Remember a couple of days ago, in this post, when I mentioned that Jett and I spent a few hours at Barnes and Noble, and during some of those hours he played with Thomas the Tank Engine, which was set up on a big train track table? Well I find out today, through this article in the Tribune, that the toys have been recalled because of lead paint. It doesn't take long to pull up corroborating evidence online. Sure, the pictures in this article show the red trains, and if I remember correctly, the trains that Jett was playing with were blue, but honestly, I can't be certain. Besides, you can see from the second article that the first recall was later expanded to include more train cars, so how are you to believe that any toy is safe?
Aside from the dangers of lead-based paint, did you know that there are chemicals that are used in plastic toys that are banned from teething toys? These chemicals are approved for use in toys that aren't considered teething toys. That includes some baby bottles. That makes total sense, because Jett never puts anything except teething toys in his mouth.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Twenty Months
Happy Birthday, Jett! Today you are twenty months old.
This month you grew tall enough for us to turn your car seat around. You can finally face forward. You're all chatty back there now, babbling away so much that I risk car-sickness to turn around and talk to you. But more often than not, you fall fast asleep, sippy cup slipping out of your hand, head leaning against the side of your seat, looking so sweet, not reminding me that I need to keep. my. eyes. on. the. road.
I started taking you to Gymboree class this month, and you love it. You especially love it when we get there early, so you have time to hold my hand and walk around the perimeter of the room five times before the class starts. We've learned two important things during these Friday morning dates. First, bring a snack. This is not because you are going to be hungry after class, but because every other kid there will be eating a snack as soon as the class gets out. I resisted this for the first few weeks and while all of the other kids were putting on their coats and boots, I was chasing you around, keeping you from swiping all of the other kids' fishies. I hated succumbing to the peer pressure of bringing a snack just because all of the other parents brought snacks, but last week I gave in, and it was worth every plastic baggy I could pack full of crackers. I felt fine...until I heard the poor snackless mom behind me trying to convince her son that he could eat when he got home. I bet she brings snacks this week. The other important lesson we've learned from Gymboree is that everything should happen with a song, and if possible, a sticker at the end. At Gymboree, you move from one activity to another with a song. Now at home, we move from playing to putting away toys with a song. We move from putting away toys to brushing our teeth with a song. We move from brushing our teeth to putting on pajamas with a song. We must be the most annoying household in the universe and it is all Gymboree's fault. But you know what? There is a lot less whining during the singing - at least for now. I fully expect that my singing will lose it's appeal in about five more days.
Another big discovery this month was the TV. Now it's not like you've never watched TV before, it's just that you never asked to watch it before. But a few weeks ago, when your cold was at it's worst, I let you watch a 30 minute video before your nap, and a 30 minute video after your nap, and that was enough to convince you that television can save your life. Honestly, sometimes I agree with you.
This month you lost your great-grandma, Elaine Elizabeth Hall. She was a good grandma, and you didn't see enough of her during these twenty months. But she loved flowers, and she loved you, and I think she would have loved this picture.
This month you grew tall enough for us to turn your car seat around. You can finally face forward. You're all chatty back there now, babbling away so much that I risk car-sickness to turn around and talk to you. But more often than not, you fall fast asleep, sippy cup slipping out of your hand, head leaning against the side of your seat, looking so sweet, not reminding me that I need to keep. my. eyes. on. the. road.
I started taking you to Gymboree class this month, and you love it. You especially love it when we get there early, so you have time to hold my hand and walk around the perimeter of the room five times before the class starts. We've learned two important things during these Friday morning dates. First, bring a snack. This is not because you are going to be hungry after class, but because every other kid there will be eating a snack as soon as the class gets out. I resisted this for the first few weeks and while all of the other kids were putting on their coats and boots, I was chasing you around, keeping you from swiping all of the other kids' fishies. I hated succumbing to the peer pressure of bringing a snack just because all of the other parents brought snacks, but last week I gave in, and it was worth every plastic baggy I could pack full of crackers. I felt fine...until I heard the poor snackless mom behind me trying to convince her son that he could eat when he got home. I bet she brings snacks this week. The other important lesson we've learned from Gymboree is that everything should happen with a song, and if possible, a sticker at the end. At Gymboree, you move from one activity to another with a song. Now at home, we move from playing to putting away toys with a song. We move from putting away toys to brushing our teeth with a song. We move from brushing our teeth to putting on pajamas with a song. We must be the most annoying household in the universe and it is all Gymboree's fault. But you know what? There is a lot less whining during the singing - at least for now. I fully expect that my singing will lose it's appeal in about five more days.
