...in Texas, where it's sunny and in the 90's.
Monday, February 25, 2008
What do you do when it's 15 degrees outside?
Go fishing...
...in Texas, where it's sunny and in the 90's.
...in Texas, where it's sunny and in the 90's.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Twenty Months
Dear Rachel,
This weekend you turned 20 months old. It's been yet another busy month for you, and we're starting to understand your world a bit better, as you learn how to express yourself. You're putting words together to form small sentences, and it's amazing what that does for us understanding you.
It started innocently enough with a "hi da-da" and has since evolved into full sentences of baby talk that we actually get. A couple of weeks ago, you stood by Sparky's empty food dish and said "Babas papa is bah!" Let me translate for you. Babas is what your mother calls Sparky sometimes...sort of a pet name for the pet, if you will. Papa is short for papita which means food. And bah is baby talk for finished or all done. So, the sentence above, while a mouthful if you try saying it fast, means Sparky's food is gone.
Your word of the month this past month has been "no," which I guess means that we've been saying it too much to you. It started off sounding like "own" but has morphed into a full fledged "no" now. You certainly have no qualms about telling us what you don't want to do, and in fact have been testing us on exactly what you'll let you get away with. The other day, I took you outside with me to get the mail, and you just stopped on the sidewalk and stared at me. After asking you several times to come with me, you quietly said, "no," and shook your head, which did not make me happy at all. I picked you up from the sidewalk and carried you back into the house, and went to get the mail by myself, leaving you screaming in the living room that you wanted to go outside. I hope you learned your lesson, young lady, but you probably didn't.
The co-word of the month has been "up," which you finally started saying. Problem is, now when you say it, we feel obliged to pick you up since we pretended for so long to not know what you wanted when you would pull at our legs or pat a chair you wanted to sit in. So instead of outright ignoring your request to be picked up, we're trying to find other ways to head you off at the pass, like racing you.
You went to the rodeo for the first time last week and got to see a lot of the animals that you like in person. You really wanted to touch the cattle, but when it came time to hop on a plastic horse with a saddle they had set up in the horse barn, you wanted no part of it. I don't know what it was about the plastic horse that scared you, but you screamed and pushed away when I tried to put you on it. We watched about an hour of the rodeo events before we decided that you were too tired and fidgety to take any more (and you were scaring your grandma because we were up so high in the arena). What you saw, you seemed to like, and when we left, you turned around to all of the people behind us and screamed "BYE!" to everyone. When we got outside, we started racing you, and you ran down the entire length of the arena. I don't know where you got that sudden burst of energy, but it was fun to watch.
Your Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick came back to visit you, and Grandpa Rick is staying the entire month! We took a ride on his boat this past weekend, which you really loved. You even helped me drive the boat. It won't be long before you're fishing with us.
You've started letting your mother experiment with your hair a bit more, although you still pull out your barrettes and rubber bands. Your hair has finally gotten long enough that she can put little pony tails in them, and you look so cute when you have them in. Of course, when you pull them out, you look like a bag lady, but I guess that's part of being little. Your mother also noticed a bright red hair on top of your head this past weekend, proving that you and I are definitely related, in case there was ever any doubt.
We can't wait to see what new things you learn as you go hurtling toward two years old. We love you very much.
Love,
Daddy
This weekend you turned 20 months old. It's been yet another busy month for you, and we're starting to understand your world a bit better, as you learn how to express yourself. You're putting words together to form small sentences, and it's amazing what that does for us understanding you.
Love,
Daddy
Monday, January 28, 2008
Yo updates and stuff
It seems that I have a case of the Sarahs when it comes to updating the old Laleblog lately. I just haven't had the time or the energy to get on here and tell ya'll about how we've been doing.
Maybe it's been thecold cool, rainy weather we've been having. I've heard folks around here complaining about the lack of sunshine after two days and I was all, "You ain't seen nuthin' till you've lived up north, where it's cloudy, dreary and cold for three freakin' months."
