friday phone dump 9.16.11

in , ,
Can you tell we've been spending more time outside? The weather has finally given us a break, and Kate and I have been enjoying lots of time in the backyard. And lots of time in PJs too, I see...




Explanations for a few...
(row, column)
B1, B4, G3: Caroline's footie pjs
B2: my grandmother playing peekaboo with Kate
C2: my morning coffee (I bought this mug for nick when we were dating. I never pulled an all-nighter, but Nick had many sleepless nights. Education vs. Engineering)
G1: my newest film camera my dad bought me for my bday





I used the Hipstamatic app w/ the Ina's 1969 film and the Helga Viking lens. Love that combo!

Kate is 20 months old

in

Dear Kate,

I've been saying it since you were itty bitty, but kid, you have personality plus! You crack us up with your expressions and your bits. You're still go-go-go every waking moment and keep me busy, that's for sure. Here's what you've done this past month:

* You are a pro at fake sneezing as I posted here. You sometimes build up the "a-a-a-a-a" a long time before you finally "CHOO!" It's a crowd favorite.

* You love dressing up. Beads, bracelets, hats, Mama's shoes... You hold your head up high, looking so proud when you're all dolled up.

* When you get excited, you start spinning around in circles. (I think you learned this from Kirby.) You also do a happy dance and start saying "YAY!" and clapping.

* You're becoming more loving toward Caroline. You sometimes give her hugs and kisses and tell her "hi!" without me telling you to.

* We go through a lot of diapers around here. You've learned how to pinch your nose and say, "Ewww! Stinky!"

* "Okay" is one of your new favorite words. You use it for "yes" and you also use it when you fall or bonk your head, since I always ask, "Are you okay?" You'll sometimes use it along with your next favorite words of the month, "all done." This is not just reserved for meal times. If you need help getting down from something, you've started saying "all done" instead of "help." If you want me to stop doing something (like brushing your teeth), you say "all done."

* You try to say everything, but sometimes we don't understand you. You sometimes get very frustrated and cry when we don't know what you're asking for. It makes me so sad!

* You're making words plural when appropriate and putting "a" in front of singular nouns. (Today you saw a ball outside, and you kept saying "A ball! A ball!")

* You already knew how to give high-fives, but you started calling them "four." Too funny.

* Speaking of counting, you counted to six the other day. I haven't caught you focused enough to do it again, but you did it!

* You love to read to yourself or us. You turn the pages of your books and say what's on that page. I was so surprised the other day when you started saying the end rhyme on the pages of one of your bed time books as you read it to yourself. It goes, "I love you like frogs love flies. / I love you like pigs love pies." etc. You turned the pages and said, "Flies!" You turned the next page and said, "Pies!" And you knew almost the whole book. I think that's pretty incredible.

* You've been doing a lot of marching. Barney taught you how to "motch."

* And the big highlight of the month: You now understand if/then. The other day I was trying to get you to finish your dinner, and you kept begging to go outside. I said, "If you eat your turkey, you can go outside." You shoveled that turkey in your mouth as fast as you could. It mostly happens during mealtimes... "Eat your carrots, and you can have a cracker." Works like a charm.

I can't believe our girl is getting close to TWO! I can't wait to see what changes the next month will bring.
We love you, Kate!
Mama and Dada

Stats
Weight: forgot to do today
Height:  forgot
Clothes: all your same 18 months summer clothes, some 24 months things, some 2T things
Diaper Size: 4
Sleep: 7pm-7:30am
Nap: 12-2pm
Teeth: 12 (8 front, 4 molars) - STILL no eye teeth


So much for elephant pictures...










255/365: trucks

in ,
{trucks}
I heard the rumble of trucks out front first thing this morning. We had four cement mixer trucks right in front of our house and down the street a ways, pouring two new foundations. Kate hadn't even had breakfast yet, but we ran outside in PJs, milk in hand, and spent a good bit of time just watching. Kate was VERY good to stay in the yard; I was shocked she wasn't running right to them. She waved at the drivers and did lots of happy dances. All day long she kept asking to go out and see the trucks again, and every time I had to tell her they were gone. She was so disappointed.
Our girl loves trucks.

253/365: daddy flip me in the air

in ,
{daddy flip me in the air}


I knew all the words to this song by the age of 3.
I can't sing it to my babies without choking up.

"Goodnight Kiss"
by Steve & Annie Chapman

preview/buy on iTunes
I count it as a privilege,
I count it cause for praise,
to kiss my children goodnight
at the close of everyday.

For I know too soon they're up and gone,
and walking out the door.
And I'll never have a child
to kiss goodnight any more.

It's very strange how times have
changed from the present to the past.
When did they grow so quickly
the time has flown so fast.

For it seems like only yesterday
I helped him with his shirt.
Or pat my baby on the back,
or kissed away a hurt.

Tell a story, read a book,
wipe a nose, or tie a shoe.
They never ask me to rub their backs
the way they used to do.

Once it was a bother,
just a troublesome kind of chore,
but now I would give anything
to do it just once more.

Mommy, bounce me on your knee,
Daddy, flip me in the air.
Throw a rubber ball to me
and help me comb my hair.

Mommy, tickle my tummy...
Daddy hold me high.
Let's go outside, for a while,
or make a kite to fly...

I count it as a privilege,
I count it cause for praise,
to kiss my children goodnight
at the close of everyday.

For I know too soon they're up and
gone and walking out the door.
And I'll never have a child
to kiss goodnight anymore!