Length: 28" (50th %ile)
Weight: 18.5 lbs (20th %ile)
HC: 47cm (90th %ile)
Yeah, that sounds right. Big-headed string bean.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Uhhhh... catching up?
Impossible to catch up, it's been too long. Here's what's happening recently.
Eliana just finished kindergarten. She's reading at a 3rd grade level and doing addition w/ carrying, subtraction w/o borrowing, and multiplying 2's and 5's. She says things like "Mommy, please cuddle me several times." I've been reading one Roald Dahl book after another to her, and if I can't read to her for a night, sometimes she'll read those on her own. Mostly she is reading Magic Treehouse books to herself. She alternates between being emotional at the drop of a hat, and steadfastly reasonable. (I guess I do too, actually!) She continues to adore Donovan, and is taking it upon herself to teach Kes some academics over the summer break.
Kes is about to crack the code, which freaks me out since she is younger than when Elly did. She is starting to spell, and yesterday pointed to the word "of" and said, "Mommy, look, that word says off." (Um, yeah, it should. Dang.) She is enjoying cutting/pasting and doing the pre-K workbook. (Eliana reads her the directions or teaches her what to do.) 3.5 is her hardest age yet, just as it was Elly's hardest age. Maybe I just don't do well with 3.5. But, she's cuter than ever. Lots of love, as usual. And her drawings are so adorable - always her with someone she loves, doing something fun, or just hugging.
Donovan finally learned to sit up at 7.5 months. He is getting his 6th tooth. His personality is really coming out and it is just the same as always, but bigger. Sweet, inquisitive, smart, persistent. I say his rapper name is G Force b/c he just loves being upside down, swinging around, bouncing - any kind of tumbling. (His mobster name, given by GUncle Ross, is Donny Cheeks.) He is pottying super well. I love not changing poopy diapers! And he eats like a champ. My first kid that likes baby food! He loves plain yogurt and every type of jarred baby food I've given him. But his favorite food by far is goat cheese. He smells like it all the time. There goes the sweet baby smell!
Eliana just finished kindergarten. She's reading at a 3rd grade level and doing addition w/ carrying, subtraction w/o borrowing, and multiplying 2's and 5's. She says things like "Mommy, please cuddle me several times." I've been reading one Roald Dahl book after another to her, and if I can't read to her for a night, sometimes she'll read those on her own. Mostly she is reading Magic Treehouse books to herself. She alternates between being emotional at the drop of a hat, and steadfastly reasonable. (I guess I do too, actually!) She continues to adore Donovan, and is taking it upon herself to teach Kes some academics over the summer break.
Kes is about to crack the code, which freaks me out since she is younger than when Elly did. She is starting to spell, and yesterday pointed to the word "of" and said, "Mommy, look, that word says off." (Um, yeah, it should. Dang.) She is enjoying cutting/pasting and doing the pre-K workbook. (Eliana reads her the directions or teaches her what to do.) 3.5 is her hardest age yet, just as it was Elly's hardest age. Maybe I just don't do well with 3.5. But, she's cuter than ever. Lots of love, as usual. And her drawings are so adorable - always her with someone she loves, doing something fun, or just hugging.
Donovan finally learned to sit up at 7.5 months. He is getting his 6th tooth. His personality is really coming out and it is just the same as always, but bigger. Sweet, inquisitive, smart, persistent. I say his rapper name is G Force b/c he just loves being upside down, swinging around, bouncing - any kind of tumbling. (His mobster name, given by GUncle Ross, is Donny Cheeks.) He is pottying super well. I love not changing poopy diapers! And he eats like a champ. My first kid that likes baby food! He loves plain yogurt and every type of jarred baby food I've given him. But his favorite food by far is goat cheese. He smells like it all the time. There goes the sweet baby smell!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Milk and Juice
Kes sometimes let me pretend to suck her thumb (I put my closed mouth on the closed-fist non-thumb end of her hand and move my chin). She prefers for me to have the right hand (which she never sucks), which she calls "milk", while she sucks her left thumb, but occasionally when she is feeling generous, I get to have "juice" and pretend to suck her thumb while she is sucking it. This started as a silly game when I once joked, "can I suck that thumb?" and has become a bit of a routine.
