I think I finally got all of Charley’s birth announcements sent out one way or another. In case you missed it …
Archive for September, 2008
Debut!
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Lord Help Me
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008After another sleepless night and a morning full of Flora’s toddlertude, I cried out (to no one in particular) “Lord help me!” Flora looked me dead in the eye and responded, “He can’t help you!” Even I had to laugh. Flora has picked up some hilarious expressions and others, like “You’re a poopy head,” not so much. Preschool! But her vocabulary and imagination are almost always an entertaining combination. After bath the other night, she told Marty, “Wait, I forgot my Blackberry.” She went over to the banister, picked up an imaginary Blackberry, held it to her ear, and started talking. Marty called out from her bedroom, “What jammies do you want to wear?” Flora replied, “Hold on, I’m talking to my people.” She then took the imaginary Blackberry away from her ear and shouted back, “Stripes!,” put it back to her ear, and continued her conversation.
Solid as a Rock
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
My pediatrician, Dr. Gebhardt, suggested Mom and Dad start me on rice cereal in hopes I would a. wait longer than two hours between nursings, especially at night … and thus, b. sleep better. I’m not sure I’ll fall for their ploy, but rice cereal sure is tasty. For now I’ll comply.
Sleeping
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
Unfortunately, we have no sleeping-through-the-night milestones to report. Nor do we have any woke-up-just-once-at-night news. Heck, I’d be thrilled to report only-wakes-up-twice-at-night consistently. Sigh. But what I can report is Charley looks awfully sweet when he’s sleeping. After waking up around 5:30AM for the day — waking-up-way-too-early-in-the-morning day number God knows what — I brought him into our bed, where he fell back to asleep on my chest. I could only hold his bone-crushing build for so long, so I gently layed him down beside me. He didn’t bother to adjust his sleeping position.
speesees
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
I’ve been dying to put Charley in this speesees kimono (thanks Auntie Elizabeth — I do so love the speesees!), but at size 6-12 months, I feared I would have to wait a bit longer. Fear not! Our little beefcake had no problem fitting into it at just three months old! And looking as adorable as he did, I snapped a gazillion photos. Big sister Flora even snuck into a few.
Happy Face
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
This is Flora’s Happy Face. She can also make an Angry Face, a Surprised Face, a Sad Face, and more. She’s very into faces. So we practiced some while we were swinging at the playground … but she was having so much fun, all the faces looked pretty happy!
Three Months Old
Saturday, September 20th, 2008
Today I turned three months old — Mom and Dad can hardly believe it! In addition to my yoga stretches, I’ve been working on some strength training. I can lift my whole head and chest off the floor during tummy time (baby pushups), and can hold myself upright when carried or seated. I’ll also reach out and clutch anything within my grasp, including Mom’s hair. I “talk” all the time and giggle out loud, and you’ll notice I am almost always smiling. And I’ll never tell Mom how I did it, but I turned myself around 180 degrees in my crib one night. My arms and legs are always on the move, especially when I get excited, so Mom thinks I propelled myself by doing something like a snow angel.
Vidal Sassoon
Saturday, September 20th, 2008
Flora loves to pretend she’s a hair dresser. She gets water from her play sink to wash with, uses a crinkly baby rattle for hairspray and a binder clip for scissors, and finishes the look with some strategically placed ponytail holders. Usually I am her victim, er, client, but today she gave some of her stuffed animals the treatment. She then posed them for pictures that she took all by herself. Check out the “Photos by Flora” link to the right for more.
Flora and Mackenzie
Friday, September 19th, 2008
Today I had another play date with my pal Mackenzie. We had fun pretending “night night,” singing songs (I plucked the ukulele while Mackenzie rocked the xylophone), and free playing. I was sad to leave for lunch and nap, but I’ve got another play date scheduled with Mackenzie at my pad on my social calendar. Can’t wait!
Yoga Pose
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Charley has really enjoyed discovering his hands and feet. This is his new, usual pose — right hand in mouth, left hand on left foot. Here he trades his right hand for a toy. And he’s almost gotten that left foot up to his mouth, at which point he will learn what toes taste like.
