This past weekend our little one reached the 18 month milestone. She's every bit the explorative toddler you can imagine. She's exploring language as she signs new words and also is starting to repeat the words we say (watch out daddy!). She's exploring boundaries both physical and behavioral. She's learning to run and jump. It's just so incredible to watch her every single day discovering new things! It's exciting for me too, almost like I get to rediscover things because I get to see her experience them for the first time. Now when we sing the ASL ABC song I'll sing "A" is for Apple, "B" is for Brown" and she'll repeat each of the words after me with such enthusiasm! Today was her first day in the Toddler 2 classroom at daycare. She was getting bored in Toddler 1 and it was time to learn new things. Of course she did great and loved the new room. I can't wait to see what new things she'll be learning and showing mama and daddy! At the end of the day when we're at home she'll "read" the sheet to me that says what they did at daycare. She really sounds like she's reading it too. She loves to sing to herself too. It's adorable, I'll put her down for a nap and she doesn't go down right away but she'll sing to herself or talk to herself. Maybe she'll be musically inclined. We already know she loves to dance. Anytime music with a beat comes on she shakes her little tushie and her hands go in the air. She loves to make her little stuffed animals dance when we're on our way to daycare too. "Bu-yee" (Bunny) and "Guk" (Duck) and sometimes we bring "Yamy" (Lamby) from home too.
I love to see her and Drake together. Some days he tolerates her. She'll walk over to him while he's lying down and she'll "pet" him (otherwise known as smack him) on the back, she'll grab his tail and giggle as he tries to ignore her. When he gets really annoyed he walks away. Sometimes he'll give her a lick and walk away, that's how I know he likes her (at least sometimes). Other times she'll bossily tell him "no puppa!" when she doesn't want his kisses or "move Dake" when he's in her way. And he will walk by her and ever so subtly (not) bump her with his butt "unintentionally" and act like he didn't know she was there. Or he'll give me the "What? I don't speak English, I'm a dog" look when I tell him "watch out for the baby". It's a cute little antagonistic relationship they have.
It's so hard going to work every day. I see that beautiful face smiling at me and I hate to hand her over to someone else. I know she's learning and playing and having a blast, I just wish I could share that with her more than just on the weekends. It wouldn't even have to be every day, just more than weekends. When I'm away from her at work I can't help but smile every time I think about her (which is about every other second) because I'll think of something she said or did and I can't believe how smart she is. I can't believe how quickly the last 18 months have gone and I can almost see how quickly 18 years can pass! But it doesn't do well to worry about the future, just gotta keep plugging along and making the most of it! Although, as a side note, if I had an alternate identity like superhero's, mine would be "The Worrier". Not the most thrilling alter ego. Guess I should work on that. Go for something cooler sounding like "The Forward Thinker" or "The Vexer" That one might work :)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Curiosity
This is one of those days where all the attorney's are out before the holiday weekend except one! And of course we can't leave unless he does. So, I thought I'd spend this time writing a post! An excellent use of my time, I know!
This morning M was regaling me with her extensive knowledge of the animal decals on her wall. Each animals name represents a letter of the alphabet (A - ant, B - Bird, C - Cow, etc.). I put these decals up before she was born day dreaming of the day she would be enjoying the fun and knowledge they provide. She knows a few of them and will "name" them by making their sounds, e.g. Monkey gets a "ooh ooh ooh", Cow gets a "moooo!" Owl gets a "hoo hoo" (in fact thats her name for an owl, a hoo hoo:), bird gets her sign approximation of the sign for bird (think of your thumb and pointer as the birds beak signed at your mouth, now turn it toward your mouth... that's M's sign approximation... SOOO CUTE!) But a lot of them are specific named animals like a Y - Yak, or a V - Vulture or N - Newt.... (I know what you're thinking... When I first got these decals I was thinking, "Isn't there a more well known animal that starts with an "N"?" and really, there isn't. Try and think of one... Anyway... she calls the Newt a "fog" aka a frog. Close enough for a one year old, right?!)
Anyway... the decals are on the walls that are above her changing table/dresser and so she stood up (with my help and with me standing right there so she won't fall) and she's pointing at them and just jabbering away! Of course, I didn't know what she was saying but she did and she sure had a lot to say about those animals! Then she would point up at the ones that are much higher and I would lift her up and she would continue her lecture on the now reachable animals.
I just adore these moments. Watching her learn and seeing the confidence in her describing these animals that are foreign to her and yet exciting to her. I hope she will always have that curiosity and that confidence so that she's free to explore and take on challenges without the doubt that plagues most adults. Until that time, I will do my best to continue to foster in her self-confidence and curiosity to explore the world around her!
