With a clear tape repaired Fruit Loop construction paper Christmas tree in hand, Annabel wishes you the best this Valentine's day. She sends you all her sloppy kisses. Not that we stand on ceremony or Hallmark or anything but we do believe in a little sugar for the season.
We will be sending out our little cupid arrows as soon as we can wrench them from Annabel's kung-fu grip. Watch your mailboxes for soggy "Vlopes" ... and remember to wash your hands afterward.
xxoo xxoo xxoo xoxo xoxo
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Introducing ... Princess Drool and her alterego, Blue Fairy
She was happy enough to try on this tiara (a gift from her "Dapper John" and Gamma Sally way back from before she had hair) - especially after each dog took a turn modeling the bejeweled head piece -- but she didn't want mamarazzi taking any "pishers." Drama queen. I tried to sneek just one of her in her tea party ensemble and this was the result. Oh well. Later on she was too busy playing to object ...
Sweet, comic valentine
This evening after work I did the unthinkable. I drove to my old nursery school (the place where a tow-headed little heathen told me she would mutilate my beloved teddy bear, and where I spent a few years as an adult living in the apartment upstairs while I was making $12K as a reporter - photographer - editor - columnist - editorial cartoonist - courier - mail carrier - layout and pasteup person), and registered Annabel for the 2-3 year-old class next fall. It's only two days a week for two hours a day, but it almost had me in tears. Not only is my little boo growing up, but she's going to start her schooling in the same place I did.
I was practically misty when I got home, and Annabel couldn't wait to wrap her arms around me and show me her surprise.
She pulled me into the mess of my bedroom and walked over to Jed's nighttable, crouched down and pulled a squiggly ribbon from underneath the stand. Out slid a red, tissued-wrapped present inscribed with the words "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" scrawled in thick idelible ink. Translucent green bows and leftover curly ribbon from Christmas finished the effect. She couldn't wait for me to open my present ... which turned out to be a few chocolate bars Jed and she had picked out at The Grainery to give me on Valentine's Day.
Jed still has to learn that two-year-olds have trouble delaying gratification ... or keeping secrets. Suffice it to say: It was a great end to a busy, milestone of a day.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Time travel
I had no idea this would turn into a series until last night, when, camera in hand and toddler in tow, I decided to get out of the house. It was too late for the park, and I didn't think Annabel would have any fun at a coffee shop if she had to stay in a seat. It was getting cold so a walk in the stroller wasn't an attractive option either. So ... We went to the grocery store. I thought: They have that wacky car, big aisles and lots of room to run. Best of all I didn't have to get anything so I could just focus on having fun and taking pictures.
We ended up getting some fruit and some bacon (Annabel wanted it) and we also ran around the freezer section with her looking back and yelling at me to stop following her. She was adorable. I had no idea the store could be this fun. Of course It came as a complete surprise when we got to the dairy aisle and she had a meltdown. I should have known better. For some reason, she's always hated the dairy aisle.
We ended up getting some fruit and some bacon (Annabel wanted it) and we also ran around the freezer section with her looking back and yelling at me to stop following her. She was adorable. I had no idea the store could be this fun. Of course It came as a complete surprise when we got to the dairy aisle and she had a meltdown. I should have known better. For some reason, she's always hated the dairy aisle.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
"Dapper John"
Jed's father stopped off on his way back to Conway after looking at some equipment near Syracuse. He stayed overnight in our "guest prison" and was regaled in the morning by a horse that sings out of its ear and a strawberry scented musical book.
He was also dubbed "Dapper John" in the process. Turns out the name is a good fit.
He was also dubbed "Dapper John" in the process. Turns out the name is a good fit.
Late night, can't sleep? Try LUX.
The utata.org project, paying homage, has me obsessed. I've gone from Cameron to Avedon to Arbus and now I've gone surreal ... to Loretta Lux.
Her unsettling portraits of children are haunting me. I have made several, but so far this one is my favorite. I'm not sure where this is going or where (if anywhere) it will take me but it's a fun distraction.
Today Jed has to work so boo and I will have to entertain ourselves. I hope the weather is nice so we can get out and play.
Her unsettling portraits of children are haunting me. I have made several, but so far this one is my favorite. I'm not sure where this is going or where (if anywhere) it will take me but it's a fun distraction.