Another big discovery this month was the TV. Now it's not like you've never watched TV before, it's just that you never asked to watch it before. But a few weeks ago, when your cold was at it's worst, I let you watch a 30 minute video before your nap, and a 30 minute video after your nap, and that was enough to convince you that television can save your life. Honestly, sometimes I agree with you.
This month you lost your great-grandma, Elaine Elizabeth Hall. She was a good grandma, and you didn't see enough of her during these twenty months. But she loved flowers, and she loved you, and I think she would have loved this picture.
Happy Birthday, Jett. We love you.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Happy Birthday, Mama!
Last week was my birthday. To celebrate, last night Charlie and I ate at the Chop House (I recommend the chocolate cake for dessert) and then went to see Hephaestus at the Looking Glass Theater. Hephaestus was amazing and I highly recommend it if you don't mind watching acrobats walk the tightrope without a safety net. It's a small theater, and we sat in the balcony, so our seats were eye-level with the tightrope. The 90-minute show was over way too fast, but since my hands were sweating through at least half the show, I should be thankful it didn't last any longer. It was a great way to spend a birthday. Jett spent the evening with his aunt Jenny, and he had as much fun as we did, but without all the hand-sweating.
Earlier this weekend I wanted to burn through some birthday spending money, and Jett wanted to throw some books off the shelves, so we spent a couple of hours at Barnes and Noble. Until yesterday I didn't realize that they have a Thomas the Train set up to run on a train table, and story time, and everything. But Jett and every other kid at the store spent most of their time taking up each other's personal space in the musical book aisle.
Musical books are so cool. They have buttons on the cover that play music when you push them. There are no volume controls, so you never have to worry about the books being too quiet, and each book plays the perfect amount of songs, so once you memorize them after the first couple of read-throughs, they stay burned in to your eardrums forever.
So while that birthday money was burning a hole in my pocket, Jett sat down and shared his book with the little boy sitting next to him and then he pointed to a baby and said "Baby!" and then he looked up and saw Elmo's face on a book, and said "Elmo!" and then having such a kind, smart, and talkative baby was all too much, and I bought a $25 squawking book like it was a good idea.
When we got home Jett pulled the musical component off (it still works though) and then tore two pages out of the book. But then he took a 90 minute nap without fussing, so I think we're even.
Earlier this weekend I wanted to burn through some birthday spending money, and Jett wanted to throw some books off the shelves, so we spent a couple of hours at Barnes and Noble. Until yesterday I didn't realize that they have a Thomas the Train set up to run on a train table, and story time, and everything. But Jett and every other kid at the store spent most of their time taking up each other's personal space in the musical book aisle.
Musical books are so cool. They have buttons on the cover that play music when you push them. There are no volume controls, so you never have to worry about the books being too quiet, and each book plays the perfect amount of songs, so once you memorize them after the first couple of read-throughs, they stay burned in to your eardrums forever.
So while that birthday money was burning a hole in my pocket, Jett sat down and shared his book with the little boy sitting next to him and then he pointed to a baby and said "Baby!" and then he looked up and saw Elmo's face on a book, and said "Elmo!" and then having such a kind, smart, and talkative baby was all too much, and I bought a $25 squawking book like it was a good idea.
When we got home Jett pulled the musical component off (it still works though) and then tore two pages out of the book. But then he took a 90 minute nap without fussing, so I think we're even.
Jett and my birthday flowers. Thanks, Jett!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Evil Mittens
Today I pulled Jett in a sled around the neighborhood, and then I planted his face in the snow, twice in a row. Now he refuses to wear his mittens (because when he tried to brush the snow off of his face, as he cried hysterically, his mittens were also covered in snow, taking his hysterics up a notch). Evil mittens. So, no more mittens. He also refuses to sit in the sled. This won't be much of a problem the rest of the winter, since we don't have many opportunities to go out in the sled, and there are no sledding hills in walking distance. However, when you are three blocks from home and your 19-month old refuses to ride in the sled, refuses to be carried, and can barely lift his feet above the height of the snow, it is...it is a long walk home.
Also, it doesn't help when you are walking at the same speed as the mail carrier and your child wants to stop and wait for the mail carrier at every building. And the mail carrier cluck-clucks her tongue at you for not putting mittens on your child, and letting him touch the metal bars of the gate, because, geesh his hands must be so cold. Whatever, lady. You should have seen his face five minutes ago. Now that was cold.
Also, it doesn't help when you are walking at the same speed as the mail carrier and your child wants to stop and wait for the mail carrier at every building. And the mail carrier cluck-clucks her tongue at you for not putting mittens on your child, and letting him touch the metal bars of the gate, because, geesh his hands must be so cold. Whatever, lady. You should have seen his face five minutes ago. Now that was cold.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Manners
Ah, family meal time - sort of. During the week Jett eats breakfast with Charlie, lunch with our nanny, and dinner with me. He takes breakfast and lunch in his highchair, but he prefers to eat dinner at the table. I don't mind sitting with him at the table, except the chairs are too small and the table is too short, and there's permanent trail of crumbs leading from the kitchen to the table.
