pillow sleeper

This is how Ashley caught Eden sleeping during a nap a few weeks ago ...

She has certainly grown into some new sleeping habits.  Not only does she fall asleep on her pillow, but she often stays there until she wakes up. 

She can wake up with completely soaked hair, even when she moves around a lot.

She has been yelling out "Momma" but when we go check she is not the least bit awake.

Sometimes she likes to sleep in her shoes, and many nights it is all we can do to get her to put on both a pj top and bottom.

Luckily, though, we have not been the victims of I-have-to-sleep-with-you-itis; however, a few nights ago she was not going to bed, and we wondered how long it would take. The next thing we know she is standing at the gate asking for her paci, which she had thrown through the gate into the dinning room. When I went over and asked her why she was out of her bed she answered, "I just want to see you," with complete sincerity. That sent Ashley and me into a laughing spell (though I had to quickly regain my composure in order to put her to bed).

Generally, Eden does very well to abide by the sunshine rule for getting into our bed [she can come get in our bed when she sees the sunshine out in the morning].  Although, the other day she did ask Ashley why she couldn't go get in Momma and Daddy's bed for her nap. Hmmm.

Not every night is an adventure, but there are enough for E to keep us on our toes.

department party

Last weekend we went to the annual get together for our department to welcome new faces and hang out with old ones.  Although Eden was old enough to run around last year, this year was even more fun. There were two girls that she was able to play with, Sarah and Finley. Sarah is Tracy's (holding E) little girl.

We took one of Eden's beach balls which they proceeded to kick all around the large back yard - so big that there is also plenty of room for parking for 20+ and several adult yard games, too.

Each year there is a croquet tournament. This year's real champion was Eden ...

She is so good that she is able to stop in the middle of her game and enjoy the scenery - like this butterfly (yes, she did take this picture)

first day of school

Monday was E's first day back to PDO. She is now in the Funny Frogs room (and looks like a big girl indeed).

On Sunday night we role played dropping her off, attempting to get her to imagine being slightly sad but okay with the idea. Ashley was the teacher, and I "drove" Eden to school then introduced myself to the teach and told Eden I would be back at 2:00. She whined (though it was rather fake) then said "Bye, Daddy." At "2:00" I came back, and we drove back home. Then, once at home, she asked for Momma. We raced to the back door to greet Ashley from her day at work.

We did this 4 or 5 times, each playing different roles (at one point I was Eden and Eden was Ashley). Overall, it seemed to work.

Although she had a bit of a break down when Ashley left for work [*Editor's Note: She was screaming at the top of her lungs banging on the back door. Not the best way to start the day], she was all smiles on the drive to school. Once we got to school and they opended the doors, she first went to inspect the baby room and say hello to Ms. Marie and Ms. Delores. Then, it was to her room from last year and Ms. Michelle and Ms. Jennifer. She started to play with some of the toys, and I had to remind her that she had a new room. "What room this, Daddy?" "This is your old room; this year, you have a new room. You are going to go to Josie's old room." At that, she got an excited look on her face, gasped a bit, put down the toy, and raced to the end of the hall.

We met her teachers (she was sick during the open house on Thursday), and she immediately began to play with the kitchen set. When it was time for me to leave I asked for a hug and kiss. She obliged then told me bye. Only a few little wimpers followed.

I think the first day back was more traumatic for Ashley than for Eden - Ashley stayed home with her all summer and enjoyed every minute (or at least every other minute) of it. Throughout the summer I was simply awe-struck by how awesome a mom Ashley is, really, I'm not just saying that. Although we all miss our summer, we feel truly blessed to have found her PDO.

Conincidentally, Monday was also Ashley's first day back teaching. So, we had to capture the moment ...

Eden's teachers both said she was "just so great" when we picked her up on Monday and Tuesday. Eden has even had perfect days at school with pottying - no accidents! She did, however, decide to pee in her pants 5 times between the time Ashley got home on Monday at 3 and dinnertime (Ashley even had to change clothes 3 times). E was definitely trying to tell us something.

