Before I had kids, I always figured that if kids didn't want to eat, it was no big deal. They would eventually get hungry and eat something when the needed to. But I failed to consider the extended period of ill humor that could ensue between the initial period of "should eat something" and up until the moment of "actually eating enough of substance so they are not throwing constant tantrums and driving me to commit infanticide".
Sarah is a poor eater. By that, I mean that she needs strong encouragement to eat enough food to give her sufficient energy to maintain a positive outlook and self-controlled demeanor. She actually will refuse to eat, get really ill-humored, and then not want to eat because her "tummy hurts." At this point she is particularly difficult to convince that eating will make her tummy feel better.
Luckily, Stephen is a hearty eater. Even though the pediatrician told us that he is too skinny (frowny face).
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Oatmeal
This morning Sarah helped Papa make oatmeal for breakfast. She of course wanted to do each step "for myself," and Papa tried to let her help in as many ways as possible. We added chopped-up apples, cinnamon, and raisins. Sarah also demanded to add huge chunks of banana to her portion.
However, when it was done, she absolutely refused to touch the stuff. Even her bananas.
However, when it was done, she absolutely refused to touch the stuff. Even her bananas.
Candy Canes
Mama helped the kids hang candy canes on the tree. This is sort of like having crack addicts hanging vials of crack in plain sight and just out of reach. Not sure how this one will work out...
Obey Me!
Sarah (talking to Mama or Papa, depending): Me gusta cuando tu me obedeces a mi! (I like it when you obey me!)
(Brings back memories of Snoopy getting dog obedience books out of the library, reading them and laughing and laughing....)
This also brings back memories of our last visit to Grandma and Grandpa, when Sarah wanted Grandma to get on a piece of children's playground equipment with her. It obviously wouldn't work and when Sarah saw that Grandma wasn't complying her brow furrowed and she barked the instruction: Obey!
(Brings back memories of Snoopy getting dog obedience books out of the library, reading them and laughing and laughing....)
This also brings back memories of our last visit to Grandma and Grandpa, when Sarah wanted Grandma to get on a piece of children's playground equipment with her. It obviously wouldn't work and when Sarah saw that Grandma wasn't complying her brow furrowed and she barked the instruction: Obey!
No Crying
Stephen cried a lot when we first left him in the childcare at the YMCA. Then a bit less, then just when we dropped him off. But the last two days, he has not even cried then! He just happily goes in and waves to us as we leave, then goes off to play.
I think this time is valuable not only to Mama so she can not go crazy, but also to Stephen and Sarah as they learn to play with other kids as well as how to entertain themselves without Mama or Papa.
Stephen follows Sarah around in there; yesterday I watched Sarah push a chair around the floor while Stephen was pushing another chair just a few steps behind her. The imitation goes both ways because Sarah will very often imitate what Stephen is doing, especially if what he is doing makes us laugh or respond positively.
I think this time is valuable not only to Mama so she can not go crazy, but also to Stephen and Sarah as they learn to play with other kids as well as how to entertain themselves without Mama or Papa.
Stephen follows Sarah around in there; yesterday I watched Sarah push a chair around the floor while Stephen was pushing another chair just a few steps behind her. The imitation goes both ways because Sarah will very often imitate what Stephen is doing, especially if what he is doing makes us laugh or respond positively.
Poopoo
(Not to be confused with caca.)
Stephen just now told Mama "poopoo" and when placed on the toilet, did peepee and then poopoo. He was very pleased that we applauded him and asked for Sarah to come over ("Tata" and hand motions). The exertion was clear in his face. At first he did only a little bit of poopoo but then worked until some more came out.
Good job Stephen! Let's see... Sarah was out of diapers at 18 months. He still has a couple months to go, but they say that boys are slower than girls to learn to use the potty in general. We'll see.
Stephen just now told Mama "poopoo" and when placed on the toilet, did peepee and then poopoo. He was very pleased that we applauded him and asked for Sarah to come over ("Tata" and hand motions). The exertion was clear in his face. At first he did only a little bit of poopoo but then worked until some more came out.
Good job Stephen! Let's see... Sarah was out of diapers at 18 months. He still has a couple months to go, but they say that boys are slower than girls to learn to use the potty in general. We'll see.
Caca
Stephen (pointing to peanuts and moving his eyebrows suggestively): Ca-ca!