Still, mealtimes are slowly becoming a little less work, except for the fact that they last for so long. Jett and I generally sit at the table together for an hour and a half. After more than an hour of eating dinner tonight I finally cleared away his plate and brought out the ice cream, knowing that he would eat that up quickly and we could get on to playing.
Even though I end up sitting in a cramped toddler seat for 90 minutes every night, at least I don't have to get up out of the chair very often any more. Thankfully he's finally stopped walking away from the table while he's eating and he doesn't slide off of his chair too often any more either. I've started bringing a washcloth to the table because he likes his hands to be clean while he eats now, although this is pretty difficult since he also prefers to eat with his hands. I might not have to get out of the chair at all if I remember to turn on music before I sit down (he usually requests a little dinner music while he eats).
Clean up isn't so bad either. When he has finished eating he wipes down the table and floor and then pushes our kitchen stool into the bathroom so he can play in the water in the bathroom sink - I mean so he can wash his hands.
The most demanding part of the meal? He almost always requests that I place a napkin in his lap - and replace it every time it falls off. I think you can see it in the picture below.
Still, mealtimes are slowly becoming a little less work, except for the fact that they last for so long. Jett and I generally sit at the table together for an hour and a half. After more than an hour of eating dinner tonight I finally cleared away his plate and brought out the ice cream, knowing that he would eat that up quickly and we could get on to playing.
Even though I end up sitting in a cramped toddler seat for 90 minutes every night, at least I don't have to get up out of the chair very often any more. Thankfully he's finally stopped walking away from the table while he's eating and he doesn't slide off of his chair too often any more either. I've started bringing a washcloth to the table because he likes his hands to be clean while he eats now, although this is pretty difficult since he also prefers to eat with his hands. I might not have to get out of the chair at all if I remember to turn on music before I sit down (he usually requests a little dinner music while he eats).
Clean up isn't so bad either. When he has finished eating he wipes down the table and floor and then pushes our kitchen stool into the bathroom so he can play in the water in the bathroom sink - I mean so he can wash his hands.
The most demanding part of the meal? He almost always requests that I place a napkin in his lap - and replace it every time it falls off. I think you can see it in the picture below.
Monday, January 28, 2008
More Bedtime Sillies
We've gotten in to the habit of reading Calvin and Hobbes before bed. Honestly, I don't know why Jett likes it so much. It's a difficult book to follow along with, and I don't think he gets all the jokes. But Jett loves it, and sometimes we let him take the book to bed. The other morning we woke up and he was reading the book to his stuffed animals. We put the rest in his crib with him, to give him the proper audience. (Yes, he requested that we put the Cubs hat on his head, and yes, he often likes to wear the sleeve of my pajamas around his neck like that).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
What Jett Took To Bed Tonight
The cut off sleeve of my pajama top, which he has been sleeping with for months.
His Cubs hat.
His blue scarf.
His yellow scarf.
Charlie's Calvin and Hobbes comic book.
A sippy cup with about two swallows worth of water in it.
His Cubs hat.
His blue scarf.
His yellow scarf.
Charlie's Calvin and Hobbes comic book.
A sippy cup with about two swallows worth of water in it.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Museum
I found out from my friend Katie that the Museum of Science and Industry is free right now. So today, on one of the coldest days of the year, Jett and I ventured out. Charlie was home sick, so it was just Jett and me. It was a last-minute decision to go, and as we drove there I felt strangely proud getting out of the house and navigating my way to the museum just to give Jett an outing.
driving the tractor
Anyway, the museum was a hit. First of all, there are a ton of stairs in that place, which is awesome if one of your goals is to wear out your toddler. Secondly, there are live baby chicks there, which you might find incredibly sweet even though your toddler prefers the drawings of the chicks to the real thing. But best of all, the museum is full of buttons that you are supposed to push. In fact, if you are a toddler, it is your duty to push those buttons. As usual, Jett shouldered his responsibilities well.
driving the tractorAnyway, the museum was a hit. First of all, there are a ton of stairs in that place, which is awesome if one of your goals is to wear out your toddler. Secondly, there are live baby chicks there, which you might find incredibly sweet even though your toddler prefers the drawings of the chicks to the real thing. But best of all, the museum is full of buttons that you are supposed to push. In fact, if you are a toddler, it is your duty to push those buttons. As usual, Jett shouldered his responsibilities well.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Nineteen Months
Happy Birthday, Jett! You are days past your nineteen month birthday.
