Favorite Books, Bedtime Battles, Steam Cleaners, Star Sightings and For All That Is Good Please No Centipedes

In the spirit of feeling overwhelmed, I give you bullets from the week.

-Monday night when I was reading David Gets in Trouble which Leo adores, I made a “burp” sound, as the book called for. Leo burst into giggles and leaned over and kissed me. I love that I know just how to make him laugh (actually it was a surprise that this would delight him so much but it was duly noted for future need!).

-We’ve been having Pat Benatar “Bedtime is a Battlefield” nights lately with Leo. He’s not crying, just refusing to go to sleep. He was up until 10 p.m. reading on Tuesday night. Reading! I have to say it’s pretty cute to open the door to check on him to find him sitting on his bed, quietly flipping though the pages of Clifford’s Christmas Presents. I finally caved and gave him Tylenol last night, thinking maybe the congestion was making him uncomfortable (though that is much better, thanks Zyrtec). At one point I asked him if someone had given him a latte in the afternoon but received no response from him. After reading, he moved on to more exciting endeavors, specifically dissecting the extra bed in his room, stripping the sheets and pillowcase, I just couldn’t get over how much energy he had. At 10 p.m. I’m not sure if it’s the time change, or what.

-Speaking of books, Ellie is obsessed with this book. She actively seeks it out and can sit and “talk” about all the pictures. The last few nights she has breezed through dinner so that she can go get this book and sit with it on my lap. She seems to know all the pictures by sight (i.e. if I say “where’s the car?” she can show me. It’s just amazing to see her language develop at what feels like warp speed. She has also mastered most of her animals sounds. Seriously, is there anything cuter than a 20-month old meowing like a cat? Except Ellie's "cat" is more like a screech. Even better, really.

-Leo loves that book too. He is so competitive with Ellie and it’s quite sweet. He is so eager, he’s the kid who raises his hand before he knows the answer. I say “where is the boat?” and Leo busts up with a raised hand and says “Mine!” thinks a moment and then points to the boat with a huge grin.

-I had a wonderful birthday last weekend. First of all, it was 70 degrees. Seventy! Degrees! I got to sleep in and then Erin and the kids brought me coffee and a homemade card. It makes all the aggravation worth it when I see those happy little faces greet me in the morning, scamper into the bedroom and jump on top of me. Erin told me I could do whatever I wanted and for me that involved going to Macy’s and buying this:



And no it's not a Swiffer though it kind of looks like one. Oh it is so much more. I had seen an infomercial (I know, I know, sue me, the TV had been left on HGTV the night before and when I turned it on at 6 a.m. it was showing a riveting piece on the Haan steam cleaner). Well it intrigued me and so I did some digging/research and learned that most people seem to think the Haan is (surprise!) a piece of crap but that the Shark seems to be quite popular and effective. The concept is pretty awesome. It steams your floors with water that reaches over 200 degrees farenheit and you wash and reuse the cloth pads that come with it (it supposedly even "sanitizes" your floor, though I don't think we'll be having dinner on the kitchen floors anytime soon). No chemicals and no waste and safe to use on wood floors (which comprise our entire house). I have to say so far so good. I mean, it's not a miracle or anything (a miracle would be someone else cleaning the entire house). Then again any sort of cleaning is better than none which had been my floor cleaning technique as of late. And yes, I spent part of my birthday steam cleaning the floors. I am that big of a nerd.

-Saturday night went to the opening of an amazing new restaurant in the city. Not to name drop (Oh what the hell, here goes) but we saw Caroline Kennedy, Diane Sawyer and her husband Mike Nichols and actor Ralph Fiennes. And oh yes, the food was unbelieveable. We don’t go out much but when we go out, we do it right.

-In Little Girl As Vampire news, we’ve had two straight days of no biting. I hope I’m not jinxing it by talking about it here. We’re just taking it one day at a time.

-The birthday party invites are beginning to roll in for Leo. I’m like Amy, I love a good kid party! These are both kids from Leo’s school where nearly everyone has Down syndrome so there is the added benefit that I won’t feel pressure for Leo to “act” a certain way at the party. Plus I will get to see some of the moms that I rarely get to see. Saturday’s party is here. I think Leo’s head might explode from excitement. These parties just get bigger and bigger. I told Erin we are the holdout hillbillys who still have parties in our backyard. What can I say? We are simple people. Anyway, I am just hoping Leo doesn’t want to hold a centipede at this party (it’s one of the “insect options”). I'm totally down with spiders (thanks Charlotte's Web and Buddhist Dad). But after living in a centipede-filled "garden" (fancy word for basement) apartment in Brooklyn I became a little too well acquainted with centipedes. And if Leo wants to hold one I think my head might explode.

