Q2 woke up this morning at a lovely lovely 6:45 saying "I don't like birds. I don't like birds." Her body was covered by her "old blankie" and her face was snuggled up and under "new blankie" so she was mostly asleep ... or certainly not awake.
I went in after the "I don't like birds" chorus continued. She didn't look up at all, but was happy when I told her I'd remove the stuffed bird (which I did) and assured her that there were no birds in her room. She said "OK" and went back to sleep.
So I headed to bed for another 10 minutes until C4 woke and climbed into bed with me.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Stay Awake
Two nights ago C4 wanted to sleep with me when I went to bed. She's been quite actively demanding "I need you, mumma" (or daddy) lately, and this is just part of that theme. But she told me if I got lonely when I went to bed she'd sleep with me. I told her if she was still awake when I went to bed I'd let her sleep with me, knowing full well that she'd be long asleep by the time I got to bed. So when she woke the next day she awoke she was indignant that I hadn't gotten her.
Last night Q2 woke up in the middle of the night and came to her door and insisted something ... maybe that she hurt her eyes? I can't quite remember. Rather than trip over the gate to get her back to bed I just picked her up and brought her to bed with me. The sleep wasn't so relaxing for me, but Q2 fell right back to sleep, with a few tosses and turns, and woke at a brisk 5:56 AM.
I had to wake C4 at 7:30, because both girls had check-ups at 8:30 AM. We made it there just 10 minutes late.
Both are healthy. C4 is 40" and 36# ... tracking 50th percentile for both. Q2 is 36.5" and 27# ... tracking at 25th percentile for both. Poor Q2 ... she's going to be a shorty like me. If she stays at 25th percentile she'll end up being ... just over 5'2" at age 20. Hmmmm. That number sounds very familiar for some reason. Oh, right, that's the height I like to SAY that I am (but I'm not quite).
Then C4 got four jabs. She had asked if she'd be getting shots; I had replied yes. She asked if they would hurt, and I told her yes, they would hurt, they weren't fun, but she could do it. Well, she was fine, although not happy about the shots, until they actually happened. Then there was a bit of crying after shot #1, but shot #2 was a doozy, I guess (the MMR?), and the crying intensified to screaming and wailing of "I don't like shots! They HURT!" Yes, they do. I'm not a fan of shots, myself.
Eventually we finished and I had to carry both girls out of the office and to the car because C4 was limp with pain and anger and Q2 was crying because (and I quote) "I didn't get my shot!"
Oh, the tragedy.
After lunch we decided to do quiet time in the stroller, and one of the girls suggested they could have honey sticks if they fell asleep. Sure, fine by me! Immediately they tried to convince me that 1) they were asleep and 2) since they were asleep shouldn't they get their honey stick RIGHT NOW? The conversations went something like this:
Q2: I'm asleep, mumma.
E38: No, you aren't.
Q2: I'm asleep. Can I have my honey stick?
E38: No, you may not have your honey stick. You aren't asleep. Close your eyes and go to sleep.
Q2: But I AM asleep.
E38: I don't think you understand the concept of sleep. Close your eyes.
Q2: But I can't seeeeee.
E38:
Q2: I'm asleep, mumma.
Q2: Can I have my honey stick?
Finally, at C4's request I sang a song, despite Q2's vehement objections. "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins is quite effective. Q2 fell asleep within 1 minute. And C4 within 5-10. I really ought to find the correct lyrics, even though my dull rendition did the trick.
C4 woke after about 45 minutes (and thus didn't fall asleep tonight until about 9:30 or 9:45. I let her keep the light on so she could read, because I knew she wasn't going to fall asleep after a nap. She only fell asleep after a visit to the bathroom.) when I got to our friend's house, and Q2 woke at about 1.5 hours, with help from B4 who kindly yelled "WAKE UP" at Q2 a few times to wake her up. Well, we'd have hated if she missed the playdate. No matter, she was still asleep around 7:45 pm.
Oh, and at I34s house C4 read Hop on Pop. Not a book of much difficulty, but we'd never read it before, and every page I asked her to read, she did. She got stuck on father, mother, sister, brother. But everything else ... she can read. At the doctor's office she read "This is not an exit. Don't open this door to leave" Or some version of that message. I'm starting to rethink my decision to not press to get her into kindegarten next year ... won't she be bored if she doesn't go to school early? She'll have been reading for 2 years by the time she gets to kindergarten if we wait until 2010.
