Thursday, January 31, 2008

a Little bit for G!

Okay since G asked here are 2 random and short stories for you.
Today Joy was in her crib having just woken from her nap and I hear her playing, I like to leave her a little bit so she adjusts to being awake, she is not a morning person! Anyway I all of a sudden hear a very odd and sad cry (like she is stuck or something is wrong. So I jump up to see what's the matter. At first all I see is her sitting facing the wall. Odd, so I quietly listen and watch as I creep up on her. Then I see her lean forward and do something and say uh-oh. So I ask why uh-oh (by the way startling her is the funniest thing) and she points to her shoe which is stuck between the slats in her crib. Somehow it is not falling behind the crib as it usually does (now I know how she gets it off and back there). So I ask what happened and she tugs and pulls at her shoe again. I ask is it stuck, and she just looks at me like why are you asking these questions you know the answer to and I don't yet have the words for silly just get me my shoe! Yes she said all that in a look! So we got her shoe and put it back on the foot.
Random story #2
So I am trying to teach joy to sit at her table to eat, so far just for snack, but we have to start somehow. So I am using my Grandmother's (Maw Maw)) footstool with an Eagle on it, we had it it's the right height so we are using it. However I don't have anything to sit on so I was on the floor, and I was feeding her the yogurt and she was happily eating sitting on the stool. She starts to get up, and I start to shovel the yogurt faster so she will finish it before she is up. Well I did not manage, but instead of just wanting to get up she was wanting to sit like me, on the floor. So she sat in front of me and finished the last 2 bites of her yogurt. I went and bought 2 chairs for the table this afternoon. Sorry Rob's on his computer and it's past my bedtime so no new pictures!
Almost forgot! I start sewing lessons on the 25th (Thank you Grandmother!) and can't wait to show off the beautiful easter dress I am sure I will make!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Randomness

OKay few times in my life do I really wish I had one of those camera phones. Today I had one of those moments. I went to the grocery store tonight and it was normal (other than the tv's they keep adding?!?) until I went out to my car. What was in the parking lot, but a car with a flannel jacket as a window, all I could think was well now that's ingenuity!
Okay really that's it sorry.
On a much more interesting note I cleaned the craft room and started again working on Joy's album, she is now home from the hospital and almost a month old, but I ran out of the tape I like, so I need to talk to one of my creative memories people and see what they can do for me!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Picture Time!

Okay I know you really just want to see pictures so here you go!


In other news: Well their is no news. Since she said she was ninkey 2-3 times she hasn't been cooperative on that front since, but I expected as much. She is still mimicing almost everything we say so I don't know how many words she has in her vocabulary anymore because she will seem to have a word but then not. She is working on her vocabulary always. I can't imagine learning as much as she does each day/week/month. She's a smarty!
Another cute things she does, which I think her Daddy taught her is Oh No! That may not seem as cute as it really is but now you have to know as she says it the hands go on the head and she shakes her head no.
She is also continuing to tell us nooooooooooooooo. I usually ignore it or say in a sweet voice no what. I know she isn't really telling us no, just having fun with a word she knows.
She did other day experiment with what would happen if she lifted her arm high and then bring it down on Mommy's face. She learned that Mommy would tell her in a not so nice tone that she doesn't like that. She also learned that when she gets her sad face after being told something in a not so nice tone that her Mommy still loves her, just doesn't like what she did. Hugs and kisses were exchanged.
She and Rob had a fun weekend while I went to San Antonio for a conference. I learned about Handwriting without Tears, which I think is a great program. I was very happy to learn finally how to teach handwriting as the kids messy handwriting would bother me to no end, but I never had the tools to teach good handwriting. Now I feel equipped. I enjoy my days/weekends away, but I miss my baby while gone, but I know her Daddy is a good Daddy and they need their time together.
Well I guess that's all if you need handwriting instruction for your kids let me know, the other 2 teachers I went with and myself are thinking of a summer camp for kids who finished K-2nd as we all need/want some summer income and the PDO doesn't go all year.