What can I say? This has been an exhausting month. You've had a runny nose and cough for every single day of your eighteenth month, and it hasn't stopped yet. You wake up at night coughing, so we wake up to listen to you cough. You've developed a gorgeous habit of wiping your nose with your finger even when it doesn't need wiping. It's like you've forgotten what a nose feels like without snot running down it, so you think every nose sensation, or non-sensation, is by default, the sensation of running snot. On the upside, you now blow your own nose and throw away the used tissue when you are finished.
Look at those watery eyes and that 'already been wiped a million times today' nose.
We've also had a lovely encounter with the word "no". Before you turned nineteen months you rarely said "no". Instead, you simply shook your head from side to side, and honestly, no matter how vehemently you would shake your head, the effect was quite charming. But somehow the actual word "no" entered your vocabulary this month and now we hear it one hundred and ninety two times a day. I have to admit though, you don't always say it with a grump. Sometimes you actually stop to consider my proposal, and end with an "mmmmm-no". Sometimes you think I must be joking, and you pshaw me with a laughing no. Sometimes you say "no" in the same friendly tone of voice I use the greet our faithful mailman. But no matter how you say it, you mean it, and you aren't budging.
Cousins Megan and Justin
Actually, sometimes you do budge, and those are miraculous moments of victory for me. For example, today I told you to put the broom away, and you said, "No". We faced each other like a duel - hands on hips, broom in your hand (nothing in my hand except my surrender, which I was about to reveal) - when suddenly you turned around and walked the broom to the closet, like it was your idea all along.
Things like that happen on my days of great patience. Thankfully I have a lot of days of great patience - but probably because four days of the week we pay your nanny for her patience.
But oh, the sweet dependability of you. Every time you finish a meal and I lift you out of your highchair, you give me a kiss. At night you cry for exactly two minutes before falling asleep. You wear your MPJ (what everyone else would call a "blankie") around your neck like a boxer so you can carry it with you while your hands stay free. You ask me to turn on the CD player during every meal. And every time we walk down the three flights of stairs to the front door of our building, you count the steps ("Two, two, two, two, two).
Sitting with Ellie
You are entirely sweet when you want to be and we love you all the time anyway. Happy Birthday, Sweetie Pie.
What can I say? This has been an exhausting month. You've had a runny nose and cough for every single day of your eighteenth month, and it hasn't stopped yet. You wake up at night coughing, so we wake up to listen to you cough. You've developed a gorgeous habit of wiping your nose with your finger even when it doesn't need wiping. It's like you've forgotten what a nose feels like without snot running down it, so you think every nose sensation, or non-sensation, is by default, the sensation of running snot. On the upside, you now blow your own nose and throw away the used tissue when you are finished.
Look at those watery eyes and that 'already been wiped a million times today' nose.We've also had a lovely encounter with the word "no". Before you turned nineteen months you rarely said "no". Instead, you simply shook your head from side to side, and honestly, no matter how vehemently you would shake your head, the effect was quite charming. But somehow the actual word "no" entered your vocabulary this month and now we hear it one hundred and ninety two times a day. I have to admit though, you don't always say it with a grump. Sometimes you actually stop to consider my proposal, and end with an "mmmmm-no". Sometimes you think I must be joking, and you pshaw me with a laughing no. Sometimes you say "no" in the same friendly tone of voice I use the greet our faithful mailman. But no matter how you say it, you mean it, and you aren't budging.
Cousins Megan and JustinActually, sometimes you do budge, and those are miraculous moments of victory for me. For example, today I told you to put the broom away, and you said, "No". We faced each other like a duel - hands on hips, broom in your hand (nothing in my hand except my surrender, which I was about to reveal) - when suddenly you turned around and walked the broom to the closet, like it was your idea all along.
Things like that happen on my days of great patience. Thankfully I have a lot of days of great patience - but probably because four days of the week we pay your nanny for her patience.
But oh, the sweet dependability of you. Every time you finish a meal and I lift you out of your highchair, you give me a kiss. At night you cry for exactly two minutes before falling asleep. You wear your MPJ (what everyone else would call a "blankie") around your neck like a boxer so you can carry it with you while your hands stay free. You ask me to turn on the CD player during every meal. And every time we walk down the three flights of stairs to the front door of our building, you count the steps ("Two, two, two, two, two).
Sitting with EllieYou are entirely sweet when you want to be and we love you all the time anyway. Happy Birthday, Sweetie Pie.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Catching Up...
...on the photo sharing. These pictures are from our time at the retreat center with the Johnsons.
First up? Flying from one tio to the other, in the chapel, where all good angels fly.
