Dear Cordie,
The words "No touching" are just not in your vocabulary right now. Daddy and I say it to you about 100 times a day and instead of any sort of compliance, all I see on your face is the twinkle in your eye of someone who has just been presented with a challenge. My laptop, my camera, my tea, the Blu-Ray player, your brother... I turn my back and you are on it like white on rice. A couple of weeks ago, I raced upstairs to see why you were so quiet only to find you with all of Kingsley's cathing supplies out. The catheter was all lubed up, you were naked and you told me, "I do my pee-pee-nis." I held my breath and waited for you to add, "not" to the end of your sentence, but you didn't. I am not entirely sure what I missed, but I didn't find a cup of pee anywhere so I think I was safe. I had obviously told you not to touch Kingsley's stuff.
It's a never ending battle.
Luckily though, I find it very amusing that reverse psychology works incredibly well with you. If I tell you to take off your clothes or tell you not to put them on, I will find you dressed. If I tell you to not touch your dinner or tell you that it's for Rachel, it will get eaten. If I tell you that we are not going to brush teeth today, you can be found in the bathroom. Although in that case, there will likely be toothpaste all over the place.
Everyday is an adventure with you, Sweet Pea.
Love Mommy
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
You like meals not
Dear Cordie Bean,
Your talking has taken off again. You speak in big long sentences, and although we can't always understand the jumble of words you're saying, you usually get your point across.
My favourite thing that you say is when you try to make something negative. You haven't figured out where the word 'not' goes, so you just tack it on the end. Party 90's catch phrase, part Yoda. All day long I hear things like: "Kingsey is seeping, not," "I want to drink milk, not," "Rachel come to, not," and my favourite, "Hold me, not."
You've started mastering names a bit more as well. Kingsley has gone from Kiki, to Kinky, to King-gee, to Kingsey. Rachel has gone from Chay-cheh, to Way-cheh, to Way-chee or Way-cho. You call yourself Co-dee now, which is like how Rachel used to call you Co-deyah. People used to always say that your siblings would determine your nickname, and I guess that's true because Rachel calls you Cor or Cordie and that's what you now call yourself.
Another quirky phase you're going through is the grazing phase. You refuse to eat meals and instead are constantly in the fridge or cupboards sneaking food. All. Day. Long. It makes me crazy. When no one is looking, you steal the container of Craisins or a box of crackers or an apple. I find bits of food in your playroom, on the couch, left on the front hall floor... crazy making. You just ran in the room right now with an apple that you've pilfered from the fridge. You didn't eat your cereal for breakfast and are probably hungry. I can resist you, not.
Love Mommy.
Your talking has taken off again. You speak in big long sentences, and although we can't always understand the jumble of words you're saying, you usually get your point across.
My favourite thing that you say is when you try to make something negative. You haven't figured out where the word 'not' goes, so you just tack it on the end. Party 90's catch phrase, part Yoda. All day long I hear things like: "Kingsey is seeping, not," "I want to drink milk, not," "Rachel come to, not," and my favourite, "Hold me, not."
You've started mastering names a bit more as well. Kingsley has gone from Kiki, to Kinky, to King-gee, to Kingsey. Rachel has gone from Chay-cheh, to Way-cheh, to Way-chee or Way-cho. You call yourself Co-dee now, which is like how Rachel used to call you Co-deyah. People used to always say that your siblings would determine your nickname, and I guess that's true because Rachel calls you Cor or Cordie and that's what you now call yourself.
Another quirky phase you're going through is the grazing phase. You refuse to eat meals and instead are constantly in the fridge or cupboards sneaking food. All. Day. Long. It makes me crazy. When no one is looking, you steal the container of Craisins or a box of crackers or an apple. I find bits of food in your playroom, on the couch, left on the front hall floor... crazy making. You just ran in the room right now with an apple that you've pilfered from the fridge. You didn't eat your cereal for breakfast and are probably hungry. I can resist you, not.
Love Mommy.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween
Dear My Bug,
This was your third Halloween. Your first Halloween, you dressed up as a bug. That's where you got your nickname from. We called you little bug and for some reason it stuck. The second year, you were a unicorn. Both of these where hand-me-down costumes from your sister that Kamille also wore between.
This year, you were a witch. It's the first time you got a brand new costume all for you. You were beyond adorable! We started off calling you a Halloween Princess because when we told you that you were going to be a witch, you were less than thrilled. For our first Halloween party at the Church, your costume wasn't ready yet, so we put you in Kingsley's monkey costume. You fought it. In the end, you wore it and just sat with Daddy eating Timbits the whole party.
By some miracle, on the day of Malloween'ing, you happily put on your new witch costume. You had a hat that you loved. The skirt was a favorite of Rachel's, so of course you had to like it as well. I put green eyeshadow on you and you just did your shy smile with your lips pressed together, staring at yourself in the mirror for ages.
It took only a few stores during Malloweening for you to figure out that if you held your bag open, they put candy in it. You were thrilled, to say the least.
The next night, Halloween, you again put on your costume happily and were geared up and ready to GO! It was just above freezing, so we stuffed sweaters and layers under you and you didn't care in the slightest. I had to stop back at home to get mitts and hats for you and Rachel, but you didn't seem to notice how freezing it was. You would've gone all night, dragging along your treat bag until it was all torn up with little holes. There aren't a lot of kids on our street, so the neighbours all dumped handfuls of candy and chips into the bags of the sweet little witch and angel. I think you would've stayed out all night.
I absolutely love that you are getting old enough to appreciate Holidays and special days. I love watching you experience new things.
Love Mommy
This was your third Halloween. Your first Halloween, you dressed up as a bug. That's where you got your nickname from. We called you little bug and for some reason it stuck. The second year, you were a unicorn. Both of these where hand-me-down costumes from your sister that Kamille also wore between.
