. . . and just because she's so darn cute, I can hardly stand it.
about a month old
She's usually such a happy, good-natured baby,
but not on picture day.
She cried her eyes out almost the entire time.
We managed to get a few good shots when she paused
in her screaming to breathe.
Leah's first day at church (6 weeks old). I think the lovely pink chairs in the mother's lounge could use a good cleaning.
so happy with a full tummy
Grandma, I promise we'll see you soon.
As all mothers know, a two-year-old's favorite word is usually a loud whiny "NO!" Very annoying.
I've worked hard with Sam to get him to say no politely and in a nice voice. It seems to have taken.
I ask him if he wants some salad
He says politely while violently shaking his head, "No thank you."
I say, "Sam, it's bed time."
He says, in his sad (but still nice) voice, "No thank you."
"Sam, it's shower time."
"No thank you."
As he runs away from me, "Sam, come back!"
Still running, "No thank you."
"Sam quit holding yourself and go use the potty."
"No thank you."
"Do you need to go on time-out!"
"No thank you."
"Pick your trash up off the floor, please."
"No thank you."
"Are you going to throw up?"
"No thank you."
In the movie Blast From the Past, Adam learns from his mother that "good manners are just a way of showing other people we have respect for them." It would appear that Sam has lots of respect for me . . . or am I missing something?
One of my favorite times of day is BEDTIME. I love to crawl into my soft, cozy bed with a book that I read until I fall asleep.
Since Leah is still in our bedroom, though, I haven't been able to read at night, and I MISS IT. I used to have a decent booklight, but it has disappeared along with everything else of interest to a 2 year old that is not nailed down.
The other night, I scrounged around until I found a flashlight and took it to bed with me so I could read without waking up the little angel. I was feeling a little guilty about staying up reading so late, but it was pure heaven.
Until . . .
. . . a big, hairy spider crawled down the sheets right over my arm. Have you ever had to freak out quietly so as not to wake the baby? It's not easy.
Forget sleeping when the baby sleeps. I may never go to bed without my flashlight again!
Sam likes to climb up onto the bathroom counter top. Then he can't get down by himself, so I find myself being called to his rescue several times a day. Last week, this is what happened when he climbed onto the upstairs counter top while I was working in the basement.
It would seem that I didn't hear him calling me, so he finally gave up and took a nap. (Do I win mother of the year?) Poor Sam. He was not a happy boy when he woke up, but he hasn't climbed up since. How's that for effective aversion training?
Does anyone have any suggestions for a gate that he can't yank down or climb over?
I can't imagine that there's ever been another family who has enjoyed a baby more.
I've heard that having a new baby gives you the same feelings as being in love. I'm pretty sure it's true.
She's got the softest cheeks; I can't get enough of kissing them.
She's such a happy, good-natured baby . . . except when she's not. She's been smiling since she was just 2 days old.
The best part of all is that she's a sleeper. She slept through the night for the first time before she was even 2 weeks old. She doesn't always sleep through the night but will usually sleep for at least 5 hours at a time. And she takes a good 3 hour nap every day.
What an angel!
Sam is proving to be such a good big brother. Although he is emotionally traumatized, between whining and crying jags, he asks me all the time if he can "hold it" (eventually, he'll learn to call Leah "her"). Apparently, he doesn't realize that his new baby sister is the reason he has been so out of sorts. He thinks she is so cute and loves her little toes and the funny faces she makes. He only gets upset when Steve holds her. He says (whines), "Daaaaaad, don't do that. Mom holds baby Leah." He loves his new baby.
Leah's feet are hilarious.
Have you ever seen such long, skinny feet on a baby?!? The bandaid makes them look deceptively short, but notice that her heel sticks out past the bandaid. That makes her feet almost as long as her shins.
* I measured; her feet are 3 1/4 inches long, and her shins, from ankle to knee, are 3 3/4 inches long (yes, Ashly, I am a nerd).
