Today at the store while Abby and I were waiting for her daddy's birthday present to be finished, she started squirming in the cart. Knowing that she was probably ready to go do something more fun, I sympathetically asked, "Are you antsy?"
"No!" she responded. "I'm ABIGAIL!"
:)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Awe And Wonder (And A Kitty)
I looked out the window this morning and saw this out in the yard!
Abby and I went out on the porch to enjoy this natural wonder before it disappeared. She thought it was pretty amazing - and "biiiig!" (her favorite word these days :). She was a little confused about we call it a rainbow - it didn't look anything to her like the bows we try to put in her hair.
One of us was still in our cupcake pajamas. :)
While we were outside, Chocolate Puff the kitty came bounding up and wanted some love. :)
Abby and I went out on the porch to enjoy this natural wonder before it disappeared. She thought it was pretty amazing - and "biiiig!" (her favorite word these days :). She was a little confused about we call it a rainbow - it didn't look anything to her like the bows we try to put in her hair.
One of us was still in our cupcake pajamas. :)
While we were outside, Chocolate Puff the kitty came bounding up and wanted some love. :)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Growing Up!
You know, when you see someone every day sometime's it's hard to see changes, because change usually happens in really small increments and we get used to it. But lately I've been noticing a bunch of little things that remind me of how much Abby has grown up in the last ten months.
For instance - gymnastics. The first time we went to gymnastics, she was quite fearful. Now when we walk in the building, it's like she doesn't need me anymore. :) She knows what she wants to play with, and where to go, and what "Circle time" and "Warm-up" and "Stamp time" means, and interacts with her teacher nicely, and just generally sees me as a tagalong. In fact, I think she'll probably do terrifically if she takes the next level class since that's all teacher and no parents/nannies and she absolutely LOVES it when she gets some one-on-one time with the teacher.
She's so much more coordinated now - she climbs up and down off the equipment and even falls onto the mats once in a while and just isn't fazed. She climbs up the slide herself and slides down and loves it - I remember when I used to have to coax her to try the slide, and then she'd do it only if I lifted her on to it and held her hands while she slid down, lol.
She's still pretty freaked by the bars... I encourage her to try one bar activity per week, which she'll usually do, but that's about it. But today she scrambled up the bars at the playground for the first time without so much as batting an eye, so hopefully that will translate over soon!
Today we went to a playground that we'd been to at the beginning of the spring. I remember when we went for the first time, it was fun, but I literally had to be at Abby's side every second to lift, help, catch, etc, and thinking that the toddler area still seemed so HARD. There was practically nothing she could do without my assistance. And I was definitely climbing all over the equipment with her. I remember that even though she was terrified of slides, there was one really big slide at the playground, and she asked to go on it, and I thought, "Kiddo, I can't convince you to go down the 2-foot tall slide without screaming in terror... what makes you think you want to go down THAT slide?!?"
Today Abby scrambled up most of the equipment confidently without waiting for me and wasn't afraid a bit. She even slipped once onto the nice spongy recycled-tire surface and wasn't upset at all. And she pointed to the big slide, the huge slide, and asked to go, and it just didn't look so crazy to me anymore. I stood on the ground and kept my hands around her waist while she climbed up the ladder to the top, and then I caught her at the bottom. No hesitation, no wails, no tears, and I swear when she reached bottom she pumped her first in a gleeful celebration. I did not teach her that, but I did tell her "You go, girl!" as we high-fived. :)
She's always had a strong personality, but it's so amazing to watch it kind of unfurl with all the talking and new skills. :)
For instance - gymnastics. The first time we went to gymnastics, she was quite fearful. Now when we walk in the building, it's like she doesn't need me anymore. :) She knows what she wants to play with, and where to go, and what "Circle time" and "Warm-up" and "Stamp time" means, and interacts with her teacher nicely, and just generally sees me as a tagalong. In fact, I think she'll probably do terrifically if she takes the next level class since that's all teacher and no parents/nannies and she absolutely LOVES it when she gets some one-on-one time with the teacher.