The game room. An endless source of amazement.
His second cousin Megan (or is that first cousin once removed?) played ping-pong with Jett for 10 minutes, and became his BFF for the rest of our time there. Every time he saw her he tried to give her a hug, hold her hand, and tug at her sleeve until she would walk around with him. At one point, when all of the kids were sitting in a group, cross-legged on the floor, Jett walked from one girl to the next, sitting in each of their laps. He was like Goldilocks trying to find the perfect fit. He would start out by standing a few feet in front of the chosen girl, then turn around and walk backwards towards her lap, until he was close enough to plop down in it. He did this to girls he had never met. At first they were startled, but they all took it in stride. Soon enough they were all clamoring for his attention. But he always went back to Megan.
Finally, sledding! I took a ton of pictures of Jett sledding with Charlie, Chris, Dave, and Jennie, but they were all going so fast down the hill that the photos are a blur. Except for one picture, were Jett looks horrified at the speed he is traveling, what with all of the snow blowing up around him. But every time he got to the bottom of the hill he jumped up out of the sled and signed "More!" Still, I think his favorite activity was walking up the hill. We were out until dark.
First up? Flying from one tio to the other, in the chapel, where all good angels fly.
The game room. An endless source of amazement.
His second cousin Megan (or is that first cousin once removed?) played ping-pong with Jett for 10 minutes, and became his BFF for the rest of our time there. Every time he saw her he tried to give her a hug, hold her hand, and tug at her sleeve until she would walk around with him. At one point, when all of the kids were sitting in a group, cross-legged on the floor, Jett walked from one girl to the next, sitting in each of their laps. He was like Goldilocks trying to find the perfect fit. He would start out by standing a few feet in front of the chosen girl, then turn around and walk backwards towards her lap, until he was close enough to plop down in it. He did this to girls he had never met. At first they were startled, but they all took it in stride. Soon enough they were all clamoring for his attention. But he always went back to Megan.
Finally, sledding! I took a ton of pictures of Jett sledding with Charlie, Chris, Dave, and Jennie, but they were all going so fast down the hill that the photos are a blur. Except for one picture, were Jett looks horrified at the speed he is traveling, what with all of the snow blowing up around him. But every time he got to the bottom of the hill he jumped up out of the sled and signed "More!" Still, I think his favorite activity was walking up the hill. We were out until dark.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Snow Day
One of these days I'll catch up on this blog and write about our current happenings. For now though, I'm still reliving the holidays...
We had one full day at home between Christmas and New Year's. It was a lovely day - gray, wet, and full of snow. The kind of day that makes you stay inside and be glad you're there. But we were afraid that Jett was going to go stir crazy after sitting in the car for so long the day before, so we all bundled up and headed outside to see where Jett would lead.
We walked...
and walked...
and climbed...
and slid.
Yeah...next time I'll catch him.
We had one full day at home between Christmas and New Year's. It was a lovely day - gray, wet, and full of snow. The kind of day that makes you stay inside and be glad you're there. But we were afraid that Jett was going to go stir crazy after sitting in the car for so long the day before, so we all bundled up and headed outside to see where Jett would lead.
We walked...
and walked...
and climbed...
and slid.
Yeah...next time I'll catch him.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Tires
We had an adventure on the six hour drive home after Christmas. Some huge metal thing flew off a truck and landed in front of us on the highway. We couldn't avoid it, so we ran over it, and it punched a big hole in our tire. We pulled over on to the shoulder of the highway and contemplated how we were going to get the spare tire out of the trunk. We sat there in the car, Jett babbling away in the back, picturing all of our stuff sitting on the side of the road. We would have had to unload the entire trunk to get to the spare tire - and our trunk was packed with suitcases, boots, a sit-n-spin, a huge rubber ball, and you know - everything you travel with when you travel with a toddler.
Thankfully we looked up out of our stupor and realized that we were sitting 1/4 mile from three tire stores, our car's car dealership, and a shopping center. So we fired up the engine and limped along to the closest tire store. Jett loves tires, so he thought the entire fiasco was just for him, we got three new tires in one hour and I was the only one who whined about it. Not bad.
Thankfully we looked up out of our stupor and realized that we were sitting 1/4 mile from three tire stores, our car's car dealership, and a shopping center. So we fired up the engine and limped along to the closest tire store. Jett loves tires, so he thought the entire fiasco was just for him, we got three new tires in one hour and I was the only one who whined about it. Not bad.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Whirlwind
Christmas vacation was a bit of a whirlwind
but Jett still found time to build a snowman with Grandma
and I found time to take a nap every time Jett did. What a great week!
