Videos Coming

As soon as I figure out how to do it again....

Dinner with my baby

If you would like to have dinner with Summer, you can via the photos in this post.  This is what she typically looks like at the dinner table/counter top.  Her plate also usually ends up empty like the pictures show.  I will usually fill her plate up with whatever we are having at home.  She will eat pretty much everything on it.  She does drop some food in her lap, but it is a relatively small portion of what is on the plate.  Sometimes she even eats the food out of her bib when her plate starts looking empty.  Meal times are fun.  I have to pretty much wait to eat until after I have gotten her meal going good.  I used to have to feed her everything, but she is trying to feed herself more and more.  Sometimes she won't even eat off of the spoon I am trying to put in her mouth.  She would rather do it herself...with her hands. 

I have noticed she is becoming more independent.  I guess that is a good thing.  She will play in the floor on her own until she sees me doing something that she wants to do (or doesn't want me to do....).  The laptop is a prime baby attention getter.  When she hears my fingers hitting the keys, that is her cue to stop what she is doing and come to Mommy.  She gets to see her picture on the laptop sometimes which excites her.  Right now I have a picture of Jack (our old dog) as my background.  So, she barks whenever she see him.  She never got to meet Jack.  Both of our dogs died while I was pregnant with her (I think).  I can't remember exactly when Jack drowned in the lake, but it was a sad day. 

Did I mention that she bit me the other day?  I was on the phone with a friend and she was on my hip (as usual).  The next thing I knew, she had bitten my arm.  I didn't know what to do, so I did nothing.  I hope this is a one time thing because I definitely don't want a biter on my hands.  She still just has the three teeth.  I guess more will be coming soon.  That means more teeth brushing...fun, fun, fun.

Tonight she is with my sister and her cousins.  I know they are having a good time.  And so will I when Clint gets here!

Here is a link that I read about disciplining.  Not that I am having a problem doing it, but I thought I would share it.  Wish me luck!

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerbehavior/1475318.html

 

Splinters & more

Summer has officially had her first splinter and then some. I was giving her a bottle yesterday morning (the only bottle she gets a day) and looking her over as usual.  So, I glanced at her legs and noticed a lot of scratches.  After further investigation, I realized there were also a LOT of splinters.  Not just one or two either.   I would say there were at least 20 on her legs and feet yesterday morning when she got up.  I felt like complete crap for letting it happen to her.  I just did not realize that our back porch is splinter heaven.  I don't know what I am going to do this summer because she LOVES the back porch. I am sure she would also like the yard, but it is so far away....right.  I thought about having her a play area in the front yard which is far enough away from the lake that I don't have to worry about her sneaking off and falling in. 

Yesterday I realized that I love where we live.  Why are we selling our house?  We are thinking auctioning it, but I am not sure yet.  We are going to an auction tonight.  Summer has been to auctions before, but this kind will be a little different.  They are selling houses not antiques and junk.  I hope she is well behaved during the auction.  We will see.  Clint suggested we get a sitter for it, but I really think Summer will be more entertainment for me than the houses they are selling.  So, I am not wasting babysitting on an auction.  Plus, my sister is babysitting Friday night.  She is a brave woman.  She'll have 3 kids running around her house tomorrow night; I guess one more isn't a big deal.  My nieces and nephew really like to play with/torture Summer.  I am sure they will all have fun. 

I really need to get some pics of Summer loaded on the computer so I can show you all the new and exciting food she is eating.  She will eat pretty much anything.  She just got done eating some cantaloupe and part of a poptart and is playing with her Weeble bus I got her.  She is watching a Baby Einstein video - World Animals.  We have been watching Neighborhood Animals at home.  I am tryingto get her to learn the song "Old McDonald."  So far, she likes the song, but can not sing it.  She does try to sing sometimes.  I can't understand a word of what she is "singing," but she is trying.  Okay, she just made a tiger noise and it was too cute.  This is only the 2nd time she has watched (if you can call it that) this video.  So, maybe she already knew how to make a tiger sound??? 

She is learning more and more words.  I think she can understand what I tell her; Amanda disagrees.  She still doesn't think Summer is saying "Dada."  She did play with Summer (if you can call it that) for a little while Tuesday afternoon.  She doesn't really play very well...kind of a boring big sister.  But, she is competing with a really fun mommy, me, so I'm not sure she had a chance in the first place.  According to Clint, I am too loud when I play with the baby.  I guess I just get excited because I want her to laugh and smile and I will get very silly (aka loud) to make it happen.  That is what I live for - making my people happy.  It is not always easy, but I am going to be happy if I can help it.  So, cheer up or go away.  Oh yeah, this is supposed to be about Summer. 

Now she has found her way over to the many bags by the kitchen table.  I am sure she is pulling everything out of them that she can...LOL.  If I can just get her to put it all back in, I don't really care.  She does a pretty good job of entertaining herself now.  But, when she wants Mommy, she wants Mommy.  Of course she still won't say "Mommy."  That may be her only downfall. 

It sounds like she has made her way over to her car.  She thinks she is so big when she pushes it.  She has been letting go of things and standing there a lot in the past few days.  No more steps, but like I said before, I am NOT ready for that.  I know it is only a matter of time.  She is getting her balance figured out; she just needs to figure out how to work her legs.

She has not gotten into the garbage can yet.  Just as I said that, I looked over and she WAS in the garbage can.  It looks like she got an empty lemonade can.  So much for not playing in the garbage.  I guess I better go tend to her.  I will try to get Clint to bring the cord so I can put up some new pics because I have taken a ton!

