October 31, 2008

Halloween





Dancing




The above picture is Miss E "running in a rectangle." Quite amusing to witness. She just spins her arms around like she is driving a tractor or something.



Grandma says this is our little tree hugger.

Miss E Caught Her First Fish!


For all the details, go here.

October 19, 2008

Miss E, Nearly 2 1/2

Miss E is almost 2 1/2. I am constantly delighted by her expanding vocabulary and comprehension. Though occasionally chastened:

Someone in a van in front of me was driving sooooo slowly. Finally they pulled into a turn lane. "So long, grandma," I muttered as I passed them. A few moments later, Miss E thoughtfully asked, "That was Grandma?" Oops.

* * *

She still talks about that calf from the pumpkin patch. The other day she carefully laid her baby bear down for a nap in a large Rubbermaid tote. "Baby Bear scared," she told me solemnly.

"What's Baby Bear scared of?" I asked, suspecting the answer.

"Baby Bear scared of cows."

I reassured her that Mommy and Daddy would not let any cows hurt Baby Bear. A few days later, Mr N asked Miss E if we should go to the pumpkin patch and she emphatically told him no, because she didn't like the cow. That cow is very vivid in her memory!

* * *

Miss E loves Sesame Street. She loves all the different characters, knows their names. One day she was hanging around me while I made dinner in the kitchen.

"Wait a minute!" She looked up at me expectantly. "Wait a minute! Oscar the Grouch!"

I suddenly realized she was quoting Oscar. I filled in. "Now scram! Wait a minute! I sent this email! I'll scram!" (There've been a lot of Sesame reruns on lately, so I've got the skits down too.) She was delighted and danced around the kitchen saying, "Now scram!"



Today she saw my shoes sitting out on the bathroom floor as I put on my makeup before church. "I wearing Mommy's shoes to church!" she announced. "Mommy's wearing Mommy's shoes to church," I replied. "No, I am!" she shot back. Have you noticed all the exclamation points? That's how Miss E talks. Emphatically.

When I emerged from the bedroom all dressed and ready to go, Miss E came up to me. "Pretty shoes. Ooh, nice tights. I like your skirt. Nice shirt, Mommy! It's nice!" She went right up my outfit. I loved it!




Miss E constantly runs around. She also constantly narrates her day. This afternoon Mr N and I were eating a late lunch after church. He read the newspaper, while I tried the NYT crossword (pretty hard today, only got about a third filled in). Miss E ran around the table, narrating to herself. "I running! It's fun!" Repeat for five minutes. Then she started with the "I'm gonna get you!" and tickling us. She can only be neglected for so long. Ha ha


Wow Bonesteele's clothes totally don't match.

It's a good thing Bonesteele is a big boy, because his big sister has no concept of playing gently, despite my best efforts. She loves to lay on top of him and give him rough hugs. Fortunately, he loves it and will squeal delightedly and grab on to any part of her he can. She usually loves to help me, fetching a bib or binky for Bonesteele, or running into his room when he wakes from a nap to keep him entertained for a few moments until I get free.

She has been asserting her independence more often recently. She threw a huge fit at Target Friday because she didn't want to ride in the cart. (I suspect this was because Mr N was with us. She rides in the cart all the time when I take the kids by myself.) She never wants to go for a walk anymore, though she used to love walks. This afternoon I insisted on a walk, and she bawled for the first five minutes. Eventually she got distracted by something and forgot to keep crying, and then had a lovely time.

Bonesteele has taken over the high chair, and our chairs are much too big for Miss E, so we got her a booster seat. To get her psyched, I told her she was a big girl to eat in the booster seat! A big girl like Ballerina (my friend K's daughter, one year older than Miss E). Now every time Miss E eats in her booster seat, she announces proudly, "I a big girl! Like Ballerina!"

She also wants to be just like her Mommy, which makes my heart sing. She carefully watched how I ate my spaghetti and was soon trying to wind her noodles around her fork too. She didn't care for the cut-up noodles. She wanted them long - "Like Mommy!" I love to hear that little phrase.

I love the spontaneous bear hugs, the unsolicited kisses, the requests for me to kiss an owie and make it better. Miss E is fabulous!

October 17, 2008

Peekaboo

This video is kind of long. But the grandmas will enjoy it!

Finally a Recent Video!

October 13, 2008

This Video Is Newer...

Though still about a month old. Here is Bonesteele attacking his Grandma N.

I have to find the camera cord before I can upload any newer videos! Sorry!

October 4, 2008

Trying Out the Video Function




This is a test. This video is obviously several months old.

October 3, 2008

Super Cutie

Bonesteele looks at Miss E with fascination and adoration. Like she's the coolest thing since sliced bread. Today Mr N caught a pretty good example:




This little boy is such a sweetie. I just want to eat him up!




Giggling for daddy:


Visit to the Pumpkin Patch!

The following pictures sum up our children's feelings upon our visit to the Pumpkin Patch:


Fear and tears.



Cheerful indifference.


It started as soon as Miss E realized there were animals at this pumpkin patch. She freaked out and had to be coaxed into the petting zoo area:




The cow was what really scared her. It mooed frequently and it scared her every time it did.



Bonesteele is looking over at the pigs. He was quite fascinated by their grunting and rooting.



"I no like it."




Not sure how I got her to smile in this picture!



Going to the pumpkin patch on Friday afternoon gives you an empty patch! We were literally the only ones there. It was a bit creepy.




Miss E was more interested in posing once she had a "baby pumpkin" to hold.



The above picture demonstrates what Bonesteele spent pretty much the entire visit doing: sucking on his fingers contentedly.




"Show me your teeth, Miss E!"

We'll see how she does next year!