Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Dear Noah 38 months

Dear Noah Noah,
You have had a verbal explosion. I can't believe how much you're saying and the stories you're telling me! Kate is a little sad about all that she'll miss when Emmie goes to preschool this year and that she'll hear the stories from her but she won't actually be experiencing life with Emmie during the hours she's at preschool. I wasn't too worried about this... I was a little sad that I wouldn't even hear how your days go at preschool because you didn't tend to tell me stories of your experiences... until this month. You tell me everything!
"Look, the sky is blue"- Noah
"The sky is blue"- Mommy
"You're right!"- Noah
You have started mimicking our speech more and more this month too. I think it started when you and Uncle Shawn went back and forth repeating a line from a movie that Uncle Shawn knows. When you realized how fun copying was... well, sometimes it's all you want to do and it's very funny hearing your articulation of what we've just said.

Your manners have multiplied along with your verbal diarrhea. I hear a lot of "sankyou"'s which is pretty adorable. We also often hear you as you lay in your bed falling asleep calling to us:
"Excuse me!.... I need some snuggles.... Do you hear me?.... I'm right here!.... Daaaaad!!!"
You also often insist that you "need" something that you definitely want... you don't need. I have thought that it's so refreshing not to have a kid saying "I want" all the time but I'm not sure if that's any different from "I need".
We had a very busy month with two trips to Vermont! You were very very sad to have to leave Grammy's house. During our second trip you would often refuse to get in the car when we went somewhere (the park, a friend's house....) until I reassured you that we were going to Grammy's again- we weren't going home. How you love being at Grammy's!

We had my Grampa's memorial service in Plattsburgh that we combined with our first trip up to Vermont. You and your sister were the star of the show as the youngest attendees. It was enjoyable to get together with family and friends and remember Grampa. You had fun running around the cemetary- who knew cemetaries could be so fun?

We left Daddy home for most of our second trip to Vermont. We had fun hanging out and it even got warm enough for you to want to get in the pool. I was skeptical of the water temperature but was forced to jump in fully clothed when you fell out of your floaty boat. The weather was pretty refreshing after all. After a couple coughs and a snuggle/crying session with Mommy you fell asleep for the night. The next day you were back in the pool, no harm done, thankfully.

You keep crawling into my lap and out while I write this. I keep telling you to just wait a minute.... I'm tying your letter. You're saying: "Yeah, you're writing N-O-A-H".
Anyway, I know there's more things to say about the fun we've had this month (you're very excited about the prospect of school when the leaves change colors, for instance; that you're refusing to take a bath because you hate hate having your hair washed; that you love love wearing your red crocs still; that you give your sister anything she yells for- even when you were playing with it- but you avoid her hugs and kisses at all costs; that you hate being tickled and will burst into tears if anyone other than Mommy or Daddy tickle you- if Mommy or Daddy tickle you you turn onto your stomach and insist on "only back scratches"- in fact, you hate tickling so much that you often insist that "she doesn't like that! Stop!" when we tickle Del, despite her giggles and signing "more"....) but your sister is done munching on watermelon and you're wanting me to write a letter to Aidan and Isaac- two playgroup friends....
Love you baby boy,
Mommy
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Saturday, July 4, 2009

Farm Girl goes to sleep

 

Lay in bed with Mommy.
Ask for milk
it's all gone.
read book in high voice while holding Monkey
trade monkey for Bert.
Read book to Bert.
Trade Bert for Monkey.
Rinse.
Repeat.
Move book away.
Hold Monkey and Bert.
Give both hugs and kisses.
Notice Mommy's feet at end of bed.
Crawl down to them.
Use them to stand up.
Reach for Mommy's hands to be lifted into the air on feet.
Mommy doesn't see.
Grunt.
No response.
Crawl up legs.
Flop on Mommy's chest.
Flop off Mommy.
Notice Mommy's shirt.
Lift shirt to find belly.
Poke Mommy's belly button
hard
Lay head on Mommy's belly.
Sit up.
Pull shirt down
then up.
Lay back down on belly.
Sit up.
Flop onto bed with head precariously close to edge of bed.
Remember Bert.
Get Bert.
Flop back onto bed close to edge.
Play and talk to Bert's hair.
Snuggle Bert.
Sit up.
Flop close to Mommy's side.
Hold Bert firmly.
Feel sleepy.
Close eyes.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Dear Del 15 months

Dear Big Girl,
How fast you grow! I think every month is the best month... you just keep getting more and more fun.
About a week ago you finally took off with this whole walking thing. You could take steps before but the preferred mode of transport was definitely crawling... until about a week ago. We're off and it is so very fun to put you done and watch you go.

You love love mimicking. This leads to some very funny situations. I've caught you a couple times blow your nose, wipe your face, and wipe your diaper all with... a sock, or whatever other washcloth/tp like item you can find.
We've had a very busy month which means most of the pictures from this month are you... in someone's arms. You are definitely still a momma's girl but if the person who wants to hold you gives you enough time to warm up to them you sometimes grace them with a holding-session.

You are quick to give kisses (and hugs) if I ask for one. An aunt in Vermont asked if you could blow kisses. I didn't think you could but when I asked you to you lunged for my lips and gave me a great big kiss.... then a hug for good measure. We'll work on teaching you how to blow kisses.

You loved being the pool with Grammy and Aunty Chels... just not too far in the water... unless your brother gave up his floaty boat. Incidentally as you've become more interested in playing with him and following him around he's become much better at sharing with you... if you yell loud enough (yes, you're still loud).

Well, life is busy so I'm off. I've got snuggling to do, books to read, games to play!
I love you love you,
Mommy
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

You would think....


.... with summer here and all things would slow down....
...they will.... maybe
....in July.
Not now.
School is done.
We've done one long weekend in Vt and we're gearing up for a week long visit coming soon.
Then slow down....
In the meantime, we're on chicken pox watch.
Stay tuned for spotty pictures... if the spots arrive!
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Family Pictures

Here are the quick family pics, as promised.


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Sunday, June 7, 2009

First beach day of the summer...

... and probably last.
We're just not big beach people.
But we might have to change that.
Ark Boy announced on the way to the car that he doesn't go the playground, he goes to the beach.
Uh oh.
We're in trouble.





It was actually a ton of fun.
We went for a photo shoot with friends (you can see more here) and decided to make an afternoon/evening of it complete with a sandy picnic dinner.
Makes me tempted to do this again.
Maybe.
Oh- and while there our friend took a few family pictures of us (an accomplishment considering Ark Boy turned into a wild and crazy child that could comprehend nothing but the call of the water!).
I'm thinking of having one of them printed but can't decide between two of them....
They're similar... you'll see. I'll post them both tomorrow... or maybe Tuesday and you can vote for the image to print.
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Saturday, June 6, 2009

June Dairy Day

June Dairy Day takes place in a small streetlight-free town in Northern Vermont the first weekend of June.
Every year I really really want to go but most years we don't make it, this year included.
I realized tonight that quite by accident Ark Boy is showing his enthusiasm for June Dairy Day by wearing last year's June Dairy Day t-shirt. (Note: kids are sitting on the platform that will be the chicken coop floor- woohoo!)

Hope all those who celebrated June Dairy Day are without sunburn and enjoying cotton candy and carnival rides right about now.
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