On July 10 she turned a year. On July 14 we were at the pediatrician's office for a chest x ray. Turns out she has croup. Ricky and I were a little worried she may have aspirated a piece a walnut from our anniversary carrot cake.
Her stats at this point, before I forget, are weight: 17 lbs 11 oz, height: 28 3/4, head 17 3/4. There you have it for one year.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
June 26, 2011
Time is flying by . . .
Natalya-- still potty trained. Love that. Hate that she whines for mommy milkie so much. I love to comply, but not as much as she wants it. Tell her NO, and she breaks into a crying fit. No to milk, or no -- you're doing something wrong, even though she knows she's doing something wrong! She can also be very explosive and rough-- with her toys and her real baby Anya, even though she loves Anya. What a nut! Is that the tom boy in her? She loves having conversations with herself. She seems to be, from what I can discern, extremely aware of her grandmother's death. It get incorporated into her play.
Milena-- wishes Alexander would leave this family, except when she's loving on him or enjoying Nick Jr games on the computer with him, etc. She did exceptionally well at her 3rd piano recital yesterday. Even Papa was very proud and full of praise-- Yeah!
Alexander-- is loving the computer-- Nick Jr's website has caught his attention. Last month he was all about Wild Kratts. Kept asking for a power suit. He also wanted a shrink machine. These things just don't come at Walmart. He learned how to swim this week ... for real. Now I wish he would learn to control his hitting impulse.
I'm still working on the girls. Hope Milena swims soon!
Today Ricky made a slip and slide in the front yard. All joined in, even baby Ana.
Baby Ana is approaching a year. Twice in the last couple days I caught her catch her balance and stand unsupported for a couple seconds. She's usually super smiley-- what a sweet baby.
Natalya-- still potty trained. Love that. Hate that she whines for mommy milkie so much. I love to comply, but not as much as she wants it. Tell her NO, and she breaks into a crying fit. No to milk, or no -- you're doing something wrong, even though she knows she's doing something wrong! She can also be very explosive and rough-- with her toys and her real baby Anya, even though she loves Anya. What a nut! Is that the tom boy in her? She loves having conversations with herself. She seems to be, from what I can discern, extremely aware of her grandmother's death. It get incorporated into her play.
Milena-- wishes Alexander would leave this family, except when she's loving on him or enjoying Nick Jr games on the computer with him, etc. She did exceptionally well at her 3rd piano recital yesterday. Even Papa was very proud and full of praise-- Yeah!
Alexander-- is loving the computer-- Nick Jr's website has caught his attention. Last month he was all about Wild Kratts. Kept asking for a power suit. He also wanted a shrink machine. These things just don't come at Walmart. He learned how to swim this week ... for real. Now I wish he would learn to control his hitting impulse.
I'm still working on the girls. Hope Milena swims soon!
Today Ricky made a slip and slide in the front yard. All joined in, even baby Ana.
Baby Ana is approaching a year. Twice in the last couple days I caught her catch her balance and stand unsupported for a couple seconds. She's usually super smiley-- what a sweet baby.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011
Hopefully, dad will like his new home. An apartment is a memory care unit at an Assisted Living called Emeritus. It's in G'ville, right down the street from Michael. Lots better than the nursing home where he has been this last month. I'll miss being able to visit, but moving him to Shreveport when he really is out of it and often agitated seemed like a lot. It's not like he would really relish the grandkids. I'm sure they'd cheer him up once in a while, but other times they'd probably overwhelm him . . . and it's not as if he really knows who they are these days.
Anya is now 11 months. Went for a check up on 5/24. She was 17lbs 5oz, 28 1/4 inches, and her head was 17 3/4. She is definitely saying mama now-- and means me. "Mamamama" when she wants milk. She will point to her boca and blubber. She pulls up and walks holding onto furniture since 6/1. We're now waiting for walking. She started getting her 2 upper teeth around 5/27 and now they are clearly descending. I love it when she laughs and gets excited: He He, He He. And she likes to box my face with both hands. Boy can she cry loud when she wants attention.
