We attended a birthday party today. One of Ava's new playmates turned 4. A highlight of the party was when a pony arrived to take the kiddos for a spin around our friends' lawn! Ava got to ride twice and Emily even got in on the fun!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Salsa!
Not the dance...that yummy tomato concoction best complemented by crispy tortilla chips. Mmmm. I canned some this weekend. It's my favorite salsa recipe. Luckily, my Grandma and my little sister, Angie came to visit this week and they brought me a cornucopia of farm fresh veggies. I had no choice but to make a vat (vat–noun 1. a large container, as a tub or tank, used for storing or holding liquids: a wine vat.) of vegetable soup and freeze it into individual lunchtime portions and then turn all of those tomatoes, peppers, and onions into salsa. Okay- I had a choice. But, when I'm crunching away on my still-tastes-summer-fresh salsa laden chips in January, I'll give myself a little pat on the back for sure.
Miss Marathon
It has become our nightly ritual to head out for a walk after dinner. It's a great way to wind down. Emily in the stroller, Ava walking along, discovering our new location...asking lots of questions and making amusing observations (I think it smells like deer poop out here). Lately though, Ava has been on a running kick. One lap around our neighborhood is 1 mile. The last few nights, Ava has run the WHOLE way. Impressive, right? Well, at least I'm impressed. The other night when we stopped at an intersection, I observed, "Ava, you are such a good runner! Are you going to be in the Olympics someday?" She turned around, red-faced and to my surprise she rolled her eyes, put her hand on her hip and in do-you-even-know-me-at-all tone said, "Uh, no. I'm going to be a teacher and a mommy. And I'm going to live at home with you and Emily and Daddy. And Daddy is going to be the Daddy of my children."
Okay, Ava. I'm pretty sure that's illegal in most states.
Ava: An Exclusive Interview
Ava LOVES to play with the microphone on our computer. Usually she's singing at the top of her lungs, but yesterday I was working at my desk and she was trying to interview me. So, I turned the tables and she agreed to let me interview her. Yes, she's wearing her swimsuit. No, we didn't go swimming. Yes, she did ask me about a bazillion times. After the 100th "NO" she put her suit on anyway in the hopes that I would change my mind. Hey-she's an optimist.
Here's the clip:
Oh, my favorite answer to a question:
"What would you like for your birthday?"
Answer: "Cake"
Talk about easy to please.
Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com
Here's the clip:
Oh, my favorite answer to a question:
"What would you like for your birthday?"
Answer: "Cake"
Talk about easy to please.
Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com
Emily: 7 Month Progress Report
Emily is 7 months and 2 weeks old now. I thought it was time to update on what's going on in her little world. I think I used to send Ava reports every couple of weeks when she was a baby, so I've been slacking off!
So here's the progress report:
The Physical:
If you checked my blog a couple of weeks ago, you know that she can stand (while holding on to something). Well now, this kid is on the move! Gone are the days of just plopping her on a blanket with some toys. Here are the days of heavy duty childproofing. There isn't much that she can't get to, once she decides she wants it. She will roll, scoot, and sort of crawl to reach her destination. The kid has good aim too. Last week I sat her on one side of our bedroom and she made it all the way across the room and then turned and went on out the door! She's better crawling backward right now than forward, but definitely making progress. She can also sit herself up now. Which is great, because rather than cry when she falls over and is stranded on the floor, she just "walks" herself back into sitting position.
Also a new physical development, her top right tooth just popped through today and the left is working it's way through soon ( I hope!) I will admit that her having both top and bottom teeth makes me a little nervous. Ouch.
The Social/Emotional:
We nicknamed Ava "Miss Independent" and Emily is now her predecessor. She wants to feed herself. She's like, "Yeah lady, you've been shovelling this stuff into my face for the last few months. I think I can do it myself." She wants to hold the spoon and put it in her mouth. Of course this process is painfully slow, but if she's not holding a spoon she's screaming and squawking at me. I've finally started cutting up fruits and veggies that we're eating and she can stuff her face to her heart's content. She's up to almost a full banana for breakfast now!
