Sunday, December 29, 2013

Clara's First 100 Words

It took just over four months from one word to 100.  The theme was "food," from "yogurt" to "cinnamon."

At the risk of comparing my children, I think it's fascinating that though they said their first words at very different ages (17 months and 14 months respectively), it took them nearly the exact same amount of time to get to 100.

8/23/2013Bear
8/26/2013yogurt
9/5/2013Ducky
Mama
Daddy
Doggy
Please
Peek
eat
baby
11/12/2013Socks
11/15/2013(Ba)nana
yuck (for diaper and trash)
apple
ball
book
11/22/2013Maggie
11/23/2013hot
11/24/2013jump
11/24/2013no
snack
hi
bye
night night
11/29/2013shoe
11/29/2013water (wa wa)
11/29/2013bonk
11/29/2013truck
11/30/2013potty
12/1/2013sorry
12/1/2013star
meat
peek
stuck
plug
12/5/2013soup
12/5/2013step
12/5/2013Papa
12/6/2013truck
12/7/2013dump
12/7/2013up
12/7/2013hat
12/8/2013blue
12/9/2013back
12/9/2013pop
12/10/2013zip
yeah
eyes
steak
hair
milk
12/12/2013outside
12/12/2013moon
12/13/2013shovel
12/13/2013hop
12/13/2013help
12/14/2013egg
12/14/2013strawberry
12/14/2013(avo)cado
12/14/2013butterfly
12/14/2013head
12/15/2013snow
12/15/2013owl
12/15/2013dark
12/15/2013Nana
12/15/2013bacon
fork
some
12/18/2013drink
hug
12/21/2013scissors
12/21/2013brush
12/21/2013sausage
12/21/2013tunnel
12/21/2013show
12/21/2013bubble
out
hand
walk
on
buckle
boot
snoopy
happy
toby (nana's dog)
eggs
12/26/2013happened
12/26/2013purple
12/26/2013slippers
12/26/2013sticker
12/26/2013juice
puppy
12/28/2013feet
12/28/2013phone
12/28/2013new
12/28/2013friend
12/29/2013dress
12/29/2013why
12/29/2013toys
12/29/2013one

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas at Home

We begin our Christmas celebration at our home in Colorado, giving gifts between our immediate family. 

















The infamous candles




Friday, December 20, 2013

Eighteen Month Stats



At 18 months:
your child is 23.375 pounds, and that is
at the 34th percentile for weight.
your child is 31 inches, and that is
at the 26th percentile for height.
your child has a head circumference of 19 inches, and that is
at the 89th percentile for head circumference.


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Early December

The first part of December was a delightful celebration of advent.  It was really fun to have a kid old enough to understand just a little bit what a holiday was, and that it was Jesus' birthday, and why we give gifts. 

Andrew didn't totally understand the gift giving thing, though.  After Daddy took him out shopping one morning, he returned home after a strict discussion that gifts should be a surprise, and announced to me "Mama, we bought you candles!"  The favor was returned a few days later with "Daddy, do you want to see the tools we got you?"  Ah well.  He certainly was full of joy.

Mary, on a tractor


We went to see Santa at the Big R up in Conifer, which was really great, because there was virtually no one there, so the pressure was low.  Andrew didn't really know the process, although we've talked a little about who Santa is.  When Santa asked "What do you want for Christmas?" Andrew gave him a confused look and changed the subject: "Did you know there's a cowboy hat on top of that Christmas tree?"  They also had a discussion of some of the lawn equipment that was sitting outside the store.

Clara wasn't too sure of Santa at first, but agreed to sit on my lap and stare at him.



And then, of course, we had to try on some cowboy hats.  As you do.





Wood piles ready for winter



Watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special

Thursday, December 5, 2013

One Year Ankle Report

A year ago yesterday I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle - a trimalleolar fracture.

This morning I did the P90X Plyometrics workout, which is an hour of jump squats, jump lunges, and other generally high-impact stuff.

I had the thought back in March, after I started walking and at the beginning of physical therapy that I might never walk normally again.  This was a silly, overly dramatic thought to have, and compared to the physical issues that some others have to deal with, this was a super easy recovery.  Still the thought, the fear, was there, and I had no idea how I was going to get better.

But... I did get better.

And I strengthened and stretched.

And I lost over 30 pounds.

And now, I can only tell the difference between my ankles in a couple ways - balance postures in yoga and when hopping on one foot.

I'm so thankful for my health and recovery.  I don't take my ability to walk or run or jump or stand in Tree Pose for granted.


Monday, December 2, 2013

Christmas Tree Hunt

We had originally planned our Christmas Tree Hunt for the following Friday, but the weather forecast showed snow and a cold snap to the single digits... and below.  So we scrambled to rearrange some work schedules and headed out to Pike National Forest on a mild Monday morning.  It being a Monday, we missed Smokey the Bear (he only shows up on weekends), but we had the calm, quiet woods to ourselves. 

The kids were really into the hunt, running from tree to tree and generally having a marvelous time being set free to roam.




We left Clara's mittens in the car, so she had to borrow Daddy's gloves




Andrew helped with the sawing