By some miracle, on the day of Malloween'ing, you happily put on your new witch costume. You had a hat that you loved. The skirt was a favorite of Rachel's, so of course you had to like it as well. I put green eyeshadow on you and you just did your shy smile with your lips pressed together, staring at yourself in the mirror for ages.
It took only a few stores during Malloweening for you to figure out that if you held your bag open, they put candy in it. You were thrilled, to say the least.
The next night, Halloween, you again put on your costume happily and were geared up and ready to GO! It was just above freezing, so we stuffed sweaters and layers under you and you didn't care in the slightest. I had to stop back at home to get mitts and hats for you and Rachel, but you didn't seem to notice how freezing it was. You would've gone all night, dragging along your treat bag until it was all torn up with little holes. There aren't a lot of kids on our street, so the neighbours all dumped handfuls of candy and chips into the bags of the sweet little witch and angel. I think you would've stayed out all night.
I absolutely love that you are getting old enough to appreciate Holidays and special days. I love watching you experience new things.
Love Mommy
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Musical Genius
Hi Cordie,
You have decided that you are a singer. You sing all the time. Your favourite songs are naturally the only ones you know and you only know them because I sing them. You can do Twinkle Twinkle, Rockabye Baby, Baby Beluga, and Happy Birthday. You especially love to sing to your little brother. He is apparently tone deaf because you sing about as well as I do, which is not very, and he likes hearing us both.
I love to watch your creativity grow. You not only love to sing, but you also love to dance. I think it first started from watching Rachel, but now you have your own moves and a style all your own. It's very entertaining to watch. Your favourite move right now is one of Rachel's old classics: you bend at the waist with your hands and head on the ground and stick one leg up in the air. Sort of a Downward Dog Going Pee. Priceless.
You are one of a kind, Cordelia.
Love Mommy
You have decided that you are a singer. You sing all the time. Your favourite songs are naturally the only ones you know and you only know them because I sing them. You can do Twinkle Twinkle, Rockabye Baby, Baby Beluga, and Happy Birthday. You especially love to sing to your little brother. He is apparently tone deaf because you sing about as well as I do, which is not very, and he likes hearing us both.
I love to watch your creativity grow. You not only love to sing, but you also love to dance. I think it first started from watching Rachel, but now you have your own moves and a style all your own. It's very entertaining to watch. Your favourite move right now is one of Rachel's old classics: you bend at the waist with your hands and head on the ground and stick one leg up in the air. Sort of a Downward Dog Going Pee. Priceless.
You are one of a kind, Cordelia.
Love Mommy
Monday, August 2, 2010
Loud without Language
Hey Baby,
I can't remember if I mentioned it already, but before Kingsley was born we were worried about your communication. Or, moreso, your lack of it. You didn't talk much and you were supposed to. At 18 months old the minimum 'pass' by the speech and language powers that be was 20 words. You had 19 and they were mostly approximations.
It's a tricky thing, being the second child. I see it all the time with my friends first children, now, but noticed it especially with you and Rachel. First borns seem to talk more. Behaviourally, I can understand it. They have one on one attention, they hang around an adult all day. Second borns hang around the first born all day and have to share any adult attention; language isn't reinforced as much. Rachel was a talker very early on. At 12 months she had 1 word. At 15 months she had a bunch. By 18 months she had well over 400 and I had stopped counting. We aren't supposed to compare kids, but that's a whole lot of talking compared to hardly anything. She was using phrases by 20 months and was having early conversations at two years old.
My point is, this is my norm. I know that 'typical' is somewhere between Rachel and the children with autism that I work with, but I have no idea what that actually looks/sounds like. The result: I was worried. And I knew that I had a baby coming soon that would be occupying a lot of my attention. I didn't want you to get missed if there really was a problem.
By some Christmas miracle, you had a language jump over the Holidays. Whether it was because I was off work then and was around you more to hear what you could say or all of the attention we were giving to you to encourage speech, I don't know. But you picked up a whole bunch of words and even strung a few of them together at a time. I had huge sighs of relief.
It's been eight months since our first worry. You talk a lot now, but Nana is worried again. She thinks you aren't talking enough. Now, I'm worried. I think you talk a lot, but what do I know? I'm trying to go by what I would test for at work, but it's not quite the same. I understand a lot of what you say, but not all of it. You have a lot of sound substitutions. You attempt to find words for everything, but often default to 'yeah', 'no', or 'dis!' You've started doing fill-ins with me with Twinkle Star, Baby Beluga and the Alphabet Song. You're working on colours, but so far everything is pink. You can follow one step instructions, understand some prepositions, and you sing. You now call Kingsley 'Kinky' instead of 'Kiki'. You know that you are 'Deya' and that you are 'DO!' years old. Your receptive language seems alright. You certainly understand when I tell you to do things you don't want to do, because it sends you running.
They also say that children develop in chunks. Some gross motor, then language, then more motor, but rarely at the same time. Rachel took forever to learn how to climb stairs or open doors or jump. She couldn't skip or run very well until she was well into her two's. You, on the other hand, are a mini-Olympian. You run, skip, jump with two feet, dance, climb, and can open just about anything. I think that you are developing physically and the language is just waiting. I think you're just fine. I hope I'm right and in the meantime, I'm doing language drills with you like I would with my clients. You poor thing ;)
I have my fingers crossed for you, baby. I'm on top of this. I won't let you get missed.
Love Mommy
I can't remember if I mentioned it already, but before Kingsley was born we were worried about your communication. Or, moreso, your lack of it. You didn't talk much and you were supposed to. At 18 months old the minimum 'pass' by the speech and language powers that be was 20 words. You had 19 and they were mostly approximations.
It's a tricky thing, being the second child. I see it all the time with my friends first children, now, but noticed it especially with you and Rachel. First borns seem to talk more. Behaviourally, I can understand it. They have one on one attention, they hang around an adult all day. Second borns hang around the first born all day and have to share any adult attention; language isn't reinforced as much. Rachel was a talker very early on. At 12 months she had 1 word. At 15 months she had a bunch. By 18 months she had well over 400 and I had stopped counting. We aren't supposed to compare kids, but that's a whole lot of talking compared to hardly anything. She was using phrases by 20 months and was having early conversations at two years old.
