Some of you may remember Ian's difficulties sleeping. I am happy to report that he has been sleeping wonderfully for the last several months. In not so good news, it appears that the reason he is sleeping so well is that he has fully trained his apprentice in the ways of sleep deprivation torture. I suspect they have been having meetings wherein they strategize ways to keep me in a fog of exhaustion. I can hear Ian now, "Listen Elizabeth, I have been on duty for 5 years now, I need a break. It is your turn to start staying up all night. You can do it, we've been training you for it. Go make me proud."
I dare say the apprentice has surpassed the teacher in depriving mommy of sleep. She doesn't just refuse to sleep, she is now coming to me at all hours of the night (and morning) making demands. Case in point, this morning:
2:00am Wants her "Mommy back", climbs into bed with Mommy but refuses to sleep
3:00am Is kicked out of Mommy and Daddy's bed and sent back to her room.
4:00am Brings Mommy nail polish. Would like a pedicure.
4:30am Brings Mommy Wheat Thins. Would like them opened.
4:35am Has managed to open Wheat Thins on her own. Would like to know if there is any spray cheese to go with them
4:36am Mommy resigns herself to getting up for the day. Discovers open can of frosting on counter. Discovers child's hands covered with sparkly purple nail polish and 4 open bottles of nail polish on the floor.
Now she is still very wide awake and would like to do puzzles, would like like me to read books, and could I fix Dora's hair?
The Sleep Deprivation Method is two-fold. The other part of the torture is waiting for the impending melt-down that will result due to the child having not slept. I suspect it will hit right about the time we need to get ready to go to Bible Study. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
We go together like...
ramma lamma lamma lamma lamma ding dong.
Now that song is stuck in my head. Speaking of being stuck, Miss Elizabeth has turned into quite the Mama's girl lately and has been glued to me pretty much 24/7. Woe is the person (usually Ian) who dare try to take her 'spot'- which is the space next to me anytime I sit down. Even at bedtime she keeps popping up in my doorway saying "I want my mommy back!!" all pitiful like. To which I say, we are never apart so how could she want me back. Karl finds this all equal parts exasperating and amusing. He was laughing the other day as she trailed along behind me and told me she was my clone. I said, "Umm, I think you mean shadow." He says she looks and acts just like me. Okay, looks maybe, but acts?? Really?? She is bossy and opinionated,finicky, must have her own way and enjoys being catered to. Oh, wait...maybe she is a little like me.
This incident from the other morning most definitely reminded me of myself. I am notorious for, shall we say, taking a little time to get going in the morning. In fact more than one person has said that it isn't wise to speak to me before noon. I like to think I have gotten a little better as I've gotten older, but I just still don't enjoy mornings. Alexandria, on the other hand, is chipper as can be the minute she hops out of bed. One morning last week, Elizabeth woke up and came into the kitchen all bleary-eyed. Alexandria said (in her most super enthusiastic voice), "Well good morning Elizabeth!!!!!"
Elizabeth looked at her and warned in a low,stern voice, "Stop it."
This led to Alexandria creating the t-shirt Elizabeth is wearing in this picture. You can't see all of it, but it says "100% not a morning person". Like mother, like daughter.
P.S. If you look closely, you can see Elizabeth's bangs that got trimmed. Thankfully the person who did it (we still aren't 100% sure who) went for a subtle look.
Now that song is stuck in my head. Speaking of being stuck, Miss Elizabeth has turned into quite the Mama's girl lately and has been glued to me pretty much 24/7. Woe is the person (usually Ian) who dare try to take her 'spot'- which is the space next to me anytime I sit down. Even at bedtime she keeps popping up in my doorway saying "I want my mommy back!!" all pitiful like. To which I say, we are never apart so how could she want me back. Karl finds this all equal parts exasperating and amusing. He was laughing the other day as she trailed along behind me and told me she was my clone. I said, "Umm, I think you mean shadow." He says she looks and acts just like me. Okay, looks maybe, but acts?? Really?? She is bossy and opinionated,finicky, must have her own way and enjoys being catered to. Oh, wait...maybe she is a little like me.
