those darn kids

making our world a better place, one kid at a time.

hand to mouth May 15, 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — downright @ 1:24 pm

well as of last night F can pick up cheerios and feed herself. further proof of genius. two days ago she was picking them up between her thumbs and getting them to her mouth 50% of tries. then last night, she was picking them up in a pincer grasp and getting them to her mouth 90% of tries.

she likes to pull herself up and is getting stronger standing while holding on to things.

she is so damm happy.
we love her.

 

you are 6months (yesterday) March 20, 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — downright @ 7:14 pm

Dear girl,

Today you are 6months old. This is my first letter to you. I’m copying what a lot of others on the internet do; I think it’s a good idea.

First: the physical you. You are chubby. Your thighs are as wide as they are long. Your feet are tiny. This makes for a charming silhouette, an upside-down triangle. Your hands are wide and short-fingered, like your brother’s were. You are strong. Though not really rolling over yet, you can sit up for longer periods each day before toppling. As your balance becomes better, I see you visibly pull yourself back into position with your strength. Your hair, prolific at birth, is falling out and growing in at the same time. You have some bald-ish spots, and of course, your white patches. I don’t know what those are about and so I prefer not to think of them. You have beautiful big eyes– that most people comment on.

Next, your temperament. Oh you are a sweet sweet baby. You delight in much; your smile is quick, you wiggle with excitement. As long as you’re being held, you are a happy girl. We’ve started moving you around to the baby-stations. . . in the saucer, on the floor, in the chair, in the swing, repeat and repeat. You looooooove your brother and follow him around with your big eyes. He can make you laugh more than anyone. He can also squash you (literally) with his love; he frequently lays on you to hug you.

Then, your skills. As mentioned above you are not really rolling over. . .at all. You have very good head control when pulled up from a prone position. Likewise, you lift your little head almost 90degrees when on your back, straining to see what’s going on. You sit, again, as mentioned above. You talk . . . a lot. . . like your brother and father I would say. You gurgle and growl , coo and, well, screech. You get excited and flap your hands around. Your hand control, I think, is excellent. You move them slowly and deliberately, you grab what you intend to, and you can transfer from hand to hand with purpose. I meant to start you on solids this week, but haven’t purchased the rice cereal yet. . . so we’ll do that this weekend.

This week you and K are staying at G/G while your father and I work. Today you slept for 1.5 total hours. And then at bedtime, you were nowhere ready to sleep. You looked this way and that, clapped and smiled and laughed, grabbed at the plants, squirmed around, and pooped your pants. Even at 10:30pm I had to rock you to sleep. Usually you just nurse quietly to sleep. You seemed to be asserting your new place in the world as a 6month old big-girl.

 

an attempt to start something. January 25, 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — downright @ 3:31 pm

I have a long long history of starting things, only to never, *never* finish them. I start books, I start projects (knitting, sewing, painting, etc), I start learning new instruments (guitar, violin, etc), I start researching something in the hopes of making a decision (about everything). I rarely finish. Anything. I am better at procrastinating.

A blog, however, doesn’t necessarily need to finish. So let me just start.

I would like to record a bit of the life of my small family. We are small in size: the tallest member to date is 5′5″. We are small in number: 4. We are small in dwelling: one 1400 sq foot house. We are small in children: one 3yr old and one 5month old.

Things we are working on:

  • potty training
  • teething
  • home-improvements
  • budgeting
  • securing daycare
  • job searching
  • anger management

More on everything, to come.