Today we were inspired by a brown bag.
Fiona picks up a brown bag lying on the floor (yes, all sorts of treasure awaits discovery in our house--you just have to look down) and puts it on her head and starts walking around. So, with her permission, I cut out eyes, ears, nose, and add antennae with shiny pipe cleaners (one purple, one silver).
When she wears this, she refers to herself as a "yellow submarine" or "brownie". (In that case, I am Mommy Brownie).
She went up to Sophia, who then promptly started laughing---big belly laughs mind you. Every time Fiona comes up to Sophia with this headpiece on, Sophia just laughs and laughs.
It is nice.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Born Diva
At the playground yesterday, my friend and I were talking and Fiona and my friend's son were playing. Fiona was in her element. My friend said she could see Fiona ruling the playground and that she thought Fiona was officially a Diva. That may be so, but this Diva still likes to read quietly and find slugs under rocks.
She just came up to me in her underwear and black stole with orange sunglasses and demanded that I find her crown.
So, perhaps, a well-rounded Diva.
She just came up to me in her underwear and black stole with orange sunglasses and demanded that I find her crown.
So, perhaps, a well-rounded Diva.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Ominous
Fiona starts out the day with a bowl of oatmeal and blueberries. She then says--like she has acquired weapons of mass destruction or something (Can I say that? If there is no more activity on the blog after this or it just disappears you can assume they've come to get me.)---, "Now I have more energy". I think you really had to be there to hear the intonation in her voice.
I don't think I would be surprised to see her burst into light or fly. Startled, maybe, but then I'd think, well, it was just a matter of time.
I don't think I would be surprised to see her burst into light or fly. Startled, maybe, but then I'd think, well, it was just a matter of time.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Envision Whirled Peas
Sophia is now officially entering the World of Food (at least beyond breastmilk--and I know, I know, she gets a taste of what I eat via the milk--but we're introducing food without the middleman).
Yesterday she ate several spoons of smushed peas. I wasn't rushing her, believe me. I decided it was time when she lunged for my giant bowl of veggies and pasta and pulled it towards her while panting. She's gotten a lot more aggresive at the table, so I thought it was time! She has also tried some smushed banana, but she likes peas better.
Next week, we'll try avocado or sweet potato.
Yesterday she ate several spoons of smushed peas. I wasn't rushing her, believe me. I decided it was time when she lunged for my giant bowl of veggies and pasta and pulled it towards her while panting. She's gotten a lot more aggresive at the table, so I thought it was time! She has also tried some smushed banana, but she likes peas better.
Next week, we'll try avocado or sweet potato.
Encouragement
I told Fiona yesterday (after a day of practicing inside on her bike) that with all the practice she does on her bike, she's going to be a really great bike rider.
She came over to me and said, "Aw, mama, let me give you a hug".
She came over to me and said, "Aw, mama, let me give you a hug".
Touch My Kiwi! Love Him!
One of Fiona's latest quirks (one of many, it's hard to keep track of them all!) is to hold and soothe her food before she eats it.
So, this morning, she held her kiwi fruit, and stroked and murmured to it before she handed it over for butchering. (Yeah, Mama's tough and crusty. She'll hack into a kiwi without even a moment's hesitation).
And while reading "The Little Engine That Could", she spied a picture of a man fishing. This man had a caught fish next to him. She asked, "Mommy, how can that fish swim and play if it's there next to the man?" I said, "Well, that man is going to eat the fish" (a sense of deja vu here). She said "No, that fish needs to swim and play." So I said that maybe the fish would escape into the water while the man wasn't looking.
Maybe we'll all be vegans in a few years.
So, this morning, she held her kiwi fruit, and stroked and murmured to it before she handed it over for butchering. (Yeah, Mama's tough and crusty. She'll hack into a kiwi without even a moment's hesitation).
