench and this is what happened next...
Here are some additional photos...
With plans already made, a car and child already packed up and ready to go, and with a stomach full of fury - we were off! Biting your tongue for two hours while trying to keep your toddler amused on a car ride can work up a hunger. I did my best to eat my way through my anger for the next 48 hours and try to enjoy the time with extended family and friends.
Nora and her cousin, Della, are more like siblings than we anticipated. Nora gets beat up and Della gets in trouble all day for her abuse. They fight over toys, fight over who sits where, play tug-of-war over furniture and people alike, and generally terrorize each other at every possible moment. We attempted to put them in the bath together...it was interesting.
The most memorable moment was when Colby was playing the piano and Nora approached him in rapt attention and requested, "Up?" He gleefully placed her next to himself on the bench and this is what happened next...
Here are some additional photos...
 |
| Fruit leather, it's like a baby sedative. |
 |
| Our future virtuso...or at least our entertainer. |
 |
| Here let me help you... |
 |
| ...off the bench. |
 |
| On our way to Astoria's Farmer's Market... |
 |
| Oh, this was so cute! Della cuddled with Nora and kept her safe on the ride down... |
 |
| ...Nora was not amused. |
Monday, August 13, 2012
August 13th, 2012 - 17 months old today!
Nora is officially weaned but she's not going down without a fight. I don't think I've had to protect my breasts this much since high school. She Bugs-Bunnied me today into bending over so she could grab at me by luring me with a smile and a hug around my knees. Little did I know.
So when I left this morning to go volunteer and our friend Holly was watching her I had no idea of the day ahead. Her doll Polly was spiked on the ground, she flirted with Holly and said her name all to get her to give her a bottle and cuddle against her chest, and shouted for "sheep!". She was on the war path.
I got home and put her in the bath, read her favorite books to her, cuddled with her and even made a warm bottle of coconut milk. She refused to nap and was naughtier than ever. I thought to myself, "What helps me go to sleep?" I brought her into our bed, rubbed her back and her feet, and read her BBC news off my phone. It took less than 5 minutes before she was snoring.
_________________________________________________________________________
I love how relentless our daughter is these days. Did I say love? I meant I love to laugh about it later but in the moment I want to call in sick and ask someone else to fix the situation.
A couples months ago she became obsessed with her shoes. I started lining them up on her shelves at a height to where she could reach them and help pick out her outfit starting with her shoes every morning. I've created a miniature Imelda Marcos. She demands to have shoes on despite what we're doing or if we're going anywhere and cannot be deterred from her selection. She had picked purple shoes one day so I helped her pick out a purple outfit to match. If we survive the shoe selection we have the hat selection ahead of us to overcome. She once demanded to wear a hat two sizes too small because it was "pwetty". The green plaid sunhat was perched on her head like a Mason's hat.
Keep in mind it was in the mid-eighties outside when our pint-size dictator brought to me a purple winter owl hat to match her outfit yesterday. She insisted on wearing said hat, "Hep- hat?" Help was given and our mirth was contagious as we exited and the hat went flying. Did I mention she hates the heat more than myself? She begrudingly agreed to her sunhat being put on and promptly removed her shoes because they didn't match.
Wish us luck.
__________________________________________________________________________________
She's learning names and remembering faces. She says "hi" to neighbors that she's met before and is becoming weary of strangers. We look at photos of family for fun and she's starting to learn their names. Our niece Sophie is "-ophie", our niece Sydney is "nid-nee", Grandma is "mee-mah", Uncle Jim is "-im", Aunt Anjie is "-jie", and Unlce Sean is "-han".
I'm still "mama" and Jamie is still "dada" but our cat Simone is now "mrow" or "NO-NO!" I now have someone to help me yell at the cats, it's awesome.
Now I just need her to learn how to say, "Go away!" with authority to the door-to-door solicitors.
So when I left this morning to go volunteer and our friend Holly was watching her I had no idea of the day ahead. Her doll Polly was spiked on the ground, she flirted with Holly and said her name all to get her to give her a bottle and cuddle against her chest, and shouted for "sheep!". She was on the war path.
I got home and put her in the bath, read her favorite books to her, cuddled with her and even made a warm bottle of coconut milk. She refused to nap and was naughtier than ever. I thought to myself, "What helps me go to sleep?" I brought her into our bed, rubbed her back and her feet, and read her BBC news off my phone. It took less than 5 minutes before she was snoring.
