little stutz

Cornelia

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:17:00 +0000

The baby girl likes to cuddle. I know. I know. ALL babies like to cuddle,

but this girl likes to full-on Nuzzle. Rub. Intertwine Fingers. Bury Herself In Your Shirt.

It's darling except that it's difficult for her to fall off to sleep on her own without someone to love on.

Little Miss Love Bug

Our good friends sent us a bright pink stuffed unicorn in the mail a few weeks ago. I named her Cornelia since she's a unicorn...corny eh? Since her arrival she's sat in the corner of the crib, faithfully watching guard over our little lady while she naps. But yesterday it occurred to me that Cornelia might be precisely what Little Alice craves at naptime: a snuggle buddy.

Sure enough, they love on each other all through nap time. Alice rubs her face into Cornelia's belly, exhales happily, and falls off to sleep.

Bento Box

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:51:00 +0000

Lately our meals have been B-O-R-I-N-G. Call me uninspired. Call me lazy. Call me preoccupied with other things. I simply haven't made "exciting meals for toddlers" a top priority lately.

My bad. Who knew that it was as simple as putting all his favorite foods into the freezer tray and calling it a Bento Box?

Clockwise: Fig Newtons, cheddar cheese, smoked salmon, grapes, broccoli, Ritz crackers, and MORE grapes....
because you just can't have too many grapes I always say.

The kid devoured every single morsel.

Chopped Liver

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

We found a book at the Library called Daddy Adventure Day.

Just as you might guess, it's all about a kid who gets to go on an Adventure with his daddy to a baseball game on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

The seed was planted and from then on Jonas pleaded with his dad for a Daddy Adventure Day.... no mom's allowed. When asked what he'd like to do for his Adventure he immediately expressed that he'd like to ride the city bus to the library.

Since I was denied participation from the fun, I was only able to snap a few quick pictures before the door to the bus slammed shut and my boys were off on their wild adventure. Even then Jonas was looking at me with disapproving eyes, as if to say "Jeez mom. This is precisely why you're not allowed to come!"

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Jonas' old school was holding a fund raiser Carnival. The morning was gloomy and cold and we really needed to pep things up a little so we decided to stop by and put some color into the day. It was a farm themed carnival, which just tickled Jonas to no end. He took a few spins on the tractor and dropped his hook in the pond and even milked a pretend cow. (Later he told me that he he helped the cow go pee. Hmmmm....)

But the icing on the cake was getting an airplane painted on his cheek....

....and two pirate tattoos for his hands.

He galloped around the gym waving the back of his hands at people shouting "Aaargh baby!" (translate: argh matey) At dinner that night he kept gazing at his hands and saying "I eat dinner with Captain Hook and Pirate Captain John....AAARGH!"

Love Is In The Air

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:12:00 +0000

What a difference a year makes: on this day last year Jonas was not getting the whole Valentine's Day thing. He'd get one in the mail and look at me with the confusion. It's mail. What's the biggie?

But this year he gets it. Now he'll be the first to tell you the "Val-em-times Day" is the day when you give people hugs and kisses and tell them you love them. And he totally digs it.

This year he treasured the various cards that were given to him by cousins and grandparents and classmates and friends. He'd stow them away in his pockets and then bring them out throughout the days and say, with a dramatic heavy sigh, "I love [the person who gave me this Valentine] sooooo much!"

And last year all he did was sneak his grubby little fingers into my red velvet batter while this year he was actually of some assistance. We made Oreo Crispy Treats (Yup, they're like Rice Crispy Treats.... but with Oreos. And yup, they could quite possibly kill a small bovine) He happily smashed the smithereens out of a bag of Oreo cookies for me, all the while saying, "daddy be sooooo happy!"

He and Alice helped create an art project for daddy's desk at work.

I spent their nap time making a little booklet for Eric....

...so that when he came home from his 14 hour day he was greeted with this!

We love you daddy!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Bad Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:31:00 +0000

There are plenty of moments that don't get documented on the blog for various reasons. Sometimes the camera isn't nearby and so I simply decide to savor the moment for myself rather than worry about sharing it with the world. Sometimes Jonas is moments away from death or a concussion and grabbing the camera just doesn't seem prudent. Other times I don't want to encourage a particular behavior- stopping to snap a picture while he smears fecal matter all over the bedroom wall doesn't really send the right message.

