We've been talking up the idea of a "big girl bed" to Julia for a few months now. Whenever I see a character in a book or on TV who is sleeping in a bed instead of a crib, I point it out to Julia, and say - "Oh, look....she is sleeping in a big girl bed. Would you like to sleep in a big girl bed?"
So, after talking it up, she was really on board with the idea. Finally, two weeks ago, her bed was delivered. She was so excited. The probem? No mattress. For the last two weeks, the bed and the crib have been side by side in her room. She liked to use the bed as a jungle gym - something that I did my best to stop. I was nervous she was going to hurt herself on the hard wood or between the slats.
Today, R went to Costco to buy the mattress. It was a very, very exciting day for Julia. She was beside herself and proclaimed her new mattress as "Bootiful!!" It was hard to keep her off the bed as I made it up with the new mattress cover, sheets, and quilt.
When it came time for bedtime, our usual rituals were changed. Since Julia was born, I have rocked Julia before bed while lullaby music plays. I always put her down while still awake, but we both enjoy ending our day with this ritual. When Julia got a little older, we dubbed this, "Tiny Baby." We also added reading bedtime stories.
Tonight was the first time we have not done Tiny Baby before bedtime (aside from the occasional trip where there is no rocking chair.) R came upstairs with us, put Julia in her pajamas and kissed her goodnight. Julia and I crawled in her new bed and read books. I think it was about 8 books. I had only planned for 3 or so, but she's a pretty good negotiator. Julia got up to turn off her light, as she likes to do, and we snuggled in her bed.
I was rather comfortable and started to doze off. I never expected what happened next - especially after her usual pleading for one more book or more Tiny Baby time. Julia said, "Mommy, wake up. Mommy, wake up. You can go downstairs with Papa now."
That's it. Equal parts amused and surprised that I had been kicked out, I headed downstairs to tell R the story. (I may have been a tiny bit dejected as well.)
A few minutes later, we heard little footsteps, and Julia appeared in the doorway of the family room. She had an odd look on her face, as if she was thinking, "So, this is what you guys do after I go to bed." Then, she announced, "I not going to bed." We answered, "Yes, you have to go to bed." R said, "Papa will put you to bed." With that, she said, "I do it myself." She turned and walked back to her room, by herself.
We listened on the monitor as she put herself to bed. R went to check on her a while later and found her asleep in her new bed, clutching one of her babies, lying way up on her pillow (but under the covers). Her bedroom door was closed and everything. Sleep tight, big girl!
Pictures of the new bed (and the girl) coming soon.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Julia Says...
I have all these things that Julia says bumping around in my head, and I'm trying to remember them or write them down. She really cracks me up. I'm sure I'm forgetting some!
~~~
The first time I talked to her about being pregnant:
Me: "Julia, I have a baby in my tummy."
Julia: "That's great....I have a baby in my tummy, too."
~~~
While R was changing her diaper:
"Papa, your hands are cold...it's OK, Mommy's hands are cold, too."
~~~
When I was taking her temperature rectally,
"Mommy, BE CAREFUL!!"
~~~
I bought some new pajamas with cupcakes on them (for me), and Julia loves them:
"Oooooooo, Mommy, I like your cupcake pajamas, because I eat cupcakes at school."
They have cupcakes for kids' birthdays at Julia's school. I was especially blown away by the use of the word "because."
~~~
She pointed at the spots on my chest:
Julia: "What are dose (those)?"
Me: "Those are freckles."
Julia: "Oh, freckles! Let's count them..."
Julia: (pointing to each freckle) "1, 2, 3, 4...."
~~~
Julia: "Mommy, are you a baby?"
Me: "No, Julia, I'm a big girl. Actually, I'm a grown-up."
Julia: "I'm a grown-up, too. Yep, I'm a grown-up."
~~~
Ever since Julia has had the motor control to do so, she sucks her thumb and twirls her hair when she gets sleepy. The other evening, I was rocking her before bed, and she said, "Mommy, put your tumb (thumb) in you mouth."