Milena opened some Ariel underwear on her birthday on 6/10, and Natalya immediately took an interest. At the dinner table she announced that she was taking off her diaper and would now put on underwear. She wasn't kidding. She changed and immediately took charge of her potty training. Basically, she's now trained. After 3 years and 5 months, it was about time! She likes her T shirt-- I love mama's milk. She's very cute when she talks lately-- uses her instead of she as a subject pronoun. "Her is sleeping." I won't correct her too much; I know this phase too will pass all too quickly.
Milena and Alexander are taken up with Kung Foo Panda. I like when they call Anya "Little Master" in their pseudo Asian accents.
When I told Alexander I needed more money to buy him something and asked him where he thought money came from he just said--- go get your other purse!
Anya is now 11 months. Went for a check up on 5/24. She was 17lbs 5oz, 28 1/4 inches, and her head was 17 3/4. She is definitely saying mama now-- and means me. "Mamamama" when she wants milk. She will point to her boca and blubber. She pulls up and walks holding onto furniture since 6/1. We're now waiting for walking. She started getting her 2 upper teeth around 5/27 and now they are clearly descending. I love it when she laughs and gets excited: He He, He He. And she likes to box my face with both hands. Boy can she cry loud when she wants attention.
Milena opened some Ariel underwear on her birthday on 6/10, and Natalya immediately took an interest. At the dinner table she announced that she was taking off her diaper and would now put on underwear. She wasn't kidding. She changed and immediately took charge of her potty training. Basically, she's now trained. After 3 years and 5 months, it was about time! She likes her T shirt-- I love mama's milk. She's very cute when she talks lately-- uses her instead of she as a subject pronoun. "Her is sleeping." I won't correct her too much; I know this phase too will pass all too quickly.
Milena and Alexander are taken up with Kung Foo Panda. I like when they call Anya "Little Master" in their pseudo Asian accents.
When I told Alexander I needed more money to buy him something and asked him where he thought money came from he just said--- go get your other purse!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May 18, 2011
Life is much the same as it always was . . . and then again it isn't. These days I'm busy with 2 new projects 1) Teaching Bradley classes-- had 4 couples last night and 2)Researching nursing homes.
Ana is crawling everywhere since Easter (4/24/11). She does the traditional cross pattern, hands-knee version. She got a bottom tooth a couple weeks ago and just today I noticed the other bottom one on the left poking through. She's can pull up -- also new in the last week or ten days I'd say. She's trying to talk too. In addition to dadada, Ricky swears he heard her say mama on Sunday (5/15), and I'm sure she said hello on Monday. The articulation wasn't clear, but I know that's what she was trying to get out as we passed Ms. Cathy in the halls of Montessori. With her big blue eyes and smiley self, she should be a movie star.
Natalya-- well, we'd still like her to potty train. She's learning letters at school. Over the weekend I caught her reading her diaper. Z , zebra, "z."
Alexander-- funny as usual. His favorite show is Wild Kratts. He has to watch everyday and keeps begging for a power suit. For his birthday he did get Hexbugs, which he really loved. He's also looking forward to growing butterflies. Did I write that he got into Magnet last month? We're leaving him at Montessori for now though.
Milena is preparing to be a flamingo in her class play, just play the Mermaid' s Song in her piano recital, and would love to be Rapunzel in a play over the summer. Her mind is always going. I hate when her father gets really angry with her for not being organized and keeping up with her homework.
Ana is crawling everywhere since Easter (4/24/11). She does the traditional cross pattern, hands-knee version. She got a bottom tooth a couple weeks ago and just today I noticed the other bottom one on the left poking through. She's can pull up -- also new in the last week or ten days I'd say. She's trying to talk too. In addition to dadada, Ricky swears he heard her say mama on Sunday (5/15), and I'm sure she said hello on Monday. The articulation wasn't clear, but I know that's what she was trying to get out as we passed Ms. Cathy in the halls of Montessori. With her big blue eyes and smiley self, she should be a movie star.
Natalya-- well, we'd still like her to potty train. She's learning letters at school. Over the weekend I caught her reading her diaper. Z , zebra, "z."
