Esme is being fairly good today - she got ravioli a few minutes ago and is now watching Alien Shaun Sheep as Daddy finishes a hamburger for us, which she has went on a strike about eating lately (thus the separate meal for her with half the can put in the fridge). She also has a pinwheel we bought her for a dollar that she thinks is an excellent toy.
We went to town and looked at alternatives to heating the whole house this winter. We'll keep thinking about it. Especially if we don't have to heat the downstairs during the night to higher than 55 degrees... while still keeping warm upstairs. That would save quite a bit with the right equipment.
Then we bought groceries. This is not politically correct at all - and I know I'll offend someone. I don't want to - but I have to say it. I was horrified by a lady in front of us with a backside wider than her shopping cart - and her cart filled with food to the very top (all processed stuff in boxes - FOUR pizzas and numerous other things besides that!) as she waddled slowly in front of us out the door. And she was talking with another lady nearly the same size pushing another cart that stuffed full of food. And we see the same thing every time we shop - every day when I work (although we don't sell food there) etc etc... It hits home harder right now with our limited resources - HOW are these people paying for that much food in this economy and staying that large? I know I'm a little biased - I came from a family background which made me VERY scared of becoming fat. I went through a period of anorexia because of the fear... and still find myself thinking that way sometimes. Growing up, I saw what becoming obese (much more than the standard 5-10 lbs variation) did to people - spent large amounts of money they didn't have on terrible food, and how they stopped being capable in many circumstances, and that scared me most of all. They still needed to take in that many calories - but were not able to work and support the output to pay for it .. so it fell on other people around them. They actually couldn't walk across the house or to the mailbox without breathing heavily. They stopped cleaning or taking animals outside or other things they really needed to do to keep the house healthy. Nothing got done except when other people came to help. So - not sure what I'm trying to say - except that it still scares me. The two of us and Esme, with our little cart with bare essentials in it and this lady in front of us the size of all of us put together and then some, with more food than we could eat in a month.... and obviously she (or somebody) is paying a lot of money and resources to be that size - does she realize it? Can she help it? I'm just not sure. I'll never really know, I guess... or be able to really mask my fear of it either, which I know is not politically correct at all...*growl* At least I'm honest about it. And I don't mean ANYONE that size - as some are very productive people.. but seeing it becoming more and more prevalent does make some part of me want to crawl inside and hide... old fears and wondering how much suffering could be avoided etc...
But anyway, I do have things I want to get done, and I will get them done. I hope to clean and organize a bit more in the house - want to find out how much muslin I have in my pile and make another lined shirt or two for Esme before I go back to work on Friday.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
35 months
(this follows the format from a development board 'Early Milestones' I've belonged to since Esme was 13 months old)
That board takes a more 'realistic' view of milestones in that they happen whenever the particular child is ready for them, especially when one or more of them is before the 'average' and other moms would be hard to talk to about that particular thing without feeling competitive. And not everything has to be 'ahead' - Esme was ahead in physical but not in language when we joined. She was 13 months and had been walking for months, had started running and was really into everything just as other moms were posting 'first steps' on my 'same-age' board. The forum we belong to also varies and suggests ideas for activities based on things the child already does and is interested in, not on the 'age-appropriate' scales. The kids there are 'all over the board' in a very good way. For me, it cuts down 'competition' by putting everything back in the perspective of 'What is SHE interested in? What does SHE want or need more help with?'
Age : 35 months - three next month! Wow where did that time go!?
Physical abilities: Still terrifically strong for her age, lifts heavy toys etc. Climbed the metal slide ladder at the park over and over a few weeks back and the round-rung ladder as well. Can do a lot more for herself now, pull off pants, shoes, socks and get halfway out of shirt etc... get into and out of the vehicle without help and a lot of other 'big girl' things. Is willing and able to do a lot more things like wash and dry her hands mostly by herself (she gets on her chair and we turn on the water, but she does the rest), carry a mostly full cup across the room, find socks and other clothes and bring them to me in the morning while I collect drink cups and find my shoes etc. Pulls her wagon with Daddy when trash bags are in it on Monday mornings.
Language: Much more descriptive language and phrases. Uses her name and all the names of people and animals she knows. Was passing out french fries to the dogs the other day and used her 'version' of each name correctly. Has more adjectives and verbs now. Goes from general to specific: 'Want FOOD. Applejacks, in a bowl, with milk.' etc. Will ARGUE now about things. Can say things when asked instead of refusing outright. Asks us 'what is it' to everything. Wants the dogs and cats to talk to her, too.