 

Thankfully, the rest of the week has been a lot better. Eden has not had any accidents while at school, and Ashley and Eden have had fun afternoons while at home. When Ashley asked Eden about her day on Monday, Eden said,

 

"I not paint my feet. I paint my feet in my old room. My teacher paint my feet on the table, not the floor - ooh, yucky."

 

We knew Eden was talking about all of the artwork she did last year where her teacher's painted her feet and then stamped them for the artwork, but we had never heard anything about a table. When Ashley asked her old teachers about it the next day, they said that yes they had painted the kids' feet while they were up on the changing table and that they often told Eden the floor was yucky so she'd keep her shoes on.

 

Amazing that she remembered that from last year. Makes us wonder what she'll remember about this one.

when I'm older

For a while now, Eden and I have gotten into the habit of talking about her day right before she goes to sleep [for both her nap and nighttime]. She generally wants to hear everything that has happened throughout her entire day. I had not realized that I started each recounting with the words "well, this morning" until a few nights ago when she began to mimic me on cue. It's now our little, hilarious game for her to copy me 6 or 7 times as I try to start with "well, this morning" and continually ask her to let me say it all by myself.

Anyhow, as we were talking about her day tonight, I got to the part about finding a big bug on the driveway. I asked her if she had touched it ...

eewww. I not touch it. [When] I older.

Oh, you'll touch it when you're older?

Uh-huh. I ta-a-a-ller. ... ... ... I be mommy.

You'll be a mommy when you're older?

Uh-huh. I be mommy. I have a baby.

Oh, will you have a baby girl or a baby boy?

mmm, a baby girl [giggle]. I be teacher. I hold 'em.

You'll hold the babies when you're a teacher?

I hold 'em. I say, "Where your Daddy, boy?" He say, "At home."
I say, "Where your Momma, girl?" She say, "At home."

... So, I guess you heard it here first. Lately, Eden has been telling us lots of things she will do when she is older and taller like driving the car, turning off the lamp, and last night telling me she would help Keegan and Russell potty when she is the teacher [they aren't potty trained yet]. The mommy-teacher plan is just one of her latest scenarios.

- ashley

mommy practice

E said she was being a good mommy.

I completely agree. It definitely takes some skill to hold a baby with one hand and eat with the other. And yes, she did all of this all on her own.

- ashley

I Granddaddy

Lately, E has really been in to pretending she is someone else. For example. the other day she put on one of my shirts and said, "I Ashley. You be Eden." So we played that game for a while.

When she put on this baseball cap, she turned around and looked at me and said, "I Granddaddy" and then laughed at herself.

Tonight when she put the cap back on and pronounced herself Granddaddy again, I decided to ask her a few questions about her new person ... "So, Granddaddy, what do you eat?" I asked first ...

I eat nuts. [Then, she switched back to herself]
I take Grandaddy's nuts; I eat all of 'em like this - hmch, hmch, hmch
What else do you do with Granddaddy?

I go fish like this; I frow it out and back in fast, fast, fast, like this.

And what else do you do?

I go swimming. I go fast and do my arms like this ... ... ... Granddaddy not swim. CC swim with me. Then Granddaddy swim.
It is getting more and more fun to probe that little mind.

- ashley

Fable's party

While we are bracing ourselves for the start of the semester and Eden's first day of PDO on Monday, I thought it would be good to try and get caught up with our memories from the past few weeks.

During our trip to Mississippi, Eden and I {and Aunt Kathy} made the drive up to Olive Branch for Fable's 9th birthday party. We've seen pictures of these fun lawn parties before but have not been able to make it. Needless to say, Eden had a fantastic time. So much fun in fact, that later that week as I was putting her to bed she asked me to sing the Fable song. Not having any idea what that was, I asked her to tell me how it goes. She began singing, "Fable, Fable, Fable, Fable, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever ..." to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Pretty smart.

We were so happy to be able to share this fun day with Eden's {second} cousins.

 

Dear Summer

Dear Summer,

Why did you have to go away so soon? Aren't you supposed to stay until Labor Day? That's only right, you know. We have been so fond of you for the past few months and are definitely going to miss the lazy mornings sleeping in and fun-filled days with Eden that you have provided.

If you could convince yourself to stick around a few more weeks, we'd be ever so grateful.