What I'm Thinking About Today

-I am in constant fear that I am wearing two shoes of different colors (i.e. one brown, one black. It’s been done before and I got all the way to work before I realized my mistake.) It happened this morning where I had a panic at the bus stop but luckily once again I was safe (two black shoes). It is bound to happen again though.

-I am confused by how it’s possible to mix-up Leo’s backpack with another child’s since his is MONOGRAMMED with his NAME on it. And yes, I’m shouting. This happened yesterday. One of the bus ladies gave Leo's bag to another family. Also wondering why this other family didn't um, say anything? It wouldn't have been that big of a deal except that Leo had medicine in his bag that he needed last night.

-I’m annoyed that Leo’s school needs a note from is doctor just for them to administer eye drops. I get that they have “procedures” but we’re talking about eye drops here, folks. And I gave them a note in writing. The doctor has more clout than the parent? Guess so.

-Hoping that Leo’s teacher/one of the class aides made sure his face was clean and snot free for the school pictures today. Wishing he didn’t have a military buzz cut for said photo but oh well.

-I’m worried Ellie might have croup. Or at least is on her way to another cold. She was up in the middle of the night with a barky cough last night. I guess we’re due. It’s been what, two weeks since she’s stayed home from daycare?

-When I picked Ellie up at daycare yesterday she had her paci, even though I have asked them not to give it to her unless she’s napping. They said she was fussy and that she seemed comforted by it. I wonder how often she is fussy and wonder also if I’m deluding myself into thinking she is happy being in daycare. Not that there is much I can do about this. Sigh.

-Speaking of, I am a sigher. I have really become one. My mom used to sigh a lot and it drove me crazy for some reason. I’m not sure why. Now I totally get why she did it.

-Not believing that I’m about to turn 36.

Stream of Consciousness Check-In

Confession time. I'm a bit of a perfectionist blogger/writer (can't you tell from my usual stunning prose?). I normally write in a Word document, edit myself and then post. But lately I have been not posting at all and that troubles me, because I don't want to not post and so I am going to not really edit myself here (watch out) and just do a little check in to say we are alive. And to catch up a bit:

-Work has been crazy and busy and taxing and stressful.

-Adding to that stress is that Ellie is sick Again. I feel bad for her and I feel bad for me. I see why people have nannies/sitters at home. Not being able to go to work and having to stay home with her and miss work is feeling like a problem. This week was Not the week to miss a day. Big deadlines. Big stress. And I hate that I found myself mad at my own toddler for being sick. Ridiculous. And I find it ironic too that Leo was supposed to be Mr. Compromised Immune System and what has happened? Little Miss 46 Chromosomes has been the sickly one with never ending cold and mysterious viruses this fall/winter. Compared to her, Leo was a little healthy horse toddler. I won't even talk about the Exorcist style vomiting I was the lucky recipient of last night. Oops I just talked about it. The funniest part (if you can call vomiting funny) was that it happened at the kitchen table where Leo was eating his scrambled egg dinner. Ellie projectiled (sorry) and Leo just kept on eating his eggs as if nothing had happened. I guess when your four a little puke at the table is not such a big thing. He's probably seen it many times at school. At least I found some humor in the situation.

-Leo's sleep travails (and therefore ours) continue. He's still waking up between 5-6 a.m. every morning, but closer to the 5 side of it and sometimes a few minutes before 5 (which is r-e-a-l-l-y painful, even with buckets of coffee). I probably don't have to tell you how precious even ten more minutes of sleep is, but Leo is stubborn. Once he's up, he's up. There is no talking to him or convincing to just lay in our bed and watch some Noggin. To add to the travails, he's also waking up in the middle of the night and getting into bed with us. This is not OK but again with the risk of waking Ellie if we force him to stay in his bed (and cry) we've been putting up with it. At this point my feeling is we all just need to sleep-does it matter that much where it happens? Leo wakes up when Erin leaves at 5ish but he was doing that in his own bed too. Triple Ugh.

-It's cold here. Nine degrees last night said the car thermostat (wow!). I'm not going to complain about it because it's not that big of a deal. I mean it is January on the east coast so whatever. I do miss taking the kids outside and playing in the yard, taking walks. It's not going to last that long though. It does make me wonder how people can live in really cold places though. It's so limiting.