This morning M was regaling me with her extensive knowledge of the animal decals on her wall. Each animals name represents a letter of the alphabet (A - ant, B - Bird, C - Cow, etc.). I put these decals up before she was born day dreaming of the day she would be enjoying the fun and knowledge they provide. She knows a few of them and will "name" them by making their sounds, e.g. Monkey gets a "ooh ooh ooh", Cow gets a "moooo!" Owl gets a "hoo hoo" (in fact thats her name for an owl, a hoo hoo:), bird gets her sign approximation of the sign for bird (think of your thumb and pointer as the birds beak signed at your mouth, now turn it toward your mouth... that's M's sign approximation... SOOO CUTE!) But a lot of them are specific named animals like a Y - Yak, or a V - Vulture or N - Newt.... (I know what you're thinking... When I first got these decals I was thinking, "Isn't there a more well known animal that starts with an "N"?" and really, there isn't. Try and think of one... Anyway... she calls the Newt a "fog" aka a frog. Close enough for a one year old, right?!)
Anyway... the decals are on the walls that are above her changing table/dresser and so she stood up (with my help and with me standing right there so she won't fall) and she's pointing at them and just jabbering away! Of course, I didn't know what she was saying but she did and she sure had a lot to say about those animals! Then she would point up at the ones that are much higher and I would lift her up and she would continue her lecture on the now reachable animals.
I just adore these moments. Watching her learn and seeing the confidence in her describing these animals that are foreign to her and yet exciting to her. I hope she will always have that curiosity and that confidence so that she's free to explore and take on challenges without the doubt that plagues most adults. Until that time, I will do my best to continue to foster in her self-confidence and curiosity to explore the world around her!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Catching Up
It's been an entire month since I last posted! How sad of me! Every day I think to myself "I really want to blog, I'll do it when I get home, or first thing when I get to work" but alas I end up going to bed not long after putting the little one to bed or I get to work 5 minutes late and have to start working right away. But I have to try harder because it IS something I enjoy doing. Right now I've taken time out from work to type a blog on my iPhone while hiding in a bathroom stall so I can't be accused of texting :-). We do what we have to right?! I had drafted a great blog at the beginning of May about M a cute misunderstanding...It was another time where I was composing a la bathroom stall and was interrupted. I apparently didn't save it correctly and when I returned to finish my post... poof! It was gone. I was unable to give the post the same witty description so I scrapped it....
....I had to leave my bathroom sanctuary as it seemed to be everyone's business time... if you know what I mean. Now I'm writing at my desk with a tiny minimized internet window. You see my problem! It's hard to get into the writing groove when I have to keep moving or starting and stopping. Sigh...
So England and Paris were wonderful. We walked until our legs were jello and then we sat for a few and got up and walked some more! In Paris we saw the usual beautiful tourist attractions, the Eiffel Tour, Notre Dame, The Arc de Triomphe and my favorite was the Louvre! One of the mini adventures in being in a foreign country is getting around and the Metro in Paris, just like the Tube in London were so easy to travel! There's still so much we didn't see and I'd definitely love to go back! I hope one day the rest of t family, as well as the munchkin of course, will be able to join us! So our in the last day of our European adventure we had breakfast in Paris, lunch in London and dinner over the United States (I think we were about over Nebraska at that time).
....I had to leave my bathroom sanctuary as it seemed to be everyone's business time... if you know what I mean. Now I'm writing at my desk with a tiny minimized internet window. You see my problem! It's hard to get into the writing groove when I have to keep moving or starting and stopping. Sigh...
So England and Paris were wonderful. We walked until our legs were jello and then we sat for a few and got up and walked some more! In Paris we saw the usual beautiful tourist attractions, the Eiffel Tour, Notre Dame, The Arc de Triomphe and my favorite was the Louvre! One of the mini adventures in being in a foreign country is getting around and the Metro in Paris, just like the Tube in London were so easy to travel! There's still so much we didn't see and I'd definitely love to go back! I hope one day the rest of t family, as well as the munchkin of course, will be able to join us! So our in the last day of our European adventure we had breakfast in Paris, lunch in London and dinner over the United States (I think we were about over Nebraska at that time).
The month since I have been taking an online child nutrition and cooking class, took a break from my signing (I haven't been practicing.. Shame shame...), and generally feeling annoyed at my job. I know I'm not the only one who feels like I'm supposed to be doing something and this is definitley not it. Maybe I'm too responsible in that I have my bills and my family and I should be grateful I even have a job (which I am) but there are other people that seem to float effortlessly from one good thing to the next, never having any troubles along the way. Yes, I know that is only my outside perspective, and I'm sure they've had plenty of challenges along the way. Well, I do what I can to keep life interesting and try and figure things out as I go. Sometimes I just get so frustrated! I know, I'm not alone! Not in the slightest! So I do my best to take a breath, head up, and as my grandma always say, boobs out! Keep the adventures coming!
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