Apparently there is a "banoon house," that Rachel wants to eat dinner in. Here's the conversation she had with herself in the car on the way home from daycare last night:
"We go in banoon house eat chicken soup. Milk, wadee.
"Sounds good.
Yes."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Granola baby
Rachel loves granola. LOVES it. The loose granola that I sprinkle on my yogurt or fruit when I drive into work every morning. The granola bars I hand her every evening as we drive home (and which probably ruin her dinner).
The other day I was commenting on the gorgeous fall day and the beautiful red and gold leaves, and tried to turn it into a science lesson.
"See all the yellow and red leaves, Rachel?" I said. "That's because all the chlorophyll is gone from the leaves. Leaves are filled witih chlorophyll in the summer, that's why they're so green..."
"More granola," she said, totally unimpressed.
"Anyway, when the weather gets cold the cholorphyll leaves and the leaves turn yellow and red, which means they're dying," I said, "and..."
"More granola, Mommy!" she said. So I stopped there.
The other day I was commenting on the gorgeous fall day and the beautiful red and gold leaves, and tried to turn it into a science lesson.
"See all the yellow and red leaves, Rachel?" I said. "That's because all the chlorophyll is gone from the leaves. Leaves are filled witih chlorophyll in the summer, that's why they're so green..."
"More granola," she said, totally unimpressed.
"Anyway, when the weather gets cold the cholorphyll leaves and the leaves turn yellow and red, which means they're dying," I said, "and..."
"More granola, Mommy!" she said. So I stopped there.
Rocking the flu shot
I stole the title of this entry from my friend, who wrote about the same issue for the Mom blog at the Pioneer Press. It really aptly describes how Rachel handled the 3rd flu shot of her young life.
I told her a couple of times that we were going to go in for flu shots, that Mommy was going to get a shot too, and that we needed to do so so we wouldn't get sick. Once or twice she said, "I don't wanna," and "I don't wanna go to the doctor!" So I was sort of dreading the trip, since last year she screamed and cried and I had to take her in my lap and cuddle her for about a half-hour or so.
But today, she acted as if the shot was a special cool thing just for her. As we pulled into the clinic she said, "Flu shots!" pointing to the sign that said Flu Shots. My heart stopped for a minute because I thought that meant she could READ! Then she followed up with, "Flu shot for ME!"
Then we went to the basement of Kaiser Permanente and I briefly considered signing her up for the flu mist in her nose, but then the nurse said it's not advised until kids are 3 and can actually sniff it up their nostrils (yucky, as Rachel would say).
So I walked in, dreading the shots for Rachel and myself. They gave one to me first and it didn't hurt AT ALL -- just a tiny sting. Then the woman quickly pulled aside the neck of Rachel's shirt, swabbed her and stuck the needle in -- and Rachel barely cried! She hardly whimpered! She was a total champ! She was so awesome that when the nurse gave her a lollipop she didn't even open it because she DIDN'T NEED IT! ATTA GIRL!
I had a bag of cookies and graham crackers and I felt obligated to offer her a cookie even though she clearly was not experiencing any trauma. And we followed up with the trip to the farmer's market, where I bought the last strawberries of the season, probably, and some other good things that I would never normally trek there for -- it is too expensive on our very limited budget -- but I told Rachel we would go to the market after the nastiness of the flu shots and I felt obligated to honor my promise. Which, in the end, I probably didn't need to do.
But the point is: We are immunized for this season -- no need to worry about getting the flu (cross fingers here) -- and Rachel won't have to deal with another round of shots until she's 4 (flu shots next winter again, but by then Drew will be back and he can take her if need be).
I am very relieved, even if the event was rather anticlimatic. I told that to Rachel, but she didn't respond.
More random Rachel:
Once in a while I'll say in mock exasperation, "Rachel, what am I going to DO with you?"
The answer is always the same: "Tickle me!"
***
Today as I was driving home from the library I said, "Guess who's going down for a nap as soon as we get home?"
"Me!" Rachel said, so brightly that I cracked up.
I told her a couple of times that we were going to go in for flu shots, that Mommy was going to get a shot too, and that we needed to do so so we wouldn't get sick. Once or twice she said, "I don't wanna," and "I don't wanna go to the doctor!" So I was sort of dreading the trip, since last year she screamed and cried and I had to take her in my lap and cuddle her for about a half-hour or so.