-Leo's in an obsessive phase. Ds? Or just annoying 4-year-old? He gets an idea in his head and will.not.drop.it. It's a little, ok A LOT maddening. The top request? Dora. Dora. Dora. It makes me want to throw that damn TV out the window. On the one hand, we need the 30 minute Dora watching here and there. It allows me a moment of peace, or the opportunity to do exciting things like unload the dishwasher, make dinner, tend to the laundry. On the other hand I don't know when he got so obsessed with watching TV. We don't let him watch that much but he just seems so focused on it. We'll be reading a book or doing Playdough and suddenly he will just think Dora, and start chanting Dora. I try to ignore it. I try to distract him. But it's hard.

-Most shocking event of the week? Ellie pooped on the potty! She is fascinated with the potty, she calls it "boppy." She crawls all over it, climbs on it and the other night when I was trying to get Leo to come into the bathroom to sit on the potty, Little Miss climbs up, sat down and did the business. I am not ready to be potty training two at once! I told the daycare people and they are going to start sitting her on the potty.

-I am trying to calm down and chill out about house duties. I just feel like we have so much clutter and everything is so disorganized and no matter what I do it's never organized enough. I feel like dumping half of our belongings in garbage bags bound for the Salvation Army. I guess it's an early spring cleaning thing. Or maybe it's just that the kids are walking mess makers. It doesn't hurt that I spend my days pouring over cleaning/organization stories at work.

OK, boring stream (hopefully not completely) stream over. So in short, we're alive. Puking. Whiney. Messy and disorganized. Cold. Trying not to watch so much Dora. But alive.

Tuesday Thoughts

-I woke up to the sound of pouring rain this morning, and of course it was dark. A perfect recipe for wanting to absolutely bolt out of bed with excitement to start the day! I can’t tell you how much I wanted to stay home, pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. Let the kids wake up naturally (knowing full well it would be three minutes later, but no matter). Then I would spend the day baking some of the estimated seven million baked goods that I need to make in the next week—we are scaling back and doing cookies as gifts to teachers, therapists, co-workers and colleagues this year. In case you are curious I am making:

-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies
-Mexican Wedding Cookies
-Lard Bars (Graham cracker crust, condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips, walnuts they don’t call them Lard Bars for nothing).
-Lemon Squares

-I’m having holiday card anxiety. Last year at this time I’m pretty sure the cards were not only ordered but also addressed, mailed and received (complete, even, with holiday themed stamps, that’s how much time I had on my hands last year). And of course, the cards were perfect (if I do say so). This year, well, No. A total of four adorable holiday outfits sit in Ellie’s closet. Leo has a new suit and tie as well as three irresistible holiday sweaters. And every attempt at a holiday card has failed miserably. Maybe this year we’ll go for a New Year’s card? Valentine’s Day? It was so much easier to photograph them when one of them was immobile. It never fails now when one is hamming it up for the camera the other is screaming, most likely crying, and definitely running in the opposite direction. Leo has also taken to actually yelling at me when I try to photograph him. Not sure what's going on there. I am about ready to pack it in and use pictures taken earlier this year, perhaps ones even, gasp, that have been previously published on this very blog. Would it kill anyone? Not to mention, would anyone even notice? That’s what I thought.

-I am feeling very smug because I have discovered I can sneak tofu into my children’s scrambled eggs. I know I'm not the first to do this and I know this is riveting (ha) but this kind of information excites me. I am now wondering what else I can sneak. If only spinach wasn’t so green and obvious.

-I’ve decided I would like to move us all to Pocket Hollow. I don’t know where this is located but I like the sound of it. It’s where Toot & Puddle live. We’ve yet to watch this new show but the ads on Noggin are absolutely irresistible and every time I hear them say the words “Pocket Hollow” I think yes, that’s where I need to live. That’s where I will be happy and carefree.

-In spite of the fact that I have no baking done and no gifts purchased, I am in holiday countdown mode. That is because I have almost two weeks off work coming up wherein we can sleep in (well, not set an alarm clock) stay in our pajamas all day if we want to, I don’t have to pack breakfasts, lunches, or snacks, pick out clothes for anyone (including myself) in a hurried fashion. My family is visiting from Oregon for six days. It’s a wonderful life.

Out of Touch

I haven’t been writing much lately and I don’t know why. Actually I think I do know why. There just seems to be so much going on that I can’t find a single thread to boil down into a post. I know that shouldn’t stop me. I should just write lots of small entries. I don’t know, I just feel overwhelmed and when I feel that way I don’t write and then it just snowballs into silence.