Me: ?
Julia: "Put your tumb in you mouth."
Me: (playing along, I put my thumb in my mouth)
Julia: "Put your finger in your hair."
She clearly enjoys her little habit and thought I should try it out.
She was rather insistent that I try it!
~~~
One evening, she was rubbing her ear, as if her ear itched:
"Mommy, I need a tulip."
I could not figure out what she was talking about.
"Mommy, I NEED A TULIP."
OH!!! She wanted a Q-TIP! Glad I figured that one out.
~~~
When she was sick recently, she was coughing and coughing:
Julia: "I need some medicine."
It seemed perfectly reasonable, so I gave her some cough medicine.
Later that day, we visited the pediatrician who prescribed some antibiotics.
We got home from the drugstore, and I told Julia she needed to take some medicine.
Me: "Julia, you need to take your medicine."
Julia: "I'm not coughing. I don't need medicine."
Me: Hmmmm....."Well, this medicine is for your...running nose."
Julia: "OK. Cool. Very cool."
And, she took the medicine.
~~~
Julia wants to keep a few books in her crib that she likes to read to her babies and stuffed animals (her "friends"). The other night, she asked for some specific books in her crib as I put her to bed. As I was leaving the room, I heard her getting ready to read to her friends:
"OK, are you guys ready?"
And she started "reading" the book to her audience.
~~~
Occasionally, she says things that I just don't get.
For instance, a couple of weeks ago, she was walking around saying, somewhat sing-songingly, "Six pounds. Six pounds. Six pounds."
Also, when a TV show she likes is coming on, she announces,
"Olivia EVERYWHERE!"
or
"Max and Ruby EVERYWHERE!"
~~~
There are some words she mispronounces that I find funny:
"slipperly" (slippery)
"butnet" (button)
"Miss Loopy" (Miss Lupe, her teacher who she used to call "Miss Lu-kay")
"up-see down" (upside down)
"pu-nana" (banana)
"nap" (mat, meaning her placemat or the mat in the bathtub)
"piggie" (This is what she calls her pinky finger.)
"lello" (yellow)
"fleur" (floor - sounds very French)
~~~
The first time I talked to her about being pregnant:
Me: "Julia, I have a baby in my tummy."
Julia: "That's great....I have a baby in my tummy, too."
~~~
While R was changing her diaper:
"Papa, your hands are cold...it's OK, Mommy's hands are cold, too."
~~~
When I was taking her temperature rectally,
"Mommy, BE CAREFUL!!"
~~~
I bought some new pajamas with cupcakes on them (for me), and Julia loves them:
"Oooooooo, Mommy, I like your cupcake pajamas, because I eat cupcakes at school."
They have cupcakes for kids' birthdays at Julia's school. I was especially blown away by the use of the word "because."
~~~
She pointed at the spots on my chest:
Julia: "What are dose (those)?"
Me: "Those are freckles."
Julia: "Oh, freckles! Let's count them..."
Julia: (pointing to each freckle) "1, 2, 3, 4...."
~~~
Julia: "Mommy, are you a baby?"
Me: "No, Julia, I'm a big girl. Actually, I'm a grown-up."
Julia: "I'm a grown-up, too. Yep, I'm a grown-up."
~~~
Ever since Julia has had the motor control to do so, she sucks her thumb and twirls her hair when she gets sleepy. The other evening, I was rocking her before bed, and she said, "Mommy, put your tumb (thumb) in you mouth."
Me: ?
Julia: "Put your tumb in you mouth."
Me: (playing along, I put my thumb in my mouth)
Julia: "Put your finger in your hair."
She clearly enjoys her little habit and thought I should try it out.
She was rather insistent that I try it!
~~~
One evening, she was rubbing her ear, as if her ear itched:
"Mommy, I need a tulip."
I could not figure out what she was talking about.
"Mommy, I NEED A TULIP."
OH!!! She wanted a Q-TIP! Glad I figured that one out.