Take Me To Your Leader
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
Rainy days call for art projects, and Mom had to come up with something to make from egg cartons other than caterpillars.
Melrose Victorian Fair 2008
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
The rain didn’t ruin the Melrose Victorian Fair on Sunday — it was in full swing when we arrived after nap. First stop, the merry-go-round and the train rides, followed by face painting (Flora first picked the dinosaur but changed to the pumpkin at the last minute, then asked for balloons on the other cheek), and a special blow-up “Boots” from Dora the Explorer.
Flora and Raessler
Friday, September 12th, 2008
We scheduled a one-on-one play date with Raessler this afternoon to practice interacting, sharing, and cooperation. The girls had lots of fun playing tea party in the igloo tent, grocery store on the carpet, being creative at the easel, and ended the session with a big hug.
Glamour Shot
Friday, September 12th, 2008
“Um, hello. Would you like to look like this? Because for a limited time only, Glamour Shots by Deb are 75% off.” — from Napoleon Dynamite
The kids and I drove into Boston with Marty this morning to visit his office, and we got a surprise treat of getting our pictures taken by John in the SSgA studio. Flora held court in Maia’s office (mother of three boys!), drawing pictures with markers and passing them out to all of Marty’s co-workers. Charley made the rounds, flashing dimpled smiles all around. But we cut out quickly when we butted heads with snack and nap time.
Chillin’ In My Threads
Monday, September 8th, 2008
Breakheart Reservation
Sunday, September 7th, 2008
To walk off all that Aunt Opal’s Brownie Cake, we took the kids for a stroll through Breakheart Reservation. We didn’t think to pack Flora’s swim suit since it was late in the day, but she insisted on checking out the water. So, down to her diaper it was. We later dried her off with Charley’s burp cloth before hitting the playground.
Mommy Turns 21!
Sunday, September 7th, 2008
We celebrated Amy’s birthday by indulging in Great Aunt Opal’s Brownie Cake — a family recipe passed down through the generations. My Mom and I used non-dairy “butter” and soy milk, and it was damn tasty. Amy and I got to go out for dinner (what a novelty!) and see a movie (unheard of!), where upon ordering the tickets, the cashier scowled at her and said, “You are 21, right?” I think that was Amy’s favorite present!
Some Seven Faces of Charley
Saturday, September 6th, 2008
Dragon Boots
Saturday, September 6th, 2008
Capris and dragon boots — just setting a new fashion trend.
Sullivan Playground
Friday, September 5th, 2008
Every other Friday it is a mad dash to get everyone up, fed, dressed, and packed up for the day before Nettie comes to clean the house in the morning. Today we managed to get to Sullivan Park in Wakefield. It’s a good, little spot — completely fenced in — with some grassy areas, a little climber, a big climber, a few slides, swings, a teeter totter, and more. Flora had a great time until a little girl arrived with a stuffed animal exactly like her Rusty, who had been left at home. Is it just coincidence that Two and Tantrum both begin with T?
First Cold …
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
… and first trip to the emergency room (hopefully the last!). You’d never know by Charley’s impish grin that he is plagued by his first cold. His congestion was so bad yesterday — causing him to continually gag, choke, and even stop breathing for a few seconds (which seemed like an eternity) — that we brought him to both the pediatrician in the afternoon and the ER in the wee hours of the morning. Lucky for us, Charley puked all over the triage room after being administered Tylenol for his fever, allowing us to see the doc right quick. And thankfully Charley checked out okay, despite his scary symptoms. He was the only one to get a good night’s sleep in his car seat between Marty and I in the bed last night, but seems to be doing much better today. What a trooper! By the way, he weighed in at 15 pounds 12 ounces!
Speaking of sleep, sister Flora has taken to falling asleep on her floor. She is transitioning to the preschool room — the Blue Room — this week at daycare, and is cutting the rest of her two-year molars, so we figured we’d let her win this battle.
Daddy’s Girl
Monday, September 1st, 2008
Talk to The Hand
Monday, September 1st, 2008
Brotherly Love
Monday, September 1st, 2008
Bumbo Seat
Monday, September 1st, 2008
Um, I’m not too sure about this Bumbo Seat, guys.