Tuesday, December 13, 2011
No Tears!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Old Camera
I gave Ian our old camera, which has problems with focus. I believe a grain of sand got into the mechanism. It was confirmed dead by a fix-it person. But it seems to work some of the time. We had purchased a new camera some time ago. I found this old one and gave it to Ian to play with. We hear "Smile! Look up please! Smile at the camera!" quite a lot. Here are a few gems for you.
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| Daddy! Smile! |
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| Mommy, you take my picture please! I go get on chair! |
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| Mommy at the camera: Whipped Cream! |
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| Yummy! |
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Happy Halloween!
We had a fun time for Halloween, and Ian's chosen costume was finished in the nick of time. Grandma is here and helped, too. We made some simple fleece pants, an easy hat with ears, and added a yellow sweatshirt and a red t-shirt. There was a label, but most people had no problems figuring out Winnie the Pooh.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Play Date
We had a friend over today.
The boys watched the buck in the yard.
Apparently, the storm has cleared.
Turn around and smile! (then go back to poking the cat...)
The boys watched the buck in the yard.
Apparently, the storm has cleared.
Turn around and smile! (then go back to poking the cat...)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Shall we just skip to Winter?
Thanks for the pokes, people. I did take pictures this summer. Just been ... busy. You must know by now that we're having another child, a boy, due in the end of January. We're very excited, as is Ian.
I'll update the summer soon.
For now, well, it snowed today.
It's a really good thing we got out last week to get some "Lellow" daisies and "Lellow" leaves along with the last few flax flowers to make a sun-catcher.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Mom's Day
My mom was here for a week, including Mother's Day. It was a fabulous week.
There was sushi, fun with Uncle Jay, playgrounds, and sun. There was snow, too, but we won't talk about that.
Ian misses his Grandma. I told him a few days before we left that she'd have to go home. And as we said goodbye at the airport, he pouted and said, "Grandma go home." He got really sad. I said, "Wasn't it great that she could come to see us?" He said, "YES!" and was happy again.
We had silliness.
We went on walks.
We scaled mountains.
There was sushi, fun with Uncle Jay, playgrounds, and sun. There was snow, too, but we won't talk about that.
Ian misses his Grandma. I told him a few days before we left that she'd have to go home. And as we said goodbye at the airport, he pouted and said, "Grandma go home." He got really sad. I said, "Wasn't it great that she could come to see us?" He said, "YES!" and was happy again.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Too Much Fun for One Day
This might qualify as too much fun for one day. There was no time for napping, even!
First, Toe Jam investigation. Ian looks for toe jam on a regular basis, usually when driving. I'm glad I finally have it documented. Not the best pic, maybe we'll get a better one.
Then we arrived at the Easter egg hunt in town. That's a lot of kids.
Fortunately, the under-2 set were handled a bit differently, lined up all around the designated area, instead of at one end. Ian did a great job!
Finally, the garden today. We were there from noon to five pm! Ian and Zak had such a great time!
And work was done by all. I do believe that both boys will leave a bit of dirt behind in the tub tonight.
First, Toe Jam investigation. Ian looks for toe jam on a regular basis, usually when driving. I'm glad I finally have it documented. Not the best pic, maybe we'll get a better one.
Then we arrived at the Easter egg hunt in town. That's a lot of kids.
Fortunately, the under-2 set were handled a bit differently, lined up all around the designated area, instead of at one end. Ian did a great job!
Finally, the garden today. We were there from noon to five pm! Ian and Zak had such a great time!
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| Water sprinkler as microphone |
And work was done by all. I do believe that both boys will leave a bit of dirt behind in the tub tonight.
Monday, April 18, 2011
More Animals Please.
We had a busy week while people were off of school for spring break!
We went to Monkey Mountain. While Ian couldn't get into the big play structure, he did play with the slide, the soft climbing animals, and other "little attractions" sprinkled about.
That night, Uncle Jay and guests were out for supper and we had pizza.
The very next day, we went to the zoo. We got there late, our friends didn't stay long, and at 3pm (well into naptime), a young lad said "More Animals Please."
Then we went to the garden on Friday.
The zoo again on Sunday as John and Ian tried to give me some time to get some work done. I think spring is definitely on its way!
We went to Monkey Mountain. While Ian couldn't get into the big play structure, he did play with the slide, the soft climbing animals, and other "little attractions" sprinkled about.
That night, Uncle Jay and guests were out for supper and we had pizza.
The very next day, we went to the zoo. We got there late, our friends didn't stay long, and at 3pm (well into naptime), a young lad said "More Animals Please."
