Our Family Portrait

It is high time our family has a formal family portrait. Knowing me, it could still be some time in the future, but in the meantime, here is our portrait for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to frame it.

The move to a big girl bed

So a while back Rachel discovered that she could climb out of her crib. The very next day she climbed out of her crib during a bit of a tantrum which caused her to not exercise much caution, so she fell. It wasn't bad, but it was enough for me to decide to move her into a big girl bed. So we went to Wal Mart and bought some new Dora the Explorer sheets and a pretty comforter. Rachel really liked her new bed, and she really liked the fact that she had an unprecedented freedom. Once she is asleep Rachel is a great sleeper, but getting to sleep isn't always easy. Our first attempts included putting her back in her bed about 15 or 20 times, then finally we put her back in her crib where she slept. But I still wanted to get her moved to her bed. I did some reading, I consulted with other people, and finally I screwed up the courage to make the transition. We put Rachel in bed, then I put up a baby gate in front of the door. Rachel went absolutely ballistic. We plugged our ears, and after not too long, she finally fell asleep in front of the baby gate. The next day at Rachel's nap time it was a similar situation. She wasn't as upset, but she again fell asleep in front of the baby gate. That night, however, Rachel fell asleep in her very own bed, and every nap time and every night time Rachel has fallen asleep in her bed.

I don't often bathe Rachel and Gabi at the same time. Gabi takes a bath in the little tub, and Rachel takes a bath in the big tub. When I put the little tub in the big tub with both kids, this is what happens.It gets a little crowded in there, but they had fun!

Ba ba ba ba

Gabi's favorite word (or is it words?) is "ba ba ba ba." I'm not sure what it means, but I know that it is good. I know that because she only says it when she is not crying. Speaking of crying, Gabi seems to have arrived at a phase Rachel never had, wanting to be held all of the time. And not just held, but held by someone she knows. Most of the time that means me because I'm generally the one who is home with her. More than ever before, the Ergo Baby carrier that Faline and Ladawn (two of my sisters) gave me has been an absolute life saver!

Rachel keeps messing with my head. She gives me big time signals that she is totally ready to potty train, then she refuses to use the potty for a week. Then I decide to absolutely stop with potty training, then she asks to use the potty. What to do? I guess after I finish pulling my hair out, I'll just try to go with the flow.

Now we are focusing on moving Rachel from her crib to her big girl bed. More on that in my next post.

Videos

On Monday Rachel said the prayer for both lunch and dinner. I had to help her quite a bit. I said one word, then she repeated it. I said "dear" then she said "dear." I said "heavenly" then she said "buhbuhbuh", and so on. When I said "thank you" she said "welcome!"

I gave Gabi puffs for the first time on Sunday. She made such a face when I put them in her mouth, but for the most part she put them away. I took a video, but during that video she spit it out.

Last night during Jeff's birthday dinner she spent the whole time blowing razzberries and spitting. She has been so incredibly vocal these past couple of days!



Today at nap time, Rachel realized that she could climb out of her crib. I'm surprised it took her so long, as much as she likes to climb. I'm glad it took her so long, and wish it would have taken even longer. So I guess it is time to move to a bed. I don't see how that will encourage her to stay in bed though! Anyway, she didn't take a nap today. Until almost 5:30. Didn't really help.

So this afternoon Rachel brought me a dress she wanted to wear. Then she wanted to wear a denim skirt. Then sh got me to help her put on her socks and sneakers. Then she started putting on her coat. Turns out she wanted to play outside. I made her put on some pants too. It was too nasty for Gabi to go outside, so I let Rachel go outside and play, and I just checked on her regularly. Once I went out to check on her, and this is what I saw.



By the time she came inside she was soaking wet, and cold, so we both took the opportunity to have some hot chocolate.

Rachel

Here's a video I took a couple of weeks ago of Rachel doing some of the puzzles she got for Christmas. I thought I'd post it, just in case you are interested. I warn you, she's pretty smart. I don't want you getting jealous!

Today Gabi is 8 months old

Gabi's 8-month-old portrait

Yes, it's true. Today Gabi turned 8 months old. She is doing so great. She is such a happy cheerful baby. I don't know how I got so lucky to have two great kids.

As I mentioned last week, Gabi is now crawling. She doesn't cover great distances, but there is no doubt she is moving in a forward direction when she so chooses. You really have to see it in person. She moves kind of like an inchworm. First she pushes up on to her knees, then on to her toes with her little bum in the air, and then drops forward. Here is a video, but you really need to see her live and in person.

Of course the downside of Gabi crawling is now there is greater chaos in our house, but that is starting to feel like normal. Did I say "starting?" That has been the normal for some time now.

Soon I will post a video of Rachel saying her ABCs. I'll have to have Jeff record it, because I'm certain she won't do it if she knows the camera is rolling. She needs quite a bit of help, but she really does know many of her letters. For Christmas she got an alphabet puzzle. She picks up different letters and says a word that starts with that letter. Most of them are the pictures that are on the puzzle itself, but she knows "R" is her letter. She knows "G" is Gabi's, she knows "M" is Mommy, and she knows "J" is Jeff.

A Big Day

Two momentous occurrences took place in our home today. First of all, this morning Rachel pooped in the potty. Not the first time it has happened, but with today's poop she places the final sticker to completely fill her first potty chart.


Not to be outdone, after lunch Gabi crawled forward. I can't say for sure that it was the first time or not, but I can say it was the first time I witnessed it. Gabi can cover a lot of ground on the floor, but usually it involves changing direction. Today I witnessed her push up on to her knees, then on to her toes, which she wiggled a bit, then fell forward a few inches from where she started.

2010 - It's a New Year

As our family looks forward to a new year, Rachel and Gabi have both made some new year's resolutions (aka goals).

Rachel has the goals of improving her verbal skills, of moving to a big girl bed, and being potty trained within the next 12 months.

Gabi has the goals of learning to crawl, then walk, learn a few signs, and maybe even talk a little.

I'll leave it to Jeff to share his goals on his own blog. I don't mind speaking for my babies, but Jeff's is a big boy, and I don't want to speak for him.

My goal is to make it through the next twelve months, one day at a time.

We are having our first decent snow today. We have had a few "dustings" of snow so far this winter, but today definitely qualifies as real snow. We went outside to play in it for a while this morning. Rachel had a lot of fun, but I realized that her mittens are just plain too small. After Scout pulled them off, I couldn't for the life of me put them back on since they were cold and a bit wet, so I guess I need to get her some new mittens. Gabi was wearing her hat and jacket, and I had her in my Ergobaby carrier (awesome baby carrier), so she was plenty warm. After we came back in the house I made us some hot chocolate, and Rachel was a real fan!