_________________________________________________________________________
I love how relentless our daughter is these days. Did I say love? I meant I love to laugh about it later but in the moment I want to call in sick and ask someone else to fix the situation.
A couples months ago she became obsessed with her shoes. I started lining them up on her shelves at a height to where she could reach them and help pick out her outfit starting with her shoes every morning. I've created a miniature Imelda Marcos. She demands to have shoes on despite what we're doing or if we're going anywhere and cannot be deterred from her selection. She had picked purple shoes one day so I helped her pick out a purple outfit to match. If we survive the shoe selection we have the hat selection ahead of us to overcome. She once demanded to wear a hat two sizes too small because it was "pwetty". The green plaid sunhat was perched on her head like a Mason's hat.
Keep in mind it was in the mid-eighties outside when our pint-size dictator brought to me a purple winter owl hat to match her outfit yesterday. She insisted on wearing said hat, "Hep- hat?" Help was given and our mirth was contagious as we exited and the hat went flying. Did I mention she hates the heat more than myself? She begrudingly agreed to her sunhat being put on and promptly removed her shoes because they didn't match.
Wish us luck.
__________________________________________________________________________________
She's learning names and remembering faces. She says "hi" to neighbors that she's met before and is becoming weary of strangers. We look at photos of family for fun and she's starting to learn their names. Our niece Sophie is "-ophie", our niece Sydney is "nid-nee", Grandma is "mee-mah", Uncle Jim is "-im", Aunt Anjie is "-jie", and Unlce Sean is "-han".
I'm still "mama" and Jamie is still "dada" but our cat Simone is now "mrow" or "NO-NO!" I now have someone to help me yell at the cats, it's awesome.
Now I just need her to learn how to say, "Go away!" with authority to the door-to-door solicitors.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
August 7th, 2012
She learned to bounce a ball today, managed to almost climb into the goat exhibit at the zoo, and learned to say "woo-woo".
We discovered that she loves bean dip, will eat raw garlic, and has a fascination with the cat door (she kept shoving her stuffed puppy through it and wanted Jamie to retrieve it for her).
She ate an entire bag of dried berries at the zoo and looked like a zombie eating brains.
After almost three hours of chasing her around the zoo we both were exhausted. She napped from noon to 2:30pm. I napped on the couch and had a cup of tea. She woke me up screaming "Sheep, mama?! Sheep?!" We watched Shaun the Sheep for an hour and then "cleaned" her room. She chose an outfit of rainboots, winter hat, and diaper.
We discovered that she loves bean dip, will eat raw garlic, and has a fascination with the cat door (she kept shoving her stuffed puppy through it and wanted Jamie to retrieve it for her).
She ate an entire bag of dried berries at the zoo and looked like a zombie eating brains.
This was after she decided to pluck dandelions and twirl around with them. I missed getting that on video but I do have this unflattering photo instead. Nailed it.
After almost three hours of chasing her around the zoo we both were exhausted. She napped from noon to 2:30pm. I napped on the couch and had a cup of tea. She woke me up screaming "Sheep, mama?! Sheep?!" We watched Shaun the Sheep for an hour and then "cleaned" her room. She chose an outfit of rainboots, winter hat, and diaper.
Dinner was bean dip, zucchini, and pasta. Yes, we will pay dearly for it tomorrow I'm sure.
She went to bed without any of her babydolls tonight and put them in her toy basket before heading in to her room. She watches girls that are older than her and tries to mimic them, for better or for worse.
Sometimes it takes a babydoll and a cracker to help her sleep though.
If that fails, she'll count things until she drifts off or play in the bath until she's pruny.
Monday, August 6, 2012
16-17 months old
Every day is another surprise
We had lunch with Grandma today and wore our pretty ladybug dress. Photo? Oh no, no photo is available because I didn't get a chance to take one since the moment we got back home she decided to poop and pull her diaper halfway off and streak through the house like a poo-flinging-dervish.
The house is clean, the baby is asleep, and my sanity is mostly intact.
New developments for our 16 month old:
Nora reaches her hands out when she wants to give you a kiss and even puckers up now.
We have a game in the car of driving over the speed humps and I yell out "bump!" to warn her and we both shout "wee!" after each one.
She loves the underside of her chin to be tickled and raises it with a smile to invite you to do so.
