Today it is raining. Gemma is fascinated by the rain. She grabs my hand and drags me to the kitchen window, then points outside. We have sat there together for a long time this morning. I keep getting up to attend to assorted chores (sadly, laundry and floors will not clean themselves). She is right behind me, dragging me back to the window.
Our conversation always goes the same way. We had this exact conversation at least 25 times this morning:
Gemma: Wraii (rain!)
Mama: Yes! It is raining outside.
Gemma: Wraiii (Rain!) Twee, twee? (birds?)
Mama: It's raining. Do you think the birds are getting wet?
Gemma: No. Wraii. Twee, twee. Nigh nigh. (no. rain. Birds. sleeping).
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On Monday, the library had a baby storytime program for kids aged 12 months -24 months. Amelia and I took Gemma and she loved it as usual. We were back at the library today for big kid storytime (which, I had wrong, it wasn't today.). Gemma made a beeline straight for the storytime room. When she found that it was locked, she turned around to me and asked, "Door?".
I tried to explain storytime was all done. Not happening today. She wasn't buying it.
Just then, she spied one of our favorite librarians walk by. She is the one who leads the baby storytime.
Gemma made a beeline for her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her to the storytime door. After physically putting the librarian's hand on the door, she stood back and looked up at the librarian with wide eyes in anticipation. The librarian thought this was hilarious. Which is good, because Gemma did it over and over again. And again.
I'm glad our kids love storytime.
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After Gemma was sleeping this afternoon, I sat down with Amelia to read some books together. She read the first book to me and I read the second book to her. The second book was a Mo Willems book. I put everything dramatic I had into reading the book and was enjoying myself very much.
When I was done reading, we had the following conversation:
Mama: I liked that book! It was so funny! Did you think that book was funny Amelia?
Amelia: (big sigh) Did you hear me laugh? I didn't laugh because it really wasn't that funny mom.
If this it what I get at 5, I cannot wait until this child is 13.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Pick pocket
Yesterday I was putting Gemma down for a nap in her room. I like a few minutes of quiet cuddling before putting her in her bed. She was not in the mood for that yesterday. I could have kept my hands on a (insert a slippery, wriggly animal here) more easily. Every time I got her settled in for a few minutes, she would throw herself backwards or wriggle sideways while twisting her torso to the side.
Finally I just set her gently in her bed and tucked her in.
Mama: Good night Gemma
Gemma: (big belly laugh)
Mama: What's so funny?
Gemma: (holds up my cell phone, which had previously been tucked into my back pocket.)
Finally I just set her gently in her bed and tucked her in.
Mama: Good night Gemma
Gemma: (big belly laugh)
Mama: What's so funny?
Gemma: (holds up my cell phone, which had previously been tucked into my back pocket.)
Monday, March 31, 2014
Mama! Tweet! Tweet! Nana!
Friday mornings, Amelia attends a Spanish class at her preschool. Last week, when I went to drop Amelia off, I walked and and saw all the children gathered around one of the teachers. The teacher was holding a bird on her hand (perhaps a macaw? or parrot?). The kids were fascinated. I organized Amelia (backpack, jacket, kisses, etc) and in the process, Gemma noticed the bird. I can tell you the exact SECOND she noticed because her whole body jumped. From that moment on, she turned and wriggled and contorted herself in order to see the bird every moment.
Once Amelia had joined the group, I brought Gemma closer over to see the bird. We stood back behind the group of preschoolers and admired the bird. It was only then I noticed that the bird was perched on the teacher's wrist and the teacher was holding a banana in her hand. The bird was eating a banana*. Gemma was speechless. She kept pointing at the bird and telling me "Tweet, tweet, **" almost in disbelief.
When we left, Gemma and I had a conversation that just about melted my poor heart. We walked out of the classroom and into the hallway. I wasn't two steps into the hallway when Gemma grabbed my face between her two hands and turned my face so I was looking directly into her eyes.
"MAMA!"
"Tweet, tweet!!!"
"NANA"
This was so adorable. The best translation I can come up with is:
"Mom! There was a bird and it was eating a BANANA! Unbelievable!"
My response:
"Did you see the bird eating a banana?"
Her response:
A big belly laugh. It is so much fun to have your words understood!
*Although the bird was eating the banana, it was also not a very neat eater. The kids closest were all squealing and laughing as the bird tossed/threw/dropped tiny chunks of banana every time it took a bite.
** At this point, Gemma calls all animals by their sounds or calls. Most animal sounds are easier to pronouce than the actual names. So around here, a "neigh neigh" is a horse and a "meow" is a cat.
Once Amelia had joined the group, I brought Gemma closer over to see the bird. We stood back behind the group of preschoolers and admired the bird. It was only then I noticed that the bird was perched on the teacher's wrist and the teacher was holding a banana in her hand. The bird was eating a banana*. Gemma was speechless. She kept pointing at the bird and telling me "Tweet, tweet, **" almost in disbelief.
When we left, Gemma and I had a conversation that just about melted my poor heart. We walked out of the classroom and into the hallway. I wasn't two steps into the hallway when Gemma grabbed my face between her two hands and turned my face so I was looking directly into her eyes.