But today, she acted as if the shot was a special cool thing just for her. As we pulled into the clinic she said, "Flu shots!" pointing to the sign that said Flu Shots. My heart stopped for a minute because I thought that meant she could READ! Then she followed up with, "Flu shot for ME!"
Then we went to the basement of Kaiser Permanente and I briefly considered signing her up for the flu mist in her nose, but then the nurse said it's not advised until kids are 3 and can actually sniff it up their nostrils (yucky, as Rachel would say).
So I walked in, dreading the shots for Rachel and myself. They gave one to me first and it didn't hurt AT ALL -- just a tiny sting. Then the woman quickly pulled aside the neck of Rachel's shirt, swabbed her and stuck the needle in -- and Rachel barely cried! She hardly whimpered! She was a total champ! She was so awesome that when the nurse gave her a lollipop she didn't even open it because she DIDN'T NEED IT! ATTA GIRL!
I had a bag of cookies and graham crackers and I felt obligated to offer her a cookie even though she clearly was not experiencing any trauma. And we followed up with the trip to the farmer's market, where I bought the last strawberries of the season, probably, and some other good things that I would never normally trek there for -- it is too expensive on our very limited budget -- but I told Rachel we would go to the market after the nastiness of the flu shots and I felt obligated to honor my promise. Which, in the end, I probably didn't need to do.
But the point is: We are immunized for this season -- no need to worry about getting the flu (cross fingers here) -- and Rachel won't have to deal with another round of shots until she's 4 (flu shots next winter again, but by then Drew will be back and he can take her if need be).
I am very relieved, even if the event was rather anticlimatic. I told that to Rachel, but she didn't respond.
More random Rachel:
Once in a while I'll say in mock exasperation, "Rachel, what am I going to DO with you?"
The answer is always the same: "Tickle me!"
***
Today as I was driving home from the library I said, "Guess who's going down for a nap as soon as we get home?"
"Me!" Rachel said, so brightly that I cracked up.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Magical bike
A while ago my pediatrician gave me a book called, "The Magical Years" that explains the thinking of toddlers. Basically, toddlers believe that they have complete power over their dominions -- that if they're hungry, food magically appears, etc. Or something like that. Anyway, an incident today probably convinced Rachel that she, too, has magical powers.
I was at a securities regulation conference in Portland, and Rachel spent the day with Constance. One of the things they did was take a walk. Constance asked Rachel if she had a bike. Rachel said no, but that she wanted one that was pink.
Lo and behold, they walked a little further and -- guess what appeared? A perfect, toddler-sized pinky-purplish tricycle! Attached to it was a sign saying "FREE." So, naturally, Constance snatched it up and they pedaled back home. (Rachel clambered onto the seat all by herself and Constance pushed from behind. "She's so smart that she'll figure out how to use the pedals in no time!" Constance said).
I had kind of a depressing day, so the news that Rachel now has a free tricycle that should last her until age 3 or 4 was very welcome news. Now all I need to do is take her to the bike store this weekend to buy a helmet, and when it stops raining we can start taking her for bike rides. Yay!
I was at a securities regulation conference in Portland, and Rachel spent the day with Constance. One of the things they did was take a walk. Constance asked Rachel if she had a bike. Rachel said no, but that she wanted one that was pink.
Lo and behold, they walked a little further and -- guess what appeared? A perfect, toddler-sized pinky-purplish tricycle! Attached to it was a sign saying "FREE." So, naturally, Constance snatched it up and they pedaled back home. (Rachel clambered onto the seat all by herself and Constance pushed from behind. "She's so smart that she'll figure out how to use the pedals in no time!" Constance said).
I had kind of a depressing day, so the news that Rachel now has a free tricycle that should last her until age 3 or 4 was very welcome news. Now all I need to do is take her to the bike store this weekend to buy a helmet, and when it stops raining we can start taking her for bike rides. Yay!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Adorable Rachel
This morning, Rachel took her little finger puppet, Bunny (Bunny doesn't have a name, according to Rachel; it's just 'Bunny') and offered it some granola.