Papa: Stephen, you want some caca?
Stephen: (Nods head and moves eyebrows up and down)
In our house, "caca" does not mean what you might think. For us, "caca" means "nuts", and started because Sarah couldn't fully pronounce "cacahuate," which is Spanish for "peanut."
(Yes, we are aware that peanuts are technically legumes, not nuts, yet we follow the societal norm of classifying them with nuts for the kids.)
Papa: Stephen, you want some caca?
Stephen: (Nods head and moves eyebrows up and down)
In our house, "caca" does not mean what you might think. For us, "caca" means "nuts", and started because Sarah couldn't fully pronounce "cacahuate," which is Spanish for "peanut."
(Yes, we are aware that peanuts are technically legumes, not nuts, yet we follow the societal norm of classifying them with nuts for the kids.)
Friday, December 14, 2012
Peepee
Stephen indicated that he wanted to be put on the toilet, and when Papa put him on, he did peepee two times.
Stephen and Sarah sometimes get into conflicts about who gets to sit on which toilet; each one wants to be on the bigger one, or the one that the other one is sitting on.
Stephen and Sarah sometimes get into conflicts about who gets to sit on which toilet; each one wants to be on the bigger one, or the one that the other one is sitting on.
Connecticut
Today was the terrible school shooting in Connecticut. Our hearts go out to every single person affected. (The terrible school shooting in Chardon, Ohio was earlier this year.)
McDonalds
We went for a little walk last night to look at Christmas lights and the kids were so happy afterwards they were giddy. Sarah and Stephen were running around chasing each other under the dining room table and giggling like they seldom do. Sarah looks like she is learning to laugh when Stephen gives her little pushes instead of getting mad like she usually does. The kids laughing and playing is a very happy sound.
So this afternoon we took the kids out to walk around the neighborhood again and then to play at the McDonald's play place. They had a great time playing there, too. Sarah was playing with a girl a year or two older than her, who Sarah called "little girl" and "little birdie," alternately. Stephen is still too small to climb up on hardly any of the equipment up entertained himself running around in circles. Also, he went over and made quick friends with some little girls, some of whom were giving him french fries.
Mama: Look, he always makes friends with the girls very quickly!
Sarah: Come here little girl. You wanna go up there little girl? Lets go! Little birdie come on! (Screech!) Wanna play with me little birdie?
So this afternoon we took the kids out to walk around the neighborhood again and then to play at the McDonald's play place. They had a great time playing there, too. Sarah was playing with a girl a year or two older than her, who Sarah called "little girl" and "little birdie," alternately. Stephen is still too small to climb up on hardly any of the equipment up entertained himself running around in circles. Also, he went over and made quick friends with some little girls, some of whom were giving him french fries.
Mama: Look, he always makes friends with the girls very quickly!
Sarah: Come here little girl. You wanna go up there little girl? Lets go! Little birdie come on! (Screech!) Wanna play with me little birdie?
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| Imagine Sarah At Every Level, The Structure Bouncing, And Sarah Moving Back And Forth All Over With Lots Of Other Kids |
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| Stephen Kept Crawling In There And Then Needing Help To Get Back Out |
Brushing Teeth
Every day and every night that Sarah brushes her teeth, she asks Papa to put toothpaste on her brush.
Sarah: Put a lot a lot a lot! A lot a lot!
(Papa puts toothpaste on brush and hands it to Sarah, and Sarah looks at it.)
Sarah: It's a lot?
Sarah: Put a lot a lot a lot! A lot a lot!
(Papa puts toothpaste on brush and hands it to Sarah, and Sarah looks at it.)
Sarah: It's a lot?
Rain
It rained pretty well last night. Sarah and Papa were sitting around the living room reading High Five but stopped to go look out the front door.
Sarah knows two rain rhymes: Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!
And, It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring; he went to bed and bumped his head and didn't get up until morning. (Didn't realize until adulthood that this is probably talking about an old drunk guy).
Sarah knows two rain rhymes: Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!
And, It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring; he went to bed and bumped his head and didn't get up until morning. (Didn't realize until adulthood that this is probably talking about an old drunk guy).
High Five
Sarah just started getting a High Five magazine in the mail. High Five is a version of Highlights for Children (featured in doctors' and dentists' office everywhere) for younger kids. We're gonna go out on a limb and say - Thank You Grandma and Grandpa! Sarah read her first issue with Papa and enjoyed it, and we are looking forward to reading each new issue as it comes.