So yeah, it's the weather. I'll blame it on the weather, which works really well as an excuse because the last couple of days it's been sunny and in the 70's which would then explain why I'm writing again, because I've gotten my happy dose of sunlight and warmth.
Anyway, it's been an adventurous week around here. We had quite a little debacle with Rachel at a restaurant last week. We'll just say that she was one of those children. You know, the ones you see and you say to yourself, "I'd never let me kid behave like that."
Then Friday we found out that we had a blockage in our sewer line - the hard way. Which means we spent Saturday morning bleaching the bathtubs and the floors of the bathroom. Fun times!
Rachel updates and new pictures coming soon!
Maybe it's been the
So yeah, it's the weather. I'll blame it on the weather, which works really well as an excuse because the last couple of days it's been sunny and in the 70's which would then explain why I'm writing again, because I've gotten my happy dose of sunlight and warmth.
Anyway, it's been an adventurous week around here. We had quite a little debacle with Rachel at a restaurant last week. We'll just say that she was one of those children. You know, the ones you see and you say to yourself, "I'd never let me kid behave like that."
Then Friday we found out that we had a blockage in our sewer line - the hard way. Which means we spent Saturday morning bleaching the bathtubs and the floors of the bathroom. Fun times!
Rachel updates and new pictures coming soon!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Nineteen months
Dear Rachel,
Today you turn nineteen months old. I was almost sure you'd start talking in complete sentences to us this past month, but you're not quite there yet. You have, however, been learning a bunch of new words.
You're still stubborn as ever about saying what you want to say, and not saying what we want you to say. A good example is when you want to get up on the sofa or chair with one of us. You'll pat the cushion over and over again, giving us a pleading look. When we ask, "Do you want up?" you'll respond with vigorous nodding of your head and "uhn uh" (because you still haven't learned the difference between the sounds for yes and no.)
"Can you say 'up'?"
"uhn uh" (still nodding your head).
"Can you say 'yes please'?"
"Es! Es!"
"Please?"
"(you sign please)"
You've also learned to say "good boy" when you pet Sparky, but it comes out more like "boo boy," you've learned the sound that a horse makes (along with already knowing snake, chicken, dog, cat, and lion), you say "wheeee" when you want to swing, and the other day you started saying "cold" when you spilled some water on yourself. You know "on" in it's various contexts, like when you want the light turned on in your room, or when you want to put your shoes on to go "ow-siiiiiide" which is probably your favorite word. I'm sure there are more words that I'm forgetting because it seems like every week you come up with something new.
You've also started stringing two words that you learned individually together to form small sentences. A couple of times this past month you said "Hi Dada" or when you were trying to tell me where your mother was the other night: "Mama nigh nigh," (even though she just wasn't home yet). You're also stringing together a bunch of Rachel words to explain things, but we still don't quite understand those. In conjunction with all this talking, you've started telling us what you want when you wake up, which also tells us that your little internal clock is working well. A few times over the past month you've woken up crying in the middle of the night. When I go in and pick you up, you'll lay your head on my shoulder and whisper, "nigh nigh" telling me that you're ready to go back to sleep. In the morning, you'll either whisper "papa" which is short for papita, or food, or you'll whisper "da" which is your way of saying you want me to put you down.
Your have started eating more on your own with utensils. In fact, if we try to hold your plate still or help you with a fork or spoon, you'll push our hands away because you want to do it on your own. You're really getting down the scooping and keeping the spoon facing the right direction so that everything stays on it all the way to your mouth. You're still trying to figure out if you're left or right handed, and you do pretty well with both.
You absolutely love reading, and you actually have a couple of favorite books now. The one you bring us most often is "The Eye Book." You have a bunch of small cardboard books, which are great for you because you can't tear the pages, and you love to read those on your own. You can recognize animals in your books, even if the drawings don't look exactly like the real live animal. Sometimes you'll bring us "Are You My Mother" howling "ow, ow" in a high pitch, with the book opened to the page that has the picture of the cat on it. Also, any time you see animals on TV you'll try to classify them by making the sound you think fits.