Tonight, as I was about to get up from her bedtime cuddle, something new...
Kes: "Wait, Mommy. Do you want some milk?"
Me: "Sure, thanks!" (pretends to suck on the closed fist)
Kes: "Oh, just a minute. I have to fill it up." (puts her hand on the right side of her chest) "Here, it's ready."
Me: "But can I have some juice?"
Kes: "Sure!" (puts her thumb in her mouth and moves her head toward me)
Me: "So where do you get the juice?"
Kes: "From my left nipple."
Tonight, as I was about to get up from her bedtime cuddle, something new...
Kes: "Wait, Mommy. Do you want some milk?"
Me: "Sure, thanks!" (pretends to suck on the closed fist)
Kes: "Oh, just a minute. I have to fill it up." (puts her hand on the right side of her chest) "Here, it's ready."
Me: "But can I have some juice?"
Kes: "Sure!" (puts her thumb in her mouth and moves her head toward me)
Me: "So where do you get the juice?"
Kes: "From my left nipple."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Jumping
During spring break, Eliana was in the backyard playing, when I heard, "Ow, I'm bleeding!" I went out there and asked her to come in, and she said a spider bit her. I didn't see any bleeding and just saw a small red mark right under her fingernail. I didn't think it looked much like a spider bite. But I went into the backyard with her and Kate said that Eliana had chased down and picked up a spider, and proceeded to show me the spider, who was now cowering in a bootbrush. It was a jumping spider, close to 3/4 of an inch long, and hairy! (Eliana: It's a baby tarantula!) Check these suckers out: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/daring_jumping_spider.htm
And my child pursued this thing and picked it up. Holy moly.
Speaking of jumping, it is Donovan's favorite thing to do. He loves his jumperoo and gives anyone who holds him an upper body workout by bouncing and bouncing - I tire before he does. He can stand next to the couch, holding on with both hands. The boy does not sit independently yet, however. Wackadoo.
And my child pursued this thing and picked it up. Holy moly.
Speaking of jumping, it is Donovan's favorite thing to do. He loves his jumperoo and gives anyone who holds him an upper body workout by bouncing and bouncing - I tire before he does. He can stand next to the couch, holding on with both hands. The boy does not sit independently yet, however. Wackadoo.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Eliana entertainment
Friday night we went to Shabbat services. Once a month they have a family dinner and family friendly services - basically the same as other services, but everyone should expect to have to tolerate the presence of many children and all the (insert adjective here) that can bring. Usually, at the end of services, a number of announcements are read off of a sheet that has been put together for the rabbi or lay leader. This week, the leader had no such sheet and therefore asked congregation members who had event reminders to simply announce them. After a few people spoke, Eliana raised her hand, and was given the floor. "I had something to share, but I forgot." The leader asked her if she needed help remembering. She said, "No, but if I find my thought, I'll just raise my hand and you can call on me." This amused the entire congregation.
Then Elly suddenly looked aware that she was the center of attention and less comfortable with it. Later I asked her how she felt when she spoke up. She said, "First, I felt curious and shy. Then, I felt shy and sad." I asked her why she felt sad and she said, "Because they thought it was funny, and I didn't mean to be funny." :(
Yesterday I made cookies for a friend's birthday. I screwed up the first batch but they were still good enough for the kids, just not good enough to gift. So I had them out on a plate on the counter. Today I saw Eliana skip from the kitchen to the living room, overly nonchalantly.
I followed her and opened my mouth.
She clamped both her hands over her mouth.
I went over and looked at her and there were brown crumbs on her lips.
Me: "What are you chewing?"
Eliana: "I'm sorry, Mama."
Me: "How many cookies did you eat?"