She's so much more coordinated now - she climbs up and down off the equipment and even falls onto the mats once in a while and just isn't fazed. She climbs up the slide herself and slides down and loves it - I remember when I used to have to coax her to try the slide, and then she'd do it only if I lifted her on to it and held her hands while she slid down, lol.
She's still pretty freaked by the bars... I encourage her to try one bar activity per week, which she'll usually do, but that's about it. But today she scrambled up the bars at the playground for the first time without so much as batting an eye, so hopefully that will translate over soon!
Today we went to a playground that we'd been to at the beginning of the spring. I remember when we went for the first time, it was fun, but I literally had to be at Abby's side every second to lift, help, catch, etc, and thinking that the toddler area still seemed so HARD. There was practically nothing she could do without my assistance. And I was definitely climbing all over the equipment with her. I remember that even though she was terrified of slides, there was one really big slide at the playground, and she asked to go on it, and I thought, "Kiddo, I can't convince you to go down the 2-foot tall slide without screaming in terror... what makes you think you want to go down THAT slide?!?"
Today Abby scrambled up most of the equipment confidently without waiting for me and wasn't afraid a bit. She even slipped once onto the nice spongy recycled-tire surface and wasn't upset at all. And she pointed to the big slide, the huge slide, and asked to go, and it just didn't look so crazy to me anymore. I stood on the ground and kept my hands around her waist while she climbed up the ladder to the top, and then I caught her at the bottom. No hesitation, no wails, no tears, and I swear when she reached bottom she pumped her first in a gleeful celebration. I did not teach her that, but I did tell her "You go, girl!" as we high-fived. :)
She's always had a strong personality, but it's so amazing to watch it kind of unfurl with all the talking and new skills. :)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fishies, And All Sorts Of Fun :)
Woke up this morning to MORE RAIN. I swear, I cannot handle any more rain. It rained last week, but it broke over the weekend to give us two days of the most glorious (albeit muddy) weather. This morning? More rain. Apparently three more days of rain. Ee!
I couldn't take the idea of being stuck indoors on such a sleepy bleh-y day, so Abby and I picked up Maggie and headed off the explore the local aquarium. Abby has been with her mom, but I've never been inside, so it was a great way to spend the day indoors and warm (although we did duck out for a little while when it ceased drizzling to see the otters and the lighthouse).
They have a "paleontology pit" where the kids can sift/dig through the sand to find bones, fossils, sharks teeth, shells, etc, and get to take one home with them. Abby would have been happy to stay here all day, I think, though she was much more impressed with the shells than the shark's teeth Maggie and I kept finding and handing her. :)
My little archeologist. :)
They had this huge mega-something skeleton hanging in the first display hall. They also had underwater sound effects playing, and an underwater light display. It definitely felt a little like being underwater, and Abby got a little freaked by the size of the shark. But so long as someone held her hand, she agreed to get a picture taken with cousin Maggie. :)
The true fun, in Abby's eyes, were the fish. She started saying "Fish! Fish!" the second we stepped in the door, and ran up to every display saying "Hi, Fish! Hi!" This museum is really kid friendly... everything is either low to the ground, or has nice carpeted steps for little folks to get to watch. I didn't have to lift her at all in the display hall.
She loved the bigger fishies.
Whenever a fishie swam close to the glass, she would wave frantically and start saying "Hi!" again.
She liked the shrimp, too, though I think she thought they were some sort of insect. She wasn't really sure they belonged in the tank with the fishies.
We tried to show her the Blemys hiding in the oyster bed, but she didn't seem very impressed.
I loved the displays showing local habitats.
Abigail, fascinated. :)
We loved the crabs! Crabs are a big thing here in Maryland. As soon as she saw it, Abby started doing her "crab claws" and saying "pinch, pinch." :)
Maggie helping Abby do "crab claws".
One feisty looking crab!
"Hi, Fishie!"
