Monday, June 10, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Gemma is ONE!
It is hard to believe our little Gemma bean is one year old today! It kind of snuck up on me, but here it is!
Gemma loves to eat anything I am eating. Cereal from my bowl? Yes, please. Mashed potatoes? Scoop 'em faster lady. Cake? MORE! NOW! But, neatly diced banana on her tray? No thanks. It ends up squished in her hair, in her clothes or pitched very quickly to the floor. We are working hard at getting away from baby food, which has been challenging with how busy the last few weeks have been. I'm hoping to focus more on this when I am off for the summer after this next week. She loves most purees and eats them with gusto. She adores the baby food in a pouch - she will shed real tears when the pouch is empty. Her current mode of operation is to throw most finger food on the floor and screech for my food. Then, when she is cleaned up after the meal, she scavengers herself another meal off of the floor. So, I guess she does eat it. Just not when I am trying to eat.
Sleep has suddenly become much easier and without the tough love I was anticipating (watch. Now tonight there will be a huge backslide). She has consistently slept through the night for the last 6 weeks and it has been wonderful. I find myself remembering more and have a newfound well of patience. Amazing what a little shut eye can do for this Mama.
Gemma's favorite things (in no particular order):
1. Mama - she loves her mama, especially around new people
2. William- William can get her to make the biggest baby belly laughs of all time, just by walking into a room. If he makes faces or attempts to be funny? She cannot even stand on her two feet because she is laughing so hard.
3. Amelia- she always want to be with Amelia so when the chance to pull her long hair presents itself, she is prepared. Not one to miss her chance, our Gemma.
4. John's work badge. Man she loves that thing. She will stand at John's feet and thrust herself up on her tippy toes with her hands outreached to show she wants to be held. Because she wants to yank/examine/chew/hold the work badge. (she also loves daddy very much. Probably even more than the badge).
5. books- in the last 3 weeks, Gemma has discovered that she loves being read to. She loves to turn the pages as you read and point at pictures. She is so happy and excited when she comes toddling towards us with a book. She settles right into our laps for some good reading time.
6. Bath time. When that water starts, Gemma will come a running and if you don't watch her, she will launch herself head first into the tub. I won't disclose whether or not that has acutally happened and how many times.
7. Dancing- turn any type of music on and Gemma will start with her signature dance move the "Gemma Bounce" . It is adorable!
8. Making faces. For months now, Gemma has had this knack for observing the face someone is making (intentional or not) and then mimicking it back to them. She frequently has us in stitches at the dinner table with her interpretations of the different looks she can recreate. Of course, our uproarious laughter does nothing but encourage her. The finest class clown in training our family has seen to date.
9. Climbing. Now that the walking/running skills have been mastered almost totally, Gemma has moved on to climbing. On everything. Couches, fireplaces, bookshelves, anything that looks like it can be climbed she will work on.
10. Hats. Or anything else she can wear on her head in hat fashion.
11. The vacuum. Or maybe she hates it. We can't tell. She cries when it is on if you aren't holding her the minute it turns on. However, she cries if you are holding her and someone else is vacuuming. She was to be right where the noise is, in someone's arms.
