Monday, August 30, 2010

Lily's first day of kindergarten


Today's the day. The day you've been waiting for. Last night before you went to sleep, you said, "I'm just a little girl, but when I wake up I'll be a big girl. A school girl."

The four of us walked over to the school at about quarter to nine, though we could have left at three minutes to nine. You were impressed by just how many kids were there. And because most of their parents were there, too, it was down right buzzing with activity.

When the first bell rang, Mme Thorson met us all at the kindergarten door. She talked about your lockers and indoor vs. outdoor shoes. (We'd seen your locker when we came to play at the playground the other night, so you new exactly where your locker was.)

When everything was in it's place, we had to wait a few minutes while the teacher delivered a little lost boy to the gym.

And then a bit more waiting after you found your nametag and did a puzzle.

You couldn't wait for all the parents to leave, which we did first. I'm sure you're in the full swing of things now.


It looks like a fun place. I think I'll go and look out the window to see if recess has started yet... Maybe I'll see my new big girl out there.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

So...sew what?

I've been rather restless creatively. Having not been at work – where I made displays, posters, illustrations, calendars, books, etc. on a daily basis – I haven't felt that sense of accomplishment of making something tangible. On Tuesday, I made chili for supper and was rather proud for the rest of the day...

Feeling like there's been practically no time to accomplish much of anything besides keeping the kids alive (which is an accomplishment, but a never-ending project), I decided I had to start sewing again.

I hadn't completely stopped since Finn's birth, but it was rare. A reversible purse/bag for cousin Kim in June, a pillowcase dress from a 30-year-old pink pillowcase Lily found in the basement in July, and that Alice in Wonderland apron for your birthday that you didn't wear at the beginning of August. As an attempt to recapture some of my sanity, I buckled down last week and made a couple bibs and burp cloth. One bib was for Finn and the other things were for Lily's daycare buddy, Sophia, who just got a new baby brother named Hudson.


Awww, doesn't he look cute in his new bib? We need lots more – this kid is a puker. And then I made this playmat so we have something to throw down on the filthy rug or on the hardwood. It's not done; I still have to hand-stitch it (or tie it), but it's nice and substantial, backed with super soft, dark brown corduroy.

And then last night and this morning, I sewed Lily a napkin and placement (kinda like this) with a napkin/spoon pocket for her lunch kit. She picked the fabrics. Here's the inside.

Here's the outside.

And this is it all rolled up.


And I've got lots more things in my head I want to make. By special request, Lily's at the babysitter today and tomorrow. Then next week she's off to school. I'm looking forward to those quiet mornings...until Finn cuts out his nap!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

4 months old


Right now, I am watching you sleep. It's something you do well and it still surprises your Dad and me since we thought we could only produce babies who didn't sleep well. Aside from a few off nights last week, you'll typically only eat once between 7:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. – unless you can't be bothered. You nap between 8 and 9 in the morning for approximately 2 hours, then after two hours awake you go down for a two to four hour nap. Those four hour naps are most common when someone is sharing your sleep. Then you have a brief half hour to an hour nap in the early evening and fall asleep for the night around 9 p.m., about an hour after your sister falls asleep. And that's your schedule. It's nice to get into a routine.


We got you weighed yesterday. I was a little surprised considering you were just over 15 lbs. a month ago. Now you are a manly 17 lbs., 7.5 oz. and just above the 85th percentile, according to the WHO boys weight-for-age chart. Nice, except it's hard to keep you in clothes. Anything we have that's the right size is kinda warm and wintery...as we expected to have you in 6-12 months clothes when you were, well, 6-12 months old. Oh well. One evening when Dad came home from work, you were wrapped in a fitted crib sheet. It was the only thing clean that could cover you.

One day old, two months old and last Sunday. That's progress.

Your sister really loves you. Like alot. She's so proud of you. She always says, "Remember when Finn was so tiny? You're such a big boy now. Good boy! Good boy!" She lists off all of your accomplishments since birth on her fingers. And the other night when we had you sitting up for almost ten seconds, she was giddy with pride. She ran to tell Dad as soon as you flopped over. "He did it!" And while she still can't stop kissing you or holding your hand or foot, she doesn't bug you quite so much. You're getting much more fun and more interactive. Laying on the bed beside each other a couple days ago, you were face to face, mouths open wide. She would yell into your mouth and a few seconds after she stopped, you would yell into hers. This went on back and forth for a few minutes before you got agitated. She thought it was hysterical. So did I. She also needs to hug you when she's sad. She says it makes her feel okay again.


You've also begun to laugh. Not much and with some prodding, but you do it. It's so fun to tickle you.

His giggles from Hood/Anderson on Vimeo.



At the same time, you've also been...crying. You've cried about five times in the last week and we don't know why, just that you were getting across that you mean business. And you are a lot more vocal when unhappy these days. It's particularly adorable when you whine when you're trying to go to sleep. Those high-pitched squeals are more funny than demanding.


We've been going for lots of walks, too. You love it outside and immediately calm down if fussy. You stare at the trees and admire the flowers. You're not as big of a fan of watering the plants, but it's a necessary evil. I dread the days where it will be too cold to venture out on a daily basis.

Since almost mastering your hands, you like to rub your fuzzy head, grab our plates at mealtimes, rub our cold smoothie glasses each morning and stick your hands into our mouths when we get close enough.

Your fist/fingers are forever in your mouth. While you could sprout teeth any time now, I'd rather you wait. Keep those gummy smiles a little while longer.


Aside from all that, you're just plain delightful. Oh, and adorable.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Style notes: Aug. 2010 edition

As she gets older, I'm guessing her desire to express herself through the clothes (and accessories) she wears will just get more...interesting. So welcome to the first edition of Lily's style notes. This kid has a lot more style than I've ever had.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Apple harvest


Aside from eating roasted beet salad all week, we also made an apple crisp with our hail-damaged apples – which may or may not be large crabapples or just small apples. (But I'll take hail damage over the disgusting slug mess we've been dealing with though. They're just ravenous this year; they've eaten more tomatoes and beans than we have. Jerks.)



How nice to have such a cute helper.


Oh, and Finn was there too, in a supervisory role.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Mugshots


Okay, not mugshots but they kinda look like it. Finally got the kids' passport photos yesterday as our Disneyland trip is about a month away. Nothing like leaving things to the last little bit... Fortunately, you can pay a premium to get things like birth certificates and passports into your hands – after you've already paid for flights and reserved a hotel room. Oooops.