Thursday, November 12, 2009
What If?
You've become our little philosopher lately: constantly asking "What if...?" You really like sorting through these hypothetical scenarios with our help. The "what ifs" have replaced the "whys" in terms of the way you are exploring your world right now. And if we are reluctant to entertain a counterfactual, you push it. As tonight when you asked me "What would happen if you hit daddy?" When I explained that would never happen, you asked: "But what if you were really angry?" You usually push it until you get a response that you deem satisfactory.
Where are all the leaves?
On our walk to school today, you noticed that the sidewalks were clear of leaves. Then we saw a lady raking up leaves and you wondered what she was doing. When I told you they were clearing the streets of leaves and would then throw them in the garbage, you said: "But why? Mommies and daddies and little kids like to pick up leaves? Why are they taking them and putting them in the garbage. If you wipe your nose with a tissue and get snot on it, you throw that in the garbage. Not leaves." As always, I can't really argue with you. You've got a good point there! You then rescued one lone leaf and gave it to me as a gift to treasure.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Measuring Yourself
You like to step on the scale to "measure" yourself. As of November 1, 2009, you weigh 36.5 pounds and are probably 39 inches, give or take.
IKEA
I can't believe it. You played by yourself in the IKEA play area today. As soon as you saw it, you wanted in. We explained that it was for kids only and you were fine with that, saying: "Maybe I can make some new friends." We watched you walk in, carrying your own box with your shoes, and then you disappeared. 45 minutes later we picked you up and you were having a ball. What a big girl!
Red Crayon
For Halloween you decided you wanted to be a red crayon (you had seen a picture of a DIY costume in my Parents magazine). Thanks to Debbie's craftsmanship, you had your wish granted. You were the cutest red crayon ever! It was so much fun to see you enjoy your first Halloween where you really had an idea of what was going on. While you were scared of some of the odder costumers, you were very brave and enjoyed approaching strangers with your trick or treat request for candy. And you were thrilled to have a lollipop and your first tootsie roll which you licked like a lollipop. Amazingly, you were still asleep by 8:30pm!
Sleep Treat Calendar
We'd reached our limits with the long drawn out night-time routine so we institued a new regime: the sleep treat calendar. The rules, to start, are simple: no whining, no crying, no complaining, no excuses, straight to bed with only requests for hugs or water. If you follow the rules, you get a sticker. If you get 7 stickers in a row, you get to pick 1 treat out of a treat bag. so far, it's working. You are your mommy and daddy's little girl when it comes to rule following! 7 nights out of 8 you've stuck to your end of the bargain. Tomorrow morning you'll get you're first treat. We're so proud of you. And just starting to believe that one day bedtime will be easy peasy...
Imagining
You have always been very good at the game of pretend. You eat pretend ice cream, play with pretend dolls...all sorts of pretend. Lately, this idea of pretend has stretched into the concept of imagination. You often tell me that you are imagining this or that and encourage me to go along with your imagination.
Sharing Your Feelings
The other day you told Agatha you loved her. Later we were reviewing this moment and I told you how pleased you had made Agatha by sharing this with her. I told you that it is very nice to tell people how you are feeling -- that it makes them happy. You thought about this for a moment and then asked: "Should I tell someone if I DON'T love them?" I told you that this was not necessary.
Teddy Bear Group
Your class at school is divided into 3 groups: Red Spiders, Tigers, and Peacocks. You are in the Red Spiders group...though you don't admit to this fact. When the name was chosen, you were not very interested in it. You told me that you were instead thinking about teddy bears and flowers. When I ask you if you are in the Red Spider group, you tell me that you are not; you are in the Teddy Bear group. Apparently the Teddy Bear group is a group of 1. You just go along with teacher Hazel when she asks for the Red Spiders to join her. Some might call this a bit delusional, but I think this is a great, creative coping mechanism!
New Friends
You are becoming a kid! You are very interested in playing with other kids and making new friends, whether at school, at the playground, or somewhere else. You have new friends at school whom, though they haven't displaced Ella and Marcel, have been added to your friend list. Agatha, Nami, and Ron -- especially Ron -- are all your new good friends and you spend a lot of time happily playing with them. You like to tell me about these new friends and look forward to playing with them.
You're not that into the boys in your classroom; you told me that you "don't pay attention to boys." When I pointed out that you pay attention to daddy and Josh and Papa, you noted that they are daddies and not boys. Mattias, however, you admit that you do pay attention to. Apparently he's nice!
You're not that into the boys in your classroom; you told me that you "don't pay attention to boys." When I pointed out that you pay attention to daddy and Josh and Papa, you noted that they are daddies and not boys. Mattias, however, you admit that you do pay attention to. Apparently he's nice!
14
You've been able to count to 20 now for a while...but you always missed the number 14. We'd always prompt you to include this missing number, but you would ignore our prompts. For a while, we thought you might think that the proper way to count to 20 was to repeat from 11 onwards, since that's where we'd pick it up to squeeze in the missing number. Just the other day, you included 14...as though it had always been there. And now it's there to stay. And now, of course, I'm sort of missing your own version since this is just another sign of how you're growing up.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tap Dance
You borrowed Kate's fancy nancy tap dance shoes and could barely be persuaded to take them off. Oh how you loved tapping around in the purple satin high heels! You were traipsing all around the house, upstairs and downstairs, naked but for your pumps!
