It is raining this afternoon and we are stuck inside. While I was sorting through toys and books (we have too many!) and organizing in the closets, I caught Amity attempting to put her shoes on all by herself. We keep her shoes in a basket by her closet. Before I ran to get the camera, I watched her pick out these black shoes and try to put one on. It was too difficult so she got up and went to get her red shoes. She had issues with the strap so she decided to give the black shoes another try and after several minutes of effort, she got her right shoe on. I ran to get the camera and came back to catch footage of the left shoe! It is riveting...at least it was for this proud mama! :) So fun to see her try out new things on her own! Now if only she would try sitting on the potty!
Showing posts with label 22 months. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 22 months. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
My hands are full
It is naptime and, for now, the house is quiet. I did just see the mailman walk by the house across the street so it is highly likely that things are about to get noisy once Paco hears him come within 50 yards of our house. Hopefully, the girls will sleep through!
Vivien just turned a month old and today was just the third day that I have attempted to get out of the house to run a few errands with both girls. On Monday, we left to go to the post office to get an estimate on shipping for selling my breastpump on Ebay. As we pulled into the parking lot, I did a little bit of quick figuring in my mind to determine the best way to get Vivien, Amity, and the rather large box into the post office without anyone getting hurt or left behind. At first I pulled out Amity's stroller and put Vivien in the sling. I then realized that I had no free hands to hold the box. So, I excitedly told Amity that she was going to get to be a big girl and WALK all by herself since I had no free hands to hold her hand. We carefully and slowly walked through the parking lot (I was prepared to drop the box to grab her if she became in danger!) and all went well until Amity froze up at the curb. She is still very hesitant about curbs, especially really high ones. I did a big pep talk and she made it up on her own but not without losing a shoe. Ugh! I carefully bent down so as not to dump Vivien out of her sling as well as trying cover up any immodesty that might pop up from my too-big-but-everything-else-is-too-small jeans. Once the shoe was replaced, I somehow made it back to standing still holding Vivien and the box. We made it into the store, waited in line, got our estimate (UPS was actually cheaper!), and headed slowly back to the car. A sweet lady with a baby of her own was parked next to us and offered to hold the box for me so that I could open up the trunk. So thankful for common grace and unexpected kindness!
Yesterday, we went to my favorite store to grab a few groceries before heading to lunch at a friend's house. As we drove into the parking lot, I told Amity that she would have to sit in the cart the whole time but that I had brought some snacks for her to eat. I pray for extra immunity from grocery cart germs because I don't really know what else to do! Vivien hung out in the sling and Amity ate her apples (until she accidentally dropped the bowl and I had to retrace our steps to pick them up off the floor), fruit leather, cheerios, and cheese. Aside from a mini-fit about me not letting her hold the chicken (just didn't seem sanitary!), we were not the loudest people in the store and that was a success. Again, there was more kindness to be had as one of the workers that was headed out to his car stopped and volunteered to return the cart for me saying that I looked like I had "my hands full"!
Today, we had a whole list of places to go that were all close to our home. I left with the mindset that we would see how many things on that list we could accomplish without all three of us crying. We picked up Dennis's pants from the cleaners, stopped to get gas, and dropped off empty dishes at three friends' houses that had brought us meals. Then we headed to The Dollar Tree. I didn't fully think through the scenario and decided not to put Vivien in the sling and left her in her carseat instead. For the first time ever (never did this with Amity), I tried sitting the carseat on the basket of the cart. Of course, then I didn't know what to do with Amity so I told her that she needed to walk by the cart. After lovingly picking up a stuffed bunny, she obediently walked by the cart most of the time! A few times, I frantically grabbed her hand to keep her from touching the porcelain figurines and then I remembered that we were at the dollar store and even if she were to take out a whole shelf, it wouldn't devastate us financially! Vivien was rather fussy as we walked the aisles so she required one of my hands to keep her pacifier in most of the time. Mathematically, that should have left no hands to push the cart but somehow we made it through the store. As we waited in line to checkout, an older man and woman were behind us. They too commented that my hands were full.
Once in the car, I decided that we had made it successfully to everything but one stop on our list and I shouldn't push my luck but then, a minute later, I decided to go ahead and try. We headed to the library and there were no parking spots in our usual place so we had to park downstairs. Amity was thrilled about the stairs and, this time, I once again had Vivien in the sling so my hands were free. As soon as we walked into the very quietlibrary, Vivien let loose crying but her paci made her happy. Amity found the kids' area and sat at a little table to read a book while I found some books to put in her bag. After a few minutes, we went over to the DVD section and picked up a few Elmo and Clifford DVDs and then made it to the checkout counter. I asked Amity to put her hands on the counter while she waited for me AND SHE DID! She waited there while the lady scanned my card and the books and then the lady said (can you guess?), "It looks like you have your hands full!" As we left, I praised Amity for obeying and we prepared to go down the stairs (much more difficult than up!) and back to the car.