Today Jed has to work so boo and I will have to entertain ourselves. I hope the weather is nice so we can get out and play.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Shank you, Mommy
There are days when I think Annabel is already plotting her revenge. Every meltdown caused by us taking something away from her or putting her in "time-out" for some toddler infraction is going to come back and bite us.
It won't be long until she will have outgrown the prison of her crib and will be free to roam about society (in this case, the barn).
We had a little taste of this in Minnesota when we handed over Annabel's playpen to her one-year-old cousin Elliott after his sleep deprived parents forgot to take theirs out of the trunk of their car at the airport.
Oh well. With a futon mattress on the floor and some bedding we turned Ama Linda's elegant curtain-doored closet into a boo-bear abode. She fell out of "bed" each night at least once, and by the end of our stay she had managed to wake up in the middle of the night in the pitch black room and toddle over to the edge of the bed and yell "WAKED UP."
The definition of STARTLE should be that very scene presented to a parent for the first time.
But I digress, as usual.
Another first that I couldn't wait to tell the Internet (but obviously did wait) was that yesterday I bought the most expensive set of finger paints on earth -- Crayola's Color Wonder - at $9 for a package of paper and a tray of paints had me pacing the store pondering the purchase. Since they claim not to stain clothes, hands, walls or furniture, I threw caution and some hard-earned cash to the wind.
While not perfect (they are oily and don't dry) they were s BIG hit, and as such, instrumental in illiciting another first.
After we painted for about 45 minutes on the sun porch, Annabel came over to me and kissed my cheek and said "shank you, mommy."
I stopped my complaining about the cost right then ... it was worth every penny.
It won't be long until she will have outgrown the prison of her crib and will be free to roam about society (in this case, the barn).
We had a little taste of this in Minnesota when we handed over Annabel's playpen to her one-year-old cousin Elliott after his sleep deprived parents forgot to take theirs out of the trunk of their car at the airport.
Oh well. With a futon mattress on the floor and some bedding we turned Ama Linda's elegant curtain-doored closet into a boo-bear abode. She fell out of "bed" each night at least once, and by the end of our stay she had managed to wake up in the middle of the night in the pitch black room and toddle over to the edge of the bed and yell "WAKED UP."
The definition of STARTLE should be that very scene presented to a parent for the first time.
But I digress, as usual.
Another first that I couldn't wait to tell the Internet (but obviously did wait) was that yesterday I bought the most expensive set of finger paints on earth -- Crayola's Color Wonder - at $9 for a package of paper and a tray of paints had me pacing the store pondering the purchase. Since they claim not to stain clothes, hands, walls or furniture, I threw caution and some hard-earned cash to the wind.
While not perfect (they are oily and don't dry) they were s BIG hit, and as such, instrumental in illiciting another first.
After we painted for about 45 minutes on the sun porch, Annabel came over to me and kissed my cheek and said "shank you, mommy."
I stopped my complaining about the cost right then ... it was worth every penny.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
All clean ...
... thanks to Lori, Annabel's "other mother."
After hearing of our trouble and taking great pitty on our ittybit, Lori came to the rescue with a washcloth and some overdue elbow grease. She even risked the state of her brand new bathroom rehab on the gamble that the dirt ring left behind would come clean. (Perhaps with excess scrubbing it might). She even clipped ittybit's nails to boot.
She's bucking for a hefty bonus.
After hearing of our trouble and taking great pitty on our ittybit, Lori came to the rescue with a washcloth and some overdue elbow grease. She even risked the state of her brand new bathroom rehab on the gamble that the dirt ring left behind would come clean. (Perhaps with excess scrubbing it might). She even clipped ittybit's nails to boot.
She's bucking for a hefty bonus.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
My grubby valentine ...
I should be embarrassed to admit this but we're pigs so I'm at peace with it: It's been more than a week since Annabel has had a proper bath.
Not that I haven't tried, mind you.
Most kids love to get into warm, soapy water and slosh around until even the walls are drippy. Not miss boo.
I think there may have been a brief time in the summer when bathtime wasn't a struggle, but it's so long ago that I think the memory may have been a dream.
These days when I say its time for a bath you'd think by her reaction that the toddler translation worked out to be: "I think we're sending you back. It's just not working out."
Perhaps its that the blue plastic baby tub - the only way we can turn our stand-up shower into a pool that collects water - is shrinking as she grows. And, of course, we never seem to get the temperature quite to her liking. I insist that it at least be moderately warm while she insists that it's burning her skin off even as her lips turn blue.
