Where the Wild Things Are

I Walk the Line

It's a Wednesday and we are home today as we were yesterday because Amity is supposedly sick...although you wouldn't know it from watching her play today. She woke up with swollen, gunky eyes on Monday morning and, after a visit to the doctor, we returned home with a prescription for treating bacterial conjunctivitis as well as a prescription for treating a potential ear infection. Amity's congestion and fever were getting worse yesterday afternoon so we filled the second prescription and made plans to stay home again today.

Since we are spending a rare day completely at home and inside, we are still in our pajamas at 10:30 in the morning. Several friends have suggested the book Slow and Steady Get Me Ready: The How-to Book the Grows with Your Child by June Oberlander for suggestions of fun learning activities to do at home. I had borrowed the book from the library and have since bought it from Amazon. Today was our first attempt at one of the activities. This activity is called "Let's Go Walking". We really didn't follow the exact directions in the book but we still had fun. Amity has since had many giggles while walking this line. The book suggests working on walking backwards on the line. I think I am going to have to practice that during her naptime so that I can model it correctly! Sounds kind of hard!

Rock a Bye, Baby!

For her first birthday, GG and KK gave Amity a little rocking chair from the Amish Furniture Store near their farm. It has been in her room since April. She used to be a little bit scared of it but has become more and more interested in the past few months. She is finally tall enough to climb up in it on her own. After a few mini-lessons on how to turn herself around (she liked to climb up and STAND UP in the chair), she has successfully mastered sitting in the rocking chair and is now ready to take on holding a baby while rocking.

Rocking a baby and reading to the baby at the same time is a bit more challenging.

Thankfully, this baby is patiently hanging in there...

and doesn't seem to care that Amity cannot turn the book around without dropping her out of the chair!

Here is a demonstration of the newly perfected technique of sitting in the chair. Don't worry...we won't be letting Amity rock Vivien to sleep!

Accessorizing

While I hosted my Elliott Book Club last night, Amity went on a date night with Dennis to McDonald's for a Happy Meal, Wendy's for a Frosty, and Fry's Electronics for...(mmm...that is a good question...I wonder why Amity would want to go to Fry's Electronics!). Apparently, she did thoroughly enjoy the phone section of the store and was not happy to leave.

At McDonald's, she enjoyed receiving her first Happy Meal toy which was a package of four bracelets. She immediately put them on and has really enjoyed her newest accessory!

Life is like a...

BOWL OF CHEERIOS!

Sometimes you have to be creative to reach your goal such as picking up the Cheerio, placing it on the spoon...

and then placing the spoon in your mouth.

Sometimes you have to be persistent such as when you get down to the last few bits of Cheerios in the bowl and those little suckers just keep swimming away from the spoon.

This was our Saturday morning adventure and now Amity is officially in the "I can eat cereal with milk in a bowl club". Way to go, Amity!

Spa Treatment

After her bath tonight, GG and KK were worried about Amity going to bed with wet hair (shhhh...don't tell them but her Mommy and Daddy let her do that on a regular basis!) so they sat her up on the bathroom counter and proceeded to lay on the pampering.

I think she is trying to send me a look here that says, "See, Mom, thisis what I am talking about!"

The Grandparents Spa Night reminded me of a plaque my Oma and Opa had hanging on the wall next to their kitchen. It said something like:
A grandparent buys you gifts your mother says you don't need.
A grandparent pretends he doesn't know who you are on Halloween.
A grandparent will put a sweater on you when she is cold,
feed you when she is hungry
and put you to bed when she is tired.
A grandparent will frame a picture of your hand that you traced over the brocade sofa in the Mediterranean living room.
A grandparent will check to see if you are crying when you are sound asleep.
A grandparent is the only babysitter who doesn't charge money to keep you.
A grandparent will believe you can read when you have the book upside down.
When a grandchild says, "Grandma, how come you didn't have any children?" a grandparent will fight back the tears.

Thank you, GG & KK, for loving on your granddaughter!

Hangin' with My Peeps

GDaddy and KK brought some toys with them for Amity to share with Griffin this weekend. Thus far, the favorite toys have been the Little People Schoolhouse and Garage that Uncle Brent and I used to play with. Amity has been fascinated with them and can easily spend 30 minutes in her own Little People world.

Amity is 17 months old!

17 months going on SEVENTEEN, apparently!
What you are up to these days, Miss Amity:

• When we go in to get you from your crib in the morning or after your nap, you always want to hand us Puppy and then your blanket. You then point to the letters of your name above your crib and want us to spell them out. Then you sign "eat" letting us know that it is time for breakfast or a snack. You are definitely a girl that likes her routine!


• You get very excited when we mention the word "show" because you know that you get to watch an ElmoDVD or your (and your Daddy's) favorite...Action Bible Songsby Cedarmont Kids. You are pretty good at doing some of the motions to "Zaccheus", "This Little Light of Mine", and "If You're Happy & You Know It".


• A month ago, you were just beginning to take steps and now you are practically running. You have given a whole new meaning to the word toddler. I love how determined and purposeful you are as you enjoy your new independence.


• When you fall down (which you do quite a bit these days), we typically say, "Uh-oh, are you okay?" Now, when you fall, you say, "O...K..." as soon as you fall as you work on standing back up. For some reason, this just cracks me up!


• This weekend, your daddy taught you the word "Stop!" and you have really learned it well. If we need you to stop going where you are headed, we can say, "Amity, stop!" and you do! However, sometimes you say "No!" and tell us that you are not happy about it butyou still turn around and obey.


• While you are currently not a big fan of swings or slides, you do like climbing the stairs at the playground and at church. You do like to go fast in the grocery cart and in the car. When we are on an especially hilly road, you love to do the rollercoaster yell and scream "Whoaaa!" with your hands in the air.


• You still enjoy an hour of playtime in your pack and play every morning. I don't know exactly what you do but I hear you talking and when I go in to get you, you have always put all of the coins in the piggy bank and rearranged the rest of the toys and books. AND, you always have a poopy diaper! We may have to figure out how to fit a port-o-potty in your pack and play when we are ready to start potty training!


• When we are out running errands and talking with a waiter or someone in a store, you love to "share" your toys and anything else within your reach (juice, Mom's wallet, etc.). You were very insistent that the police officer at your Daddy's school hold your purse. He was a bit reluctant but finally gave in. You also love naming random body parts to strangers such as "elbow", "knee", or "Baby BB" (aka your bellybutton).

What a fun little person you are! Happy 17 months!

A Hair-Raising Experience

This morning, after eating a yummy breakfast at the Connells' house and saying good-bye to PopPop and Lolly, we headed to Cool Cutz to get Amity's hair cut. This was the third time for her to have her hair professionally cut and the experience does not seem to be getting any smoother.

Watching Dora on TV seemed to provide a brief distraction but it was not sufficient.

Dennis took this picture while I held her hands down to keep her somewhat still. Thankfully, the stylist was very patient and steady handed. Look at that big tear that has made it all the way down Amity's cheek! I told her that this is nothing compared to going to the dentist!

After the whole ordeal was over, Amity seemed a bit traumatized as she sat in the back of the car and sniffled and hugged Puppy.

Hopefully, this cut will last us a little while!