Then we went to the garden on Friday.
The zoo again on Sunday as John and Ian tried to give me some time to get some work done. I think spring is definitely on its way!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Epic Day
After a slow start this morning, we went for a wonderful bike ride with friends.
Then to the garden for a few hours of work and pizza there.
Ian didn't nap, and was so tired that even though he'd fallen asleep literally 5 minutes before we got home, he stayed asleep as I carried him upstairs, stripped off surprise! poopy britches, cleaned that up (the first ever sleeping diaper change in this house, with the possible exception of newborn days!), put on a diaper and pants and socks and put him into bed. Wow. Hoping for a good night's sleep tonight. Ian in bed before 9, and Mom and Dad in bed before 10. Everybody's tired!
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| We started at the park with some lunch. |
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| Then got on the bikes. |
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| More park along the way. |
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| Lots of room to run! |
Then to the garden for a few hours of work and pizza there.
Ian didn't nap, and was so tired that even though he'd fallen asleep literally 5 minutes before we got home, he stayed asleep as I carried him upstairs, stripped off surprise! poopy britches, cleaned that up (the first ever sleeping diaper change in this house, with the possible exception of newborn days!), put on a diaper and pants and socks and put him into bed. Wow. Hoping for a good night's sleep tonight. Ian in bed before 9, and Mom and Dad in bed before 10. Everybody's tired!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Nice Weather!
Today, we had a pal over for the morning and then headed to town to drop him at preschool. We found ourselves at the park shortly thereafter, found more friends, and played much of the afternoon away. Ian had a nap. This evening, it was warm in the house, so I asked Ian if he wanted his shirt off. He did.
Daddy was at work, and the bright evening sun in the kitchen window is currently unmanaged, so we did a "tv dinner" of sorts, watching some sesame street. Train tables aren't just for trains!
So warm, in fact, that it was time for popsicles. I made these from blueberry-pomegranate juice. Very yummy. Must find juice that's not purple, though. The "cap" to the popsicle mold has a sipper spot so you can drink the drips it's collected (the ones that are collected when your popsicle is not held sideways, that is). Ian found that more entertaining than the popsicle itself. And there was a neat purple spot on his forehead to wash off in the bath.
Yes, he's naked. I thought maybe it was going to be a potty breakthrough moment when he came to me with his pants at his knees. Nope. He just wanted to be naked. Meh. Sure. Why not.
Daddy was at work, and the bright evening sun in the kitchen window is currently unmanaged, so we did a "tv dinner" of sorts, watching some sesame street. Train tables aren't just for trains!
So warm, in fact, that it was time for popsicles. I made these from blueberry-pomegranate juice. Very yummy. Must find juice that's not purple, though. The "cap" to the popsicle mold has a sipper spot so you can drink the drips it's collected (the ones that are collected when your popsicle is not held sideways, that is). Ian found that more entertaining than the popsicle itself. And there was a neat purple spot on his forehead to wash off in the bath.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Yay Garden!
This year the garden is very scaled back as far as number of people, making decisions and overall happiness much better for all, I think. We went today to do some preliminary work, and we got a lot done! Ian played happily with other kids and played independently so well. He got to pick up rocks, tote sticks around, eat dirt, throw dirt, and generally have a merry time. He got a bit hungry, but that was fixed with a granola bar, so he could keep on truckin.
Ian and two other boys helped me harvest the remainder of the carrots that had overwintered. They are wonderful and crisp! I put shovelfuls of dirt-with-carrots to the side, and the boys picked through it with excitement and found lots of "crazy!" carrots! (we didn't thin them very well.) We probably got 2-3 dozen great carrots. Now to clean them all up. I cleaned several for munchies to go with PBJ's for lunch. We brought our favorite wheat bread and some wonderful new peanut butter and strawberry jam. Ian really liked he pbj's, as did everyone else!
We were there until 3pm, past naptime for sure, and he found his snooze on the way home.
He was too hungry to nap when we got in the house, so after a potty and a snack, he's down for the count. We're going to have to wake him, but probably not until 5:30 or so.
What does a boy do to relax between play dates and gardening?
(and, what is a boy doing when it's a tad too quiet in the living room?)
Ian likes to clear the couch before relaxing with a book. That's right. Everything on the floor. It's pretty cute though. He lays just like Daddy likes to read before bed. Such a big boy.
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| From last fall. Boy have both of these guys grown since then! |
We were there until 3pm, past naptime for sure, and he found his snooze on the way home.
