Kate contemplates what letter starts the word "wave"...
While Anna contemplates why the plastic piece won't go in the bucket, through the bottom...
or why anyone would put the puzzle piece in the puzzle when it fits so nicely in one's mouth.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
26 Months Apart
26 months and many worlds apart...
Kate contemplates what letter starts the word "wave"...
Kate contemplates what letter starts the word "wave"...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Anna and Josie
We ended up at Aunt Jamie's house today, forcing the older kids to make some Valentine projects...and enjoy it!
Calvin, mid R2D2 project.
Parker's completed Jabba the Hutt Valentine.
The highlight of the day, though, turned out to be Anna and Josie. They were sudden best friends. Josie found Anna wild and intriguing, and Anna loved Josie! She kept hugging her and patting her. She liked her more than Knuffle Bunny!
Calvin, mid R2D2 project.Parker's completed Jabba the Hutt Valentine.The highlight of the day, though, turned out to be Anna and Josie. They were sudden best friends. Josie found Anna wild and intriguing, and Anna loved Josie! She kept hugging her and patting her. She liked her more than Knuffle Bunny!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
It's the little things...
Kate
Today Kate was playing dentist with Dave. After she finished with him, he thanked her. She replied, “Please come back again. I start at noon.”
She comes up with the strangest stuff. A few weeks ago, Kate had a bad cold and her voice was really hoarse. She said, “I’m talking like a boy. My mouth doesn’t work for my regular voice, only my boy voice.”
Yesterday, Kate drew two snakes on a piece of scrap paper, one was really long and went all the way from the top of the page to the bottom. The other was smaller, only going two thirds of the way down. She told me later, “That’s a capital snake and a lowercase snake.”
Anna
When I put Anna down to sleep, she often holds up Knuffle Bunny for a final kiss before I leave. In the morning, she's usually lying on her tummy. When she hears me walk in, she sticks Knuffle Bunny way up high in the air, like to greet me first. Then she pops up herself.
Today Kate was playing dentist with Dave. After she finished with him, he thanked her. She replied, “Please come back again. I start at noon.”
She comes up with the strangest stuff. A few weeks ago, Kate had a bad cold and her voice was really hoarse. She said, “I’m talking like a boy. My mouth doesn’t work for my regular voice, only my boy voice.”
Yesterday, Kate drew two snakes on a piece of scrap paper, one was really long and went all the way from the top of the page to the bottom. The other was smaller, only going two thirds of the way down. She told me later, “That’s a capital snake and a lowercase snake.”
Anna
When I put Anna down to sleep, she often holds up Knuffle Bunny for a final kiss before I leave. In the morning, she's usually lying on her tummy. When she hears me walk in, she sticks Knuffle Bunny way up high in the air, like to greet me first. Then she pops up herself.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale & Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
For those of you who don't know, there are titles of books by one of our favorite children's authors, Mo Willems. These are the books which feature Knuffle Bunny, who has become our girls' most adored loveys, which neither of them can be apart from. I should have heeded the "caution" Willems gives in his first book, and perhaps not been so thrilled that Kate had found a lovey. But, I was indeed thrilled, I love that Kate has something to take with her and bring her comfort. And, since Kate got Anna a Knuffle Bunny, I absolutely love that I can put Anna down to sleep, hand Knuffle Bunny to her, and leave the room without her crying. What I've learned, though, is that there is a downside to these loveys.
I'm tired. I have been tired for the better part (or the worst part) of the last three years. Kate wasn't sleeping through the night when Anna was born, and Anna isn't sleeping through the night now. I dearly value my sleep.
Monday night Dave was on call, so he slept on the futon, which allowed for Kate to have the special treat of sleeping in my bed with me. I put her in bed before me, so that I could spend some alone time with Dave. Kate had declared she was going to read books, wait for me to come in, and not go to sleep until I came. She was exhausted, however, and fell asleep reading the books. I was also exhausted that day, and I didn't do a final organization of the playroom, which I almost always do.
When I went to bed, I fell right to sleep and was having a beautiful night's sleep until I heard a loud, panicked exclamation, "Where's Knuffs?!"
I looked at the clock. 1:46. I knew there was no convincing her to just go back to sleep. Since she's gotten Knuffle Bunny, she's never fallen asleep without him, not even in the car. I first searched all the blankets, sure that she must have had him when she went to bed. I then turned on the light and searched all the blankets again, under the pillows, and moved on to under the bed. I then left the room and searched in her room, the hallway, the upstairs bathroom, and went downstairs to search the kitchen, playroom, living room, and even the study, trying not to wake Dave. While I searched, aside from thinking of how completely tired I was, I wondered how Knuffle Bunny could possibly be anywhere besides where Kate was sleeping. I couldn't imagine that she'd fallen asleep with out him. So, I went back into our room, and did a third search of the bed and surrounding area.
