Saturday, September 20, 2008

Good Job, Stinky!

Sweet Pea,
You have developed two adorable new skills lately: clapping and saying "stinky". Last week you learned to clap. Now, every time I say "yay" or "good job" you stop what you are doing, look at me with a big smile and start clapping your hands. And when we are doing something you like (singing, dancing etc) you start spontaneously clapping your hands. You look so proud of yourself every time you do it. You're still trying to figure out how to clap while standing though. You had just been plopping yourself down and then clapping if the need to clap struck you while standing, but now you're trying your hardest to do the stand and clap - to varying degrees of success. So cute.
Also, I'm not sure how or why this started, but Papa and I have been saying "stinky" in a loud, drawn out way lately. As in, "Ewww, your diaper is STINKYYYYYYYYYY." We make a stinky face (wrinkled up nose) for dramatic effect. This almost always guarantees smiles and laughter from you. Then one day you started saying it back and cracking yourself up. Except you say "KINKYYYYY...." Which cracks us up.
How did you get to be so cute?

Where's Mommy?

Sweet Pea,

Pretty much since you were born Ive played this little game with you where I point to me and say "Mommy" and then point to you and say "Elizabeth." You always smile when I do this for some reason. But lately I've decided to change it up and I've been asking you "Where's Mommy?" And over this past week you've started pointing to me when I ask this! The first time you did it, Papa and I nearly fell off the couch with shock. We, of course, think that your ability to do this means you are absolutely beyond brilliant.
Then yesterday while we were looking at the pictures on the wall in the hallway (which you like to do every time we leave your room) I decided to throw you a curveball: I asked where Mommy was, curious if you would understand that I was in some of the pictures. Sure enough, you pointed to me in each of the pictures! This must mean you're a genius, right?
Either way, it just melts my heart that after all this time, you finally know that I'm Mommy...

Friday, September 5, 2008

Growing Up

Sweet Pea,

You are growing up so fast, I just can't believe it. Earlier this week was the first day of school in Seattle and it seems like all of the mom blogs I read had a post about their "babies" starting kindergarten. They all talked about how fast the time had flown and I teared up thinking about you going off to kindergarten some day.

Anyway, in that vain, I want to write down some of the super cute things you've been doing lately so I don't forget them:

*Yesterday (Sept 4) you began clearly signing for milk (or milky as we call it).

*Every night I go into nurse you at 10:30ish. I don't really think you need to eat at this time (in fact, I'm pretty sure you don't), but I just love how cuddly and snuggly you are. You hardly nurse during the rest of the day - you're kind of like "suck, suck, suck, okay now let me down right this moment because I have some very serious playing to take care of." But at night, you nurse well, kind of in a half sleep, and then I pop in your paci and hold you in my arms while you sleep curled up on me. It is one of my favorite moments of every day.

*You always cross your feet when you are in your booster seat where you eat. This is so cute to me, so ladylike.

*We've started singing you a few songs before putting you to bed and you seem to really like this. We sing "Goodnight Elizabeth," "You are my Sunshine," or sometimes even the ABCs. You put your head down on my shoulder or papa's should and cuddle up. We love it!

*You LOVE the cats - even though they spend all day outside because we can't trust them near you. Whenever we walk out to the car and you see them you squeal with delight. You also squeal when you hear them meow downstairs when papa feeds them in the morning.

*You like to "dance" to the ABCs. We recently gave you this little table-type thing that makes noise when you press buttons, slide levers etc. And whenever you make it sing the ABCs you look to me or papa and excitedly waiting for us to sing and dance. Then you put one arm in the air (b/c you are still using the other one to hold on to the table) and waive it around. So cute.

*You love bath time. Most often papa gives you a bath - while I scurry around trying to do laundry, put clothes away and generally clean up - and he reads you this book called "Little Quacks." He also drips water or bubbles from his hands and you love it! I think bath time is one of your favorite times of the day. Of course when we take you out you get really pissed b/c you know it is almost time to go to bed and you HATE bed time - you have so much more playing to do!

*While you nurse you put one hand on your head and open and close your hand over and over, feeling your short little hair. You also do this when you are about to fall asleep. I guess it is comforting to you and I always wonder if you will keep doing this as you get older.

I'm sure I'll add to this list over time, or do similar posts - because time is flying, and you are just the cutest ever!

A Quiet August

Sweet Pea,

August was a fairly quiet month, which was a relief after our busy July. We spent our time going on walks, playing at the park and hiking with friends. It was so nice to have time together as a family to just enjoy life (and the nice weather)! Here are some photos from the month:


Hiking Denny Creek with Ben, Tammy, Hannah, Ethan, Nicole and Paia:






Hanging out outside in the play yard:


Reading with Hannah:


Your first busted lip:


You seem to like Obama as much Mommy does:


Papa's got skills: