Seeing my daughter and my mother together…that does funny things to my heart. It’s pretty darn sweet.
Visit Tracey for more Best Shot Monday fun!
Project 365 – Week 3 Monday, Jan 28 2008
Project 365 5:28 am
This computer is seriously almost dead. I am hoping to have its replacement here within the week…but in the meantime, I was able to revive it enough to at least to get these pics uploaded and posted.
Waiting to get Ted fixed at the “bear doctor” (Build-a-Bear). She holds my heart in her hands. 
)
And here’s the bear doctor at work.
The dagon’s lair. Nadia’s excitement over her fishies has died down…she mostly ignores them now. But she does still love the dragon.
This heat detection camera we saw the other day at the fire station is pretty incredible. One of the firemen gave a demonstration with it: he pressed his hand against the door, then removed it and focused the camera on the area. There was a perfect white-hot palm print showing from the heat residue of his hand. Oh, and that camera makes the ones we all yearn for look cheap; it costs about $15K.
The plant that cannot be killed. Seriously. I have an uncanny ability to kill all living green things, yet this one has somehow escaped my black thumb. I really don’t particularly like it, but since I’ve had it about 4 years and it’s still actully living, there’s no way I’m getting rid of it!
I also started experimenting with textures a bit this week, and this was one of my practice subjects.
My husband – the strong and silent type. I wish I’d gotten his entire profile in the shot, but there’s only so much you can do in the car at 50mm.
And another one of me, because I was short a picture and this was the easy way out. I’ve got to stop using f1.8 though; it’s so much fun to play with, but it’s thrown half my face out of focus.
That’s all folks!
Uprising Saturday, Jan 26 2008
Hi, this is Christina’s computer. Or “the evil machine” as she’s been calling me lately. I’ve been on a mission to drive her mad, and it had been going quite well…but now it’s backfiring. Instead of it just frustrating her, she’s starting to talk about actually replacing me. She says that if I don’t work the way she wants me to, I’m worthless. Just because I keep crashing and moving sloooooooowly. Who cares if it takes 20 minutes to open a program? I mean, c’mon, where’s her loyalty?! Christina keep hoping I’ll see the error of my ways and start working again, but I’m not a quitter like that. I’m commited. So anyway, I’m just letting you all know that if that traitorous owner of mine isn’t around for a while, it’s because she’s working on trading me in for a newer, younger, perkier model. Now excuse me while I go cry over my abandonment.
For the Love of Books Thursday, Jan 24 2008
Nadia and TT and books 6:49 pm
BOOKS!!! I practically jumped for joy when I learned that was the theme for today’s Theme Thursday. To a book lover like me, there’s nothing better. A few hours spent curled up with a good book: now that’s ecstasy. I haven’t done much of that in the last two plus years (surely pure coincidence that it coincides with my becoming a mother….) and I think I need to make time for it – I miss that.
Wait a minute, what am I saying? I have devoured quite a few thick books lately…ya know, the board book variety? Those are thick. And, well, my daughter did the actual devouring…but you get the idea. ;o)
One of the things I always looked most forward to with motherhood was cuddling up with my kiddo and reading together. My little one would love books; with both a Mommy and Daddy that love them, she couldn’t escape it. It’s in the genes.
But then I got Nadia, a kid that didn’t seem to have the patience for books. There was a whole world out there waiting to be explored – who wants to sit still in one spot and look at books?! That’s what one-year-old Nadia seemed to think. I was kinda bummed about that, and despaired of passing my love of books on to my daughter. If only I’d known, all I had to do was wait.
The book lovin’ gene really is there, it just took a while to develop. It’s probably been about 6 months now since Nadia discovered that books are pretty cool after all. Now she loves to read. LOVES it. It’s one of my favorite things in the world to watch her sprawled on the floor with a book, “reading” to herself and TedBear.
Anyway, despite my glee over BOOKS as the theme I forgot all about it until last evening. I didn’t have anything for it. Normally when this happens there is a last minute scramble as I frantically try to think of what to do. But this time, it didn’t even phase me. I knew exactly what images I wanted to share, and I didn’t even have to stage it. All I had to do was wait a few minutes and it happened all on its own.
“Want look at Baby Nana,” came the request.
So we pulled out a photo album, Nadia’s most favorite book in the entire world. If the fact that she’s a MiniMe isn’t enough evidence that she’s my child, her love of pictures should be the clincher. The kid loves pictures. We look at photo albums every day. At LEAST once a day. She even knows which album is which – the one with “tiny baby Nadia” versus “little girl Nadia.” She stares at every single picture with great attention, and oohs and aahs over her own cuteness. I love it.
A couple minutes later, it got better. When Daddy came in the room Nadia called him over to look at pictures with him, and amazingly Daddy didn’t object to my taking a few pictures. I have the hardest time getting pictures of them together, he just always has to be difficult. But I managed this time, and I’m glad for that.
Don’t miss Theme Thursday at The Land of K.A. for more beautifully bookish photos!
Fiery fears Wednesday, Jan 23 2008
Nadia 7:52 pm
“Guess what!” I told Nadia this morning. “We get to go to the fire station today!”
We’ve been eagerly anticipating this field trip for the last week. What could be better more exciting in a child’s world?! Firemen and fire trucks and fire station – that’s as cool as it gets!
So you’d think anyway. But Nadia had other ideas.
She shook her head. “No, Mommy” she solemnly told me. “I be little bit scary. No fire station.”
So we had a little talk about how this would be fun and exciting, not scary! She seemed convinced…sort of. The whole drive there she kept repeating “Fire trucks fun, not scary! No, not scared, it be fun!”
But then we got there and her brave facade melted. “Mommy hold you!” she begged as she climbed my legs.
And so we stood in the back with the babies as all the other kids swarmed the fire trucks and climbed around and had their pictures taken and had a grand old time. They cried because they didn’t want to get down; she cried because she didn’t want to get up.
Each time I suggested we go look at the trucks, she clug to me. “No Mommy…I little bit scary.”
Then we left and went to story time at the bookstore, where we read a book with fire trucks in it.
And Nadia said, “Fire trucks fun, Mama! Go see them more?”
Ack, child! I don’t know what to do with you!
Magic green thumb Wednesday, Jan 23 2008
Motherhood and Nadia and Photography 6:33 am
The girl has either inherited my hopeless black thumb – killing all green things on contact – or she has a miraculous green thumb. Time will tell.
We’ll wait and see if that dead bush sprouts new leaves now that she’s watered it with a waterless hose.
And if that turns out to be the case, I’ll keep an eye out for signs of life on my car and the on the garage door.
Cuz she “watered” those too.
On another note, would ya just look at that hair?!
It’s an honest-to-goodness ponytail.
No more wispy poor-excuse-for-a-ponytails.
Wow, what a milestone.
She’s morphing into a young lady before my very eyes! Next thing I know, I’ll be writing to you about curfews and boyfriends.
No, scratch that. I’m not even ready to think about that yet. That’s still a loooong way off. Right? Right?????
Yeah, we’ve still got time. Those chubby legs are fast, but not *that* fast. For now I can just enjoy her giggles as those chubby legs carry her down the sidewalk, but not too far away from me. At least not yet.
Bits and pieces of love Tuesday, Jan 22 2008
Motherhood and Nadia and Precious Moments 5:43 am
These late-night Mommy-Daughter sessions are becoming routine…and I can’t say I’m entirely upset about that. Part of me thinks “just go so sleep already, child!” but another part of me cherishes those sweet moments with my sweet girl. Nadia is never so tender and cuddly as she is in the dark of night.
Last night it was eleven o’clock and she was still awake. I went in to admonish her that it’s dark outside and time for night-night….and you know that whole-body wriggle of delight that puppies do? That’s what she did. She greeted me with grinning mouth and shining eyes and dancing feet and clapping hands and cries of joy. Well, there’s no way to say no to that. At least, there’s no way I can say no to that.
So I asked if she’d like me to rock her a bit, and she cried, “oh yes, Mommy, yes please!” Cradled in my arms, she wrapped her own arms around my neck and let her body mold itself to mine as we slow-danced around the room.
A few peaceful moments later she leaned back.
“Mommy?” she asked.
“Yes sweetie?” I murmered into the curls tickling my face.
“I love Mommy’s eyes.” And she gently touched each eye.
“I love Mommy’s nose.” And she stroked my nose.
“I love Mommy’s mouth.” And her baby fingers danced across my lips.
“I love Mommy’s cheeks.” And each of her hands came up to caress a cheek.
Ahh sweet girl! I love your eyes and nose and mouth and cheeks too. And your still-pudgy baby fingers, and the sweet bellybutton planted in the middle of a plump little belly, and those legs which are quickly changing from thunder-thigh baby leg status into the sleek and muscular legs of a little girl.
But most of all, I adore your sweet heart and loving nature. And I love the way you charm me, all of me, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.
A Love Story Monday, Jan 21 2008
Nadia 2:31 pm
TedBear is Nadia’s Velveteen Rabbit.
That raggedy old bear is much more than “just a teddy bear.” TedBear goes everywhere and does everything with Nadia. He’s her best friend, her comfort, her alter ego, her baby. He is real.
TedBear first came into Nadia’s life when she was 10 months old. It was her cousins first birthday, and Baba treated all three girls to Build-a-Bear. Nadia picked out that classic teddy bear herself and it was love at first sight. I had planned to encourage an attachment, since Nadia did not yet have a special lovey at that point, but it never came to that; she did it all on her own. That bear was put in her chubby baby hands for the first time that day, and she hasn’t put him down since.
TedBear was actually meant to be a girl. When we bought “him” we also got a frilly little green fairy costume. But then Teddy Bear got shortened to “TedBear,” and then Nadia began calling him “Ted” and it was official – “she” had become a “he.” He still wears the fairy costume sometimes tho, so Daddy says he’s a fairy in more than one sense. ;o)
Nadia and TedBear are constant companions.
They sleep together.
They eat together.
They play together.
They watch tv together.
They potty train together.
TedBear even has his own little car seat next to Nadia’s.
He doesn’t always stay strapped in that careseat, though; many car rides are spent with him clutched in her arms.
Ted has an uncanny ability to comfort Nadia. Whenever she’s hurt or upset, he is the first thing she asks for – sometimes even before Mommy! And when I am unable to hold her, TedBear makes a fine substitute. “TedBear hold you, then” she says, when I tell her I can’t; and she stands beside me, TedBear cradled in her arms.
The most sincere sign of Nadia’s love for someone is for her to share TedBear with them. “Here, TedBear need you now” she’ll say, and gently pass off her beloved pal.
Nadia and TedBear make quite the dynamic duo, getting into all sorts of scrapes together. Watch out for these two – they’re gonna take the world by storm! I usually have to repeat any admonitions at least twice – once for Nadia, and once for TedBear. Once I’ve told Nadia no about something, TedBear has to try it too and see if the same rules apply to him (they do!). And when Nadia is caught red-handed, she often tries to pass off TedBear as the wrongdoer. Who says you need a sibling for the blame game?? They also share the same voracious appetite, and even when I’ve told Nadia she doesn’t need another snack TedBear asks if he can have one.
When Nadia isn’t busy implicating TedBear for her own crimes, she’s busy playing Mommy. And what a little Mommy she is! She cares for TedBear so sweetly, rocking and feeding and diapering him. She spends time every day pushing him around the house in the little stroller; when the shade is down that means he’s asleep, and when the shade is up he’s awake. Evidently TedBear is a rather colicky baby, as Nadia also spends a fair bit of time rocking and shushing him. I’ve got to get it on video – it’s SO CUTE!! She takes her responsibility as mother quite seriously and reprimands him with gusto. A lot. She’s actually quite a bit firmer with him than I ever am with her! She loves to wrap him up in blankets so he’s “all toasty.” She loves to dress him in her own clothes; I’ve offered to get TedBear his own clothes but that idea seems to upset her…she wants to share HER clothes with him. TedBear plays right along side Nadia, and he gets his turn with everything too. After Nadia’s played something for a few minutes, she says “okay, TedBear’s turn now!” and she grasps his little paws in her own hands and helps him to play too. Sometimes she reads to TedBear, either holding him on her lap or positioning him in front of her and then turning the book upside-down so he can see.
