This was her first back to front roll! And it was just as uncomfortable and awkward in real life as it looks in the picture.
7.10.12 ~ Rolling!
On Saturday we stopped in Baltimore on the way back to NY. After her nap at my parents' house I found Nora in the crib like this:
This was her first back to front roll! And it was just as uncomfortable and awkward in real life as it looks in the picture.
This was her first back to front roll! And it was just as uncomfortable and awkward in real life as it looks in the picture.
7.9.12 ~ Five Months Old
On July 4th Nora turned 5 months old. I forgot
her monthly stickers AGAIN. Boo Mommy. But I did remember to take pictures and I also arranged a lovely firework display in her honor.
7.9.12 ~ Beach Babies
Last week we took our annual trip to North Carolina. Liam has gone on this trip every single summer of his life. Though, every summer it's like the first time because he has the memory of a goldfish. This year, after a little bit of grilling we discovered that he did, in fact, have a few hazy memories from last year. Mainly he remembered the movie theater in the house and that he and Ethan watched Mater Tales there. A movie theater is a funny thing to remember about a trip to the BEACH! Well, this year I think the ocean, the "sea creatures", and the fireworks made a lasting impression..though, the movie theater didn't fail to impress again either.
Because of Liam's most recent favorite show - Octonauts - he has a new found love for sea creatures. So much of our time on the beach was spent with different people yelling things like "Liam! Look at the sea creature I found!" and "Hey, more sea creatures!" Liam saw creatures of both the dead and live variety: dolphins (only live!), crabs, mussels, and fish . Oh, and he road a horse (I realize this is not a sea creature). Liam looked bored the whole time he was on that horse. Not till later that day did he tell us that he had been expecting to race the horse like the Preakness events he had seen on TV. No wonder he was underwhelmed! I need to learn to manage that child's expectations.
Liam also made a lot of progress with learning how to swim. By the end of the week he was paddling around the pool in his little vest - or without the vest and with a noodle or inner tube. He stuck his face in a few times and we had a lot of philosophical conversations about "breathing" under water. He got his chance to practice that skill out in the ocean when Jason was tossing him over the breaking waves and one wave was a little too big. But Liam took the dunk under pretty well. No tears at all - though, it did render him mute for about 20 minutes.
And the fireworks, well, Liam described his experience quite well today during the morning meeting in the Preschool Room. Every day the teachers send a transcript of the meeting. This is a snippet from today:
Liam: And I saw fireworks with red and blue. I was scared a little bit and then I stopped scareding and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was...
Teachers: Okay, we got it, Liam. Thanks.
As for our little beach baby - she really seemed to grow over the course of the week - both physically and cognitively. By the end of the week she was much more emotionally regulated, it seemed. She had really gotten used to living with a lot of family members. She was more comfortable being held by people who weren't Jason and me and now looks back to check who is holding her (which is the cutest thing ever). Also, she smiles and laughs more than she had been doing before. However, after looking back at the pictures of her in this batch she looks either serious or pissed in each one, so maybe I'm making the part about laughing more up in my head. The 110 degree sunshine and the M&Ms flowing through her milk (there were M&Ms sitting out on the counter in the kitchen and I, apparently, have zero self control) resulted in a baby tan and a growth spurt.
Liam: And I saw fireworks with red and blue. I was scared a little bit and then I stopped scareding and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was happy and then I was scared again and then I was...
Teachers: Okay, we got it, Liam. Thanks.
As for our little beach baby - she really seemed to grow over the course of the week - both physically and cognitively. By the end of the week she was much more emotionally regulated, it seemed. She had really gotten used to living with a lot of family members. She was more comfortable being held by people who weren't Jason and me and now looks back to check who is holding her (which is the cutest thing ever). Also, she smiles and laughs more than she had been doing before. However, after looking back at the pictures of her in this batch she looks either serious or pissed in each one, so maybe I'm making the part about laughing more up in my head. The 110 degree sunshine and the M&Ms flowing through her milk (there were M&Ms sitting out on the counter in the kitchen and I, apparently, have zero self control) resulted in a baby tan and a growth spurt.
Every year, one of our favorite poolside pasttimes on this trip is to talk about what life will be like next year when we're all at the beach again. A year sure makes a big different when such young children are involved. Next year Liam will be four and Nora will be one and a half and likely walking and talking some. It's pretty wild to think about my little ones growing and changing so much in such a short time. So, I'm trying to soak in the present before time flies and we're all a year older.
6.26.12 ~ The Tough Questions
While we were reading bedtime books tonight, Liam had his arm draped around Nora's shoulders. He interrupted me mid-story:
Liam "I wanted Nora."
Me: "What? You wanted Nora?"
Liam: "She was in your belly and I wanted her."
Me: "That's true she was in my belly and we were all really excited for her to come out."
Liam: "Yes, but how did she get IN your belly?"
Me: Dead pan stare "Uh. Hmm. I'll tell you later".
Liam actually accepted that answer and went back to the Three Little Pigs. Now I have to come up with a graceful way to explain sex to a three year old.
Also, how sweet was Liam's sentiment that he anticipated Nora's arrival?
