Week 87

Dear Jorie,

I always have such a hard time starting these letters. I have to think back to what we did this week, and so often the week is a blur. It was another week blessedly free from major sickness, although you've continued to have the sniffles.

Really we only did two really cool things this week. Saturday it was (relatively) nice out so we packed you and the dog up and went for a (short) walk at Mt. Hope cemetery. That's not as morbid as it sounds I swear. Mt. Hope is a really nice park like cemetery, with nice, quiet, cleared streets for us to walk on. We had the stroller with us, but you walked almost the whole time. You held my hand very nicely for about the first half of the walk, then, since there were no cars or really anyone around, I let you wander. The first thing you did? Walk over to the snow bank and start stuffing snow in your mouth. You are fascinated with eating snow. Every time we go outside you go "Snow!" and grab as much of it as you can whenever you can, and stuff it in your mouth. Whenever we buckle you in your car seat, you look up at us and ask "Snow?" You want us to get you snow for you to eat while we drive. It's adorable.

Sunday we had a play date with Zetta! We all went over to Jaimee, Bill and Zetta's house and hung out and played all afternoon. We even stayed for a really tasty dinner. You and Zetta play so nicely now, it's really great watching you guys run around. I'm really glad you two are such good friends!

You're getting so big lately. We're going to have to get you some new clothes soon, since a lot of your Jeans are getting too short. It seems like you outgrow clothes about once a month right now. We do have some clothes that are a bit big on you, but they're mostly summer-ish type clothes. So I'm hoping you don't grow too much between now and summer.

Recently we've had to start "Jorie-proofing" a lot of new things. You can reach, and open the door from the living room to the hall way now, so we had to get something to fit over the door knob to keep you from turning it. We've also gotten all sorts of things to make your bedroom safe for when we turn your crib into a bed.

This weekend you also took your first shower with me. I was taking a shower and you wanted to come in, so in you came. You were ok with it, although you were very nervous at first, and didn't want me to put you down. It was nice because it was a really quick way to get you clean. Much quicker than a bath, although you REALLY like baths now. You ask for them all the time, going "Ba?" "Wader?"(You still aren't very good with 't' sounds.)

Another new fixation is watching the dog when he's out in the back yard. When we get home in the afternoon you run to the window to watch him. You point out the window and say "Doggie outside!"

You've been using very clear multi word sentences lately. Mostly things like "I am here." "I sit here." "Doggie go outside." Your father says you told him "I want a bottle" the other day. It's amazing how fast your language is developing!

I love you baby girl, stop getting so big so fast!

Week 86

Dear Jorie,

Thankfully this week was mostly free of sickness. You've been fighting off some sniffles, but other than that, you've been doing well. This week was a busy one, but not with fun exciting things to write about. Just mostly busy for your Mom and Dad.

Friday was Valenties day. I guess they had a party at your daycare, because you came home with a bunch of cards and candy. We all went over to your Aunt Becky and Uncle Michaels so you and Wesley could  play while the adults had take out Thai food to celebrate. You and Wes were adorable running around chasing each other. He still doesn't really play with you, but you try, you even forcibly share toys occasionally.

Really the rest of the week has just been your poor Mom and Dad trying to hang out and keep ahead of everything.

Last night at dinner with the Ross', you proved to your Daddy that you are smarter than he thinks you are. He didn't believe me that you'd been calling your Uncle Michael "Wesley's Daddy." He didn't think you would understand the concept of a Daddy. So he asked you who "wesley's daddy" was. You pointed right at your Uncle Michael. Your father was floored, but still skeptical, so a few minutes later, once the conversation had moved on, he asked you who "Wesley's Mommy" was. You pointed right at your Aunt Becky. I can say you really shocked your Daddy. He's still amazed about it!

The other cool thing that happened this week, happened while I was out with your Aunt Becky. Your Dad took you out into the snow in the back yard. He got a really cute video of you playing (and having a great time) in the snow. So much of a good time that you were really upset when he made you go back inside to warm up.

Hopefully the next week will calm down and we can do some more fun things with you.

I love you baby girl!

Grumpy sleepy girl

The "baby" needed sunglasses

Bathtime with daddy!

Your Little People Empire

Week 85

Dear Jorie,

Oh baby girl, I wish i didn't have to start another letter this way. You were sick again this week. A croup-like cough started on saturday night, and a fever started on sunday. You haven't been sleeping well, and the cough is still going strong, although the fever has come down a bit.

Saturday after having brunch with your Aunt Becky, Uncle Michael and Wesley (and doing some shopping at Target,) we decided to try to take you to Kango, an indoor playground, since we weren't going to my parents for dinner until sunday this week. After getting our nifty paper wrist bands, and hanging up our coats, I took you into your first bounce house. You did not like it. At all. I sat in there with you for about 15 minutes before you would even leave my lap, and even then you were not a happy camper. So we let you run around the rest of the place for a while.

We tried the bikes, but you really weren't into them, and really just wanted to run around. After a while we decided to try the bounce house again, this time with your father. Your father thought what you needed was to see how much fun bouncing in the bounce house would be, and proceeded to bounce around with you in his lap until you were terrified. This did seem to work though, as when I went back in with you a little later, you actually crawled around a bit before letting us know you were all done.

Sunday we had brunch with Farley, and then later had dinner at Nannie and Grandpa O's.  You had a great time, and weren't acting sick at all, but by the time we got you home and in bed your temp was up over 103.