This incident from the other morning most definitely reminded me of myself. I am notorious for, shall we say, taking a little time to get going in the morning. In fact more than one person has said that it isn't wise to speak to me before noon. I like to think I have gotten a little better as I've gotten older, but I just still don't enjoy mornings. Alexandria, on the other hand, is chipper as can be the minute she hops out of bed. One morning last week, Elizabeth woke up and came into the kitchen all bleary-eyed. Alexandria said (in her most super enthusiastic voice), "Well good morning Elizabeth!!!!!"
Elizabeth looked at her and warned in a low,stern voice, "Stop it."
This led to Alexandria creating the t-shirt Elizabeth is wearing in this picture. You can't see all of it, but it says "100% not a morning person". Like mother, like daughter.
P.S. If you look closely, you can see Elizabeth's bangs that got trimmed. Thankfully the person who did it (we still aren't 100% sure who) went for a subtle look.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A boys rule
I was holding Elizabeth and happened to notice her bangs looked a little funny. Upon closer inspection, it looked like there was a small chunk that had been cut. I decided to interogate Ian.
"Ian, did you cut Elizabeth's hair?"
"No."
"Remember, you get in less trouble if you just tell the truth. Did you cut her hair?"
"Oh, no!" he said. "I would never cut a ladies' hair. That is a boys rule: you don't cut girls' hair!"
"Ian, did you cut Elizabeth's hair?"
"No."
"Remember, you get in less trouble if you just tell the truth. Did you cut her hair?"
"Oh, no!" he said. "I would never cut a ladies' hair. That is a boys rule: you don't cut girls' hair!"
Monday, September 27, 2010
Grateful he asked first
Ian was wanting to play and the two older girls weren't interested. I suggested he ask Elizabeth to play.
"Okay!" he said happily. "Is it okay if I make her go up in the air? Because I know how!!"
Do I want to know how he 'knows how'? Probably not.
"Okay!" he said happily. "Is it okay if I make her go up in the air? Because I know how!!"
Do I want to know how he 'knows how'? Probably not.
A scary find
While cleaning, I found a hammer and two pairs of scissors in Ian's room. All three items were confiscated.
While I wasn't paying attention, something happened
One minute the nurse handed me this dark-haired sweet baby:
And the next, poof, she is an eleven year old:
I know it is terribly cliche for me to say how fast time has gone, but man, time has gone by SO quickly! Alexandria celebrated her eleventh birthday on September 16th. I took her out to lunch and shopping. She wanted Annika to come too, so the three of us enjoyed a girls' day out. She also enjoyed some special time with each of her sets of grandparents. She is a blessed girl to have so many people who love her!!
I have been going through pictures of Alexandria so I can make her a slideshow and it has been a fun stroll down memory lane. I remember, as a newborn, her hair was jet-black and so long in the back it hung over the white blanket the nurses had her swaddled in. Then, in picture after picture of baby Alexandria I was struck by something: she was an intense baby! There are a few pictures of her smiling, but in most she is just big-eyed, taking everything in.
The toddler years were active ones for Alexandria. She was busy locking herself in the apartment (with no adult in there with her!! Karl was taking the trash down!), locking herself in the bathroom, pouring entire boxes of crackers out and having herself a little party. Another time, Karl and I spent an hour looking for our keys, only to find them in the ignition of Alexandria's Little Tykes Cozy Coupe Car. She was such a little person, too. At a babyshower for Annika at church, Alexandria was so enthralled with every gift I opened. She was just over 2 years old, but with every present would say "Ohhhhh! That is so cute!!!"