He was too hungry to nap when we got in the house, so after a potty and a snack, he's down for the count. We're going to have to wake him, but probably not until 5:30 or so.
What does a boy do to relax between play dates and gardening?
(and, what is a boy doing when it's a tad too quiet in the living room?)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
It's not spring yet!
We had a great day on Sunday. We had one of Ian's little friends over while his mom enjoyed a beautiful ski day.
We had lunch.
We played with trains and cars.
We went snowshoeing and skiing.
Ian got to try out his buddy's snowshoes!
At first, he thought that his feet should glide with something on them in the snow. We made up a song about "picking up your feet!" and it went perfectly after that! They're great snowshoes for a little person, and have very adjustable bindings. They were 7"x16" Yukon Charlie's. We'll be on the lookout for toddler/small person snowshoes on the clearance rack this time of year!
We came back, Ian was out for a wonderful nap, and Jen came back to pick up her guy. Fun stuff!
We had lunch.
We played with trains and cars.
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| We don't use FedEx's tubes much anymore, but they make great tunnel-ramps for cars and they're free! |
We went snowshoeing and skiing.
Ian got to try out his buddy's snowshoes!
At first, he thought that his feet should glide with something on them in the snow. We made up a song about "picking up your feet!" and it went perfectly after that! They're great snowshoes for a little person, and have very adjustable bindings. They were 7"x16" Yukon Charlie's. We'll be on the lookout for toddler/small person snowshoes on the clearance rack this time of year!
We came back, Ian was out for a wonderful nap, and Jen came back to pick up her guy. Fun stuff!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Okay Pooh Bear?
Ian has named his brown bear with the green sweater "Pooh Bear." He's thrown this bear on the ground and asked me to comfort him before. In the last few days, he's been using his other bears to help point to things in books (Puppy Bear and Monkey Bear). He did this with Pooh Bear this morning, too.
This morning, Ian threw Pooh Bear on the ground,
then picked him up, cuddled him, and asked "okay Pooh Bear?"
It was so sweet. I almost got a video, but alas I did not. The camera was upstairs, hence the shots from above.
Here's a groggy boy after a nap. Slight grump.
I wish I'd have had the camera with me today. It was one of those days where I had to wake him up after 3.5 hours and he wasn't ready to be awake. If he's totally out, I open the door and make noise downstairs and try to let him come to on his own. Today he was rustling, so I went in and sat on the big bed. He looked up, sat up, fell over. Sat up, fell over. Got to his feet, very wobbly and groggy, and waited to be picked up ("up, up?") and then crumpled into my neck and probably dozed a bit there, too.
Last but certainly not least, hooray for potty training!! We've had a couple of days of only one accident in our potty training adventure (a half-hearted adventure, for sure, we are just putting undies on Ian and kind of hoping for the best. With varied results.)(Well, we have been putting him on the potty from 3 months old.) Right now, it's20 minutes to bedtime and Ian is in the same blue undies he was in this morning, with 4-5 pees in the toilet and 1 poop. The poop was not at an easily predictable time, but it was easily predictable (he was at the dinner table, grunting. He denied that he had to go potty, but I knew better). Today, Ian hasn't told me that he needs to go potty, but after peeing in the toilet he says "All Wet!" Lately, Ian has been more aware of bowel movements and being wet, and says "all wet" when he's already peed. It's at least a start toward telling us when he needs to go! One time (only), he's said "all wet" right before he had to go. I was already getting him ready to pee, though. Now to get this to be a regular occurrence! Yay!
This morning, Ian threw Pooh Bear on the ground,
then picked him up, cuddled him, and asked "okay Pooh Bear?"
It was so sweet. I almost got a video, but alas I did not. The camera was upstairs, hence the shots from above.
Here's a groggy boy after a nap. Slight grump.
I wish I'd have had the camera with me today. It was one of those days where I had to wake him up after 3.5 hours and he wasn't ready to be awake. If he's totally out, I open the door and make noise downstairs and try to let him come to on his own. Today he was rustling, so I went in and sat on the big bed. He looked up, sat up, fell over. Sat up, fell over. Got to his feet, very wobbly and groggy, and waited to be picked up ("up, up?") and then crumpled into my neck and probably dozed a bit there, too.