Last night Q2 woke up in the middle of the night and came to her door and insisted something ... maybe that she hurt her eyes? I can't quite remember. Rather than trip over the gate to get her back to bed I just picked her up and brought her to bed with me. The sleep wasn't so relaxing for me, but Q2 fell right back to sleep, with a few tosses and turns, and woke at a brisk 5:56 AM.
I had to wake C4 at 7:30, because both girls had check-ups at 8:30 AM. We made it there just 10 minutes late.
Both are healthy. C4 is 40" and 36# ... tracking 50th percentile for both. Q2 is 36.5" and 27# ... tracking at 25th percentile for both. Poor Q2 ... she's going to be a shorty like me. If she stays at 25th percentile she'll end up being ... just over 5'2" at age 20. Hmmmm. That number sounds very familiar for some reason. Oh, right, that's the height I like to SAY that I am (but I'm not quite).
Then C4 got four jabs. She had asked if she'd be getting shots; I had replied yes. She asked if they would hurt, and I told her yes, they would hurt, they weren't fun, but she could do it. Well, she was fine, although not happy about the shots, until they actually happened. Then there was a bit of crying after shot #1, but shot #2 was a doozy, I guess (the MMR?), and the crying intensified to screaming and wailing of "I don't like shots! They HURT!" Yes, they do. I'm not a fan of shots, myself.
Eventually we finished and I had to carry both girls out of the office and to the car because C4 was limp with pain and anger and Q2 was crying because (and I quote) "I didn't get my shot!"
Oh, the tragedy.
After lunch we decided to do quiet time in the stroller, and one of the girls suggested they could have honey sticks if they fell asleep. Sure, fine by me! Immediately they tried to convince me that 1) they were asleep and 2) since they were asleep shouldn't they get their honey stick RIGHT NOW? The conversations went something like this:
Q2: I'm asleep, mumma.
E38: No, you aren't.
Q2: I'm asleep. Can I have my honey stick?
E38: No, you may not have your honey stick. You aren't asleep. Close your eyes and go to sleep.
Q2: But I AM asleep.
E38: I don't think you understand the concept of sleep. Close your eyes.
Q2: But I can't seeeeee.
E38:
Q2: I'm asleep, mumma.
Q2: Can I have my honey stick?
Finally, at C4's request I sang a song, despite Q2's vehement objections. "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins is quite effective. Q2 fell asleep within 1 minute. And C4 within 5-10. I really ought to find the correct lyrics, even though my dull rendition did the trick.
C4 woke after about 45 minutes (and thus didn't fall asleep tonight until about 9:30 or 9:45. I let her keep the light on so she could read, because I knew she wasn't going to fall asleep after a nap. She only fell asleep after a visit to the bathroom.) when I got to our friend's house, and Q2 woke at about 1.5 hours, with help from B4 who kindly yelled "WAKE UP" at Q2 a few times to wake her up. Well, we'd have hated if she missed the playdate. No matter, she was still asleep around 7:45 pm.
Oh, and at I34s house C4 read Hop on Pop. Not a book of much difficulty, but we'd never read it before, and every page I asked her to read, she did. She got stuck on father, mother, sister, brother. But everything else ... she can read. At the doctor's office she read "This is not an exit. Don't open this door to leave" Or some version of that message. I'm starting to rethink my decision to not press to get her into kindegarten next year ... won't she be bored if she doesn't go to school early? She'll have been reading for 2 years by the time she gets to kindergarten if we wait until 2010.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Crafty me
I took the camera out today, but the batteries were dead. But no matter, we just did the regular stuff ... went to Watkins Park Farm, played at the playground, walked to the farm, fed the animals, walked to the carousel/train area and ate lunch, then went to the carousel, where neither girl wanted me to touch them. Q2 on a very large rabbit ("bun-bun") and C4 on a dappled horse in front of her. Then the train; G41 & J1 and I sat backwards in the last seat, the girls all sat in the seat just ahead of us facing front. C5, C4, and Q2 all in a seat, and they behaved great. I was very happy.
