whine town

9-22
I was recently asked how much I drink. Since it was a medical document of sorts, I was discouraged to answer "not enough".

A glass of wine to go with the daily whine around here. My o my ME can be ultra gag-o-matic cute, but she is also far ahead (in my mind) on the scales of terrible too-much-ness! ...not that this means she's any bigger!!

Lots of drama, full-on tears, and sobs until she gets her little way. Which usually means to pick her up so she can destroy/attack/chew on something that is out of her grabby reach from the floor perch. Or hey, maybe she just wants to jump on your leg. Why not?

"no way" and the occasional "yes way" (with prompting, anything can happen) are common speak in the house. "meow" is also a good marker for naming anything that's fuzzy--although she also used it for the lobster magnet tonight. So perhaps it's her non-human living word? D has a report that on a walk yesterday, she seemingly randomly said "MEOW!!" until he noticed someone was walking a tiny pomeranian.

heh. Likely, it had papers...

9-21, couch remodel began...

The couch has been destroyed, for the time being. All the cushions are on the floor, in the hopes of minimizing ER visits in our future. E has gotten really super duper good in climbing up and down, and even climbs the entire 3 flights of stairs now (with hand holding). She climbed the ladder I keep in the closet tonight. It was a close call on her climbing the cat/baby gates a few days ago. I shudder.

9-22 so much oral defensiveness! working on ME's motivation for toothbrushing. She likes to chew on the darn thing, but since she's finally eating (a bit, enough) on a regular basis, gotta get in there! Luckily, I just had a rousing lecture on "Picky Eaters" :)
pretty neat how she can get up on her stool by herself and get the brush under the water! Tiny, perhaps, but she has mama's long arms! Cup drinking is coming along pretty cool as well--except there is still extra-joy at dumping/tossing the cup like a good orc when she's done.
random self-pride on something (9-22)
breakin up a cat fight. E just has to go breathe on em

Lots of cool kids are sick right now. Not cool. Doing my best to keep the germs off. Lots of handwashing, so my hands are getting raw. First line of defense!! I'm anti-flu shot still (we'll see, I may change my mind) so just gonna deal with the exposure I think we all got to the swinage in May.

In more adult news, D and I are expecting some changes. I'm 1/3 through my last academic-portion of the ole M-of OT. We'll see what else the future holds in the daily schedule part as well.

Just had my first two exams of the term, and wrapping up the first project. Oof. I'm sure I'll miss all of it--the collaboration, the relatively soft time-schedule, the exams...nononono, won't miss those I AM sure.

warpaint (totally washable markers) 9-24

everybody jump!

Cast on for an afghan. I plan to keep it do-able, just hacking at a square at a time. Since I'm trying to get my weak self in shape by biking, it cuts into my knitting/reading on the CTA, so we'll see how far my aspirations get by xmas.

ok, I should be either studying or sleeping. Or both. Osmosis got me an undergrad degree, after all.

stay warm! xo

sorry for absence

....and it is to continue. However, we are also a bit short on photos since Miss E has taken it upon herself to nab the camera on a regular basis. A few snippets:

this morning, just post-couch-fall. Not a fun event.
9-15ish. E-cam

at Auntie Kristy's opening
9-17 Grandpa! (E will say "Papapapapap!" upon prompting)
9-16 enthralled with "Empire"
Daddy n ME 9-16
first pony tail 9-15 (lasted approx. 2 minutes)

2-fistin' toys
9-14 ish talking, chatting, few things are making sense but she's imitating words all over--like "ball", "NO"(a fun one, she says it a lot now), "cool", "rad", and really just about everything once.
uh-oh, no clothes! Pretty much every bath requires a nekkid runabout

I have a whole lot more of these. The "running commentary" she makes slays me. "ooh! eeeeee!!"

Other progress notes:

-more teeth. OMG so the morning of the 16th, D woke to find another tooth in her bottom left, abutting molar.

-sleeping in crib for most naps, 1-3 hours. At night? varies from 1/2 hour to 5 hours in the crib.

-wavers on eating a TON to eating nada. See teeth.

-blueberries vs. strawberries? the saga continues

-word repetition is fun!