Babysitters
You loved your sleepover party with Marcel so much (during which you fell asleep in bed together without an adult!) that we tried it again, but this time you were the one having babysitters. Josh, Shelly, and Marcel all came over to keep you company. You were so excited to have them all in your home that you told us to "GO!" You were happy, had fun, and were only disappointed the next morning to find out that they had all gone home. We're going to try again soon!
On a Very Special Day...
You like to tell the story of the very special day that your baby Samantha was born, and it goes something like this: "On a very special day, Samantha was born. I went to the hospital. But I wasn't sick. Samantha was in my belly. And then she came out. Then I put her back in my belly to carry her home."
You are such a good mommy to Samantha. And now that Sammy's hand is "healing," and we no longer have to cover it with a big mitten, you are taking very good care of her as well!
You are such a good mommy to Samantha. And now that Sammy's hand is "healing," and we no longer have to cover it with a big mitten, you are taking very good care of her as well!
Cort-a-potties
You refer to port-a-potties as cort a potties. And you are not a big fan! You hate having to use them, complain how badly they smell. We've found a coping mechanism: I crouch down so you can sniff in my hair rather than the cort-a-potty smell.
When we went to use the restrooms in GGP, you noted that while the potties didn't smell good, they didn't smell as bad a a cort-a-potty!
When we went to use the restrooms in GGP, you noted that while the potties didn't smell good, they didn't smell as bad a a cort-a-potty!
Patience...
We attended a party in GGP right next to the carousel. As soon as you saw it, you asked: "Mommy, if there is time after the party, can we please ride the carousel?" Such self-restraint for a 2 1/2 year old! Of course we said YES!
Marshmallow Test
You totally would pass the marshmallow test (Stanford): the other day you helped me frost, decorate, sprinkle a platter full of cupcakes for Adam Hirschfelder's birthday. You pointed out the cupcake you wanted when it was time. You watched the other kids, who had finished their dinners, eat their cupcakes. All through this, you didn't try to sneak one lickful of frosting or even ask when you could have one. When it was time, after you finished your dinner, I then allowed you to grab your preselected cupcake. You devoured it! And then you were done. Amazing!
C5 - First Week of School
You are officially a preschooler. Last week was your orientation week and tomorrow starts your first day of full-time school. You're taking the transition pretty well though you've definitely had your sad moments. You've cried some and talked a lot about how much you miss me and daddy and how you think about us a lot. But you've also been having a lot of fun. Ella and Marcel are making this transition so much easier; on Friday when you kept crying when I tried to leave, Ella kept hugging and kissing you with a sad look on her face, in an attempt to make you feel better. It's so nice for me to know that you have such good friends to keep you company. High points so far:
1. Your favorite teacher is Linda (which is helped by the fact that she has the same name as your grandma!). Linda isn't your main class teacher, but you look forward to seeing her whenever she joins your class to help out.
2. Holly noted that you asked her: "Is it okay if I play with that?" about some toys on a table. She told you it wasn't necessary to ask, but appreciated your good manners.
3. Hazel's favorite color is red which made you smile against your will!
4. You really like sitting at the little table to eat your lunch.
5. You've already made a few friends.
6. Amazingly, you were the only 1 of the 5 new kids who napped on the first full-ish day! You got a little sad before nap -- exacerbated by Holly's empathy when she noted how scary it can be to sleep in a new strange place -- but then you crashed and were 1 of the last 3 to wake up!
I am so eager to watch you continue to get into the C5 groove.
1. Your favorite teacher is Linda (which is helped by the fact that she has the same name as your grandma!). Linda isn't your main class teacher, but you look forward to seeing her whenever she joins your class to help out.
2. Holly noted that you asked her: "Is it okay if I play with that?" about some toys on a table. She told you it wasn't necessary to ask, but appreciated your good manners.
3. Hazel's favorite color is red which made you smile against your will!
4. You really like sitting at the little table to eat your lunch.
5. You've already made a few friends.
6. Amazingly, you were the only 1 of the 5 new kids who napped on the first full-ish day! You got a little sad before nap -- exacerbated by Holly's empathy when she noted how scary it can be to sleep in a new strange place -- but then you crashed and were 1 of the last 3 to wake up!
I am so eager to watch you continue to get into the C5 groove.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Wonderful Things
When I dropped you off at Josh's this morning, you said: "When you pick me up, I can tell you all about all the wonderful things that I did at Acrosports today!" I can't wait!
Tongue Tied
You've been getting a kick, lately, out of trying -- and having difficulty -- saying some words. You love to try to say the tongue twister of Peter Piper and laugh and laugh at your inability to do so; your version sounds a lot like: "picka picka picka!"