You've started recognizing letters, or at least that there are letters somewhere, like on a shirt. You'll point to a random letter and proclaim "A! A! A!" Sometimes you'll copy what we tell you, like when there's a letter 's,' we'll point to it and say "S," then you'll start pointing to all the other letters saying "S! S! S!" So you're not quite there yet, but it's still cool.
Grandpa Rick and Grandma Connie came down again for Christmas, and you saw your Aunt Sarah for the first time in a year, too. We also all got to meet your soon-to-be Uncle Britton. They had a great time playing with you and we really enjoyed having them all here for the holiday. Grandma and Grandpa brought you a swing that now hangs off an oak branch over the deck that you try to get into as much as possible.
You made out like a bandit at Christmas again, with all kinds of new toys and clothes. We can't wait until next year when you understand a little better what it's all about, and we can start hanging the threat of Santa Claus and naughty little girls over your head.
As always, we love you very much.
Love,
Daddy
Today you turn nineteen months old. I was almost sure you'd start talking in complete sentences to us this past month, but you're not quite there yet. You have, however, been learning a bunch of new words.
You're still stubborn as ever about saying what you want to say, and not saying what we want you to say. A good example is when you want to get up on the sofa or chair with one of us. You'll pat the cushion over and over again, giving us a pleading look. When we ask, "Do you want up?" you'll respond with vigorous nodding of your head and "uhn uh" (because you still haven't learned the difference between the sounds for yes and no.)
"Can you say 'up'?"
"uhn uh" (still nodding your head).
"Can you say 'yes please'?"
"Es! Es!"
"Please?"
"(you sign please)"
You've also learned to say "good boy" when you pet Sparky, but it comes out more like "boo boy," you've learned the sound that a horse makes (along with already knowing snake, chicken, dog, cat, and lion), you say "wheeee" when you want to swing, and the other day you started saying "cold" when you spilled some water on yourself. You know "on" in it's various contexts, like when you want the light turned on in your room, or when you want to put your shoes on to go "ow-siiiiiide" which is probably your favorite word. I'm sure there are more words that I'm forgetting because it seems like every week you come up with something new.
You've also started stringing two words that you learned individually together to form small sentences. A couple of times this past month you said "Hi Dada" or when you were trying to tell me where your mother was the other night: "Mama nigh nigh," (even though she just wasn't home yet). You're also stringing together a bunch of Rachel words to explain things, but we still don't quite understand those. In conjunction with all this talking, you've started telling us what you want when you wake up, which also tells us that your little internal clock is working well. A few times over the past month you've woken up crying in the middle of the night. When I go in and pick you up, you'll lay your head on my shoulder and whisper, "nigh nigh" telling me that you're ready to go back to sleep. In the morning, you'll either whisper "papa" which is short for papita, or food, or you'll whisper "da" which is your way of saying you want me to put you down.
Your have started eating more on your own with utensils. In fact, if we try to hold your plate still or help you with a fork or spoon, you'll push our hands away because you want to do it on your own. You're really getting down the scooping and keeping the spoon facing the right direction so that everything stays on it all the way to your mouth. You're still trying to figure out if you're left or right handed, and you do pretty well with both.
You absolutely love reading, and you actually have a couple of favorite books now. The one you bring us most often is "The Eye Book." You have a bunch of small cardboard books, which are great for you because you can't tear the pages, and you love to read those on your own. You can recognize animals in your books, even if the drawings don't look exactly like the real live animal. Sometimes you'll bring us "Are You My Mother" howling "ow, ow" in a high pitch, with the book opened to the page that has the picture of the cat on it. Also, any time you see animals on TV you'll try to classify them by making the sound you think fits.
