Tuesday, March 30, 2010

10 Months

We had two big milestones this month: Lucy started regular daycare for the first time, and Lucy got sick for the first time. Correlation? HA! This whole “building immunity” business is getting on my nerves. Two days into daycare we got a stomach bug, followed by an ear infection in both ears. Two days before the end of the month, we got a cough, runny nose, and high fever, rounded out by another ear infection in both ears and some nastiness in the chest area. I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be “in like a lion, out like a lion…”

So yes, indeed we have entered The World of Many Germs. But we have also entered The World of Much Fun. Lucy likes her daycare. I think she is enjoying being around the other kids, and more than once we have heard from her daycare provider that “she is such a happy little girl.” It’s fun to see the new things she’s picking up just by watching the other kids. Last week I turned my back for a moment while she was in her high chair, and when I turned around she was drinking from her sippy cup like a pro.

Lucy is still crawling all over the place but prefers to stand, and is now an expert furniture cruiser and window gazer. More and more these days we catch her standing all on her own for longer periods of time. She thinks it’s hilarious to “walk” with Daddy’s help, and I’m convinced that any day now she’s going to decide to take a step or two all by herself. I’m actually in no hurry for her to figure this out. I already have a hard enough time keeping anything and everything out of her grabby little hands! Her favorites are tissues, remote controls, magazines, and any loose papers sitting within reach. She is ignoring “NO!” more often now, and definitely turns up the drama when something is taken away...and boy do you know it when she’s ticked off! Let’s just say that expressing her feelings is not an issue.

This month we also made a more aggressive transition to “big-people food.” I probably struggle with this the most, because I have to pack her lunch every day for daycare, and I’m still figuring out what she likes. So far she loves toast (just plain dry toast), peas, applesauce, bananas, and yogurt. The verdict is still out on noodles of any type. She also loves her little crackers and cereal snacks, but won’t touch peaches or mandarin oranges. We just continue to try new things, and hopefully she’ll build up a healthy portfolio of likes.

To sum up the month, we totally have a little ham on our hands. She can be the goofiest little girl and make the funniest faces to make us laugh. She can make any one of us smile in a second, and it seems she knows exactly when it’s needed. When she’s sick we really miss her sunny little self, but when that smile returns…all I can say is, I’m convinced having a 10-month-old who smiles at you like that is about the best gig in the world.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Scooby-Scooby-Doo...

I was flipping through channels this evening and noticed on one of the cartoon channels that Scooby Doo was on. A friend of mine has a near 3-year-old who is enamored of Scooby, so I know the kids these days know all about the loveable pup. I know it's not the same version that I was watching in the 70s and 80s, but Scooby is still around!

A quick check on Wikipedia revealed that Scooby has been solving cartoon crimes since 1969. I loved Scooby Doo as a kid...even if every single episode ended the same ("I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids!") Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby were the perfect team. Then there were the days of Scrappy Doo, and who knows what other characters they have these days.

I love that Scooby is still going strong. I can't really think of any other cartoons that have been around since 1969, can you?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

We're Pretty Sure She Likes Apples...



Tuesday, March 09, 2010

A Word About Brandon

I figured it was about time for a Brandon update. Recently Grandma and Grandpa measured him at 6' 5" which was confirmed at his physical last week. He weighs 175 pounds, and apparently that is not quite proportionate for his height. The doctor says he needs to eat more.

To which I say, "How is that possible?!"

Brandon is doing really well in school and has been turning in all of his homework on time. He's got a solid B average or better this term, so he will be able to take Driver's Ed this summer. He'd be taking it now, but he is starting rugby which will take up a lot of his time through the rest of the school year. He decided he wanted to play rugby instead of lacrosse this spring, so he'll be playing for the Hopkins Rugby Club, which is not officially associated with the high school, but engages a lot of high school students. It sounds like we will be busy with practices, team dinners, and games on Fridays and Saturdays.

He has also started to receive the throngs of college mail, and will be taking the ACT this summer as well. Just one more year of high school left, which is hard to believe.

So that's Brandon these days!

Thursday, March 04, 2010

This One's For You, (Great) Grandma

Last weekend Lucy and I traveled to Storm Lake to attend my nephew's baptism. Here she is giving a little love to her great-grandma at the reception.


It's moments like this that are truly priceless. We are so blessed!