You also crack yourself up when you confuse words or can't pronounce something. The other day you were trying to tell me that something was on the kitchen table, but for some reason you couldn't spit it out. Instead, you told me that something was on the chicken table. Seriously this made you gasp for air as you laughed and laughed about the chicken table!
You also crack yourself up when you confuse words or can't pronounce something. The other day you were trying to tell me that something was on the kitchen table, but for some reason you couldn't spit it out. Instead, you told me that something was on the chicken table. Seriously this made you gasp for air as you laughed and laughed about the chicken table!
Ampersands and Punctuation
Your favorite new game while reading (or walking around) is ampersand spotting and punctuation pointing out! You like to identify commas, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. Your eye can pick out these symbols lickety split!
Being "Respectable"
The other day the Big Mommy dolly and the baby were walking down the stairs in the dollhouse while another baby was asleep upstairs. Unfortunately, the walking baby was thumping down the stairs and made too much noise, waking the sleeping baby up. But the Big Mommy "was very respectable. She walked quietly down the stairs to not wake up the baby."
You really do have better manners and greater awareness of social niceties than most adults I know!
You really do have better manners and greater awareness of social niceties than most adults I know!
Making Excuses
At night, even as you rub your eyes and yawn, you always insist that you are not tired. But the other morning when you decided you didn't want to get out of bed, you kept rubbing your eyes and saying: "Look mommy. See, I'm rubbing my eyes because I'm tired." When I started teasing you about your night-time eye-rubbing excuses as contrasted with your morning insistence that eye-rubbing showed you needed to go back to sleep, you totally got my sarcasm and giggled. The more I mocked, the more you rubbed your eyes and said: "What other excuses do I say?"
Your Best Friend Marcel
Just a few words about how special your relationship with Marcel is. Watching you together is pure joy. You speak your own little language sometimes and the way you crack each other up is priceless. When I asked you if you missed anyone from back East after we had returned to SF, you said "No. But I missed Marcel a lot when I was gone."
You also learn a lot from Marcel. The other day, you tried to show your daddy the proper way to slow dance: with hands clasped together in the air. When asked where you had learned to dance like this, you said: "From Marcel. Marcel teaches me the most because she loves me."
You also learn a lot from Marcel. The other day, you tried to show your daddy the proper way to slow dance: with hands clasped together in the air. When asked where you had learned to dance like this, you said: "From Marcel. Marcel teaches me the most because she loves me."
I'm Not Sad to See You Go
A bit behind here so I'm going to do a few quick posts to catch up on what you've been doing all month and what's been going on.
July was a whirlwind: first Stephanie came for a visit; then you got sick, sick, sick (fell asleep in your chair watching Caillou even!); then we flew back East where we moved around as though we were in the witness protection program, trying to see everyone and do everything.
High Points:
1. Ice cream. All of it. Everywhere. When asked what your favorite flavor was, you said: "all of them!" and yet you still always saved some for me!
2. Playing with all of the Dalton girls' toys and getting 2 bears to borrow to take back on the airplane with you. You didn't have much interest in playing with the other kids, but you were very interested in playing with their toys!
Low Points:
1. Heat rash. Boy is your skin sensitive! I don't know what I'm going to do with you!
2. Too many people, too much sharing, not enough privacy. As you kept saying to Molly, "I need some space!"
Upon leaving family and friends whom you had gotten used to having around, I thought that you might be a little reluctant to head back home. But when I told you we were leaving, your response (to saying goodbye to everyone) was: "I'm not going to be sad to see them go."
Grandpa Barry might be adopting that for his epitaph.
July was a whirlwind: first Stephanie came for a visit; then you got sick, sick, sick (fell asleep in your chair watching Caillou even!); then we flew back East where we moved around as though we were in the witness protection program, trying to see everyone and do everything.
High Points:
1. Ice cream. All of it. Everywhere. When asked what your favorite flavor was, you said: "all of them!" and yet you still always saved some for me!
2. Playing with all of the Dalton girls' toys and getting 2 bears to borrow to take back on the airplane with you. You didn't have much interest in playing with the other kids, but you were very interested in playing with their toys!
Low Points:
1. Heat rash. Boy is your skin sensitive! I don't know what I'm going to do with you!
2. Too many people, too much sharing, not enough privacy. As you kept saying to Molly, "I need some space!"
Upon leaving family and friends whom you had gotten used to having around, I thought that you might be a little reluctant to head back home. But when I told you we were leaving, your response (to saying goodbye to everyone) was: "I'm not going to be sad to see them go."
Grandpa Barry might be adopting that for his epitaph.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Fluff Phobia!
Lately you've been phobic about fluff. You've never been a big fan of fluff -- have often called me in to your room hysterically to point out a piece of fluff that has found it's way into your crib that I must remove at once. In your braver moments, you will remove the fluff yourself as you assuredly tell me: "It's okay. It's just a piece of fluff." trying to talk yourself out of your fear.
