Kim's graduation

This past weekend we ventured to Connecticut for cousin Kim's graduation party. Not only did we get to see our Connecticut kin but Maine cousins, New York cousins, and grandmama and grandpapa (my grandparents) from Florida! What a treasure it is to still have them, and for the kids to see them. Eli and Priya had colds though. I was afraid that grandmama and grandpapa would not be able to withhold from kissing them- and I was right! Hopefully they won't get sick..

Funny Faces

Priya has taken to making funny faces for the camera. She is just a riot- she has the greatest sense of humor. Today I heard her say to her brother, while in the bath:
"Eli do you want to stick your finger in my nose?" OK, I guess its time to teach some personal space boundaries!
Here are some faces along with one of Eli's: (The dots on her nose are popsicle drops, I believe.)

eating noises

Visit with Thompson at Amy's house





Luke, Ann, Eli, Miche, Norah, Priya, and Nate!


Driver's Ed starts early now.




Grandma, sunshine, and swings- how glorious!




Blessing Deidra's (hidden) Belly

The Cousins in Virgina

Storytime by Nana

Brown-eyed boy

Happy Little Love

When your first kid was an early talker, you really notice it when your second isn't. I'm curious if Eli's being "tongue tied" is affecting his ability to talk. Many of his sounds are nasal, so instead of really saying agua or water, he usually just says mmm hmmm in a particular intonation so that I know what he wants. Another example is his word for nursing, which sounds a little bit like an oink! Regardless of his ability to pronounce, he is a good communicator and we can usually figure out what he wants!

If you get your timing right, and sit Eli down to eat his meal when he's really hungry (but don't wait until he's a crank-pot), he makes the most wonderful noises while he's shoveling food into his mouth. It's like pure expression of food-thankfullness. I don't have it on video yet, but its something like, "nnnmph.. ummph.. nnnnguh." Its very cute.

Priya seems to be developing her compassionate side. She is paying more attention to when someone else seems to be sad, or hurts themself, and offers hugs/kisses, or even words of advice! For example, she notices now when I seem grumpy- and she'll say something like "mommy, maybe you should go lie down!" She is also becoming more and more cuddly as she grows! I love the ways she is growing and changing, and its exciting to me that she seems so proud. I hope that means she will have good self-esteem.

This morning for the first time she was able to tell me about a dream that she had. It was a bad dream, and she woke up crying loudly at 5:30. I went in her room, and she told me that she dreamed that a monster was in her room. I told her that it was just a dream, it wasn't real, and we cuddled up on the futon and went back to sleep together.

Help with blogspot!

For some reason, I am unable to upload any large photos onto this blog anymore. Bummer, because I've got some good ones I want to post. I get a message that asks me what Firefox should do with the upload-image.do file. I have no idea. Can anyone help me?
Oddly, it did let me upload the following picture but no others from recent pics..

This is what happens when your three year old (older) sister discovers you'll let her load up your overalls with blocks!

I'll sleep better as a result of having written this one.

Priya will be attending preschool in the fall! I am excited because I see how she glows when we talk about her going to school, how she beams with pride at the idea of it. I have a hunch, too, that she will really benefit from the social interaction piece of it. I'm also nervous, though, because I'm losing a little bit of my ability to control her environment, to make sure that its as loving and positive for her as possible. What if she stops liking trains and trucks because she learns that most girls prefer to play with dolls? What if its true, like Lucinda says, that in school 10% do really well, 10% do really poorly, and 80% end up clumping together as mediocre in performance? Mostly, though, I am going to miss her, and our mornings together.

Yet I know that this particular school is really special. Its located on the top of a hill surrounded by woods in walking distance from our house. Its full of light, music, stories, and animated teachers. Some of our favorite local kids of really thoughtful parents attend this school. They will become Priya's friends, and classmates.

Eli is now almost 18 months old, and becoming increasingly more feisty as he grows! He is throwing fits, kicking and screaming when he does not get his way. He still wakes up once at night, and is back to full on blood curdling screams as his manor of waking me up. He is very physical. He has fallen way more than Priya had at this age. I think he has had about 5 bloody lip/mouth incidents so far. In fact, the other day I discovered that he actually chipped a tooth from falling off of the kitchen chair! I'm going to have to call a dentist about this one..

We are trying to figure out childcare/babysitting dilemmas for the summer and beyond. My schedule has changed, I'll be working day shift for May and June, so this throws an interesting twist to the normal complexities of life.