This girl sometimes requires the whole jar and a spoon before she's happy. Little miss independent.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
mmmmmm, peanut butter
This girl sometimes requires the whole jar and a spoon before she's happy. Little miss independent.
me, me me!
Inevitably, children become aware that they are a unique entity seperate from others. In our culture, we call it individuality. Some have a good sense of who they are as an individual, whereas others see themselves primarily as part of a collective. Eden has started to lean toward the former.
Just last week, she began saying "Me, me, me!" in response to either Ashley or I trying to do something for her - opening a bag, putting on socks or shoes, picking up something clearly too heavy for her. Although she still says it, we are working at getting her to say "Me, please, Momma/Daddy." She does say that now, but only after being reminded that it is the more appropriate way to ask to do something independently. Her initial reaction is still "Me, me, me!" (And she says it very emphatically).
Just last week, she began saying "Me, me, me!" in response to either Ashley or I trying to do something for her - opening a bag, putting on socks or shoes, picking up something clearly too heavy for her. Although she still says it, we are working at getting her to say "Me, please, Momma/Daddy." She does say that now, but only after being reminded that it is the more appropriate way to ask to do something independently. Her initial reaction is still "Me, me, me!" (And she says it very emphatically).
Monday, January 25, 2010
point and shoot
Although Eden has been captivated by the camera for quite some time, recently she has become quite the photographer. Here are some of her best works ...
As you can see, she really does point the camera in the direction of what she wants to shoot. After being coached by Ashley, Eden know also checks the viewfinder screen on the back to make sure the object she is taking a picture of is there, then she pushes the button (after she says "Cheeese" of course.) We have even been able to tell her to take pictures of certain things lately! Oh the fun she and Ashley have. Her Mom is SO proud.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Counting
A few weeks ago, we really started focusing on getting Eden to count with us when we'd do fun things ... 1-2-3! Then, Graham zoned in on having her repeat after him all the way to 10 with books like "One Boy." Had to cut the video short to upload it but she did the whole book and we finally got it on video! My favorite number ... "seben"
Saturday, January 23, 2010
bathtime fun
The other day, bathtime was going along like normal ... Eden was in the tub, pouring water outside
Then, we started to play a game called "repeat Daddy's facial expressions." It was quite fun. Video to come.
playtime at bedtime
For most people, just before bedtime (which for Eden is right after bathtime) is that time where you wind down and get your mind and body ready for a good slumber.
For Eden, it is a time to act super silly.
Normally, she asks us to tickle her, kiss her belly, and do all kinds of crazy things.
... like hang upside-down.
Most of the time she settles down quite easily - we can tell she is getting tired when she places Georgia on one of our shoulders and rubs her head against it. Once this happens it's rock-with-Momma time then into the crib.
Friday, January 22, 2010
new reading tent
A few weeks ago Ashley got an itch to make something. What better than a reading tent for our bookworm?
Eden has enjoyed (that is until she pulled on it two days ago and ripped it down) going to her new quiet place to sit and relax with a good book (and a good friend sometimes).
She is the one who thought it needed a "real" seat ... the portable highchair has since been removed.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sit, Mommy.
This afternoon, Eden and I spent some time at two different parks - one to see the puppy dogs and another to meet up with her buddy Keegan.
At the second park, there was one regular swing that was just about 6 inches or so off the ground and of course Eden wanted up in it as soon as she spotted it. So, I put her in and held on to her hands as she held the swing and then pushed her a bit. She kept saying "whee-e-e-, whee-e-e" as she swung. This is also her word for swing, as in "Whee, Mommy" and pointing when she wants to go to one.
Anyhow, after a minute she arched her back to get down, then looked at me, pointed to the swing, and said, "-it, Mommy."
"You want me to sit in the swing?" I asked.
"Es."
So, I sat, watched her walk around behind me, and then grinned as she started to push me while saying "whee-e-e-e, whee-e-e-e" I only moved a few inches, but there I went with her pushing me those few inches back and forth. The more it sunk in, the happier and prouder I got. We played this game of taking-turns for awhile, and it only dawned on me tonight that she might have been reenacting the taking-turns scene from her Elmo dvd where Mr. Noodle and his sister learn how to take turns on a swing. Ooh, she's a smart and sweet cookie.