The otters, Bubble and Squeak! Maggie and I love the otters... We read too much Brian Jacques as kids. :) Abby seems a little confused by them - furry fish?
We went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants afterwards, as Abby was starting to get tired. She was super-loving at lunch... I think it might have had something to do with the fact that her favorite cake-ball-making coffeehouse was next door!
Eating a macaroon (they were out of cake balls) with Cousin Maggie. :)
I couldn't take the idea of being stuck indoors on such a sleepy bleh-y day, so Abby and I picked up Maggie and headed off the explore the local aquarium. Abby has been with her mom, but I've never been inside, so it was a great way to spend the day indoors and warm (although we did duck out for a little while when it ceased drizzling to see the otters and the lighthouse).
They have a "paleontology pit" where the kids can sift/dig through the sand to find bones, fossils, sharks teeth, shells, etc, and get to take one home with them. Abby would have been happy to stay here all day, I think, though she was much more impressed with the shells than the shark's teeth Maggie and I kept finding and handing her. :)
My little archeologist. :)
They had this huge mega-something skeleton hanging in the first display hall. They also had underwater sound effects playing, and an underwater light display. It definitely felt a little like being underwater, and Abby got a little freaked by the size of the shark. But so long as someone held her hand, she agreed to get a picture taken with cousin Maggie. :)
The true fun, in Abby's eyes, were the fish. She started saying "Fish! Fish!" the second we stepped in the door, and ran up to every display saying "Hi, Fish! Hi!" This museum is really kid friendly... everything is either low to the ground, or has nice carpeted steps for little folks to get to watch. I didn't have to lift her at all in the display hall.
She loved the bigger fishies.
Whenever a fishie swam close to the glass, she would wave frantically and start saying "Hi!" again.
She liked the shrimp, too, though I think she thought they were some sort of insect. She wasn't really sure they belonged in the tank with the fishies.
We tried to show her the Blemys hiding in the oyster bed, but she didn't seem very impressed. 
I loved the displays showing local habitats.
Abigail, fascinated. :)
We loved the crabs! Crabs are a big thing here in Maryland. As soon as she saw it, Abby started doing her "crab claws" and saying "pinch, pinch." :)
Maggie helping Abby do "crab claws".
One feisty looking crab!
"Hi, Fishie!"
The otters, Bubble and Squeak! Maggie and I love the otters... We read too much Brian Jacques as kids. :) Abby seems a little confused by them - furry fish?
We went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants afterwards, as Abby was starting to get tired. She was super-loving at lunch... I think it might have had something to do with the fact that her favorite cake-ball-making coffeehouse was next door!
Eating a macaroon (they were out of cake balls) with Cousin Maggie. :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Mom's Morning Out, Take 2
So I was kind of nervous today for a couple of reasons... For one, Abigail refused to say she liked it last week, or had fun, or anything positive. If I asked her a direct question - "Did you play on the playground? Did you like your teacher?" etc - she would answer "yes!" but if I asked her something more general - "Did you have fun? Did you like it? Do you want to come back again?" - nothing. Blank stare. Also, she's been super-tired and sort of cranky this week. She and her parents went to the beach over this weekend, and I think she just tired herself out having fun and maybe had a harder time getting into the swing of things this week. Yesterday she was looking for a particular book in the book bin, and when it didn't come free on the first tug she started crying - not "I'm angry" kind of crying, just big tears and some whimpers. She almost never cries! Especially not at something like a stuck book... normally she would just turn to me and ask me to get it for her. So I knew was a little out of sorts and we did all sorts of extra snuggling and loving yesterday. And took a long (3+ hours) nap. :)
And she cried when I came in this morning! My heart broke a little. :( She never cries when I come in - she's usually really excited to see me, I walk in the door and I can hear her little voice saying "Huh? Huh?!" as she waits for me to come in. But this morning I heard her daddy say "It's Sarah!" and she started crying and indicating she didn't want Daddy to go. Yesterday she found a picture of her daddy mid-day and started crying, too, but she was obviously not herself so I figured it was just the day. Anyway, I sat down on the floor next to her and Chris hung out for awhile, and by the time he left ten minutes later she'd moved on to wanting yogurt and not really caring who stayed so long as someone fed her. In one way, I think this is kind of normal - she's a daddy's girl, lol - but I hope this doesn't become a habit.