My point is, this is my norm. I know that 'typical' is somewhere between Rachel and the children with autism that I work with, but I have no idea what that actually looks/sounds like. The result: I was worried. And I knew that I had a baby coming soon that would be occupying a lot of my attention. I didn't want you to get missed if there really was a problem.
By some Christmas miracle, you had a language jump over the Holidays. Whether it was because I was off work then and was around you more to hear what you could say or all of the attention we were giving to you to encourage speech, I don't know. But you picked up a whole bunch of words and even strung a few of them together at a time. I had huge sighs of relief.
It's been eight months since our first worry. You talk a lot now, but Nana is worried again. She thinks you aren't talking enough. Now, I'm worried. I think you talk a lot, but what do I know? I'm trying to go by what I would test for at work, but it's not quite the same. I understand a lot of what you say, but not all of it. You have a lot of sound substitutions. You attempt to find words for everything, but often default to 'yeah', 'no', or 'dis!' You've started doing fill-ins with me with Twinkle Star, Baby Beluga and the Alphabet Song. You're working on colours, but so far everything is pink. You can follow one step instructions, understand some prepositions, and you sing. You now call Kingsley 'Kinky' instead of 'Kiki'. You know that you are 'Deya' and that you are 'DO!' years old. Your receptive language seems alright. You certainly understand when I tell you to do things you don't want to do, because it sends you running.
They also say that children develop in chunks. Some gross motor, then language, then more motor, but rarely at the same time. Rachel took forever to learn how to climb stairs or open doors or jump. She couldn't skip or run very well until she was well into her two's. You, on the other hand, are a mini-Olympian. You run, skip, jump with two feet, dance, climb, and can open just about anything. I think that you are developing physically and the language is just waiting. I think you're just fine. I hope I'm right and in the meantime, I'm doing language drills with you like I would with my clients. You poor thing ;)
I have my fingers crossed for you, baby. I'm on top of this. I won't let you get missed.
Love Mommy
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
You are Two
My Little Bugga,
You are two, in every sense of the word, with all it has to offer. Your sister wasn't quite the two year old that you are becoming! You love to climb, you love to yell, you love to cuddle.
Your little body is covered in scabs and bruises and scratches right now. You have a bit of a shiner from banging your face on the table in your playroom, a knee that's been skinned twice in as many days, scratches of an unknown origin on your cheek (Rachel claims innocence), a purple toe from when one of the kitchen chairs toppled over on top of you and bruises right up your shins on both legs. It's a good thing you're a tough little girl. I feel the need to explain to people whenever I catch them looking at you, that you are two years old and like to climb and get into mischief. It's a bit of an understatement.
You are so much louder than your sister. I don't even need to wonder whose voice I hear when it's a yell or holler - it's you. Your favourite time to start screaming is about 30 seconds after Kingsley closes his eyes for a nap. Truthfully, sometimes I want earplugs when I'm around you. Once you get riled up it's like you'll never stop crying/yelling/shouting/screaming. Add to that the fact that you love noise-making toys and it's amazing that your brother gets any sleep at all.
But you are also adorably two. You are still a little bit squishy with the baby chub. Your fingers and cheeks are chubby and so delicious. You're just starting to say "Mommy, uv oooh," (love you) and it melts me every single time. You have the absolute sweetest little face and smile. Every night before bed you want to cuddle and sing Baby Beluga. Then Twinkle Star. Then more Baby Beluga. You sing it to your brother sometimes, but it sounds like: "Bay-bee buuuuuh-ga, oh bay-bee buuuuu-ga," over and over until you get bored and move on.
Rachel is your best friend. You want to be like her and have started dancing like her with your eyes closed doing various yoga moves along with the music. You've got a bit more sass to your moves though, with lots of bum shaking already. You love music. You also adore Kingsley and all your baby dolls. You feed them, change them, put them to bed and even cath them on occasion. You love making Kingsley smile so you can announce: "Kinky Mi-yo! (smile)" If he's upset, you get concerned and try to comfort him.
Right now, our days begin with a snuggle and end with a snuggle. And in between is the utter chaos of being two years old.
Love Mommy
You are two, in every sense of the word, with all it has to offer. Your sister wasn't quite the two year old that you are becoming! You love to climb, you love to yell, you love to cuddle.
Your little body is covered in scabs and bruises and scratches right now. You have a bit of a shiner from banging your face on the table in your playroom, a knee that's been skinned twice in as many days, scratches of an unknown origin on your cheek (Rachel claims innocence), a purple toe from when one of the kitchen chairs toppled over on top of you and bruises right up your shins on both legs. It's a good thing you're a tough little girl. I feel the need to explain to people whenever I catch them looking at you, that you are two years old and like to climb and get into mischief. It's a bit of an understatement.
You are so much louder than your sister. I don't even need to wonder whose voice I hear when it's a yell or holler - it's you. Your favourite time to start screaming is about 30 seconds after Kingsley closes his eyes for a nap. Truthfully, sometimes I want earplugs when I'm around you. Once you get riled up it's like you'll never stop crying/yelling/shouting/screaming. Add to that the fact that you love noise-making toys and it's amazing that your brother gets any sleep at all.
But you are also adorably two. You are still a little bit squishy with the baby chub. Your fingers and cheeks are chubby and so delicious. You're just starting to say "Mommy, uv oooh," (love you) and it melts me every single time. You have the absolute sweetest little face and smile. Every night before bed you want to cuddle and sing Baby Beluga. Then Twinkle Star. Then more Baby Beluga. You sing it to your brother sometimes, but it sounds like: "Bay-bee buuuuuh-ga, oh bay-bee buuuuu-ga," over and over until you get bored and move on.