Of course, on the way home Q2 took a little snoozer. We took the long way home to avoid the redskins game, anyway, so that was good. I just left her in the car when we got home (doors open!), and C4 & I just sat on the stoop and talked and gave huggies and I avoided the game called "tounges" that C4 kept trying to force me to play.
I eventually, around the 45 minute mark, woke Q2 up, it was a grumpish wake up, but we got through it, and C4 really wanted to go over to C5's house to play in her kiddie pool. So I dialed, and C4 politely asked for C5, and asked if we could come over to play in the pool. C5 said yes. So we did.
And dinner, bath, blah blah blah, all went smoothly. Bedtime was a little rockier than the last few days, but again, by 7:45 both were asleep. And I came downstairs and made my new bag ... that C4 thinks is for her because it has a dog-words print for the outside and a bumblebee liner. C4 keeps telling me the dog print bag will be hers, and the bee print will be my bag ... so, we'll see if I get to keep this bag. It doesn't matter, I'm very happy with the way it turned out, even if I don't get to keep it!! I could do this again with no problems.
I got to do a few new things with this bag ... make a bias strip for a button loop (although I don't think I did it correctly), and squaring off corners. My curves look good, too. Or, I should say, the curves on the bag.
I'm so proud of myself. I want to make another!
Of course, on the way home Q2 took a little snoozer. We took the long way home to avoid the redskins game, anyway, so that was good. I just left her in the car when we got home (doors open!), and C4 & I just sat on the stoop and talked and gave huggies and I avoided the game called "tounges" that C4 kept trying to force me to play.
I eventually, around the 45 minute mark, woke Q2 up, it was a grumpish wake up, but we got through it, and C4 really wanted to go over to C5's house to play in her kiddie pool. So I dialed, and C4 politely asked for C5, and asked if we could come over to play in the pool. C5 said yes. So we did.
And dinner, bath, blah blah blah, all went smoothly. Bedtime was a little rockier than the last few days, but again, by 7:45 both were asleep. And I came downstairs and made my new bag ... that C4 thinks is for her because it has a dog-words print for the outside and a bumblebee liner. C4 keeps telling me the dog print bag will be hers, and the bee print will be my bag ... so, we'll see if I get to keep this bag. It doesn't matter, I'm very happy with the way it turned out, even if I don't get to keep it!! I could do this again with no problems.
I got to do a few new things with this bag ... make a bias strip for a button loop (although I don't think I did it correctly), and squaring off corners. My curves look good, too. Or, I should say, the curves on the bag.
I'm so proud of myself. I want to make another!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Third time's the charm
When C4 & Q2 are playing calmly, coloring, or cutting, or playing some variation of "dogs," I often take a few minutes to do dishes, laundry, whatever. Today it was drawing and cutting, so I went downstairs to do laundry (which also has not diminished since C39 is out of town. Perhaps it has but now I'm the only one here to fold it). From above I heard a little kerfuffle, some NO!s and then giggles and quiet. So, I didn't rush up too much.
But I should have.
Back in March, C4's hair was in her eyes. So she cut it. Quite short. Just in time for a wedding. She looked ... well, I got used to it.
Today, she got another haircut. From her sister, Q2. Who just wanted to cut hair, I guess. I returned upstairs to see her just clipping away at the top, and a rather large chunk taken out of her bangs.
This is what they thought of the situation:
(The bandaid is from C4 falling out of bed twice last night and right on her head. She must have been tired)
I didn't think it was quite as amusing, since there was hair everywhere. And really, C4's hair didn't need further thinning. A huge amount was cut off, considering it is not immediately noticable that C4 has a chunk of bangs missing.
The rest of the morning went well, quiet time was quiet, and then we headed out to Chillum Splash Pool. A favorite place of Q2 & C4. But, despite the fact that I called and listened to the hours on the machine, the place was closed for annual maintenance. So we were advised to head to Lane Manor Splash Pool, although I thought it would be closed since it is post Labor Day (foolish traditions). So then we headed over to Greenbelt Pool. We had to. Each time we got to a pool that was closed C4 started crying.
They loved it. Loved it. C4 just walked right in, and started doing her own thing, walking across the pool (the small 2-3 foot pool), back and forth, back and forth. By the end of the time we were there she had gone underwater holding her nose at least 10 times, and had begun jumping off the edge of the pool, first into my friend E's arms, then by herself into the pool while holding her nose. Over and over again. And then it was time to go. I got her out, went for our bag, and she just walked right back in. She didn't want to go. She was very upset to have to leave; we might go back tomorrow or Monday.