Anyway, on to Mom's Morning Out...
I told her we were going to school. No response. We got dressed, I told her she could show her new shoes to her teacher and she seemed to like the idea. We drive to school, and I'm kind of worried because she's almost lethargic - just sitting in her car seat, and I couldn't tell if she was sad or tired (or both). We pull up into the parking lot, and we're a little early, so we sit in the car and sing along to our CD (Veggie Tales "On The Road Again"). Abby doesn't point to the building, respond, anything. Finally I ask her if she's ready to get out, she nods, and we start walking up to the building.
We see the window to her classroom, and her teacher is there, and she waves, and suddenly Abigail smiles and waves back.
We get to the hallway, and Abby sees the playground, and she smiles and points. "What are you going to play on today?" I ask her, and she tells me without a pause, "Slides!"
We stand outside her classroom waiting for them to open, and Abby starts jumping around, doing the Tigger bounce impatiently. The door opens, her teacher says "hi" and Abby is off like a shot. Didn't even turn around to wave goodbye.
So I guess we can declare MMO a success. I'm not sure why Abigail won't admit she likes it, but clearly the playground, if nothing else, makes the rest of the day worth it. For my part, I'm thrilled she likes it, mostly because I don't think I could take it if she didn't. :)
And she cried when I came in this morning! My heart broke a little. :( She never cries when I come in - she's usually really excited to see me, I walk in the door and I can hear her little voice saying "Huh? Huh?!" as she waits for me to come in. But this morning I heard her daddy say "It's Sarah!" and she started crying and indicating she didn't want Daddy to go. Yesterday she found a picture of her daddy mid-day and started crying, too, but she was obviously not herself so I figured it was just the day. Anyway, I sat down on the floor next to her and Chris hung out for awhile, and by the time he left ten minutes later she'd moved on to wanting yogurt and not really caring who stayed so long as someone fed her. In one way, I think this is kind of normal - she's a daddy's girl, lol - but I hope this doesn't become a habit.
Anyway, on to Mom's Morning Out...
I told her we were going to school. No response. We got dressed, I told her she could show her new shoes to her teacher and she seemed to like the idea. We drive to school, and I'm kind of worried because she's almost lethargic - just sitting in her car seat, and I couldn't tell if she was sad or tired (or both). We pull up into the parking lot, and we're a little early, so we sit in the car and sing along to our CD (Veggie Tales "On The Road Again"). Abby doesn't point to the building, respond, anything. Finally I ask her if she's ready to get out, she nods, and we start walking up to the building.
We see the window to her classroom, and her teacher is there, and she waves, and suddenly Abigail smiles and waves back.
We get to the hallway, and Abby sees the playground, and she smiles and points. "What are you going to play on today?" I ask her, and she tells me without a pause, "Slides!"
We stand outside her classroom waiting for them to open, and Abby starts jumping around, doing the Tigger bounce impatiently. The door opens, her teacher says "hi" and Abby is off like a shot. Didn't even turn around to wave goodbye.
So I guess we can declare MMO a success. I'm not sure why Abigail won't admit she likes it, but clearly the playground, if nothing else, makes the rest of the day worth it. For my part, I'm thrilled she likes it, mostly because I don't think I could take it if she didn't. :)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Mom's Morning Out
Today was the big day - Abby's first day of Mom's Morning Out! I figured she'd be okay but knew I'd be a wreck. :) I really, really, really wanted her to like it, because if she didn't - if she cried or clung to me or whatever - I knew I'd fall apart.
So I've been talking to her about it for awhile now, telling her how much fun she'll have, how she'll love playing with the kids and going on the playground and reading stories, etc. Today especially I ramped it up - I'd bring it up every hour or so, until she seemed excited, too.
