"stick" = sticker
At our gym, they ask us to label our diaper bags with those sticker name tags that everyone is so fond of for reunions and conferences. When we got home, Hope pulled it off of the diaper bag, put it on her shirt, patted it and proudly said, "stick!"
Hope Eloise
A family shot in front of the Giant Heart at the Franklin Institute. Seems appropriate.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Elmo's World
While we were in Disney, my mom introduced Hope to Sesame street. Hope fell in love with Elmo. We've seen Sesame Street before, but not on a schedule. While I do much "by the seat of my pants", my mom -- enviably -- does almost everything in a routine. I sense that her stay here with Hope was no different. Within days of our return, I was changing Hope's diaper, and began to sing the Elmo's World theme song, "La, la, la-la", and Hope finished, "Eh-oh wirrl".
When we found out about her diagnosis in utero, I totally geeked out and was reading all these scholarly articles about TGA kids and their prognoses and outcomes. Several studies pointed out high correlation between kids who'd been on heart-lung bypass machine and a difficultly in speech and/or language development. Given her level of verbal expression and understanding, I think she's going to be fine. We don't read to her as much as we vowed to after reading that article, but we do talk to her almost all the time; describing diapering, dressing, eating, cooking, laundering, playing, etc. I think she's going to be fine -- in the speech department, anyway.
At 14 months:
Her sixth tooth just broke through, and the seventh is not far behind. She enjoys coloring, singing, and dancing. As I write this, she's sitting next to me making funny noises with her mouth. She sings the ABC song -- it's far from perfect, but certain segments are right on. She says MORE and PLEASE using sign language. Says "CHEEEESE" whenever the camera comes out. And, oh yeah, LOVES to climb.
I often have to put the kitchen chairs down on the floor sideways or upside down so that she won't climb up on the kitchen table. One night, while making dinner and chopping vegetables, I turned around to find her on top of the table, sitting inches from the edge. Scary! She climbs the ladder on our swingset, and goes down the slide by herself. She has her brother's sense of adventure, which he likely got from his dad.
When we found out about her diagnosis in utero, I totally geeked out and was reading all these scholarly articles about TGA kids and their prognoses and outcomes. Several studies pointed out high correlation between kids who'd been on heart-lung bypass machine and a difficultly in speech and/or language development. Given her level of verbal expression and understanding, I think she's going to be fine. We don't read to her as much as we vowed to after reading that article, but we do talk to her almost all the time; describing diapering, dressing, eating, cooking, laundering, playing, etc. I think she's going to be fine -- in the speech department, anyway.
At 14 months:
Her sixth tooth just broke through, and the seventh is not far behind. She enjoys coloring, singing, and dancing. As I write this, she's sitting next to me making funny noises with her mouth. She sings the ABC song -- it's far from perfect, but certain segments are right on. She says MORE and PLEASE using sign language. Says "CHEEEESE" whenever the camera comes out. And, oh yeah, LOVES to climb.
I often have to put the kitchen chairs down on the floor sideways or upside down so that she won't climb up on the kitchen table. One night, while making dinner and chopping vegetables, I turned around to find her on top of the table, sitting inches from the edge. Scary! She climbs the ladder on our swingset, and goes down the slide by herself. She has her brother's sense of adventure, which he likely got from his dad.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Emerging Personality
Yesterday, I was having great fun with Hope at lunch. We were playing a little game, apparently started by Nonna, where after every bite of yogurt Hope bites down on the plastic/rubber spoon and won't release it. Of course, she has a smile on her face and this is all in good natured fun.
We recently returned from Disney. Mon and I took the two older kids, while my Nonna and PopPop kept Hope here at our house. Leading up to our departure, Mon and I started to feel these pangs of guilt about leaving Hope at home. We started reading these forums on Disney's website about strategies for taking one year olds (and younger). Even our first days on the monorail, we'd see these families with little tiny babies, and we'd start to think we should have brought Hope. But we soon realized that, while we did miss her, we were able to enjoy do so much more of the parks without her. We were able to stay out later, do rides together instead of taking turns. It was nice. The bitter part (of the ubiquitous "bittersweet") was that upon our arrival home, Hope acted almost as if she forgot who we were. She would cling to Nonna, and acted a bit shy toward Monica and me. I kind of expected this as I received a similar treatment on my return home from my two ski trips this year, when Nonna also came to help out with the kids. But I don't think Mon was ready for this.
We recently returned from Disney. Mon and I took the two older kids, while my Nonna and PopPop kept Hope here at our house. Leading up to our departure, Mon and I started to feel these pangs of guilt about leaving Hope at home. We started reading these forums on Disney's website about strategies for taking one year olds (and younger). Even our first days on the monorail, we'd see these families with little tiny babies, and we'd start to think we should have brought Hope. But we soon realized that, while we did miss her, we were able to enjoy do so much more of the parks without her. We were able to stay out later, do rides together instead of taking turns. It was nice. The bitter part (of the ubiquitous "bittersweet") was that upon our arrival home, Hope acted almost as if she forgot who we were. She would cling to Nonna, and acted a bit shy toward Monica and me. I kind of expected this as I received a similar treatment on my return home from my two ski trips this year, when Nonna also came to help out with the kids. But I don't think Mon was ready for this.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Stopping Traffic
Literally! yesterday, as we were leaving Shane's piano lesson, a car begins to slow next to ours as I am getting the kids into the car. The driver is an older woman, likely late fities/early sixties. I'm thinking she's going to ask for directions. With the window down, she says, "What a beautiful baby!" And drives off. I try to yell, "Thank you!" but am so stunned, something more like, "Eh errr uhh ank you." comes out.
In more mundance news, Hope is fascinated with light switches. Whenever we walk past one, she says, "Ssseh. Ssseh. Ssseh." And wants to flip it. If it's up she pushes it down, if it's down she pushes it up.
In more mundance news, Hope is fascinated with light switches. Whenever we walk past one, she says, "Ssseh. Ssseh. Ssseh." And wants to flip it. If it's up she pushes it down, if it's down she pushes it up.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ninja Girl
Hope found Mon's nunchuks (foam covered) from way back when, which were previously found by Shane and left strewn about. See the album for all her fun
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Growing
Hope has four teeth now. Two up and two beneath. (Can you name the band?) She is also saying some "words"; Mama, Dada, down (deh-deh-deh), bottle (ba-bul), ball (ba ba ba). She sometimes calls Shane (Say) and Olivia (dih-dee-uh or lil-lee-uh).
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