Rachel is your best friend. You want to be like her and have started dancing like her with your eyes closed doing various yoga moves along with the music. You've got a bit more sass to your moves though, with lots of bum shaking already. You love music. You also adore Kingsley and all your baby dolls. You feed them, change them, put them to bed and even cath them on occasion. You love making Kingsley smile so you can announce: "Kinky Mi-yo! (smile)" If he's upset, you get concerned and try to comfort him.
Right now, our days begin with a snuggle and end with a snuggle. And in between is the utter chaos of being two years old.
Love Mommy
Monday, July 19, 2010
Toilet Trauma
Dear CorBear,
Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that we started toilet training this week. You're doing alright with it. You seem to have been wanting to do it for some time now, but I've been avoiding it for one reason or another. Either way, we started last Friday. It was a disaster. You had 7 accidents and 3 successes. The next day you had 1 success and you held it a lot. I think you must've let it all out in your naptime pull up. Yesterday was fabulous. You went on the potty all by yourself! And today was similar. Two accidents, both poops. But at least you didn't sit in them like your sister used to do. You're learning and growing up. I want to keep you small and see you grow at the same time.
Love Mommy
Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that we started toilet training this week. You're doing alright with it. You seem to have been wanting to do it for some time now, but I've been avoiding it for one reason or another. Either way, we started last Friday. It was a disaster. You had 7 accidents and 3 successes. The next day you had 1 success and you held it a lot. I think you must've let it all out in your naptime pull up. Yesterday was fabulous. You went on the potty all by yourself! And today was similar. Two accidents, both poops. But at least you didn't sit in them like your sister used to do. You're learning and growing up. I want to keep you small and see you grow at the same time.
Love Mommy
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Your Party
Hello My Dear,
Today was your birthday party. It was a rainy day, but that didn't really matter. You slept in, as did your sister, brother and father, so I got up early and got a head start on cleaning and getting things ready. When you all got up, you and Daddy and Rachel went out to run errands. I think you went to Tim Horton's, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Everything for a Dollar Store in Westmount Mall. You got home in time for lunch and then I rushed you up for your nap around 1pm.
Your first guests arrived before you were even up! Jill, Evan, and Maeve Maloney got here just before 3pm. Jill and I went to highschool together and Evan has been here for a few play dates. The gift they brought you was a Jesse the Cowgirl doll from Toy Story 2/3 and he was so excited for you to open it that he kept taking it out of the gift bag to show you throughout your party until we finally told you it was okay to 'open' your gift.
I got you up around 3pm and got you dressed for your party. You wore a gorgeous little white and green dress that I had bought at a second hand sale, but it looked brand new and was the perfect colours for you. I didn't try it on you ahead of time and it ended up being a little big and the straps slid down all afternoon. By the end of the party, you had spent some quality time with the chocolate fountain, dipping marshmallows, and the dress is now touch and go as far as surviving the stains. In your hair, you wore two clips that my friend Dawn made for you. They were ribbon clips with pink and green birthday cakes on them.
The other guests at your party were Silvia, Ron, Eric and Scarlet LeClair, Nana and Grandpa, Grandma, Tony, Patty, and Katie Farrell, and Madelyne Gonzalez. You had a great time. We played Pass the Parcel (the prize was animal crackers) and a pretty intense game of Musical Books which ended with Eric and Evan going head to head (almost literally!) over the last book.
Your cake was a chocolate barn with pink butter cream icing and 3 kinds of cupcakes: chocolate with mint butter cream icing (sheep), rainbow bit with pink butter cream icing (pigs), and lemon with lemon butter cream icing (chicks). You chose a pink pig to eat, but didn't end up eating much of it at the moment. You did an awesome job blowing out your candles and weren't too shy about being the centre of attention.
Today was your birthday party. It was a rainy day, but that didn't really matter. You slept in, as did your sister, brother and father, so I got up early and got a head start on cleaning and getting things ready. When you all got up, you and Daddy and Rachel went out to run errands. I think you went to Tim Horton's, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Everything for a Dollar Store in Westmount Mall. You got home in time for lunch and then I rushed you up for your nap around 1pm.
Aside from the Jesse doll, you got a sandbox, sand toys and a couple outfits (Grandma), 6 trains (Nana and Grandpa), a train table and blocks (me and Daddy), a set of garden tools (Madelyne), a worm sprinkler (the LeClairs), and a Gator Golf game (the Farrells).
It was a great party overall. You and Rachel played hard with your new toys after everyone left and you slept well when it was finally time for bed.
I am so proud of you, my little Strawberry Bug. You were such a sweet little thing today and I just wanted to smother you with love and kisses. Happy Birthday!
Love Mommy
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Birthday Girl
Hello My Sweet Birthday Girl,
You are so beautiful. Today you turned two years old.
If we ask you, you say you're, "DO!" and hold up all your fingers trying to figure out how many and which ones you should be showing me.
I had to wake you up this morning so that we could take Rachel to preschool. You were sleepy faced and gorgeous. Your hair was matted into the biggest rat's nest on the back of your head that stuck straight out. You picked a dress to wear and we got you dressed. For breakfast, you had Honey Bunches of Oats with cinnamon clusters and juice in your Elmo cup, which you spilled everywhere. While you ate I showed you an e-card that Grandpa sent you. You gave me your shy smile when you heard it say your name and you just kept saying, "More," over and over whenever it ended.
I dropped you off at Nana and Grandpa's on the way to Rachel's preschool. Nana told me later that you played outside and in the basement and had a great time. She also told me that you peed on the toilet! You've never done that before. I guess that means toilet training is in your near future. While you were there I took Kingsley grocery shopping and to the mall to get your birthday present. I know, I should have gotten it earlier, but we've been so busy the time slipped away from me.
I picked up Rachel and then picked you up. I gave you both a little packet of animal crackers and a juice box and we went to pick up some cloth diapers that we're trying out. When we got to the store, you pushed Rachel because she was trying to hold your hand and she fell and skinned her knee. She was quite devastated by this.