~~~
When she was sick recently, she was coughing and coughing:
Julia: "I need some medicine."
It seemed perfectly reasonable, so I gave her some cough medicine.
Later that day, we visited the pediatrician who prescribed some antibiotics.
We got home from the drugstore, and I told Julia she needed to take some medicine.
Me: "Julia, you need to take your medicine."
Julia: "I'm not coughing. I don't need medicine."
Me: Hmmmm....."Well, this medicine is for your...running nose."
Julia: "OK. Cool. Very cool."
And, she took the medicine.
~~~
Julia wants to keep a few books in her crib that she likes to read to her babies and stuffed animals (her "friends"). The other night, she asked for some specific books in her crib as I put her to bed. As I was leaving the room, I heard her getting ready to read to her friends:
"OK, are you guys ready?"
And she started "reading" the book to her audience.
~~~
Occasionally, she says things that I just don't get.
For instance, a couple of weeks ago, she was walking around saying, somewhat sing-songingly, "Six pounds. Six pounds. Six pounds."
Also, when a TV show she likes is coming on, she announces,
"Olivia EVERYWHERE!"
or
"Max and Ruby EVERYWHERE!"
~~~
There are some words she mispronounces that I find funny:
"slipperly" (slippery)
"butnet" (button)
"Miss Loopy" (Miss Lupe, her teacher who she used to call "Miss Lu-kay")
"up-see down" (upside down)
"pu-nana" (banana)
"nap" (mat, meaning her placemat or the mat in the bathtub)
"piggie" (This is what she calls her pinky finger.)
"lello" (yellow)
"fleur" (floor - sounds very French)
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Almost Healthy
The last couple of months have included some challenges. I think the combination of being pregnant (with the associated weakened immune system), having a child in daycare for a few days a week, and living through the cold and flu season has made me sick more often than I have ever been in my life.
Also, it is harder for me to shake off the illnesses. I'm accustomed to being sick, missing a day or two of work, and then, being back to normal life. The experiences of the last couple of months have been different, and I have had to cancel all activities and really slow down.
This last go round, Julia and I were both sick, and I am so thankful my little girl is feeling back to her funny, wonderful self. I hope we can both ease back into life as normal!
Also, it is harder for me to shake off the illnesses. I'm accustomed to being sick, missing a day or two of work, and then, being back to normal life. The experiences of the last couple of months have been different, and I have had to cancel all activities and really slow down.
This last go round, Julia and I were both sick, and I am so thankful my little girl is feeling back to her funny, wonderful self. I hope we can both ease back into life as normal!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Stubborn Girl
I checked the on-line journal from Julia's teachers and found that it is not all good news. (Actually, Miss Barbara and I had discussed this a couple of weeks ago when I came to pick up Julia.) I guess we all have trouble adjusting back to real life after the holidays!
From Miss Barbara:
"After the holidays, Julia came back being very stubborn. She picks and chooses when she wants to and doesn't want to listen. One minute she is fine, and the other one she doesn't want to turn off the water. She stands in front of the sink and watches the water running.
When it's clean up time, she makes up excuses when she doesn't feels like cleaning up. Her excuses are 'I'm too tired.' 'You do it.' 'I don't know where it goes.'
However, she still does what we ask her to do after a long fight."
From Miss Barbara:
"After the holidays, Julia came back being very stubborn. She picks and chooses when she wants to and doesn't want to listen. One minute she is fine, and the other one she doesn't want to turn off the water. She stands in front of the sink and watches the water running.
When it's clean up time, she makes up excuses when she doesn't feels like cleaning up. Her excuses are 'I'm too tired.' 'You do it.' 'I don't know where it goes.'
However, she still does what we ask her to do after a long fight."
Friday, December 25, 2009
Santa Arrives
Obviously, this was not Julia's first Christmas, but in many ways, it felt as if it was. She was so much excited about what was going on, even if she didn't fully get some of the concepts, like Santa Claus.