You've started recognizing letters, or at least that there are letters somewhere, like on a shirt. You'll point to a random letter and proclaim "A! A! A!" Sometimes you'll copy what we tell you, like when there's a letter 's,' we'll point to it and say "S," then you'll start pointing to all the other letters saying "S! S! S!" So you're not quite there yet, but it's still cool.
Grandpa Rick and Grandma Connie came down again for Christmas, and you saw your Aunt Sarah for the first time in a year, too. We also all got to meet your soon-to-be Uncle Britton. They had a great time playing with you and we really enjoyed having them all here for the holiday. Grandma and Grandpa brought you a swing that now hangs off an oak branch over the deck that you try to get into as much as possible.
You made out like a bandit at Christmas again, with all kinds of new toys and clothes. We can't wait until next year when you understand a little better what it's all about, and we can start hanging the threat of Santa Claus and naughty little girls over your head.
As always, we love you very much.
Love,
Daddy
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Better Late than Never
If you've been waiting with baited breath for the Laleman family Christmas card in the mail, don't hold that baited breath. As I said last year, the likelihood of us getting Christmas cards in the mail is somewhere between slim and none.
And from the looks of it this year, the likelihood of me getting our cyber-cards out on time stood about the same chances.
So here I present to you, the if-I-had-gotten-my-butt-in-gear Laleman family Christmas card choices for this past Christmas, which, yes, I know, was a week ago.
Both are photoshop jobs because the originals didn't quite cut it, but have a look for yourself to see if you can spot any mistakes. I think I did a pretty good job with them.
You can see the huge versions of these cards by clicking on them.
And from the looks of it this year, the likelihood of me getting our cyber-cards out on time stood about the same chances.
So here I present to you, the if-I-had-gotten-my-butt-in-gear Laleman family Christmas card choices for this past Christmas, which, yes, I know, was a week ago.
Both are photoshop jobs because the originals didn't quite cut it, but have a look for yourself to see if you can spot any mistakes. I think I did a pretty good job with them.
You can see the huge versions of these cards by clicking on them.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Eighteen Months
Dear Rachel,
I know I'm a bit overdue, but I'm sure that looking back at this, years from now, you'll understand that your Grandfather's 60th birthday was a bit more important than getting your letter out on the day you turned a year and a half.
It's been yet another interesting month. It seems like every time we turn around you're doing something new.
For me, the most exciting thing this month has been the fact that you'll sit in my lap and let me read a book to you. Before this month, whenever we tried to read to you, you'd want to take the book yourself, and turn the pages back and forth, and would never let us actually read it to you. You still don't let us finish a book, but you'll let us read a few pages at a time, and you'll turn the pages when we ask you to, but once you're bored with it, you'll close the book and tell us you're done in your own special way.
And that special way is to sign "finished" (albeit backward) and say "BAH!" which is your word for finished, gone, done, no more. It's actually pretty standard Mexican baby talk for finished, you've just taken it one step further (because you're so dang smart!). When you're eating, even if you have food left to eat, if there's no more on the plate, or you see us taking an empty plate to the kitchen, you'll say "BAH!" Drink empty? "BAH!" We put away your toys - "BAH!" You get the point.
Another thing you've started doing this month is giving kisses loudly. You've given us kisses for months and months, and you've been blowing kisses for a while too, but someone (probably Judy) taught you recently to make noise when you give blow kisses. "MMMMMWWWAAAAH!" That has carried over into other kisses as well. The other day, you were kissing my knee and my hand over and over and over - "MMMMMWWWAAAAH!" It was too funny.
You went on another road trip this month to see your Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick. You also got to see both of your great-grandmothers. While we were up north, we went to the zoo, and you saw all kinds of animals. You also showed us just how smart you are. When you were playing with your music table at Grandma and Grandpa's, you would spin the thing that sang the alphabet song, then you'd go and dance in the middle of the room, almost until the song was over. Then, right before the song ended, you'd run over to the table, wait for it to end, then spin it again so you could dance some more. Spin, dance, repeat. Another spinnny thing played different music each time you spun it, but you knew exactly how many times you needed to spin it to get to the song you wanted to dance to.