Vivien cried the whole way home and then Amity cried when I took Vivien out of the car first. Then Vivien cried in the swing while I got Amity's lunch ready. Then Amity cried as she waited for me to bring her lunch. As we held hands and prayed, I thanked God for His mercy and grace to us as I learn to make it with full hands.
I read this blog while feeding Vivien in the night and thought I needed to write all this down because I am sure that I will someday forget what it was like to go from one child to two. My hands are full though not as full as some of my friends and cousins! Having "full hands" can be tiring and humbling but I am reminded of other friends and family who would love to be in my place. I am thankful for this time and this stage of life and God's mercy and grace that accompanies it!
Vivien just turned a month old and today was just the third day that I have attempted to get out of the house to run a few errands with both girls. On Monday, we left to go to the post office to get an estimate on shipping for selling my breastpump on Ebay. As we pulled into the parking lot, I did a little bit of quick figuring in my mind to determine the best way to get Vivien, Amity, and the rather large box into the post office without anyone getting hurt or left behind. At first I pulled out Amity's stroller and put Vivien in the sling. I then realized that I had no free hands to hold the box. So, I excitedly told Amity that she was going to get to be a big girl and WALK all by herself since I had no free hands to hold her hand. We carefully and slowly walked through the parking lot (I was prepared to drop the box to grab her if she became in danger!) and all went well until Amity froze up at the curb. She is still very hesitant about curbs, especially really high ones. I did a big pep talk and she made it up on her own but not without losing a shoe. Ugh! I carefully bent down so as not to dump Vivien out of her sling as well as trying cover up any immodesty that might pop up from my too-big-but-everything-else-is-too-small jeans. Once the shoe was replaced, I somehow made it back to standing still holding Vivien and the box. We made it into the store, waited in line, got our estimate (UPS was actually cheaper!), and headed slowly back to the car. A sweet lady with a baby of her own was parked next to us and offered to hold the box for me so that I could open up the trunk. So thankful for common grace and unexpected kindness!
Yesterday, we went to my favorite store to grab a few groceries before heading to lunch at a friend's house. As we drove into the parking lot, I told Amity that she would have to sit in the cart the whole time but that I had brought some snacks for her to eat. I pray for extra immunity from grocery cart germs because I don't really know what else to do! Vivien hung out in the sling and Amity ate her apples (until she accidentally dropped the bowl and I had to retrace our steps to pick them up off the floor), fruit leather, cheerios, and cheese. Aside from a mini-fit about me not letting her hold the chicken (just didn't seem sanitary!), we were not the loudest people in the store and that was a success. Again, there was more kindness to be had as one of the workers that was headed out to his car stopped and volunteered to return the cart for me saying that I looked like I had "my hands full"!
Today, we had a whole list of places to go that were all close to our home. I left with the mindset that we would see how many things on that list we could accomplish without all three of us crying. We picked up Dennis's pants from the cleaners, stopped to get gas, and dropped off empty dishes at three friends' houses that had brought us meals. Then we headed to The Dollar Tree. I didn't fully think through the scenario and decided not to put Vivien in the sling and left her in her carseat instead. For the first time ever (never did this with Amity), I tried sitting the carseat on the basket of the cart. Of course, then I didn't know what to do with Amity so I told her that she needed to walk by the cart. After lovingly picking up a stuffed bunny, she obediently walked by the cart most of the time! A few times, I frantically grabbed her hand to keep her from touching the porcelain figurines and then I remembered that we were at the dollar store and even if she were to take out a whole shelf, it wouldn't devastate us financially! Vivien was rather fussy as we walked the aisles so she required one of my hands to keep her pacifier in most of the time. Mathematically, that should have left no hands to push the cart but somehow we made it through the store. As we waited in line to checkout, an older man and woman were behind us. They too commented that my hands were full.
Once in the car, I decided that we had made it successfully to everything but one stop on our list and I shouldn't push my luck but then, a minute later, I decided to go ahead and try. We headed to the library and there were no parking spots in our usual place so we had to park downstairs. Amity was thrilled about the stairs and, this time, I once again had Vivien in the sling so my hands were free. As soon as we walked into the very quietlibrary, Vivien let loose crying but her paci made her happy. Amity found the kids' area and sat at a little table to read a book while I found some books to put in her bag. After a few minutes, we went over to the DVD section and picked up a few Elmo and Clifford DVDs and then made it to the checkout counter. I asked Amity to put her hands on the counter while she waited for me AND SHE DID! She waited there while the lady scanned my card and the books and then the lady said (can you guess?), "It looks like you have your hands full!" As we left, I praised Amity for obeying and we prepared to go down the stairs (much more difficult than up!) and back to the car.
Vivien cried the whole way home and then Amity cried when I took Vivien out of the car first. Then Vivien cried in the swing while I got Amity's lunch ready. Then Amity cried as she waited for me to bring her lunch. As we held hands and prayed, I thanked God for His mercy and grace to us as I learn to make it with full hands.