Until next time,
Eden's Momma

Happy Birthday, Beverly!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Let me help me

Lately, E has added greatly to her response reperatoire. Here are a few recent examples ...

A few days ago Ashley said, "Wait, let me help you." to which Eden replied, "Let me help me, all by myself." She has since said this on numerous occasions.

For the past few months, she has

asked for "one more minute" when we ask her to do something that she does not wish to do.

found an affinity for the word probably ... as in "probly in the den" or "probly on my bed" when we ask her where something is.

discovered the word "already" ... as in "I eat pasta already" meaning "I had that yesterday (or last week) so I don't really want it right now"

told us on random occasions that she loves us which has extended to her "friends" (stuffed animals)  ... "I love you guys."

A funny interaction the other day went like this ...

Eden had asked for lippy {burt's bees lip balm} and after a few minutes started to rub it on the wall. Ashley told her it only went on lips, no walls or anywhere else. All was fine as she went and played in her room, Ashley to the kitchen. After a few minutes of quiet, Ashley yelled out, "Eden, what'cha doin?"

Her response? "No tell anybody" - this can't be good.

As Ashley walked to her room, she asked again ... E repeated, "No TELL anybody." Ashley found her rubbing the lip balm on her dresser, and as soon as E saw Ashley she said, "Go [back] in the kitchen."

A similar interaction occured when I gave her the toothbrush this morning. Ashley was in the bathroom so I walked out. As I exited I heard, "No tell anybody." I turned around, and Ashley started laughing ... E was licking the toothpaste off and not actually brushing. The little stinker.

mac-n-cheese

Here's my big girl and her Betsy on our mommy-daughter lunch date last week.
So grown up these days.

- ashley

forgotten photos

At Josie's house, Baton Rouge, Spring 2010 ...

Making pancakes (Eden's hand got "dirty" in the process) ...

Eden discovering the joy of drawing on the coffee table (unused packing paper does not go to waste!) ...

Coco & Britton's: Before and After

Guess this is really a before-and-during post, but their home is so very different than it was during our visit last July that these pictures seem more like before-and-after photos than anything else.

WOW!

Coco & Britton's: Exploring the town

We left Jackson on Thursday in time for E to nap in the car and pulled up to Alison and Jeff's studio around 4:30. We got to see all the wonderful pictures taken while we were there for the SSCA conference and picked out frames for a few of them.

After dinner, we drove the 30 minutes south to Oxford, MS - home of Uncle Bitton and Aunt CoCo (and their dog, Angie). I think Eden finally got to bed around 10:30 ... on cue around 6:45 she was up and ready for breakfast ("My tummy growling, Daddy.")

After breakfast we headed out to see Britton's new office ...

While there, E had to make a few phone calls (I suppose she knew that is what one does at an office) ...

Ashely and E went to Square Books, Jr. while I worked on a few lingering things ... it is a great store that has lots of cool toys to play with and of course lots of wonderful books to read ...

For lunch, we met up with Courtney on the square and had some yummy pizza ... well, the grown ups did. Eden proclaimed, "I not like pizza." When I asked her what she did like she said, "Food."

Coco & Britton's: Hangin out

After lunch it was time for E's nap. She went down ... in her own room and bed (a blow-up mattress that fit perfectly beside our bed - she really thought she was all that).

After nap, we had dinner and just chilled.

The next day E wanted to go outside ...

... to see Angie ...

... and the famous garden ...

... where they picked lots of fresh veggies ...

Coco & Britton's: The last day

The next day (our last) we took a brief trip back to Square Books Jr. where Eden cooked Britton some oatmeal and pizza. Then we took a trip to Taylor, MS to a restaurant with awesome, home-cooked food. Eden ate about a pound of mac-and-cheese.

After lunch we sat around to let our food digest ..

... then took a group photo for posterity (about a year ago Eden would have been the one turned around not looking at the camera).

We got in the car and Eden slept the whole way back to Jackson (I guess she had fun). We think that the extra bedroom at their house will now always be called "Eden's room." In fact, on Saturday when one of Courtney's co-workers came over to see the new wood floors the first thing Eden said was "Come look at my room." Then she ran to the extra bedroom and proceeded to jump on her bed. Are all things "mine" to a 2-year-old?