At the second park, there was one regular swing that was just about 6 inches or so off the ground and of course Eden wanted up in it as soon as she spotted it. So, I put her in and held on to her hands as she held the swing and then pushed her a bit. She kept saying "whee-e-e-, whee-e-e" as she swung. This is also her word for swing, as in "Whee, Mommy" and pointing when she wants to go to one.
Anyhow, after a minute she arched her back to get down, then looked at me, pointed to the swing, and said, "-it, Mommy."
"You want me to sit in the swing?" I asked.
"Es."
So, I sat, watched her walk around behind me, and then grinned as she started to push me while saying "whee-e-e-e, whee-e-e-e" I only moved a few inches, but there I went with her pushing me those few inches back and forth. The more it sunk in, the happier and prouder I got. We played this game of taking-turns for awhile, and it only dawned on me tonight that she might have been reenacting the taking-turns scene from her Elmo dvd where Mr. Noodle and his sister learn how to take turns on a swing. Ooh, she's a smart and sweet cookie.
Friday, January 15, 2010
My name is Brooks Bodie
Earlier this week Eden and I had a training session. Eden repeated after me, "Eden. Brooks. Bodie" ... "Edie. Books. Bobie." It was very cute. Not too long after she was answering the question - "What's your name?"
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
reading
One of Eden's favorite things to do is read. She loves books ... in the morning, they are often the first thing she asks for; at night they are often the last thing she requests. She likes to read them in laps and in cars. She likes to read them with family and with strangers. She likes to point out objects she knows and to hear the same story 3 timesin a row. She likes them on the floor or in the bed. She likes them no matter how they are read.
She even likes to read them by herself, in one or more of her chairs. She flips the pages very precisely, practicing with her thumb though not quite being able to turn only one page every time. She finihes a book then goes to the next one right away, generally spending at least 10 minutes looking at pictures and muttering words as she goes.
{Random photo from the same day}
We're glad that Eden enjoyes reading and are especially thankful for her Great Aunt Beverly who keeps sending her new books. Some of her favorites of late are:
Miss Spider's Tea Party
Good Night Moon
Little Red Riding Hood {or anything with a wolf, which she asks for}
Curious George
Mother Goose {any version and all the stories}
Bartholomew and the Oobleck {but she does not think fondly of the oobleck; she asks for it but does not like it as soon as the oobleck is introduced so we stop reading it}
Learning about Sharing
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
today at the park
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After a week of freezing temperatures and being cooped up inside, it was nice to get out in the 50 degree weather today.
night owl?
Dear Eden,
I thought I should let you know, in case you are reading this post years from now, that for all of my life up to this point I have been a proud night owl. I rarely ever used to go to bed before midnight and loved sleeping in until at least 9 but usually later if I had my choice. Even the first year of your life after you started sleeping through the night, I'd wake with you early in the morning around 6, you'd eat a bit, and then we'd both sleep together for a few more hours. It was lovely.
But lately (or should I say for many months now), you have stubbornly been getting up around 6 or 7 every day. Now, you'll throw in an 8 o'clock every now and then, but for the most part you are ready to go and ready for me to be with you before 7. Despite the fact that your Daddy is a morning person, I can always hear you asking for me on the days he goes in to your room to get you up. Don't you know that he likes being up in the mornings?
So, I am still in denial a bit about the need to go to bed earlier, but I'm feeling the shift begin to happen. Many nights last semester, I was tired at 10 o'clock! Can you believe it? This semester I need to be at work every day at 7:30 (yuck), so I have a feeling the shift is going to happen.
In case I'm still getting up early when you're a teenager and sleeping in til noon, just wanted you to know that deep in my soul I'm really a night owl. I will consider it a personal accomplishment if I can still sleep in with you when you're 15.
love you,
Momma
p.s. Here's what another mom wrote about being a former night owl. Daddy, said it seemed like I had written it myself ...
"Conversion Experience: How a Night Owl Became an Early Bird and Liked It"
It’s impossible to talk about the day’s routine without mentioning the night before.
I used to be a night owl. About ten o’clock I would get a second wind and want to start working on all of the things that I didn’t have time to do during the day. Going to bed at midnight was the norm for me for many, many years. Sometimes I stayed up later.
After I became a mom and my sleep diminished, I still didn’t go to bed early. In fact, having a baby made me want to stay up even later. Suddenly the night hours were the only time I had to myself. It was quiet, and I could think more clearly. I had time to read and feel inspired, And besides, why should I go to bed if I had to wake up in two hours anyway to nurse the baby?