We stopped by to look at the playground before we went to her classroom. She wanted to go play in it immediately but I told her her teacher would take her with her class (I wanted to create the desire to be with her teacher/class). We went and stood by her classroom door, and she seemed nervous - kept putting her hands in her mouth, asking to be held, etc, but I just kept smiling and asking her, "Oh, aren't you going to have fun?" and she kept nodding yes.
The moment of truth came - time to drop her off! - and I think my plan worked, because when I asked her, "Are you ready to go with your class?" she nodded and let me bounce her like Tigger over the baby gate. Her teacher picked her up to give her a hug, and she looked back at me, very content, and I waved and said "Bye, Abby, have fun on the playground!" and she froze. And I realized that she had no idea that this whole thing included me leaving.
I bailed and I ran.
And then, because I am a wimp, I flattened against the hallway wall, out of sight, and listened for sounds of crying, sobbing, etc.
Nothing!
And her teacher didn't call me back, either, so apparently she was good.
So, I imagine she was kind of unhappy that I'd left, but apparently not enough to let it spoil her playground fun. I'm hoping when I pick her up she'll have had a good day with no tears or sadness!
I feel like a traitor, but I'm really glad of two things: one, I never told her I would stay (as I always do if we're going someplace she's nervous about), and two, I didn't sneak out. I didn't tell her, "You'll be fine, I'm right here," wait for her to turn her back, and run. Hopefully this will ease some of the transition.
Anyway... big milestone.
So I've been talking to her about it for awhile now, telling her how much fun she'll have, how she'll love playing with the kids and going on the playground and reading stories, etc. Today especially I ramped it up - I'd bring it up every hour or so, until she seemed excited, too.
We stopped by to look at the playground before we went to her classroom. She wanted to go play in it immediately but I told her her teacher would take her with her class (I wanted to create the desire to be with her teacher/class). We went and stood by her classroom door, and she seemed nervous - kept putting her hands in her mouth, asking to be held, etc, but I just kept smiling and asking her, "Oh, aren't you going to have fun?" and she kept nodding yes.
The moment of truth came - time to drop her off! - and I think my plan worked, because when I asked her, "Are you ready to go with your class?" she nodded and let me bounce her like Tigger over the baby gate. Her teacher picked her up to give her a hug, and she looked back at me, very content, and I waved and said "Bye, Abby, have fun on the playground!" and she froze. And I realized that she had no idea that this whole thing included me leaving.
I bailed and I ran.
And then, because I am a wimp, I flattened against the hallway wall, out of sight, and listened for sounds of crying, sobbing, etc.
Nothing!
And her teacher didn't call me back, either, so apparently she was good.
So, I imagine she was kind of unhappy that I'd left, but apparently not enough to let it spoil her playground fun. I'm hoping when I pick her up she'll have had a good day with no tears or sadness!
I feel like a traitor, but I'm really glad of two things: one, I never told her I would stay (as I always do if we're going someplace she's nervous about), and two, I didn't sneak out. I didn't tell her, "You'll be fine, I'm right here," wait for her to turn her back, and run. Hopefully this will ease some of the transition.
Anyway... big milestone.
Friday, August 20, 2010
More Adventures!
So this isn't really a nanny story, per se, but it was pretty funny so I thought I'd share. :) On Wednesday, I was absolutely exhausted. I don't even know why - I slept pretty well the night before, but just couldn't seem to get going. Abigail slept in and was looking tired, too, so we had a nice day in playing Play-Doh, coloring, doing puzzles, and watching what is for us a lot of TV (a whole Curious George episode followed by an episode of Sid the Science Kid, and then Pooh Bear later on that afternoon) cuddled up together on the couch. That's when I know she's really tired, when she wants to snuggle. :) Anyway, she went down for a nap at 12 and was STILL sleeping when Natalie got home. I was so jealous! So I drove home and lay down on my bed - just for a minute - and I fell asleep.
