Wednesday, December 30, 2009

My Littlest Reader

Molly loves to read. No, I mean she reallllly loves to read and does it much of the day. She has been interested in books for most of her short life, but it is only recently that I realized how much. Now, she has learned how to crawl with one hand and hold a book in the other hand like a crutch. She hobbles across the floor, banging the book as she goes. It is really cute but kind of sad how determined she is. When she finally gets to you, after much exertion, you'd better read to her. Even if you are in the middle of cooking or showering or whatever. Or else. She will shreik and cry until you cave. And you don't get to read the book once or twice. She will demand (by smacking you with the book and shreiking some more) that you read it to her again and again and again. And again.

If you read her the wrong book, she won't suffer through it. She will shove it out of your hands and gesture like a little old lady at the fruit market until you figure out which one she wants. She even has a few of them memorized. She makes some appropriate noises and pokes herself in the belly at the end of one book because she knows it refers to her. I have tried to entice Henry to read to her to take some of the load off of me. He will do it a tiny bit, but he knows he has me over a barrel on the subject and I think is holding out for better terms. I recently gave him a quarter to read to her and he only gave a half-hearted effort before walking away. I guess I need to raise my offer.

I love to read, so having a little reader on my hands thrills me. But, it is hard work for the time being!

Monday, December 28, 2009

December Update

Sorry for the lack of recent posts. We have been very busy with Molly's birthday, her birthday party extravaganza (and I don't use that word lightly, she can thank her father who is slightly insane), shopping, my mom visiting, Christmas and all of the merriment surrounding this time of year.

What is new with Molly?

1) She is a freakishly good talker. She said "yes" and "no" (verbally) in answer to questions more than once today. She knows crazy words like "watch." Her vocabulary astounds me very single day, she definitely gives credence to the theory that girls speak faster than boys. Wowza.

2) Yesterday, she let go of the couch on her own accord and took a few steps for the first time. All prior steps have come from me letting go of her and coaxing her to walk. What was she spontaneously motivated by yesterday? The goody bag that she was given at a birthday party. I think she thought Henry was going to start raiding it if she didn't get a move on stat.

3) She has developed this high-pitched, extremely loud (and annoying scream) that she belts out when she a) doesn't get what she wants b) when she wants to get Henry in trouble c) when Henry gets to close to her d) when I leave her alone and she doesn't want me to leave.

4) She still has not slept through the night. Ever. Although luckily she has gotten through her recent phase of waking every 30 minutes all night long. What a nightmare that was. She must be sleeping longer stretches because I am starting to have dreams again for the first time in a year. You don't realize you weren't having them until you start having them again.

5) She despises milk. She spits it back out at me whenever I try to make her drink it. Weaning her should be a lot if fun. She only wants to drink juice or water (other than nursing).

6) Thanks to her Aunt Heather and her recent birthday, she is very well dressed. I went through her clothing recently to cull out anything that was a) ugly b) didn't fit c) out of season. Even after this big purge I stopped counting at 27 pairs of pants that currently fit her. She is going to have to step up the wardrobe changes during the day I think!

7) She got a baby doll from my mother for Christmas. She loves to hold it, feed it a bottle and hug it. I find this behavior shocking for some reason. She is totally hamming it up when she hugs the baby by the way because she knows we eat it up.


What is new with Henry?

1) Over all, he is extremely well behaved for a three year old. We have had to threaten a visit to the pediatrician recently however because he refuses to listen. And then when we finally get his attention he sighs and says "OK OK" like a surly teenager.

2) He has become a crazy dancer and "shakes his tail" (his words) constantly. He even has a few breakdancing moves that he likes to bust out.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Happy Birthday Molly!




Dear Molly,

You turned one year old today. I can't believe a year has passed since your birth. You are just a little baby in my mind. One year ago ago we didn't even know if you were a boy or a girl, what you looked like or what your name would be. Yet now I cannot imagine our life without you in it.

Your sweet disposition, sense of fun and mischievous nature has brought such happiness to our home. We already knew that we loved being parents, but the big surprise is how much Henry loves being a brother. He tortures you all day yet he follows you around like a puppy. He yells at you for touching his toys yet as soon as you crawl away to something else he is begging you to come back. He is always trying to kiss and hug you despite your protests. The two of you are very close, you are like the little Dynamic Duo.

You are so easy to love. You ask for so little from us, you only want to be included. You reward me with so many beautiful smiles and belly laughs every day. You are very verbal for your age, I am surprised every day by new words you say. Yesterday you said "Skittle" while we were making gingerbread houses. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, how else would you let me know you wanted one?

Every day reveals a new and more wonderful layer of your personality. Although I am sad that you are growing up so fast, I love seeing who you are and what kind of person you will be. I love being your mom and am so glad to have you as my daughter.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

So, Who Has the Potty Mouth?

Henry loves the "Oh David" series of books. David is a little boy who is always doing naughty things and getting in trouble. He was "reading" to himself recently and was on the page where David accidentally throws a ball and breaks the window. This is what I overheard Henry reading aloud: "David says Oh Dammit!"