For lunch, you chose to have leftover quesadilla's over a peanut butter wrap, but you were so tired by the time lunch was ready that you just asked for your blankie and I took you up to bed. You go down for your naps really easily. You seem to know that you need one and just curl up with your thumb in your mouth and your blankets over you.
When you woke up, Grandma was here. She likes to bring you guys pink roses on your birthdays. She stayed for a bit and then went home. We went outside and you and Rachel played in the little pool while Kingsley and I watched. You had an awesome time. You were quite upset when I started to drain the water so that we could go in for dinner. We'll go out again tomorrow, it's supposed to be nice again.
For dinner, we had four cheese penne pasta with tomatoes. You had two bowls of applesauce while you were waiting and then gobbled it up. After dinner we webcam'ed with Auntie Kristi and Karis and then we gave you your present. It was some new sand toys (because Grandma is giving you a sand box on Saturday) and a ball that sprays water everywhere... I'm not quite sure how it works, we'll find out tomorrow! The five of us walked to McDonald's after dinner for ice cream cones. You rode with Rachel in the red wagon and I wore Kingsley in the dragonfly mei tai.
Daddy put you to bed when we got home. I think you had a good day. You certainly looked happy and seemed like you were having a good time!
Your birth day was one of the most beautiful, magical days of my life. The day you arrived brought me happiness that you can't even imagine yet. Your birth was amazing. I want to remember it on every birthday you celebrate and celebrate the day the world became a little bit sweeter. I love you so much, Strawberry Bug. Happy Birthday!!
Love Mommy
You are so beautiful. Today you turned two years old.
If we ask you, you say you're, "DO!" and hold up all your fingers trying to figure out how many and which ones you should be showing me.
I had to wake you up this morning so that we could take Rachel to preschool. You were sleepy faced and gorgeous. Your hair was matted into the biggest rat's nest on the back of your head that stuck straight out. You picked a dress to wear and we got you dressed. For breakfast, you had Honey Bunches of Oats with cinnamon clusters and juice in your Elmo cup, which you spilled everywhere. While you ate I showed you an e-card that Grandpa sent you. You gave me your shy smile when you heard it say your name and you just kept saying, "More," over and over whenever it ended.
I dropped you off at Nana and Grandpa's on the way to Rachel's preschool. Nana told me later that you played outside and in the basement and had a great time. She also told me that you peed on the toilet! You've never done that before. I guess that means toilet training is in your near future. While you were there I took Kingsley grocery shopping and to the mall to get your birthday present. I know, I should have gotten it earlier, but we've been so busy the time slipped away from me.
I picked up Rachel and then picked you up. I gave you both a little packet of animal crackers and a juice box and we went to pick up some cloth diapers that we're trying out. When we got to the store, you pushed Rachel because she was trying to hold your hand and she fell and skinned her knee. She was quite devastated by this.
For lunch, you chose to have leftover quesadilla's over a peanut butter wrap, but you were so tired by the time lunch was ready that you just asked for your blankie and I took you up to bed. You go down for your naps really easily. You seem to know that you need one and just curl up with your thumb in your mouth and your blankets over you.
When you woke up, Grandma was here. She likes to bring you guys pink roses on your birthdays. She stayed for a bit and then went home. We went outside and you and Rachel played in the little pool while Kingsley and I watched. You had an awesome time. You were quite upset when I started to drain the water so that we could go in for dinner. We'll go out again tomorrow, it's supposed to be nice again.
For dinner, we had four cheese penne pasta with tomatoes. You had two bowls of applesauce while you were waiting and then gobbled it up. After dinner we webcam'ed with Auntie Kristi and Karis and then we gave you your present. It was some new sand toys (because Grandma is giving you a sand box on Saturday) and a ball that sprays water everywhere... I'm not quite sure how it works, we'll find out tomorrow! The five of us walked to McDonald's after dinner for ice cream cones. You rode with Rachel in the red wagon and I wore Kingsley in the dragonfly mei tai.
Daddy put you to bed when we got home. I think you had a good day. You certainly looked happy and seemed like you were having a good time!
Your birth day was one of the most beautiful, magical days of my life. The day you arrived brought me happiness that you can't even imagine yet. Your birth was amazing. I want to remember it on every birthday you celebrate and celebrate the day the world became a little bit sweeter. I love you so much, Strawberry Bug. Happy Birthday!!
Love Mommy
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Your Name
Dear Cordelia,
I love your name. I love love love love love your name. I love the way it rolls off my tongue: Cordelia Capri. It's so pretty. I hope one day you feel the same and never hate it for being unique or a bit unconventional. I'll tell you where I got it from.
Your Daddy and I do not agree on names. It took us ages to name your sister and I was pretty happy when I was able to find out halfway through my pregnancy that you were a girl. That narrowed down the name choices by half. At least we had a gender!
As with Rachel's pregnancy, we went to baby name books for ideas. I can't even remember how many books we went through. It feels like about 100 when I think back, but I'm sure it wasn't that many. I would get about 5 at a time from the library and just devour them, passing them back to your Dad to let him have a look through for something, anything that we could both agree on.
Also, like when I was pregnant with Rachel, Daddy and I would regularily toss out names that were quickly and forcefully shut down by each other. We could not agree on anything! Between you and I, your Daddy has horrid taste in names.
Finally, one day I was looking through a book:(I think it was: The Penguin classic baby name book 2,000 names from the world's great literature by Grace Hamlin) and it had a bunch of names from literature. There were so many older, classic, rare names in that book and one of them was Cordelia, from Shakespeare's King Lear. I called that one out to your Daddy (I can even picture where I was, sitting on the couch in the TV room, closer to the door) and he said something, sort of commenting on how that was a name from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (true! And I do love that show), but all I heard was the absence of NO! I knew that was it. He pretended to not like it over the next few months, and hem and haw and say that he wasn't agreeing to it, but I knew I had him and Cordelia was going to be your name.
