A couple of weeks ago, while hiding from potential buyers who wished to tour our house, we took Evie to lunch at Red Robin, where she got a red helium balloon. She fell head over heels for that balloon, tugging on the string, squealing, and talking to it in her sweetest Evie voice. We brought it home with us, where she continued to play with it. She accidentally released it and it flew up to the ceiling. She pointed to it and said "Uh oh!" - then repeated this about 30 more times through the course of the afternoon. We would get the balloon down for her, she'd play with it for awhile, then she would let it go and say "Uh oh" until we retrieved it again.
July 14, 2008
May 18, 2008
Toddler Life Lessons
Hi Friends,
I've learned a lot of things in my year. Last spring, I could barely hold up my own head. Now, I'm walking, feeding crackers to my parents, and saying such words as "Uh oh," "Thanks," and "Dad dad."
I can't quite read and write yet, and the only thing I can do on the computer is activate Windows Help and change mommy's screen resolution, so mommy is typing this for me. It's time to share my hard-earned wisdom with all the other toddlers (and toddler fans) in the world.
Evie's Nuggets of Toddler Wisdom
Daddy's T-shirt drawer is a great place to store a sippy cup, and the lid to the dishwasher soap dispenser belongs in the DVD cabinet.
Pennies are not delicious. Cat food is.
Sneaking up on people is more fun if you say "deedle deedle deedle" the whole way there.
Just because the cat has never accepted your generous offer of a pacifier, that's no reason to stop offering.
At church, we learn about sharing. That's why it's a perfect time to pull things out of mommy's purse and hand them to the family sitting behind us.
It's impossible to hear "Barnyard Dance" too many times. The alphabet book, on the other hand, stops becoming interesting at the precise moment when it's revealed that "I is for Ice Cream."
"Spillproof container" means there's a puzzle waiting to be solved.
The best toys are the ones that mommy and daddy play with - the remote controls, the cell phones, and any piece of paper that looks important.
It's good to say "Uh oh" after you drop something from your high chair or knock over a tower of blocks that your daddy built. It's extra polite if you say "Uh oh" before you knock over said block tower.
Don't ever let your mommy close the bathroom door when she's inside. Whatever she's doing in there, she needs your help.
If you're in a good mood, don't keep it to yourself. Smile with your mouth wide open, squeal with delight, wave your arms in the air, and share the joy with every friend and stranger you meet.
Make your mommy write these lessons down, because you never know when one of you might forget.
Love,
Evie
I've learned a lot of things in my year. Last spring, I could barely hold up my own head. Now, I'm walking, feeding crackers to my parents, and saying such words as "Uh oh," "Thanks," and "Dad dad."
I can't quite read and write yet, and the only thing I can do on the computer is activate Windows Help and change mommy's screen resolution, so mommy is typing this for me. It's time to share my hard-earned wisdom with all the other toddlers (and toddler fans) in the world.
Evie's Nuggets of Toddler Wisdom
Daddy's T-shirt drawer is a great place to store a sippy cup, and the lid to the dishwasher soap dispenser belongs in the DVD cabinet.
Pennies are not delicious. Cat food is.
Sneaking up on people is more fun if you say "deedle deedle deedle" the whole way there.
Just because the cat has never accepted your generous offer of a pacifier, that's no reason to stop offering.
At church, we learn about sharing. That's why it's a perfect time to pull things out of mommy's purse and hand them to the family sitting behind us.
It's impossible to hear "Barnyard Dance" too many times. The alphabet book, on the other hand, stops becoming interesting at the precise moment when it's revealed that "I is for Ice Cream."
"Spillproof container" means there's a puzzle waiting to be solved.
The best toys are the ones that mommy and daddy play with - the remote controls, the cell phones, and any piece of paper that looks important.
It's good to say "Uh oh" after you drop something from your high chair or knock over a tower of blocks that your daddy built. It's extra polite if you say "Uh oh" before you knock over said block tower.
Don't ever let your mommy close the bathroom door when she's inside. Whatever she's doing in there, she needs your help.
If you're in a good mood, don't keep it to yourself. Smile with your mouth wide open, squeal with delight, wave your arms in the air, and share the joy with every friend and stranger you meet.
