Catchin' Up - Part 1

The elephant ears came home from a preschool project. Simon added his own wrapper snapper tube for a trunk. He played with it for days; shooting and drinking water and making elephant noises.
(Jan. 26, 2009) Norah is turning into quite the block girl, this has been one of her favorite places. All the blocks belong in one of those wrapping paper boxes with wheels and gets stashed under our couch. She knows it's there. She crawls to the couch and pulls the box out herself!
(Feb. 5, 2009)

And then sometimes crawls into boxes!

(Feb. 9, 2009)200 diapers or 2 kids?!?! What can you fit in a box?

(Feb. 23, 2009) January 24, 2009 - 10 months old

Our sweet girl!

March 7, 2009 Another use for books!!!

Simon and I discovered Norah like this after a nap.

(Jan. 21, 2009)

Lots of . . . .

. . . is sent your way! Have a happy Valentine's Day!!!

50 Degrees and Smiling!

It's a heat wave, and did we enjoy the out of doors. Here are our weekend highlights!

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We went yesterday to a tiny nature preserve (behind the Barnes and Noble across from Oakbrook). It's really just a water retention pond surrounded by cement-ville, but my suburban boy doesn't know the difference yet. Anyway, we saw a bald eagle up close and it was beautful. We went prepared with rain boots and man, did Simon run and splash in the playground! Upon entering the car and driving home, Simon declared "I am a mess" as loud and as emphatic as possible. Needless to say he went straight to the bath.

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We are conducting our snowman melt study. Pictures are taken periodically to document the disappearance of Mr. Snowman that has been hanging around our front yard for way too long. Seriously, he has been the longest living snowman I have ever known! And neighborhood riff raff never bothered him. Hmmm, must be a pretty good neighborhood!

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Another HYSTERICAL story this morning:
Simon: What's wrong with your lip?
Me: They're dry, I have chapped lips. I need to put chapstick on them.
Simon: You mean mine?
Me: No, you don't have chapstick.
Simon: When you eat, on your lips?
Me: No, not when I eat.Simon: My chopsticks?Me: Oooh, no, chAp stick, not your chOpsticks!

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Simon received trainer chopsticks from his "Japanese" Aunt and Uncle for Christmas. They are hinged with finger holes and he absolutely loves eating with them. He one time declared he did not want to eat dinner. I silently put the chopsticks by his plate and he ran so excitedly to the table and stated that the food looked delicious!?!?!?!?

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Sunday afternoon led us to the library to see Froggy in person, from Jonathon London's Froggy book series. Simon was completely enthralled and had an incredible story time. I would have to say it was the best story time I've been to and it was his personal best story time ever! He did not blink during the two Froggy stories!

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Another note of interest. I received a call from the cord blood donation center. The person told me someone was interested in my story (we donated both Simon's and Norah's cord blood and my Mom is alive because of some little baby's cord blood donation). I braced myself, because Channel 7 was interested a while ago. Nothing happened then because they wanted to do the story quick and my Mom wouldn't be here. I am not so sure I want to be 30 second evening news story. This time, though, it is a graduate student writing a paper. I will totally help out a student. We'll see if anything transpires.

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An update on Little Miss Norah, well, she continues to go wherever we go. She doesn't wander away from us. She never declares that she wants to go home. She seems to enjoy all that we do. Her protests are loud and clear; she is most upset when a desired item is removed or she is removed from a desired destination. She has learned to scoot backwards down our two little stairs. She walks around the room and will take 1-2 steps if enticed by a very desirable object. She repeats sounds and simple words like crazy! Some things we've recently heard:

too too - when we play train and say choo choo

Mama and Dada - she repeats these

attempts to say boo when playing peek-a-boo

sh sh sh sh - she kept repeating this sound when shopping with me today

Norah is so very engaging and will "chat" to get attention and carry on a wonderful, nonsensical conversation. We love every sound we hear!!!!

Captured Resting Places

Throwing in the House

Now what mother actually allows throwing in the house, even during house-bound January? Well, there has been quite a bit of throwing in our house; which has kept us both busy and sane. Let me tell you why.

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Norah had the icky sickies and the poor baby spent a few days throwing up. That should not be allowed for any tiny person to endure! So, really that kind of "throwing" is not really allowed in our house, but it kept us busy! We are most excited for nice brown-colored filled diapers. Enough said.

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The next type of throwing that has been occuring at our house includes paper airplanes. Simon gave Daddy one of those page-a-day calendars where each day is a paper airplane to fold. You know, those daily calendars that get used until, oh, let's say, January 15! I was really skeptical about purchasing this item but thought it would be a fun Daddy/Simon activity. Well, I was right and it was a perfect gift. Every evening after dinner Simon excitedly waits for Daddy to fold the airplane. Imagine trying to explain that Sat/Sun share a page. These airplanes provide movement and excitement while not breaking a single item in the house! Plus, if one gets stepped on, squished, wrinkled, torn, lost, or eaten (by Princess Drool) it's not really noticed. Seriously, there will be over 300 airplanes to make. And with names like Flying Mantis, Double Eagle, Stratofortress, Douglas DC-3, Twin Prop 101, Aramis, and Toreador - we are entertained with Simon's attempts to repeat the names! I must admit it is quite fun to spend 20 minutes flying paper airplanes like crazy all over the house, every day!

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Here is a sample of the airplanes on display. Notice the drawer on the coffee table. That is the "airplane hanger", a perfect place to store them when not in flight.

Here are abandoned airplanes.

Here is what the calendar looks like, as well as a sample of the directions Daddy follows every day! He'll have great paper folding skills by the end of the year. It is cool that the paper is in proportion to an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. Do you know how to mountain or valley fold?

If looking for a cool gift to give "Daddy", I highly recommend the paper airplane page a day calendar. It is by far the most used Christmas gift of the year!