"MAMA!"
"Tweet, tweet!!!"
"NANA"
This was so adorable. The best translation I can come up with is:
"Mom! There was a bird and it was eating a BANANA! Unbelievable!"
My response:
"Did you see the bird eating a banana?"
Her response:
A big belly laugh. It is so much fun to have your words understood!
*Although the bird was eating the banana, it was also not a very neat eater. The kids closest were all squealing and laughing as the bird tossed/threw/dropped tiny chunks of banana every time it took a bite.
** At this point, Gemma calls all animals by their sounds or calls. Most animal sounds are easier to pronouce than the actual names. So around here, a "neigh neigh" is a horse and a "meow" is a cat.
Sweet Amelia
Today was Amelia's birthday (well, yesterday now). She had a wonderful birthday weekend celebrating with all kind of fun activities. I'll tell you more about it later (or I'll forget and won't tell you), but for now I want to share this sweet conversation I overheard tonight between Amelia and her Great Grandma Gerry.
GranGerry: Happy birthday Amelia!
Amelia: (giggles) Thank you!
(generalized birthday chat)
GranGerry: Did you open a gift from North Dakota?
Amelia: (puzzled look) Yes! Yes I did! It was so perfect and I LOVE it!*
GranGerry: Yeah?
Amelia: YEAH!
GranGerry: What shape was it in? I couldn't tell from the box. I picked it because it was purple and pink.
Amelia: It is a SEAL and it is WONDERFUL! I thought I wanted to have the special unicorn Glowy Pillow until I saw this one. I didn't know how much I would love the seal pillow. This one is my favorite now because YOU picked it out for me.
Grandma: A seal? Wow. I'm glad you like it!
*Several months ago, Amelia mentioned to Grandma that she wanted a pillow pet that glows. They sell them a variety of places and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Apprently, Grandma had a little trouble tracking down the Glowy PIllow (as Amelia calls it). She finally happened across it at the store when she was looking for something else.
GranGerry: Happy birthday Amelia!
Amelia: (giggles) Thank you!
(generalized birthday chat)
GranGerry: Did you open a gift from North Dakota?
Amelia: (puzzled look) Yes! Yes I did! It was so perfect and I LOVE it!*
GranGerry: Yeah?
Amelia: YEAH!
GranGerry: What shape was it in? I couldn't tell from the box. I picked it because it was purple and pink.
Amelia: It is a SEAL and it is WONDERFUL! I thought I wanted to have the special unicorn Glowy Pillow until I saw this one. I didn't know how much I would love the seal pillow. This one is my favorite now because YOU picked it out for me.
Grandma: A seal? Wow. I'm glad you like it!
*Several months ago, Amelia mentioned to Grandma that she wanted a pillow pet that glows. They sell them a variety of places and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Apprently, Grandma had a little trouble tracking down the Glowy PIllow (as Amelia calls it). She finally happened across it at the store when she was looking for something else.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Amelia funny
At lunch, I was helping attempting to help Gemma with her cup. She was insisting on doing it herself and making a giant mess. While I was trying to prevent milk from coating every single surface in the kitchen, Amelia had this conversation with me:
Amelia: Mom! Mom!
Mom: Whaaa... Gah! Gemma! No! Stop! Here! Let me helppp...argh! No! Let! GO! Blech! (wipes face). Sorry. What did you need Amelia?
Amelia: I just finished drinking my juice. It was delicious.
Mama: Oh? GEMMA! Wait! Stop! Here, I'll hold.....fine. Do it yourself. Yes that's right....NO. STOP! You can't....well. You just did.
Amelia: Now I'll say it in English so you can understand me (she says this to me like we are having a normal everyday conversation and I am not wrestling with a giant, slippery, stubborn, shrieking, desiring independence type octopus).
Mama: Sure.
Amelia: I just finished drinking my juice. It was delicious. See? Now you can understand me because I told you the words in English. You didn't understand me before because I was speaking in Spanish.
Mama: You were?
Amelia: I WAS! Isn't that great?
Mama: It was (I have no option but to agree here because while I am certain she was speaking English both times, I was so distracted, I have no idea what else was said or what I missed in wrangling Gemma.).
Amelia: Mom! Mom!
Mom: Whaaa... Gah! Gemma! No! Stop! Here! Let me helppp...argh! No! Let! GO! Blech! (wipes face). Sorry. What did you need Amelia?
Amelia: I just finished drinking my juice. It was delicious.
Mama: Oh? GEMMA! Wait! Stop! Here, I'll hold.....fine. Do it yourself. Yes that's right....NO. STOP! You can't....well. You just did.
Amelia: Now I'll say it in English so you can understand me (she says this to me like we are having a normal everyday conversation and I am not wrestling with a giant, slippery, stubborn, shrieking, desiring independence type octopus).
Mama: Sure.
Amelia: I just finished drinking my juice. It was delicious. See? Now you can understand me because I told you the words in English. You didn't understand me before because I was speaking in Spanish.
Mama: You were?