But lately, you've REALLY not liked fluff. The past two nights you've found a piece of fluff in the tub and this has really ruined bathtime for you. You've gotten hysterical as I futilely chase the fluff around the tub trying to extract it, while also trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it. You suggested that we get a new tub. Barring that, you also reminded me that you're a big fan of sponge baths. I sense that we're going to have a bath stand-off sometime soon if we can't get this fluff under control!
But lately, you've REALLY not liked fluff. The past two nights you've found a piece of fluff in the tub and this has really ruined bathtime for you. You've gotten hysterical as I futilely chase the fluff around the tub trying to extract it, while also trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it. You suggested that we get a new tub. Barring that, you also reminded me that you're a big fan of sponge baths. I sense that we're going to have a bath stand-off sometime soon if we can't get this fluff under control!
Pedicure and Dancing
Today we went to the nail salon for your first pedicure. In typical Quinn fashion, you were very decisive about your nail color: red. You picked out such a nice red, in fact, that I decided to use the same color.
You were so patient and well-behaved in your little chair as the manicurist did your toenails. And once they were done you continued to sit patiently until I confirmed that they were dry and you could get up. You were so pleased with your pretty red toenails! And then, when the owner gave you a peppermint candy, you were even more pleased.
I can't believe you're just 2 1/2 (the nail salon folks couldn't believe it either!) and we're already getting to share such nice mother/daughter time. A sign of things to come.
Also, before I forget, I wanted to relay a story that's one of your daddy's favorites from last week: We were at the DeYoung museum listening to a multicultural band play music influenced by a widerange of countries around the Middle East. Accompanying the band were some wonderful dancers doing amazing belly dancing, slithering and slinking their way in front of the stage. When the dancers took a break, you and Marcel ran right out there to show off your belly moves. You danced for a while until someone told your daddy that the dancers were coming back so you all needed to clear the way. When your daddy told you the dancers were coming, you looked at him seriously and said: "But WE are the dancers."
You were so patient and well-behaved in your little chair as the manicurist did your toenails. And once they were done you continued to sit patiently until I confirmed that they were dry and you could get up. You were so pleased with your pretty red toenails! And then, when the owner gave you a peppermint candy, you were even more pleased.
I can't believe you're just 2 1/2 (the nail salon folks couldn't believe it either!) and we're already getting to share such nice mother/daughter time. A sign of things to come.
Also, before I forget, I wanted to relay a story that's one of your daddy's favorites from last week: We were at the DeYoung museum listening to a multicultural band play music influenced by a widerange of countries around the Middle East. Accompanying the band were some wonderful dancers doing amazing belly dancing, slithering and slinking their way in front of the stage. When the dancers took a break, you and Marcel ran right out there to show off your belly moves. You danced for a while until someone told your daddy that the dancers were coming back so you all needed to clear the way. When your daddy told you the dancers were coming, you looked at him seriously and said: "But WE are the dancers."
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
What a Good Idea!
I love how easily thrilled you are. Here are just a few recent enthusiastic comments from you:
1. "This is the yummiest dinner I ever had! Thank you, mommy!" - you say this often...usually just a few minutes before deciding you've had enough and want something else!
2. "That's a good idea!" - said often in response to any little suggestion I might offer.
3. "I'd love to do that, just as soon as I'm done playing." - said in response to my suggestion that we go to Maggie's to play.
4. "Thank you for my great treat, mommy!" - in response to being allowed to read a book in bed with your daddy while holding the flashlight in the dark.
5. "Yahoo! I've always wanted to do that!" - remarkably, this exclamation was merely in response to being allowed to place my toothbrush back in the toothbrush holder!
1. "This is the yummiest dinner I ever had! Thank you, mommy!" - you say this often...usually just a few minutes before deciding you've had enough and want something else!
2. "That's a good idea!" - said often in response to any little suggestion I might offer.
3. "I'd love to do that, just as soon as I'm done playing." - said in response to my suggestion that we go to Maggie's to play.
4. "Thank you for my great treat, mommy!" - in response to being allowed to read a book in bed with your daddy while holding the flashlight in the dark.
5. "Yahoo! I've always wanted to do that!" - remarkably, this exclamation was merely in response to being allowed to place my toothbrush back in the toothbrush holder!
Freckles
It's official. You have freckles. Just a few, scattered here and there across the tops of your cheek and bridge of your nose. But they're definitely there. You even checked them out yourself in the mirror. (And insisted that you have some on your belly too...but you don't.)
While they're very sweet on your little face, they make me sad. I feel like it's the first marking of age on your perfect little body. It just represents to me, I guess, that time ticks on and changes come. Your unmarked skin is now marked; the body that used to be almost permanently attached to my body is now almost too heavy for me to carry.
We were dancing the other day at a show in front of the Contemporary Jewish Museum. We were tangoing and I was twirling and dipping you, as much as I could! A woman came up to say that she remembered doing the same thing with her little girl...who was now 32. Everyone says it goes so fast and, while certain days can drag and even minute to minute can feel like an eternity sometimes, it really does seem to go too fast.
While they're very sweet on your little face, they make me sad. I feel like it's the first marking of age on your perfect little body. It just represents to me, I guess, that time ticks on and changes come. Your unmarked skin is now marked; the body that used to be almost permanently attached to my body is now almost too heavy for me to carry.