Q2 had a period of transition. She was so excited to go, but when we got there ... well, reality isn't always the same as anticipation. For the first 10 minutes she had what seemed to be a "belly button alarm" ... We walked down the ramp into the pool, and the water would reach her belly button and her mouth would open and she'd scream and turn around and walk back up. I tried holding her in the pool, and bouncing he in the water, but again, if she went over her belly button she'd scream.
But Q2 got used to it and soon we had a route ... down the 15 foot ramp (or, as she called it, the bridge), turn, walk next to the ramp, up the stairs, and back down the ramp and into the water. The water at the bottom of the ramp was up to her neck, but we did this at least 20 times. She occassionally wanted to walk further in, but once it got up to her chin, or lips, she'd freak out and I'd have to hold her hands and lead her to the shallower waters.
We eventually did leave, and to the fountain we went for dinner. I've found a meal I don't mind feeding them there: wraps from Wild Onion, with a side of fruit. The food is fresh and organic; the meat is organic and treated well (so they say). Q & C would have prefered PB&J tonight, but it is good to know whey will eat good food. It is expensive, but it isn't pizza or plain spaghetti.
C39, we miss you and love you; I hope you like the updates!
But I should have.
Back in March, C4's hair was in her eyes. So she cut it. Quite short. Just in time for a wedding. She looked ... well, I got used to it.
Today, she got another haircut. From her sister, Q2. Who just wanted to cut hair, I guess. I returned upstairs to see her just clipping away at the top, and a rather large chunk taken out of her bangs.
This is what they thought of the situation:
(The bandaid is from C4 falling out of bed twice last night and right on her head. She must have been tired)
I didn't think it was quite as amusing, since there was hair everywhere. And really, C4's hair didn't need further thinning. A huge amount was cut off, considering it is not immediately noticable that C4 has a chunk of bangs missing.
The rest of the morning went well, quiet time was quiet, and then we headed out to Chillum Splash Pool. A favorite place of Q2 & C4. But, despite the fact that I called and listened to the hours on the machine, the place was closed for annual maintenance. So we were advised to head to Lane Manor Splash Pool, although I thought it would be closed since it is post Labor Day (foolish traditions). So then we headed over to Greenbelt Pool. We had to. Each time we got to a pool that was closed C4 started crying.
They loved it. Loved it. C4 just walked right in, and started doing her own thing, walking across the pool (the small 2-3 foot pool), back and forth, back and forth. By the end of the time we were there she had gone underwater holding her nose at least 10 times, and had begun jumping off the edge of the pool, first into my friend E's arms, then by herself into the pool while holding her nose. Over and over again. And then it was time to go. I got her out, went for our bag, and she just walked right back in. She didn't want to go. She was very upset to have to leave; we might go back tomorrow or Monday.
Q2 had a period of transition. She was so excited to go, but when we got there ... well, reality isn't always the same as anticipation. For the first 10 minutes she had what seemed to be a "belly button alarm" ... We walked down the ramp into the pool, and the water would reach her belly button and her mouth would open and she'd scream and turn around and walk back up. I tried holding her in the pool, and bouncing he in the water, but again, if she went over her belly button she'd scream.
But Q2 got used to it and soon we had a route ... down the 15 foot ramp (or, as she called it, the bridge), turn, walk next to the ramp, up the stairs, and back down the ramp and into the water. The water at the bottom of the ramp was up to her neck, but we did this at least 20 times. She occassionally wanted to walk further in, but once it got up to her chin, or lips, she'd freak out and I'd have to hold her hands and lead her to the shallower waters.
We eventually did leave, and to the fountain we went for dinner. I've found a meal I don't mind feeding them there: wraps from Wild Onion, with a side of fruit. The food is fresh and organic; the meat is organic and treated well (so they say). Q & C would have prefered PB&J tonight, but it is good to know whey will eat good food. It is expensive, but it isn't pizza or plain spaghetti.
C39, we miss you and love you; I hope you like the updates!
Stuff to do
I've been opening the fridge to this scene lately:
While it might look to you that I'm trying to show you how messy & dirty that fridge is, I'm not. Please note the open Rice Dream containor.