On Christmas morning, Julia woke, and I put her in bed with us for a bit of snuggle time. She and her Papa were quite content to sleep. I, on the other hand, was about go crazy, as I knew Santa Claus had made a stop at our house and left presents downstairs. "OK, let's get up and go downstairs!" I would announce, and they would snuggle themselves back into the covers for more sleep. I was dying to watch Julia open her presents, but I had to learn to be a little patient.
Finally, we made our way downstairs, and we had such fun watching Julia open her gifts from Santa and from Aunt Lulu (who was chosen to be her Secret Santa in my family's gift exchange this year.)
(She's been drumming on everything from plastic containers to cups since she saw an drums on an episode of Toot and Puddle.)
On Christmas morning, Julia woke, and I put her in bed with us for a bit of snuggle time. She and her Papa were quite content to sleep. I, on the other hand, was about go crazy, as I knew Santa Claus had made a stop at our house and left presents downstairs. "OK, let's get up and go downstairs!" I would announce, and they would snuggle themselves back into the covers for more sleep. I was dying to watch Julia open her presents, but I had to learn to be a little patient.
Finally, we made our way downstairs, and we had such fun watching Julia open her gifts from Santa and from Aunt Lulu (who was chosen to be her Secret Santa in my family's gift exchange this year.)
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| Julia's dollhouse with new furniture from Santa |
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| New drum from Santa |
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| New drum from Santa |
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| Opening gifts from Lulu |
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| Puzzle from Lulu |
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| Pots and pans from Lulu |
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| Puzzle from Lulu |
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Updates from Julia's Teacher
As you may know, Julia goes to daycare (aka "school") 3 days per week in the same building where I work part-time. It is a great arrangement, and she really enjoys her wonderful teachers and her friends in the class.
Miss Barbara, Julia's primary teacher, fills out an on-line journal with stories and pictures of some of Julia's school activities.
Here are a few entries:
9/17/09: "Julia loves pretend play, especially playing with the phone. Usually, she picks the phone up, and says "Hi Mom!" Then, she walks around with it by her ear as if she was listening to her mom talking to her. At the end, she says "Bye Mom!" Julia shows great pretend play and language skills by playing with the phone."
10/12/09: "Today, we did a Fruit Loop tree project. I gave Julia some fruit loops to taste as I was preparing everything else for the project. She liked them so I gave her a paper and some glue. She started putting the glue on the paper; however, she kept looking at her cereal at the same time. Then, I asked her to put some fruit loops on top of glue. She did what I asked her to do however, when I wasn't looking at her she would put some cereal in her mouth instead."
11/19/09: "Julia loves to do what her teachers do. One afternoon, she saw Ms. Lupe changing diapers. She grabbed a chair and put it next to Ms. Lupe and asked for a set of gloves because she wanted to change her friends as well. That really made us laugh. Ms. Lupe gave her a set of gloves, and she put them on. Then, we heard Julia saying "Esrin, come here!"(to change a diaper). Julia lifted Esrin's dress up and tried pulling her pants down. Then we had to stop Julia since it wasn't a part of her job duties!"
Miss Barbara, Julia's primary teacher, fills out an on-line journal with stories and pictures of some of Julia's school activities.
Here are a few entries:
9/17/09: "Julia loves pretend play, especially playing with the phone. Usually, she picks the phone up, and says "Hi Mom!" Then, she walks around with it by her ear as if she was listening to her mom talking to her. At the end, she says "Bye Mom!" Julia shows great pretend play and language skills by playing with the phone."
 |
| Pretend play with the phone |
10/12/09: "Today, we did a Fruit Loop tree project. I gave Julia some fruit loops to taste as I was preparing everything else for the project. She liked them so I gave her a paper and some glue. She started putting the glue on the paper; however, she kept looking at her cereal at the same time. Then, I asked her to put some fruit loops on top of glue. She did what I asked her to do however, when I wasn't looking at her she would put some cereal in her mouth instead."
 |
| Fruit Loop Tree art project |
 |
| Changing diapers |
 |
| Dec 4, 2009: Julia and her friends on Pajama Day (Julia is in the middle in pink and white pig pajamas.) |
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Decorating the Tree
Decorating the tree with R and Julia was such fun! (Sometimes, I tend to romanticize how a family event is going to go and need to manage my expectations, but this evening was the storybook, Norman Rockwell event I imagined.)
