18 Month Stats · Apr 17, 08:31
I know this is extremely boring, but I need to record this stuff for posterity:
Caden at 18 and 1/2 months:
Weight: 23 lbs (10th percentile)
Height: 31 inches (25th percentile)
Head Circumference: 18 3/4 (50th percentile)
Guess he has a big brain.
— LCM
Just a Kid · Mar 1, 19:38
This afternoon we were talking about what we were gonna do and Champe said he didn’t want to nap or rest. I said that I had taxes to do but I’d much rather nap, and suggested perhaps he do the taxes while I slept.
He said, “No, mom, I’m going to watch Frosty and plus, I’m just a kid you know.”
— LCM
Owls and Aliens · Feb 25, 21:52
Morning car conversation:
[Radio plays Ellis Paul’s “Because it’s There”....”
C: Mom, I’ve never ever ever been on a rocket ship. (said as though this a) something I possibly didn’t know and b) we could remedy the situation easily
M: Well to go on a rocket ship, you usually have to be an astronaut. You have to be really healthy and strong and smart and take a bunch of tests and work really hard before they let you go. Do you think you’d like to be an astronaut someday?
C: No
[pause]
C: I could just be an alien. They drive rocket ships.
M: Do you think being an alien would be easier than being an astronaut?
C: Well to be an alien you just have to wear a costume; that’s all you have to do.
M: What does the costume look like?
C: It’s all white and you wear white gloves and you have three eyes! (giggles)
M: Have you ever seen an alien?
C: No, have you?
M: No
C: Has Dad?
M: I don’t think so.
C: You know aliens are magic. They do magic tricks and they fly around at night. They are awake at night like owls. And they sleep in the day.
You know why God knew how to make owls? He knew they needed to “hoo” the other birds away.
L: Hoo the birds away??
C: Scare them
C: They need to scare the other birds from flying into their nests. The grown up owls are awake at night but the baby birds have to sleep.
C: Mom? Can you tell me what I said?
L: All of it?
C: Yes
L: (Suffice it to say that thanks to active listening, I was able to do so, and Champe said I got it right.)
C: Can you write it down tonight?
L: Sure
C: Can you remember it?
L: I think so
C: Thanks a lot, mom.
— LCM
If I Were Funnier or Had More Time · Feb 4, 11:03
I would have posted this. SO could be Caden.
Am I on to something? Piggyblogging?
— LCM
The Facts · Jan 13, 09:24
I have never left either of my children overnight before.
I am currently on a 3 night business trip.
Although I love the client (hi, client!!) and the work, I was cranky about leaving said children. What can I say, I am a mommy wimp.
My fifteen month old took his first steps when I had been out of the house for less than 24 hours. And by the time Daddy got home, he “walked” 2 or so feet to the door to meet Daddy.
These are simply the facts.
— LCM
First Word · Jan 5, 19:47
Caden said his first 100% for sure intelligible word today.
“Bye!”
Said while waving bye to Maritta when she was leaving for dance class.
Please remind me how elated I was on this day, when, some day in the future I am just wishing he would stop talking. :-)
— LCM
"All the Way" · Dec 23, 19:33
We’re taking a short Xmas tour of the South. Well, not the deep South, but there are some parts that might as well be.
On our way from my hometown of Lynchburg, VA to Asheville, NC today we stopped at a roadside diner for lunch. Todd ordered a bacon cheeseburger, and the waitress asked what he wanted on it. He said, “Everything, I guess.” “Alrighty,” she replied, “All the way it is.”
When the burger came it was topped with the bacon and cheese of course, plus mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles AND slaw AND chili.
I think in the South “all the way” is short for “all the way to arteriosclerosis.”
I suppose I should confess that I had Southern style green beans, which means heaps of salt and pork fat back, and cooked all day til there is not one whit of nutritional value left, and creamed potatoes to which I added some additional butter. When in Rome you know…...
