Christmas posts coming soon!
Archive for December, 2009
Happy 2010!
Wednesday, December 30th, 200918 Month Checkup
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Weighing in at 26 pounds 9.5 ounces (61%) and measuring 32.5″ high (57%), Charley is just above average. But, it’s that noggin of his that puts him nearly off the charts. At 20.5″ around, he’s in the 100th percentile, which means if there were ever a who-has-the-biggest-head contest, he would win hands down. Let’s hope he’ll have big brains to go with it! Other than that, Charley met all the 18 month milestones, didn’t need any vaccinations, and left only with a RX for antibiotics to clear up his ears — both kids have that cold and cough that never goes away.
Kris Kringles
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Snowed in and looking to keep the kids busy, we decided to make Michelle’s grandmother’s Kris Kringle cutout cookies (see recipe in comments). They turned out delicious, although not as delicious as Grandma Dorothy’s. I think she used a little magic in hers.
18 Months Old
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Officially one and a half and just six months away from the Terrible Two’s. God help us, and everyone we know.
Kitten Heart
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Flora Claus
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
It’s been chilly here, so the kids and I are spending more time inside doing art projects and dramatic play. Monday we made a fort from blankets, pillows, and furniture, but it was Flora who repurposed it as a sleigh … she then proceeded to sit in one of the chairs, sport a Santa hat, and sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer while bouncing up and down with pretend reigns.
Christmas Ficus
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
We decided against a traditional Christmas tree this year in lieu of our 18 month old toddler and three month old kittens. Instead, we decorated our ficus tree with all non-breakable ornaments and strings of lights. It makes a fine stand in, and it doesn’t drop needles.
Yes in Spanish
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009I took the bed rails off Flora’s bed, so now we can both easily snuggle under her comforter at story time. The other night after we nestled in, Flora asked me if I was comfy. I said, “Yes. Are you comfy?” (As she lay all snuggled up next to me). Flora replied, “No.” So I looked at her funny. And then she said, “I said no, but it means yes … in Spanish.”
ER Frequent Flyer Miles?
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009Minutes after dropping the kids off at school this morning, Charley’s teacher called to tell me he had fallen while dancing, hit his face on a bookcase, and put his teeth through his bottom lip. Who knew “The Wheels on the Bus” could be so dangerous? A trip to the pediatrican’s office and then the ER later, Charley was spared from getting stitches — apparently mouth wounds heal better when left alone. But his bottom lip is fat on one side, and has a small cut below, and a gaping gash inside. I think this is his third trip to the ER in his short 17 months. We need to get on their frequent flyer plan.
Cookie Play Date
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Princess pal Raessler held her annual cookie play date on Monday. Her mom, Jennifer, makes individual batches of sugar cookie dough and frosting, and the friends bring the fixin’s bar. Flora went for quality over quantity, making just 4 cookies from her batch of dough — this gingerbread giant nearly consuming the whole batch! Afterwards the girls played Princesses and then Barbies with Jennifer’s vintage Barbie Dream House complete with ALL the accessories. Even I had fun playing with it!
Snow!
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
When I was a little girl in Rochester, I would play for hours and hours in the snow. But my offspring only made it 15 minutes before whining about being too cold and wanting to come back inside. They’re soft, I tell ya’!
Home for the Holidays
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
After waiting for seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccinations for two and a half hours (thank our lucky stars, Charley got the last H1N1 shot for infants after the clinic announced they had ran out, so they were both able to receive both vaccinations), we beelined to visit Santa at our town’s annual December event, Home for the Holidays. Flora rattled off her wish list, Charley panicked, and then we posed for a picture. We also went to see the train display by the Boston Metro Hi-Railers Train Club, where Flora derailed a train and then Marty “misplaced” her for the most horrifying 60 seconds of my life. After all that, we were happy to spend the rest of the day safe at home!
View Flora and Charley’s “Home for the Holidays 2009″ photos
Lola
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
We took Finn and Greta next door to play with their sister, Lola, this weekend. After just a few weeks apart, the kittens didn’t remember each other! Finn was pretty interested in making friends, but Greta and Lola just hissed like bitchy teenagers the whole time, and Greta was so pissed, she was even hissing at Finn. Cats!
In other news, Finn and Greta are getting more adventurous around the house and love to scout out a sunny window or open basket to snooze in.
Toddlertude
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009Charley moved up from the Ladybug Room to the Toddler One Room this week — just in time for some toddlertude. All of a sudden, he wants what he wants when he wants it — there is no distracting him. Even his recent Progress Report from school says, “Charley gets upset when he is redirected.” He insists on having his food WHOLE and not cut up, wrappers ON and not off, and whatever Flora/we have he has to have the SAME thing in the SAME way. He resists diaper changes, getting dressed, and going to bed. He says, No!” and even hits if he’s mad (thanks to big sister Flora for showing him that maneuver). The kid has got a temper! What happened to my sweet little baby boy?
Math
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009On Wednesday morning Flora asked me if it was a school day. I told her it was. She said, “How many more school days ’til it’s my last day?” I said, “Two. Today and tomorrow, and then it’s a Mommy and Fu day.” But then I remembered I have to send them an extra day this week, so I said, “Oh, I forgot, you have a special extra day this week on Friday and it’s pizza day,” she retorted lickety-split, “But that’s THREE more days and I only want to go two more.”
All I Want for Christmas
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
I think Disney has genetically engineered something in baby girls so that when they reach the age of three they become obsessed with princesses. Flora hasn’t even seen the movies, aside from Snow White, but even still she has asked Santa for: A big Ariel doll, a Belle doll with a carriage, and Princess Polly Pockets. She also asked for a cupcake maker, but when I told her it was for kids eight years old and up, she said, “I won’t play with it — I’ll just look at it ’til then.”