Sarah: Let's read this! (Points to tiny text on inside of High Five cover where magazine editor addresses parents)
Papa: (Starts reading)
Sarah (interrupting): No, that's not for kids! Let's read sumfin else.
Sarah: Let's read this! (Points to tiny text on inside of High Five cover where magazine editor addresses parents)
Papa: (Starts reading)
Sarah (interrupting): No, that's not for kids! Let's read sumfin else.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Stocking Up
The family took a trip to local restaurant surplus store American Discount Foods this morning after hitting the Y. The store was having a big 1/2 price sale so we took advantage to buy a whole bunch of junk food for our upcoming cross-country trek to visit Grandma & Grandpa's house. Anything to not spend too much on food on the way, I guess.
Stephen is at that age where he does not like to sit in the cart but rather likes to wriggle out of the straps, stand up and almost fall out until Mama or Papa grabs him and carries him. Or maybe it's because he's a boy.
Stephen is at that age where he does not like to sit in the cart but rather likes to wriggle out of the straps, stand up and almost fall out until Mama or Papa grabs him and carries him. Or maybe it's because he's a boy.
Car Mirror
Papa increased his handy status by replacing the driver's side mirror on the family car, which accidentally and mysteriously fell off a while ago at the same moment that Mama was backing out of the carport. (Papa also just read in The Millionaire Mind that the wealthiest millionaires are the least likely to do fix-it jobs themselves.)
Snow Outside
Sarah: It's almost Christmastime ("cwimatime"). Quiero nieve. Afuera. (I want snow. Outside.)
(Must be remembering the snow from Christmastime last year at Grandma and Grandpa's house)
Note: "Nieve" in Spanish can mean either "ice cream" or "snow", hence Sarah's clarification of "outside". Of course, not uncommon for her to "quiero nieve" inside, either.
(Must be remembering the snow from Christmastime last year at Grandma and Grandpa's house)
Note: "Nieve" in Spanish can mean either "ice cream" or "snow", hence Sarah's clarification of "outside". Of course, not uncommon for her to "quiero nieve" inside, either.
Chipotle
Mama made delicious Chipotle for us today. This is a holdover from years ago when she used to work at the restaurant making burritos. Chipotle for us is a big plate of Chipotle-style burrito material - beans, rice, meat, shredded cheese, guacamole, cream cheese, corn, and salsas. "Either we were really hungry or it was really delicious!"
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| Leftover "Chipotle" From Later In The Evening... Mmmm! |
Farts
Scene: Nighttime.
Papa farts. Mama farts, much louder. From the crib, baby Stephen quietly mini-farts.
Mama: It's like Fiona and the kids from the Shrek Christmas video.
Papa farts. Mama farts, much louder. From the crib, baby Stephen quietly mini-farts.
Mama: It's like Fiona and the kids from the Shrek Christmas video.
Library Watch
Sarah: It's time to go to the library! Look. (Shows me her plastic bracelet) This is my reloj (clock), and here is the library, and this says it's time to go to the library!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Old Friends
Papa has met some old guys at the YMCA who are from back east (Ohio, NY) and visits with them between workouts. One of them, Nick, is a WWII vet. How cool is that!
Tan Tan
Stephen progressed from saying "Tan" to saying "Tan Tan". He also applied it a bit differently, to say "no more, thank you" instead of "all gone."
Papa: Stephen, would you like more?
Stephen: Tan tan!
He still speaks very infrequently, so we can still go a day or days without him saying really any words.
Papa: Stephen, would you like more?
Stephen: Tan tan!
He still speaks very infrequently, so we can still go a day or days without him saying really any words.
Huckle Cat
Sarah and Papa just finished reading Richard Scarry's Great Big Schoolhouse for our bedtimes stories. Both of us enjoyed the book very much.
12/12/12
Happy 12/12/12 Day! I guess it is almost an official holiday today.
I got it confused with the Mayan end of the world but I was told that is not until the 21st.
(Gasp!) Wait - the first day of our scheduled visit with Grandma and Grandpa!! Oh no!
I got it confused with the Mayan end of the world but I was told that is not until the 21st.
(Gasp!) Wait - the first day of our scheduled visit with Grandma and Grandpa!! Oh no!