She picks out her own outfits, starting with the shoes and then we go from there.
She's figured out how to put on her shoes and wants to wear them in the house now.
She understands requests and instructions well enough now to help pick up and bring you things.
If you call to her she runs away laughing. If you sit down at the computer she comes running.
She's fascinated with doors and loves to study how they work.
She can climb stairs with assistance, get into her carseat with a boost, and gets in and out of her toddler bed (unfortunately) without any help.
Baby dolls are her new favorite toy. She carries them under her arm and talks to them, sleeps with them, and shows them around the house. She mimics me when she's in a time-out and disciplines the dolls while pointing her finger at them and saying, "No-no, baby."
She brushes her teeth whenever you offer her the chance and loves to pet Simone with her toothbrush if you don't stop her. Simone and her are buddies.
Farts are funny, raspberries are hilarious, but Cookie Monster is the king.
She loves fruit as long as it is pureed, meat as long as it's ground up, and anything in a tortilla. Burritos and enchiladas are her new favorite along with beef stew and sweet potatoes with horseradish.
If you give her a wet washcloth she uses it to wipe her mouth, hands, and high chair tray.
She can count to five.
She loves saying "hi" to people and waving. It's sometimes delayed though and I noticed the other day she gets sad and stares at the ground if people don't respond. I make a point of saying to people now, "She's saying hello to you." A couple people seemed startled or embarrassed but I didn't care, they better say hi back or else!
When Jamie leaves in the morning she waves good-bye at the front door and gives him a kiss. The moment his key turns in the door to turn the lock she quietly says with a smile, "Dada." Then comes to me and asks for "Sheep?"
The house is clean, the baby is asleep, and my sanity is mostly intact.
New developments for our 16 month old:
Nora reaches her hands out when she wants to give you a kiss and even puckers up now.
We have a game in the car of driving over the speed humps and I yell out "bump!" to warn her and we both shout "wee!" after each one.
She loves the underside of her chin to be tickled and raises it with a smile to invite you to do so.
She picks out her own outfits, starting with the shoes and then we go from there.
She's figured out how to put on her shoes and wants to wear them in the house now.
She understands requests and instructions well enough now to help pick up and bring you things.
If you call to her she runs away laughing. If you sit down at the computer she comes running.
She's fascinated with doors and loves to study how they work.
She can climb stairs with assistance, get into her carseat with a boost, and gets in and out of her toddler bed (unfortunately) without any help.
Baby dolls are her new favorite toy. She carries them under her arm and talks to them, sleeps with them, and shows them around the house. She mimics me when she's in a time-out and disciplines the dolls while pointing her finger at them and saying, "No-no, baby."
She brushes her teeth whenever you offer her the chance and loves to pet Simone with her toothbrush if you don't stop her. Simone and her are buddies.
Farts are funny, raspberries are hilarious, but Cookie Monster is the king.
She loves fruit as long as it is pureed, meat as long as it's ground up, and anything in a tortilla. Burritos and enchiladas are her new favorite along with beef stew and sweet potatoes with horseradish.
If you give her a wet washcloth she uses it to wipe her mouth, hands, and high chair tray.
She can count to five.
She loves saying "hi" to people and waving. It's sometimes delayed though and I noticed the other day she gets sad and stares at the ground if people don't respond. I make a point of saying to people now, "She's saying hello to you." A couple people seemed startled or embarrassed but I didn't care, they better say hi back or else!
When Jamie leaves in the morning she waves good-bye at the front door and gives him a kiss. The moment his key turns in the door to turn the lock she quietly says with a smile, "Dada." Then comes to me and asks for "Sheep?"
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
July in review
Our baby is officially a toddler. I'm sad at moments to see how little of her babyhood is left and yet proud to know that she's doing so well as a the budding steps of "big girl"-hood are upon us.
Some of her knew language skills include:
Shouting out the names of animals when they appear on screen or in a book - it's a bit frightening.
"Sheep, plea-?" A request for her favorite BBC show, Shaun the Sheep. Yes, I have finally caved in and allowed our child to watch tv, for shame. (I'm sorry, what I meant was, "Finally!")
"All done." In a sing-songy voice when she's done with...really, anything.
"What that?!" - This is with LOTS of attitude depending on the perplexity of the item/person/pet.
