I'm fine

This past weekend was Violet's second Thanksgiving. She wasn't a newborn for her last one (9 months) but she still wasn't as independent last year. This year she got to run around with the bigger kids a little bit - at least until they ditched her to go play hockey in the basement. She's also really getting Christmas this year. She loves Christmas trees and snowmen. I got her a Frosty stuffed animal from Build a Bear (which I think may be her favorite store). I think she may have been traumatized by the guy stuffing Frosty, though. We were about three people back in line, so I let her hold on to the un-stuffed Frosty while we waited. When we finally got up to the guy that puts the stuffing in, I asked her to hand him over - which she did, no problem. But when she saw him put Frosty up to the big metal pole and start the stuffing machine she started screaming. I kept telling her "no, honey, he's not hurting Frosty!!" She calmed down a little once she got him back. Now he sleeps in her crib with her, along with Emma her teddy bear - also from Build a Bear. I think maybe their dolls just make really good pillows for her. As for the Christmas tree part, I can now distract her in the car telling her to look for Christmas trees. After we've passed some, though, she'll make the sign for 'more' and say "More Christmas trees!" which is too cute. Santa - well, we'll see. Last year she cried when she got her picture taken, but this year I've got her saying "Santa" and when I ask her what Santa says she'll say "ho, ho, ho!" She saw the mall Santa and looked interested enough in meeting him, but looking over the prices of the photo packages they were offering we decided it would have to wait for another day - highway robbery I tell you!!
Oh - and as for the title of the post - the other day we were in Target and her feet got a little ahead of her and she fell in the middle of the aisle. Even when she doesn't cry, I always ask her if she's o.k. when she falls - this time she answered "I'm fine" and went on her merry way. I cracked up laughing. She did it again at my parent's house the next day and my mom and I were in tears we were laughing so hard. It's good that she can answer that question, it was just totally unexpected because she usually doesn't answer me.

Sickie

Violet is sick. AGAIN. That's now twice in the past three weeks. First Swine Flu, over Halloween Weekend of all times (sorry little one, trick or treating will have to wait until next year) and now a sinus infection. I think it makes little ones angry, too, because she doesn't seem to understand why daddy and I can't make her feel better immediately.

Poor little girl. Hopefully the antibiotics will work quickly.

My little parrot

It's been awhile since I posted anything new. Here are the latest updates -

Our trip to Disney World in Sept/Oct was a lot of fun. Violet had a blast. She loved meeting the characters - especially the Little Einsteins who she stalked at our character breakfast - and enjoyed the rides she could go on. She loved It's a Small World, so we rode that several times (and she will still sing along - or attempt to - when prompted). She did better on the plane than I expected. The flight out to FL was great, she slept most of the way. The flight home was a little touch and go. We had an early flight, which meant we had to be up super early to be at the airport. She slept a little on the plane, but when she woke up halfway through the flight it was hard to keep her entertained. She wanted to get up and move around. Thank goodness for short flights!!

As for recent updates, she is now learning to repeat pretty much anything you'll say to her. If she's looking at something and I tell her what it is, she'll usually at least try to say it back to me. She's got a really good memory, too. I'll tell her something once or twice and after that she'll remember what it is. She's learned most of her letters, numbers, colors and shapes. It's so much fun watching her learn. On the other end, the more she's learning to talk and how to communicate what she wants she's getting a little more pushy. Sometimes when I'm watching her I just let her play and do her own thing while I relax, but now she'll come over to me and say "momma play!" If she wants something, unless she's already really worked up about it and crying, she'll tell us what it is. We don't always understand what she's saying right away, but she tries!

I'm looking forward to how she'll enjoy Christmas this year. I think she'll have a lot of fun.

Chatterbox

Little miss is starting to talk a lot more every day. She picks up words super fast (and as I type that, I hear the Little Einsteins in my head saying "Super fast!!!") Sometimes after I repeat them to her once, maybe twice. She's learned purple, yellow, Olivia (although she'll say "O libliba") - yesterday she said "pea" because she was eating peas and kept holding them up and looking at me. So I told her "Pea" and after she held a few more up to me she repeated it back. That's one thing that has become a little more challenging - she's starting to get a little more picky about what she eats, and tends to prefer things that are familiar rather than trying new things. I thought we had it made, she's usually a really fantastic eater, but lately she picks at things more often than not. Unless it's mac and cheese, or fruit, or cookies, or apparently peas. Some nights she'll just throw stuff off her tray, and I know it's naughty but she's so enthusiastic about it that I have to turn away as I bust out laughing. Same thing when she splashes me with water in the tub. She has a little cup that she'll fill with water, she'll turn and give me a smirk, and then she full on throws the water right in my face. Then she laughs her head off. I'm trying really hard to teach her it's naughty and that if she does it a second time bath is over, but sometimes I can't help but laugh. I have to work on my poker face I guess.