Speaking of spinning you figured out how to spin yourself around and make yourself dizzy. You'll do that as part of your dancing. It's hysterical to watch you spin and spin and spin, then try to dance, or even walk. I just hope you don't ever decide to do that right after you've eaten. I don't want to clean up that mess.
You've also started bending yourself completely in half and looking between legs. We don't have a clue why you do it, and you'll just stop at random points throughout the day, bend over and look at the world upside down for a few seconds.
You're chatting with us more than ever, but we still don't quite get what you're saying. You're so close to sentences, it's scary. You'll play the Mama Dada game with us in the car, but a few weeks ago you were playing that, and then you said, "Mama?" and when she answered you, you went into this 5 minute conversation, with arm movements and eyebrows and the whole 9 yards. And speaking of eyebrows, you've started imitating our "looks" that we give you when we're not happy with you. It makes us laugh so hard that we can't be mad with you anymore. You've also started crossing your arms when you see someone else doing it, except you'll make darn sure we know you're doing it because the motion to cross your arms is so exaggerated, and you do it about 4 times before you finally get your arms crossed and down for good, and you've got this big cheesy grin on the whole time.
You continue to amaze us, and we love every second of it.
Love,
Daddy
I know I'm a bit overdue, but I'm sure that looking back at this, years from now, you'll understand that your Grandfather's 60th birthday was a bit more important than getting your letter out on the day you turned a year and a half.
It's been yet another interesting month. It seems like every time we turn around you're doing something new.
For me, the most exciting thing this month has been the fact that you'll sit in my lap and let me read a book to you. Before this month, whenever we tried to read to you, you'd want to take the book yourself, and turn the pages back and forth, and would never let us actually read it to you. You still don't let us finish a book, but you'll let us read a few pages at a time, and you'll turn the pages when we ask you to, but once you're bored with it, you'll close the book and tell us you're done in your own special way.
And that special way is to sign "finished" (albeit backward) and say "BAH!" which is your word for finished, gone, done, no more. It's actually pretty standard Mexican baby talk for finished, you've just taken it one step further (because you're so dang smart!). When you're eating, even if you have food left to eat, if there's no more on the plate, or you see us taking an empty plate to the kitchen, you'll say "BAH!" Drink empty? "BAH!" We put away your toys - "BAH!" You get the point.
Another thing you've started doing this month is giving kisses loudly. You've given us kisses for months and months, and you've been blowing kisses for a while too, but someone (probably Judy) taught you recently to make noise when you give blow kisses. "MMMMMWWWAAAAH!" That has carried over into other kisses as well. The other day, you were kissing my knee and my hand over and over and over - "MMMMMWWWAAAAH!" It was too funny.
You went on another road trip this month to see your Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick. You also got to see both of your great-grandmothers. While we were up north, we went to the zoo, and you saw all kinds of animals. You also showed us just how smart you are. When you were playing with your music table at Grandma and Grandpa's, you would spin the thing that sang the alphabet song, then you'd go and dance in the middle of the room, almost until the song was over. Then, right before the song ended, you'd run over to the table, wait for it to end, then spin it again so you could dance some more. Spin, dance, repeat. Another spinnny thing played different music each time you spun it, but you knew exactly how many times you needed to spin it to get to the song you wanted to dance to.
Speaking of spinning you figured out how to spin yourself around and make yourself dizzy. You'll do that as part of your dancing. It's hysterical to watch you spin and spin and spin, then try to dance, or even walk. I just hope you don't ever decide to do that right after you've eaten. I don't want to clean up that mess.
You've also started bending yourself completely in half and looking between legs. We don't have a clue why you do it, and you'll just stop at random points throughout the day, bend over and look at the world upside down for a few seconds.