"Look, mama - look!" - This is a rare (yet treasured) exclamation of interest that is normally reserved for food, flora, or shoes.
"Oh no, mama - oh no!" - This is expressed when the baby gate is closed to her, I'm trying to use the toilet...really anything that is tragic to her. It's very Vivien Leigh really. "As god as my witness, I'll never be hungry again..." (Or, Nora's rendition,"If you close that baby gate one more f'in time, I swear to you-") If I didn't know any better I would think she's an extra for Glee in training. Broadway here we come!
Last, but not least, because really I meant for it to be last so you'll remember just how much we should love it:
"Preeeee-hee- baaaah-beeeee!" This means "Pretty baby!" as she twirls in front of any mirror or window and is finished with a kiss to herself on the glass. She did this in front of Nordstrom's at the mall and we were rewarded with free socks, no fooling.
If only all of us felt this way every day despite our outfit, complexion, and age. From the mouths of babes...
Some of her knew language skills include:
Shouting out the names of animals when they appear on screen or in a book - it's a bit frightening.
"Sheep, plea-?" A request for her favorite BBC show, Shaun the Sheep. Yes, I have finally caved in and allowed our child to watch tv, for shame. (I'm sorry, what I meant was, "Finally!")
"All done." In a sing-songy voice when she's done with...really, anything.
"What that?!" - This is with LOTS of attitude depending on the perplexity of the item/person/pet.
"Look, mama - look!" - This is a rare (yet treasured) exclamation of interest that is normally reserved for food, flora, or shoes.
"Oh no, mama - oh no!" - This is expressed when the baby gate is closed to her, I'm trying to use the toilet...really anything that is tragic to her. It's very Vivien Leigh really. "As god as my witness, I'll never be hungry again..." (Or, Nora's rendition,"If you close that baby gate one more f'in time, I swear to you-") If I didn't know any better I would think she's an extra for Glee in training. Broadway here we come!
Last, but not least, because really I meant for it to be last so you'll remember just how much we should love it:
"Preeeee-hee- baaaah-beeeee!" This means "Pretty baby!" as she twirls in front of any mirror or window and is finished with a kiss to herself on the glass. She did this in front of Nordstrom's at the mall and we were rewarded with free socks, no fooling.
If only all of us felt this way every day despite our outfit, complexion, and age. From the mouths of babes...
Monday, July 23, 2012
ZEMBLANITY
I'll wait while all of you look up the word....ok, ready? I didn't know what it meant either until I saw it in an article the other day. The simple definition, an upleasant surprise. That would sum up the last couple weeks.
Nora had a version of croup along with a case of Rotovirus. What does THAT mean? It meant sitting next to the tub while our daughter coughed like a seal and pooped herself. Terms and expressions that she became quite fluent in over that time were:
"Oh no, mama!"
"What's THAT?!"
"Phew!"
"I did"
"Look!"
and, my favorite...
"Heehee, I did."
Nora had a version of croup along with a case of Rotovirus. What does THAT mean? It meant sitting next to the tub while our daughter coughed like a seal and pooped herself. Terms and expressions that she became quite fluent in over that time were:
"Oh no, mama!"
"What's THAT?!"
"Phew!"
"I did"
"Look!"
and, my favorite...
"Heehee, I did."
Monday, July 9, 2012
July 8th, 2012
Your left hand was nestled underneath my right bicep as it circled your head
and the pillow you collapsed against. The tilt of your head lulled your face
towards the crook of my arm and nested your cheek against my breast. I could
see your eyelids flutter to sleep as your right hand rested over the cleave of
my breast and you exhaled into my breath. “This
is heaven,” I think to myself, “This
is what all the heartache in the world is for.”
Friday, July 6, 2012
An oral history for Nora
I decided to keep a journal for Leonora about 6 weeks in to my pregnancy when we were surprised with the news. Until then it had been an average journal (venting about work, emotional introspection, etc.) but as of July 2010 it became a way to talk to my baby and record for her the development of her entering our lives and the experiences we had of the process.
This blog is dedicated to her and is a continuation of those journal entries as an oral history of her childhood for her and for our family to share. Bottom line, it's the commemoration of the cuteness known as "Nora".
This blog is dedicated to her and is a continuation of those journal entries as an oral history of her childhood for her and for our family to share. Bottom line, it's the commemoration of the cuteness known as "Nora".
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