Julia LOVED unwrapping each ornament from its tissue paper, and would exclaim, "Look! Look, Papa!!" or "Look, Mommy, look at this!!" She was old enough that she could handle the ornaments and put them on the tree. From time to time, she needed a bit of help, but she loved the whole experience. One of my favorite moments was when she called snowman ornament with a looong skinny hat a maraca.
R and I talked about the different ornaments, and where we were when I bought them - it was a little walk down memory lane of our relationship: ornaments from Chicago, the Empire State building representing New York, the bicycle representing Holland, and the snow men from my first Christmas with his family when they where vacationing in Colorado.
My favorite part of this video is when Julia stops at the lion ornament to roar!
Julia LOVED unwrapping each ornament from its tissue paper, and would exclaim, "Look! Look, Papa!!" or "Look, Mommy, look at this!!" She was old enough that she could handle the ornaments and put them on the tree. From time to time, she needed a bit of help, but she loved the whole experience. One of my favorite moments was when she called snowman ornament with a looong skinny hat a maraca.
R and I talked about the different ornaments, and where we were when I bought them - it was a little walk down memory lane of our relationship: ornaments from Chicago, the Empire State building representing New York, the bicycle representing Holland, and the snow men from my first Christmas with his family when they where vacationing in Colorado.
 |
| Julia & Papa |
 |
| Busy decorating |
 |
| Papa |
 |
| Busy girl |
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| Placing the star on top |
My favorite part of this video is when Julia stops at the lion ornament to roar!
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Halloween
Halloween started off really well. R and I each had a big pumpkin to carve, and we had a little pumpkin for Julia. Little Miss enjoyed helping to clean the seeds and guts out of the pumpkins; she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. In fact, she loved it. She did get quite peeved when she wasn't allowed to work with any of the sharp implements to carve the pumpkins.
Then, our friend and neighbor, Elizabeth (Julia's Tia), came up to go trick-or-treating with Julia and me. R stayed home to man the door at home. Julia was very shy at the first house, and afterwards, we ran into some older neighborhood kids dressed in scary masks. After that, Julia was even less interested in the second house. By the third house, she flat out refused to play along. She wanted to hold tightly to me, and she became more and more terrified.
Elizabeth recommended we head to her house to visit, as Julia is very comfortable there and could see "Uncle" Mark. It took Julia a little while to warm up, but going to Elizabeth and Mark's house was a great move. She was soon hippity-hopping around (video to come soon) and doing her best to impress their teenaged son. After our visit, it was clear that we should go straight home instead of visiting more houses.
I think it was a combination of seeing the scary costumes and being out in the dark, but trick-or-treating was not fun for Julia this year. As R put her to bed, she talked to him about the "scary monsters." I was concerned she would have nightmares, but she slept through the night. The next morning, she was back to her happy self.
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| Papa's pumpkin |
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| Julia with Mommy's pumpkin |
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| Julia with Mommy's pumpkin |
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| Kangaroos like lollipops. |
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| Julia and her baby |
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| Julia and Mommy |
Papa's Technique...
...for putting shoes on a toddler.
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| Papa puts shoes on a toddler. |
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| Papa puts shoes on a toddler. |
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| Papa puts shoes on a toddler. |
Friday, October 30, 2009
Moon Bounce Madness
Julia and I were on our way to grocery to buy pumpkins for carving. We happened to pass a church that had pumpkins on sale half price, plus a moon bounce. To say that Julia had fun in the moon bounce is an extreme understatement - I don't known when I've seen her have such fun! These pictures are quite blurry, but they start to capture her sheer glee.