And while reading "The Little Engine That Could", she spied a picture of a man fishing. This man had a caught fish next to him. She asked, "Mommy, how can that fish swim and play if it's there next to the man?" I said, "Well, that man is going to eat the fish" (a sense of deja vu here). She said "No, that fish needs to swim and play." So I said that maybe the fish would escape into the water while the man wasn't looking.
Maybe we'll all be vegans in a few years.
First Bike
Last Friday, we trucked down to Onion River Sports. Now Fiona is the proud owner of a red tricycle and bike helmet (pink with bunnies---she picked it out---might as well get used to them early!). And, naturally, it's been raining since Saturday morning. She did get to take it out Friday afternoon.
It has a basket in the front, which, as I suspected, is a big hit. She puts her "mail" in it or her wooden food. Yes, since it is raining and the bike is still pretty clean, we broke down and let her ride it in the house.
If she's not in a really happy mood, though, she gets frustrated because she doesn't have peddling quite down yet--especially combined with turning the handlebars.
It has a basket in the front, which, as I suspected, is a big hit. She puts her "mail" in it or her wooden food. Yes, since it is raining and the bike is still pretty clean, we broke down and let her ride it in the house.
If she's not in a really happy mood, though, she gets frustrated because she doesn't have peddling quite down yet--especially combined with turning the handlebars.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Thursday musings
Doug and I have this green journal from the Time Before Kids where we'd go out to eat and try a wine and evaluate it in the journal with the food we ordered to go with it. Fiona loves this journal (part of it may be the labels we've torn off and glued in it) but I don't want it to become a play thing (it's amazing the stuff that becomes a "play thing" and is often lost, sometimes destroyed, and frequently...altered). So Doug bought her her own journal and she keeps it with her in her bag with a pen and will hunker down at various times during the day and "write" in it. He also bought her her very own calculator (mine had become one of those "play things"...my solar scientific calulator that has not gotten so much use since about 1994). It is purple and round and is about the size of a normal chocolate chip cookie. The calculator seems to go with the journal.
We tried to go outside this morning, but it was a short visit because it is actually rather nippy again. But the daffodils and tulips are definitely coming out and the lilacs have plump buds.
Doug has taken the girls out for a couple of hours every night this week. Monday he bought chocolate ice cream cones for himself and Fiona. At one point he had to hold his cone in the hand that was right in front of Sophia. Apparently, she recognized food she could actually lick and get some excitement out of because she lunged for it. However, I am happy to report that chocolate ice cream is not her first food.
We tried to go outside this morning, but it was a short visit because it is actually rather nippy again. But the daffodils and tulips are definitely coming out and the lilacs have plump buds.
Doug has taken the girls out for a couple of hours every night this week. Monday he bought chocolate ice cream cones for himself and Fiona. At one point he had to hold his cone in the hand that was right in front of Sophia. Apparently, she recognized food she could actually lick and get some excitement out of because she lunged for it. However, I am happy to report that chocolate ice cream is not her first food.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
I'm in the Twilight Zone
Fiona has been asleep from 11 AM to the present, which is 2:45 PM. I keep peeking at her, and yes, she's breathing. I didn't even encourage nap time. I usually feed her lunch and read her three books and tell her one story before I have to give her strokies so she can fall asleep. She just bundled herself up in the down comforter and curled up on the floor and zonked out. I am guessing 11 AM...I was nursing Sophia and it was quiet. Too quiet. That either means big trouble (or depending on how you look at it, important work or incredible discoveries) or, I guess, sleep.
Two things could happen when she wakes. She will be up wailing and super-pissed (probably will be hungry) or incredibly sweet and super friendly and wanting to be with me. It is possible that she will be extra sweet because she will want to watch show and she knows I am not a big fan of "show". Usually, however, she is sweet just because she is. She is also usually very excited to see Sophia and wants to play with her. Sophia is always excited to see Fiona.