I won't even mention what happens when we wash her hair.
For now, I suppose, I shall have to be happy with sponge baths and just thank my lucky stars her hair is still just wispy little weeds.
Not that I haven't tried, mind you.
Most kids love to get into warm, soapy water and slosh around until even the walls are drippy. Not miss boo.
I think there may have been a brief time in the summer when bathtime wasn't a struggle, but it's so long ago that I think the memory may have been a dream.
These days when I say its time for a bath you'd think by her reaction that the toddler translation worked out to be: "I think we're sending you back. It's just not working out."
Perhaps its that the blue plastic baby tub - the only way we can turn our stand-up shower into a pool that collects water - is shrinking as she grows. And, of course, we never seem to get the temperature quite to her liking. I insist that it at least be moderately warm while she insists that it's burning her skin off even as her lips turn blue.
I won't even mention what happens when we wash her hair.
For now, I suppose, I shall have to be happy with sponge baths and just thank my lucky stars her hair is still just wispy little weeds.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Ode to Avedon ...
Well it's been that kind of weekend. One of my favorite groups on flickr ... www.utata.org pitched another one of its famed tribal photography weekend projects. We were supposed to choose a photographer (or several) and try to emulate their work. I contributed some archive works from two summers ago in tribute to Jock Sturgis and Julia Margaret Cameron, and also tried a few portraits with Annabel in the styles of Diane Arbus and Richard Avedon.
For those of you wondering, while she's not really posing, she did stand where I asked her to stand for brief moments in time. She also reminded me that I promised her a surprise if she would do it.
So she got a tablet of chocolate with our afternoon tea. She didn't even eat it.
... salvo to Arbus
For those of you wondering, while she's not really posing, she did stand where I asked her to stand for brief moments in time. She also reminded me that I promised her a surprise if she would do it.
So she got a tablet of chocolate with our afternoon tea. She didn't even eat it.
... salvo to Arbus
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Disinfect your mail
Annabel has decided the best thing in this world at the moment is sending people mail. This morning as I wrote cards and letters to folks, she helped me address the envelopes and lick them closed. She did an excellent job, but the papers got very soggy. I did my best to spray our outgoing mail with Lysol (as she has a runny nose) but I suggest you all wash your hands after opening any mail from us for the next decade or so. ...
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Bathtime blues
She throws her head back and howls, a high, piercing cry on its way to a shriek.
I've told her she will have to remove her clothes if she wants to have a bath.
The battles have begun. TV. Books. Toys. Chocolate. ... Broccoli. You never know where the battle line is drawn until you cross it. She stamps her feet and looks up with unimaginable ire, her eyes telling you she's made her move and now it's your turn. A steely glint tells me she fully expects to win.
It's kind of a sad moment for me when I have to pick her up and deposit her in her crib so she can cry it out on her own. I only win because of my size.
It's so hard to be two.
As I close the door to her room, I tell her when she's ready to be calm she can call me and I will come back and get her.
In a few minutes there is silence, and small voice. "Mommy, tum peas."
I've told her she will have to remove her clothes if she wants to have a bath.
The battles have begun. TV. Books. Toys. Chocolate. ... Broccoli. You never know where the battle line is drawn until you cross it. She stamps her feet and looks up with unimaginable ire, her eyes telling you she's made her move and now it's your turn. A steely glint tells me she fully expects to win.
It's kind of a sad moment for me when I have to pick her up and deposit her in her crib so she can cry it out on her own. I only win because of my size.
It's so hard to be two.
As I close the door to her room, I tell her when she's ready to be calm she can call me and I will come back and get her.
In a few minutes there is silence, and small voice. "Mommy, tum peas."
Sunday, January 15, 2006
All the rage ...
Well this weekend was interesting. I came home with a new treat from the nuthouse - kefir, a cousin of yogurt with, count 'em, 10 active cultures. Who wouldn't love it? So what it's got a weird sounding name. It took some doing to get Annabel to try some, but by Sunday she was likeing the pinkish, pourable potable. We even poured it for our morning tea party.
On Saturday the revelers in us were out and about, lauging it up with some Omi staff members at a dinner at Ledig house. Annabel had a lovely time playing with May's toys and eating the yummy pork. She especially liked the ice cream with pears and pommegranates. Mmmmmm.