— LCM
Procrastination · Dec 3, 11:39
I have a very important deadline that I am focusing on, and I was almost going to have to STAY FOCUSED, when all of a sudden, thank goodness, I thought of THIS:
My gift wish list. I’m sure Todd many of you are pondering what to get me for the holidays. Here is a handy list.
Pie. Thingies.
A Cutting Thing.
And, I know it’s cheesy, but I really want one of these.
I will add to this more next time I am in danger of being productive.
— LCM
Meme · Nov 30, 22:03
I am self-tagging myself for a meme. Five things you want your children to know by the time they grow up.
1. Stolen from my very smart Dad. “The only person you have to live with for the rest of your life is yourself.” Dad always encouraged me to make decisions that I could live with. He almost always let me make my own mistakes, and boy was I good at that! But I do think it’s important for every person to realize that you’re not obligated to please a bunch of other people. But you are a much happier camper if you’re not living with oodles of regrets and disappointment in yourself – so thinking carefully about whether you want to live with your choices is a smart way to live.
2. Kindness is a very good thing. When people ask me what I want my kids to be when they grow up, I say “kind.” This is good to consider in tandem with number one; meaning number one is not an excuse to be an ass who’s not worried about anyone but yourself.
3. You are capable, imaginative and self-sufficient. Case in point: Champe played with scissors, toothpicks and string most of the day. With very little supervision. We treat him as capable, teach him what he needs to know (basic safety street smarts) and let him have at it. He had a fabulous day and I got a lot of fireside reading done.
4. Cherish and nuture and feed your relationships. Your friendships, your loves, your family, your MOM – these are probably going to be the fabric of your life. I heard a speaker once talk about climbing Everest and how on the training mountain they had to sleep on the sheer face of the mountain, hung in a hammock suspended from pylons they hammered in. He emphasized how much time they spent hammering each pylon in, how careful, how attentive, how they double checked, and they he suggested that you think about what your real life pylons are and do you spend as much time on them? And if not shouldn’t you? The people you love, they are those pylons.
5. Be a life long learner. When you start every day with interest and enthusiasm, it’s much more fun. School, projects, vacations, conversations: all are more interesting when you have intellectual curiosity.
I’d like to hear what some other friends or other lurkers think. Jill, Jen, Laila, Andy, Kirstin, Karen, Antoinette??? Who wants to participate? Link back to your blog in the comments if you want. Or write your five things in my comments if you want to.
— LCM
Comment [2]
Fourteen months old! · Nov 28, 09:06
Dear Caden,
You are fourteen months old, and finally the smiles are more common than the tears. Not that you don’t still have my mercurial personality, but the lows seem to have dissapated a bit.
In some ways you still seem so much like a baby to me, possibly because of the bald head. There is some hair, but it’s light and fine and you look mostly like a baldy. This past week you mastered the art of walking with your walking toy competently – before you would push it only a few steps before falling to your knees. Now you can go wherever you want.
You also have three tricks, bye-bye, high five and peek a boo. When you play peek a boo, you slap your hands to your head and your aim is questionable (another trait you get from me) so sometimes they cover your eyes, other times not at all. It’s pretty cute.
You talk nonsense all the time. If there are real words in there, I can’t tell them. It’s hard since you are hearing German and English. Regardless, you talk ALL. THE. TIME. The fact that it’s gobbledegook to us is lost on you, because you tell us long important stories all day, every day.
The inability to say words does not slow you down. You are very specific and clear when you want a drink or a banana or mama or anything else. We all know what you mean. The three items mentioned above are the most requested.
You also love following Champe around and playing with any kids, big and small. You visited Champe’s school a week ago and had the time of your life. Only 10 months, and you can go too, kiddo!
I would say the sleeping thing is on the upswing. We can usually get 10-12 hrs a night consistently. You are more of a morning person than any of the rest of us, unfortunately, though. If you happen to wake up at 6 or after, there is simply no hope that you will fall back asleep. I am trying to figure out the pattern to get you to sleep til 7 – which does happen, just not predictably.
If I remember correctly, we are about to start the really fun part. Can’t wait!
— LCM