In addition to entertaining everyone in church, building a snowman, and napping, Jett also learned a number of new things. First, he learned what a cookie is, where they are kept, and who to ask for one (Grandma). He discovered that he loves gingergread cookies in particular, but he would like me to add that he will also take sugar cookies if offered.
but Jett still found time to build a snowman with Grandma
and I found time to take a nap every time Jett did. What a great week!
In addition to entertaining everyone in church, building a snowman, and napping, Jett also learned a number of new things. First, he learned what a cookie is, where they are kept, and who to ask for one (Grandma). He discovered that he loves gingergread cookies in particular, but he would like me to add that he will also take sugar cookies if offered.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Vacation is Over...
...and now that I have some time on my hands I can catch up on the posts. First up? Christmas.
Ah, the Christmas Eve church service. The music, the candles, the squirmy kids. The child who keeps leaving the sanctuary every five minutes to visit the AA meeting going on in the basement. The people in their pews, chuckling at your child, ready to wave in unison the next time he walks to the double doors of the church and turns around to say "bye-bye" to everyone sitting in the last four pews. Thanks for out-staging the minister, Jett!
Jett has a routine he likes to follow every morning, at least the mornings that I get him out of bed. Once we leave his room (after book reading and diaper changing) we head straight to the kitchen. I carry him and let him open the two cabinet doors he is most interested in: the cabinet that holds the cereal and the cabinet that holds almost all of the other food, like crackers. He points to or pulls out what he wants, we set it all on the counter, and then, after he is convinced that I will really and truly feed him all of the food he has chosen, yes, even a graham cracker, will he willingly let me set him down in his highchair and get down to the business of eating breakfast. So Christmas morning with my family was a little bit different. First of all, the cabinets were different. And there was no cabinet just for crackers. Then we let him eat on the floor so he could be part of the cousin-Christmas-chaos. You can see from his face that he was out of his element.
But he warmed up after a while.
This CD player, from Santa, is one of his favorite gifts, followed by the slightly quieter and slightly classier pull-toy.
It was a good day. I hope you all had a good Christmas and are having a happy new year too. More stories and pictures of our two-week holiday coming soon.
Ah, the Christmas Eve church service. The music, the candles, the squirmy kids. The child who keeps leaving the sanctuary every five minutes to visit the AA meeting going on in the basement. The people in their pews, chuckling at your child, ready to wave in unison the next time he walks to the double doors of the church and turns around to say "bye-bye" to everyone sitting in the last four pews. Thanks for out-staging the minister, Jett!
Jett has a routine he likes to follow every morning, at least the mornings that I get him out of bed. Once we leave his room (after book reading and diaper changing) we head straight to the kitchen. I carry him and let him open the two cabinet doors he is most interested in: the cabinet that holds the cereal and the cabinet that holds almost all of the other food, like crackers. He points to or pulls out what he wants, we set it all on the counter, and then, after he is convinced that I will really and truly feed him all of the food he has chosen, yes, even a graham cracker, will he willingly let me set him down in his highchair and get down to the business of eating breakfast. So Christmas morning with my family was a little bit different. First of all, the cabinets were different. And there was no cabinet just for crackers. Then we let him eat on the floor so he could be part of the cousin-Christmas-chaos. You can see from his face that he was out of his element.
But he warmed up after a while.
This CD player, from Santa, is one of his favorite gifts, followed by the slightly quieter and slightly classier pull-toy.
It was a good day. I hope you all had a good Christmas and are having a happy new year too. More stories and pictures of our two-week holiday coming soon.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Visiting Santa
Remember last year when I said that I wouldn't set Jett on Santa's knee? I feel the same way this year too, but when a toy store down the street from us announced that your child could eat breakfast with Santa, I thought that might be worth a visit. I also appreciated that there was no standing in line. We actually made an appointment to see Santa - and got our own 15 minute time slot.
So this morning at 10:00, Charlie and I bundle up Jett, and bundle up ourselves, and walk on down to the store. It's picturesque, really, with fresh snow on the ground, Jett bundled up in his stroller, on our way to see Santa. As soon as we walk in the store and hear the first ho, ho, ho, Jett starts shaking his head, "No". But I scooped him up and walked back towards Santa anyway. We only got close enough for me to accept the candy cane that Santa offered Jett, with Jett snug in my arms and shaking his head, "No" throughout the entire exchange.
