a few midweek tidbits

Little S tried to convince us to mail her to the relatives

Sorry everyone. It didn’t work out.

Little S can pronounce “zoo” and “OMSI”, but “Children’s Museum” continues to elude her. We have a friend Molly who works there and when Big S and Little S visited last, they saw her there. So it was decided that instead of Children’s Museum, they would call it “Molly’s House”.

And they had fun at Molly’s house.

Even finding the face paint.

 

I hope she learns to put makeup on better in about 16 years from now. Little S-I promise Mom will step in for that part. No offense Dad.

That’s only a fraction of her weekly fun, but capturing it is hard when she’s on the go, go, go!!!

jabob (Little S for “Good Job”)

Little S’ vocabulary is growing like crazy! Even if all the letters don’t quite make it to the right place. Now that she has mastery of so many words, she can use them in amazing ways.

One of her favorite books has a picture of a duck pulling a wagon, even though that’s not the main focus of the page. She targeted like a laser on that the other day and said "duck”. Then took a moment and thought about it and said “going”. “duck going”. Her word strings are more often than not 2 and sometimes 3 at a time. Enough to get her point across. Always great for Mom, Dad and kid when they can sort of tell you what they are seeing/want. It doesn’t always get there, but it sure is getting closer.

Big S and I feel like we spend a lot of the day in amazement at her developmental leaps and bounds. When we’re not too worn out by her already tireless energy. I’m glad I’ve started running again because keeping up with her will take everything I’ve got! One of the best ways to channel that energy is with new experiences, which Dad is great about getting her to. Like the aviary at the zoo. Not great for ornithophobics but the up close and personal experience is great for Little S.

On their first visit, one of the many birds actually landed on Big S’ back. It made quite an impact because on their next visit, the minute they went inside, Little S started saying “bird. back” and pointing to Daddy’s back-perhaps both remembering and hoping for a repeat performance.

Much to the chagrin of my ski store employed husband, a strong El Nino has taken hold off the coast. Many people might consider it ideal, I suppose, what with temperatures fairly consistent in the upper 40’s to low 50’s and a lot more sun than we are used to. While it’s not good for skiing, it is good for getting outside with friends and learning new tricks, like how to swing on our belly

and going back to the zoo and riding the animals. Sort of.

As she gets older, I’m also trying to find more opportunities for her to interact with kids her age, or as close as possible. Last week we went to our friend “Anka’s” house for some play time for the shorty’s and some pecan pie that was the best I have ever tasted. I mean, this stuff just melted in your mouth. Must be innate for southerners to know how to make a mean pecan pie!  (and she shared the recipe if you are interested. Check out the link)

New houses mean NEW! and DIFFERENT! toys. Like rocking horses

cars and wire whisks

 

and peekaboo with friends

 

The giggles were riotous! Thanks Caroline!

That little sheepdog that is our child? We FINALLY managed to convince her that wearing a barrette in her hair was not actually torture covered by the Geneva convention. And that her, the dolly, Mommy & Daddy all looked pretty with barrettes in their hair. Lucky Dad-we didn’t get any picture of that. So maybe SOON you’ll get to see the child under that hair in some photos.

Long weekend!

A three day weekend means an extra fun filled day with Little & Big S.

We started on Friday with Mommy trying to work and maybe not quite keeping as close eye on Little S as I would have liked when I discovered this scene

 

That was the first time this weekend. The second time involved a little too much of this footloose and diaper free lifestyle

I discovered an even longer trail of toilet paper and discovered at least she was using it this time to wipe up where she peed on her floor. Extra Credit for knowing that you don’t just leave it there!  Guess we’re not quite at potty training time yet.  But who doesn’t love the feeling of the wind on their cheeks, right?

Saturday we went to the Portland Old Time Music Festival. Little S loves to dance and sing so much and it was free and touted as Family Friendly. We got there for the end of a clogging lesson. Little S wasn’t quite getting the move your foot and tap it thing, but was having a ball nonetheless. Then, our instructor showed us how it’s done for real and Little S loved it AND loved watching the live band play.