By this point Kate was wide awake and in a great mood. "Look!" she exclaimed, noticing the Knuffle Bunny book by which she'd fallen asleep, "There's Trixie! She's showing you that Knuffs is green and blue. Now you can find him!"
I left the room again, and while completing a second search of the whole house, thinking of how much bigger it seems in the night, I formulated a plan.
Anna was sound asleep. She is a light sleeper, but I could certainly sneak in there and steal her Knuffle Bunny without her noticing. She does fall asleep with Knuffle Bunny, but when she woke up to nurse at 4:30, I could sneak it back from Kate and return it to her so she could hold it while she falls back to sleep. Steal your baby's lovey? I yelled at myself, What's wrong with you? But, I argued, trying to stifle the guilt, she doesn't need it now. Desperate times, desperate measures. What about when Kate wakes in the morning, again missing her Knuffle Bunny? I planned what I'd say, "What? That stinker is missing again!?"
After the second search of the house was futile, I decided to go through with the plan. I headed for my bedroom to turn out the light. Each Knuffle Bunny's tag is labeled, Kate's with "Kate" and Anna's with "A." I'd gotten sick of turning the Knuffle Bunnies to readthe tags, and I'd wanted to cut the tag off Annas and leave the tag on Kate's so I could see whose was whose at a glance. But Dave had argued that Kate loves to read the tags, so I'd left them on. I was so glad for that now. This way there'd be no way for her to tell in the dark.
I turned out the light, told Kate there was one more place I had to look, and snuck into Anna's room. I made it without her stirring. As I walked back to my room, I smoothed out the fur in the places where it was crunchy from Anna sucking on it.
As it's always my policy not to lie to the girls, I carefully chose my words when I got into bed, "Oh, Kate, look what I found!" and handed her the imposter Bunny. I lay down next to her, 2:04, and just started to think how wonderful it was to get back into bed, when she declared, "What's the tag say?" Again, carefully choosing my words, I replied, "Oh, honey, what do you think it says?" "I can't see. It's dark," she replied. I knew where this was going, so I prepared to act shocked when I finally had to turn on the light. And, yes, that light went on. No "Case of Mistaken Identity" for Kate tonight.
After acting shocked, I took Anna's Bunny and laid it outside her door, not wanting to risk entering her room again, on my way to again look downstairs. I didn't know how a third search of the house would be any different, so I broke my "on call" policy and woke Dave up. He, in less than two minutes, found the Bunny in the bin of stuffed animals in the playroom. My mother had been over that day, and must have helped clean up the stuffed animals. I hadn't "reorganized" as I usually do, and in the middle of the night I hadn't thought about that.
So, Kate checked that tag, and happily lay back down to go back to sleep. I also lay down, 2:09, exhausted, but too awake from running around for the last 25 minutes to sleep. I lie there awake for some time, and when I started to settle back into sleep, I glanced at the clock, 2:34. I was so thankful that Anna never wakes me up before 4:00 anymore. I know I'll get at least an hour and a half chunk of sleep before I'd have to nurse her. I drifted off to sleep.
Kate was greatly relieved at the reunion.
Anna peacefully returned to sleep after the theft was rectified.
I'm tired. I have been tired for the better part (or the worst part) of the last three years. Kate wasn't sleeping through the night when Anna was born, and Anna isn't sleeping through the night now. I dearly value my sleep.
Monday night Dave was on call, so he slept on the futon, which allowed for Kate to have the special treat of sleeping in my bed with me. I put her in bed before me, so that I could spend some alone time with Dave. Kate had declared she was going to read books, wait for me to come in, and not go to sleep until I came. She was exhausted, however, and fell asleep reading the books. I was also exhausted that day, and I didn't do a final organization of the playroom, which I almost always do.
When I went to bed, I fell right to sleep and was having a beautiful night's sleep until I heard a loud, panicked exclamation, "Where's Knuffs?!"
I looked at the clock. 1:46. I knew there was no convincing her to just go back to sleep. Since she's gotten Knuffle Bunny, she's never fallen asleep without him, not even in the car. I first searched all the blankets, sure that she must have had him when she went to bed. I then turned on the light and searched all the blankets again, under the pillows, and moved on to under the bed. I then left the room and searched in her room, the hallway, the upstairs bathroom, and went downstairs to search the kitchen, playroom, living room, and even the study, trying not to wake Dave. While I searched, aside from thinking of how completely tired I was, I wondered how Knuffle Bunny could possibly be anywhere besides where Kate was sleeping. I couldn't imagine that she'd fallen asleep with out him. So, I went back into our room, and did a third search of the bed and surrounding area.