I woke up, and this is what I saw: my room was darkish (interpretation: the sun is coming up) and my alarm clock reads 7:15 (translation: I'm fifteen minutes late for work, and I haven't even left the house yet!). I panicked. I jumped up, grabbed my cell phone, and began calling Chris to apologize profusely for stupidly going to bed and not setting my alarm clock, all the while rummaging through my closet for something to wear (since, obviously, I didn't lay out clothes last night). And I'm thinking the whole time, I'm really, really tired. How can I still be this tired after 12+ hours of sleep?!
Which is when I realize that it's probably more likely that it's 7:15 PM, i.e. STILL WEDNESDAY NIGHT, instead of being 7:15 AM Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the phone is still ringing (thank God Chris didn't pick up, he'd probably have fired me as being mentally unfit to watch his baby).
I look outside my window, but I still couldn't decide if it was dawn or dusk light, so I turned off my cell phone and looked at the date. Yes, still Wednesday.
I decide to go back to bed. This time I set my alarm clock. :)
I woke up, and this is what I saw: my room was darkish (interpretation: the sun is coming up) and my alarm clock reads 7:15 (translation: I'm fifteen minutes late for work, and I haven't even left the house yet!). I panicked. I jumped up, grabbed my cell phone, and began calling Chris to apologize profusely for stupidly going to bed and not setting my alarm clock, all the while rummaging through my closet for something to wear (since, obviously, I didn't lay out clothes last night). And I'm thinking the whole time, I'm really, really tired. How can I still be this tired after 12+ hours of sleep?!
Which is when I realize that it's probably more likely that it's 7:15 PM, i.e. STILL WEDNESDAY NIGHT, instead of being 7:15 AM Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the phone is still ringing (thank God Chris didn't pick up, he'd probably have fired me as being mentally unfit to watch his baby).
I look outside my window, but I still couldn't decide if it was dawn or dusk light, so I turned off my cell phone and looked at the date. Yes, still Wednesday.
I decide to go back to bed. This time I set my alarm clock. :)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Keeping Our Cool
Natalie was going to pick up Abigail later this morning and take her to a local museum with her cousins and grandmother, so we only had half a day together. Abby wanted to go to the pool, but I didn't think we could make it there and back again in time (and plus, I didn't want to wear her out before her outing). I suggested we play outside instead. We went out through the garage and I found her tub of sand/beach toys, so I put her in her bathing suit, filled up the tub, and let her play in the front lawn. She was pretty thrilled when she figured out what was happening!
I showed her how to pour water out of the watering can and into the little watermill tower, then I took these pictures.
I turned around to put my camera on the steps of the porch, and I heard a little gasp. I turned around and saw this:
The water was frigid but it was a pretty hot and humid day so she seemed to enjoy it. I had to pull her out to get her ready to leave!
I showed her how to pour water out of the watering can and into the little watermill tower, then I took these pictures.
I turned around to put my camera on the steps of the porch, and I heard a little gasp. I turned around and saw this:
"Is the water cold, Abby?" She nodded vigorously. "Would you like to get out?" Just as vigorously, she shook her head no!
The water was frigid but it was a pretty hot and humid day so she seemed to enjoy it. I had to pull her out to get her ready to leave!
Monday, August 9, 2010
My Little Shadow
Today was so much fun!
I was sooo stiff this morning when I got up. About an hour after I got to Abby's house, she was playing play-doh and I decided to do some yoga and try to get un-stiffened. :) I moved about ten feet away onto the hardwood floor of the kitchen and began stretching.
A minute later I hear this little sound, and I glance up and Abby is watching me very intently, copying my moves. I was doing a half-moon pose at the time, and she had her little hands clasped over her head and was leaning over quite far, which surprised me since I'd have thought she'd have fallen over. :)
I smiled at her but didn't make a big fuss, and she followed me through a tree pose, downward facing dog, and child's pose. When we were done, I told her what a great job she'd done and she seemed pretty pleased with herself!