She's still the smiliest (is that a word?), happiest baby on the block, but she's reached that stage where her feelings get hurt. Now when I take something away from her or tell her "no"...or when Ava rips a toy outta her hands, Emily cries. Not only because she can't have what she wants, but because her feelings are hurt. I swear there is a difference.
Communication:
No words yet, but she is communicating up a storm. It's so funny to her jabber up a storm and look at me like I know what she's saying. When she gets angry or frustrated she chews me out in gibberish. The other day I was trying to feed her orange mushy substance Du jour and she kept jabbering, then got more agitated and finally was sort of grunting and growling and gesturing. I knew she wanted something but I had no idea what. I tried handing her water, the spoon, a teether. Finally, I spotted a banana in the fruit basket on the table. I picked it up. She just smiled and giggled. "Is this what you want to eat?" I asked. She all but nodded her cute little head. She got banana for dessert for sure.
Here is a little video clip I took of her playing on the floor yesterday:
So here's the progress report:
The Physical:
If you checked my blog a couple of weeks ago, you know that she can stand (while holding on to something). Well now, this kid is on the move! Gone are the days of just plopping her on a blanket with some toys. Here are the days of heavy duty childproofing. There isn't much that she can't get to, once she decides she wants it. She will roll, scoot, and sort of crawl to reach her destination. The kid has good aim too. Last week I sat her on one side of our bedroom and she made it all the way across the room and then turned and went on out the door! She's better crawling backward right now than forward, but definitely making progress. She can also sit herself up now. Which is great, because rather than cry when she falls over and is stranded on the floor, she just "walks" herself back into sitting position.
Also a new physical development, her top right tooth just popped through today and the left is working it's way through soon ( I hope!) I will admit that her having both top and bottom teeth makes me a little nervous. Ouch.
The Social/Emotional:
We nicknamed Ava "Miss Independent" and Emily is now her predecessor. She wants to feed herself. She's like, "Yeah lady, you've been shovelling this stuff into my face for the last few months. I think I can do it myself." She wants to hold the spoon and put it in her mouth. Of course this process is painfully slow, but if she's not holding a spoon she's screaming and squawking at me. I've finally started cutting up fruits and veggies that we're eating and she can stuff her face to her heart's content. She's up to almost a full banana for breakfast now!
She's still the smiliest (is that a word?), happiest baby on the block, but she's reached that stage where her feelings get hurt. Now when I take something away from her or tell her "no"...or when Ava rips a toy outta her hands, Emily cries. Not only because she can't have what she wants, but because her feelings are hurt. I swear there is a difference.
Communication:
No words yet, but she is communicating up a storm. It's so funny to her jabber up a storm and look at me like I know what she's saying. When she gets angry or frustrated she chews me out in gibberish. The other day I was trying to feed her orange mushy substance Du jour and she kept jabbering, then got more agitated and finally was sort of grunting and growling and gesturing. I knew she wanted something but I had no idea what. I tried handing her water, the spoon, a teether. Finally, I spotted a banana in the fruit basket on the table. I picked it up. She just smiled and giggled. "Is this what you want to eat?" I asked. She all but nodded her cute little head. She got banana for dessert for sure.
Here is a little video clip I took of her playing on the floor yesterday:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Trip to the Ohio & Erie Canal
Sunday afternoon we headed to the National Park and did a little more fishing and some hiking too. Ava was psyched because she reeled in 3 little sunfish. She's still set on eating her catch, but luckily this was catch and release, so I haven't had to clean and fry anything yet. We hit the Towpath Trail and had a great time walking and climbing the old locks before we got soaked by the rain. I remember learning about the Erie Canal in school so it was cool to get to see some of it in person and climb on the locks that were once covered with water. I also have to say that I'm loving the all-terrain jogging stroller for these trips! Here is a little history lesson and then I put our pictures from the day into a slide show. Just click the link at the bottom.
History of the Towpath Trail
The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built, Ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States.
Today you can walk or ride along the same path that the mules used to tow the canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. You can still see remnants of that former scene as you pass many of the canal locks and related structures. From the vantage point of the Towpath Trail you can also enjoy the beauty of forests, fields, and wetlands flanking the path as it winds its way through the Cuyahoga River Valley.
