The L.A. Dime

There are times in everyone’s life where you wake up and wonder what challenge you’ll be faced with today….we’ve had about 2 weeks of those kinds of mornings but are hoping to get a bit of a breather now. Here’s a recap of what’s been happening in the Riddell household:
- My car needed a new compressor which left Brad & the kids needing to extend our stay with Jan & Kerry for a couple of extra days (while I had to fly back for work)
- The water heater went out and needed to be replaced
- Brad lost his wallet
- Brad got glutened in a GF pizza restaurant
- Sophie’s cough continues even after 10 days of antibiotics; she’s now on some allergy meds to see if that might be the cause (rather than the flu)

While each of these instances can be frustrating and create a lot of extra work, combined they have left me anxious and not sleeping well at night. But hey, “this too shall pass” and by next week, I’ll be laughing about it all….maybe:)

Month 7 marked a big milestone for you – being able to sit totally unassisted and for long periods of time! You love this new freedom of being able to see the world from a different perspective and grabbing whatever is in front of you.

By month 8 you have learned how to scoot yourself around in a circle (while staying on your butt) and even moving yourself forwards to get a toy.

You have also started to laugh out loud – especially when we are silly with you and make a big “O” with your mouth when you are excited.

Eating has become a lot easier and you are slowly starting to use your “pincher fingers” to pick up small baby waffers. You don’t always find your mouth but are determined to keep trying.

Bath time is getting fun too as you splash around and still seem surprised every time the water gets in your face. You are however almost too big for the baby bath.

You are wearing 12 -18 month clothing

Your favorite game seems to me dumping items out of a bucket and playing with crinkly paper. You are also fascinated by books — not really by listening to what they are about, but rather trying to eat each page

You have 2 teeth – the bottom front ones

Are a sweet baby boy who loves his sister and is so very loved by all of us!

…are sleeping through the night and even if you have to go up to use the rest room, you do so all by yourself (without yelling “mama, I have to pee” anymore)
…amaze us with your thought process…when I asked you last week where your money was to pay for your new shoes, you said that you didn’t have any but I had some in my wallet or when one of us leaves the house, ask immediately who is going to stay & take care of you and Clay
…love to play teacher or parent….you’ll line up all your dolls and will sing to them one by one, or take them to school one by one, etc.; you’ve even been called “little miss donna” for always volunteering to help your teacher and often helping get the other kids lined up or started in an activity
…enjoy playing with Clay – now that he can sit, you hand him toys or include him in your games of making lunch
…love to play dress-up princess and twirl around in dresses or skirts
…always ask to have your hair down (“like sleeping booty and arial”)
…outrun other kids your age every chance you get; you also enjoy kicking the soccer ball or learning how to play catch
…have really enjoyed the rain this season, asking to put on your rain boots and jumping from puddle to puddle
…ask for your favorite breakfast of “nutella with bread” daily but will settle for cereal or a waffel (with chocolate chips of course)
…still want to read a book to us first before we read it to you
…have mastered the days of the week (in order) and the alphabet (recognizing letters and knowing at least 2 words that start with that letter) and are getting familiar with recognizing numbers; you can count past 10 now too but still miss some numbers here and there
…love bath time and would stay in the tub for hours to play with your various bath toys if we’d let you

…wake up in the morning and ask what we have planned for the day
…like it when we build robots or houses with you out of Lego’s or Bristle blocks

…prefer to wear a dress or skirt over pants (but did get in a bit of trouble at school today when you decided to show everyone your underwear)

…are a happy pre-schooler who continues to ask lots of questions, loves to go on adventures and runs through life with full gusto!