Eliana: (holds up 5 fingers)
I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. I told her I'd have to think of what her consequence would be. She said, "Yes, Mama."
Then Elly suddenly looked aware that she was the center of attention and less comfortable with it. Later I asked her how she felt when she spoke up. She said, "First, I felt curious and shy. Then, I felt shy and sad." I asked her why she felt sad and she said, "Because they thought it was funny, and I didn't mean to be funny." :(
Yesterday I made cookies for a friend's birthday. I screwed up the first batch but they were still good enough for the kids, just not good enough to gift. So I had them out on a plate on the counter. Today I saw Eliana skip from the kitchen to the living room, overly nonchalantly.
I followed her and opened my mouth.
She clamped both her hands over her mouth.
I went over and looked at her and there were brown crumbs on her lips.
Me: "What are you chewing?"
Eliana: "I'm sorry, Mama."
Me: "How many cookies did you eat?"
Eliana: (holds up 5 fingers)
I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. I told her I'd have to think of what her consequence would be. She said, "Yes, Mama."
Friday, March 13, 2009
They're all cute.
Eliana blew up her new hop ball tonight. She couldn't stand to wait any longer for Daddy to get the pump, so she did it herself, with only her mouth. I have always said that her bullheaded personality will serve her well.
She also got a booster seat. She had almost outgrown the top harness slot in the Frontier anyway, and then I saw a news article about the infant SafeSeat flying off its base in the crash, so I moved Donovan to Kessa's convertible Decathlon, moved Kes to the Frontier, and got Eliana a booster, the Monterey by Sunshine Kids. It's impressive. Very similar to the Frontier but minus the harness. Anyway, she loves it. We've had it a week and a half now, and this morning she said, "Oh Mommy, I just love my grown-up seat belt." (Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou...) And I love it, because she actually gets in her seat quickly. No more carseat battles!
Meanwhile, Kessa has gone Canadian on us. "You got your paci, eh?" "We're going to the grocery store, eh?" "We're going to go to the park and ride our bikes, eh Mom?" (Scott mumbled something about Kes talking like a Canadian to me the other day, and yesterday Eliana said, "Mom, Canadians say 'eh' instead of 'hey' because they can't pronounce their H's.")
Donovan has discovered his feet and likes them, especially when they're naked and even more so when he is buck naked (maybe this is due to thoroughly enjoying nudity in general). He anticipates the upcoming actions when I say "kiss" "uuuuup!" and "I'm gonna get you!" He rarely cries but when he does it is heartbreaking. On the other hand, he tends to shriek like a pterydactyl when needing a paci or to nurse, which is less heartbreaking and more ear-piercing.
She also got a booster seat. She had almost outgrown the top harness slot in the Frontier anyway, and then I saw a news article about the infant SafeSeat flying off its base in the crash, so I moved Donovan to Kessa's convertible Decathlon, moved Kes to the Frontier, and got Eliana a booster, the Monterey by Sunshine Kids. It's impressive. Very similar to the Frontier but minus the harness. Anyway, she loves it. We've had it a week and a half now, and this morning she said, "Oh Mommy, I just love my grown-up seat belt." (Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou...) And I love it, because she actually gets in her seat quickly. No more carseat battles!
Meanwhile, Kessa has gone Canadian on us. "You got your paci, eh?" "We're going to the grocery store, eh?" "We're going to go to the park and ride our bikes, eh Mom?" (Scott mumbled something about Kes talking like a Canadian to me the other day, and yesterday Eliana said, "Mom, Canadians say 'eh' instead of 'hey' because they can't pronounce their H's.")
Donovan has discovered his feet and likes them, especially when they're naked and even more so when he is buck naked (maybe this is due to thoroughly enjoying nudity in general). He anticipates the upcoming actions when I say "kiss" "uuuuup!" and "I'm gonna get you!" He rarely cries but when he does it is heartbreaking. On the other hand, he tends to shriek like a pterydactyl when needing a paci or to nurse, which is less heartbreaking and more ear-piercing.
