From the mouths of babes...

hats2_march08
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

So tonight we had our good friends Betsy and Jeremy Chapman over for dinner with their son, Ian. We played, had dinner and then were all watching Weird Al (see previous post). Erin turns around to them and says "Why are you still here??"" and then goes on about her business. Luckily Bets and Jer are not the types to get offended, or we would not have been friends for over 15 years.

The picture is further evidence of my son's infatuation with hats. He and Pat played in his re-enacting closet for a long time this morning. Sean just kept pointing up and saying 'haaaaaaat' and Pat would pull out another one --- and another -- and another. But it made for some great pictures!!

Milestones

I guess we all measure time in different ways and we all have expectations for things we can't wait to do with our kids. For me, having Erin learn all the words of the WFU Fight song has been a highlight of the last year....add to that the fact that one of her favorite insults is to call people 'Blue Devils' and my job on this planet is just about complete. For Patrick, one of his great dreams has now come true....in addition to being able to name all the superheroes she sees, Erin is a Weird Al Yankovic fan. We have spent the last 4 nights watching our DVD and Erin now knows most of the words to 'Dare to be Stupid' AND 'Jedi' -- it is a wonder to behold. 'Smells Like Nirvana', one of my favorites has yet to catch on with her, but she's warming up to "Amish Paradise." So really, what more can we ask? I guess she could grow up to save the world, but if not, we'll love her all the same!!

Sean's Vocabulary

So Sean is talking much later than Erin did, which is to be expected since he spends most of his time trying to kill himself by climbing up on things and falling off, or knocking things over on himself. But anyway, here's his latest list of vocabulary in order of daily frequency(note the lack of any reference to his female parent).....

PopPop (his grandfather)
UhOh!!
BiBi (for his passifier)
Ree Ree (read)
Eee Eee (Eat)
Da Da
Ehwin (for erin)
Deek Deek (Deac Deac)
Bah (for ball)
Beh (for Beth)
Ba (bath)
Duice (for juice or shoes)
kaka (for cat)

And a few other random sounds that he makes while pointing at things and yelling. So we're still waiting for MaMa -- I'm sure a year from now I'll be wondering why I ever wanted him to say it at all....

Happy New Year!

Kid Pics Take 1
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

It's been too long, but one of my resolutions is to stop feeling guilty for NOT writing in the blog, and just be happy when I do. So lots to remember from a great Christmas (although a bit tainted by round 2 of the stomach bug that wouldn't go away). I won't get to it all, so I'll start with this picture....6 adults four cameras, dozens of shots and not a one got a decent picture of Erin and Sean in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. Such is life, but I bet we remember it longer than if they both sat sweetly and smiled.

But part of my joy at being a parent is teaching language to my children and to become ever more infatuated with and frustrated by this thing called English. Erin is so astute that the minute something comes out of someones mouth that is a cliche, or a saying she doesn't get, she's all over it. Case in point. Last night - hot dogs at GrandJos and PopPop's house. GrandJo was getting ready to put ketchup on Erin's hot dog and GrandJo said 'OK -- tell me when....' and Erin looked at her and said 'right now.' Which cracked me up -- so we had to explain that 'tell me when' was a saying for tell me when to stop.....

Today, watching this insipid Barbie movie "Mermaidia" -- (I have nothing against Barbie movies, many I like very much, but this one stinks) and a character said something like flying fleetly through the flowers and Erin turned to me and said "Mommy - he used alliteration!!!" That's my girl......

Princess and Pumpkin

Princess and Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

So despite Erin's illness, we had a grand time trick-or-treating. Sean did not make it but he will next year. We went with our neighbors and their 3 kids who we love and we had a blast. So we had a princess, two characters from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and one two-year-old boy who decided he wanted to be a princess. So what did they do?? The put him in a clown costume and told him he was a princess and he was pleased as punch!! There were lots of kids out and about the neighborhood and it was really great to see folks and meet some new people. I know lots of folks lament the downturn in neighborhoods, but ours is doing pretty well and we love it!! But we'll have to secretly hide the candy from Erin or we'll have to peel her off the ceiling and from me, or I'll be back in my pregnancy clothes!! More pics, if you want them on my flickr page.

Our Little Punkin

Our Little Punkin
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

Can you believe Sean is 1 year old today?? He's a pumpkin for school (see video here) and if he makes it trick-or-treating he'll be Tigger. He goes to bed about 6:30pm these days, so that doesn't give us much time. Erin has been sick, but I think the prospect of candy will make her well enough to go as either a princess or Super Girl. Hard to believe that one year ago I was in the hospital, but as they say 'time flies when you're the mother of two' or is that 'mother's of two fly around like crazy people' -- well, you know what I mean. Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night!!!

Undiagnosed

So this is a pretty silly blog, when you get down to it. Some pics, some news, some random thoughts on motherhood, life, politics and the like. But if you want to read a great blog -- tune in to the one my old friend Jonathan Milner keeps on his son Errol. Jonathan and his wife Cary Clifford (who also have a son, Owen, at Erin's school) have been through hell and back again with their beautiful second son, Errol. And the blog is some of the best writing about parenting, human nature and life that I have ever read. Enjoy!!