You're chatting with us more than ever, but we still don't quite get what you're saying. You're so close to sentences, it's scary. You'll play the Mama Dada game with us in the car, but a few weeks ago you were playing that, and then you said, "Mama?" and when she answered you, you went into this 5 minute conversation, with arm movements and eyebrows and the whole 9 yards. And speaking of eyebrows, you've started imitating our "looks" that we give you when we're not happy with you. It makes us laugh so hard that we can't be mad with you anymore. You've also started crossing your arms when you see someone else doing it, except you'll make darn sure we know you're doing it because the motion to cross your arms is so exaggerated, and you do it about 4 times before you finally get your arms crossed and down for good, and you've got this big cheesy grin on the whole time.
You continue to amaze us, and we love every second of it.
Love,
Daddy
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Sixty
Yes, I'm well aware that my daughter turns 18 months old today, but she's taking a back seat for something much more important.
Today is Dad's 60th birthday. Six decades.
...but the fish are still the same size.
Happy birthday Dad. I love you!
Today is Dad's 60th birthday. Six decades.
Husband,
father,
grandfather,
fisherman,
and all around great guy.
So after 60 years, there's a little less hair (courtesy of Sarah and I)...
father,
grandfather,
fisherman,
and all around great guy.
...but the fish are still the same size.
Happy birthday Dad. I love you!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Hot and cold
It looks like it's finally trying to be winter around here. We woke up this morning to a chilly 38 degrees.
Of course the high is supposed to be 71. Saturday is supposed to be 82.
And so goes December in south Texas. Just a taste of winter. Just enough to get you into the Christmas spirit, then it's back to shorts and t-shirts for the weekend.
Best part - no shoveling snow, no scraping ice off the windshield.
Of course the high is supposed to be 71. Saturday is supposed to be 82.
And so goes December in south Texas. Just a taste of winter. Just enough to get you into the Christmas spirit, then it's back to shorts and t-shirts for the weekend.
Best part - no shoveling snow, no scraping ice off the windshield.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Ill-annoys
So we made the trek up for the week, and when we got here we were amazed at the beautiful weather.
Then, today, the weather gave us a cold, wet, slap in the face. This is one of the reasons we moved back to Texas. That, and the fact that we live like kings in San Antonio on salaries that would put us just above the poverty line in Chicago.
We're looking forward to seeing some family while we're here, but mostly we're enjoying just hanging out and having four extra hands to help with Rachel.
Then, today, the weather gave us a cold, wet, slap in the face. This is one of the reasons we moved back to Texas. That, and the fact that we live like kings in San Antonio on salaries that would put us just above the poverty line in Chicago.
We're looking forward to seeing some family while we're here, but mostly we're enjoying just hanging out and having four extra hands to help with Rachel.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Elementary, my dear Watson...
Well, I'm glad to know that my nieces can supposedly read and understand my blog. Not that they do, read it, that is.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Two years of Laleblog
Two years ago today, I started Laleblog as a way to keep in contact with the family and friends. Actually, more as a way for ya'll to keep in contact with us. I said it last year, and I'll say it again this year. I'm horrible when it comes to writing back.
I'm still having fun with it, and as long as the fun continues, the blog continues.
Two years. Who knew I had this much crap to say?
I'm still having fun with it, and as long as the fun continues, the blog continues.
Two years. Who knew I had this much crap to say?
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Seventeen Months
Dear Rachel,
Yesterday, you turned 17 months old. Pretty soon, you'll be a year and a half, and before we know it you'll be off to college!
Your biggest accomplishment this month is finally letting us know that you know who we are. "Mama Dada" is a common phrase when we're both around and when we're not, you're constantly asking us where the other one is. To a stranger, it might look as though you're confused about who your Mama and Dada are, because if you're with me, you're always saying "Mama....MAMAAAA....mama....MAMAAAAA," but it's always with a questioning look, like, "where is that other person who pays attention to me?"