From there, I needed a middle name. We had sort of set something up with Rachel having the double consonant name. Daddy really liked that and insisted that your middle name be a hard C/K sound as well. That was limiting!
I don't remember when it was exactly, but I got a new CD from the library by Colbie Caillat. I listened to it one morning while commuting to Lansdowne Children's Centre in Brantford. When I was a couple blocks from work, the last song started to play. The first line was: "She's got a baby inside" and my ears perked up. By the chorus, I was tearing up and knew that I had found your middle name. I went home that night and told Daddy that your name was Cordelia Capri and he said I was having a 'hippy moment' and that Capri was not a name. I googled. It's not technically, but it's an island and a car and a pizza place on the corner of Wonderland and Sarnia. And a pant, of course. But, once again, I could see that your Daddy was going to come around. I offered Caprice as a compromise, but he didn't like it. He tries to pretend that the names I pick out are weird, but inside I know he loves that your name is unique.
And so, Cordelia Capri it was.
Capri
She’s got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She’s sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing
And oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
That she'll grow to be
So beautifully
Just like her mother
That’s carrying
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
There is and angel growin’ peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet baby
And things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
Just listening
Patiently, oh Capri
Sweet baby
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
Your beauty
Just like your mother
That’s carrying...Oh Capri
Love Mommy
I love your name. I love love love love love your name. I love the way it rolls off my tongue: Cordelia Capri. It's so pretty. I hope one day you feel the same and never hate it for being unique or a bit unconventional. I'll tell you where I got it from.
Your Daddy and I do not agree on names. It took us ages to name your sister and I was pretty happy when I was able to find out halfway through my pregnancy that you were a girl. That narrowed down the name choices by half. At least we had a gender!
As with Rachel's pregnancy, we went to baby name books for ideas. I can't even remember how many books we went through. It feels like about 100 when I think back, but I'm sure it wasn't that many. I would get about 5 at a time from the library and just devour them, passing them back to your Dad to let him have a look through for something, anything that we could both agree on.
Also, like when I was pregnant with Rachel, Daddy and I would regularily toss out names that were quickly and forcefully shut down by each other. We could not agree on anything! Between you and I, your Daddy has horrid taste in names.
Finally, one day I was looking through a book:(I think it was: The Penguin classic baby name book 2,000 names from the world's great literature by Grace Hamlin) and it had a bunch of names from literature. There were so many older, classic, rare names in that book and one of them was Cordelia, from Shakespeare's King Lear. I called that one out to your Daddy (I can even picture where I was, sitting on the couch in the TV room, closer to the door) and he said something, sort of commenting on how that was a name from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (true! And I do love that show), but all I heard was the absence of NO! I knew that was it. He pretended to not like it over the next few months, and hem and haw and say that he wasn't agreeing to it, but I knew I had him and Cordelia was going to be your name.
From there, I needed a middle name. We had sort of set something up with Rachel having the double consonant name. Daddy really liked that and insisted that your middle name be a hard C/K sound as well. That was limiting!
I don't remember when it was exactly, but I got a new CD from the library by Colbie Caillat. I listened to it one morning while commuting to Lansdowne Children's Centre in Brantford. When I was a couple blocks from work, the last song started to play. The first line was: "She's got a baby inside" and my ears perked up. By the chorus, I was tearing up and knew that I had found your middle name. I went home that night and told Daddy that your name was Cordelia Capri and he said I was having a 'hippy moment' and that Capri was not a name. I googled. It's not technically, but it's an island and a car and a pizza place on the corner of Wonderland and Sarnia. And a pant, of course. But, once again, I could see that your Daddy was going to come around. I offered Caprice as a compromise, but he didn't like it. He tries to pretend that the names I pick out are weird, but inside I know he loves that your name is unique.
And so, Cordelia Capri it was.
Capri
She’s got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She’s sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing
And oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
That she'll grow to be
So beautifully
Just like her mother
That’s carrying
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
There is and angel growin’ peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet baby
And things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
Just listening
Patiently, oh Capri
Sweet baby
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
Your beauty
Just like your mother
That’s carrying...Oh Capri
Love Mommy
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Swimming
Dear Cordie Bean,
I took you and Kingsley swimming today with Nana at the South London Community Pool. You were amazing! You wore a little pink bathing suit that looks like a two piece with a big bug over the tummy. Your hair was a mess all over the place.
You haven't been swimming since last summer and we barely even went then. You went to the wading pool at Southcrest a few times and the beach, but that's about it. I wasn't sure how you'd do and at first you didn't seem to have any interest in the swimming thing. You asked to leave, "All done! All done!" (which sounds like Aw, dunn!). I swished you around in the water a bit to get you used to it and by the end of the 25 minutes we were there, you were doing beautiful back floats with me just holding your shoulders, jumping off the underwater ledge into my arms, blowing bubbles, kicking and paddling your arms. You even went under one time by accident and didn't fuss at all.
I was so proud of my little swimmer. I can't wait to take you again next week.
Love Mommy
I took you and Kingsley swimming today with Nana at the South London Community Pool. You were amazing! You wore a little pink bathing suit that looks like a two piece with a big bug over the tummy. Your hair was a mess all over the place.
You haven't been swimming since last summer and we barely even went then. You went to the wading pool at Southcrest a few times and the beach, but that's about it. I wasn't sure how you'd do and at first you didn't seem to have any interest in the swimming thing. You asked to leave, "All done! All done!" (which sounds like Aw, dunn!). I swished you around in the water a bit to get you used to it and by the end of the 25 minutes we were there, you were doing beautiful back floats with me just holding your shoulders, jumping off the underwater ledge into my arms, blowing bubbles, kicking and paddling your arms. You even went under one time by accident and didn't fuss at all.
I was so proud of my little swimmer. I can't wait to take you again next week.