By this point Kate was wide awake and in a great mood. "Look!" she exclaimed, noticing the Knuffle Bunny book by which she'd fallen asleep, "There's Trixie! She's showing you that Knuffs is green and blue. Now you can find him!"
I left the room again, and while completing a second search of the whole house, thinking of how much bigger it seems in the night, I formulated a plan.
Anna was sound asleep. She is a light sleeper, but I could certainly sneak in there and steal her Knuffle Bunny without her noticing. She does fall asleep with Knuffle Bunny, but when she woke up to nurse at 4:30, I could sneak it back from Kate and return it to her so she could hold it while she falls back to sleep. Steal your baby's lovey? I yelled at myself, What's wrong with you? But, I argued, trying to stifle the guilt, she doesn't need it now. Desperate times, desperate measures. What about when Kate wakes in the morning, again missing her Knuffle Bunny? I planned what I'd say, "What? That stinker is missing again!?"
After the second search of the house was futile, I decided to go through with the plan. I headed for my bedroom to turn out the light. Each Knuffle Bunny's tag is labeled, Kate's with "Kate" and Anna's with "A." I'd gotten sick of turning the Knuffle Bunnies to readthe tags, and I'd wanted to cut the tag off Annas and leave the tag on Kate's so I could see whose was whose at a glance. But Dave had argued that Kate loves to read the tags, so I'd left them on. I was so glad for that now. This way there'd be no way for her to tell in the dark.
I turned out the light, told Kate there was one more place I had to look, and snuck into Anna's room. I made it without her stirring. As I walked back to my room, I smoothed out the fur in the places where it was crunchy from Anna sucking on it.
As it's always my policy not to lie to the girls, I carefully chose my words when I got into bed, "Oh, Kate, look what I found!" and handed her the imposter Bunny. I lay down next to her, 2:04, and just started to think how wonderful it was to get back into bed, when she declared, "What's the tag say?" Again, carefully choosing my words, I replied, "Oh, honey, what do you think it says?" "I can't see. It's dark," she replied. I knew where this was going, so I prepared to act shocked when I finally had to turn on the light. And, yes, that light went on. No "Case of Mistaken Identity" for Kate tonight.
After acting shocked, I took Anna's Bunny and laid it outside her door, not wanting to risk entering her room again, on my way to again look downstairs. I didn't know how a third search of the house would be any different, so I broke my "on call" policy and woke Dave up. He, in less than two minutes, found the Bunny in the bin of stuffed animals in the playroom. My mother had been over that day, and must have helped clean up the stuffed animals. I hadn't "reorganized" as I usually do, and in the middle of the night I hadn't thought about that.
So, Kate checked that tag, and happily lay back down to go back to sleep. I also lay down, 2:09, exhausted, but too awake from running around for the last 25 minutes to sleep. I lie there awake for some time, and when I started to settle back into sleep, I glanced at the clock, 2:34. I was so thankful that Anna never wakes me up before 4:00 anymore. I know I'll get at least an hour and a half chunk of sleep before I'd have to nurse her. I drifted off to sleep.
"Waaaaaaa!" I realize it's coming from the monitor. I glance at the clock. 2:38. I'm confused. Anna never wakes up at this time anymore. Why would she be crying? Ohh... Arghhh!
.
.
.
Kate was greatly relieved at the reunion. Anna peacefully returned to sleep after the theft was rectified.Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Anna's new trick
As if she wasn't already enough of a danger to herself, today Anna made it all the way up to the second floor... in about 30 seconds. I was right behind her, of course... well, at least after I found her on the fourth step!(Okay, everyone whose exclaiming, "Baby gates, lady!" I know. We've been trying. There's no place on the stairs to mount them. We've decided to lock her in the other half of the house.)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Snow angels
Kate had the idea of going outside and making a
snow baby
and snow puppy.
snow big girl
snow babyand snow puppy.(Snow mommy not pictured!)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Forgotten Memories from 2008
On New Year's Eve, Dave, Kate, Anna (while she tolerated it), and I looked through pictures from the past year. There were soem pictures that we saw and said, "Oh, I'd forgotten..."
These are those pictures:
From May 13, 2008
These are those pictures:
From April 2, 2008
Whenever Dave was at work, and his slippers were free, Kate would use them as boats for her Georges and her Phoenix.
From April 3, 2008
Kate loved cars. And she loved them in a way only a little girl could. When it was time to eat, she set them on the table to eat. When it was time to sleep, she put them to sleep. Every nap time and every night, they slept in a row on their backs.
From April 18, 2008
Kate loved cars so much, she was motivated to potty train with cars underwear... which only comes in boys' style. Here she is showing off her undies!
From May 13, 2008Here's Kate with the Ergo Baby Carrier I made for her, since her babies were like Anna and wanted to be carried around.
From October 27, 2008
I swear she looks like she's modeling. Work it, work it!