We hung out in the store for a while afterwards, eating their muffins, drinking their juice, playing with their toys, and tracking snow everywhere. Jett was entranced by two things in the store. One was a pull-toy, (and Charlie, the softie, bought it) and the other was an entire shelving unit of sequined covered ballet slippers (I considered buying him a pair, but didn't). Jett never acknowledged Santa, but I would say that he was entranced by him too. Occasionally Jett would take my hand and slowly walk back towards the room that Santa was waiting in. In fact, he had a whole routine worked out. To be clear, I should explain that the store is three rooms long. We spent our time in the first room, and Santa was in the last room. While there was still an entire room between us and Santa, Jett would take my hand and slowly and carefully walk up to the threshold of the first room, walk over the threshold, point to a piece of fruit (which he then wouldn't eat) on the refreshments table, and then s-l-o-w-l-y back out of the room, still holding my hand. He never acknowledged Santa, who was sitting against the farthest wall, two rooms away from us, but he never turned his back on him either.
I would like to say that Jett's hesitancy suggests that he has already grasped the true meaning of Christmas and has no particular interest in acquiring material goods, but one trip with him through Target tells me that's not true.
Oh well. Happy Holidays!
A safe distance.
So this morning at 10:00, Charlie and I bundle up Jett, and bundle up ourselves, and walk on down to the store. It's picturesque, really, with fresh snow on the ground, Jett bundled up in his stroller, on our way to see Santa. As soon as we walk in the store and hear the first ho, ho, ho, Jett starts shaking his head, "No". But I scooped him up and walked back towards Santa anyway. We only got close enough for me to accept the candy cane that Santa offered Jett, with Jett snug in my arms and shaking his head, "No" throughout the entire exchange.
We hung out in the store for a while afterwards, eating their muffins, drinking their juice, playing with their toys, and tracking snow everywhere. Jett was entranced by two things in the store. One was a pull-toy, (and Charlie, the softie, bought it) and the other was an entire shelving unit of sequined covered ballet slippers (I considered buying him a pair, but didn't). Jett never acknowledged Santa, but I would say that he was entranced by him too. Occasionally Jett would take my hand and slowly walk back towards the room that Santa was waiting in. In fact, he had a whole routine worked out. To be clear, I should explain that the store is three rooms long. We spent our time in the first room, and Santa was in the last room. While there was still an entire room between us and Santa, Jett would take my hand and slowly and carefully walk up to the threshold of the first room, walk over the threshold, point to a piece of fruit (which he then wouldn't eat) on the refreshments table, and then s-l-o-w-l-y back out of the room, still holding my hand. He never acknowledged Santa, who was sitting against the farthest wall, two rooms away from us, but he never turned his back on him either.
I would like to say that Jett's hesitancy suggests that he has already grasped the true meaning of Christmas and has no particular interest in acquiring material goods, but one trip with him through Target tells me that's not true.
Oh well. Happy Holidays!
A safe distance.Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Eighteen Months
Dear Jett,
Eighteen months ago
Before we gave you your name
Before you said your first word
Before you ever hugged my head
Or climbed on my back
Or bounced on my belly
Or held my hand
Eighteen months was further than we could think.
Now you are a year and a half old
And we spend more time thinking than we ever have before.
We think about why you don't like to brush your teeth anymore.
Why you're suddenly willing to get out of the bath when we ask.
We think about what to feed you for dinner when all you want is breakfast cereal.
We worry about the safety of plastics and paint and which direction we should face your car seat.
We wonder if your pajamas are warm enough and why you like putting on your coat but not your shirt and whether or not we should do anything about it.
Meanwhile you run to me with open arms.
You dance and spin and flop yourself down on the couch begging us to stop our thinking and just love you up.
So we do.
Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you.
Eighteen months ago
Before we gave you your name
Before you said your first word
Before you ever hugged my head
Or climbed on my back
Or bounced on my belly
Or held my hand
Eighteen months was further than we could think.
Now you are a year and a half old
And we spend more time thinking than we ever have before.
We think about why you don't like to brush your teeth anymore.
Why you're suddenly willing to get out of the bath when we ask.
We think about what to feed you for dinner when all you want is breakfast cereal.
We worry about the safety of plastics and paint and which direction we should face your car seat.
We wonder if your pajamas are warm enough and why you like putting on your coat but not your shirt and whether or not we should do anything about it.
Meanwhile you run to me with open arms.
You dance and spin and flop yourself down on the couch begging us to stop our thinking and just love you up.
So we do.
Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Healthy Kid
Jett had his 18-month check-up today, and he's still perfect. Well, technically, he's still a bit on the short side and the skinny side, but he keeps growing proportionately, so all is normal. He weighs 21 pounds and 3 ounces now, and is about 32 inches tall. Since we could answer "yes" to all of the doctor's questions, (does he walk backward; does he ever pretend; does he climb up stairs; say any words; enjoy playing with other kids) I guess we can assume he is developing normally. Actually, when I told the doctor he prefers chicken nuggets to all other food, she gave him the nod of successful toddler-hood. I didn't mention yesterday's snack of blueberries and ice cream, which ruined his appetite for the healthy dinner I had prepared for him - tofu dipped in pureed spinach, rolled in homemade breading, and broiled in the toaster oven. But I can't say that I blame him.