Love Mommy
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Lately
Dear Cordie,
You are a little monkey right now. It's easing up, but the first few months after Kingsley came home were rough. Right now you are very calm. You are sitting beside me on the couch, wrapped up in a bunch of blankets eating popcorn, drinking hot chocolate and watching Elf. It's a rainy Sunday morning and this was the movie Rachel picked. You guys love it and it makes me laugh.
You are a little monkey right now. It's easing up, but the first few months after Kingsley came home were rough. Right now you are very calm. You are sitting beside me on the couch, wrapped up in a bunch of blankets eating popcorn, drinking hot chocolate and watching Elf. It's a rainy Sunday morning and this was the movie Rachel picked. You guys love it and it makes me laugh.
This is you trying to play on my computer. You are always dragging these chairs around the house to reach things you shouldn't.
We went to Eric LeClairs birthday last Saturday and you were such a sweetheart. You didn't play much of the games that were organized, preferring instead to sit by yourself and play with toys, or sit with Rachel and eat, or hang out by me. There were a lot of people there.
I love you, Strawberry Bug.
Love Mommy
Your NickNames
Dear Cordelia,
I blame your Grandpa for all of your nicknames. He had so many for me and Auntie Kristi and Uncle David growing up and it was just natural for me to give you a bunch, too. Your Daddy used to worry that you kids would never respond to your own name because I rarely used it. Here is where your current names came from:
CC: This was your very first nickname. Nana and Grandpa didn't like your name when I first told it to them. It was a bit out there for them. So, Grandpa came up with CC which are obviously your initials. He calls you this and sometimes other people like Rachel will as well.
Miss C: another one from your initials. Little Miss C was what I called you a lot in the first months before Bug came along.
Bug, Bugs, Buggaboo, Buggie: I think this came from your first Halloween when we dressed you up as a caterpillar. You were such a cute litte bug. I guess it just stuck. The rest of the Bug names just expanded from that. Oddly though, you are currently TERRIFIED of bugs. All bugs. You freeze in terror and burst into tears whenever you notice a bee or wasp or fly, literally shaking until it goes away. Breaks my heart. I think it's because last summer you were stung by two wasps and somewhere you must remember this, although you were barely 1 and can't possibly really remember it.
Cor, Cordie, CorBear, Delia, DeeliBug: these are all versions of your name. I was sure I'd call you Delia once you were born, but I don't all the time. It didn't suit you as a baby and I'm still not sure it does. Maybe when you're older.
Cordie Bean, CorBean, Bean: this came from your second nanny, Ali. She started calling you Bean which is what my nickname is. It fits for you since you're a second/middle child just like me! And it sounds cute.
The Marvelous Cormelia: Rachel called you this and it somehow stuck. She shuts you out of a room, then dramatically opens the door and yells: "It's the Marvelous! Cormeeeeeeeeelia!!" It makes you laugh so now I find myself calling you The Marvelous Cormelia at random times.
Strawberry Bug: this is another of your new names. You look just gorgeous in pink with your pink cheeks and red hair. Just like a strawberry. And Grandpa recently sent me a video about strawberry bugs, so it turns out they're a real thing. You are far cuter than the real bugs though.
Love Mommy
I blame your Grandpa for all of your nicknames. He had so many for me and Auntie Kristi and Uncle David growing up and it was just natural for me to give you a bunch, too. Your Daddy used to worry that you kids would never respond to your own name because I rarely used it. Here is where your current names came from:
CC: This was your very first nickname. Nana and Grandpa didn't like your name when I first told it to them. It was a bit out there for them. So, Grandpa came up with CC which are obviously your initials. He calls you this and sometimes other people like Rachel will as well.
Miss C: another one from your initials. Little Miss C was what I called you a lot in the first months before Bug came along.
Bug, Bugs, Buggaboo, Buggie: I think this came from your first Halloween when we dressed you up as a caterpillar. You were such a cute litte bug. I guess it just stuck. The rest of the Bug names just expanded from that. Oddly though, you are currently TERRIFIED of bugs. All bugs. You freeze in terror and burst into tears whenever you notice a bee or wasp or fly, literally shaking until it goes away. Breaks my heart. I think it's because last summer you were stung by two wasps and somewhere you must remember this, although you were barely 1 and can't possibly really remember it.
Cor, Cordie, CorBear, Delia, DeeliBug: these are all versions of your name. I was sure I'd call you Delia once you were born, but I don't all the time. It didn't suit you as a baby and I'm still not sure it does. Maybe when you're older.
Cordie Bean, CorBean, Bean: this came from your second nanny, Ali. She started calling you Bean which is what my nickname is. It fits for you since you're a second/middle child just like me! And it sounds cute.
The Marvelous Cormelia: Rachel called you this and it somehow stuck. She shuts you out of a room, then dramatically opens the door and yells: "It's the Marvelous! Cormeeeeeeeeelia!!" It makes you laugh so now I find myself calling you The Marvelous Cormelia at random times.
Strawberry Bug: this is another of your new names. You look just gorgeous in pink with your pink cheeks and red hair. Just like a strawberry. And Grandpa recently sent me a video about strawberry bugs, so it turns out they're a real thing. You are far cuter than the real bugs though.
Love Mommy
Friday, April 23, 2010
Park
Dear Cordelia,
Today we went to the park with Rachel and Kingsley. We met a friend of mine, Alison, and her four kids. We had a picnic and then played on the equipment and fed the geese. You had so much fun. I found out today what a daredevil you are. You played mostly by yourself, swinging on the bars above the slides, going down the slides, watching the other kids, playing with he debris under the equipment. You had a great time. I absolutely love watching you explore the world and test your limits.
Today we went to the park with Rachel and Kingsley. We met a friend of mine, Alison, and her four kids. We had a picnic and then played on the equipment and fed the geese. You had so much fun. I found out today what a daredevil you are. You played mostly by yourself, swinging on the bars above the slides, going down the slides, watching the other kids, playing with he debris under the equipment. You had a great time. I absolutely love watching you explore the world and test your limits.
Love Mommy
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Who You Are Right Now
Hey Bugga,
You will be 2 years old in 1 month and 3 days.
