Endless ABCs

Friday evening, Bitty found a new favorite word on his "Endless ABCs" app on my phone. This application features cute monsters who run through and agitate letters in often two- and three-syllable words, which Bitty must then put back into place. Once finished, it triggers a cute skit to demonstrate the meaning of the word.

http://www.parenting.com/blogs/children-and-technology-blog/jeana-lee-tahnk/app-learning-letters

On Friday his favorite was "demolish." He, my husband, and I all completed the word again and again so we could watch a determined, red, spiky monster execute a flying side kick through a block tower. Little Bit and I started saying "Bam!" when he hit it. He got so excited that, at one point, he butted my head as I was holding the phone! Glad that didn't catch on. 

Then Saturday evening, my husband and I snickered quietly and ran video as he laughed, over and over, at "vegetable." In that skit, a larger monster tricks a small one into eating broccoli by performing a "bait and switch" with a pink cupcake. Bitty rolled with laughter each time the little monster discovered the deception and said, "Eww!" This went on without stopping for over four minutes! 

Working for a Living

This past Friday, I took Little Bit to work with me, where he hit a pretty significant milestone: his first fist bump, with a colleague of mine. It started as a high five, but since Bitty had Sonic ketchup on his hands, he high-fived with his fist. He worked out the fist bump from there.

My coworkers were also impressed with his spelling abilities. He knows his letters pretty well, and one of his older friends is currently trying to work out words. So Little Bit put out three flash cards - "K," "Y," and "H" - then announced, "Car!" We all agreed that it was pretty close and gave him style points.

Bugging me

I finished my knitted bug project today, based on the "Mr. Bee Happy" pattern below but using colors I had available.

http://voices.yahoo.com/mr-bee-happy-knifty-knitter-flower-loom-pattern-4743258.html

I used a larger loom, and instead of gluing on a face, I embroidered features using a chain stitch. The "2 over 4" method produced a thick fabric on the loom; next time, I think I'll try a different wrap method.

I went into the form from the top and the bottom, where I'd stuffed and gathered it. 

Then, after finishing the features with the working yarn, I brought the yarn back through to join the other end, knotted them together, and tucked the ends into the stuffing. 

I added arms and hands, then placed a yarn flower in one of the hands. I also sewed some felt wings onto the back, using the same method as the rest of the features.

It's growing on me. 

 

Earth Day

I love this article about the history of baby books!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/how_babies_work/2013/04/17/history_of_baby_books_parents_recorded_children_s_lives_because_they_weren.html?wpisrc=obnetwork

The part describing the advertising resulting from businesses discovering that "babies are a wonderful excuse for consumption"is interesting; that phenomenon has been going on awhile! I've long said that I'm a "job creator," especially for those making or marketing anything with a train on it. 

Yesterday, we had Little Bit's aunt, uncle, and cousin over for lunch and a trip to Earth Day at Centennial Park. There were no trains there- the coal thing, I guess. I tried a new veggie cheese enchilada recipe from Food Network's website, and it was delicious. 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aida-mollenkamp/veggie-cheese-enchiladas-recipe/index.html

Then, after finding a parking space across the street, we dove into the booths at the Earth Day fair. We got some yellow poplar posters from the Metro Tree Advisory, but the highlight of the experience was dancing and music from a community in Pulaski. Unfortunately, Bitty was asleep in his stroller by the time we saw them. But he did share a bit of his cousin's funnel cake and got to see many dogs out enjoying the beautiful breezy day.   

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

This past Saturday, while we were visiting my parents, Little Bit ran to a heater in the wall with a small, blue pilot light glowing at its base. I stopped him and ordered him to "Start walking backward." He took several steps back, then stopped and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. Then he turned around and took several steps backward toward the heater. When did my baby learn logistics??!?

I think I've misstepped in the teaching about "hot" things department. When I've got a cup of coffee (which is nearly constant), I communicate its temperature to Bitty by saying, "Yikes!" and making cartoonish faces. Now that he's older, he grabs the coffee cup and does the same. 

Going Country (Cottage)

Could this be a sign of things to come? I'm in the mood to do these cute dolls I found on a great site.

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/lulu-loomed-doll.html

I think there is something so nice about a homemade toy. I went into a boutique recently and was amazed at all the high-end toys that were made to look homemade and priced at about $30.00. Yikes! My luck, I'd pay for it and Bitty would toss it into the floor three minutes after opening it.

"An intelligence test sometimes shows a man how smart he would have been not to have taken it." - Laurence J. Peter

I found this fascinating article on Slate yesterday.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/how_babies_work/2013/04/10/parental_ethnotheories_and_how_parents_in_america_differ_from_parents_everywhere.html

By the way, my child is pretty intelligent. 

After reading this article, I was inspired by the thought of the Kenyans who prize responsibility and decided to try a bit harder to get Little Bit to help around the house. I started last night, after a wild shopping excursion to Green Hills Mall, with the laundry. And it worked- I handed him shirts, and he threw them into the washer! I capitalized on his love of throwing things into water. I was well acquainted with after seeing him throw approximately three dollars into the fountain earlier. 