Although she was in a wonderful mood, and has been for several weeks, sleep deprivation from the late nights and early mornings took its toll on Sunday evening. She was NOT her usual self. Almost unconsolably crying and carrying on. She finally fell asleep. Two is a difficult age, she's so happy most of the time that these fretful occasions are especially tough on everyone.
On Saturday the revelers in us were out and about, lauging it up with some Omi staff members at a dinner at Ledig house. Annabel had a lovely time playing with May's toys and eating the yummy pork. She especially liked the ice cream with pears and pommegranates. Mmmmmm.
Although she was in a wonderful mood, and has been for several weeks, sleep deprivation from the late nights and early mornings took its toll on Sunday evening. She was NOT her usual self. Almost unconsolably crying and carrying on. She finally fell asleep. Two is a difficult age, she's so happy most of the time that these fretful occasions are especially tough on everyone.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Disconnect
Annabel has been ramping up her communications skills, and some of us have been struggling to keep up.
Recently, when handed the phone at the babysitter's house, Annabel took off with a torrent of words strung together in an overflowing river of thoughts.
As I struggled to make sense of this jumble I just started guessing at the words.
"Blow your nose?" I ventured.
"NO!," and she repeats the mystery word again.
"Is it something blue?" I reply.
"NO, NO, NO!"
There is laughter in the background, and Annabel gives up, says goodbye and is gone.
"You should have seen her," laughs Lori into the toddler abandoned receiver. She looked as if she'd thought you'd gone nuts. She had the phone in front of her face as if she were trying to get eyecontact with you, while she yelled "No Mommy, BOOK. BOOK."
Recently, when handed the phone at the babysitter's house, Annabel took off with a torrent of words strung together in an overflowing river of thoughts.
As I struggled to make sense of this jumble I just started guessing at the words.
"Blow your nose?" I ventured.
"NO!," and she repeats the mystery word again.
"Is it something blue?" I reply.
"NO, NO, NO!"
There is laughter in the background, and Annabel gives up, says goodbye and is gone.
"You should have seen her," laughs Lori into the toddler abandoned receiver. She looked as if she'd thought you'd gone nuts. She had the phone in front of her face as if she were trying to get eyecontact with you, while she yelled "No Mommy, BOOK. BOOK."
Saturday, January 07, 2006
There's more to life than 'tookies'
Playing on the porch next to this year's Charlie Brown Christmas tree, Annabel reached in and extracted an ornament she'd made this year with Lori. It was a heartshaped cookie sprinkled liberally with confetti. She knew better than to eat it, but she wanted to all the same.
"I wah tookie, peas."
So, having enough of the correct ingredients left over from the holidays to make one batch, we set out to do just that. She helped sift flour, measure powders, cream sugars and slice pineapple. The hard part was letting go of the bag of chocolate chips she kept pilfering.
Then into the oven they went, and when they came out she was tickled pink to have a tookie of her own.
She took two bites and the magic was gone.
All DONE.
DADDY EAT!
"I wah tookie, peas."
So, having enough of the correct ingredients left over from the holidays to make one batch, we set out to do just that. She helped sift flour, measure powders, cream sugars and slice pineapple. The hard part was letting go of the bag of chocolate chips she kept pilfering.
Then into the oven they went, and when they came out she was tickled pink to have a tookie of her own.
She took two bites and the magic was gone.
All DONE.
DADDY EAT!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
We don't do this enough ...
There's something so wonderful about tea parties that I missed growing up a consumate "tom boy." It's fun to watch her grow different from me, from her father and into a person who is some lovely combination of both of us with a healthy dose of herself mixed through.
I had that feeling sitting down on the front porch with her for this late afternoon tea time. So much is changing, and it seems so fast. Her vocabulary just seemed to burst into full sentences over the Christmas vacation. She seems taller and broader, and even her hair looks longer to me.
I suppose the strangest change for me has been her transition from calling me "Mama" to "Mommy," which happened over the winter break as well. I'm not sure why, but out of the blue she just started calling me mommy ... over and over and over again.
I had that feeling sitting down on the front porch with her for this late afternoon tea time. So much is changing, and it seems so fast. Her vocabulary just seemed to burst into full sentences over the Christmas vacation. She seems taller and broader, and even her hair looks longer to me.
I suppose the strangest change for me has been her transition from calling me "Mama" to "Mommy," which happened over the winter break as well. I'm not sure why, but out of the blue she just started calling me mommy ... over and over and over again.