Ma'
Stephen remembered how to say "mas" (more) today, and said ma' ma' ma' when he wanted more water.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Sharing
Stephen loves to share. He will volunteer to share his food, ice cream, candy, water, etc. and will even get mad if someone, such as Papa or Sarah, does not want to accept his sharing. He will insist and try to force them to take the cereal or whatever it is, before he will continue eating. He doesn't always like to share the ball, though, when he has one.
$.99
Hanging out in the toy section of the 99-cent store...
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| "Sweatshirt By Grandma" |
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| I Think These Clothes Might Be By Grandma, Too (All The Kids' Nice Clothes Are From Grandma) |
Spankings
Our friend, who spanks his son, recently increased the number of spanks he gives for misbehavior from 3 to 5.
Son: Why are you giving me more spankings?
Father: Because you are bigger now. As you get bigger, I will give you more spanks.
Son: Then I don't want to get bigger! I want to stay small!
Later...
Son: Will eating this make me bigger? Yes? Then I don't want it! Will drinking water make me bigger? Yes? Then I don't want to drink any more water!
... Can't argue with that kid's logic.
Son: Why are you giving me more spankings?
Father: Because you are bigger now. As you get bigger, I will give you more spanks.
Son: Then I don't want to get bigger! I want to stay small!
Later...
Son: Will eating this make me bigger? Yes? Then I don't want it! Will drinking water make me bigger? Yes? Then I don't want to drink any more water!
... Can't argue with that kid's logic.
Candy
Sarah: My friend gave me a candy!
Mama: Your friend? Tia Evis? (Lauging)
Sarah: Yes!
Sarah: Po'que no puedo comer candy todo el tiempo?
(Why can't I eat candy all of the time?)
Mama: Porque si comes candy todo el tiempo te va a hacer owie en la panza y en los dientes. Esta bien comer candy, pero necesitas hacerlo con medida.
(Because if you eat candy all of the time you will have owie in your tummy and in your teeth. Eating candy is fine, but you have to do it within measure.)
Sarah: My friend me dio candy con medida.
(My friend gave me candy within measure.)
Mama: Your friend? Tia Evis? (Lauging)
Sarah: Yes!
Sarah: Po'que no puedo comer candy todo el tiempo?
(Why can't I eat candy all of the time?)
Mama: Porque si comes candy todo el tiempo te va a hacer owie en la panza y en los dientes. Esta bien comer candy, pero necesitas hacerlo con medida.
(Because if you eat candy all of the time you will have owie in your tummy and in your teeth. Eating candy is fine, but you have to do it within measure.)
Sarah: My friend me dio candy con medida.
(My friend gave me candy within measure.)
Stephen The Doggie
Sarah wraps a scarf around Stephen's neck and is pulling on it.
Sarah: Nice doggie, come here doggie!
Stephen: (Crying)
Papa: Sarah, be careful, you're hurting Stephen! (Takes the scarf off of Stephen's neck)
Sarah: No le duele, mira!
(It doesn't hurt, look!) (Sarah puts the scarf around her own neck loosely.)
Papa: No, you're not doing it right. Let me show you how you had it around Stephen's neck.
(Tries to put scarf on Sarah like she had it on Stephen)
Sarah: No es Stephen, es un doggie!
(He's not Stephen, he's a doggie!)
Papa: Stephen, are you a doggie?
Stephen: (Earnestly nods and moves his eyebrows up and down to say "yes".)
Sarah: Nice doggie, come here doggie!
Stephen: (Crying)
Papa: Sarah, be careful, you're hurting Stephen! (Takes the scarf off of Stephen's neck)
Sarah: No le duele, mira!
(It doesn't hurt, look!) (Sarah puts the scarf around her own neck loosely.)
Papa: No, you're not doing it right. Let me show you how you had it around Stephen's neck.
(Tries to put scarf on Sarah like she had it on Stephen)
Sarah: No es Stephen, es un doggie!
(He's not Stephen, he's a doggie!)
Papa: Stephen, are you a doggie?
Stephen: (Earnestly nods and moves his eyebrows up and down to say "yes".)
The Truth Comes Out
Sarah (laughing): I was hiding over there, so you couldn't see me.
Papa: Why?
Sarah: Because I was eating the candy and you were going to get mad with me and give me pow-pow. And I don't like it!