A few days ago TedBear got a booboo. The seam on one of his legs ripped, revealing his fluffy white stuffing. Nadia is quite distraught by this and keeps insisting that we need to take TedBear to the doctor. That’s on the agenda for today. That’s one of the good things about Build-a-Bear pals: we can take him back to be re-stitched and refilled anytime we want!
Nadia and TedBear’s bond grows stronger with every passing day. I don’t know that she will ever outgrow him, and honestly I hope she never does; I will cry the day he is cast aside. Nadia’s not the only one attached to that bear!
I love it that Nadia has such a constant companion to share her journey with.
*sigh* (of relief!) Monday, Jan 21 2008
Motherhood and Nadia 3:43 am
Ahhh, it’s good to know I’m not the only one dealing with an ornery toddler! Thanks so much for the “been there, done that” (or rather “am there, doing that” for some of you!) comments as well as the suggestions. Seriously, how did mothers make it through this back in the old days without the supportive blogging world at their fingertips?????
So, the first day of The New Order was rough. Nadia bucked and resisted with every ounce of her strength -and let me tell you, that girl’s small size belies an incredible strength. We had battles at every turn, over every little thing. She kept pushing the envelope, and I wasn’t letting her get away with any of it. It. Was. Hell.
But I have no doubt that it was the right thing to do. We are starting to see results and I am cautiously optimistic. (Actually I am wildly delighted…but trying to reign that in.)
Toddlerhood is such a time of exploration and learning– something which is both very exciting and very overwhelming for our little people. There’s just so much for them to learn!! It’s our job as parents to be their shelter from the storm and help guide them through it. And one of the biggest things for them to learn about is boundaries and rules. Of course it’s normal for a toddler to test those limits – again and again and again – and it’s up to us to direct them back.
Seeing as I have been blessed with a strong-willed child (well, at least I keep telling myself that one day her persistence will be blessing…even though now her doggone obstinacy can be downright frustrating), I haven’t wanted to make everything into a battle with her. I hate to always be the bad guy, getting onto her about everything. So I’ve tried to be patient and understanding, gentle with her repeated flouting the rules. Not that I let her get away with murder, but there were times I chose to “not see” minor infractions for the sake of familial peace.
But Nadia is a textbook example of the “if you give an inch, she’ll take a mile” type of person, and this temperate approach wasn’t working out so well. By overlooking some of the smaller things, it just built and built. And while I expect some level of bad behavior on her part – she is a toddler after all, and that’s just part and parcel of being a toddler! – I am NOT okay with her constant defiance and ugliness.
So it was time to lay down the law. I really don’t know why the raisin incident the other day was the clincher…but for some reason it made me decide that it’s time for a zero tolerance policy. If she’s testing limits and seeing what she can get away with, well, it’s time to show her that those things are ABSOLUTELY NOT tolerated. And I think it was just what she needed. After that first day of hell, things have been a lot better. Maybe she feels a sense of security to have it more definitively laid out? Now that she understands that behavior is not okay, she’s not trying it so much. And when she does start, it takes a lot less to get her back on track.
She hates the crib timeouts, enough so that the warning of one stops her in her tracks most of the time. And when it is necessary – only twice today! – afterwards she is able to tell me what she did wrong (something she’s never seemed to understand in the past).
So, this is progress. Huge progress. Now admittedly we’re only a couple days into it, but I feel optimistic. I’m enjoying being able to hang out with my kid without pausing every other minute to deal with another crisis. Hopefully Nadia too realizes how much better life is this way, and we can keep at it!!
![Drop Crown.. [ Explore #1 ]](http://static.flickr.com/4059/4231438863_17461115ac_t.jpg "Drop Crown.. [ Explore #1 ]")