Picking a pumpkin
Picking a pumpkin
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Stella's Birthday Party & The Pumpkin Patch
Julia and I headed to a local farm and pumpkin patch to help Stella celebrate her 3rd birthday. It was a perfect, crisp fall day. Julia got to check out her first campfire, but she didn't like the smoke one bit! She also rejected her first s'more, protesting when I tried to mess up a perfectly good piece of chocolate. She'd like the chocolate plain, thank you. The party was capped off with a sing-along featuring Stella's dad playing the guitar. We had a great time.
After the party, Julia and I explored the farm a bit on our own, and we saw pigs, a calf, turkeys, ducks, chickens, and a few goats. Julia was very polite to the other kids and didn't gloat that her Grandma & Grandpa live on a *real* farm.
Then, we were off to the pumpkin patch where Julia tried to lift and carry very big pumpkins. She eventually settled for sitting on a pumpkin and posing for pictures for her camera-happy mother.
After the party, Julia and I explored the farm a bit on our own, and we saw pigs, a calf, turkeys, ducks, chickens, and a few goats. Julia was very polite to the other kids and didn't gloat that her Grandma & Grandpa live on a *real* farm.
Then, we were off to the pumpkin patch where Julia tried to lift and carry very big pumpkins. She eventually settled for sitting on a pumpkin and posing for pictures for her camera-happy mother.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Port Credit (and Toronto) trip
R's Canadian business partner's daughter got married in September, and we were invited to the wedding. Luckily, happily, my Mom was able to go with us. This enabled us to go to the wedding without Little Miss AND most importantly, we got to spend some time with Grandma. Oma and Opa also attended the wedding, so lucky Julia got to see three of her grandparents in one weekend.
We also enjoyed Port Credit's Blues and Jazz Festival. The festival was within walking distance of our hotel. The weather was beautiful, and we also enjoyed some time on the swings and at the playground.
The wedding was great fun. The wedding ceremony itself was very traditional, but the reception was unique and full of personal touches. The reception was held at restored movie theater where the seats have been removed to form an event space. The reception also featured a photobooth and a Bollywood-style first dance by the entire wedding party. The food, music, and flowers at the wedding were wonderful. Because the bride's family is Italo-Canadian, and the groom is from an Irish family, I learned the term (and found out I was a) mangiacake.
On Sunday, we enjoyed some sightseeing in Toronto and celebrated Grandma's birthday with a lunch in the Distillery District.
This trip marked Julia's first international trip, earning her a stamp in her brand new passport!
Julia, at the beginning of our journey
Grandma and Julia start their visit on the airplane
The view of Toronto from our Port Credit hotel room
Julia having fun
Grandma enjoying the swing, too
Our little family
Wheeeeeeee!
Julia and her balloon at the music festival
The site of the reception
Enjoying a playground nearby the hotel
Oma & Grandma enjoying the park
A little time for sightseeing in Toronto
We also enjoyed Port Credit's Blues and Jazz Festival. The festival was within walking distance of our hotel. The weather was beautiful, and we also enjoyed some time on the swings and at the playground.
The wedding was great fun. The wedding ceremony itself was very traditional, but the reception was unique and full of personal touches. The reception was held at restored movie theater where the seats have been removed to form an event space. The reception also featured a photobooth and a Bollywood-style first dance by the entire wedding party. The food, music, and flowers at the wedding were wonderful. Because the bride's family is Italo-Canadian, and the groom is from an Irish family, I learned the term (and found out I was a) mangiacake.
On Sunday, we enjoyed some sightseeing in Toronto and celebrated Grandma's birthday with a lunch in the Distillery District.
This trip marked Julia's first international trip, earning her a stamp in her brand new passport!
Julia, at the beginning of our journey
Grandma and Julia start their visit on the airplane
The view of Toronto from our Port Credit hotel room
Julia having fun
Grandma enjoying the swing, too
Our little family
Wheeeeeeee!
Julia and her balloon at the music festival
The site of the reception
Enjoying a playground nearby the hotel
Oma & Grandma enjoying the park
A little time for sightseeing in Toronto
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