We were dancing the other day at a show in front of the Contemporary Jewish Museum. We were tangoing and I was twirling and dipping you, as much as I could! A woman came up to say that she remembered doing the same thing with her little girl...who was now 32. Everyone says it goes so fast and, while certain days can drag and even minute to minute can feel like an eternity sometimes, it really does seem to go too fast.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I'm Trying to Be Nice!
Shelly met you all for lunch today at Yerba Buena. She reported that you were crawling all over Josh and, apparently he wasn't giving you the attention you wanted and expected. So, you looked him right in the face and said: "I'm trying to be nice!"
As though Josh could possibly have missed all 33.5 pounds and 38+ inches of you squirming all around him!
As though Josh could possibly have missed all 33.5 pounds and 38+ inches of you squirming all around him!
This Duck Is Tired...But Doesn't Want to Sleep
Lately the duck has still be tired after bath, too tired to quack. But just to ensure that this doesn't mean that we think we're in for an easy bedtime, you have assured to that "this duck is tired, but doesn't want to sleep." Got it!
A few other quick things to capture:
1. In talking about our upcoming camping trip, you have decided that all the kids (you, Ella, and Marcel) should sleep in your tent with your flashlight. Your red flashlight. Your big red flashlight (just so we're not confused). You told me I should just sleep in a different tent.
2. You were very sad to see Grandma Linda and Papa go. You asked if you could go with them and said that you were going to miss them, be very sad, and that you were going to cry. When the time came to say goodbye, you refused. You don't like to say goodbye. Me either.
3. You delighted in telling me all about how baby Mo gave you upside down smiles. You really like being the big girl to babies and your dollies. Your favorite thing is pushing Samantha around in her new stroller (though you did not like the sticker on the stroller that said "For doll only. Not for child use." This made you sad. I had to remove the sticker!)
4. You ask me to keep you company. And are always checking to see if I am going to "spend a lot of time" with you.
5. Yesterday you were very into talking about disappointment, how disappointed that Marcel was that Mo's mommy didn't come with you guys to the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Oh, was she disappointed. You still love to dwell on the drama!
A few other quick things to capture:
1. In talking about our upcoming camping trip, you have decided that all the kids (you, Ella, and Marcel) should sleep in your tent with your flashlight. Your red flashlight. Your big red flashlight (just so we're not confused). You told me I should just sleep in a different tent.
2. You were very sad to see Grandma Linda and Papa go. You asked if you could go with them and said that you were going to miss them, be very sad, and that you were going to cry. When the time came to say goodbye, you refused. You don't like to say goodbye. Me either.
3. You delighted in telling me all about how baby Mo gave you upside down smiles. You really like being the big girl to babies and your dollies. Your favorite thing is pushing Samantha around in her new stroller (though you did not like the sticker on the stroller that said "For doll only. Not for child use." This made you sad. I had to remove the sticker!)
4. You ask me to keep you company. And are always checking to see if I am going to "spend a lot of time" with you.
5. Yesterday you were very into talking about disappointment, how disappointed that Marcel was that Mo's mommy didn't come with you guys to the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Oh, was she disappointed. You still love to dwell on the drama!
Monday, June 22, 2009
This Duck Is Tired
We got you a new hooded towel for use after your nightly bath. It's white with an orange duck bill on the hood and two little black eyes. This towel thrills you. Every night when you put it on, you proceed to "quack, quack" up a storm and like to look at your duck-self in the bathroom mirror while you put on a show.
The other night, you were wrecked...no nap, long day travelling here and there, and lunch at Fisherman's Wharf's Bubba Gump (it knocked me out too!). By the time bath rolled around, you could barely keep your eyes open. When I put you in the towel, I quacked at you. You sunk into my shoulder and, instead of quacking, you just said: "This duck is tired."
The next day, Father's Day, you had gotten some wind back in your sails. Not only did you quack away after bath, but you also had a very busy day practicing hopping your way up and down the stairs at Yoshi's SF and walking backwards downstairs. You are very pleased with your newfound hopping ability! You enjoyed it almost as much as handing out stickers to all the kids in the audience pre-show!
The other night, you were wrecked...no nap, long day travelling here and there, and lunch at Fisherman's Wharf's Bubba Gump (it knocked me out too!). By the time bath rolled around, you could barely keep your eyes open. When I put you in the towel, I quacked at you. You sunk into my shoulder and, instead of quacking, you just said: "This duck is tired."
The next day, Father's Day, you had gotten some wind back in your sails. Not only did you quack away after bath, but you also had a very busy day practicing hopping your way up and down the stairs at Yoshi's SF and walking backwards downstairs. You are very pleased with your newfound hopping ability! You enjoyed it almost as much as handing out stickers to all the kids in the audience pre-show!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
No More Diapers?
Should note that you've been wearing underwear full-time now since Sunday and doing an awesome job! Only 2 accident (one while napping). I think that you were just waiting for us to commit and take you out of the diapers to end this whole training thing that we've been working on since you were 17 months old!