I read this blog while feeding Vivien in the night and thought I needed to write all this down because I am sure that I will someday forget what it was like to go from one child to two. My hands are full though not as full as some of my friends and cousins! Having "full hands" can be tiring and humbling but I am reminded of other friends and family who would love to be in my place. I am thankful for this time and this stage of life and God's mercy and grace that accompanies it!
Tears for Fears
A certain little someone will be turning two in forty days.
According to the parenting emails that I receive, the top 7 toddler fears we should be watching for at this age are:
1. New experiences
2. Loud noises
3. Getting hurt
4. Separation from parents
5. Dogs
6. Drains
7. Parents' fears - Dennis is afraid of spiders and I am afraid of cockroaches and mice/rats.
While Amity isn't especially thrilled about being left in the nursery sometimes, we are told that she typically stops crying pretty quickly. So, with the exception of new experiences and separation from parents, you would think we had a practically fearless toddler. Not so!
Somehow, gorillaphobia and stickerphobia got left off of the list. Yes, Amity's two biggest fears right now are gorillas and stickers.
After reading our Bible story at night, we pray with her. Since she has started waking up in the night crying as though she is scared, we have started asking her if she wants us to pray that Jesus will help her to not be scared. When we ask her what scares her at night, the answer is always the same..."gorillas"...and, as of last night, "stickers". The ironic thing is that gorillas are the first animal that she will point out in an animal book or on Baby Noah and she asks multiple times a day to play with her stickers. Yet, when the moment comes to touch the sticker, she backs out and runs away signing and saying "All done! All done!"
There are two more phobias that have appeared recently but we have decided to not even mess with these again for awhile: Having-your-picture-taken-at-Sears-aphobia (see above picture for the puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks) and Potty-seat-aphobia (even the offer of M&Ms just to sit on the potty cannot overcome this fear)!
Thank you, Amity, for being an extraordinary girl with extraordinary fears! We love how you make life funny, unpredictable, and interesting! :)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day 2010!
Guess what happens when Daddy does the Valentine shopping? Well, you get a little girl that looks like this! :) Dennis brought home several little gifts for his girls including an apron set, necklaces, bracelets, Sesame Street books, and Sesame Street stickers for Amity and a Valentine t-shirt and stuffed bunny for Vivien.
Vivien seemed to like her new t-shirt too. She was such a sweetheart that she treated me to SIX straight hours of sleep on Valentine's Eve. Dennis gave her a bottle at 9:30 and she didn't wake up until 4:00 am! That was her longest stretch so far and it was wonderful!
Before they went back to Oklahoma, my mom helped me take the girls to Sears to get a portrait taken for Dennis's office as his Valentine's Day gift. It didn't quite turn out as I had imagined but it sure has character! Unfortunately, due to the snow, the pictures didn't come in on time but I will be sure to post them when they do.
For my Valentine's gift, I got a card with a handwritten poem written by my super-creative hubby along with chocolate truffles and a lunch at Tin Star after church. Amity was in rare funny form at lunch. Unfortunately this picture does not capture the crazy funny faces that she was making. You can see that she had a carbo-loading lunch complete with fries and ketchup, chips and salsa, and Teddy Grahams!
Valentine's Day still strikes me as a rather unnecessary holiday but I am SO grateful for the privilege of loving on these three very special people and hope that I will celebrate that every day!
Amity knew exactly what to do with her apron, chef's hat, and pot holders. She immediately got to work in her kitchen.
For my Valentine's gift, I got a card with a handwritten poem written by my super-creative hubby along with chocolate truffles and a lunch at Tin Star after church. Amity was in rare funny form at lunch. Unfortunately this picture does not capture the crazy funny faces that she was making. You can see that she had a carbo-loading lunch complete with fries and ketchup, chips and salsa, and Teddy Grahams!
Valentine's Day still strikes me as a rather unnecessary holiday but I am SO grateful for the privilege of loving on these three very special people and hope that I will celebrate that every day!Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sisters, Sisters
Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir,
I'm there to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing...
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain and sun
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one
Those who've seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us.
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can.
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister,
And Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man.
It recently occured to me that all of my former roommates came from families of all girls (Colby, Allison, Bonnie, Sonya, and Ella). I love my brother (especially because he reads this blog :)) but the whole concept of sisters has always mystified me. For example, I remember how Bonnie and her two sisters loved to break out in their own rendition of the above song, among other Broadway musical hits.
We had no idea what to expect from Amity once Vivien made her appearance but, thus far, she has LOTS of love for Baby Vivien. I can't wait to watch the two girls enjoy their sisterhood! Here are some recent videos:
This was at Amity's second visit to the hospital when Vivien was almost one day old.
Amity woke up the other morning and heard Vivien crying in our room. As soon as I got her out of her crib, she ran into our room.
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