One of your other big things this month has been asking us what everything is. You're at a very inquisitive time of your life, and you want to know about everything around you. Any time you pick up something, or we pick up something, even if it's something you've seen million times before, you'll point to it and ask, "What is that?" Since "what is that?" is one of the four things that you know how to say really well, you say it a lot. So you'll point and ask, and we'll tell you, FOR THE 800TH TIME, IT'S TOAST! YOU HAVE IT EVERY MORNING!. But really, we're thrilled that you're communicating with us in a way that isn't screaming.
The last big thing you learned to say this month was "bye bye" except you don't say it like that. You say it more like the SNL airline skit - "buh bye." You definitely know when to use it. When we're leaving to go to Judy's in the morning, you'll tell Mama "buh bye," and this morning, when I was trying to get you to pick up some toys, you looked at me, said "buh bye" and walked back to your room to play. My jaw dropped because, well, just the attitude you had in walking past me and saying "buh bye" seemed almost adolescent.
You've become very attached to your Raggedy Andy lately, to the point that you won't let us take you out of bed in the morning without him. He accompanies your everywhere, until you find something better to play with, then he's discarded on the floor. You talk to him and hug him and kiss him when we put you to bed at night, and when we go in to check on you, you're usually sprawled out on your back with him underneath you, effectively smothering him.
You were sick for a good part of the month, and we were very worried about what might be wrong with you. It turns out that there really wasn't anything wrong, you just picked up a bunch of stuff all at the same time. You were at the doctor's office three times this month because we couldn't get you to stop pooping. I'm sure that's entirely too much information, but I just wanted you to know that even before you turned two, you were full of crap. Because of your sickness, we had to start giving you soy milk instead of regular milk, which you seem to like just fine, but I think we're going to try to get you back on regular milk so your tummy gets used to having dairy again.
We took you to the beach for the first time this month. Actually, it was the second time. We visited the beach when Mommy was pregnant with you, too. But it was the first time you got to see it for yourself. Since you love the water, you had a great time wading in the ocean, until you fell in and got all your clothes wet. Even, then you were still having fun, but it was very windy and you started to get a chill, so we changed you out of your wet clothes and into the only dry ones we had, then made you stay out of the water the rest of the day. You still had a great time on the beach, asking us what everything was, but the trip there and back almost killed your parents. For some reason, you decided that you didn't want to sleep in the car, and you weren't a very happy little person, which made us not very happy.
Lastly, this was your first Halloween where you went around and begged for candy from strangers. Last year, you were too little, and too tired, and we had just moved to our new house, so we just put you to bed. This year, we dressed you up like a dog and dragged you around the neighborhood until you cried. "No MORE! I cannot HANDLE the FREE CANDY!" Actually, you did pretty well, until you decided that you didn't like the hood of your costume (I'm sure it was hot) and you'd been walking for more than a block. You were a bit shy when it came to saying anything, even "hi" to our neighbors, but that's OK...you've got plenty of years ahead of you. Next year, you'll be able to tell us what you want to dress up as, so you won't have anyone to blame but yourself.
Love,
Daddy
Yesterday, you turned 17 months old. Pretty soon, you'll be a year and a half, and before we know it you'll be off to college!
Your biggest accomplishment this month is finally letting us know that you know who we are. "Mama Dada" is a common phrase when we're both around and when we're not, you're constantly asking us where the other one is. To a stranger, it might look as though you're confused about who your Mama and Dada are, because if you're with me, you're always saying "Mama....MAMAAAA....mama....MAMAAAAA," but it's always with a questioning look, like, "where is that other person who pays attention to me?"
One of your other big things this month has been asking us what everything is. You're at a very inquisitive time of your life, and you want to know about everything around you. Any time you pick up something, or we pick up something, even if it's something you've seen million times before, you'll point to it and ask, "What is that?" Since "what is that?" is one of the four things that you know how to say really well, you say it a lot. So you'll point and ask, and we'll tell you, FOR THE 800TH TIME, IT'S TOAST! YOU HAVE IT EVERY MORNING!. But really, we're thrilled that you're communicating with us in a way that isn't screaming.