Monday, January 02, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Ok ... I haven't taken any New Year's pictures yet, and I missed my chance to meet flickrati Sesame Ellis in New York City because of a NASTY bout with gastrointeritis, which had me spending the day in bed while Jed (also feeling a bit under the weather) spent the day entertaining Annabel.
I suppose we're really startin the new year out with a bang, aren't we? Oh well. I am feeling less achy and Jed has Annabel all bundled up and searching for kitty cats outside, so I suppose we'll all be right as rain soon enough.
I suppose we're really startin the new year out with a bang, aren't we? Oh well. I am feeling less achy and Jed has Annabel all bundled up and searching for kitty cats outside, so I suppose we'll all be right as rain soon enough.
Monday, December 26, 2005
A "new" dress for Christmas
She's not usually keen on wearing dresses, but as soon as we put this little number on her for Christmas she was all smiles. She kept squealing happily about her "new" dress. I didn't burst her bubble. It won't be long until she finds out her mama's favorite clothing store is Goodwill.
The truth is, however, that Christmas is not lost on our Annabel. She even saw "Santa Claus" at the airport on her way to "ama Linda's house." While we were waiting for our Duluth flight in Minneapolis, she kept pointing into the crowded waiting room saying BIG GUY.
There were LOTS of BIG guys, so we really didn't understand what she meant, and she was getting frustrated that we weren't understanding her. Then when the crowd parted and we saw the elderly man, dressed in a red shirt, suspenders and an elegant white beard and shoulder length white hair, we knew exactly who she was talking about ... as if to solidify the point, she pointed again and said "HO, HO, HO."
The truth is, however, that Christmas is not lost on our Annabel. She even saw "Santa Claus" at the airport on her way to "ama Linda's house." While we were waiting for our Duluth flight in Minneapolis, she kept pointing into the crowded waiting room saying BIG GUY.
There were LOTS of BIG guys, so we really didn't understand what she meant, and she was getting frustrated that we weren't understanding her. Then when the crowd parted and we saw the elderly man, dressed in a red shirt, suspenders and an elegant white beard and shoulder length white hair, we knew exactly who she was talking about ... as if to solidify the point, she pointed again and said "HO, HO, HO."
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Happy Christmas
We will be winging our way to Minnesota for Christmas this year, where we will be spending five days in Knife River with Ama Linda. Nothing has been packed yet, but we're nearly ready. Annabel helped prepare the holiday tree for the dogs to enjoy while we're away and their favorite sitter, Mandy, is watching the fort.
Although it seems like a giant undertaking, I think this year might just be the most relaxed holiday endeavor in a long while. We're not overboard on the spending, we're not worried about the usual trappings and we're just happily enjoying the snow.
So here's wishing you a joyous holiday season and much love and happiness in the New Year.
Although it seems like a giant undertaking, I think this year might just be the most relaxed holiday endeavor in a long while. We're not overboard on the spending, we're not worried about the usual trappings and we're just happily enjoying the snow.
So here's wishing you a joyous holiday season and much love and happiness in the New Year.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
How old are you?
"Free," she laughs in answer to the question. She knows she's two. At her two-year check up she held up the two fingers for the first time. The doctor wasn't as amazed as I was. I, of course, assumed the little miss was protesting for peace. By the end of the visit, when the nurse struggled with all 22 pounds 1 ounce of her to get two tiny little vials of blood -- to test for lead and to see if her little blood cells are pumping all the iron they should be pumping -- all Annabel wanted was a little peace. She didn't even care about the stickers the nurse-sticker had promised.
Although she's not even in the 5th percentile for weight, Annabel is quite near the 50th percentile for height, measuring in at a squirmy 33 1/2 inches in that department. Her head measures 47.5 centimeters.
Although she's not even in the 5th percentile for weight, Annabel is quite near the 50th percentile for height, measuring in at a squirmy 33 1/2 inches in that department. Her head measures 47.5 centimeters.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Happy 2 Party!
