Today was St. Patrick's Day. Since I had the week off (Spring Break), Ed took the day off, we brought the kids to daycare (we have to pay even if they don't go) and went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Compared to N.O. Mardi Gras, it was a bit of a let down. Not many good marching bands, modest floats, no throws. But the Marching Cobras did not disappoint.
When we picked up the boys at 4, Gill was asleep and Jonas whined the whole way home because he wanted to stay at daycare to play outside. I am relieved that they both seem quite content there. The staff all know them, and they no longer cry, or even look miserable, when we drop them off.
After dropping us back home (so Gill could sleep), Ed took Jonas to Arbor Villa Park, where people were drinking beer while their kids played. It's rare in the Midwest for people to relax like this, especially midweek. Thank God for the Irish!
Jonas learned a new word today: Leprechaun. And he loves saying it. And he knows that they are green. And he somehow knows the words to Humpty Dumpty.
And Gill has a new tooth! Upper right. He loves to sit in his high chair and feed himself, and he does not discriminate. All things are edible to him. Tonight's menu included kiwi, beets, green beans, and chicken. Most of it ended up under his butt, as I discovered when I lifted him out of the chair. Then, he had mangos with Greek yogurt, which I feed to him via spoon. I love feeding him, and he loves to eat!
We video chatted tonight with Noni and Aunt Desi. The boys were hyper, very playful, and Jonas hammed it up. He seems to finally be past his bashfulness with video and phone. Later, we called Aunt Desi while in the bath, and Jonas stood up and jumped around, right there in the tub. It got a little crazy.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
The eyes of the beholder...
We have an older vacuum and I've run over the cord several times. This leaves some hot spots - areas of exposed wire. Because the boys are always at my feet, I often involve them in my household chores. After running the vacuum this past weekend, I decided to wrap the hot spots with electrical tape. Jonas sat with me on the stairs as I did this. At each point in the process, I explained what I was doing. "See this Jonas? It's called a power cord. These little spots have to be taped. And this special black tape is called electrical tape. Help me wrap it around the power cord." That's about how it went.
It was all normal and boring until Jonas took at piece of the tape, looking at it in true wonder. Then he said to me in a hushed voice, "It's beautiful Mama!"
That's when I felt the spirit of his grandpa Bill.
One day, he'll learn about his electrician roots, and especially about Grandpa Bill. He and his brother will always have answers to questions about electricity. There are lots of teachers in the family...their papa, Uncle Greg, Cousin Kyle. Even great Uncle Carl can teach them about nuclear energy.
It was all normal and boring until Jonas took at piece of the tape, looking at it in true wonder. Then he said to me in a hushed voice, "It's beautiful Mama!"
That's when I felt the spirit of his grandpa Bill.
One day, he'll learn about his electrician roots, and especially about Grandpa Bill. He and his brother will always have answers to questions about electricity. There are lots of teachers in the family...their papa, Uncle Greg, Cousin Kyle. Even great Uncle Carl can teach them about nuclear energy.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The almost 3 magician
This is the scene at tonight's dinner table....
While sitting on his bench at the table, Jonas, who is now almost 3, spills the entire contents of a closed and sealed sippy cup UNDER the table. And then, only 3 minutes later and within seconds of clean-up, he then spills a closed container of yogurt in the VERY SAME LOCATION.
How sad that his mother mother has nothing better to blog about on a Friday night.
Oh, and there's a(nother) mouse about the house.
While sitting on his bench at the table, Jonas, who is now almost 3, spills the entire contents of a closed and sealed sippy cup UNDER the table. And then, only 3 minutes later and within seconds of clean-up, he then spills a closed container of yogurt in the VERY SAME LOCATION.
How sad that his mother mother has nothing better to blog about on a Friday night.
Oh, and there's a(nother) mouse about the house.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
What He's Up to Now
From March 2, 2010. Jonas is almost two and will soon have a brother.
He grits his teeth when he sneezes.
Some of his words: knee, mine, momma, banana (nana), bubbles, snack, juice, ears, car.
