Little Art Work

Every little bit of artwork that Connor did came into our house like a treasure...for the first few years. Then, slowly, you get less sentimental about the unrecognizable globs of paint or macaroni collages. Then, the second child comes and they are somehow in that shadow. Poor babies. Palmer has done a few cute things at daycare and here is one of them---along with a picture of him making it which they usually send along as well. I love that their smocks at daycare are big persons t-shirts. You should see what 12 toddlers in giant t-shirts look like all gathered around the table. Its pretty hysterical.

Got Game

Connor is doing really, really well at basketball. He's frustrated because his team kind of sucks, but he's grown so much as a player since last year. He really looks natural out there. He drives right into traffic and doesn't hesitate. Its very cool to see. And he has a layup now!

Tubby Wubby

Baby P loves his tub time! Tonite he stayed in so long he pruned up!

Happy Birthday, Dianna!

Tomorrow is my 45th birthday so I hunted through the piles of photos and I only really have these two from my babyhood.

I'm pretty little in this first one.   The couch pattern is classic, isn't it?  We had that sofabed in our basement for years.  I remember it as being pretty comfortable!  I'm all baby face scrunched up here.  Nothing is written on the back and it has no date. 

This next one has a companion somewhere in which they have actually placed a cigarette and a martini glass in my little hands.  My Dad is looking tan and handsome and that's my Mom's graceful hand.  The back of the photo, in my mother's writing, says "Dianna, the young chunk".  (What the hell?) Then, in big black marker, in my sister's writing it says "Daddy and Mom and Michelle".  WRONG.  The photo is develop dated as July, 1967 so its definitely me.  She must have been going through a phase where she wanted to eliminate any photographic record of me.  :)

Tuck In

We put Palmer's crib mattress on the floor in our room in an effort to start transitioning him out of our bed. Connor thought it would be a good idea to show him how comfy it is. It lasted about 10 minutes but that's a start!

Simple Machines

Connor has had a great school year so far.  His first report card was "straight A's" with only one little tiny comment about having a bit more patience when working in groups.  Shocker.  Most of his papers come home looking like the one above. This was a "pop" quiz in the middle of their Simple Machines module.  I don't think I learned about simple machines until 5th or 6th grade. 

Connor--Dad an I are so thrilled with how you are doing.  Keep up the good work!

Say It

I can't remember Connor's speech development progress.  I wish I had kept a record.  I feel as though Palmer is a little bit later of a talker and based on the milestones that you find on insane parenting websites and the information from our pediatrician, that seems to be true.  Its really only in the last 6 weeks or so that his vocabulary has taken off a bit.  I jotted the primary words down:

Dada, or more frequently this week, BOB!  BOB!  BOB!
Mama (he also called my mother this today on the phone--too cute!)
Brubby (brother) 
Apple
Ear
Nose
More
Eyes
Baby
Ball
Shoe
Eat
Door
Yes (he seldom says this...not a good sign!)

OUTSIDE (his largest word and one he uses and loves very much.  this is said as some kind of chant as he digs in the basket to find shoes while he's still in his pajamas)

and his favorite word of all....NO!   This is usually executed with a wild shaking of the head back and forth. 

He understands everything you say.  He just doesn't have much to say back.  He employs a grunting sound for alot of his communication.  If he wants your cup, he'll point at it and grunt.  If he doesn't want his diaper changed, he'll roll over and grunt.  It's very effective.


If I recall, they'll come flying in fast and furious now, so another vestige of the baby days is on its way goodbye.  I'll miss it.  But I'm thinking I won't miss the grunts that much.  :)