What would you want for dinner after a snack of blueberries and ice cream? Just more ice cream, of course!
What would you want for dinner after a snack of blueberries and ice cream? Just more ice cream, of course!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Crayons
If you want your toddler to have a chance to play with crayons, but you lack the patience of making sure he only draws on the paper, it is a great idea to put your child in a cardboard box and let him draw on that. But it is a better idea to move that box away from the wall first.
Monday, December 03, 2007
KristKindle Mart
Two years ago, when I was pregnant with Jett, Charlie and I strolled through the KristKindle Mart downtown. We went at night when all of the Christmas lights were twinkling. We sat in the heated beergarten and drank hot cocoa, we visited the booths, I spoke German with the shop keepers, and we bought the first baby toy of Jett's collection, all when we were still getting used to the idea of having a baby. This year it seemed fitting to go again, with Jett.
So we bundle up and head out late Saturday morning. We're on a schedule now, squeezing this adventure in between his lunch and his nap. In fact, we're running late, and instead of giving Jett lunch at home (and being later), we add some Carnation Instant Breakfast into his milk, pour it into his sippy cup, and get in the car. (Carnation Instant Breakfast is on the list of things we can add to his food to increase his calorie intake - although it is supposed to be a supplement not his entire lunch). Anyway. We park at an el stop, snag a prime parking spot, and get on the train. This is Jett's first time on the el by the way, and he acts like a pro, flirting with all of the cute girls.
We get to the Mart and it is packed. We strap Jett in his stroller and discover he has a perfect view of everyone's winter-coat-covered butt. But it's hard to carry a kid when you both have winter coats on, so we keep him strapped in. We can't even get close to any of the shops because the lines in front of them are too long. We wade into the sea of people, trying to avoid running the stroller over anyone's feet, and find a spot that is kind of out of the wind. Of course there are no available seats inside, so Charlie scrounges up a chair for me and I go about giving Jett his lunch. His lunch is completely unglamorous: a cold grilled-cheese sandwich I made at home, which he eats off of his stroller tray. He has to take off his mittens to pick up the sandwich, and it's freezing, but he doesn't complain. Charlie buys a brat, and I get in to the spirit and go for a wienerschnitzel, despite the fact that it isn't even 11:30 am yet. The wienerschnitzel costs $7 and is cold. Jett looks completely bored.
But, but! He saw a real live horse up close and personal - and he almost petted it.
And even though we didn't stand in line to sit on Santa's lap, we caught a glimpse of him through the window.
The best thing of all? We were home by 12:30, Jett was asleep by 1:00, and Charlie and I were feeling pretty satisfied that we had made it out of the house at all.
So we bundle up and head out late Saturday morning. We're on a schedule now, squeezing this adventure in between his lunch and his nap. In fact, we're running late, and instead of giving Jett lunch at home (and being later), we add some Carnation Instant Breakfast into his milk, pour it into his sippy cup, and get in the car. (Carnation Instant Breakfast is on the list of things we can add to his food to increase his calorie intake - although it is supposed to be a supplement not his entire lunch). Anyway. We park at an el stop, snag a prime parking spot, and get on the train. This is Jett's first time on the el by the way, and he acts like a pro, flirting with all of the cute girls.
We get to the Mart and it is packed. We strap Jett in his stroller and discover he has a perfect view of everyone's winter-coat-covered butt. But it's hard to carry a kid when you both have winter coats on, so we keep him strapped in. We can't even get close to any of the shops because the lines in front of them are too long. We wade into the sea of people, trying to avoid running the stroller over anyone's feet, and find a spot that is kind of out of the wind. Of course there are no available seats inside, so Charlie scrounges up a chair for me and I go about giving Jett his lunch. His lunch is completely unglamorous: a cold grilled-cheese sandwich I made at home, which he eats off of his stroller tray. He has to take off his mittens to pick up the sandwich, and it's freezing, but he doesn't complain. Charlie buys a brat, and I get in to the spirit and go for a wienerschnitzel, despite the fact that it isn't even 11:30 am yet. The wienerschnitzel costs $7 and is cold. Jett looks completely bored.
But, but! He saw a real live horse up close and personal - and he almost petted it.
And even though we didn't stand in line to sit on Santa's lap, we caught a glimpse of him through the window.
The best thing of all? We were home by 12:30, Jett was asleep by 1:00, and Charlie and I were feeling pretty satisfied that we had made it out of the house at all.
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