You are very proud of your watermelon panties. And we are very proud of you.
Also, to note, 2 very funny things that you say in regards to your nightly cup of water and/or morning milk:
1. If a cup is empty, you refuse to see it as "empty." Instead you just say "it's not working very well" in the hopes that we'll get you a new -- and full -- cup.
2. One morning, half-asleep, I accidentally forget to put a lid on your milk cup which caused you to pour it all over yourself and the bed. You were very upset about this, but quickly recovered. After cleaning up, I said I'd get you a fresh cup. Your response: "With a lid?" Now you often like to be really clear, just in case, and let me know: "Mommy, I need some milk, with a lid, please!"
You are very proud of your watermelon panties. And we are very proud of you.
Also, to note, 2 very funny things that you say in regards to your nightly cup of water and/or morning milk:
1. If a cup is empty, you refuse to see it as "empty." Instead you just say "it's not working very well" in the hopes that we'll get you a new -- and full -- cup.
2. One morning, half-asleep, I accidentally forget to put a lid on your milk cup which caused you to pour it all over yourself and the bed. You were very upset about this, but quickly recovered. After cleaning up, I said I'd get you a fresh cup. Your response: "With a lid?" Now you often like to be really clear, just in case, and let me know: "Mommy, I need some milk, with a lid, please!"
Grandma Linda and Papa
You are so happy that Grandma Linda and Papa are here. Since you are often a bit reserved, I thought it might take you a little while to warm up to them, but not at all! As soon as you woke up to see that they were, as promised, here to visit, you broke out into a huge smile that you kept on your face all day!
You want to make sure that they don't miss a single thing that you say or do. In fact, you're so enamored of their company, that you don't even care if I'm around! You actually sent me into the other room earlier so that Linda could help you sit up Samantha in my spot on the rug!
Seeing you cuddle up on Grandma Linda's lap and stare delightedly at Papa's magnifying eyeglass tricks, makes me realize again that family really is special. The relationship you have with them is amazing. And it makes me so happy to see you so happy.
You're excited to take them to the Grind for pancakes and to the DeYoung for arts and crafts and music. And I'm just excited to watch you share it all with them.
This is when it's hard to live 3000 miles away from family and friends...
You want to make sure that they don't miss a single thing that you say or do. In fact, you're so enamored of their company, that you don't even care if I'm around! You actually sent me into the other room earlier so that Linda could help you sit up Samantha in my spot on the rug!
Seeing you cuddle up on Grandma Linda's lap and stare delightedly at Papa's magnifying eyeglass tricks, makes me realize again that family really is special. The relationship you have with them is amazing. And it makes me so happy to see you so happy.
You're excited to take them to the Grind for pancakes and to the DeYoung for arts and crafts and music. And I'm just excited to watch you share it all with them.
This is when it's hard to live 3000 miles away from family and friends...
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Panties, Busses, and Gummy Bears
The makings for a perfect Saturday!
We went to the North Beach fair today and you had a blast. You love riding on the bus (the other day, on the 24 Divisadero, you said: "Riding the bus is my favorite thing!" causing a jaded passenger to laugh and say "Just wait until you're older...!") and thoroughly enjoyed this trip, complete with making conversation with some crazy dude sitting across from us. You felt it was totally appropriate conversation to tell an odd stranger that you were going shopping for panties. He thought this was a good idea: "Listen to her," he said. "She's thinking about hygiene. Kids are smart!"
You loved playing in the park with the bigger kids though you did say at one point: "I'm trying to get some space and all the kids keep coming through." And you must have gone down the slide over 100 times!
We had dinner at your first Italian restaurant. You loved pouring the olive oil and vinegar and dipping your bread. But even better were the gummy bears presented with the check for dessert. Quinn heaven. You sat up very straight and properly when I told you that if you behaved these gummy bears would magically appear.
You marvelled at the tall buildings saying that they were the biggest skyscrapers ever, a word you said you learned from Tar Beach.
After chatting with more folks on the busride home, you got right in the bath with your "tilting" hat on. Even if you don't fall asleep until after 10pm (which I hope is not the case, for your daddy's sake!), I think we can still consider today an overall rousing success! The nice man on the bus reminded us to savor it all now because 0-5 goes so quickly. It does. It does.
We went to the North Beach fair today and you had a blast. You love riding on the bus (the other day, on the 24 Divisadero, you said: "Riding the bus is my favorite thing!" causing a jaded passenger to laugh and say "Just wait until you're older...!") and thoroughly enjoyed this trip, complete with making conversation with some crazy dude sitting across from us. You felt it was totally appropriate conversation to tell an odd stranger that you were going shopping for panties. He thought this was a good idea: "Listen to her," he said. "She's thinking about hygiene. Kids are smart!"
You loved playing in the park with the bigger kids though you did say at one point: "I'm trying to get some space and all the kids keep coming through." And you must have gone down the slide over 100 times!