From October 27, 2008I swear she looks like she's modeling. Work it, work it!
Questions & Answers
Kate's Question & Answer
I just remembered something that Kate said at the family Christmas party on Christmas Eve. My Uncle Paul asked her, “What’s your phone number?” She smiled, shook her head a little, and said, “I’m just a kid; I don’t have a phone!”
When I laughed and said, “What’s the number for the phone at our house?" she quickly told him our number.
Anna's Question & Answer
A couple days ago, Dave and I were talking about how we'd gotten overcharged for our satellite service. He explained that he called and fixed it. “What did they say?” I asked him. Anna immediately chimed in, “T- T- T- "
Ever since she’s learned the answer to “What does a T say?” with Kate, she now answers any question, directed at anyone, that ends in “say” with “T- T- T-.”
I just remembered something that Kate said at the family Christmas party on Christmas Eve. My Uncle Paul asked her, “What’s your phone number?” She smiled, shook her head a little, and said, “I’m just a kid; I don’t have a phone!”
When I laughed and said, “What’s the number for the phone at our house?" she quickly told him our number.
Anna's Question & Answer
A couple days ago, Dave and I were talking about how we'd gotten overcharged for our satellite service. He explained that he called and fixed it. “What did they say?” I asked him. Anna immediately chimed in, “T- T- T- "
Ever since she’s learned the answer to “What does a T say?” with Kate, she now answers any question, directed at anyone, that ends in “say” with “T- T- T-.”
Friday, January 2, 2009
Sweet Kate
Kate has been saving change for a while now. Every day she's deposited a few coins into her banks, always talking about how she was going to give some money to charity, save some for college, and then spend some. She was quite excited to spend her savings on her dream "toy" of a wrapping paper cutter...
For the last week, Anna has been doing her best to get Kate's Knuffle Bunny. For a while, I thought it was just the draw of the stuffed animal. But then I realized that wasn't it. This picture was taken just after I realized Anna was taking Knuffle Bunny to get Kate's attention, possibly even to tease her. For days, Kate would patiently take Knuffle Bunny back from Anna. Then one day, I asked Kate to just ignore Anna. First Anna started thrusting the bunny at Kate, like, "Don't you see what I have?" After Kate obediently ignored her, Anna tried a new tactic. She held Knuffle Bunny up to her ear and said, "Hello, hello." She really wanted Kate to notice that she not only had Knuffle Bunny, but she was also using him as a phone.
For the last week, Anna has been doing her best to get Kate's Knuffle Bunny. For a while, I thought it was just the draw of the stuffed animal. But then I realized that wasn't it. This picture was taken just after I realized Anna was taking Knuffle Bunny to get Kate's attention, possibly even to tease her. For days, Kate would patiently take Knuffle Bunny back from Anna. Then one day, I asked Kate to just ignore Anna. First Anna started thrusting the bunny at Kate, like, "Don't you see what I have?" After Kate obediently ignored her, Anna tried a new tactic. She held Knuffle Bunny up to her ear and said, "Hello, hello." She really wanted Kate to notice that she not only had Knuffle Bunny, but she was also using him as a phone. Maybe it's the first born child taking the side of her first born child, but I kind of thought, "You little stinker, give Kate her favorite toy back and knock it off." Not my sweet Kate. She thought Anna must really, really want a Knuffle Bunny. She declared that she wasn't going to buy a wrapping paper cutter, she was going to use her money to buy her sister her own Knuffle Bunny.
Today Kate sorted some of her money into a charity and college piles, put the rest in her purse, and we set off to Barnes & Noble. In the car, Kate told Anna where we were going. We had to park far away and walk a couple blocks, then we looked for an elevator. When we were finally in the elevator, Kate reached across the stroller, pulled Anna into a huge hug, and announced, "When we get upstairs, you're going to get your Knuffle Bunny!"
There were no Knuffle Bunnies in sight. We had to ask an employee. After I explained the situation, she was determined. She searched her records and disappeared to go downstairs. When she came up, she triumphantly handed a Knuffle Bunny to Kate. Kate very excitedly ran to Anna holding out the Bunny and exclaimed, "Anna! Here's your Knuffle Bunny!"
Kate had one moment of weakness. A really ugly (in my unbiased opinion) doll with a cow print shirt and multi-colored hair caught her attention while we were waiting for the employee to return. She talked about how she really liked it and really wanted it. After the Knuffle Bunny arrived and it was time to go, Kate began to whine about how much she wanted it. I felt a little torn. It was her money, and she was choosing to do something so giving. Shouldn't she be able to buy that doll instead? I gave her the option of buying the doll. She said, "I want to buy both." I told her she didn't have enough money for that and walked a few steps away to the stroller. She put the doll back and got in the stroller.
I do not deserve such a great kid.
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