The last big thing you learned to say this month was "bye bye" except you don't say it like that. You say it more like the SNL airline skit - "buh bye." You definitely know when to use it. When we're leaving to go to Judy's in the morning, you'll tell Mama "buh bye," and this morning, when I was trying to get you to pick up some toys, you looked at me, said "buh bye" and walked back to your room to play. My jaw dropped because, well, just the attitude you had in walking past me and saying "buh bye" seemed almost adolescent.
You've become very attached to your Raggedy Andy lately, to the point that you won't let us take you out of bed in the morning without him. He accompanies your everywhere, until you find something better to play with, then he's discarded on the floor. You talk to him and hug him and kiss him when we put you to bed at night, and when we go in to check on you, you're usually sprawled out on your back with him underneath you, effectively smothering him.
You were sick for a good part of the month, and we were very worried about what might be wrong with you. It turns out that there really wasn't anything wrong, you just picked up a bunch of stuff all at the same time. You were at the doctor's office three times this month because we couldn't get you to stop pooping. I'm sure that's entirely too much information, but I just wanted you to know that even before you turned two, you were full of crap. Because of your sickness, we had to start giving you soy milk instead of regular milk, which you seem to like just fine, but I think we're going to try to get you back on regular milk so your tummy gets used to having dairy again.
We took you to the beach for the first time this month. Actually, it was the second time. We visited the beach when Mommy was pregnant with you, too. But it was the first time you got to see it for yourself. Since you love the water, you had a great time wading in the ocean, until you fell in and got all your clothes wet. Even, then you were still having fun, but it was very windy and you started to get a chill, so we changed you out of your wet clothes and into the only dry ones we had, then made you stay out of the water the rest of the day. You still had a great time on the beach, asking us what everything was, but the trip there and back almost killed your parents. For some reason, you decided that you didn't want to sleep in the car, and you weren't a very happy little person, which made us not very happy.
Lastly, this was your first Halloween where you went around and begged for candy from strangers. Last year, you were too little, and too tired, and we had just moved to our new house, so we just put you to bed. This year, we dressed you up like a dog and dragged you around the neighborhood until you cried. "No MORE! I cannot HANDLE the FREE CANDY!" Actually, you did pretty well, until you decided that you didn't like the hood of your costume (I'm sure it was hot) and you'd been walking for more than a block. You were a bit shy when it came to saying anything, even "hi" to our neighbors, but that's OK...you've got plenty of years ahead of you. Next year, you'll be able to tell us what you want to dress up as, so you won't have anyone to blame but yourself.
Love,
Daddy
Friday, November 09, 2007
Congratulations
Congrats are in order for my sister and her boyfriend fiancé! They have been dating for two years, and over the weekend, Britton popped the big question.
So I guess this means that we'll have to go to New York at some point in the next year...I guess I'll have to brush up on my cussing so I won't look like such a tourist.
Congratulations to both of you. We can't wait to finally meet Britton at Christmas. We'll have the BBQ ready.
So I guess this means that we'll have to go to New York at some point in the next year...I guess I'll have to brush up on my cussing so I won't look like such a tourist.
Congratulations to both of you. We can't wait to finally meet Britton at Christmas. We'll have the BBQ ready.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Hallo-woof
Yeah, this pretty much sums it up.
Rachel made it to about 6 houses, and we were done before 7. I guess her "dogs" were barking.
Anyway, here's a picture from the party last Friday at Pete and Carol's. Rachel and Matthew had a great time.
Rachel made it to about 6 houses, and we were done before 7. I guess her "dogs" were barking.
Anyway, here's a picture from the party last Friday at Pete and Carol's. Rachel and Matthew had a great time.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Preliminary Halloween Pictures
Judy took these today. I'll follow up with some pictures from the party this past weekend and pictures of her trick or treating tonight.
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