"Want some granola, Bunny?" she asked, then pretended to feed the granola I had just handed her from the front seat. She then pretended to feed Bunny some milk from her sippy cup.
Then she gave Bunny a firm kiss.
***
Last night as I got ready to haul her from daycare and then to Target and then home, she said, "Mommy go to sleep. I cook dinner for you."
I almost started weeping, it was so considerate of her. And so welcome at that moment.
***
Last Saturday I had a potluck dinner party with three friends -- Kim, Nikole and Melissa -- and Nikole's baby, Nadja. Rachel picked up a disposable camera I had bought earlier that day during a trip to a pumpkin patch on Sauvie Island. Handing it to me, she said, in perfectly clear language, "Show me how this works."
Needless to say, I was stunned. David Lednicer, if you're reading this, it's fine to turn her into an engineer -- but only if you get her to wear a dress once in a while.
"Want some granola, Bunny?" she asked, then pretended to feed the granola I had just handed her from the front seat. She then pretended to feed Bunny some milk from her sippy cup.
Then she gave Bunny a firm kiss.
***
Last night as I got ready to haul her from daycare and then to Target and then home, she said, "Mommy go to sleep. I cook dinner for you."
I almost started weeping, it was so considerate of her. And so welcome at that moment.
***
Last Saturday I had a potluck dinner party with three friends -- Kim, Nikole and Melissa -- and Nikole's baby, Nadja. Rachel picked up a disposable camera I had bought earlier that day during a trip to a pumpkin patch on Sauvie Island. Handing it to me, she said, in perfectly clear language, "Show me how this works."
Needless to say, I was stunned. David Lednicer, if you're reading this, it's fine to turn her into an engineer -- but only if you get her to wear a dress once in a while.
Jukebox Mama
Betcha didn't know that I am a mobile jukebox, didja? Because my daughter demands songs on the way to and from work, all day, every day, I keep a songbook next to me in the car so I can flip through it at a glance and start singing everything from the Beatles to Quaker hymnals.
Rachel's two current favorites: "Rise and Shine," an old black spiritual that I learned at Y day camp eons ago, and "Solidarity Forever," a pro-union ditty set to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." She frequently interrupts "Rise and Shine," to say, "I LOVE that song." And I must say, it is great to barrel down I-5 on these glorious, crisp, sunny fall mornings singing such get-up-and-go songs. (Although "Solidarity Forever" made me cry the other day because of the state of the union movement...but that's another post).
So if you see me glancing quickly at a songbook and hear a little voice saying, "Mommy, sing ANOTHER new song," you'll know the story behind the story.
Rachel's two current favorites: "Rise and Shine," an old black spiritual that I learned at Y day camp eons ago, and "Solidarity Forever," a pro-union ditty set to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." She frequently interrupts "Rise and Shine," to say, "I LOVE that song." And I must say, it is great to barrel down I-5 on these glorious, crisp, sunny fall mornings singing such get-up-and-go songs. (Although "Solidarity Forever" made me cry the other day because of the state of the union movement...but that's another post).
So if you see me glancing quickly at a songbook and hear a little voice saying, "Mommy, sing ANOTHER new song," you'll know the story behind the story.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
James gets a kick out of Rachel
Tonight was the first full night that James was here. It was nice to have someone at home when we got home, even if he had already eaten dinner.
Rachel was pretty genial. "Where's James?" she asked when we got in, and she seemed glad to see him sitting at the kitchen table, working on his computer.
The laugh line of the night was when she was whining and looking up at the baby food carousel.
"Do you want something, Rachel, or are you just whining?" I said.
"I just whining," she answered.
To which James replied that he'll probably be laughing a lot.
At bedtime, she willingly gave him a hug. He was touched.
I'm hoping this all bodes well for the next three months.
Rachel was pretty genial. "Where's James?" she asked when we got in, and she seemed glad to see him sitting at the kitchen table, working on his computer.
The laugh line of the night was when she was whining and looking up at the baby food carousel.
"Do you want something, Rachel, or are you just whining?" I said.
"I just whining," she answered.
To which James replied that he'll probably be laughing a lot.
At bedtime, she willingly gave him a hug. He was touched.
I'm hoping this all bodes well for the next three months.
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