So, a few updates.

-After a lot of hand wringing and analysis, we’ve decided to go ahead with the sedated ear procedure tomorrow. I sincerely appreciate all the comments in response to my question. I’m beyond nervous about it (think of us tomorrow at 6:45 a.m. EST if you’re up) but the pre-op nurse assured me it would be a quick procedure. It’s just been a while since we’ve had to do anything like this and it’s just, well, it’s always hard. Leo’s been having ear issues since he was tiny and he’s become downright traumatized when it comes to anyone touching his ears. As much as I am not a fan of general anesthesia it would be nice to not do anything to contribute to his terror of All Things Ear. Also, he squirms and carries on so much during ear exams that it’s not out of the question that some actual damage could be done. And, how great would it be if, while under anesthesia the doctor could really get in there and clean and get rid of the fluid and do whatever it takes to help our guy hear better? Come on, language!

-Leo’s parent-teacher conference was last Wednesday. It went well. He is meeting and exceeding all of his goals and he is on track to “graduate” to the next grade (primary) in the fall. He’ll go from being with three and four year olds to a class of kids that ranges from five to nine! That should be a pretty big change for him. We also discussed our goal (mine and Erin’s) of having Leo begin kindergarten at age six in district, most likely with a one-to-one aide. No one looked at me like I had three heads when I brought it up so hopefully it’s an actual possibility for the 2010-2011 school year.

Leo’s teacher described him as being like a “sponge,” that he loves to learn and that she has had to be quite creative with his goals because he is mastering them so quickly. So I can’t complain about that. I even wondered if maybe he might be getting a little bored in this class? But he’s not ready to move up yet (he actually can’t since he’s not five) so we’ll just hope that he can continue to get what he can out of this class and really master the skills he needs to move up. We also talked about Leo’s behavior (he is mostly very well behaved at school and has only recently started exhibiting some problems with transitions, throwing tantrums when he doesn’t want to do something) and we all agreed that it is directly related to his frustration with language. Since that continues to be his greatest delay, I asked for and got an additional private speech session. Who knows if throwing more therapy his way will help, but I’m pretty sure it won’t hurt. And it’s somehow satisfying to get additional services.

-I haven’t talked about potty training for a while because A) I know that it’s pretty boring to anyone but the parent doing the potty training and B) I didn’t want to jinx it. Let’s just say that Leo is consistently performing. He still does not tell us when he has to go but apparently that is a long way off. So for now the onus is on us to get off our butts and take him every two hours like we’re supposed to. Easier said than done! Never thought I’d say it but diapers are almost easier.

-The attacks against Ellie seem to have mellowed slightly. This may be in part because Ellie has developed a high pitched shriek that I liken to something you might see on a National Geographic special, when a smaller animal is at risk of being attacked by a larger one that smaller one might emit this decibel to frighten the attacker away. Mostly, Leo laughs when Ellie does this. But it also stops him directly in his tracks. Of course there was this morning when a sweet pat turned into a hug which then turned into a full on, push Ellie backwards so that she lands on her head. Oh well. Baby steps.

-This might be the most boring post ever, but I feel at least slightly up to date now.

Mommy, Turkey socks, et all

It’s a bullet kind of day. Honestly, it’s been a bullet kind of week.

So, a few things:

-Ellie said “Mommy” to me this morning. She’s said “Mama” but that’s Erin’s name. I’m Mommy (dammit!). Leo has still never said it (he actually calls me “dee-dee,” don’t ask). But this morning, when I went into Ellie’s room to get her up for the day, she started chanting “Mommy, Mommy.” Very exciting!

-Poor Ellie has been exhausted the last few evenings, like so tired I think she could go straight to bed after dinner tired. Unfortunately due to work schedules/logistics, that’s not possible. It just really sucks that the only Ellie-time I get during the week is cranky Ellie time, in which she spends most of her time running over to me and throwing herself into my arms/the back of my legs, depending on whether I’m sitting or standing. She just collapses into a puddle of sad, exhausted, whiney toddler tears. Pathetic. I’ve asked them to try to put her down for an afternoon nap at daycare. Hopefully that will help.

-Leo’s almost done with the antibiotics for his ear infection but he is still complaining about the “bee” in his ear. And he has started SCREAMING, as in talking VERY LOUD. I know little boys are loud but this is ridiculous. So I think we’re dealing with some fluid issues. As I said, his ped pronounced one of his tubes “falling out so it’s not doing it’s job.” Great. We’re going to the ENT this coming Wednesday. I moved the appointment up.