Bye Bye

Little miss is picking up new words every day it seems like. She's also starting to put them together more, especially to tell us what she doesn't want. The other night I made us scrambled eggs for dinner, and eggs are kind of hit or miss with her. Sometimes she'll eat them, more often she won't. I got her to have one bite, and kept saying "Yummy eggs!" to her in hopes it might encourage her to eat more. Instead, she waved her little hand and went "Bye bye eggs." and put her pacifier back in her mouth. I did get her to eat a few more bites, but she wasn't really excited about it. Now it's become a nightly thing with her, she'll usually say "all done!" when she finishes eating something but now just as often she'll say "bye bye (whatever it is she's been eating)!"

Yesterday it was "bye bye cookie!" and "bye bye cheese!"

She's also starting to stand up on her own, without holding on to anything, for a few seconds at a time. So pretty soon she'll be running, and then daddy will REALLY have his hands full!

Halloween

I had a costume idea yesterday evening while driving home from work (my first in many, many years - last time it was when I dressed up as Carrie when I still worked at Suncoast.) This one was for Violet, since we went the un-original route of ladybug last year. Not that she wasn't super cute in her costume, but I wanted to do something a little more original this year. As I was driving home, a Spice Girls song popped up on my shuffle (yes, I have Spice Girls on my iPod and no I am not embarrassed to admit it.) I thought it would be kind of fun to do a Spice Girls costume for Violet - not that they're at all relevant any more. Then I took it one step further. One of them is named Baby Spice. So, I could figure out how to do a costume sort of like a seasoning container for Violet to wear...get it? Baby Spice? I thought it was funny anyway. I told Andy my idea later that evening. He vetoed it. So - if anyone out there is looking for an original costume idea for their baby, feel free to use it. :o( It's back to the drawing board for me!

Crabby pants

Violet came home yesterday after spending the weekend at her Nan & Boompa's house. She's decided to start the terrible twos a little early. She's learning the fine art of whining when she doesn't get her way. Every little thing becomes a tragedy - she had to go in her high chair for a snack and the tray needed to be washed off before we could put food on it. She went in the chair, we took the tray off and she started shrieking! Then daddy wasn't moving fast enough with the food, so she continued to whine until she had her snack. Of course, then everything was just fine!! Despite the tantrums and naughtiness yesterday, she was being super cute. She kept trying to kiss Cobain (the more social of our two cats.) She stood up in front of the chair he was on, got right in his face and went "Mwah!!" Thankfully he is pretty mellow most of the time (and front declawed...)

Ssssss

Violet is quickly learning her letters. She's known O for a few months now, and knows A, M, E....now she has S. Last night she was hungry, so after I put her in her high chair I asked if she wanted Cheese - she was either trying to say it back to me, or she was trying to say Yes - or possibly both. Regardless, it was extremely cute. I kept asking her "Cheese?" and she would say "Esss." She can now say "Ernie" and "Bert," but Cookie Monster is still "Om nom nom" (the noise he makes when he eats the cookies.) She learns so fast, and picks up on so much it just blows my mind.

Kiddieland!

The grandparents (my mom & dad) took Violet and I to Kiddieland yesterday. In a word - CROWDED. This is the last season they will be open. So very sad, because as I walked around the park I realized just how much time I spent there as a kid. There were rides I had forgotten about, and I looked at them and thought "Violet will have so much fun on that when she's a little older!" Then had to stop and think - oh, this place will be gone when she's a little older :o(
On the plus side, she did get to ride a few things. We rode the train that goes around the park, during which she was much more interested in the specks of dirt on the floor. We rode the merry go round - twice. The first time I think she was a little unsure, but the second time she had a blast! We also rode the flying elephants - again, more interested in what was on the floor than realizing we were up in the air. The roto whip I was a little unsure about, since as I was in line to ride I watched a woman and her little one who looked maybe a little younger than Violet riding and the kid burst into tears as soon as the thing started moving. We rode anyway, and as the other kids screamed Violet just smiled. Once we got off she let out one little scream, as if to taunt the other kids for being scared.
I hope we get to go one more time before the park closes for good. I know Daddy would like to go with next time. I also hope if we can manage to go on a weekday that we won't have to stand in line for a half an hour for each ride!

And of course, right after I posted that (about Violet not talking on the phone much) she decided to prove me wrong. Daddy handed her the phone this morning and apparently she had a LOT to say! Too bad I'm not good at deciphering her language yet

So it begins

I meant to start a blog for Violet when she was born. Hmmm. I'm only a year and a half behind. Thankfully I did at least keep a journal from the beginning, so at least I can refer to that for the earlier days. Since I don't have that journal with me, I'll have to start with more recent events.

Yesterday we had a family trip to Gurnee Mills - seems to be our default destination when we want to get out of the house but are not sure what to do. Rainforest Cafe for dinner, Violet's favorite for the fish tanks and other random distractions. She and I shared the Planet Earth Pasta, which she scarfed up faster than I could cut up.

Miss Violet has become very fond of the telephone, though she does not always want to talk. If there is a phone around she wants to hold it, and push buttons - possibly to attempt to order pizza or call long distance. Daddy often calls me at work and then hands her the phone, but our conversations usually consist of her saying "Mama!!" and then nothing, except maybe some pushing of buttons, and me asking her "What are you doing, honey? Are you watching Elmo? Are you having fun with Daddy?" My coworkers must think I'm a nutcase.