You are my sassy, saucy little girl. Your hair is bright orange, with a strip of white blonde across the back. You badly need a haircut since it grows in all different directions and hangs in your face, but I have no idea what to do with it. You have your Daddies almond eye shape and they are bright blue against your smooth white skin. When someone first looks at you, they might think that you are still a chubby little toddler, but it's only your cheeks that give off that implication. Your neck is a skinny little thing that leads down to your perfect little body that is slowly losing it's squishy baby-ness.
Everyone adores you. Once they get past how absolutely gorgeous you are, they realize that you are so incredibly sweet by nature. When we are out in public, you are an angel. Quietly smiling your sweet smile or hiding your face in shyness. At home, you are less so. You are loud, persistent, and inquisitive. Right now you have a half eaten slice of apple on your head and are gleefully telling me: "Appou! Appou!" like it's the funniest thing you've ever done. Your brother is whining from his swing because earlier you woke him up from your nap with your crying and yelling for your "Bankee!" (which is in the wash because you took your diaper off and peed on everything in your crib last night). One smile though, and you pretty much get away with anything. You are so precious.
Your language is coming in leaps and bounds right now. Before Christmas and Kingsley, I was worried about how much you weren't talking. Part of me was ready to get you assessed, part of me knew you just needed time. And you did! Now, you seem to delight in rolling your tongue over new words and saying them over and over to get the sounds closer to what we say. You are so proud of yourself when you put multiple words together and you stick "Mommy" onto any phrase you can: "All done, Mommy!" "Thankoo, Mommy!" "Mo'e jui, Mommy!" and your favourite "O-K, Mommy!"
You are the one that Christened Kingsley as 'Kiki', even before you started saying 'Ay-tchee' for the sister you've had your whole life. You adore your little brother and have from the first time you laid eyes on him in the hospital. He's your live doll and you are such a good mommy. Rachel, though, is the one you run to when I've said something you don't like. You run with your arms wide open, hoping for a hug from your big sister that will make it all okay.
I love watching you grow and learn and discover, Cordelia. You are at such a fast paced age and when you get into a snuggly mood I dive right in to hold onto the last moments of your babyhood. You give the best hugs and the smooshiest kisses.
Love Mommy
You will be 2 years old in 1 month and 3 days.
You are my sassy, saucy little girl. Your hair is bright orange, with a strip of white blonde across the back. You badly need a haircut since it grows in all different directions and hangs in your face, but I have no idea what to do with it. You have your Daddies almond eye shape and they are bright blue against your smooth white skin. When someone first looks at you, they might think that you are still a chubby little toddler, but it's only your cheeks that give off that implication. Your neck is a skinny little thing that leads down to your perfect little body that is slowly losing it's squishy baby-ness.
Everyone adores you. Once they get past how absolutely gorgeous you are, they realize that you are so incredibly sweet by nature. When we are out in public, you are an angel. Quietly smiling your sweet smile or hiding your face in shyness. At home, you are less so. You are loud, persistent, and inquisitive. Right now you have a half eaten slice of apple on your head and are gleefully telling me: "Appou! Appou!" like it's the funniest thing you've ever done. Your brother is whining from his swing because earlier you woke him up from your nap with your crying and yelling for your "Bankee!" (which is in the wash because you took your diaper off and peed on everything in your crib last night). One smile though, and you pretty much get away with anything. You are so precious.
Your language is coming in leaps and bounds right now. Before Christmas and Kingsley, I was worried about how much you weren't talking. Part of me was ready to get you assessed, part of me knew you just needed time. And you did! Now, you seem to delight in rolling your tongue over new words and saying them over and over to get the sounds closer to what we say. You are so proud of yourself when you put multiple words together and you stick "Mommy" onto any phrase you can: "All done, Mommy!" "Thankoo, Mommy!" "Mo'e jui, Mommy!" and your favourite "O-K, Mommy!"
You are the one that Christened Kingsley as 'Kiki', even before you started saying 'Ay-tchee' for the sister you've had your whole life. You adore your little brother and have from the first time you laid eyes on him in the hospital. He's your live doll and you are such a good mommy. Rachel, though, is the one you run to when I've said something you don't like. You run with your arms wide open, hoping for a hug from your big sister that will make it all okay.
I love watching you grow and learn and discover, Cordelia. You are at such a fast paced age and when you get into a snuggly mood I dive right in to hold onto the last moments of your babyhood. You give the best hugs and the smooshiest kisses.
Love Mommy
Dear Cordelia
Hi Angel,
You are sitting in your booster seat looking at me with your big blue eyes while I type this. You have a gross mess of your breakfast that you are delightfully playing in. There is milk, cereal, and juice all mixed up in a cup, bowl and face cloth. Now you're drinking it with a spoon, which would seem disgusting, but you're giving me your secret smile with your lips pressed tightly together and announcing, "Nilk! Nilk!"
Since the moment I found out you were a girl, I worried about you being the middle child, the second girl. When we found out that Kingsley was a boy, and a boy with Spina Bifida no less, I worried even more that you would get lost in our family the way I often felt in my own. But you are anything but lost here. You are my crazy, delicious little Strawberry Bug and I want to tell you all about you.
Love Mommy
You are sitting in your booster seat looking at me with your big blue eyes while I type this. You have a gross mess of your breakfast that you are delightfully playing in. There is milk, cereal, and juice all mixed up in a cup, bowl and face cloth. Now you're drinking it with a spoon, which would seem disgusting, but you're giving me your secret smile with your lips pressed tightly together and announcing, "Nilk! Nilk!"
Since the moment I found out you were a girl, I worried about you being the middle child, the second girl. When we found out that Kingsley was a boy, and a boy with Spina Bifida no less, I worried even more that you would get lost in our family the way I often felt in my own. But you are anything but lost here. You are my crazy, delicious little Strawberry Bug and I want to tell you all about you.
Love Mommy
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