We had dinner at your first Italian restaurant. You loved pouring the olive oil and vinegar and dipping your bread. But even better were the gummy bears presented with the check for dessert. Quinn heaven. You sat up very straight and properly when I told you that if you behaved these gummy bears would magically appear.
You marvelled at the tall buildings saying that they were the biggest skyscrapers ever, a word you said you learned from Tar Beach.
After chatting with more folks on the busride home, you got right in the bath with your "tilting" hat on. Even if you don't fall asleep until after 10pm (which I hope is not the case, for your daddy's sake!), I think we can still consider today an overall rousing success! The nice man on the bus reminded us to savor it all now because 0-5 goes so quickly. It does. It does.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Story Telling
We were writing stories today and you said that you wrote a story of your own, and it went like this (verbatim):
"There was a girl and a boy and they were both named 'dub-dub." They ate the crayons. Their mommy and daddy came. They just came out in the garden and watered the plants by themselves. All by themselves. They just stamped inside. They just ran inside the house. They went into the living room and played some cookies. They had red cookies. And then they went outside some more. And then they came back inside. And that was the story."
"That's the whole story I was talking about. That's my story. And there's one more story that daddy made up..."
"There was once a boy -- just a little boy not named Pierre -- (I just changed my mind mommy, I like Pierre). He doesn't eat crayons. He just draws with crayons. He draws it on an easel. He draws a picture of himself. It's a big boy and a little boy and a girl. And they draw pictures. They take turns on that stepstool. Then his mommy and daddy came. And they say 'good job' to them. They say good job for not eating the crayons. Then there was a cupcake. And they shared the cupcake."
"That's the story. There's something else in it too.."
"There's a girl named Samantha. A big girl named Samantha. She got her own stepstool so she can draw by herself instead of somebody getting on it. So she draws by herself. And then she got off. And after she got off she draw a picture of herself on the stepstool. And after she got off, somebody got on it. So she got a new stepstool. Her mommy buy a new stepstool for a big girl named Samantha. And then she draw by herself. And somebody else draw by themselves."
"And that's the story."
"Now Samantha has a story about one little girl named Samantha..."
"It's when she was trying to play with her mommy. She played with her mommy and daddy. She got happy. And then she got to eat a cupcake with her mommy and daddy. They got red cupcakes. And then it was yummy so they ate it all up. And daddy said that was yummy so they went back home."
"And that's the end of the story."
After I read you all of the stories you wrote, you smiled and said:
"Yeah. That's the story."
"That's all the stories."
For now...
"There was a girl and a boy and they were both named 'dub-dub." They ate the crayons. Their mommy and daddy came. They just came out in the garden and watered the plants by themselves. All by themselves. They just stamped inside. They just ran inside the house. They went into the living room and played some cookies. They had red cookies. And then they went outside some more. And then they came back inside. And that was the story."
"That's the whole story I was talking about. That's my story. And there's one more story that daddy made up..."
"There was once a boy -- just a little boy not named Pierre -- (I just changed my mind mommy, I like Pierre). He doesn't eat crayons. He just draws with crayons. He draws it on an easel. He draws a picture of himself. It's a big boy and a little boy and a girl. And they draw pictures. They take turns on that stepstool. Then his mommy and daddy came. And they say 'good job' to them. They say good job for not eating the crayons. Then there was a cupcake. And they shared the cupcake."
"That's the story. There's something else in it too.."
"There's a girl named Samantha. A big girl named Samantha. She got her own stepstool so she can draw by herself instead of somebody getting on it. So she draws by herself. And then she got off. And after she got off she draw a picture of herself on the stepstool. And after she got off, somebody got on it. So she got a new stepstool. Her mommy buy a new stepstool for a big girl named Samantha. And then she draw by herself. And somebody else draw by themselves."
"And that's the story."
"Now Samantha has a story about one little girl named Samantha..."
"It's when she was trying to play with her mommy. She played with her mommy and daddy. She got happy. And then she got to eat a cupcake with her mommy and daddy. They got red cupcakes. And then it was yummy so they ate it all up. And daddy said that was yummy so they went back home."
"And that's the end of the story."
After I read you all of the stories you wrote, you smiled and said:
"Yeah. That's the story."
"That's all the stories."
For now...
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Camping and Dancing Ladies
Our first family camping trip. You were keen on the idea: playing in a tent, going exploring, and, more than anything, getting your first taste of nirvana in the form of a marshmallow.
Overall, it was going really well. You loved cuddling up in your sleeping bag in the tent and reading books; you liked hanging out with the big girls (Sam, Ciara, and Lily); and, as night fell, and the fire was lit, you REALLY liked your marshmallow!
One little oversight on our part: we forgot to explicitly state that camping means that you sleep overnight in your tent. As we wrapped up the nighttime routine and tried to settle down to go to bed, you lost it. Really lost it, repeating an endless mantra -- at top volume -- "I want to go home." You thought we were just having some fun and then were going to go home. Totally unprepared for a night in a tent, you were just not having it.