He knows some of his letters (E, W, H, O), and can identify various body parts (knee, toes, fingers, mouth, nose, ears, head, eyes, bellybutton).
He likes to sit and read his books, pulling them all off the shelf one at a time, and leaving them in a mess. He also has a train set and he enjoys running the train on the track as well as setting up the track. But he's also developed little "fits" where he destroys the whole set-up.
He's begun to really eat like a champ. Lately, it's all about oranges, bananas, corn, and toast. He absolutely LOVES to color, but can't confine himself to paper, so only does it in short bursts under careful supervision. Definitely prefers markers over crayons, but then who doesn't?
He grits his teeth when he sneezes.
Some of his words: knee, mine, momma, banana (nana), bubbles, snack, juice, ears, car.
He knows some of his letters (E, W, H, O), and can identify various body parts (knee, toes, fingers, mouth, nose, ears, head, eyes, bellybutton).
He likes to sit and read his books, pulling them all off the shelf one at a time, and leaving them in a mess. He also has a train set and he enjoys running the train on the track as well as setting up the track. But he's also developed little "fits" where he destroys the whole set-up.
He's begun to really eat like a champ. Lately, it's all about oranges, bananas, corn, and toast. He absolutely LOVES to color, but can't confine himself to paper, so only does it in short bursts under careful supervision. Definitely prefers markers over crayons, but then who doesn't?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Full-blown Toddlerhood
Jonas is keeping us all hopping and busy. It's amazing to see what new things he learns every day. His manual dexterity continues to improve, and he is busy learning how to hammer, and place shapes into the correct spot. He also knows how to "drive" a car on the floor, and can steer his tricycle / big wheel and honk the squeezable horn on it. When he wakes up in the morning, he hits the ground running. I'm not kidding. He typically won't walk anywhere. Why would he, when he can run instead? He still loves to dig in the plant dirt, and scatter the rocks. I'm about ready to find a new home for all of my house plants. He continues to be a super-picky eater. He and I both seem to live on toast at the moment.
He loves to chatter, and seems to talk in full sentences. We still can't understand most of what he says, though. But every one in awhile, he'll come out with something very clear. Ed is proud to tell the story of Jonas crying out one morning, "I want Dad!" He also seems to ask often, "What's this?" He uses his pointer finger often, especially when we read him books, and will also point at the light and say "light." He loves music, and will dance when inspired by a good song. Lately, he's been watching the "They Might Be Giants" ABC video, and seems totally enthralled by Sesame Street.
His "randomizer" tendencies also continue. According to Jonas’ logic,
• Tape measures are placed in the baking pan cabinet
• Cookie cutters go in the watering can
• Cookie cutters can be worn as bracelets
• I-pods are stored in the diaper champ (yes, I no longer have mine)
• Refrigerator magnets go in the dishwasher
• clothes hangers belong in the shower
• toothbrushes belong in the washing machine (yes, I've washed a few)
Exhibit A: a recent conversation after I returned from the grocery store.
Ed: Shelly, where are the carrots I asked you to buy?
Shelly: Aren't they in the bag?
Ed: No.
Shelly: Well, check the car. Maybe they fell out.
Ed: No, they're not there either.
Shelly: What does the receipt say?
Ed: Looks like you paid for them. Those baggers at HyVee suck. You really
have to watch them.
Shelly: Yeah right - with a squirming, impatient toddler?
Ed: I'm just sayin'! I'll be right back. I'm going back to the grocery for
carrots.
3 hours later.....
Shelly: Hey! Look what I found! Carrots! Why are they in the corner of the dining room?
Ed: Great. Thanks Jonas!
He loves to chatter, and seems to talk in full sentences. We still can't understand most of what he says, though. But every one in awhile, he'll come out with something very clear. Ed is proud to tell the story of Jonas crying out one morning, "I want Dad!" He also seems to ask often, "What's this?" He uses his pointer finger often, especially when we read him books, and will also point at the light and say "light." He loves music, and will dance when inspired by a good song. Lately, he's been watching the "They Might Be Giants" ABC video, and seems totally enthralled by Sesame Street.