Be careful what you wish for.
Last week, Eliana was bumped up from level 18 to level 28 in reading. From what I have been told this means that she is now reading at a beginning 3rd grade level. Sounds great, right? Parents dream of having a 5 year old who reads like an 8 year old, right?
Well, I am proud of her.
But there are two problems. The first is with class time. I know her teacher does her best to let each kid be who s/he is and learn what s/he needs to be learning. But it's just not feasible in a group setting to really be able to meet the needs of a kid who is reading 3 grade levels above the average. Add the boredom that you'd expect in this situation, to a child that is spirited and does not handle boredom well, and you have a recipe for misbehavior. Nothing bad like hurting other people, just finding ways to entertain herself, but still not the conformity that is expected at school.
The second is with the books she is bringing home that are level 28. Our first two were called "Best Enemies Again" and "Encyclofacts". She can read them just fine, I think the level is appropriate for the actual decoding of words, but the issue is with meaning. The former is about a girl, probably about 8 or 9, who has a classmate that likes to make her life miserable. She can't relate (and I don't particularly want my 5 year old to learn cattiness until she has to anyway). The second is a science book. Neither interests her, and combined with the 10 level jump (from picture books to text-everywhere chapter books) she is suddenly saying "I don't want to read." Never heard THAT before. In addition, while she can understand each sentence well, she is having trouble deducing greater meaning. She understands "People figured out that when they put an engine on a glider it could fly longer" and "After that, they built airplanes a lot more than they built gliders" but wouldn't be able to say after reading those two sentences "Oh, an airplane is basically a glider with an engine." So we're having some issues with content at level 28 - the kid's smart, but obviously her decoding is outpacing her understanding of the material.
Anyone want to start writing children's books for advanced readers with age-appropriate content?
Well, I am proud of her.
But there are two problems. The first is with class time. I know her teacher does her best to let each kid be who s/he is and learn what s/he needs to be learning. But it's just not feasible in a group setting to really be able to meet the needs of a kid who is reading 3 grade levels above the average. Add the boredom that you'd expect in this situation, to a child that is spirited and does not handle boredom well, and you have a recipe for misbehavior. Nothing bad like hurting other people, just finding ways to entertain herself, but still not the conformity that is expected at school.
The second is with the books she is bringing home that are level 28. Our first two were called "Best Enemies Again" and "Encyclofacts". She can read them just fine, I think the level is appropriate for the actual decoding of words, but the issue is with meaning. The former is about a girl, probably about 8 or 9, who has a classmate that likes to make her life miserable. She can't relate (and I don't particularly want my 5 year old to learn cattiness until she has to anyway). The second is a science book. Neither interests her, and combined with the 10 level jump (from picture books to text-everywhere chapter books) she is suddenly saying "I don't want to read." Never heard THAT before. In addition, while she can understand each sentence well, she is having trouble deducing greater meaning. She understands "People figured out that when they put an engine on a glider it could fly longer" and "After that, they built airplanes a lot more than they built gliders" but wouldn't be able to say after reading those two sentences "Oh, an airplane is basically a glider with an engine." So we're having some issues with content at level 28 - the kid's smart, but obviously her decoding is outpacing her understanding of the material.
Anyone want to start writing children's books for advanced readers with age-appropriate content?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Soakin!
Elly: "I'm soakin' cold!" "I'm soakin' hungry!" "I'm soakin' hot!" "That's soakin' cool!" "She's soakin' big!"
Kes: "No, I didn't did it. It did it itself yesterweek."
Eliana also learned how to start swinging by herself and get going up high, just today at the park.
Donovan is babbling now, and just started blowing raspberries today.
Kes: "No, I didn't did it. It did it itself yesterweek."
Eliana also learned how to start swinging by herself and get going up high, just today at the park.
Donovan is babbling now, and just started blowing raspberries today.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Humoring me in my old age, already.