-pointing, directing wants is improving

-she can and does climb on me, the couch, her stool. She also likes to climb stairs with help, but still notsomuch on the down as she wants to walk down (and wants to jump on the couch, thus the fall today)

-Had fun playing last Sunday w/ Aiden and Jilly (& others in the adult category) at the lake! Got to stand and stare at the waves, making cooing noises at the waves lapping her feet and sand squishing her toes.

-Grandpa got her new shoos! She knows and sometimes will say "shooz" too hee!

-about 20lbs, as per our scale that she likes to squat on

-naps at 1pm on the dot!! mostly

-good with fork, spoon, cup--but still quite messy lolz

-DANCES whenever, music or no!

-tries to do itsy bitsy spider, especially the rain-down part

-cuddles and pats us on the arm/back. BIG on giving kisses (heavy breathing, open mouth--it looks like she's coming in to eat your face)

basically? she just rules.

xo

how about that

Hello, our loyal ME fans!

Yup, still here. The trip out south and west was wonderful, albeit short. Saw

new cousin Quinn,

her big sister Ryan,

here they are, dueling riders at breakfast

her awesome folkses/my cousin-sister Jenni & Hubs-Waide. Don't forget Porter! (who made E giggle when he licked HER paws) And that was just one household! Uncle Joe was kind enough to find Gram and I with E at the airport. oof. That plane ride went well, btw as ME didn't sleep the night before...neither did I. Then we hunkered down and hung out, and ate, and did the aquarium

(with Aunt Lor & Uncle Joe), and had pedicures (just Jenni & I wow was fun and I forgot to take photos--my toes became purple :) )

None of the above is in order btw.

Then on Saturday the 15th, everyone came over to the Stockhill home and we swam!! YAY ME loved it!! Miss Ryan was kind enough to practice her mad big-girl swim skills so ME could wear her wings. Uncle Jamie was a riot (and there are Aunt Michelle's feet!!)

with Jen, Paul, Rachel, Brady

with Uncle Joe

I lost track of how long we were in that pool but it was great. Getting out, we got a bit cold, but it was worth it!

Saw Jenny & Steph (eager to see them again this weekend). Played with wee cousins Rachel and Brady, and big cousins Michelle, Jamie, Paul, and Jeanne.

Jenny n Ryan

Basically, it was great.

Then off we went to invade the Thedakers' again (thanks, ya'll!!) Playing with Drew & Josh was a bonus to seeing Nana for two days.

E got all sunned out with Nana in the park, and tore up Nana's place in general. It was good to see her for some needed bonding. I also snuck in a lavendar latte trip-NUM.

HIHI

at the park

nappin' with kitty toy at Nana's

with Auntie Shell

a sticker from Nana

The flight home was not as great. E had had enough of this thing you may call "fun", and had a few crying episodes. Either that, or she just didn't want to go to Chicago! But Daddy was there waiting for us, and ME couldn't be happier to see him! (nor I)

another week passed, and now school began anew last week for me. This is the last time I am in classes full time. EVER!!!11 It's a full schedule, and I still have a year left of learning, but oof it will be worth it.

ME has hit some new milestones in the past few weeks:

word= jooo (juice), Peekaboo (didn't hear that, but Julia/sitter said it's true), Papa for Grampa, and she's mouthing sounds allll the time now such that I've lost track. I'm working on "boom".

ME finally got the whole ball-thing, throwing and rolling is now old hat (at like maybe 10 days now?) And loves to bounce with us on the body ball--she runs from it and pushes it too hee!

Better at drinking from a glass on her own. Getting better at toof-ish brushing. Tries to brush her hair.

clingy = ME

dog or daughter?

She also started climbing the stairs--feet only! She grabbed onto my shirt last week Thursday, and up up one foot at a time (holding on of course). We're just now working on the down and holding onto the wall as well.

Now my least favorite--E figured out how to climb up onto the couch 2 days ago. Not a fan, but as a future OT I'm all helpful and encouraging her to meet her goals (ack). So we're working on how to be safe on the couch. Trying. sighs.

having a fever of 102? Teething is hilarious.
headbands rule
at the zoo on our anniversary

The crib thing is still a work in progress. I promise (Hi Ma!!) that she won't be cosleeping at 18 (mmm what lovely lady taught me this perspective? :) thanks, Bleen my dear)

ok, back to studying!

xo