Two things could happen when she wakes. She will be up wailing and super-pissed (probably will be hungry) or incredibly sweet and super friendly and wanting to be with me. It is possible that she will be extra sweet because she will want to watch show and she knows I am not a big fan of "show". Usually, however, she is sweet just because she is. She is also usually very excited to see Sophia and wants to play with her. Sophia is always excited to see Fiona.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's...
Super Mouse!!!
My sister Alexandra gave Fiona this picture book about what cats do at night when we are sleeping.
So Doug is reading this book to her before bed. One scene shows the cats working at a factory boxing up the mice. Fiona asks Doug, "Why are the cats boxing up the mice?" Doug says, "Well, I think they mean to eat them."
Fiona is not at all happy with this answer.
Now she wears her blue apron around her neck like a cape (she actually has a cape, but it's a hooded cape) and says she is Super Mouse, saving the mice from the bad cats.
My sister Alexandra gave Fiona this picture book about what cats do at night when we are sleeping.
So Doug is reading this book to her before bed. One scene shows the cats working at a factory boxing up the mice. Fiona asks Doug, "Why are the cats boxing up the mice?" Doug says, "Well, I think they mean to eat them."
Fiona is not at all happy with this answer.
Now she wears her blue apron around her neck like a cape (she actually has a cape, but it's a hooded cape) and says she is Super Mouse, saving the mice from the bad cats.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
I Don't Believe in Reincarnation
However, when Fiona opens up her purple E.T. wallet (from my childhood), she keeps telling me she has 2 pounds.
Our house is littered with notebooks, coloring books, envelopes...all of which say "John". Toddler graffiti.
We upgraded to Windows XP and now I can't play all of my Beatles CDs on here (from the hard drive). Of course, one of those is Yellow Submarine. Thankfully, it seems not to matter! She is happy with any Beatles album, apparently.
Our house is littered with notebooks, coloring books, envelopes...all of which say "John". Toddler graffiti.
We upgraded to Windows XP and now I can't play all of my Beatles CDs on here (from the hard drive). Of course, one of those is Yellow Submarine. Thankfully, it seems not to matter! She is happy with any Beatles album, apparently.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Hey Maggie
Here's your car.
He's ok. This is soon after one of our big snow storms. The snowblower put some of that snow on, too.
He's ok. This is soon after one of our big snow storms. The snowblower put some of that snow on, too.
Happy Spring!
Ok, it's not quite spring, but it's close enough. It doesn't really look like spring at all outside. I guess it looks like spring in Vermont. Snowy and slushy.
Let the maple harvest begin! I made a maple yogurt pie. It's from Ken Haedrich's Pie cookbook, which is one of the best I own (thank you, Ana!!). There are lots of little maple festivals this weekend, but I think we will chill (ha ha) at home instead. Maybe next year.
Let the maple harvest begin! I made a maple yogurt pie. It's from Ken Haedrich's Pie cookbook, which is one of the best I own (thank you, Ana!!). There are lots of little maple festivals this weekend, but I think we will chill (ha ha) at home instead. Maybe next year.
"I Will Never Mock Yellow Submarine Again"
....says my husband.
Poof, out of nowhere, Fiona is writing "John". You can read it. Really.
I don't know what the circle is under/on the "n". That is her first attempt (or second, I may have mixed up the envelopes). It looks even more John-like now.
Poof, out of nowhere, Fiona is writing "John". You can read it. Really.
I don't know what the circle is under/on the "n". That is her first attempt (or second, I may have mixed up the envelopes). It looks even more John-like now.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Allez cuisine!
Now Fiona is entraced with Iron Chef (the REAL one---not the one with Bobby Flay. And I still don't see how he beat Rick Bayless. I'm sure Bobby can cook and all but ever since that cutting board incident with his battle against Morimoto I have been totally unimpressed with him). She wants a chef coat and she wants it red. Sometimes she considers yellow, but I think Sakai is her favorite.