I was reading out of my binder, which was in front of the computer screen. I had no programs open, so the screen only showed our desktop wallpaper. Eliana walked in to tell me she was ready to read with me in the living room, then looked briefly at the computer screen, looked at me as if I had gone completely nuts, and said, "Just lookin' at the colors, huh? They're pretty. Come on, now, let's read."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tan Pup
Eliana approached me yesterday, cradling her very limp Tan Pup in her arms, and looking forlorn.
"Oh dear, did Tan Pup get hurt?"
Elly: "No. He's..." (sniff) "dead!" (starts crying real tears)
Me: "Oh, no. How terrible! You must be so sad."
Elly continues crying real tears.
Me: "Why don't we have a funeral for him."
Elly: "Oh. No! Wait, look! He's just hurt!" (stops crying) "Oh Tan Pup! You're alive! Oh Tan Pup, I'm so happy!" And she walked off to administer first aid to his wounds.
The minute she was gone I could not contain myself. This child got theatre genes from both sides of the family. And while it manifests itself in the dramatic quite frequently, it was fun watching that it may actually also involve real talent. This scene was really good!!!
"Oh dear, did Tan Pup get hurt?"
Elly: "No. He's..." (sniff) "dead!" (starts crying real tears)
Me: "Oh, no. How terrible! You must be so sad."
Elly continues crying real tears.
Me: "Why don't we have a funeral for him."
Elly: "Oh. No! Wait, look! He's just hurt!" (stops crying) "Oh Tan Pup! You're alive! Oh Tan Pup, I'm so happy!" And she walked off to administer first aid to his wounds.
The minute she was gone I could not contain myself. This child got theatre genes from both sides of the family. And while it manifests itself in the dramatic quite frequently, it was fun watching that it may actually also involve real talent. This scene was really good!!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I heart NoseFrida
I already loved the nosefrida. I thought it was well worth the $18 I paid for it, just to have a snotsucker that actually worked, as opposed to the bulb syringes, which just make D mad. And the past few weeks, it has occasionally been solely responsible for allowing D to nurse and breathe at the same time. Which is sort of necessary. But this morning, the NoseFrida became worth its weight in gold. It started like this:
Eliana: "Uh-oh. Mooooooom!"
That's never good, but I wasn't prepared for what came next.
Eliana: "Kessa put a bead up her nose!"
I ran to their room, and looked up her nose. It was so high up I could not see it. ("Are you sure it's in there? It didn't fall back out?") I felt her nose and could barely feel it right below the bridge of her nose. I ran back to D's room, grabbed the NoseFrida, and ran back. As she giggled and sniffed ("no don't suck it in further!") I applied the nosefrida and it popped right out.
Now there's a use for it I never thought about. But it just earned a permanent place in my home, even after the baby phase is over!
Eliana: "Uh-oh. Mooooooom!"
That's never good, but I wasn't prepared for what came next.
Eliana: "Kessa put a bead up her nose!"
I ran to their room, and looked up her nose. It was so high up I could not see it. ("Are you sure it's in there? It didn't fall back out?") I felt her nose and could barely feel it right below the bridge of her nose. I ran back to D's room, grabbed the NoseFrida, and ran back. As she giggled and sniffed ("no don't suck it in further!") I applied the nosefrida and it popped right out.
Now there's a use for it I never thought about. But it just earned a permanent place in my home, even after the baby phase is over!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The country-western clean-up blues
Eliana, singing dramatically (with Kes howling in the background for effect):
I want you I want you I want youuuuu
I'm never gonna clean up without youuuu
I'm gonna have to leave
and say goodbye
and never see you again
if you don't help me clean uuuuuup
Yeah I need help cleaning up my room
Or I'm gonna have to leave home
And I'll leave really soon
I'm gonna leave really sooooooooon
if you don't come
before I leave
I really want to stay
because I love youuuuuu
(starts crying)
and I can't handle the crying
so I'm gonna leave soon
oh please I need you to help me crying
oh stop me crying (stops crying)
so come here
before I say goodbye
and have a goodbye hug
a goodbye hug
I'm going to leave in one minute
so you better help me clean up in one minute
before I leave
and I'm gonna get tooken by a stranger
or you can come help me clean up
which choice are you gonna have, Mom and Dad,
what are you going to choose?