History of the Towpath Trail
The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built, Ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States.
Today you can walk or ride along the same path that the mules used to tow the canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. You can still see remnants of that former scene as you pass many of the canal locks and related structures. From the vantage point of the Towpath Trail you can also enjoy the beauty of forests, fields, and wetlands flanking the path as it winds its way through the Cuyahoga River Valley.
The Great Outdoors
Here is an excerpt from an article I read over the weekend:
Taking Children Outdoors
Do you have a significant relationship with a child? Maybe
you are a parent, grandparent, or other family member.
Maybe you are a scout leader, friend, or neighbor. Whatever
your role, as an adult you are responsible for creating a safe
environment in which a child can play, learn, and grow.
Sadly, our desire to protect has had unintended consequences.
Fears about strangers and germs, as well as the
lure of electronic entertainment, have driven our children
indoors. Their lives are more sedentary and removed
from nature than those of past generations. When they are
outside, it tends to be for group activities directed by adults.
Rare is the child who explores the outdoors at his or her
own pace, following a stream or flight of imagination. The
days of “come back home when it gets dark” are long gone.
Ironically, this over protectiveness is actually harmful
to children’s physical and mental health. New research
indicates that nature experiences are linked to positive
gains in cognitive development, self-discipline, creative
expression, motor and language skills, and social interactions.
Children who regularly play in nature generally
demonstrate greater self esteem, are better able to deal
with stress, and are often healthier. Many believe that
outdoor experiences are critical to the development of a
sense of wonder that, in turn, is an important motivator for
lifelong learning.
I'm not getting on my soapbox here. Admittedly, there are days that my child watches enough Playhouse Disney that she might turn into a Mouseketeer. I think this just grabbed my attention because the article reflects the way that I was privileged to grow up. I remember how magical the exploration of the woods behind our house could be. I remember building forts and hideouts with my sisters and our good friends, the Anglin kids, and catching "critters" in the the pond. Swinging on vines and climbing trees. When my mom honked the horn on the car, it was time to head home. No cell phones back then.
Certainly, I won't be turning Ava lose in the woods anytime soon. But my upbringing probably does explain why I take her hiking and "exploring" whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The DNR here has started a cool program for kids: http://www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com/ActivityGuide/explore_about/tabid/20224/Default.aspx
I particularly enjoyed the last quote from that site in the right-hand green box following the stats:
I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.
– A Fourth-Grader in San Diego
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Just some FFT this fine Tuesday.
Taking Children Outdoors
Do you have a significant relationship with a child? Maybe
you are a parent, grandparent, or other family member.
Maybe you are a scout leader, friend, or neighbor. Whatever
your role, as an adult you are responsible for creating a safe
environment in which a child can play, learn, and grow.
Sadly, our desire to protect has had unintended consequences.
Fears about strangers and germs, as well as the
lure of electronic entertainment, have driven our children
indoors. Their lives are more sedentary and removed
from nature than those of past generations. When they are
outside, it tends to be for group activities directed by adults.
Rare is the child who explores the outdoors at his or her
own pace, following a stream or flight of imagination. The
days of “come back home when it gets dark” are long gone.
Ironically, this over protectiveness is actually harmful
to children’s physical and mental health. New research
indicates that nature experiences are linked to positive
gains in cognitive development, self-discipline, creative
expression, motor and language skills, and social interactions.
Children who regularly play in nature generally
demonstrate greater self esteem, are better able to deal
with stress, and are often healthier. Many believe that
outdoor experiences are critical to the development of a
sense of wonder that, in turn, is an important motivator for
lifelong learning.
I'm not getting on my soapbox here. Admittedly, there are days that my child watches enough Playhouse Disney that she might turn into a Mouseketeer. I think this just grabbed my attention because the article reflects the way that I was privileged to grow up. I remember how magical the exploration of the woods behind our house could be. I remember building forts and hideouts with my sisters and our good friends, the Anglin kids, and catching "critters" in the the pond. Swinging on vines and climbing trees. When my mom honked the horn on the car, it was time to head home. No cell phones back then.
