May 26, 2007
Noodle Puppets and more
We've been busy the last several days. Lots of exercising, good food, and visiting with family. My aunt and uncle (my mom's bro) are visiting, which is always fun. My aunt has been a member of the same book club for at least a decade, and I always know I'll be reading good books after she leaves. She always has the best recommendations. Today, all the girls went for tea! We had so many yummy sandwiches and sweets. I forgot to take pictures because I couldn't stop stuffing my mouth. Thank goodness for those 4 miles I power walked yesterday! If it wasn't for the HORRIBLE air quality from all the fires in GA, I'd be out working my rear some more. Seriously though, the air is smokey and stinky, and we're 200 miles away from the fires!
With James on break from school, we've been cooking up some yummy things, like baked tilapia with a tropical salsa:
Healthy veggie sandwiches for me:
Last night, we enoyed some not-so-healthy food at Olivia Garden. Olivia had a blast. She's been really into finger puppets lately, and last night, she took a big tube shaped noodle and put it on her little finger and waved it around at everyone. She made it say "hi" to all of us, using this high voice like I use. My mom's a drama teacher and thought it was quite brilliant that Olivia understood the concept of creating a character.
She's learning so much everyday. Her vocabulary is probably around 35 words. Her newest ones are "juice", "poo-poo" (which she says during diaper changes), "apple" and people's names. We're teaching her to say the names of James's family members so she knows them when we go up in a couple weeks. She says "pop pop" and for Missy, "ees ees". She's so much fun! She's still not walking independently though, which worries me a little even though I tell myself I shouldn't. Sometimes I worry she's not balancing herself well. I have a friend whose son has balancing issues, but I keep hoping she's just not ready to walk and will be fine when she's ready. She took a few steps last week, so I know she can do it. I'm not going to rush her, so we'll wait and see.
I've been a slacker in the picture department, so here are some newer ones.
Going for ice cream has become a hot weather evening favorite! We get the free kiddie cone for Olivia, and (somewhat) healthy sugar free shakes for us. Trying to lose weight SUCKS!
She's been doing this a lot lately. She even walks like this sometimes, on all fours like a primate. It's so funny. Maybe this is a step closer to walking??
Hmmm... I think maybe it's time to pack this thing up! The weight limit is 20 pounds and we're just about there. I've been wondering, where do you all change your bigger babies (bigger being too big for a pack 'n play changing table)?? We don't have a changing table. I do have the dresser with space for the pad, but I have things on it. I suppose I should clear it off. I guess I could use the bed. What do you use?
I hope you're all having a great Memorial Day weekend. I plan on making green tea ice cream for Monday. I'm sure Olivia will LOVE that! What are your plans? Well, we're off to buy diapers and prunes (what a combo). I think Olivia has been eating too much cheese. I've noticed she's been straining a lot. I hope I don't end up with the opposite problem now!
Posted by Hannah at May 26, 2007 04:52 PMDon't worry about her not walking. It's perfectly normal for babies not to walk until they are 18 months old. Ava is 14 months and hasn't even shown interest in it, and her doctor isn't worried so I'm not either. I know that she will walk one day, and I know that things will become alot more difficult when they do. At least Olivia took a few steps last week! I'm sure it won't be long. Hope you have a great weekend!
Posted by: Becca at May 26, 2007 08:18 PMOh and I forgot to comment about the changing table. I put the pack and play away months ago, and most of the time I honestly just do it on the floor. I do have a changing pad that I keep in the living room. It's like wrestling an alligator, but at least in that room I can distract her long enough to get it done.
Posted by: Becca at May 26, 2007 08:21 PMThat veggie sandwich looks delicious! And yes, trying to lose weight *does* suck. :( Good luck with that. Cute pictures of Olivia! I know that she'll walk when she's ready ~ I wouldn't worry. An online friend of mine has an 18-month-old daughter who hasn't walked yet. She's concerned, but she knows that she'll do it someday!
Posted by: Lisanne at May 26, 2007 09:38 PMWe used to only use Lila's pack n play changing table, but she outgrew it too. We now just use the changing table in her room. It's a kind of short dresser w/ drawers, and it's got a spot for a pad on top. If we didn't have that I'd probably just do it in the floor.
Posted by: Chas at May 26, 2007 10:32 PMI love all the pics~Olivia is just precious! I LOVED the story about the "noodle puppet"~I LITERALLY laughed out loud!!!! That's just so cute~she's going to have quite the imagination :) I wouldn't worry about her walking~Kendall was 17 months old before he walked. As far as changing diapers, we have a changing table/dresser combo that has a place for a changing pad, a drawer, 2 shelves, & a mini-closet (as I call it~it has a door w/2 shelves in it & a metal rod @ the top to hang clothes). We always change Kendall's diapers there. As for Memorial day extended weekend plans~ours are ZILCH!!! Bobby had to work today @ his part-time job & has to work tomorrow :( He's off all day Monday though~we may go to my dad's to swim~my dad has an above ground 3-feet pool :) I was hoping to go somewhere for a 3 day mini vacation but that was ruined when Bobby's part-time job scheduled him to work :( Maybe soon...
Sorry for the LONG comment/book :)
Posted by: Connie at May 26, 2007 11:44 PMOH, one more thing~your sandwich looks DELISH~is it tomato, cucumber, cheese, & lettuce? It looks awesome! Also, I hope you & your family have a great Memorial Day weekend~I know you're enjoying your extra time w/James :)
Posted by: Connie at May 26, 2007 11:47 PMAs for the walking...all three of my boys were late walkers. My first was 13 months, the second...16 months, and the third just started walking at 13 months. Don't stress about her not walking yet. She'll do it when she's ready!
Changing diapers...with Grayson (16 months) I change him either on the bed or on the floor.
By the way, the sandwich looks soooo good! :)
You mention diets...what diet are you on? I am still carrying around baby fat from baby number 1! And exercising...how's that working out? Motivate me...PLEASE! :)
Posted by: Shannon at May 28, 2007 01:48 AMI have a changing pad that used to stand on top of the compactum (chest of drawers used for baby) but he outgrew it ages ago (the compactum) so I just put it where ever he is when I need to change him. It used to be my bed in case he wiggled and could have fallen off - but now I found the best place is the couch - in such a position that if he turns his head to the left he can see the TV - which ensures that I have at least 60 seconds to a) remove pooey nappy b) wipe botty, and c) place clean nappy in place and replace trousers! Of course if it happens to be Barney or Bob the Builder on TV I can add at least 30seconds to my time limit.
Posted by: Valkyrie at May 28, 2007 02:31 AMI forgot to add that my grandmother always used to say (I think it's an Afrikaans thing, not sure SUpermom might know) that - that all fours position that Olivia stands in - looking through her back legs - is when they are looking for their next sibling. When the bubby started doing that - he still does it by the way - my mom immediately told me that my grandmother said that's what it was! I think it's more a case of when baby X is at a certain developmental stage - it means that baby Y can now arrive because physiologically it's a good age gap? Perhaps this was the rule of thumb in the old days when women used to have like 7 kids because infant mortality rates were so high only like 4 would survive? No idea - but I thought it was kinda interesting.
Posted by: Valkyrie at May 28, 2007 02:35 AMJess walked on all fours for a LONG time. It was so funny! She didn't walk until she was almost 14 months old. My changing table is usually cluttered with clothes that need to be put away. We usually change Ally's diaper on the floor.
Posted by: amy at May 28, 2007 01:45 PM