-I am using all the strength I can muster to not spend $40 on socks and tights. I have a 20 percent off coupon for a great sock and tight website (I know, who knew?). I am doing what I usually do when I want to shop but not spend money, which is put all the stuff I want in my “basket” and then look at it throughout the day. Usually by the end of the day I don’t care so much. But socks are so fun! They always fit! And they are cheaper than shoes. And don’t even get me started on how much I love knee highs. I mean, really, aren’t these cute (minus the slutty mini-skirt of course)



And I know they're a little corny, but how adorable are these?
You may as well know I am a sucker for holiday themed socks. Yes I wore pumpkin socks leading up to and on Halloween and I'll wear Santa/reindeer/holly socks leading up to and on Christmas. Now i just need the turkeys to complete the trinity of late-year holidays...

-I am not enjoying the time change. It is dark as night when I leave my office. OK it is night. It was fine when I was on maternity leave/cozy at home. But commuting in the dark? Not so fun.

Plugging Along

The vacations are over. Fall is in the air. Well to be honest, it’s humid as all get out in New York City today and I am Over it. But I’ve checked out the ten day forecast and there is a cooling, dare I say fall trend in the air. Also, the mosquitoes ate the crap out of me over the weekend, which tells me that they are freaking out and trying to begin foraging for the fall, for the impending chill. So there is hope.

I love fall. I really do. In some ways it feels like New Year to me. New beginnings, opportunities, possibilities, chances to start over, make good changes. And the weather is so much nicer than it is in January.

A few goings on to note:

-Leo starts back to school (no more full-time daycare) tomorrow. The little yellow bus will start coming for him again. And we will take our annual First Day of School Stand By the Tree Out Front Photo.

-Ellie started in the Big Kid (aka toddler room) yesterday. I know I am silly but I was sort of emotional about it. I went to put her food away and forgot that she no longer has a little shelf in the cabinet. Her name tag was gone. Of course I know that she's ready for this. She’s not a baby anymore (newsflash!). Leo was a baby for so much longer it seemed (I guess because he didn’t walk until he was two). This whole Ellie-baby thing went by so so fast for me. She reportedly had a great first day as a Big(ger) Kid. She took a nap on a cot. She played on the playground where she drove a small car and enjoyed pushing the push toys around. That’s my girl. She was also out of her mind with exhaustion by the time I picked her up at 6:30. That’s what going down to one nap does to a little one who is used to two (they are going to let her take two today).

-Operation Potty Train Leo is starting up in force tomorrow. Wish us all luck.

I leave you with two photos from the weekend. Our babysitter/dog sitter/friend MaryAnn brought over new puppy, Angie. Leo was in love (pay no mind to the blue lip liner lips—he’d just had a rather messy Popsicle experience.)


And, the biker chick.

I hope everyone else’s Fall/Back to School transitions are going smoothly and happily.

Wacky Weather, Potty Excitement and A Helpful Leo

I cannot get over the weather so far in New York City this summer. It seems like it has rained and/or thunderstormed nearly every day for a month. I just went to the bank and it was sunny, warm, dry and comfortable. Downright San Diego-esque. Thirty minutes later there was a black cloud settled over my building (I will try not to take this personally). The pounding rain ensued and now, poof-it is clear again. And now the sky is swimming pool blue. Weird! The upshot: I haven't hard to water the yard much this year. Yeah. But we won't talk about what this weather does to a frizzy haired girl's self-esteem.

A few things:

-Last night Leo pooped on the potty! This is huge. He has never so much as peed and last night, well, all I can say is Wow. I never wanted to to be the mom who talked in detail about scatalogical matters but I do want to mention this. I tried something new: I gave him a book. I don't know what made me think of this but it just came to me. We read a whole Dora bedtime book and by the end, well, we had success. His teacher recommended we put him on the potty at consistent times during the day. This is so hard to do when you have no bathroom on the main floor and an 11-month old who is going through a clingy phase (truthfully, I don't think she's exceptionally clingy, I think she is just 11-months old and at daycare all day. By the end of her day she wants her Mommy dammit!). But I can't whine about the inconveniences of potty training. I have to just do it. As I've said before, Leo's teacher thinks he's ready. I think I am worried about how long it is going to take. I worry about the logistics of it all.