Alexander-- funny as usual. His favorite show is Wild Kratts. He has to watch everyday and keeps begging for a power suit. For his birthday he did get Hexbugs, which he really loved. He's also looking forward to growing butterflies. Did I write that he got into Magnet last month? We're leaving him at Montessori for now though.
Milena is preparing to be a flamingo in her class play, just play the Mermaid' s Song in her piano recital, and would love to be Rapunzel in a play over the summer. Her mind is always going. I hate when her father gets really angry with her for not being organized and keeping up with her homework.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Are you OK, mom? Where are you? People have been writing short notes to me on FB all day. Sure it's not the most personal, but distributing my pain and getting little reassurances does help a little. Everywhere I look are signs of you-- presents, cards, notes, pictures, kid art ... Can't believe you will never speak back to me again. I know you'd like my hair with a cut-- not really, but yes really I remember how you always had to make our beds if we didn't, especially as adults. As kids we were trained too! Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due Together we are strong (Eccl 4-9) Joy Luck Club-- mom had best quality heart We've lost-- but considering all she shared over the years, we certainly keep so much of her, much more than we are even aware of--and that will sustain us, help us thrive So now your are with God. That I believe. You told me your biggest wish, after you died, would be that somehow you could speak to us here, inform us that you had landed, safe and sound. Even in your demise, you were looking for one more sermon. But you knew there is a maddening yet majestiv reason you cannot speak to us today, because if you could, we might not need faith. And faith is what yo uwere all about. I have to believe that you have melted back into His glory, your soul is like a returned favor, you are a star in his sky and a warm feeling in our hearts. We believe that you are with your forefathers, with your daughter, with your past, and at peace. THus says the Lord . . . I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you. Isaiah 38.5
More notes
See -- I knew I'd write more ---
I just remember something mom said in a recent conversation: I think I lived at the right time-- couldn't imagine growing up now/ or something very close to this.
Eery, kind of.
I just remember something mom said in a recent conversation: I think I lived at the right time-- couldn't imagine growing up now/ or something very close to this.
Eery, kind of.
Notes for a eulogy
OK-- yes, mom was a saint. I could think of some faults-- could be judgmental. None of liked to hear she didn't approve of what we were doing-- how did she know we were doing it? how did she know it was the wrong path or action?
Really my mom had her act together. She was organized and neat. She knew where things were. She kept a very orderly home-- schedules, meal plans, etc.
She was artistic and creative.
She was a helpful proofreader.
She could even do home repairs.
She got us through school
Being a nurse she could take care of us when we were sick. Always made us feel better.
She was a good ear.
She made sure we had adventures-- let us get out in the world
She helped us do our best
She loved tradition and family--see all the pictures in our house!
I try, but I'm Maureen-- I look a little like Rita, I have a little Rita in me-- but I'm no Rita. AT my house, there are dishes in the sink, dusty cobwebs, pictures that don't hang straight, kids with messy hair-- and art project that definitely need someone else's assistance. I also don't have her look that got us kids to get in line and act right. I'm more of a pushover.
but I got to me a mommy too-- I work hard in my home and out of it too -- job and kids, no nanny, just like her, and I try my best to keep the traditions I learned from her-- and maybe even improve on some of them or at least add my own touch
Really my mom had her act together. She was organized and neat. She knew where things were. She kept a very orderly home-- schedules, meal plans, etc.
She was artistic and creative.
She was a helpful proofreader.
She could even do home repairs.
She got us through school
Being a nurse she could take care of us when we were sick. Always made us feel better.
She was a good ear.
She made sure we had adventures-- let us get out in the world
She helped us do our best
She loved tradition and family--see all the pictures in our house!
I try, but I'm Maureen-- I look a little like Rita, I have a little Rita in me-- but I'm no Rita. AT my house, there are dishes in the sink, dusty cobwebs, pictures that don't hang straight, kids with messy hair-- and art project that definitely need someone else's assistance. I also don't have her look that got us kids to get in line and act right. I'm more of a pushover.
but I got to me a mommy too-- I work hard in my home and out of it too -- job and kids, no nanny, just like her, and I try my best to keep the traditions I learned from her-- and maybe even improve on some of them or at least add my own touch
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