Make your mommy write these lessons down, because you never know when one of you might forget.
Love,
Evie
April 17, 2008
30 and some thoughts
It's official. My 20s are over, and my 30s have begun.
It's been a fairly ordinary way to begin a decade, waking up against the backdrop of competing interests: The childlike desire to open presents before breakfast, juxtaposed against my overwhelming need to snooze just one more time. My name is Monica, it's my birthday, and I don't need a lot of sleep - just five more minutes.
After an impromptu baby bath (some birthday presents, even Huggies Overnites cannot contain), I set off to work and my first day as a 30-year-old.
At various points in the last few years, I've had the realization "30 is approaching." It used to strike fear in my heart. The number seemed foreign and strange and decidedly abstract, like when you tell a child that someday he or she will be an adult. It may be true, but it's impossible to picture.
It's been a fairly ordinary way to begin a decade, waking up against the backdrop of competing interests: The childlike desire to open presents before breakfast, juxtaposed against my overwhelming need to snooze just one more time. My name is Monica, it's my birthday, and I don't need a lot of sleep - just five more minutes.
After an impromptu baby bath (some birthday presents, even Huggies Overnites cannot contain), I set off to work and my first day as a 30-year-old.
At various points in the last few years, I've had the realization "30 is approaching." It used to strike fear in my heart. The number seemed foreign and strange and decidedly abstract, like when you tell a child that someday he or she will be an adult. It may be true, but it's impossible to picture.
March 21, 2008
A letter to Evie on her birthday
Dear Evie,
Happy Birthday!
You can’t read this yet, but I have so much that I want to say to you.
It doesn’t seem like a year ago that you came into this world, but I must have blinked, because you’re turning one.
I remember all the surprises that came with your arrival. I was surprised at how tiny you were, how you didn’t really look like either of your parents, and how you changed everything about the world from the moment of your arrival.
Happy Birthday!
You can’t read this yet, but I have so much that I want to say to you.
It doesn’t seem like a year ago that you came into this world, but I must have blinked, because you’re turning one.
I remember all the surprises that came with your arrival. I was surprised at how tiny you were, how you didn’t really look like either of your parents, and how you changed everything about the world from the moment of your arrival.
February 16, 2008
...and so, it continues
It's amazing, the rate at which a little person grows.
Today, I watched Evie realize that when she waved at me, and I waved at her, there was a connection between the two gestures. She had waved at me before, but it wasn't until this morning that she realized I was waving back at her.
It made her laugh. A lot.
About three weeks ago, Evie learned to crawl.
A few days later, she grabbed onto an endtable and pulled herself to standing.
In a matter of moments, my baby was gone, and a toddler now lived in my house.
It made her laugh. A lot.
About three weeks ago, Evie learned to crawl.
A few days later, she grabbed onto an endtable and pulled herself to standing.
In a matter of moments, my baby was gone, and a toddler now lived in my house.
November 23, 2007
These are the days
Yesterday was Thanksgiving.
It was a low-key, intimate family gathering.
I had much to be thankful for.
The plentiful and tasty food was only a small part of it.
It was a low-key, intimate family gathering.
I had much to be thankful for.
The plentiful and tasty food was only a small part of it.
August 15, 2007
Snapshots: Four months and counting
In less than one week, Evie will be five months old. I've finally figured out how this happened. It's based on the principles of Parent Time:
The Primary Principle of Parent Time
During the first three months of your child's life, time will slow to a near-standstill, forcing you to wonder, in a sleep-deprived haze, how a baby can remain two months old for an entire summer.
The Secondary Principle of Parent Time
After the first three months, your child will grow up with such alarming speed that the passage of time will accelerate until you are attending said child's high school graduation and simultaneously daydreaming about having a free weekend to put together the baby book.
The Primary Principle of Parent Time
During the first three months of your child's life, time will slow to a near-standstill, forcing you to wonder, in a sleep-deprived haze, how a baby can remain two months old for an entire summer.
The Secondary Principle of Parent Time
After the first three months, your child will grow up with such alarming speed that the passage of time will accelerate until you are attending said child's high school graduation and simultaneously daydreaming about having a free weekend to put together the baby book.
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