Monday you stayed with Grandma and Grandpa R for the day, and had a great time by all accounts. You only took a 45 min nap you were having so much fun!

Tuesday it was my turn to be home with you. Because we're down to one car for the most part, we packed up and drove your father into work in the morning (and picked him up in the afternoon.) We spent a lot of time cuddling on the couch, watching Curious George or reading books. You took a solid 2 1/2 hour nap, and then because you still had a temperature we took you to see the doctor just to make sure it wasn't anything serious (it's not.) At the doctors office your usual shyness was no where to be found. You hammed it up for the nurse and the doctor, waving, saying hi and bye bye, asking for books, and sitting very nicely on the scale. You did really well with the exam too, sitting nicely and not even flinching when he looked in your ears (which you normally hate.) You even barely flinched when he did a throat swab to rule out strep! On the way out you waved and said bye bye to everyone too, and then it was time for dinner at your Grandma and Grandpa R's!

Today you're at Nannie and Grandpa O's, after having the morning home with me. I have to admit I got kind of spoiled getting to spend so much time with you the past few days. I miss you so much right now.

Recently you started actually going down the stairs (with our help), and I realized the other day that you are now tall enough to reach the banister. You also talk in short four word sentences sometimes, saying things like "baby has a bottle", or "that is mine". You have "names" for a lot of the books we read, "Paul" for 'pat the bunny' (for the little boy paul in the book), "Kitty" for 'where is the cat', "lalala" for 'Moo baa lalala', "moon" for 'Goodnight moon'. I'm sure there are others, I just can't think of them now.

You are definitely a force to be reckoned with! For a while I was using 'the countdown' to let you know when you were about to get in trouble, then the other day I said "One...." and you looked at me and said "two." It took everything I had not to burst out laughing!

I love you so much baby girl, Don't ever loose that strength!

Looking way too grown up eating snack at your little table. 

"cleaning" the "baby's" face

A short rest at Kango

One of the climbing structures at Kango

Playing in the Dog's Crate!

Week 84

Dear Jorie,

This week was full of adventure!

Friday it was my turn to stay home with you, since you had developed some sort of rash on your tummy and back. We took you to the doctor and she put you on allergy medicine, which seemed to clear it up. We're still not sure what's causing it, but we're keeping an eye on it. We went out to dinner (just to get out of the house.) The place we went was ok, but I don't think we'll be going back. At dinner we ordered you Grilled Cheese, and it came with Apple Sauce. You decided that Grilled Cheese is best dipped in Apple Sauce, and would only eat the Grilled Cheese if we dipped it for you!

Saturday we took you to a local diner to watch a Dragon Dance to celebrate the Chinese New year. It's the Year of the Horse! Your Aunt Becky, Uncle Michael and Cousin Wesley joined us. You weren't too sure about the big Dragon or the Loud Drum (which was right next to our table) at first, but once you got used to it you seemed to enjoy it. The Dragon danced all around all of the tables and got really close to you. There was also a man in a mask walking around with cymbals leading the dragon around. I think the man's mask worried you more than the colorful dragon! We'll definitely be going back again next year!

Sunday was really busy! Your cousin Wesley's first birthday party was in the afternoon. There were a ton of kids there, and you had a great time running around playing with all of them. There were also a lot of balloons and you spent a lot of time kicking them around. Wesley has this fabric tunnel thing that I think we're going to have to get, you really loved crawling through it. There was of course cake and lots of food. Wesley didn't really "smash" his piece of cake, so much as very carefully pick it apart and eat it. By the time Wesley started opening presents (with your Aunt Becky's help!) you were more than done, and we had to leave to get you down for a nap.

Sunday evening we headed over to Bill & Jamiee's  to watch the Superbowl. You and Zetta had a great time tearing around the house and playing together. The two of you are so funny together. Unfortunately I think all the excitement was too much for you, and when it came time to go down for bed, you were having none of it, and started down the path to a melt down, so we had to head out early.

This morning before I went to work, the City was trimming the trees on our street, and the big bucket truck was parked in front of our house. You spent the entire morning enthralled, watching the truck. You even went and brought your baby doll so she could see. You watched until the truck left, and then watched the dump truck that showed up with the big claw to pick up the branches.

You're becoming a force to be reckoned with baby girl! You know what you want, and what you don't want. Most of the time you're a very happy child, but when you are unhappy, you are sure to let us know!

Your vocabulary is exploding too. Every day I think I hear a new word I didn't know you knew how to say. We realized that when you say bye bye, you're actually saying "Bye Bye To you!" From the Pat the Bunny book. You know every page in that book and will do all the activities as soon as we get to the page. You have a few favorite books now too, and will bring them to us and have us read them over and over. You also know Elmo, you have a little Elmo Little People that you love now. You're always pointing to it and saying "Emmo!"

You wash your hands now, and ask to wash your hands before and after every time we feed you, or when we have you sit on the potty. It's something that you learned at Day Care, and it's really adorable. You look at us, rub your hands together and go "Wash?" until we pick you up and hold you so you can run your hands under the water.

Part of me is having a hard time with the fact that you are most definitely not a tiny baby anymore. You are strong and active and loud and exuberant. You are definitely a do-er. Part of me misses the tiny quiet infant you were. Mostly I think I miss the cuddles, which are a rare occurrence these days. Now, however, you give the best hugs. As much as I loved cuddling you when you were tiny, I think the best is yet to come, even though I struggle sometimes with trying to set limits for you, or keep you from climbing everything.

I love you so much Jorie-bear!