She is napping now and I have agreed to more Iron Chef after a nap.
It can't be an Iron Chef with seafood, though. As she said to my husband, "The fish don't want to be eaten, daddy". She has no problem with other meats, but that is probably because they aren't flapping around as you're trying to bread them.
She is napping now and I have agreed to more Iron Chef after a nap.
It can't be an Iron Chef with seafood, though. As she said to my husband, "The fish don't want to be eaten, daddy". She has no problem with other meats, but that is probably because they aren't flapping around as you're trying to bread them.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
My top five favorite foods
At least today, right now, in no particular order, and definitely not at once.
5. Bacon
4. Chocolate
3. in season strawberries (so....not going to happen today)
2. Almond pear tart
1. Doug's fried chicken
I feel silly listing my favorite foods because, really, you know, they change and they would fill a notebook. But that is what I want today. Oh, and shredded barbeque beef from the Chuckwagon with pickles. That is really not going to happen.
5. Bacon
4. Chocolate
3. in season strawberries (so....not going to happen today)
2. Almond pear tart
1. Doug's fried chicken
I feel silly listing my favorite foods because, really, you know, they change and they would fill a notebook. But that is what I want today. Oh, and shredded barbeque beef from the Chuckwagon with pickles. That is really not going to happen.
Just sad
My husband and Fiona both have this cough. So he took a couple of days off, which was nice for me. Fiona's cough isn't slowing her down at all. Nothing does except sleep, which she isn't too keen on.
We got lots of snow. I am having dreams of summer, where there is absolutely no snow allowed.
One of my best friend's cats died. Very unexpectedly and suddenly. I've been kind of sad about that (and, hence, not here).
I am also sad because an aquaintance of mine had a still birth and I am sad about that. It is just very unfair and should not be something that ever happens.
Another reason I have been quiet.
I think I'll end on that cheerful note.
We got lots of snow. I am having dreams of summer, where there is absolutely no snow allowed.
One of my best friend's cats died. Very unexpectedly and suddenly. I've been kind of sad about that (and, hence, not here).
I am also sad because an aquaintance of mine had a still birth and I am sad about that. It is just very unfair and should not be something that ever happens.
Another reason I have been quiet.
I think I'll end on that cheerful note.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Yesterday
7 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
7:01 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
8:30 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
9:43 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
10:15 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
11 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
11:30 AM
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LISTEN TO ME!! STOP TALKING!!!!!!!!!!"
12 PM - approximately 1:30 PM
Sleeping.
1:32 PM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
2 PM
Yellow Submarine
4:30ish
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
6:23
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
7:30
Mom hides in bedroom for the rest of the night....
---
For the record, I'm listening. I can't not listen.
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
7:01 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
8:30 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
9:43 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
10:15 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
11 AM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
11:30 AM
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LISTEN TO ME!! STOP TALKING!!!!!!!!!!"
12 PM - approximately 1:30 PM
Sleeping.
1:32 PM
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
2 PM
Yellow Submarine
4:30ish
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
6:23
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
"Mom, I don't like it when you don't listen to me"
7:30
Mom hides in bedroom for the rest of the night....
---
For the record, I'm listening. I can't not listen.
Friday, February 25, 2005
I am the Walrus
One reason I decided to stay at home and temporarily stop working (for other people outside the home) is to enjoy moments like these. Sophia (4 months) cuddled against my chest sleeping (finally) in our wrap carrier. Fiona (3 years) is also sleeping, but I am starting to miss her. She has vast amounts of energy so one is totally drained by, say, 9 AM. But when the life of the party sleeps too long it's frankly too quiet for my taste.
She has decided her new name is John and I am Ringo. Sophia is George and my husband is Paul. Yes, we are The Beatles. She loves them. Fortunately, so do I.
She has decided her new name is John and I am Ringo. Sophia is George and my husband is Paul. Yes, we are The Beatles. She loves them. Fortunately, so do I.
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