Monday, January 14, 2008

I ninkey

Last week I started to ask Joy if she was stinky. She just looked at me and would let me change the stinky diaper. She eventually started saying I ninkey (nin rhymes with tin and key is like the ones you open doors with), but only when asked and prompted. That is until today. During her snack she points to her diaper and says I ninkey. At first I didn't get it, but then I saw the look on her face and knew, so I praised her for telling me and told her finish snack then we will change you. Whatever right one time, it's just a happenstance. I was hopeful but not convinced she knew (I am sure sitting in the highchair makes it more obvious what she did?!) So later she and I had been playing and she was in the kitchen getting a drink and when I went to check what she was doing she said I ninkey. This time I got it and asked are you stinky? She repeated I ninkey. So we went to change her and she was again stinky! Maybe it's only something a mom can be proud of but I am proud! Now I know the next question is when are you potty training. Well at this time we don't even have a potty. So the answer is not now. My plan (as I always have a plan) is somewhere in the next 2 months I will find and purchase our potty chair for Joy. At first it will be a novelty when she gets in and out of the bath (that is if she ever bathes again, but that's another story). This summer is when I am thinking we will begin to really do the potty training. I will do like I did with my toddler at work. The diaper changes will happen in the bathroom with the option of the toilet or not. When it seems she wants to and can tell me before she goes potty (or I just decide I am ready) we will go ahead with underwear (NO PULLUPS!) but for now and possibly the next year it's just about not being afraid of the potty and knowing what our body is telling us when. I know potty talk like I ninkey is the first step.
So the bath.... It's an evil thing if you ask Joy. She has decided to strike and is succeeding at this point because I refuse to put a screaming scared child into the bathtub. I know she hates getting her hair washed, although that is usually the reason she needs a bath so I can't ever seem to give her just a fun bath no hair washing. I can't get in the tub with her until 3 weeks after my surgery (which is thankfully this week). And her dad does not give baths (although I think if he tried she might like him better which is probably why he won't). Anyway for now she is getting doused with a washrag when I can and she desperately needs it. I am trying with the baths as much as I can, but again I will not put her in the tub when she is screaming scared. Maybe she's manipulating me, but I do know she HATES it when I wash her hair, really it's the rinsing that is the evil part so any suggestions on how to rinse without getting her face wet are welcome. We already have the bucket with the flexed side to go on her forehead but she won't tilt back for it, I am pondering a visor, but she won't keep any hat on for 10 seconds why would one in the bath be better? So until further notice Joy is getting sponge baths!