His "randomizer" tendencies also continue. According to Jonas’ logic,
• Tape measures are placed in the baking pan cabinet
• Cookie cutters go in the watering can
• Cookie cutters can be worn as bracelets
• I-pods are stored in the diaper champ (yes, I no longer have mine)
• Refrigerator magnets go in the dishwasher
• clothes hangers belong in the shower
• toothbrushes belong in the washing machine (yes, I've washed a few)
Exhibit A: a recent conversation after I returned from the grocery store.
Ed: Shelly, where are the carrots I asked you to buy?
Shelly: Aren't they in the bag?
Ed: No.
Shelly: Well, check the car. Maybe they fell out.
Ed: No, they're not there either.
Shelly: What does the receipt say?
Ed: Looks like you paid for them. Those baggers at HyVee suck. You really
have to watch them.
Shelly: Yeah right - with a squirming, impatient toddler?
Ed: I'm just sayin'! I'll be right back. I'm going back to the grocery for
carrots.
3 hours later.....
Shelly: Hey! Look what I found! Carrots! Why are they in the corner of the dining room?
Ed: Great. Thanks Jonas!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Antics
From 10/8/09
Jonas is still such a joy to us. Even though he's almost a year and a half old, I still find myself gazing at him in amazement when he sleeps, plays, eats, or any other activity! Sick, I know.
This morning, he did something different with his breakfast. He's a picky eater, but has been eating more lately, which makes me quite happy. After he finished with his pancakes, bacon, and bananas, he systematically piled each un-eaten morsel of food into the cup holder of his high chair. The other cup holder held his sippee, which is normal. I think he's trying to tell me he's done. Message received dear boy! Anything to keep you from throwing your breakfast onto the floor!
He continues to prefer to run from place to place rather than walk. He seems to fall less often, and hasn't bruised or injured his faced recently (knocking on wood). We are trying to institute good habits as part of our routine, like brushing teeth in the a.m. and p.m., reading books before bedtime, etc.
Jonas now attends Parents Day Out twice a week for 5 1/2 hours at a time, and a short daycare scenario at church for 2 hours. I'm actually on site, down the hall from him at the latter, which I enjoy because I get to peek in on him, which I do, often. I still agonize about leaving him. He starts to whimper and whine we he figures out what's up. And he always cries when I walk out, but I'm told this only lasts for a few minutes. His PDO teacher, Miss Jan, told me yesterday that he was voted "Most Imrpoved" in his class at Leawood Baptist.
Yes, we church hop. PDO is at Leawood Baptist, and the daycare deal is at The Village Presbyterian. Neither of these are the church we attend. The poor child is likely quite confused. He goes to 3 different churches every week! I hope I'm not scarring him for future religious confusion!
He still doesn't sleep through the night, but is easily soothed by his Papa who talks to him, and rubs his back. He still goes down with a bottle, and I'm trying to figure out how to phase that out. When he sees that bottle, it's like Nirvana for him. His eyes glaze as he raises his arms for it, and purses his lip into a perfect "O" of preparation for the nipple. I'm probably creating an oral fixation that will lead to cigarette smoking habit. He'll curse me on his death bed as he dies from lung cancer.
Good God! Can you believe I really have these thoughts?
Jonas is still such a joy to us. Even though he's almost a year and a half old, I still find myself gazing at him in amazement when he sleeps, plays, eats, or any other activity! Sick, I know.
This morning, he did something different with his breakfast. He's a picky eater, but has been eating more lately, which makes me quite happy. After he finished with his pancakes, bacon, and bananas, he systematically piled each un-eaten morsel of food into the cup holder of his high chair. The other cup holder held his sippee, which is normal. I think he's trying to tell me he's done. Message received dear boy! Anything to keep you from throwing your breakfast onto the floor!
He continues to prefer to run from place to place rather than walk. He seems to fall less often, and hasn't bruised or injured his faced recently (knocking on wood). We are trying to institute good habits as part of our routine, like brushing teeth in the a.m. and p.m., reading books before bedtime, etc.