Letters/numbers: : Has less interest in the idea that letters make up specific words than she did three months ago - still trying to encourage it again. Plays 'PAIRS IN PEARS' (letter pear) with me often matching letters, finding letters, working with some sounds etc. Better recognition of all the numerals. Counts more accurately now up to six and sometimes beyond. Still plays 'birthday' with three candle type items.
Puzzles, reasoning, etc: A lot more independence and confidence in her own abilities is creeping in: Will climb up on the changing table herself when she needs a new diaper. Will go and climb into her bed when she wants to sleep or rest on her pillows to watch TV etc. Can/will fetch items from other rooms that she would never actually try before. Example: drag a chair to the bathroom, get up on the chair to pull a towel off the towel rack in the bathroom to bring into the kitchen and clean up a mess etc.. Or going upstairs to get herself a new pair of pants or socks when she spills something etc. I find that really useful!
She is understanding and making more connections between things she observes and the outcome etc. Already learned that she could SEE if there was soap in the bubble wand and know if it would blow a bubble or not. She learned that from watching us peer at the wand and telling her if it had soap in it or not. Then she learned all by herself that the bubble wand will blow out like usual- but if she catches a bubble and blows it off, she gets another 'free' bubble blow without a dip. She has been doing this one over and over and then finally will dip again 'now the soap' etc.. I thought that was pretty smart!
Creativity: Makes impressive block patterns with alternating colors and repeats patterns she remembers we have done hours or days earlier... thinks in balance and symmetry relationships easily and loves to pretend things are houses, cars, food, bathtubs etc.
Imagination: Plays with her animal toys and little people and makes up stories and reasons for them to do things. Increasingly thinks up 'abstract' ideas like a set of blocks being a 'choochoo' because they are close together rectangles, or a balloon on a string being a doggie she is walking on a leash etc.
Social: Played with lots of kids at the park nicely but called them all 'baby'. Wants to see Grandma and Grandpa daily, and often tells me all the things she'll do up there and when she wants to do it etc etc.. Downright bossy with some of the animals, a 'puppy' to a few others of them following them around like she does us etc etc.. Carries the cats into her room and forces them to participate in watching TV and conversations etc... Is really understanding social relationships in her TV shows as well - understanding and being happy/sad/worried/scared etc for them.
Character/personality: Shows more annoyance and demanding us to cooperate than ever lately -- expressions of disappointment and arguing etc etc... Tells me to do things she used to do cheerfully when asked (find her drink cup, throw trash away, etc..) No MUMUM do it, etc.. I'll ask her a question she doesn't like and get a new 'not that NOW Mumum' expression from her lately. But she is also once again very very sweet when she wants to be and always full-on energy always busy.
That board takes a more 'realistic' view of milestones in that they happen whenever the particular child is ready for them, especially when one or more of them is before the 'average' and other moms would be hard to talk to about that particular thing without feeling competitive. And not everything has to be 'ahead' - Esme was ahead in physical but not in language when we joined. She was 13 months and had been walking for months, had started running and was really into everything just as other moms were posting 'first steps' on my 'same-age' board. The forum we belong to also varies and suggests ideas for activities based on things the child already does and is interested in, not on the 'age-appropriate' scales. The kids there are 'all over the board' in a very good way. For me, it cuts down 'competition' by putting everything back in the perspective of 'What is SHE interested in? What does SHE want or need more help with?'
Age : 35 months - three next month! Wow where did that time go!?
Physical abilities: Still terrifically strong for her age, lifts heavy toys etc. Climbed the metal slide ladder at the park over and over a few weeks back and the round-rung ladder as well. Can do a lot more for herself now, pull off pants, shoes, socks and get halfway out of shirt etc... get into and out of the vehicle without help and a lot of other 'big girl' things. Is willing and able to do a lot more things like wash and dry her hands mostly by herself (she gets on her chair and we turn on the water, but she does the rest), carry a mostly full cup across the room, find socks and other clothes and bring them to me in the morning while I collect drink cups and find my shoes etc. Pulls her wagon with Daddy when trash bags are in it on Monday mornings.
Language: Much more descriptive language and phrases. Uses her name and all the names of people and animals she knows. Was passing out french fries to the dogs the other day and used her 'version' of each name correctly. Has more adjectives and verbs now. Goes from general to specific: 'Want FOOD. Applejacks, in a bowl, with milk.' etc. Will ARGUE now about things. Can say things when asked instead of refusing outright. Asks us 'what is it' to everything. Wants the dogs and cats to talk to her, too.