Last year I enjoyed doing impromptu yoga sessions with my sibs, usually to break up a tedious schoolday, but it never occurred to me that Abby might enjoy it, too! I'm so excited that she is showing interest - it would be exciting if this becomes something she enjoys that we could do together! :)
I was sooo stiff this morning when I got up. About an hour after I got to Abby's house, she was playing play-doh and I decided to do some yoga and try to get un-stiffened. :) I moved about ten feet away onto the hardwood floor of the kitchen and began stretching.
A minute later I hear this little sound, and I glance up and Abby is watching me very intently, copying my moves. I was doing a half-moon pose at the time, and she had her little hands clasped over her head and was leaning over quite far, which surprised me since I'd have thought she'd have fallen over. :)
I smiled at her but didn't make a big fuss, and she followed me through a tree pose, downward facing dog, and child's pose. When we were done, I told her what a great job she'd done and she seemed pretty pleased with herself!
Last year I enjoyed doing impromptu yoga sessions with my sibs, usually to break up a tedious schoolday, but it never occurred to me that Abby might enjoy it, too! I'm so excited that she is showing interest - it would be exciting if this becomes something she enjoys that we could do together! :)
Summertime, And The Living Is Easy...
I'm still finding pictures that I haven't put up here yet. :)
Here's some of us both - not too many of those since I'm usually BEHIND the camera trying to coax a smile! This was at the beginning of the summer... It's funny, I never thought she looked out of place with her binky, but looking at these pictures now that more than a month has passed since she's used one, I found myself thinking "What are you DOING with a binky?!? You're too big for one!" Funny how your perspective changes.
Here's some of us both - not too many of those since I'm usually BEHIND the camera trying to coax a smile! This was at the beginning of the summer... It's funny, I never thought she looked out of place with her binky, but looking at these pictures now that more than a month has passed since she's used one, I found myself thinking "What are you DOING with a binky?!? You're too big for one!" Funny how your perspective changes.
I snapped this one on our way out the door last Thursday - AKA "The day the airplane was down on the ground, not in the sky where it belonged." :) We were heading to the pool, but we were running into the library to turn in our reading program voucher, so I put on this little ruffled white coverup I found in her drawer, and then she saw the hat and wanted to wear that, too. And it was so. cute. I actually did a little squeal of cuteness after I got her dressed, which was totally a mistake because she instantly realized that all she had to do was bat her eyes and look sweet and I'd have given her anything she asked for.
Nanny rule number one: Never let your charge see how smitten you are with them. They can smell adoration like animals can smell fear. :)
We did indeed stop at the library, and then ducked into the little coffeeshop nearby for a latte for me and a chocolate-chip cookie for her, and I got sooo many compliments on how adorable she looked. Seriously, she looked like she had stepped out of a baby magazine. :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Pretty Crazy!!!
This is one of those moments when you just shake your head and go, "Ok, then!" And then you realize that you have no life, because your second thought is that you're going to have the most awesome nanny-blog post EVER!
This morning Abby and I were driving over to meet the cousins and go swimming; we pulled up to the main road, and I look to my left to see if I could cross to the median, and, I kid you not, an AIRPLANE is barrelling down the highway towards us! I pulled over out of the way, and the plane went past us, down the sideroad, and plowed into the woods, where it crashed between two trees.
Everyone on the highway pulled over and came running, cell phones in hand. A couple of the guys pulled the plane out of the woods, and the pilot - an older man - got out and seemed ok, was walking around and everything. I had a hunch that traffic was about to get crazy, so I went ahead and crossed the road and parked so Abby and I could see the plane (she was pretty excited about it, lol). About five minutes later, an ambulance, fire truck, and fleet of police cars pulled up, and a few minutes after that, a police helicopter started circling.
The fun part is that when everything pulled up, Abigail named them: "Airplane... fire truck... ambance... car." :)
All in all... CRAZY DAY! :) You can see pictures and the news report here.
