Gemma does laundry

Here is Gemma helping me with more laundry yesterday. She is such a good helper! Highlights include Amelia reading to herself in the background and Gemma's signature "silly face" partway through (watch for the scrunched up face).

Student of the week

Amelia is student of the week this week at school. Her teacher requested a special book to read to the class and a little poster about her to share. I don't know why it is upside down, but here is what the 2 of us came up with!

Gemma is 15 months old today! She was not cooperative 1 minute of her photo session with me today. We have a pile of blurry pictures if anyone would like to see them. Just ask.

The details:
Gemma is wearing 18-24 month clothes and some 2t.
She wears size 4 diapers.
We are down to one looooong nap a day.  This transition was difficult and I felt like throwing in the towel on multiple occasions.  I'd like to tell you that I didn't because I am a patient and kind Mama.  However, I wasn't sure how to go backwards once we pushed forwards, so ahead we went.  In hindsight, it all worked out fine.  

In the last several weeks, Gemma has fully weaned and is now drinking whole milk from her sippy cup like a champ. I'm a little sad, but also ready to move on. 

Gemma loves to eat! Any time someone goes to the kitchen, she will appear moments later with her pudgy hand outstretched for some of whatever you are having. She is a huge nuisance in this way, especially at dinnertime.  If we are in there cooking, she is underfoot and demanding food.  If she doesn't get something to eat, she will become louder and louder and put herself directly underfoot.  As a last resort, she will park herself directly in front of the refrigerator so you cannot access the fridge OR get through the walkway to the table.  We probably need to crack down on this bad habit because it is dangerous and not a very efficient way to make dinner.  Will have to squeeze that one in sometime.

She likes mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, noodles, cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, cheese, breads, corn, and she will try anything I put on her try once. She also wants to eat anything you have on your plate. Anything she doesn't like I can usually get her to eat by mixing it in yogurt or applesauce. I don't love the idea of strawberry yogurt with green beans, but she eats it. And she is going to keep eating it until she eats more vegetables on her own. We're working on green beans, carrots and strawberries this way.

Gemma continues do be fearless in all manners until she scares herself. She will climb anything and runs headlong after her siblings. She has tried to run down a slide on more than one occasion as well as attempting to get out of a moving swing.  Surprisingly, she is scared/fascinated when dogs bark.  She will come and find me for some reassurance and a hug while pointing outside.  This wouldn't be a big deal, but we have some neighbors who leave their dogs out most of the day and barking is quite frequent in the neighborhood.  She is learning how to push her bike along with her feet.

The talking is coming along with more words each day. I think I might be the only one who can understand her, but still good progress has been made
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The sleeping has been wonderful as late (which I afraid to talk about too much).*  Gemma sleeps in her own bed from about 8:30-7am and then takes a nap from about 12-3ish most days.  I'm happy about this arrangement and I'm not looking to change it.  Which is why she will probably change it up tomorrow.




*Here is the point where I nodded off and accidentally sent the email I was was writing.  It was halfway complete, which made John crazy.  At his request, I'm back to finish it up.  Here's hoping I can stay awake long enough.

Good help is hard to find

A full basket quickly became empty today as my glee filled toddler set to work. She industriously took each article of clothing out and shook it with a crow of happiness before chucking it to the ground. Then she got down and literally rolled around in the mess. Silly baby.

5 OR Stop?

Tonight after dinner time I was singing a song (to the tune "Barbara Ann" with the words changed to "Amelia Ann"). Gemma was laughing her head off - clearly she appreciates my talent like no one else does.

Amelia mentioned several times that she wasn't a fan of the "loud singing" and the "bad singing". However, Gemma was still laughing her head off because I am H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. And I am a sucker for my baby girl's laugh. I'm willing to do just about anything in order to get her to do it.

Finally, Amelia stood up and put her hand out with the palm facing out. Fingers were tightly pressed together. STOP she said with her hand out.

John and I looked at her and tried not to laugh. She took the biting of lips and escaping giggles to be that of confusion.

Amelia: This means STOP (palm out, fingers tight)

This means 5! (palm out,fingers spread wide apart.

This looks the same, but it means something different. It means STOP singing! (palm out, fingers tightly pressed).

Sent from my iPhone

What?!

I was just informed this is called the pillowcase game. The top picture shows the two big kids each wearing two pillow cases each. What? After disclosing this information, I was ceremoniously escorted out of the room by a child who still had their lower half in a pillowcase. He hopped me to the door.

The joys

1. Yesterday I had to use stain remover twice on our poor carpet. First, a curly headed someone found a bright blue sucker and discarded it in a pile of goo after awhile. (Suckers and other treats usually live on top of the fridge. They haven't found their way back home yet). Later, the same little person found a full diet coke to upend on the carpet. Keeping up is a full time job.

2. Today I noticed Gemma has discovered how to remove the covers from the vents. And also how much fun it is to put stuff into them. I got the vacuum out to clean up the bits of paper she was storing inside. The big surprise came when I removed the other vent cover in the room (figured I should vacuum that one out too since I was doing it). Hello friend!