 |
| The start of her funny face |
 |
| Full on adorable funny face. I challenge you to be mad at this face. Impossible. |
 |
| Sweet Gemma bean |
 |
| Nice picture of the shirt Mama made late last night for her girl! |
 |
| A contemplative moment. Not usually a good sign... |
 |
| So happy! |
 |
| Daddy and his Gemma |
 |
| She is so BIG! |
 |
| Small smile |
 |
| Mama with her girl |
 |
| I'm done with this picture stuff |
 |
| Hey! What's this stuff? |
 |
| The hair bow just kills me - the hair is really growing now! |
 |
| Amelia loves to put on Gemma's shoes. Sometimes Gemma is patient enough for this, others not so much. |
 |
| Not a fan of the grass - that is our current trick to make her hold still |
 |
| Curly haired girl! |
 |
| I see this face hundreds of times a day. It is her plotting/devising face. Trouble usually follows... |
 |
| Sweet girl! |
 |
| Sweet, tired girl |
 |
| The Happy Birthday Banner and cake! So festive! |
 |
| Gemma admiring our decorations |
 |
| The 3 kiddos |
 |
| A first taste |
 |
| Mmmmmm |
 |
| She wasn't a fan of me helping her with the spoon. She wanted to use the spoon to launch the cake. |
 |
| looking at birthday cards after a bath |
 |
| William and Amelia took turns reading the cards to her- always trying to make things fair. |
Gemma loves to eat anything I am eating. Cereal from my bowl? Yes, please. Mashed potatoes? Scoop 'em faster lady. Cake? MORE! NOW! But, neatly diced banana on her tray? No thanks. It ends up squished in her hair, in her clothes or pitched very quickly to the floor. We are working hard at getting away from baby food, which has been challenging with how busy the last few weeks have been. I'm hoping to focus more on this when I am off for the summer after this next week. She loves most purees and eats them with gusto. She adores the baby food in a pouch - she will shed real tears when the pouch is empty. Her current mode of operation is to throw most finger food on the floor and screech for my food. Then, when she is cleaned up after the meal, she scavengers herself another meal off of the floor. So, I guess she does eat it. Just not when I am trying to eat.
Sleep has suddenly become much easier and without the tough love I was anticipating (watch. Now tonight there will be a huge backslide). She has consistently slept through the night for the last 6 weeks and it has been wonderful. I find myself remembering more and have a newfound well of patience. Amazing what a little shut eye can do for this Mama.
Gemma's favorite things (in no particular order):
1. Mama - she loves her mama, especially around new people
2. William- William can get her to make the biggest baby belly laughs of all time, just by walking into a room. If he makes faces or attempts to be funny? She cannot even stand on her two feet because she is laughing so hard.
3. Amelia- she always want to be with Amelia so when the chance to pull her long hair presents itself, she is prepared. Not one to miss her chance, our Gemma.
4. John's work badge. Man she loves that thing. She will stand at John's feet and thrust herself up on her tippy toes with her hands outreached to show she wants to be held. Because she wants to yank/examine/chew/hold the work badge. (she also loves daddy very much. Probably even more than the badge).
5. books- in the last 3 weeks, Gemma has discovered that she loves being read to. She loves to turn the pages as you read and point at pictures. She is so happy and excited when she comes toddling towards us with a book. She settles right into our laps for some good reading time.
6. Bath time. When that water starts, Gemma will come a running and if you don't watch her, she will launch herself head first into the tub. I won't disclose whether or not that has acutally happened and how many times.
7. Dancing- turn any type of music on and Gemma will start with her signature dance move the "Gemma Bounce" . It is adorable!
8. Making faces. For months now, Gemma has had this knack for observing the face someone is making (intentional or not) and then mimicking it back to them. She frequently has us in stitches at the dinner table with her interpretations of the different looks she can recreate. Of course, our uproarious laughter does nothing but encourage her. The finest class clown in training our family has seen to date.
9. Climbing. Now that the walking/running skills have been mastered almost totally, Gemma has moved on to climbing. On everything. Couches, fireplaces, bookshelves, anything that looks like it can be climbed she will work on.
10. Hats. Or anything else she can wear on her head in hat fashion.
11. The vacuum. Or maybe she hates it. We can't tell. She cries when it is on if you aren't holding her the minute it turns on. However, she cries if you are holding her and someone else is vacuuming. She was to be right where the noise is, in someone's arms.
Conversations v.219
We skype regularly with my parents. Maybe 1-2 times a week. We love this technology that allows us to keep in touch and help the kids stay familiar with their grandparents. The conversations are pretty short - sometimes only 5-6 minutes long as the kids just don't have the patience to sit for long periods of time. You know, unless you are reading them a book (sometimes the grandparents have been known to read a book over skype, just to keep the kiddos attention for a little bit longer).
So, this last week, we had the following conversation with my parents:
(talk talk talking*)
William: I am kind of a dinosaur expert**. I know all about them. I can name three thousand (3,000) dinosaurs!
Grandpa/Grandma: WOW! That is amazing.