She grew bigger and bigger and was still so observant. She would compliment Grandma on a new plant that no one else had noticed, and she remembered EVERYTHING! She was a social butterfly who loved to be on the go. She never was upset with being left anywhere...just excited to see what was going on there. One thing that stuck out to me was how she liked to keep her world very...pleasant. She was (and is still) sunshine and rainbows and please don't make her read or watch anything that is not nice. She hated Disney movies because their was always some unpleasantness. She hated reading the Ramona books because Ramona was always making bad choices. A familiar phrase was "I don't want to watch/read that! They are so ANGRY in that book/show!" She did like Little House on the Praire and she approved of Laura and Mary's good behavior.
I homeschooled Alexandria in kindergarten and 2nd grade. She went to an enrichment academy one day a week. I asked her kindergarten teacher how she was doing and she told me she was very independent. She would grab her tray at lunchtime, and just go sit down at a table, it didn't matter who she was sitting by, boy or girl, she didn't care. Now she is in public school and is doing well. She loves to learn and is interested in history, science and geography.
I love watching her grow up and seeing what God is doing in her life. She has such a sweet spirit. She is generous and really cares about other people. She is fearless in that she will jump wholeheartedly into any activity. She will jump on stage and do karaoke, will sing in front of the entire church, will volunteer for almost anything without batting an eye. She is so pleasant to be around too. She is appreciative of everything and always has a sunny dispostion. The last eleven years have been so great for Karl and me and we can't wait to see what is next in store for our girl.
And the next, poof, she is an eleven year old:
I know it is terribly cliche for me to say how fast time has gone, but man, time has gone by SO quickly! Alexandria celebrated her eleventh birthday on September 16th. I took her out to lunch and shopping. She wanted Annika to come too, so the three of us enjoyed a girls' day out. She also enjoyed some special time with each of her sets of grandparents. She is a blessed girl to have so many people who love her!!
I have been going through pictures of Alexandria so I can make her a slideshow and it has been a fun stroll down memory lane. I remember, as a newborn, her hair was jet-black and so long in the back it hung over the white blanket the nurses had her swaddled in. Then, in picture after picture of baby Alexandria I was struck by something: she was an intense baby! There are a few pictures of her smiling, but in most she is just big-eyed, taking everything in.
The toddler years were active ones for Alexandria. She was busy locking herself in the apartment (with no adult in there with her!! Karl was taking the trash down!), locking herself in the bathroom, pouring entire boxes of crackers out and having herself a little party. Another time, Karl and I spent an hour looking for our keys, only to find them in the ignition of Alexandria's Little Tykes Cozy Coupe Car. She was such a little person, too. At a babyshower for Annika at church, Alexandria was so enthralled with every gift I opened. She was just over 2 years old, but with every present would say "Ohhhhh! That is so cute!!!"
She grew bigger and bigger and was still so observant. She would compliment Grandma on a new plant that no one else had noticed, and she remembered EVERYTHING! She was a social butterfly who loved to be on the go. She never was upset with being left anywhere...just excited to see what was going on there. One thing that stuck out to me was how she liked to keep her world very...pleasant. She was (and is still) sunshine and rainbows and please don't make her read or watch anything that is not nice. She hated Disney movies because their was always some unpleasantness. She hated reading the Ramona books because Ramona was always making bad choices. A familiar phrase was "I don't want to watch/read that! They are so ANGRY in that book/show!" She did like Little House on the Praire and she approved of Laura and Mary's good behavior.
I homeschooled Alexandria in kindergarten and 2nd grade. She went to an enrichment academy one day a week. I asked her kindergarten teacher how she was doing and she told me she was very independent. She would grab her tray at lunchtime, and just go sit down at a table, it didn't matter who she was sitting by, boy or girl, she didn't care. Now she is in public school and is doing well. She loves to learn and is interested in history, science and geography.
I love watching her grow up and seeing what God is doing in her life. She has such a sweet spirit. She is generous and really cares about other people. She is fearless in that she will jump wholeheartedly into any activity. She will jump on stage and do karaoke, will sing in front of the entire church, will volunteer for almost anything without batting an eye. She is so pleasant to be around too. She is appreciative of everything and always has a sunny dispostion. The last eleven years have been so great for Karl and me and we can't wait to see what is next in store for our girl.
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