Jonas now attends Parents Day Out twice a week for 5 1/2 hours at a time, and a short daycare scenario at church for 2 hours. I'm actually on site, down the hall from him at the latter, which I enjoy because I get to peek in on him, which I do, often. I still agonize about leaving him. He starts to whimper and whine we he figures out what's up. And he always cries when I walk out, but I'm told this only lasts for a few minutes. His PDO teacher, Miss Jan, told me yesterday that he was voted "Most Imrpoved" in his class at Leawood Baptist.
Yes, we church hop. PDO is at Leawood Baptist, and the daycare deal is at The Village Presbyterian. Neither of these are the church we attend. The poor child is likely quite confused. He goes to 3 different churches every week! I hope I'm not scarring him for future religious confusion!
He still doesn't sleep through the night, but is easily soothed by his Papa who talks to him, and rubs his back. He still goes down with a bottle, and I'm trying to figure out how to phase that out. When he sees that bottle, it's like Nirvana for him. His eyes glaze as he raises his arms for it, and purses his lip into a perfect "O" of preparation for the nipple. I'm probably creating an oral fixation that will lead to cigarette smoking habit. He'll curse me on his death bed as he dies from lung cancer.
Good God! Can you believe I really have these thoughts?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Random Thought on Acronyms
PDA
What do these letters means to you?
When I was in high school, they meant "public display of affection" - i.e. kissing or holding hands. If you were fast and racy, you might engage in PDA.
Well into my career, PDA morphed to "Personal Data Accessory" - I started with the Palm IIe, moved on to the phone / PDA combo (Palm Flip and Moto Q) and am currently shopping for new options as Jonas managed to tear part of the face off of the Q.
Recently, PDA on my calendar now means "Parents Day Out" - formerly known at MDO - Mother's Day Out, this new PC version encompasses BOTH potential parents and/or genders. Jonas is not overly fond of PDA, and I'm trying it out as a way to wean me from him and vice versa. He needs a little playtime with others. And frankly, so do I. But it breaks my heart when he cries and acts like he's dying when I leave. So lately, I've been going to PDA too, and hanging out with the teachers who really don't know what to do with me. But I'm stubborn, and want to help him transition. It's only been one week, and I promised myself not to keep this up beyond week 3. He's there 2 days a week for about 5 hours each time, and I only stay for the 1st hour. Oh, and yeah, I usually show up early to pick him up. And I miss him so much!
Funny how some things stay the same in life, but really aren't the same at all.
**********************************************************************************
POSTSCRIPT: About 6 hours after I wrote this post (at 4:00 a.m. in the morning), my eyes popped open. Parents' Day Out is PDOhhhhhhh! Is this pregnancy brain or just sheer ditziness? I've been marking PDA on my calendar. So sad.
What do these letters means to you?
When I was in high school, they meant "public display of affection" - i.e. kissing or holding hands. If you were fast and racy, you might engage in PDA.
Well into my career, PDA morphed to "Personal Data Accessory" - I started with the Palm IIe, moved on to the phone / PDA combo (Palm Flip and Moto Q) and am currently shopping for new options as Jonas managed to tear part of the face off of the Q.
Recently, PDA on my calendar now means "Parents Day Out" - formerly known at MDO - Mother's Day Out, this new PC version encompasses BOTH potential parents and/or genders. Jonas is not overly fond of PDA, and I'm trying it out as a way to wean me from him and vice versa. He needs a little playtime with others. And frankly, so do I. But it breaks my heart when he cries and acts like he's dying when I leave. So lately, I've been going to PDA too, and hanging out with the teachers who really don't know what to do with me. But I'm stubborn, and want to help him transition. It's only been one week, and I promised myself not to keep this up beyond week 3. He's there 2 days a week for about 5 hours each time, and I only stay for the 1st hour. Oh, and yeah, I usually show up early to pick him up. And I miss him so much!
Funny how some things stay the same in life, but really aren't the same at all.
**********************************************************************************
POSTSCRIPT: About 6 hours after I wrote this post (at 4:00 a.m. in the morning), my eyes popped open. Parents' Day Out is PDOhhhhhhh! Is this pregnancy brain or just sheer ditziness? I've been marking PDA on my calendar. So sad.
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