I'm going to leave without saying goodbye
or having a hug
I'm gonna sit on that front step outside
until you come out
oh please
I'm gonna leave in a second
I'm going to go out in a second
I'm going to leave you alone with only one child
and only one baby
the second's almost finished
I would never like to leave you
oh please come
I would never want to leave you
so I need you
cause I would never love you again
I would never come back
I would never come here
so I need you so I don't have to go
I want you I want you I want youuuuu
I'm never gonna clean up without youuuu
I'm gonna have to leave
and say goodbye
and never see you again
if you don't help me clean uuuuuup
Yeah I need help cleaning up my room
Or I'm gonna have to leave home
And I'll leave really soon
I'm gonna leave really sooooooooon
if you don't come
before I leave
I really want to stay
because I love youuuuuu
(starts crying)
and I can't handle the crying
so I'm gonna leave soon
oh please I need you to help me crying
oh stop me crying (stops crying)
so come here
before I say goodbye
and have a goodbye hug
a goodbye hug
I'm going to leave in one minute
so you better help me clean up in one minute
before I leave
and I'm gonna get tooken by a stranger
or you can come help me clean up
which choice are you gonna have, Mom and Dad,
what are you going to choose?
I'm going to leave without saying goodbye
or having a hug
I'm gonna sit on that front step outside
until you come out
oh please
I'm gonna leave in a second
I'm going to go out in a second
I'm going to leave you alone with only one child
and only one baby
the second's almost finished
I would never like to leave you
oh please come
I would never want to leave you
so I need you
cause I would never love you again
I would never come back
I would never come here
so I need you so I don't have to go
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Simple questions
As the kids and I came home and Scott answered the door, the first thing Elly said to him was, "Daddy, Daddy! Can you take us to ride bikes at the park, and can we have four babies???"
Because, you know, having another child is as simple as a day at the park.
Seriously, though, she won't let go of the idea that we should have another one, no matter how many times Scott and I tell her we're done. I say, "We always wanted three children and now we have three." Scott says, "No." (So, I suppose it really was a simple question since it had an easy answer.) And, "That would be too expensive." I've tried explaining that part too - she had told me we should have four or five and I mentioned the money aspect and she said, "OK just one more then. Four's OK, that won't cost as much as five."
Because, you know, having another child is as simple as a day at the park.
Seriously, though, she won't let go of the idea that we should have another one, no matter how many times Scott and I tell her we're done. I say, "We always wanted three children and now we have three." Scott says, "No." (So, I suppose it really was a simple question since it had an easy answer.) And, "That would be too expensive." I've tried explaining that part too - she had told me we should have four or five and I mentioned the money aspect and she said, "OK just one more then. Four's OK, that won't cost as much as five."
Friday, January 9, 2009
Updates
Elly, reading: "This reusable drawing board is excellent for doodling and coloring..." About at this point, I realized she was reading upside-down. 5.5 years. Sheesh.
Kes, today: "Mommy, I'm angry with you." Why? "You maked me mad." How? "You were a wild child."
Later: "Look at that gigangous truck!"
I started pottying Donovan. He goes almost every time I offer, but we've only had one dry diaper, so mixed success. Still, not bad for starting out.
Kes, today: "Mommy, I'm angry with you." Why? "You maked me mad." How? "You were a wild child."
Later: "Look at that gigangous truck!"
I started pottying Donovan. He goes almost every time I offer, but we've only had one dry diaper, so mixed success. Still, not bad for starting out.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
They grow so fast
Eliana rode a bike with no training wheels for the first time over the holidays. And, her 3rd loose tooth is hanging by a thread. My baby!
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