Letters/numbers: : Has less interest in the idea that letters make up specific words than she did three months ago - still trying to encourage it again. Plays 'PAIRS IN PEARS' (letter pear) with me often matching letters, finding letters, working with some sounds etc. Better recognition of all the numerals. Counts more accurately now up to six and sometimes beyond. Still plays 'birthday' with three candle type items.
Puzzles, reasoning, etc: A lot more independence and confidence in her own abilities is creeping in: Will climb up on the changing table herself when she needs a new diaper. Will go and climb into her bed when she wants to sleep or rest on her pillows to watch TV etc. Can/will fetch items from other rooms that she would never actually try before. Example: drag a chair to the bathroom, get up on the chair to pull a towel off the towel rack in the bathroom to bring into the kitchen and clean up a mess etc.. Or going upstairs to get herself a new pair of pants or socks when she spills something etc. I find that really useful!
She is understanding and making more connections between things she observes and the outcome etc. Already learned that she could SEE if there was soap in the bubble wand and know if it would blow a bubble or not. She learned that from watching us peer at the wand and telling her if it had soap in it or not. Then she learned all by herself that the bubble wand will blow out like usual- but if she catches a bubble and blows it off, she gets another 'free' bubble blow without a dip. She has been doing this one over and over and then finally will dip again 'now the soap' etc.. I thought that was pretty smart!
Creativity: Makes impressive block patterns with alternating colors and repeats patterns she remembers we have done hours or days earlier... thinks in balance and symmetry relationships easily and loves to pretend things are houses, cars, food, bathtubs etc.
Imagination: Plays with her animal toys and little people and makes up stories and reasons for them to do things. Increasingly thinks up 'abstract' ideas like a set of blocks being a 'choochoo' because they are close together rectangles, or a balloon on a string being a doggie she is walking on a leash etc.
Social: Played with lots of kids at the park nicely but called them all 'baby'. Wants to see Grandma and Grandpa daily, and often tells me all the things she'll do up there and when she wants to do it etc etc.. Downright bossy with some of the animals, a 'puppy' to a few others of them following them around like she does us etc etc.. Carries the cats into her room and forces them to participate in watching TV and conversations etc... Is really understanding social relationships in her TV shows as well - understanding and being happy/sad/worried/scared etc for them.
Character/personality: Shows more annoyance and demanding us to cooperate than ever lately -- expressions of disappointment and arguing etc etc... Tells me to do things she used to do cheerfully when asked (find her drink cup, throw trash away, etc..) No MUMUM do it, etc.. I'll ask her a question she doesn't like and get a new 'not that NOW Mumum' expression from her lately. But she is also once again very very sweet when she wants to be and always full-on energy always busy.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
more raglan shirt and blocks
No matter how many I make, it is still satisfying to start with uncut fabric and come out three hours later with a completely finished shirt. It's like I'm hooked or something ;) I used the red and white flower fabric I bought the other day - it is pretty and simple and looks great. Esme likes her red shirt. I also lined the top of it with extra muslin, so it will be warmer. It makes the front look a little stiff sometimes, but that is well worth the difference.
New red raglan shirt and patting Bunny dog on the head
This is in the entryway to our living room area where there is an entry closet, coats, assorted 'junk' (swimming stuff, outgoing mailbox, wire for the fence, dog toys, boxes of stuff from the flea market etc) and of course, 'Bones', our lab skeleton hanging there by the window. Esme wanted to play blocks here under the light tonight and even coaxed Daddy into playing with her.
Daddy plays blocks :)
Daddy built this huge tower, then asked her to add to it
She's not sure how!
A rare capture of 'uncertainty' from Esme
I'm only THIS tall!
So Daddy picked her up :)
This is a 'choo choo train' of blocks, according to Esme
I'm really happy with this pattern now - except maybe adding another inch to the sleeve length for this year and maybe another inch to the skirt as well... she is growing so much!
This is in the entryway to our living room area where there is an entry closet, coats, assorted 'junk' (swimming stuff, outgoing mailbox, wire for the fence, dog toys, boxes of stuff from the flea market etc) and of course, 'Bones', our lab skeleton hanging there by the window. Esme wanted to play blocks here under the light tonight and even coaxed Daddy into playing with her.
She's not sure how!
I'm only THIS tall!
I'm really happy with this pattern now - except maybe adding another inch to the sleeve length for this year and maybe another inch to the skirt as well... she is growing so much!