You finally calmed down with the idea of cuddling up by the fire in your sleeping bag. So that's what we did. You curled up first on your daddy's lap and then on mine -- the only kid still awake with the adults. After chatting for a while, you finally relaxed and just watched the fire which, you decided, was "a dancing lady."
Soothed, and exhausted, we went to bed where you fell asleep peacefully with the flashlight still in your hand.
Overall, it was going really well. You loved cuddling up in your sleeping bag in the tent and reading books; you liked hanging out with the big girls (Sam, Ciara, and Lily); and, as night fell, and the fire was lit, you REALLY liked your marshmallow!
One little oversight on our part: we forgot to explicitly state that camping means that you sleep overnight in your tent. As we wrapped up the nighttime routine and tried to settle down to go to bed, you lost it. Really lost it, repeating an endless mantra -- at top volume -- "I want to go home." You thought we were just having some fun and then were going to go home. Totally unprepared for a night in a tent, you were just not having it.
You finally calmed down with the idea of cuddling up by the fire in your sleeping bag. So that's what we did. You curled up first on your daddy's lap and then on mine -- the only kid still awake with the adults. After chatting for a while, you finally relaxed and just watched the fire which, you decided, was "a dancing lady."
Soothed, and exhausted, we went to bed where you fell asleep peacefully with the flashlight still in your hand.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Congestion
You like to know your options. As you once told your daddy: "I have choices." Oh yes you do -- you always see to that.
Now, in addition to having choices, you like to made "congestions" aka "suggestions." When you wanted to read books yesterday, you weren't sure what you were in the mood for so I asked you if you would like me to make a suggestion. You thought that was a good idea, but then interrupted my series of suggestions to ask: "Can I ask a question? Can I make a congestion?" And so you did.
You also told daddy yesterday that White Bear plays the tuba while Sweet Dolly Lucy plays the piccolo, but, you said, "I like to call it a pickle."
Last night when you cooked for us, I believe you made mozzarella soup, but I'm not sure.
And, lastly, you kept your diaper dry all day yesterday. You were very proud to "recycle" and explained that this means that "We can go shopping for panties soon. Red. No mermaids. Just plain red."
Now, in addition to having choices, you like to made "congestions" aka "suggestions." When you wanted to read books yesterday, you weren't sure what you were in the mood for so I asked you if you would like me to make a suggestion. You thought that was a good idea, but then interrupted my series of suggestions to ask: "Can I ask a question? Can I make a congestion?" And so you did.
You also told daddy yesterday that White Bear plays the tuba while Sweet Dolly Lucy plays the piccolo, but, you said, "I like to call it a pickle."
Last night when you cooked for us, I believe you made mozzarella soup, but I'm not sure.
And, lastly, you kept your diaper dry all day yesterday. You were very proud to "recycle" and explained that this means that "We can go shopping for panties soon. Red. No mermaids. Just plain red."
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Birth of Quinn-tesence
You were born January 19, 2007: 2 years, 4 months, 12 days ago.
Quinn-tessence is being born today, May 31, 2009.
Why? Because quintessence, according to the dictionary, is "the most perfect embodiment of something."
And, you, our little Quinn, are absolutely the most perfect embodiment of something, of many things, of things full of wonder about which we feel overwhelming awe. It's a bit late to be starting this now, but I don't want more time to pass without us recording all the amazing things you say and do.
We can't capture everything, but I'm hoping that Quinn-tessence can embody your Quinn Essence such that, in years to come, we will always have this little space to hold on to to remember the way things were.
And here's something to hold on to for today (or maybe it was yesterday...they all blur together).
You said: "Wouldn't it be funny if they had green octagon signs that said 'go'?"
And you were obsessed with the sign at the zoo by the gorillas which had the image of lips with a finger pressed against them to say "be quiet." You kept talking about how "brave" you were that you said "shhh" and talked a little quieter when you went by them. We finally convinced you that this was rather more "respectful" than brave. Once you'd agreed, you had another great idea: "They should have a sign," you said, "as you leave the gorillas that says 'be louder!'"
Good point, I think!
Quinn-tessence is being born today, May 31, 2009.
Why? Because quintessence, according to the dictionary, is "the most perfect embodiment of something."
And, you, our little Quinn, are absolutely the most perfect embodiment of something, of many things, of things full of wonder about which we feel overwhelming awe. It's a bit late to be starting this now, but I don't want more time to pass without us recording all the amazing things you say and do.
We can't capture everything, but I'm hoping that Quinn-tessence can embody your Quinn Essence such that, in years to come, we will always have this little space to hold on to to remember the way things were.
And here's something to hold on to for today (or maybe it was yesterday...they all blur together).
You said: "Wouldn't it be funny if they had green octagon signs that said 'go'?"
And you were obsessed with the sign at the zoo by the gorillas which had the image of lips with a finger pressed against them to say "be quiet." You kept talking about how "brave" you were that you said "shhh" and talked a little quieter when you went by them. We finally convinced you that this was rather more "respectful" than brave. Once you'd agreed, you had another great idea: "They should have a sign," you said, "as you leave the gorillas that says 'be louder!'"
Good point, I think!
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