-More Leo news: He has become suddenly helpful. I am not complaining. He loves to put the tray on Ellie's high chair (he pays no mind to her little arms and hands so I have to closely supervise this one). And here's a new one: This morning he rushed to my side as I refilled the dog's water bowl. He put his hands on the handle of the teapot I was using, so that he was helping to pour. When we were done he clapped for himself. He is also great about picking things up when I drop them (which is a lot, especially when I am holding a 23-pound pork chop, I mean, baby girl, in my arms). The second Ellie drops her cup Leo is at her side with the retrieved cup. He's also great about handing me a diaper/wipes/miscellaneous supplies. Sometimes it takes a few seconds/minutes for him to find what I am asking for, but when he does get it, is he ever proud. As am I.

He also enjoys helping me put clothes in the washer and dryer. But not as much as he loves pushing the buttons on the washer and dryer.

He's on a one-week break from school this week so he's attending the day care full-time. I know he has a good time there and it's a much more relaxed atmosphere but I'm looking forward to him getting back to his regular program and his therapies. I think at the daycare they let him do his own thing just a little too much. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In small doses.

Cribs and Books and Big Plans for the Food Processor

I’m a little late on notes from the weekend it being Wednesday already. Really, where does the time go? Here are some bullets:

-We moved the crib into the guest room which is now I guess heretofore “Ellie’s room.” I am afraid to even put this in writing for fear I will jinx things but each night she was in there, things got better. And last night, drumroll please…she slept from 9:30pm to 5:45 am. Straight through. Yes it’s true. Of course I woke up multiple times because I have been doing this since I was six months pregnant, but that should pass soon, right? Oh happy day! Keep up the good work Ellie! This morning when I went to get her she was awake in her crib, sitting up and smiling and yes, reading a book. It was freaking adorable. Monday morning, the morning after the first night that she slept so well I went into her room singing Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independance." I don't know what came over me but it just seemed appropriate.

-This may be too much information but I am really struggling with the pumping (OK this is not really a weekend subject but it’s on my mind). It’s not that I want to wean Ellie—I don’t mind nursing at all since I am pretty much only doing it twice a day now (once in the morning and once before bed). It’s that when I pump I get hardly anything. I went from being able to produce almost three bottles to two and now I’m lucky if I get one. Her one year birthday is two months away. I tell myself it doesn’t matter what I get as long as it’s something—a little breast milk is better than no breast milk (I can still hear Leo’s NICU nurses with their sage advice). OK, I will press on and not worry how much I get. Plus I’m afraid if I stop pumping altogether I won’t be able to nurse and then how the heck will I get Ellie to sleep?

-Books. I finished Road Map to Holland in like three days which is good for me (since I am a slow reader and also only get to read during the commute to work.) Next up is The Book of Dahlia which I heard about when the author was interviewed on Fresh Air. Wow. The first chapter blew me away. It’s about a slacker who finds out she has brain cancer. One of the reviews summed it up nicely: “Should we mourn a wasted life?” Quite a departure from the Holland book. I’m really enjoying reading books again. I feel like this new found thing called sleep is helping me return to the person I was once was. With interests! I have even been daydreaming about all the things I want to cook and bake. That is not so unusual except I’m hoping that not being so exhausted will allow me to actually make some of them (lemon bars, pumpkin bread and pesto, gazpacho, salsa). Can you tell that someone has a new food processor?

-In Leo and Ellie notes, Leo has moved on from telling the dog to go “Away” to now telling Ellie to go “Away!” He does it a lot in the car and he can get pretty loud and mean sounding. He’s caused her to burst into tears several times. I hate yelling at him, but I also hate seeing Ellie cry. I know that he has some hostility towards her (understandably) but it’s also my responsibility to make her feel safe. I am probably over thinking this.

Meanwhile, Ellie is cruising everywhere. I find it ironic to think about how all I wanted was for Leo to walk and with Ellie I am just appreciating each day that she doesn’t walk. She loves to have her hands held while you walk with her. She finds it hilarious and grins the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. She has taken to looking up at me and grinning when I walk with her, which makes it difficult for her to walk.

-The Bouncy Chair and Infant swing have been retired (and as mentioned earlier, the crib is now out of our bedroom). It is bittersweet to see my little baby growing up, to see this end of infancy. I know, I know. She hasn’t gotten her own apartment. Yet.

Pictured above, Leo and Ellie test drive the new locale of the crib. Please don't call Child Services on us. We think Leo got that mark on his chest from some sort of unfortunate encounter with the carpet at daycare.