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Overnight trip

Last Summer My sister and I met our cousins in Salado Texas, a very cute, quaint town that is all Texan. We really enjoyed it and found a great little stamp store. I actually did all my Christmas shopping for my Grandmother there that weekend. I also enjoy stamping and got myself some really cute stamps. Now I know my Grandmother is 90 and has not gone on many trips, but this town is not too far away, and one or two nights should be manageable for her. So I suggested while everyone was on vacation after Christmas we should take a family girls trip to Salado. IT was talked about a few times of canceling between my sister actually getting one of the girls in her house back on the 3rd, and my knee, and ... We thought about postponing, but then I was feeling fine, my sister's husband can take care of the one girl, and the weather has not been too cold so we decided to go on Thursday, January 3rd and return Friday, January 4th. So here is the story of our trip...
Joy and I started out at 8:30 Thursday morning we picked up my Grandmother from her house around 9:00 and went to my Mom's. At my Mom's we switched all Joy's stuff, my stuff, and my Grandmother's stuff to my Mom's car. Including the car seat. I was a little nervous about this, but my Mom has a new car and therefore has the latch system and now I desperately want a new car just for the latch system! So that was an easier than imagined task (it took me at least half an hour to wrestle the car seat into my car the first time). We then headed North to my sisters where we picked up her and her luggage (she wins the prize for the most luggage after Joy). Finally we are on our way. Vicki (my sister) and I had discussed a few days before that the directions from her house took us through College Station, and I figured by the time everyone was in the car and we were on our way College Station would be the perfect lunch stop. My sister notified her friend Tracey who lives there and we decided we would contact her to let her know when we were in the area. So when we got close to CS my sister called Tracey and we decided to meet at Cheddars for lunch. My Grandmother also has a friend who recently moved to CS and she called her spur of the moment and also invited her. So the 7 of us stopped for lunch in CS at Cheddars. Vicki and Tracey caught up, Grandmother and Dixie caught up, and Joy got out of the car seat only to be buckled into a high chair (although I did let her wander through the restaurant before and after the meal since this was her only free time so far that day). After a long lunch and much visiting we got back on the road and again headed north. We debated over directions, I had some printed from Google, but my mom asked Dixie about how she would go and although Dixie did not have clear directions it was decided to not use my directions. Now you see I get car sick, you would think a 31 year old would have grown out of it, but hand me a map or anything to read in the car and puke will follow. So that left my Grandmother and sister to figure out the unclear directions. After many small (no dirt, but one without a center line) roads we made it to Salado, and first stop was the stamp store. My grandmother was happy and we looked around a little. Joy finally got to walk around a little and was very happy playing with the baskets. She also enjoyed terrorizing the "most handsome store kitty". Joy was very interested in the kitty or KIT as she would say. The cat however was a little terrified of the tiny person. Now Joy is not bold enough to go up to the kitty, but she will get within a couple feet and corner the poor thing. This adding to the fact that no one in my family likes cats nor can we breath around them. My allergy being the most severe, then my Mom's coming in a close second. Anyway since their are few fabrics in the store the kitty did not bother our breathing too bad. Joy did like watching it from about 2 feet and by the time we left was ready to pet it if it would let her. Anyway my grandmother filled one basket but left it for tomorrow to only check out once. We then did some other shopping and checked into the hotel. After checking into the hotel we did a little more shopping and then the town closed down at 5:00. Dinner then the hotel was the decision made (for Joy) and so we found a little BBQ place and had an eh dinner then went back to the hotel. At the hotel I let Joy play about half an hour before putting her down and going to my Mom and G-mom's room for a little while to chat and whatever until we got tired. So day one was over and everyone survived.
Day 2: Joy got up around 7:10 her usual, and I just let her play in the dark in the room (since my sister who gets up at 4:30 every morning was still sleeping). When Vicki woke up Joy continued to play. She finally did realize that she had not eaten and was hungry so I fed her a few snacks (she had the option of Cheerios or goldfish and she ate the fish). She continued to play and eat while we got ready with visions of breakfast buffet dancing in our head. At 8:30 when we got to the Coffee Shop we found the buffet is weekends only! This was very sad news. Next we learn they have no fruit. At this point I might as well have taken Joy back to the room to eat her canned fruit and more fish, but I was also hungry so I ordered her a pancake (which she eats at home). Breakfast was good except Joy did not want to be there and was not interested in the food ordered for her or given to her off others plates. Finally breakfast was over and we headed back to the rooms to pack up and get ready for some shopping. I had already asked Vicki (who doesn't care about stamps) to watch Joy while I shopped the stamps. An hour later we were done, but G-mom of course was not so we went off shopping while G-mom stayed shopping at the stamp store. Around 12:30 my Grandmother called to let us know she was done (with a hefty bill I am sure). o we had lunch, Vicki continued to shop a couple more shops and then we headed home. This time I drove my mom's car and we took highways. It wasn't my original directions and who knows how much extra time we were on the road, but I drove and their was no drama about the route. So we dropped Vicki off first, then G-mom and then we stopped at my Mom's house around 6:30 to again move the stuff and the car seat. The car seat did not take 30 minutes, but I realized too late and too tired to fix it I made a small mistake. That and I didn't feel I could putt it tight enough since I could not properly lean on my right knee. Rob will be fixing that in a couple min now that I remember.
All in all the trip was fun, I won't suggest another for a few years, and maybe then Joy will want to stay with a friend for a couple days instead of going with us. It was nice to be with family and my Grandmother was ever so grateful for the idea and the trip. Who knows I may forget the little things in another few months and offer another small trip somewhere for my Grandmother, she did love to travel at one point in her life.
Okay this blog really went nowhere, but I wanted to share my little story of our trip. It's always good to be home after a trip. And after a few weeks it's always nice to think fondly of the trip! For now I am still worn out and poor Joy is afraid every time we put her in the car seat it will be another 3-4 hours before she gets out, or worse it will be 2 minutes in 2 minutes out 2 minutes in 2 minutes out. Needless to say she got whatever she wanted today since she had to put up with so much the previous 2! Now I am off to fix the car seat and see about actually making a path in my craft room so I can use some of the new stamps I got!