Mama: Don't ask him to list them. We'll be here all night.
Amelia: I am a dinosaur expert too. I can name three thousand and one dinosaurs (3,001)!
*My job during the phone conversations is to keep Gemma from deleting all the files from our computers, breaking the computer with her monkey like antics, or hurting herself with the monkey like antics in an attempt to chew on the power cord, slam the laptop shut or hit all the keys on the computer at the same time. Because of the high demand of wrangling Gemma, I missed the beginning part of this conversation.
**Humble, isn't he?
So, this last week, we had the following conversation with my parents:
(talk talk talking*)
William: I am kind of a dinosaur expert**. I know all about them. I can name three thousand (3,000) dinosaurs!
Grandpa/Grandma: WOW! That is amazing.
Mama: Don't ask him to list them. We'll be here all night.
Amelia: I am a dinosaur expert too. I can name three thousand and one dinosaurs (3,001)!
*My job during the phone conversations is to keep Gemma from deleting all the files from our computers, breaking the computer with her monkey like antics, or hurting herself with the monkey like antics in an attempt to chew on the power cord, slam the laptop shut or hit all the keys on the computer at the same time. Because of the high demand of wrangling Gemma, I missed the beginning part of this conversation.
**Humble, isn't he?
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Storms
I thought this map was pretty interesting in detailing the path of the tornado and shows that while we were close to the storm, we were well away from where the most intense portions were. We live roughly in OFallon. John works roughly where this map says Florissant, and his building was out of power for 3 and a half days, so he had an unexpected day off last week. The storm occurred on Friday, May 31.
Conversations v.?
This morning.
William: mom! Mom!
Mom: what? What!
W: I found your cell phone in the kitchen! Aren't you happy?
M: actually, I knew where my phone was, can you put it back?
W: here mom! ( hands me the phone as I am using both hands to put up Amelia's hair and simultaneously keep Gemma from pulling Amelia's hair. This task requires a minimum of 6 hands).
M: William, I don't have any pockets and I can't take the phone right now. Can you please put it back in the kitchen?
W: I'll find a good place to put it mom.
(Rustling)
W: there! I put it in the laundry bucket ( dirty clothes hamper)
M: William, do you think mama will ever find her phone there?
(More rustling)
W: there! I just put it between the towels on the top shelf of the closet! No one will get it there!
M: (arg). William! Do you think I will ever be able to find my phone there?
W: well, where should I put it?
M: how about the kitchen like I asked the first time?
W: I know!
(Rustling continues. Gemma has now found the toothpaste cabinet open and I am wrestling a bottle if lotion and 2 tubes of toothpaste away from her)
W: I just put it in my bed mom! It is very safe there!
M: what? Where in your bed?
W: (silence)
M: ack! William! Where did you put my cell phone?
W: (silence)
M: William? (Sigh)
Sent from my iPhone
William: mom! Mom!
Mom: what? What!
W: I found your cell phone in the kitchen! Aren't you happy?
M: actually, I knew where my phone was, can you put it back?
W: here mom! ( hands me the phone as I am using both hands to put up Amelia's hair and simultaneously keep Gemma from pulling Amelia's hair. This task requires a minimum of 6 hands).
M: William, I don't have any pockets and I can't take the phone right now. Can you please put it back in the kitchen?
W: I'll find a good place to put it mom.
(Rustling)
W: there! I put it in the laundry bucket ( dirty clothes hamper)
M: William, do you think mama will ever find her phone there?
(More rustling)
W: there! I just put it between the towels on the top shelf of the closet! No one will get it there!
M: (arg). William! Do you think I will ever be able to find my phone there?
W: well, where should I put it?
M: how about the kitchen like I asked the first time?
W: I know!
(Rustling continues. Gemma has now found the toothpaste cabinet open and I am wrestling a bottle if lotion and 2 tubes of toothpaste away from her)
W: I just put it in my bed mom! It is very safe there!
M: what? Where in your bed?
W: (silence)
M: ack! William! Where did you put my cell phone?
W: (silence)
M: William? (Sigh)
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, June 7, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)