6.24.12 ~ Summer Fun
Yesterday we took Liam and Nora to the little amusement park in Central Park. Jason wanted to do something special for Jeremy's birthday and what's more special than rides and cotton candy? (Certainly not Liam's dental appointment earlier that morning ... but we'll breeze by that truly horrible experience and get to the good stuff).
At the park, Liam rode a little boat ride, a car ride, a plane ride, and a very small roller coaster. The plane ride actually went pretty high in the air - so, that one took some convincing. First Liam told me that he couldn't go on it because it's too high and he might fall out. As we stood in line for the little cars I told him that I thought we should go on the airplanes next. Liam said "But I don't want to". I told him he doesn't know what he wants. And that I do know and that he would have fun on the planes. Then I dropped the subject. And when we were done on the cars Liam jumped off and said "I want to ride the airplanes next!". And so we did and he loved it. Which is good because if he had been scared I would have felt really bad for talking him into it.
The amusement park was so festive and so much fun that we think we may make it a yearly tradition on Jeremy's birthday.
And today we met Dirk and Wesley and their family at their beach house in Mantoloking. Such a good way to keep the weekend summer party going. Pictures from our day at the beach (Nora's first time!) coming soon!
At the park, Liam rode a little boat ride, a car ride, a plane ride, and a very small roller coaster. The plane ride actually went pretty high in the air - so, that one took some convincing. First Liam told me that he couldn't go on it because it's too high and he might fall out. As we stood in line for the little cars I told him that I thought we should go on the airplanes next. Liam said "But I don't want to". I told him he doesn't know what he wants. And that I do know and that he would have fun on the planes. Then I dropped the subject. And when we were done on the cars Liam jumped off and said "I want to ride the airplanes next!". And so we did and he loved it. Which is good because if he had been scared I would have felt really bad for talking him into it.
The amusement park was so festive and so much fun that we think we may make it a yearly tradition on Jeremy's birthday.
And today we met Dirk and Wesley and their family at their beach house in Mantoloking. Such a good way to keep the weekend summer party going. Pictures from our day at the beach (Nora's first time!) coming soon!
6.21.12 ~ Another School Update
Oh wait. I just realized that my last update was prematurely positive about Nora. Since returning to school after our Germany trip she has been refusing to take a bottle from her teachers, not napping longer than about 20 minutes at a time, and doing her share of crying, screeching, and back-arching. I can hear her from my office just across the hall from her classroom. I'm not sure who is the most tortured: Nora, her teachers, or me.
Also, while Liam has definitely gotten more comfortable in his new classroom, he still tells me once every few days that he likes the Toddler Room better than the Preschool Room.
Transitions are fun, aren't they?
Also, while Liam has definitely gotten more comfortable in his new classroom, he still tells me once every few days that he likes the Toddler Room better than the Preschool Room.
Transitions are fun, aren't they?
6.21.12 ~ Our Turn
Yesterday as we were walking home from the park Liam was in the front seat of the stroller and Nora in the back. As we stepped onto the crosswalk during the walk signal, a car made a right hand turn in front of us.
Liam: Aaaaaaaaaaaargh! (Read this like a scream/growl).
Liam (Looking back at me): I yelled at the car because it was our turn.
Me (Silently to myself): Oh my gosh. He totally got that from Jason.
Short Pause.
Liam (Turning to look at me again and speaking very matter-of-factly): Some people yell when it's their turn to walk.
Me: Oh yeah? Who?
Liam: Daddy. Jason does. Daddy does.
The child speaks the truth. Jason is definitely good for some loud profanity when cars threaten to run over him and his children in the crosswalk. Good thing Liam opted for the scream/growl instead.
Liam: Aaaaaaaaaaaargh! (Read this like a scream/growl).
Liam (Looking back at me): I yelled at the car because it was our turn.
Me (Silently to myself): Oh my gosh. He totally got that from Jason.
Short Pause.
Liam (Turning to look at me again and speaking very matter-of-factly): Some people yell when it's their turn to walk.
Me: Oh yeah? Who?
Liam: Daddy. Jason does. Daddy does.
The child speaks the truth. Jason is definitely good for some loud profanity when cars threaten to run over him and his children in the crosswalk. Good thing Liam opted for the scream/growl instead.
6.17.12 ~ Fathers Day
We spent the weekend in Baltimore. In addition to celebrating Fathers Day with Jason's dad (my Dad was still in Germany), we also got to see Hannah and Kaya (!). Helki was there too. I love seeing her. She always shows lots of enthusiasm for her little nephews and niece. It's really sweet.
Kaya is really adorable and so smiley. And he's HUGE. He's not even a year old and he's as big as Liam was when he was two. He was a little shy around us, but that didn't stop him from smiling and giggling at just about everything. Those few hours yesterday weren't nearly enough time together. Seeing Kaya made me miss Heiko too. It really stinks that all of these adorable, happy, important babies live so far away.
We also got to play with Sydney. Luckily she lives in Baltimore, so we get to experience her cuteness more often. The words she's saying now are so great. She says "Oh dear" a lot. As proper as she sounds saying that, the girl also has some spunk. She was playing with a ball and Liam took it from her. So, she chased him down and screamed in his face. Liam better watch out. Sydney does not tolerate being robbed.
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