But at least it was our stuff being thrown this time. Word to the wise, don't give him any really nice photo props around the pond at Centennial Park. 

Working for a Living

I'm not a fan of exercising, but it is cute when Little Bit tries it. He's currently doing a workout with my husband, trying some pushups. I caught him during a bit of yoga in the downward-facing dog pose.

He's doing much better than he did at the laundry. He got it all in the basket and ready to move to the laundry, but then he decided to throw it on me. 

Doesn't like paparazzi. 

My little wagoner

Yesterday, as part of our errands and wanderings, we ran to a vacuum repair that fixes sewing machines. I have a sewing machine that my parents got me when I was fourteen years old that needed repair. Not exactly from overuse, but I hope to remedy that.

We got inside, and I started describing the problem with my machine. As I began, Little Bit started asking about my "sick" toe, the one I busted as I was chasing him around the couch one evening last week. The woman helping me thought it was so cute when I explained what he was talking about.

He didn't care so much about my toe when I was pulling him up the hill that morning in his wagon! All forty pounds of him wants to be seated in the wagon as we go up the rocky slope, and when we reach the top, I run down with it so I can steer it away from the deck. About four runs in, I cited my "sick" toe when I had to catch my breath, and he shook his head and said, "Away!" Then there he was trying to score cute baby points in public, thinking maybe they had some lollypops in a jar somewhere he couldn't see.

Saturday in the Park

I'm so glad the husband is setting this new Nest thermostat- I'm at a loss with it. It's supposed to learn from us. I think it's looking at me. I've been nesting in my craft room while Bitty is taking his nap. You can't tell I've done a thing in there, but it's more organized.

Little Bit has been napping since we stopped at Richland Park after running some errands this morning. He is so cute on the play equipment, and this one had a fun feature: a pipe with two megaphone pieces on the end that the kids could talk into. Several other kids played with him on the other side, and it was hilarious when they got frustrated and said, "What are you saying?!??" He was mostly repeating things he'd heard on the episode of "Pocoyo" in which Pocoyo played with his echo.

It's also cute when other kids want to play with him; he's so big, the husband and I have to explain that he's just two. One little boy wanted to show him how to do everything on the jungle gym, and later, a couple of siblings teamed up to babysit him. Such sweet kids!

Swept away

How much do I still love my flower loom?

This much!

And this much!

Maybe I'm making so many Spring flowers because it's still so dreary. At least I have no reason to be outside, so I don't feel guilty about cross stitching a little today or starting another acrylic skin. The hubby will be home soon with Little Bit and a pizza, so the day is winding up well! If I get the floor swept before they get here, it will be a smashing success. 

If not, Little Bit loves running the small vacuum, and I'd hate to deprive him.

True Colors

Little Bit and his daddy were playing Thomas the Train games off the official website yesterday. When they finished, I searched around and found coloring sheets for all the trains. They have gone over better than any coloring book so far. 

I taped them to the wall, and he took them off. He worked on them, left them, came back and added more color, and ran off with them. 

The pictures of his current favorites- Flynn, Thomas, Toby, and Luke- even got hugs.  

Paper cuts aren't the worst hazard, I guess. 

It's nice when something effortless and unplanned turns into a great evening.

Things Could Be Worse

Little Bit has no interest in potty training. Unless I interrupt Mega Blocks or Thomas, I don't think he sees any downside to having a diaper on. But as much as I dislike the trash diapers create, and as hard as it is to heave a near-forty-pound baby (okay, toddler) onto the changing table, an article I encountered on Slate Monday puts it into perspective.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/how_babies_work/2013/03/27/how_traditional_cultures_handled_baby_waste_primitive_diapers_and_urine.html?wpisrc=obnetwork

I do like the moss idea, though.

My Widdle Cutie-Pootie

I already think, twenty-plus years from now, that Little Bit will be quite a catch. Not to mention that his future spouse will have the most awesome, crafty, zany inlaws around!

You know someone's not zany when they must mention their zaniness.  

But I have some work to do in the embarrassment category if I'm going to top this letter to the editor from a Princeton graduate.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/03/29/susan_patton_is_very_concerned_for_women_that_aren_t_trying_harder_to_marry.html

To get to the original letter, you must go to the Daily Princetonian and search "susan patton." What embarrassment, that my low-class spell check doesn't include "Princetonian!"

How nice exactly should freshman girls be to the upperclassmen?

Mudding Down the Bunny Trail

It was a nice, but cloudy and drizzly, Easter weekend. Little Bit got a terrible cold in the middle of the week prior, so Easter Sunday found him napping at 2:00 before we could get an indoor egg hunt going. But he was a trooper; he plunked eggs into dye with gusto, all adorable and smelling of menthol. And he loved his Easter train, Luke:

His aunts and uncles are always up for a bit of Thomas the Train, as well.

Just watch sharing those trains.

I got a bit of free time with all the family around. At grandma and grandpa's, I'm the person always trying to make him eat his oatmeal, so he's happy to see me take a break. The husband and I got to grab some coffee and go to one of my favorite places, Art a la Carte. 

http://www.galleryartalacarte.com/

He has a hard time getting me out of there.