She was sure happy to party at her Happy 2 Party. She wasn't exactly sure of the fire heading her way atop the "tupcake," but she was happy with the little purple swirly bit on the top as well as the loot she got for presents. It's going to be impossible to top this birthday. She got three horses (one of them nearly life size from Auntie MEME and papa and ama), a bike from Grandpa John and Gamma Sally, and fridge magnets that she already sings along with (Alphabet song). She also LOVED playing with her friends Maya and Ella. She was sad to see them go after the party.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Twelve months with Annabel
Well it's been another whirlwind year. Last Decemeber found us winging our way to Colorado to welcome Annabel's cousin Elliott into this fair world, just as her auntie and uncle welcomed her the year before. In January we got busy enjoying the northeast and its winter pleasures. Skiing, pub crawling (no pun intended) and other sweet delights added excitement to other indoor activities such as starting to feed herself. Of course February and March brought more complex skills to her attention, such as stacking toys and hide and seek. April was a tough month, as a viral infection sent her to the hospital for several frightful days, but by May she was back to her cute and healthy, playful self. In May she continued to frighten us with new ailments after another, but they mostly involved skin irritations and infections. In June we visited partys and became like social butterflies and by July she was old hat at eating with a spoon and saying two-word phrases. In August we spent two weeks in Maine and really explored the sea. She found out that blueberries are as tasty when they're wild as they are at the farmers' market. In September we traveled to Vermont to see Aunt Denise, and cousins Finn and Emmett, and we had a swinging good time. October brought the spookiest spookables, but we found the we LOVE Pooh, Roo and Heffalumps. In November we had an art show that miss boo found quite exciting. But it is the last snows of December that convinced her to put on her coat, without a peep, and go outside and look up before going to sleep.
Monday, December 12, 2005
It's not as easy as it looks
We found out this weekend that the making of snow angels is not an intuitive endeavor.
Jed tried talking ittybit through the process, performing jumping jacks on the front lawn as she stood there and stared. The look she gave me was definitely, 'Is he for real?'
Realizing he was fighting a losing battle, and also that he had on his man snowsuit, Jed said watch daddy, and got down to work. She was happy to try it after that, although she wasn't sure about the moving part. After she just laid there for a few seconds staring up at us with the look: Funny, this doesn't FEEL as fun as it LOOKED when you did it, daddy; Jed again jumped in to help.
Jed tried talking ittybit through the process, performing jumping jacks on the front lawn as she stood there and stared. The look she gave me was definitely, 'Is he for real?'
Realizing he was fighting a losing battle, and also that he had on his man snowsuit, Jed said watch daddy, and got down to work. She was happy to try it after that, although she wasn't sure about the moving part. After she just laid there for a few seconds staring up at us with the look: Funny, this doesn't FEEL as fun as it LOOKED when you did it, daddy; Jed again jumped in to help.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Things are looking up
I look at this face and I can't help but smile. She is begging me to tickle her. It's a "come closer-stay away" moment. Laying on her back, wriggling her legs, she points to her stomach. When I start to tickle she giggles and shreiks "STOP." (Sounds like TOP). I back off and she wriggles again, lifting her shirt for better access. I resume tickling. "TOP, MAMA, TOP."
This goes on for another ten minutes, before she rolls over and slides away.
I follow her as she runs at toddler speed toward our bedroom and the farm toy we keep there. She looks back, making sure I'm behind her.
When I arrive at the door of my room, she is seated and looking into the barn for the BAA (sheep). It's gone missing so she settles for the toy with the closest call ... the BOK (chicken). As she put the wee beasts of burden in their designated places, she leaves the horse for last.
"MAY shew tup. May shew tup."
"Yes, yes. Maddy chewed the top."
MUGSHOT
This goes on for another ten minutes, before she rolls over and slides away.
I follow her as she runs at toddler speed toward our bedroom and the farm toy we keep there. She looks back, making sure I'm behind her.
When I arrive at the door of my room, she is seated and looking into the barn for the BAA (sheep). It's gone missing so she settles for the toy with the closest call ... the BOK (chicken). As she put the wee beasts of burden in their designated places, she leaves the horse for last.
"MAY shew tup. May shew tup."
"Yes, yes. Maddy chewed the top."
MUGSHOT
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Million dollar idea?
Probably not. But Annabel loves to top her ice cream with peas. It's strange how food can be such an individual passion. There are folks out there who eat raw onions, mustard on mashed potatoes, mayonaise on toast and, my personal favorite, salad dressing on bread.
Annabel is also famous for liking HOT and SPICY foods, a preference I believe she must have aquired in utero, as I scarfed down Atomic Fire Balls like they were going out of style. (I felt bad about it, thinking it must be a form of child abuse.)