I knew that the free time gained by staying up late at night isn’t free. It has a cost, and you pay for it the next day.Every morning I would be groggy and slow. If I had to be somewhere on time in the morning, then I would stress out and feel embarrassed for waking up late. I was at odds with the day and other people. It’s hard to be a night owl. Everyone tells you it’s better to wake up early, and it seems like no one appreciates the things you did while everyone else was asleep ... ... ...
I thought I should let you know, in case you are reading this post years from now, that for all of my life up to this point I have been a proud night owl. I rarely ever used to go to bed before midnight and loved sleeping in until at least 9 but usually later if I had my choice. Even the first year of your life after you started sleeping through the night, I'd wake with you early in the morning around 6, you'd eat a bit, and then we'd both sleep together for a few more hours. It was lovely.
But lately (or should I say for many months now), you have stubbornly been getting up around 6 or 7 every day. Now, you'll throw in an 8 o'clock every now and then, but for the most part you are ready to go and ready for me to be with you before 7. Despite the fact that your Daddy is a morning person, I can always hear you asking for me on the days he goes in to your room to get you up. Don't you know that he likes being up in the mornings?
So, I am still in denial a bit about the need to go to bed earlier, but I'm feeling the shift begin to happen. Many nights last semester, I was tired at 10 o'clock! Can you believe it? This semester I need to be at work every day at 7:30 (yuck), so I have a feeling the shift is going to happen.
In case I'm still getting up early when you're a teenager and sleeping in til noon, just wanted you to know that deep in my soul I'm really a night owl. I will consider it a personal accomplishment if I can still sleep in with you when you're 15.
love you,
Momma
p.s. Here's what another mom wrote about being a former night owl. Daddy, said it seemed like I had written it myself ...
"Conversion Experience: How a Night Owl Became an Early Bird and Liked It"
It’s impossible to talk about the day’s routine without mentioning the night before.
I used to be a night owl. About ten o’clock I would get a second wind and want to start working on all of the things that I didn’t have time to do during the day. Going to bed at midnight was the norm for me for many, many years. Sometimes I stayed up later.
After I became a mom and my sleep diminished, I still didn’t go to bed early. In fact, having a baby made me want to stay up even later. Suddenly the night hours were the only time I had to myself. It was quiet, and I could think more clearly. I had time to read and feel inspired, And besides, why should I go to bed if I had to wake up in two hours anyway to nurse the baby?
I knew that the free time gained by staying up late at night isn’t free. It has a cost, and you pay for it the next day.Every morning I would be groggy and slow. If I had to be somewhere on time in the morning, then I would stress out and feel embarrassed for waking up late. I was at odds with the day and other people. It’s hard to be a night owl. Everyone tells you it’s better to wake up early, and it seems like no one appreciates the things you did while everyone else was asleep ... ... ...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Christmas Day! and beyond ...
Due to a few technical difficulties, the following post is finally ready ...
After waking up in Mobile on Christmas morning and packing the car, we made the drive to Jackson, and made it in time for lunch. The whole gang was there ...
... and so were lots of presents.
Eden had the most, of course, and some of her favorites included a small, battery-powered dog, an Elmo, and books ...
Perhaps Eden's favorite was a box, which she climbed in and out of while saying "Mommy. Daddy. CC. Mommy. Ha. Ha."
The girls got coats ...
... and I got some new kitchen goodies including this cool Auburn apron with matching oven mitts.
The dog, Angie, got a new bed ...
... which she kindly shared with Eden.
Boston and Whitney got a little crazy {but I'm not sure that was the result of Christmas or any particular present} so Eden took their picture.
We then took the obligatory 387 family photographs ...
... and a few more at the request of Eden {who, like her mom, always wants "just one more"}.
One of Eden's favorite things at the 147 are the bulldog statues on the front porch. She likes to wave at them, kiss them, bark at them, and lately to ride them.
She also really likes CC's doll collection.
After each long day, there's nothing better than a good, hot bath. And it's always more fun when the whole family is paying attention.
Overall, we had a good visit {except for the whole "I'm coughing, and I can't stop" thing}. Ashley and I even got to sneak away one night after Eden went to sleep, and we played cards over at our friends Jeremy and Sarah's sans kiddos. We got to stay out late thanks to Eden's CC and Granddaddy, and we're all looking forward to when we can return.