This afternoon as I sat in the living room nursing Alice, Jonas snuck into the laundry room with all the stealth of a Navy SEAL, clambered into the dryer and entertained himself with a giant ball of lint. By the time I'd found him he had settled in quite comfortably to his new nook. I did my best to hold back a smile, feigning disapproval, and explained why it was dangerous to play in the dryer.

And then, lord help me, I took a picture. How could I resist?

As Long As We're Comparing

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:45:00 +0000

Great grandma Alice isn't the only gal that little sister Alice reminds me of these days.

She's showing striking similarities to her auntie Erin as well.

She's got the same teeny little bum, and same long and skinny legs, and the same long slender fingers. But there's something else. Auntie Erin has this funny little quirk- lord knows we all have our "things"; she likes to sleep with her head covered. I've always thought it was sort of an adorable eccentricity. Turns out it's not just a quirk- it's a genetic trait. I know that because little Alice Juel likes it too.

Take a look:

Glitter

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:27:00 +0000

Every teacher will tell you that the bain of their existence is glitter. It's not that glitter's not great- it is- but it's a total hassel. Just when you think you've cleaned it all up you find it under your finger nails or ground into the carpet or spilled all over the homework pile.

So when I found a pack of glitter glue at the dollar store I stood there in that aisle in deep contemplation. Should I? Shouldn't I?

The teacher in me screamed out, "no! you'll never get rid of it!"

The mom in me said, "it'll be a great way to fill a morning!"

Mom overpowered teacher in the end.

Turns out Jonas LOVES glitter glue and as I predicted, it had him totally engrossed this morning at the kitchen table.

And while there was glitter everywhere- in his hair, in his left nostril, on the chair pad, under the table and all over his sippy cup- the means were totally worth the end.

Big Kid

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000

When Jonas was a brand new baby we were given a box of legos as a gift. Seeing as he was incapable of raising his own head, let alone assembling lego parts, the gift was shoved in the back of a closet. It made it through 3 moves and then was stored in the basement closet until the day that it could be used.

The day has come.

After attending the birthday party of a 7 year old Jonas quickly became aware of the simple fact that Legos are cool and all big boys like them. So when we got home we fished the box of blocks out of the basement and let him experience the joy of building!

He needed some assistance from his daddy, but that was part of the fun. They built a house with windows and doors and a snail with a shell on its back and a boy with bright orange hair.

But as with all 2 year olds, his attention span expired after approximately 20 minutes. So he moved on to a new activity- driving cars around his play mat in the bedroom. But just because Jonas was finished didn't mean daddy was. While Jonas had moved on Eric was still totally engrossed. I do believe he continued to play and build for another 15 minutes all on his own- a testament to the fact that Legos really are the coolest things in the world.

....And to the fact that some kids never grow up!

Be Warned

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:18:00 +0000

If you ever come to our home and need to use the restroom, may I suggest that you use the powder room off of the kitchen. The bathroom down the hall from the living room has been taken over by a crazed wild animal. I'd be too concerned for your health and safety if you used it.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:13:00 +0000

The original Alice Juel, my great grandmother, was a tall, muscular, hard working farm girl with Danish heritage. She was not what you would call a slight woman, but rather a gal whose personality and frame lent to the overall impression of a greek warrior woman. Strong. Determined. Capable.

My little Alice Juel had her 2 month checkup this morning and it seems that she is taking after her namesake in the physique department. Long (90th percentile for height) and strong (75th percentile for weight). A lilting flower she is not.

And despite the fact that she was feeling puny from her cough and cranky from her 3 shots, she smiled for Dr. Rice and put on a real show, displaying yet one more of my great grandmother's best traits: eternal optimism and a positive attitude.

Fraudulent Food

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16:00 +0000

Jonas discovered his love of hamburgers last summer at the county fair. It was there that he took his first bite, then continued to demolish a whole burger in less than 5 minutes. His love for burgers has grown with each passing month and on a regular basis he asks if we can drive to the burger place and get a burger. 99% of the time I tell him no.

I've been reading this great cook book that my best friend Kelsie loaned to me. It's called Deceptively Delicious and the basic premise is that we mamas can trick our kids into eating healthy food without them even having to know about it.

There are loads of recipes that hide healthy stuff in kids' favorite foods: pumpkin puree in the chicken nuggets, beet puree in the brownies, and so on and so forth.

So when Jonas asked, yet again, for a cheeseburger I responded with a resounding "Yes". Did I tell him that I loaded the beef with shredded carrots and zucchini? Nope.

Did he care that the fries were made of sweet potato? Didn't seem to.