But as she creeps up on her second birthday, I am savoring her passion for good food. She calls out the color of peppers and the amounts of oranges, apples and stalks of broccoli in the produce isle as if she were begging for sweets. I know that someday she will turn her head and twist her mouth into an unmentionable shape with the mere mention of peas ... I plan to pull this picture out and show her what a weird kidlet she was.
Annabel is also famous for liking HOT and SPICY foods, a preference I believe she must have aquired in utero, as I scarfed down Atomic Fire Balls like they were going out of style. (I felt bad about it, thinking it must be a form of child abuse.)
But as she creeps up on her second birthday, I am savoring her passion for good food. She calls out the color of peppers and the amounts of oranges, apples and stalks of broccoli in the produce isle as if she were begging for sweets. I know that someday she will turn her head and twist her mouth into an unmentionable shape with the mere mention of peas ... I plan to pull this picture out and show her what a weird kidlet she was.
Politics and Prose
Annabel got an early birthday gift from her great aunt Maureen in Washington. A bevy of books from our favorite bookstore (Little Skills, Zip, Plop and Brush; Little Yoga; and Penelope in Winter). Annabel loves them all. She especially loves Penelope and all her antics in the snow.
And the shirts are just too cute, and in her favorite ice cream colors. She made me put the pink on on right away.
And the shirts are just too cute, and in her favorite ice cream colors. She made me put the pink on on right away.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Let's count the snowflakes. ...
How much do we love this child? Let me count ... "Wa, too, free, foe, fie, sea, seben, ay, nie, TEN!"
After Goodwill hunting in Maine this August we were able to procure two very nice winter coats ... however we didn't find the perfect snowsuit. This morning, with snow piling up outside, I went rummaging through Annabel's closet and happened upon this pretty little aquamarine gem given to us after being gently loved by a friend's twins. What luck, huh? Annabel LOVES it almost as much as she loves the "(S)NO(W)."
After Goodwill hunting in Maine this August we were able to procure two very nice winter coats ... however we didn't find the perfect snowsuit. This morning, with snow piling up outside, I went rummaging through Annabel's closet and happened upon this pretty little aquamarine gem given to us after being gently loved by a friend's twins. What luck, huh? Annabel LOVES it almost as much as she loves the "(S)NO(W)."
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The light in me bows to the light in you. ...
Namaste.
Annabel is LOVING yoga. It's taken nearly two years of Sundays at the yoga studio in Gt. Barrington, but she started asking for yoga this week for the first time.
Yesterday she practiced tree, bridge pose and plank, not to mention saying namaste.
I was so impressed. She has been so reluctant at our yoga class. Wanting to hang out with me, sitting on my lap and pretending as if she weren't there. I was beginning to consider the possibility that yoga just wasn't her bag when she said Yoya and pointed to the mat this weekend.
She was practically a pro.
Perhaps she was just waiting until she perfected the poses.
Annabel is LOVING yoga. It's taken nearly two years of Sundays at the yoga studio in Gt. Barrington, but she started asking for yoga this week for the first time.
Yesterday she practiced tree, bridge pose and plank, not to mention saying namaste.
I was so impressed. She has been so reluctant at our yoga class. Wanting to hang out with me, sitting on my lap and pretending as if she weren't there. I was beginning to consider the possibility that yoga just wasn't her bag when she said Yoya and pointed to the mat this weekend.
She was practically a pro.
Perhaps she was just waiting until she perfected the poses.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Enough!
Well, it may look like she's going to file a restraining order against the paparazzi ... she was merely reaching for the binky I happened to steal. It's called the 'NOPE' game. As I pop the binky out of her mouth I sing NOPE. She usually laughs. But not today.
Annabel was happy to get out into the snow today. We got a dusting this morning, and so we bundled up and played kickball in the parking lot with the big blue ball. It was quite fun. Then we went to Chatham and photographed the show ... so we'd have a record and so we could show all the folks who couldn't make it what it looked like ...
here it is. ...
Annabel was happy to get out into the snow today. We got a dusting this morning, and so we bundled up and played kickball in the parking lot with the big blue ball. It was quite fun. Then we went to Chatham and photographed the show ... so we'd have a record and so we could show all the folks who couldn't make it what it looked like ...
here it is. ...
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Ephemeral
Somehow, this moment, more than all the precisely focused moments before it, speaks volumes about our perception of life now that we are fast coming upon our second year with Annabel.
