Diversions

Things I have been doing while neglecting my blog:

-Primary Program: I've helped out with them in the past, but never been completely in charge. It was interesting. And lots of work. And I'm glad it's over!

-Reading: I've been on a British historical fiction (specifically, the War of the Roses through the Tudors) kick this summer, and now it's continuing into fall. I keep saying each book will be my last, and that I'll break it up with some non-fiction, but that hasn't happened yet.

-Making cookies: Okay, so this isn't any different from the usual, but it's always worth mentioning.

Mabes and a drawing of the playground at school

-The madness which is Mabes. Okay, nothing too crazy. She's still loving school and seems to be doing well; we'll see what her teacher has to say tomorrow at parent/teacher conference. They invited parents to come to their "P.E. Fall Mile." But apparently "mile" is used loosely and it was a lap around the track. She could run a mile (we have on walks before), I was hoping they'd do an actual mile so I could see what her time is. Plus, running a mile might burn off some of that energy. But it was a fun afternoon and the P.E. teacher had some nice things to say about Mabes.

Running (she's in the blue skirt)

-Reading: It takes a while, trying to sort through the Plantagenets, Nevilles, Beauforts, Tudors, Howards, Seymours, Percys, and all the other relevant families, as well try to remember who's loyal to York or Lancaster, who married which cousin, and what they're the Duke or Earl of. And since everyone's name is either Edward, George, Richard, Catherine, Anne, Elizabeth, or Mary, it's extra confusing. I'm working on a wall chart to try to sort it out.

-Visiting Dave's family. That'll get it's own post.

-Staying warm/keeping cool. It cooled off for a while and was perfect. Cold enough at night so that my comforter came out of summer exile, warm enough during the day that my coat remains there. I even got to enjoy hot chocolate in the mornings. But the last few days have been terrible. I didn't complain (much) about the heat in the summer. It's summer. It's supposed to be hot. But at the end of October?!? I'm supposed to be fighting a battle of wills to see if I can wait until November to turn on the heat, not trying to resist turning on the air conditioner. It's hot and muggy, and to make matters worse, yesterday we had a service tech here checking the heater to make sure it's ready for winter. This involved runner the heater for half an hour. It was already 78 degrees in my house.

-Cuddling Babybelle. Seriously, with all her waving/clapping/pattycaking/face-chewing-kisses, I really don't think she could be cuter if she tried. It helps that she's having a good sleep week (as opposed to not-as-good sleep weeks, but even those are nothing compared to other sleep boycotters I could name). I know I just posted about her cuteness, but it's worth mentioning again because her cuteness diverts my attention and therefore prevents me from doing productive things. I'm not complaining, though.

Trying on her puppy costume. Yes, that is a Tupac book in the background.

-Reading. Seriously, I was about to break from historical fiction for a while. But then my most recent book on Richard III came in, a favorite book of my sisters that I have mocked for years because, well, it just looked dumb. (Though it's more fun to mock the author's other book, "Here Be Dragons." I've since learned there are no dragons in the book, but it's still fun to make fun of it.) It is a good book and I'm enjoying it, but between the aforementioned name/title confusion and detailed battle accounts, it's taking some time. And I have 700 pages to go--we'll see if I can finish it before it's due back at the library in two weeks. Of course there's only one copy in the entire library system here and there are already holds for it, so I can't renew it.

Okay, one more because it's cute:

Puppy!

Annabelle has a new nickname. Since she has started crawling, she's been chasing after us with this little puppy-dog expression that seems to say, "What are we doin' guys? What's going on? Look at me, I can come too!" And she just seems puppy like--she's always at our feet, she's great at finding that dropped Joe's O that I missed, she plays fetch, she's great at downward dog, and she likes to try to eat papers or tissues Mabes leaves lying around.* And "Puppy" just seems to fit her.

Yesterday, Dave commented that her cuteness has multiplied exponentially in the last couple of weeks. I've heard more than one guy remark that for the first nine months, the baby belongs to the mom, but then when they start being more fun, it's dad's turn. I miss my cuddly newborn that would sleep on my chest for hours, but hearing her squeal as she chases Dave and crawls through his legs and claps is pretty fun.

Two weeks ago, she cut her first tooth. I was enjoying her gummy smile, but I guess it's about time. Her second one popped through last week and I think another one is coming soon. She's also started waving hello and goodbye. I figured she didn't really get the concept of good-bye, and was just responding to our promptings like a trained monkey. (Nothing wrong with that, I've always wanted a trained monkey.) But she surprised us the other night as she started crawling out of the family room, stopped at the doorway, turned back to us, waved, and then crawled down the hall.

(Awkward close-up, but you can see her teeth.)

I'm really loving this age. She is hilarious and curious and discovering everything around her. She likes to give hugs and I guess what she considers kisses, but is really just her gnawing on my cheek. It's great. She's still very easy-going and happy, though we have discovered that her dislikes include the Chick-Fil-A cow and Dave's new office chair. And while the curiosity is usually cute, I now dread diaper changes. She will.not.lie.down. She has ridiculous core strength and basically does sit ups the whole time. What should take about 45 seconds ends up taking 10 minutes and ends with me wishing I had 5 arms and, in today's case, a last-minute bath for Annabelle before rushing Mabes off to school.

Oh, and she had her 9 month appointment last week. She's doing great, but to my shock, she's dropped from the 90th percentile for height and 60th for weight to 70th percentile for height and 27th for weight. 27?!?! Mabes was off the charts. Annabelle is 17 pounds, 13.5 ounces, whereas Mabes weighed a full 6 pounds more at this age. The doctor assured me that she is perfectly healthy and even has chubby cheeks and thighs, so she's not worried. I think her doctor is tired of repeating "all babies are different"--you'd think I'd get it by now.

For comparison, Mabes at 9 months.

*I don't know if all puppies do that, but my parents' dog Louie has a penchant for tissues, particularly used ones. Thankfully, Mabes only leaves clean ones lying around.

I need ideas

I want to make Mabes' Halloween costume. I'm due for a project, but we're having a hard time agreeing on a costume. First, she wanted to be Mario, but then she realized Mario was a boy and she didn't want to be a boy. I suggested Princess Peach, but she quickly vetoed that one, as someone else might dress up as Bowser and kidnap her. Just as well, I'm done with Mario. Then she suggested Toadette. Again, see earlier statement.

I want to do something cute with both girls, like have Mabes be Little Bo Peep and Ricecake and Babybelle could be her sheep. Or Mabes could be Alice in Wonderland and Annabelle could be the rabbit or something. Or Mabes could be something else cute that would be fun to sew and Annabelle could wear Mabes' old puppy costume. I tried to sell her on Rapunzel (and just found out this morning that a Disney Rapunzel is coming out in November--how have I not heard of this?), but she thought maybe some of the boys in her class might try to climb her hair. That may be a good point.

Her latest idea is that she could be a clown. Please, please no. I hate clowns. Not in a "they scare me and I cry" sort of way, I just think they're creepy and irritating and not funny at all. And I don't want my kid dressing up as something I just want to punch. I would almost rather she dress up as a mime--just as creepy, but less colorful and more subtle about it.

Any ideas? Mabes has been a witch, butterfly, pirate, and puppy. I'm open to anything, but bonus points if a giant tutu is involved. Maybe Annabelle will be a puppy in a giant tutu.