Also, potty training is going MUCH better... She's pretty much saying "No!" to everything I ask (this morning I asked if she wanted a snack, and she yelled "No!" as if I'd told her I was going to hang her upside down by her toes) but I've learned that if I tell her we're going to go sit on the potty anyway, she doesn't fight me. This morning she was only wearing a diaper and PJ top so that made it easier to do pottying. So far we've had a great day - she's gone on the potty 4+ times and only went a little bit in her pull-up before I caught her and took her to the potty.
:)
This morning Abby and I were driving over to meet the cousins and go swimming; we pulled up to the main road, and I look to my left to see if I could cross to the median, and, I kid you not, an AIRPLANE is barrelling down the highway towards us! I pulled over out of the way, and the plane went past us, down the sideroad, and plowed into the woods, where it crashed between two trees.
Everyone on the highway pulled over and came running, cell phones in hand. A couple of the guys pulled the plane out of the woods, and the pilot - an older man - got out and seemed ok, was walking around and everything. I had a hunch that traffic was about to get crazy, so I went ahead and crossed the road and parked so Abby and I could see the plane (she was pretty excited about it, lol). About five minutes later, an ambulance, fire truck, and fleet of police cars pulled up, and a few minutes after that, a police helicopter started circling.
The fun part is that when everything pulled up, Abigail named them: "Airplane... fire truck... ambance... car." :)
All in all... CRAZY DAY! :) You can see pictures and the news report here.
Also, potty training is going MUCH better... She's pretty much saying "No!" to everything I ask (this morning I asked if she wanted a snack, and she yelled "No!" as if I'd told her I was going to hang her upside down by her toes) but I've learned that if I tell her we're going to go sit on the potty anyway, she doesn't fight me. This morning she was only wearing a diaper and PJ top so that made it easier to do pottying. So far we've had a great day - she's gone on the potty 4+ times and only went a little bit in her pull-up before I caught her and took her to the potty.
:)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Potty Training and Play-Doh
First, potty-training: I came back from Alabama to discover that Natalie had spent the weekend starting potty training with Abigail. From what I hear, Abigail is practically perfectly potty-trained with her 'rents, but apparently none of this new training translates over to her time with me. Even though I have been hyper-vigilant about asking her if she needs to go sit on the potty, it doesn't seem to be working. Her answer is always "Nope!" and if I try to take her to sit "just in case" she fusses and throws a tempter tantrum. I don't want this to become a power struggle... I'm just not sure what I'm doing wrong. GRR! I hope I can figure it out soon!
Second - Play Doh! Whee! I've been waiting with bated breath til she was old enough to play Play-Doh, and now it's here and we're having a ball. Because, come on, you never get too old for Play-Doh. :) I'm amazed at how coordinated she is at squishing, rolling snakes, making balls, etc. She's even been "drawing" on it with the a little plastic stylus that came with it, so I'm really really hoping this is the beginning of writing. :)
Her favorite thing to make so far are these "swirlies". :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
VBS Pictures
I finally got a chance to put up the VBS photos! I only have a little time, so I'm just gonna post a quick caption right now and try to come back and write more later. :)
Abigail and Nathan, the little boy who fell in love with her over the week. :) He would help her with all the games, make sure she had a toy to play with, and hold her hand in the hallway. 
Abby and I with the camel. She loved the camel and waved to it every morning.
Abby and Nathan holding hands in the hallway.
Hope, Nathan's sister, in costume!
Hanging out in the pyramids in the gym.
Giving the brick offering at morning assembly.
One of Abby's classmates, a girl named Emily.
One of the crafts we did... it's baby Moses in the bullrushes. :)
One day a bunch of Abby's classmates got dressed up in costumes.
Nathan, Abby's "boyfriend", helping her with brick offering.
Holding hands on our way to the gym!
Waiting withour class for assembly to start.
Playing games in the gym.
Hiding in the pyramids again!
Running a beanbag relay race!
We're basket cases!
Once Nathan started paying attention to her, all the little boys started paying attention to her. :) I think she liked all the attention! 
Another costumed classmate!
More classmates waiting for morning assembly to start.
My angel, waiting for morning assembly to start.
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