Curls, soft against baby cream skin, are as new to her as she is to us. In this bath, at this moment, she sits and talks to herself, a rambling conversation that barely make sense to me, but her toys understand completely. It's a fluancy of language they easily possess and she can make real.
In a moment, this will be gone. Replaced by an older child with a whole new lexicon. And the language of these toys will fade away.
Curls, soft against baby cream skin, are as new to her as she is to us. In this bath, at this moment, she sits and talks to herself, a rambling conversation that barely make sense to me, but her toys understand completely. It's a fluancy of language they easily possess and she can make real.
In a moment, this will be gone. Replaced by an older child with a whole new lexicon. And the language of these toys will fade away.
Monday, November 21, 2005
So big
Friday was the big 2-3 ... just a month away from her "happy two party." Her latest thing to say is "how about ..." Typically she uses it to see if we're game for TV. When we say no to Elmo, she goes through her list. "How about Wha Pooh? How about Bad Cat (Cinderella) How about big dog (Clifford)." It's a good game for now, she's still laughing when we say "NO." It's anyone's guess how long that will last.
Annabel had a grand time at mom and dad's art opening Saturday. She was particularly happy with the nibbles ... broccoli, grapes, peppers and carrots ... what could be better?
Annabel had a grand time at mom and dad's art opening Saturday. She was particularly happy with the nibbles ... broccoli, grapes, peppers and carrots ... what could be better?
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Big and little
She's getting so big that she's attempting to do the 'big' slide at the playground all by herself. I have to confide, however, that she got all the way to the top by herself and sat down on the platform but couldn't bring herself to shove off alone. I stood right behind her ready to let her go it alone. She sat there for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time before she asked me to go down the chute with her. Her exact words were "Mama, here" as she pointed to the spot behind her. Away we went.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Teeeeeeth
That's what she said last night as we started our evening decent into the madness ... the few minutes between wake and sleep where fighting the inevitable is the war at hand.
As soon as I intoned the bedtime song ... the tears in her eyes caught themselves from falling when she realized we'd forgotten an integral component of the nighttime ritual ... Brushing of the teeth. Gaining her another three minutes of awake-time bliss.
As soon as I intoned the bedtime song ... the tears in her eyes caught themselves from falling when she realized we'd forgotten an integral component of the nighttime ritual ... Brushing of the teeth. Gaining her another three minutes of awake-time bliss.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Righty? or a Lefty?
That is the question on minds these days ... will she be a southpaw? My personal opinion is that she leans a little more to the right with respect to writing and coloring. Although the same is not true when it comes to games that require a solid kick; she tends to lead with her left in this arena.
Some other amazing things we've noticed: Annabel can count to fifteen (with some help) and in addition to knowing most of the colors (she's not quite sure about burnt sienna yet ... it's tricky to distinquish it from burnt umber) she recognizes the letter A and knows it stands for Annabel and apple.
Some other amazing things we've noticed: Annabel can count to fifteen (with some help) and in addition to knowing most of the colors (she's not quite sure about burnt sienna yet ... it's tricky to distinquish it from burnt umber) she recognizes the letter A and knows it stands for Annabel and apple.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Sleep-over party
Annabel had her two best girls all weekend long! "Nana" (Brianna) and "Teetee" (Tierney) spent the weekend with us while their parents were jetsetting around Marblehead. We played games (like put the baby and the bear in a pillow case and sneak up on mommy) as well as run-around-the-movie theater once the novelty of going to her first movie (Chicken Little) wore off in 1/2 hour.
All-in-all, a good time was had by most ... Jed, who was suffering with a cold and missed the movies, did not have much fun.
All-in-all, a good time was had by most ... Jed, who was suffering with a cold and missed the movies, did not have much fun.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
The Hallowasn't
Just in case you were wondering how Halloween went ... it didn't. Annabel got to Ama and Papa's house just in time to see a tiny tot of a skeleton come to the door. That was it! A scared and traumatized boo retreated to the furthest corner of the kitchen, shaking and crying and refusing to go anywhere near the livingroom. Suffice it to say it was an early night.
She has been back to Ama and Papa's house, though, and while she insisted the door be closed to make sure no bad people got in, she was happy to play in the livingroom.
She has been back to Ama and Papa's house, though, and while she insisted the door be closed to make sure no bad people got in, she was happy to play in the livingroom.
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