The Perfect Combination: Drool & a Snotty Nose

Summer and I are playing on the back porch right now.  Well, I am writing this post and she is playing.  I figured I would go ahead and write this because she is entertaining herself.  She is pretty good about playing by herself.  At times, she does want me to play with her.  But, other times she is just in her own little world. 

Have I mentioned that she is an absolute doll lately?  Jabbering and laughing up a storm....oh yeah, and DROOLING!  The drool has never been so bad.  There is a ring around her shirt collar almost all of the time these days.  Of course, the shirt she has on now is also wet from the ice she is playing with.  I dropped my full (that's right FULL) cup of water on the couch.  Luckily, the blanket caught it and I just dumped the blanket on the back porch.  When she found it, she started picking it up and putting it in her mouth.  Of course she did!  Everything goes to her mouth right now.  I really don't understand why, but I will be happy when she outgrows that.  It is disgusting sometimes.

Playgym

I wanted to take a minute to talk about what happened this week at Playgym.  Summer signed "more" for the first time.  At the beginning of class we were talking about sign language.  I told them that Summer still did not know how to sign "more."  Well, she must have heard me and decided to prove me wrong because a few minutes later when we were bouncing on the balls she signed more.  It was so exciting.  Everyone saw her do it.  I think she did it twice, but I didn't really count.  I was just so surprised when she did it because I have done it like a million times and she has never done it back. 

She can remember the different things we do and is enjoying them more every time I think.  I think it is well worth the time to take her each week.  She is learning and having a fun at the same time.  Plus we get to play with other babies.

Babies....that word just makes me a little sad right now.  I feel like I am fixing to lose my baby.  I feel like when she starts walking she won't be a baby anymore...she will be a little girl!  NOOOOO!!!!!  I do not want to give my baby up.  So, for the time being I am not encouraging walking.  I love my baby!!!  I am not ready for a big girl.

She has friends

Summer's play date at Liliana's house went good the other day.  There were 5 babies there; the same five that were there about 4 or 5 months ago.  Except now they are all huge and have personalities.  They completely destroyed Alicia's living room.  There were toys EVERYWHERE!  We ate dinner over there which was great.  Summer really loves pasta, so the meal was perfect for her.  She ate everything on her plate and a little of mine, as usual. 

The babies did interact with each other a lot more this time.  Katelyn is the quiet one, but she is eye balling everything--looking for something she is not supposed to have.  Liliana does not care who or what is in her way, she is going where she wants to go--so move or stay and be trampled...LOL.  It was cute.  Those two are both walking.  Ashton and Aiden are not very mobile still...thank goodness!  I can't imagine 5 babies all making their rounds around the room, but I am sure they will be before too long.  They were so much bigger than the last time I saw them, but I guess babies do a lot of growing in 4 months.  They were dressed alike, but they are not identical twins so that is nice because you can tell them apart.  Summer was her usual self, playing with all the toys and making her way around the room.  We did get some pics of them which was not an easy task - getting 5 babies to look at the same camera at the same time. 

Overall, it was fun for all I think.  Even Clint went with us and had a good time watching them play.  We are definitely looking forward to the next play date!

Dirt

Last night Summer and I were on the back porch playing with a new toy I got her at the consignment sale (for $8) yesterday.  She was having a good time exploring everything and showing off for me.  As she was making her way around the porch, she found a flower pot (with no flowers...LOL).  So she stood herself up by it and checked out the weed that was growing it it.  I was taking pictures of everything she was doing trying to capture a small portion of her life so that I will never forget how precious she is.  Anyway, I decided to snap a few of myself...not the best idea, but maybe one of them was half way decent...maybe.  While I was snapping away, I noticed my neighbor walking over to see us.  Then I looked at Summer and she was eating dirt.  Let me say that again - EATING DIRT!!!  It was pretty funny and all I could do was laugh.  It was on her hands and face and inside her mouth.  It was one of those "priceless" moments for sure.  Of course she would not pose for the camera in all of her dirt covered glory, but I am hoping that at least one of the pics will do the instance justice. 

I am at the condo right now...our 2nd home.  It seems like I am here almost as much as I am at my house.  I think I am finally getting used to living in between two places.  The condo is definitely more convenient at times, but it is hard to make sure you have everything you need at both places---all the time.  Okay, so I'll stop complaining because I know you aren't feeling sorry for me anyways.  What I was getting at was that I can't put the pics up right now because they are on the computer at my house.  I had to empty my camera this morning so it would be ready for more pics.

I forgot that we have a playdate this afternoon at Lili's house.  I am hesitant to break the news to Clint because he is going to be all "What am I going to eat?  You are supposed to feed me."  blah, blah, blah...  What am I a cook or something?  I don't mind feeding him by any means.  Is it my fault that I have plans sometime which do not revolve around what he is going to eat?  If I am home, I will gladly cook him a meal.  But, when I am not, I definitely hear about it.  So, do I not go to the playdate so I can feed him?  I don't think so.  That is what canned soup, fruit and leftovers are for, right?  He will just have to fix it himself.  Enough about Clint.

I am excited about the play date because a lot of babies are going to be there - 5 or 6 I think.  I can't wait to see how they interact with each other.  It wasn't too long ago when they didn't even pay attention to each other.  I think things will be different this time.  But how different, I don't know yet.  I'll let you know.

I really racked up at the consignment sale yesterday.  I will not share how much it cost me, just know that it was a lot less than it would've been at a store.  She got a potty, an Elmo who pottys, shoes, shoes, shoes, 2 booster seats, a life jacket, diapers, and toys.  I also got a few picture albums and a really cool picture frame for myself.  I won't bore you with the details, just know I love consignment sales!