Last but certainly not least, hooray for potty training!! We've had a couple of days of only one accident in our potty training adventure (a half-hearted adventure, for sure, we are just putting undies on Ian and kind of hoping for the best. With varied results.)(Well, we have been putting him on the potty from 3 months old.) Right now, it's20 minutes to bedtime and Ian is in the same blue undies he was in this morning, with 4-5 pees in the toilet and 1 poop. The poop was not at an easily predictable time, but it was easily predictable (he was at the dinner table, grunting. He denied that he had to go potty, but I knew better). Today, Ian hasn't told me that he needs to go potty, but after peeing in the toilet he says "All Wet!" Lately, Ian has been more aware of bowel movements and being wet, and says "all wet" when he's already peed. It's at least a start toward telling us when he needs to go! One time (only), he's said "all wet" right before he had to go. I was already getting him ready to pee, though. Now to get this to be a regular occurrence! Yay!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Bath Time Conversation with a 20 Month Old
Conversations have gotten far more interesting as since Ian has been going to play with kids while Mommy and Daddy work some days. He's been putting together little sentences.
Bath time yesterday:
Ian: Ducky! Ducky Away!
Me: Are you going to throw the ducky away?
Ian: Ducky Away! (throws ducky to the other end of the tub).
Me: You threw the ducky away from you!
Ian: Ducky?
Me: Do you want your ducky back? Do you want help? Can you ask, nicely please?
Ian: Mama hep? Peese? Ducky?
Me: Sure. I'll get your ducky.
Ian: Ducky! Ducky Away!
Me: Are you going to throw the ducky away?
Ian: Ducky Away! (Throws ducky.)
Me: You threw your ducky!
Ian: Mama hep? Ducky pees?
Me: Sure. Here's your ducky.
Ian: Ducky! Away!
...
Ian also talks about the birds. When the feeder needed to be filled the other day, he reported to me, "Blue Jay! Eat!"
We're hoping to get outside and back on the skis shortly! Maybe Sunday!
In other news:
No wet or dirty diapers today, one accident. That's pretty amazing!
Bath time yesterday:
Ian: Ducky! Ducky Away!
Me: Are you going to throw the ducky away?
Ian: Ducky Away! (throws ducky to the other end of the tub).
Me: You threw the ducky away from you!
Ian: Ducky?
Me: Do you want your ducky back? Do you want help? Can you ask, nicely please?
Ian: Mama hep? Peese? Ducky?
Me: Sure. I'll get your ducky.
Ian: Ducky! Ducky Away!
Me: Are you going to throw the ducky away?
Ian: Ducky Away! (Throws ducky.)
Me: You threw your ducky!
Ian: Mama hep? Ducky pees?
Me: Sure. Here's your ducky.
Ian: Ducky! Away!
...
Ian also talks about the birds. When the feeder needed to be filled the other day, he reported to me, "Blue Jay! Eat!"
We're hoping to get outside and back on the skis shortly! Maybe Sunday!
In other news:
No wet or dirty diapers today, one accident. That's pretty amazing!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A few of my favorite things
How about a fun list of Ian's favorite things? It's what consumes him right now, finding, talking about, and inverting* his favorite things.
*see number 2.
*see number 2.
- Reading Books (over and over again. See list below.)
- Turning something upside down, then declaring it upside down. "AH DOWN DOWN!" until it's acknowledged by everyone present.
- Saying "Hello!"
- Bert and Ernie
- "Puppy Bear," "Monkey Bear," "Pillow Bear" (his pillow pet dolphin). All stuffed animals are "bears."
- Up-Down (game where we sit up tall, then down. Repeat.)
- Blue Jays (and other birds)
- Underwear
- Mama and Dada
- Tango and Roscoe
- Skiing, and any other "WHEE!"
Favorite book list (currently. This changes by the hour!)
- Naughty Bunny
- Little Helicopter
- Puppy Love
- Hawaiian Mother Goose
- Goodnight Moon
- The Nose Book
- The Snowy Day
- Dinosaur Days
- Bert's Hall of Great Inventions
- Teletubbies
- My Many Colored Days
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| Hello Moon! |
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Grooovy
While I seem to absolutely abhor routine, we seem to have found a good groove here, now that John's last day of work at Sundance is upon us. I work in the morning (at the library), and John has Ian all morning. They have breakfast, go for a walk, eat lunch, and Ian goes down for a nap about 1pm. I come home shortly after 1pm and John takes off. I finish more work, clean up the kitchen, and start dinner while Ian naps. When Ian gets up, he snacks, we play (outside and in) and finish working on dinner. I try to have dinner ready by 6pm, he eats (for an hour and a half) and then it's time to play for a bit, have ice cream, and then get ready for bed.