Score one for the moms.

Take No Prisoners

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:08:00 +0000

This little ailment has effectively wiped out our entire family.

While Jonas seems to be on the road to recovery, Alice and Eric are still stuck in the land of the afflicted. And while I have had a few symptoms too it seems that we mamas are made a little tougher than the rest....simply because we have to be.

Luckily Alice is teeny enough that all she can do to fight this malady is sleep. And sleep she does. Oh, she eats a little too, and needs a diaper change from time to time, but her main endeavor these days is to sleep off this bug.

Daddy seems to think she's got the right idea, because he's attempting to sleep it off too. The two of them snuggle in together in our bed. I poke my head in the door to check on them and am greeted by a duet of snores: one a little more baritone than the other.

My bedside table from left to right: humidifier, white noise maker, bulb syringe, saline wash, gripe water, water

From time to time one will let out a pathetic cough or wimper that prompts me to come running with a glass of water or a kiss on the forehead.

Cabin Fever

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:51:00 +0000

This little cough has really done a number on our social life. We've passed up several playdates and 2 weeks worth of pre-school. Jonas continues to ask if we can go to the Children's Museum or the park or the Bounce and Play and I continue to explain to him why we can't leave the house yet.

We've got sick germs.

But this morning Jonas leaned against the window, his breath leaving a little cloud on the glass, and begged "mom, we go in the rain today?"

I was so tired of telling him no, of explaining what we couldn't do because he was sick, that I broke down and said "sure darlin, let's go play in the rain".

Frolicking in the rain is totally under-rated. The melody of the pitter patter on the umbrella is worth it all by itself, but there is also a thrill that comes with dancing in the middle of a freezing cold downpour and totally enjoying it.

Take that mother nature! You don't scare me! No sir!

It was just the outing we needed.

We'll lick this bug soon enough.

Lashing Out

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:59:00 +0000

Every gal has a list of things she wants to change about herself. I don't mean to sound shallow, it's just a fact that there are things that could be better. For example, I've got this mole on my upper lip that sort of resembles a booger. Total bummer. My toes are short and stubby, resembling little sausages. And then there's my very fine, thin eyelashes. I'd be a great candidate for eye lash transplants.

Which is why I can't- for the life of me- figure out where Jonas got these luscious lashes.

Is it wrong for me to be just a little bit resentful?

Melt My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:55:00 +0000

Just because Jonas is sick doesn't mean we can't let our creative juices keep flowing. In fact, it's one of the few activities we can do since going outside and/or exerting ourselves just leads to more coughing.

So this afternoon, being inspired by Pinterest, Jonas and I did some wax art.

Box of 48 crayons from the Dollar Store + $2 canvas from Michaels = totally worth it!

Step 1: Glue crayons across the top of canvas in rainbow order.

Step 2: Apply heat via blowdryer to induce melting.

Step 3: Watch the rainbow emerge.

Think we'll hang this one somewhere prominently in the house.

Pretty nifty, huh?

Oye Vey

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:45:00 +0000

So Jonas came down with this nasty little cough/cold on Monday afternoon.

I knew something was amiss when the little man asked to leave the "Jump and Play" early. Either he was sick or someone else was parading around as my two year old! By the next morning he had a little fever, a phlegmy cough and a runny nose. Tuesday and Wednesday blurred into each other and I spent the days doing my best to keep Jonas and Alice separated so little girl might be spared. But yesterday it became evident that she too had succumbed to this raunchy little bug.

Despite the mucus and the snot and the puke and the self-imposed isolation, I am enjoying these little ones. Jonas puts on a brave face and remains sweet and cuddly. We watch movies and read books and snuggle. I love how he needs me. We need each other.

Alice, of course, is incapable of understanding what's happening. She looks up at me with her puffy eyes and lets out a sad, desperate moan. It breaks this mama's heart. But despite her helplessness she smiles and coos and nuzzles down in my arms and falls back to sleep.

This too shall pass.

Happy Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

I told you she lights up a room!

Back In The Saddle Again

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

My lens arrived in the mail this morning! I actually did a little happy dance- complete with some disco fever finger pointing and a few karate kicks for good measure.

The mutha is back in working order and this mother is READY to start snapping.

I missed A LOT of good shots in the 3 arduous weeks that my dear darling lens was gone- and when they were happening I'd let out a little whimper at the knowledge that yet another precious moment, sure to be lost in the billions of other precious moments, was going to go undocumented. All you mothers out there know what I mean: surely you can empathize with my fear that I'll forget all the minor little details- the sweet facial expressions and the dimpled knuckles and the skinned up knees and the wriggly toes. All those little details that we take for granted every day but will someday- not long from now- be thirsty for and the only way to quench the overwhelming longing will be to look back at these photos.