---
(Actually took place in Spanish):
Sarah, laughing: Yo me escondi, estaba alli para que tu no me miraras.
Papa: Porque?
Sarah: Porque estaba comiendo el candy y te ibas a enojar ponmibo y darme pow-pow, y no me gusta!
Papa: Why?
Sarah: Because I was eating the candy and you were going to get mad with me and give me pow-pow. And I don't like it!
---
(Actually took place in Spanish):
Sarah, laughing: Yo me escondi, estaba alli para que tu no me miraras.
Papa: Porque?
Sarah: Porque estaba comiendo el candy y te ibas a enojar ponmibo y darme pow-pow, y no me gusta!
Don't See Me
Sarah: No quiero que tu me mires que voy a mirar una movie.
Papa: Porque?
Sarah: Porque te vas a anojar y quitarme el telefono de mama. OK?
Papa: Porque?
Sarah: Porque te vas a anojar y quitarme el telefono de mama. OK?
----
Sarah: I don't want you to look at me because I'm going to watch a movie (on Mama's phone).
Papa: Why?
Sarah: Because you are going to get mad and take Mama's phone away from me. OK?
Ornament
In other news, Papa let Sarah touch a special ornament from the first Christmas after Mama and Papa got married, which she promptly swung around, dropped on the floor and broke, despite Papa's instructions to be very careful with it.
Sarah: Papa, I'm sorry I broke the ornament.
Papa: Why were you careless and broke it when I asked you specifically to be very careful?
Sarah: Because I'm little and I don't know how to be careful!
Sarah: Papa, I'm sorry I broke the ornament.
Papa: Why were you careless and broke it when I asked you specifically to be very careful?
Sarah: Because I'm little and I don't know how to be careful!
Christmas Tree
Mama set it up and decorated it last night. This was a gift from Grandma and Grandpa a couple of years back.
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| Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree? |
Before
Papa just started going to the gym and is trying to get into shape. (Yes, that statement has been true at almost any given date.) The first half-dozen workouts have already done a little bit, although the bathroom mirror is much more forgiving than the camera.
Electric Company
We took out a DVD of The Electric Company from the awesome, incredible Scottsdale library. Mama really liked it and it brought back good memories of childhood for Papa of watching the show with Grandpa.
Mama: This looks really good for Sarah!
After researching briefly online, Papa discovered that the reason that The Electric Company died decades ago while Sesame Street lives on - lack of funding. The Mitt Romneys of the time (OK, not a totally fair comparison) cut funding for the show. Forces within PBS didn't want to spend that so much money on the Children's Television Workshop. The CTW chose to continue Sesame Street and wind down The Electric Company because SS had the advantage of being merchandisable, and almost made enough money to support itself. And so a great children's program died. Glad that Romney didn't get into office this year and kill all of PBS though. Go President Obama, we love you!
Mama: This looks really good for Sarah!
After researching briefly online, Papa discovered that the reason that The Electric Company died decades ago while Sesame Street lives on - lack of funding. The Mitt Romneys of the time (OK, not a totally fair comparison) cut funding for the show. Forces within PBS didn't want to spend that so much money on the Children's Television Workshop. The CTW chose to continue Sesame Street and wind down The Electric Company because SS had the advantage of being merchandisable, and almost made enough money to support itself. And so a great children's program died. Glad that Romney didn't get into office this year and kill all of PBS though. Go President Obama, we love you!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Repainting Chairs
Mama has started a project that seems like something Grandma used to do: finishing furniture. She has wanted to paint our green dining room set black for some time. Now she is getting the chance.
Bagel Pizzas
So the tortilla pizzas experiment inspired us to try bagel pizzas, which Grandma used to make sometimes when Papa was little. Except these were technically English muffin pizzas. They were pretty good.
Then Mama made some pizza dough with a tortilla dough recipe and made another big pizza. It was good except the dough was too thick so even though we left it in the oven for almost an hour, the crust was pretty raw. So we had to peel off the toppings and cheese and re-toast the crust until it became crusty. It was still delicious but next time we will make it much thinner and probably pre-bake it, too.
Sarah's Christmas Wish List
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, toys, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle. Pink.
Weight
Papa went from 185lb before the Mexico trip to 195lb two weeks later. Whoah! Well, SOME of that has to be muscle from chopping wood, right?
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