Amelia: I WAS! Isn't that great?
Mama: It was (I have no option but to agree here because while I am certain she was speaking English both times, I was so distracted, I have no idea what else was said or what I missed in wrangling Gemma.).
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Backwards Facing Navigational System
This is a compilation of a few things I have been noticing recently that I haven't had a chance to write down yet. Better late than never, right?
1. Background: This was in January. On Fridays, Amelia attends a Spanish class at her preschool for an hour. We drop her off and then pick her up just a short while later. Usually I drop Amelia at preschool on a Tues/Thursday and then bring Gemma to our sitter's house.
Gemma and I walked out of the preschool and I juggle her around in my arms to unlock the car.
Gemma: Baby?
Mama: Baby? (I look and do not see any babies around. The door is open and I start buckling Gemma in her carseat).
Gemma: Go! Go! Baby! (Points out the window).
Suddenly, I realize Gemma is referencing our sitter's granddaughter, whom Gemma refers to as "baby". Unfortunately, we don't have plans to see them today and Gemma is now quivering with excitement about seeing her baby friend. I try to explain to her we aren't going there, but it isn't sinking in.
It doesn't sink in until we leave the preschool and turn right instead of left. The instant we turn right (to go home) instead of left (to go to the sitters house), she is screaming and crying : "NO! NO!" "NO! GO BABY! NO!"
This is crazy to me that at 19 months while sitting in a carseat facing the rear of a vehicle, Gemma can determine the direction we are driving. Absolutely crazy.
2. We go to the library a lot. Once a month the local library has a baby story time in which one of our favorite librarians reads books, leads some rhymes, and sings a few songs. One of the songs we do every single time is called "Shake and Stop". The whole group of kiddos are given little tiny maracas. The song starts and tells the kids to shake their instruments in different ways. Then it tells them to stop. Which is totally hilarious to observe. The parents are trying to stop the noisy shakers and the kids just want to keep on making noise. The silence only lasts for a few beats and then the shaking starts up again, a pattern which is repeated several times before the song is over.
When we went to story time in January, I noticed that Gemma was able to stop shaking on her own. I figured it out by accident as I had Amelia and William with me. I was distracted by something and couldn't get to Gemma in time to quiet her shakers. But, she did it on her own.
This might not sound like a big deal, but this is HUGE. This is massively huge because this is the first sign that Gemma is starting to exhibit self control and regulation. A whole lotta exciting child development has to happen before self regulation occurs. And it IS exciting. This child will someday be able to control her impulse to climb the refrigerator and resist eating toothpaste. It won't be today or even this month (year?), but it is coming.
As the second pause in the song approached, I held my breath to see what would happen. I was surprised and proud : Gemma held her shakers close to her chest to quiet them.
1. Background: This was in January. On Fridays, Amelia attends a Spanish class at her preschool for an hour. We drop her off and then pick her up just a short while later. Usually I drop Amelia at preschool on a Tues/Thursday and then bring Gemma to our sitter's house.
Gemma and I walked out of the preschool and I juggle her around in my arms to unlock the car.
Gemma: Baby?
Mama: Baby? (I look and do not see any babies around. The door is open and I start buckling Gemma in her carseat).
Gemma: Go! Go! Baby! (Points out the window).
Suddenly, I realize Gemma is referencing our sitter's granddaughter, whom Gemma refers to as "baby". Unfortunately, we don't have plans to see them today and Gemma is now quivering with excitement about seeing her baby friend. I try to explain to her we aren't going there, but it isn't sinking in.
It doesn't sink in until we leave the preschool and turn right instead of left. The instant we turn right (to go home) instead of left (to go to the sitters house), she is screaming and crying : "NO! NO!" "NO! GO BABY! NO!"
This is crazy to me that at 19 months while sitting in a carseat facing the rear of a vehicle, Gemma can determine the direction we are driving. Absolutely crazy.
2. We go to the library a lot. Once a month the local library has a baby story time in which one of our favorite librarians reads books, leads some rhymes, and sings a few songs. One of the songs we do every single time is called "Shake and Stop". The whole group of kiddos are given little tiny maracas. The song starts and tells the kids to shake their instruments in different ways. Then it tells them to stop. Which is totally hilarious to observe. The parents are trying to stop the noisy shakers and the kids just want to keep on making noise. The silence only lasts for a few beats and then the shaking starts up again, a pattern which is repeated several times before the song is over.
When we went to story time in January, I noticed that Gemma was able to stop shaking on her own. I figured it out by accident as I had Amelia and William with me. I was distracted by something and couldn't get to Gemma in time to quiet her shakers. But, she did it on her own.
This might not sound like a big deal, but this is HUGE. This is massively huge because this is the first sign that Gemma is starting to exhibit self control and regulation. A whole lotta exciting child development has to happen before self regulation occurs. And it IS exciting. This child will someday be able to control her impulse to climb the refrigerator and resist eating toothpaste. It won't be today or even this month (year?), but it is coming.
As the second pause in the song approached, I held my breath to see what would happen. I was surprised and proud : Gemma held her shakers close to her chest to quiet them.
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