It really is fun getting Ian to myself for the afternoons, sledding, skiing, or playing indoors. It's been so helpful to get out of the house to get some work done. It helps reduce the pressure of unfinished work. There's still stuff to do, but I know that I'll get time to work on it, and that is very helpful. Sometimes Ian watches some Pingu while I work on dinner. He likes Mommy's chair.
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| Want some tots? |
It really is fun getting Ian to myself for the afternoons, sledding, skiing, or playing indoors. It's been so helpful to get out of the house to get some work done. It helps reduce the pressure of unfinished work. There's still stuff to do, but I know that I'll get time to work on it, and that is very helpful. Sometimes Ian watches some Pingu while I work on dinner. He likes Mommy's chair.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Dinner conversation with an 18 month old.
Ian: Where are the birds? (shrug shoulders, look at window, sign bird)
Me: It’s dark outside. The birds went home and went to sleep.
Ian: Sleep? Can I go to sleep now? (points at the stairs, signs sleep, and bath)
Me: No, you have to eat. You’re hungry. If you don’t eat some food, you’ll be hungry all night long.
Ian: Milk? (nurse)
Me: You need more than milk. What do you want to eat? Toast? Cheese? Peaches? … Honey?
Ian: Honey
Me: Here's the honey. Where do you want me to put it?
Ian: (points at the bread, takes a bite)
Me: Do you want more?
Ian: More honey.
(repeat the last 4 several times)
Ian: (sees cars outside) Daddy?
Me: Daddy’s going to be home tonight, after you go to sleep.
Ian: Sleep? Can we go to bed now?
Me: No. You need to eat some food.
Ian: Down!?
Me: You need to eat more food. What would you like? How about some coconut (milk) or water?
Ian: Water
Me: Here's your water.
Ian: Where are the birds?
....
Ian: (grabs the dog's fur on his head)
Me: No! Gentle with the dog! Please be nice.
Ian: (grabs the dog's fur on his head)
I love that we understand each other, but it's exhausting, to say the least. Every crayon that gets broken is brought to me so Ian can tell me about the "ouchie." Every rip, dent, hole, or anomaly in something is declared "ouchie." He is starting to really feel empathy, too. A favorite activity is to ask for "Pingu." Look on youtube and you'll find plenty of Pingu. The fishing episode, Ian wants to hide behind me when he knows the seal will hurt himself. As he's crying, Ian's about to. The WHEE! (sledding) episode is the same way. He's really a sweet boy!
Me: It’s dark outside. The birds went home and went to sleep.
Ian: Sleep? Can I go to sleep now? (points at the stairs, signs sleep, and bath)
Me: No, you have to eat. You’re hungry. If you don’t eat some food, you’ll be hungry all night long.
Ian: Milk? (nurse)
Me: You need more than milk. What do you want to eat? Toast? Cheese? Peaches? … Honey?
Ian: Honey
Me: Here's the honey. Where do you want me to put it?
Ian: (points at the bread, takes a bite)
Me: Do you want more?
Ian: More honey.
(repeat the last 4 several times)
Ian: (sees cars outside) Daddy?
Me: Daddy’s going to be home tonight, after you go to sleep.
Ian: Sleep? Can we go to bed now?
Me: No. You need to eat some food.
Ian: Down!?
Me: You need to eat more food. What would you like? How about some coconut (milk) or water?
Ian: Water
Me: Here's your water.
Ian: Where are the birds?
....
Ian: (grabs the dog's fur on his head)
Me: No! Gentle with the dog! Please be nice.
Ian: (grabs the dog's fur on his head)
Me: No! Gentle with the dog! Please be nice.
(dog leaves)
Me: You need to be nice to the dog when you pet him. And no petting the dog at the dinner table.
Ian: (smiles). Tickle.
Me: You wanted to tickle him? That's sweet. But he doesn't really giggle. It's nice to scratch the dog on the head, but be gentle. Tickle Daddy in the morning. That'll be fun.
Ian: Where are the birds?
...
I love that we understand each other, but it's exhausting, to say the least. Every crayon that gets broken is brought to me so Ian can tell me about the "ouchie." Every rip, dent, hole, or anomaly in something is declared "ouchie." He is starting to really feel empathy, too. A favorite activity is to ask for "Pingu." Look on youtube and you'll find plenty of Pingu. The fishing episode, Ian wants to hide behind me when he knows the seal will hurt himself. As he's crying, Ian's about to. The WHEE! (sledding) episode is the same way. He's really a sweet boy!
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| Tell me more!! |
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