So I tried to keep all those moments I missed stored in my mind with the intention of re-creating them. And re-crate them I will. Is that cheating? Probably. But I don't care.

But here's my dilemma: the lens arrived right as both my kiddos were headed for a nap. I had just enough time to snap a few pics, but not nearly enough to scratch this itch of mine.

But know this: once those kids wake up I will be on a picture taking tare and woe to the man who tries to get in my way. (Woe to the woman, too!)

See you soon!

Social Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Social Smile (soh-shuhl smahyl):

A social smile is reciprocal, meaning your baby smiles in response to someone else's smile. It's a sign that several different parts of the brain are maturing. It says he's able to see short distances, make sense of an object, and produce his own smile in return. A social smile also boosts bonding, since it's one of the first forms of communication between parent and child.

And this girl's smile brightens the room, especially after a long and exhausting day.

This smile is also a constant reminder that our little "bump on a log" is truly a little human with likes and dislikes, an emerging personality.

For example, here's what we've learned about her so far:

She hates to have her face cleaned but adores getting her bum cleaned. In fact, she so enjoys the diaper change that sometimes I change her diaper- even if it's not dirty- just to maker her smile.

She prefers the "babbling brook" setting on her noise machine over all the other options (rain, ocean waves and birds chirping).

She likes to nuzzle her face into the crook of my arm and get all hot and cozy in there. And when I check to see that she's still breathing she protests with an unhappy grunt and then goes back to her hiding place.

Her favorite place in the house is on the bathroom counter. She lays there and watches me get ready in the morning cooing at the mirror and basking in the warmth of the heat vent. When I move her she sticks out her lower lip -as if I've totally hurt her feelings- and threatens to cry.

She flirts with our bed comforter. I know- weird, right? But it's got this pattern on it that catches her eye and makes her so delighted that she makes the sweetest noises as she stares at it- particularly at 5am.

The early baby phase is tough, especially when you have a vibrant, engaging, opinionated and adorable two year old for competition. You feed the baby and change them and burp them and bounce them and get very little in return, except for some spit up on your shoulder and a sore back. But we're beginning to see Alice Juel's little personality emerge and it's so very exciting, making the daily grind totally worth it.

The Latest Trend: Blindfolds

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:27:00 +0000

Blaaaah-g

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Did you get my play on words?
"blaaah-g" and "blog"?

Get it?

I am formally apologizing for the state of the blog these days. We encountered some technical difficulties a few days back (curse the new Google+) and have only now remedied the problem.

But the biggest glitch is the fact that my camera is in the shop.

Broken cameras are good for SOME things, but NOT for taking pictures!

I dropped it.

In my defense: it was not out of carelessness. I slipped on wet leaves while walking to the river with Jonas and Alice. I had to choose between catching the camera or shielding Alice from the fall.

I think I made the right decision.

But all that to say, I'm now taking pics with the video camera and they're totally bumming me out. So please be patient with me and my not so awesome pics. Hopefully the camera will be back home where it belongs in the next few days!

BLAHG!

Voyeur

noreply@blogger.com (Essie) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:16:00 +0000

OK. So.

Eric installed a video camera a few months back so that I could monitor what Jonas was doing in his room when he was supposed to be napping. I know, I know. It seems a bit excessive, but after his Benadryl debacle and subsequent overnight hospital stay, it seemed like a totally logical safety precaution.

Usually we just see him talking to his animals, or occasionally hopping out of bed to grab a toy, or flopping about in the covers in an effort to get comfy.

But mostly, we see him reading.

He keeps a flashlight by his bed, and since his headboard is a book shelf, this has become our little man's preferred method of settling down for a rest.

And while I feel only the slightest bit guilty for spying on him in this fashion (don't worry, I'll remove the video cam before he hits puberty), my heart swells every time I see my little man curled up in bed engrossed in a good book.

I know the feeling of getting wrapped up in a book.

I understand the joy that comes from losing yourself in the pages, forgetting what time it is or the fact that I should be sleeping.

I can appreciate the deep and restful sleep that comes as a result of nodding off while reading, still propped up with book in hand.

And I am so looking forward to seeing this little boy's love of reading continue to blossom.

Be still my mama/teacher heart.