I didn’t get any particularly good photos of her. She had funny faces in all of them. But here she looks surprised (?) amused (?) at everyone dancing in a slowly moving circle.

This was right before she bolted to the middle of the circle to dance and be silly with Mom right behind her. Good thing I’m not shy.

Besides the music in every free corner of the building (including the lobby of the ladies restroom. And the impromptu jam wasn’t even all women. Where else can you pee to live music?) the highlight for Little S was the stairs. Stairs up and stairs down. Repeat. The kid’s a natural stairmaster. We about had our limit of a warm, crowded room and all of the visual & aural stimulation after an hour. As I pointed out to a friend, how much fun is it when all you see is legs?

So, the next thirty minutes was unexpected fun, because that’s how Little S is. The trip to the car, which was kind of far in Little S land-four blocks, was nothing short of an urban adventure.

Why walk on the sidewalk when you can go off road?

Despite the fact that it was a fairly steady drizzle, there was no shortage of outside fun she found. Mostly around a parking garage that had small walls and other things to climb up and jump off.

“Hop!”

A little dirt never hurt

“Mommy. Sit”  “No thank you honey”

So, we made our own adventure that was as much fun for her as the music was. And, will result in some additional laundry

We also discovered the fun of backpacks over the weekend. Wearing them around and asking Mommy and Daddy to put things in your “pocket”

Looks like she’s ready to hit the trails. Because when backpacking, Elmo is the oft forgotten 11th Essential on the list.

We had two days of playing with her friend Kate. Sort of. We met up at the Children’s Museum and they pretty much went their separate ways. We would see each other like two Mommy ships passing in the night.  We didn’t get to play together, but Little S still had fun

Then, we met at the pool for some MLK holiday afternoon fun. We took Daddy along too, which is good, because no matter how laid back I think I am, I may be a little bit of a nervous Nellie with my baby around water and lots of slippery concrete. Having Dad there was great fun for all of us. Kate is fearless and she was going down the 2-story waterslide with her Mom. So, we tested it out, and figured we could hold Little S up as we splashed down. Dad made it happen and she loved it. Which meant “gain” (again) and “gain”. We traded off taking her down and she never got tired of it. Unfortunately, that too had to come to an end for the day. We can’t take pictures there, a good rule for creepy reasons, but a bit of a drag as a parent, so you’ll just have to use your imagination for how much fun she had.

Or, just see how much fun she had on a regular slide and mentally photoshop in some water

Maybe next year

Despite an enthusiastic fan, it’s now time to retire this outfit until next September

 

Sawee daddee. Daddee sad. Hug

It’s hard to stay upset over a game when we get to share our lives with this cute little creature. 

 

Gawgus. off. nekki (naked) Fia.

She spent all morning talking about the soo (zoo) and the monkeys when her and Daddy were going to go there later in the day. The little monkey had fun with other monkeys and related animals. When she got there, this guy leaned in to her to get a closer look. She kissed him through the glass and he kissed her back. But then refused to make eye contact when the camera came out.

 

Kitty. Meeow

Daddy looks forward to lots more Soo visits with Little S.

She’s had lots of adventures these past few days, but she is in such constant motion that I can’t often capture them as I try to keep her out of trouble. We got together with her friend Anneke (Anka) and her Mommy and baby Iyla and her mommy bravely ventured out for Happy Hour at Laurelwood. With two toddlers and an overwhelmed four month old (it was a pretty chaotic evening) the Mommies didn’t get much chance to actually talk, but it was still nice to get out.

The next night we went to the pool with our friend E’llee (Aiee) and her mom. It mostly involved getting into the pool down the stairs, getting the ball. Throwing the ball out. Getting out and getting it. Throwing it back in. Getting back in the pool. Repeat. Ad infinitum. It was fun! We then went over to Aiee’s house for a wonderful dinner and some new toys to look at. Much to Aiee’s dismay. They did end up playing “Bumpity Bump” going down the stairs on their bottoms “together” which translates to “near each other”.