Q2 have been going into the fridge and opening the Rice Dream, pounding a bit, and walking off.
She didn't learn it from me. C39?
While it might look to you that I'm trying to show you how messy & dirty that fridge is, I'm not. Please note the open Rice Dream containor.
Q2 have been going into the fridge and opening the Rice Dream, pounding a bit, and walking off.
She didn't learn it from me. C39?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Nursery School, day 2
I didn't actually see day 1, but day 2 went off fairly smoothly. C4 ran right in, left me the second the car was parked. In fact, she ran across the street to get in as fast as she could do so. So, no problems there. Q2, however, once she realized she was going back to school starting talking to me about me staying. I kept talking about how I'd drop her off, she'd have fun doing painting, play dough, playing with Mrs. T & Mrs. B. And C4 encouraged Q2 by saying that Mrs. T was so nice, etc. And then of course I would pick her up.
She didn't go for it.
She wouldn't walk in herself. She wouldn't let go of me. She clung to me and wasn't full out crying, and not a noise exactly like whining, but I'm not quite willing to call it that.
I pried her off me and handed her over to Mrs. T. She continued to protest, but it wasn't too loud or strong. When I returned later I was told that she'd done OK. Better than yesterday. She'd done some drawing, she responded to the teachers, and been engaged in class (if not very actively).
What I like about our nursery school is that the children go x days in a row (2 for 2 year olds, 3 for 3 year olds, and 4 for 4 year olds) instead of going MWF or TTh. But at the same time, the one problem with our nursery school is that Q2 is going to school Thursday and Friday ... but the wait Saturday through Wednesday is a long one ... and I wonder if the 5-day interim will make her backslide a bit. So, more crying next week, I suppose.
So, after school we stopped at the park. Q especially wanted to go, and considering her rough two days in school, I thought we should go.
They took off and everytime they saw a new play structure they got so excited and headed toward it. Most of my pictures didn't come out ... I don't know what happened, but here are a couple:
and these things. There are three of them at three heights ... we couldn't get them onto this before ... today I couldn't get them off!
After lunch "quiet time" ... I made my friend a birthday cake, a delicious "Orange Glow Chiffon Cake." Thank you Rose Levy Beranbaum! I made candied orange peel to top it ... which the 5 year old son of my friend loved ... he kept nabbing pieces off the cake.
Which I know because E40 invited us to stay for dinner. Which we did. Yum yum. Pasta with Endamame and a wee bit of cheese. Yum yum yum! And I didn't cook it! Even better.
Plus we did get to eat the cake. Which was incredible. Yum.
She didn't go for it.
She wouldn't walk in herself. She wouldn't let go of me. She clung to me and wasn't full out crying, and not a noise exactly like whining, but I'm not quite willing to call it that.
I pried her off me and handed her over to Mrs. T. She continued to protest, but it wasn't too loud or strong. When I returned later I was told that she'd done OK. Better than yesterday. She'd done some drawing, she responded to the teachers, and been engaged in class (if not very actively).
What I like about our nursery school is that the children go x days in a row (2 for 2 year olds, 3 for 3 year olds, and 4 for 4 year olds) instead of going MWF or TTh. But at the same time, the one problem with our nursery school is that Q2 is going to school Thursday and Friday ... but the wait Saturday through Wednesday is a long one ... and I wonder if the 5-day interim will make her backslide a bit. So, more crying next week, I suppose.
So, after school we stopped at the park. Q especially wanted to go, and considering her rough two days in school, I thought we should go.
They took off and everytime they saw a new play structure they got so excited and headed toward it. Most of my pictures didn't come out ... I don't know what happened, but here are a couple:
and these things. There are three of them at three heights ... we couldn't get them onto this before ... today I couldn't get them off!
After lunch "quiet time" ... I made my friend a birthday cake, a delicious "Orange Glow Chiffon Cake." Thank you Rose Levy Beranbaum! I made candied orange peel to top it ... which the 5 year old son of my friend loved ... he kept nabbing pieces off the cake.
Which I know because E40 invited us to stay for dinner. Which we did. Yum yum. Pasta with Endamame and a wee bit of cheese. Yum yum yum! And I didn't cook it! Even better.
Plus we did get to eat the cake. Which was incredible. Yum.
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