Bugging out

Or.. The joys of owning a house.



I was in our basement cleaning last week when school was called off due to weather. I happened to glance at the window and notice the wood appeared slightly warped. I went over to investigate. When I pressed my finger on the spot, my finger went right through the (what should have been solid) board. As I continued to press, the hole grew larger and larger.

We have a new variety of visitor: terminates. Ugh. It isn't a cheap remedy, which coupled with our leaking roof (working on it) and problematic porch (currently in the contemplating phase of repair) adds to a house sized headache.

Plotting her escape

Bedtime game

Tonight I was putting Gemma to bed and John was wrangling the big kids. I out Gemma into her crib and tucked her in. She turned her head away from me with her eyes shut. I told her good night and then she turned back to me with her eyes open. This startled me and I let out an "oh!" Gemma was instantly delighted and a game was born. She would shut her eyes and wait. Sow one would comment about the sleeping baby. Gemma would open her eyes and then giggle like mad. We played over and over. Everyone had a turn being surprised.

Amelia tries to convince Gemma

Amelia tries to convince Gemma to call her "Mimi" instead "num-na". Gemma also says "William" right at the beginning of the video. At the end, she is delighted to find baby (herself) in the video screen.

Gemma says "Amelia"

Or "num-na". We think it is adorable. Amelia isn't convinced.

Gemma says "William"

It is quiet and near the end of the video. Gemma hands William the ball and says his name.

Num-na and Wuw

Amelia and William finally have identifiable Gemma language names.

Amelia=Num-na
William=Wu-w

I'm going to try and get video, but she is at a hard age to get video.  She'd much rather watch videos of herself and usually pushes her way onto your lap while you are trying to get video.


This has been a fun time and we have taken the opportunity to remember when Amelia was a baby.  William called Amelia "Meee-A".  He called himself "Weeeee-Um".


Amelia called William "Yum" and she called herself "Mimi".