We topped off the weekend the only way we know how. Or at least the way we like the best. Pizza with friends. Or blueberries for some

pizza with a side of cuddles for the lucky ones.

Ready for anything

We’ve had these for over 6 months. She finally decides she’s really into her “gasses” now

 

Which of course won’t last until summer. Although hopefully she’ll get more used to them by then. Right now when she gets them on, she kind of walks around the house with one hand cautiously out. We’re not entirely sure her eyes are actually open when she’s wearing them. Or, she’s learning empathy for the blind.

AND, she picked the best day of the year so far to decide to wear them. It’s the most exciting day outside in quite some time, in Mom & Dad’s book. A day that caught all of the weather forecasters off guard and had five hour traffic delays in most of the city. This rare, but pleasing sight

We didn’t have to go to the mountains to find the white stuff on Tuesday. Just outside. So, we bundled up the gang and headed out to enjoy it a little

 

Enjoy she did!

And she got good at the word “snow” and “sled” after sledding down the driveway both with Dad and solo a few times.

We’re so happy it was a much better experience than her last snow visit.  Planning another visit to the snow soon so she can keep up her happy snow momentum.

Long overdue holiday post chock-full o’photos

Thanks to a Christmas gift from Nana, we were able to go to the Oregon Zoo for their Zoolights-a gorgeous light display all around the zoo. Little S was suitably pleased

 

She was very brave meeting a tiger and dancing with the “Kitty”

Santa brought Little S some exciting presents, including an easel to nurture her recent love of drawing on everything

Surprisingly, she’s pretty much stuck to keeping the chalk and crayons on the easel where they are supposed to be, and not being inspired to write on the walls or anything. There was a big “Uh-oh. Oh no” this morning as the crayon got dropped into the grate over the furnace intake. Once I assured her it was okay, I soon heard at least one more being dropped into there. Good thing the cover comes off easily.

Big S got some pajama pants-or so he thought. Turns out they were actually just another fun toy for Little S to be flung through the air in.  

Little S was the vision of Christmas in her special Christmas dress made by Grandma Wetter

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You never know what will delight a kid. One of her new favorite things is to push her new wheeled luggage/lion around the house. FAST!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She also got another gorgeous Christmas Dress from Nana that she got to show off at church on Sunday.

 

She just wows everyone when we’re there. Her cuteness lets her get away with being a little unruly without upsetting people too much before I whisk her away to the nursery.

It’s been such a great holiday, and we’ve been lucky to have Aunt Aimee here to share it with us. She somehow has stealthily avoided most photo opportunities. It’s a wise person who doesn’t try and share screen time with babies or pets. We know there will be lots of photos of her to come when she moves out here (!) in June!

Looking forward to a great 2010 with the best Little and Big S’ ever!

The shepherd that wasn’t

This was supposed to be pictures of Little S’ first church Christmas pageant. However, she missed her entrance because it was moving MUCH faster that we anticipated for a kids Christmas pageant, and by the time we got into something vaguely “Shepherdess-y” got our stuffed sheep ready to take and herd, and played “gotcha” as I tried to corral her into her coat and out the door, we missed it. Eh. It wouldn’t have been that great this year anyway. We’ll save our premiere for next year when her attention span is closer to 8 minutes long.

The weather has been kind of splashy and Little S has loved it from a surprisingly cold and windy hike on Saturday

to a rainy walk to the park on Sunday

She never ceases to entertain us and it’s great to watch her imagination grow by the day. She sees things we never would, and that makes every day so amazing. Today, she taught us that our wood stove is perfect for American Idol auditions

We are eagerly awaiting Aunt Aimee’s arrival for 10 days of holiday fun and festivities. Three adults + one kid + Christmas should mean lots of memories created and photos to share.

Bucket head

Sometimes, I like to wear my special hat to help sweep.