Certainly, I won't be turning Ava lose in the woods anytime soon. But my upbringing probably does explain why I take her hiking and "exploring" whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The DNR here has started a cool program for kids: http://www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com/ActivityGuide/explore_about/tabid/20224/Default.aspx
I particularly enjoyed the last quote from that site in the right-hand green box following the stats:
I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.
– A Fourth-Grader in San Diego
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Just some FFT this fine Tuesday.
Gone Fishing
Saturday evening was absolutely beautiful, so we packed a picnic basket dinner and our fishing poles and headed to a nearby lake. Ava loves to fish and she got some practice in with her new fishing pole. The fish weren't biting, so Ava eventually abandoned her pole in favor of digging in the mud. Emily also managed to dig in some dirt...and eat it, while my attention was diverted. Imagine her big smile, only muddy. We still had a fun night complete with an extended bath time to remove all of the filth before bed. Can I Scotch guard my baby?
Some New Friends
Friday marked one week in our new town and we got to celebrate with a play date. Technically, I have known Stacie for almost 4 years from the mommy board that I joined when Ava was born. However, I had never met her in person until a little over a month ago when I realized that her hometown was the very same town in which I was house hunting. She was gracious enough to show me around and make us feel very welcome. Her little girl Anna is just a few weeks younger than Ava, so they were fast friends. Anna also has a big brother, Chase. We had planned an afternoon at the pool, but our Georgia-warmed blood didn't want to tolerate 70 degrees at the pool, so we headed to the zoo instead. So, here are the pictures of Ava and Emily and our new friends exploring the zoo.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The County Fair
So, we took a break from the unpacking yesterday and headed for the county fair. As you can imagine, Ava was beyond excited. The whole way there she talked about what she was going to ride and see and do and ride and ride...you get the idea. First stop on our adventure: the pony rides, followed by our first tour of some livestock barns, then a greasy fair-food lunch, and off to buy the ride tickets. Immediately, Ava spotted the dragon rollercoaster. I thought it looked a little fast and scary for her, but she met the height requirement and begged, pleaded, and insisted that she would not be scared. Against my better judgement, she boarded Puff the Magic Dragon Coaster. And she wasn't scared....for the first two rounds. But that carnie lady just didn't know when to stop. That thing must've gone 'round 10 times with Ava enjoying it less each time. I was just on my way over to ask her to please stop it, when Puff finally began to slow to a halt. Whew. I lifted a pale and trembling Ava off of the platform. It really threw me off to see Ava so shaken. She's practically fearless. I mean, I see her get a little scared or pretend to be scared with her flair for the dramatic, but this time she was honest-to-goodness scared. I felt bad that I had let her ride. Emily is going to be glad that Ava was our test dummy child. Live n' learn, right? Suprisingly, Ava bounced back quickly (after about 90 seconds of TLC and a big drink of Mt. Dew put her right as rain) and was off to use the rest of her tickets on a tamer variety of spinning, whirling, dipping, and potentially vomit inducing rides. She had a blast! Finished with her tickets, she persuaded us to let her bungee trampoline. Are you questioning our ability to make good parenting decisions now? Of course our little thrill seeker loved that too. At this point Mike needed to head back to work, but the fun continued for Ava, Emily, and me. We saw a bear show, Ava won a midway game and chose a neon stuffed snake as her prize, Ava had her arm painted(not a girly heart or butterfly on her face as suggested by the artist...but a sailboat on her arm. Classic Ava.), saw lots and lots more animals, learned how to milk a cow on a weird dummy bovine with synthetic teats (Heh hehehe heh, fake teats. Shut-up, Beavis). We wrapped up the day by splitting a delicious funnel cake and ice cold lemon shake up. Perfect. The Cuyahoga County Fair was super nice. To my Indiana readers, it was on par with the Elkhart Co. Fair, maybe even a little nicer. I was actually suprised by the amount of livestock in a fairly urban county. Next year we may have to venture back to see some of the tribute bands and watch the fireworks. Here are the pictures and a little video clip of Ava on the bungee trampoline.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
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