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Why we bought her blocks
This is why we have bought her blocks for her birthday *shhhh don't tell her and glad she can't read it yet!* :)
She gets to doing these patterns and then she runs out of materials... and gets sad, but starts over again with something new. I don't often catch them, because of this. I asked Mark to hand me the camera before she knocked them all over and got upset. She has lots of cylinders and blue squares and more of these red and green blocks exactly like these waiting for her to open in November. I know she'll be thrilled :)
For the record - I tried to make a pair of footed pants last night and failed :( I'll have to try again with a few modifications. I took the feet off them entirely and made a hem at the bottom. She is wearing those in the picture above 'clown pants' Mark calls them. I need to make a pair of footies for HIM - as he got cold last night. He says perfect them for her, then triple the size ;)
Friday, October 01, 2010
Finished footed pajamas
Made from 1940s version Simplicity 3493 footed pajamas pattern, size 4.
I took my glasses off to use the camera.. she found them
There is _QUITE_ a lot of room in the seat!
And about two to three inches are bunched up at her ankles, as well.
But it didn't impose much upon her playing while wearing them
As you can see, they are QUITE large, but usable :) I wonder if the fact they didn't have disposable diapers in 1940 had something to do with it? And a size too big to start with... but I can make some adjustments and make a newspaper pattern to try a second one. And she will grow into these. Even though they are too big she said 'mine - with socks' and grabbed the front of them and hoisted them up - walking away to go play... I take that as a good sign!
They are officially 'sock pants' to Esme - she asked for them off for a 'butt change' a few minutes ago and said 'sock pants off - no sock pants - need butt change.' ha!
A modern example for this pattern is Simplicity 5874, and it comes in multiple sizes. I might need to remember that later.
As you can see, they are QUITE large, but usable :) I wonder if the fact they didn't have disposable diapers in 1940 had something to do with it? And a size too big to start with... but I can make some adjustments and make a newspaper pattern to try a second one. And she will grow into these. Even though they are too big she said 'mine - with socks' and grabbed the front of them and hoisted them up - walking away to go play... I take that as a good sign!
They are officially 'sock pants' to Esme - she asked for them off for a 'butt change' a few minutes ago and said 'sock pants off - no sock pants - need butt change.' ha!
A modern example for this pattern is Simplicity 5874, and it comes in multiple sizes. I might need to remember that later.
Friday morning
I have the day off, but do need to take some paperwork to town. Esme is up eating her cereal and watching Clifford the Big Red Dog. It is the tape we bought on clearance last year, and she loves it to death - talking to the characters and has it memorized! She was quite sweet this morning, but getting her to go to bed last night was a chore. She was backtalking 'no bed! no no no no frog, no bed! *flop on floor next to bed*' I put her back in and sternly told her to 'stay there in bed NOW Do NOT get out of that bed. I mean it.' Mumum does not often get 'stern' with her voice. I don't often have to, as she usually follows all the 'rules' we expect of her albeit with some "discussion."
She whimpered, then flopped and went right to sleep, and didn't get out all night. And she didn't want to get out this morning, even to fetch her drink cup from the shelf nearby, until she was sure Mumum said it was 'morning.' I saw her hesitate and then sit right back in the place she was last night when I told her to stay there - and look at me with that certain 'remembering' look. She didn't have to say a word - I knew exactly what she was remembering and worried about. I said 'yes it morning!' and smiled - then she was up and out of that bed in a milisecond asking for all the regular things (diaper change, applejacks etc). She gets the 'rule-following' genes from me... but sometimes I have mixed feelings about them :)
I have some little details left on the footed pajamas and then hopefully try them on to see if they are the right size. I hope so! I don't want to try them on her unfinished and make her take them off right away again if she likes them - but don't want to wash them without the details finished etc etc... They feel warm on my lap while I'm working on them, so they should keep her warm, too.
She whimpered, then flopped and went right to sleep, and didn't get out all night. And she didn't want to get out this morning, even to fetch her drink cup from the shelf nearby, until she was sure Mumum said it was 'morning.' I saw her hesitate and then sit right back in the place she was last night when I told her to stay there - and look at me with that certain 'remembering' look. She didn't have to say a word - I knew exactly what she was remembering and worried about. I said 'yes it morning!' and smiled - then she was up and out of that bed in a milisecond asking for all the regular things (diaper change, applejacks etc). She gets the 'rule-following' genes from me... but sometimes I have mixed feelings about them :)
I have some little details left on the footed pajamas and then hopefully try them on to see if they are the right size. I hope so! I don't want to try them on her unfinished and make her take them off right away again if she likes them - but don't want to wash them without the details finished etc etc... They feel warm on my lap while I'm working on them, so they should keep her warm, too.
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