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March 29, 2005
Star Wars
This morning when a motorcycle passed us in traffic on the way to work, Signa called it a "cool speeder bike."
Too much Star Wars.
Swimming lessons start tonight! Woo hoo! Signa is very excited. She has no idea what it means, but she is very excited about swimming lessons.
Posted by Debbie at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2005
Easter Events
We colored 18 eggs Saturday and made cupcakes. Signa really, REALLY likes frosting... She put stickers all over the eggs and dropped them into the water for coloring (have to buy new sweats now...). Sunday morning she got up and found her basket and then didn't care about finding eggs, as there was:
CANDY!!!
Really, Signa just loves the candy. ALL the candy. More candy. All I heard was, "Candy, please?" "Please candy?" "Jewee barns? Chucky?" It's addictive like a drug. I just know it.
But she finally went and found eggs. She is the WORST looker. We had to point at them all individually. She then found the giant bunny that the Easter Bunny re-hides each year since her first Easter. She is watching Bambi with it now (Bambi was in her Easter basket from the Easter Bunny, along with two chocolate dinosaur eggs with chocolate dinosaurs inside, a chocolate bunny and a Batman coloring book for the tub). She also got a basket that Gramma made with lots of candy and some crayons all in a cute bunny bag that will now be Signa's purse.
We had a Play-Doh set for her of a café and little people that make hair to give to her from us for Easter basket, but we forgot. Sunday night when we got home from Nana and Papa's, we dragged it out and she loved it.
This morning when she got up, she said, "I play Play-doh! People! Where did the people go?!?" She didn't even come into the office to cuddle with me like she always does. Straight for the Play-doh people. She is growing up.
Anyway, back to Easter. After everything calmed down, we got ready and jumped on the road to Nana and Papa's house. I'm not even sure what time we got there, but I think it was around noon. Marc worked on the computer most of the day so I had time with Nana and Signa. Signa was on her best behavior and found all the eggs with jelly beans and money in them that the Easter Bunny hid outside. She also admired her beautiful basket filled with books and the beloved CANDY that Nana and Papa did up for her.
Signa pulled some cute Signa-sms, too. I was talking about "comfortable" a while back ago with Signa. "Are you comfortable in your chair?" "Is that comfortable?" etc. She asked, "Comfortable mean, Momma?" So I said something like, "It feels good and doesn't hurt." On Easter, Nana made me a coffee drink with whipped cream on top and Signa licked some of it and said, "MMMMMM comfortable!"
She is also fond of getting excited over new things and yelling, "I LLLLLLLLOVE IT!"
Like I said, she was super well-behaved and ate well. She even used her manners at the table. "More mash-a-dapotatoes, please, Momma". Very cute girl. She does, however, call ALL dogs, "Dinga" and then must mention Grampa and Grandma Dinga after remembering any dog or grandparent. So the chanting goes:
"Come here, Dinga. Nooooo. Not Dinga. Gramma, Nana, Papa, Grandpa Grandma Dinga."
Posted by Debbie at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2005
Catch Up
It has been more than too long since I posted Signa-isms and life stories. I do keep detailed notes so that I can keep a diary for Signa for when she is older. I also just paste it in here after I type it so that all my friends and family can see, too. One of the reasons I do this for her is morbid. I worry endlessly that something will happen to me and she'll grow up without a Momma that loves her. So I write it all down so that there is no question. She will always know that her momma loves her more than anything. Even for those first two years when she didn't sleep longer than 2 hours at a time. And even when she is 14 and thinks I hate her and don't care anything about her because I won't let her do something that All The Other Kids are doing.
However, just because I love her more than anything and keep a detailed journal, doesn't mean I'm organized about posting it all. So this will be a long catch-up post, so you may want to go get a cup of coffee or a soda or something. Also, you can look at February pictures here:
Alrighty then. Off we go. Here is a date-less note to myself. See if you can decipher what it means:
much better
37
Luckily, I remember. Signa says, "Much better" after sips of water when she's choking. "Cup cup cup!!!! Muuuuuuuch better." It's funny to hear. Maybe not in writing, which might be why it remained in Post-it note form.
Signa counted to 37 at Costco a month or so ago (see why it would be nice to DATE these Post-its?!?!). She counted ceiling tiles with Marc while we were in pergatory. I mean, in line.
Okay. Now off to the dated posts. Starting with March 12.
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Saturday, March 12, 2005
Happy Birthday (Party), Melanie!!!
Even though it was 89 degrees and sunny yesterday, it was 60 and windy and overcasty today. Signa's sleeveless dress was not a good idea for today's birthday party! Neither were the shoes. Bad shoes.
Last night, I went to put Signa's size 5 sandals on her and they didn't fit. So off to Target we went. We tried on a 6 and a 7. 7s fit perfectly. Got 3 pair of shoes. Saturday morning for the party, put on the shoes and all are WAY too big. Falling off, clown shoe big.
So on the way to Melanie's party, Signa and I stopped off at Target for size 6 emergency shoes for the party and after an hour of wearing them, she had a blister. The 6s are too big.
How can this be??? Her feet grew 2 sizes then shrunk 2 sizes in a day???
This made me decide to go with expensive shoes. Her old Keds lasted FOREVER, as did her Stride Rite sandals. All the cheapo tennis shoes only lasted a few months. So that's it. Only expensive shoes for this girl. Hate seeing that owie on her foot.
Back to the party, we got there and it was Melanie, Danny, Rebecca, Auntie Leslie, Auntie Karen, Mom, Jeff, Andrew, Ryan and then later, Todd and Austin. Signa had a blast playing with the kids and it was a lot of fun watching Melanie have yet another birthday. Brat. She needs to stop growing. I still remember holding her when she was tiny and being amazed at how beautiful she was and how she didn't cry, but instead smiled up at me. She is still beautiful and smiley, but she is SEVEN! How?!?!!
Back to Signa, as thinking of Melanie being seven just hurts my brain. After the kids fell the piñata, they were given bags to fill with the candy and treats. Signa let Auntie Leslie do that for her while she just got right down to business and unwrapped a piece and shoved it in her mouth. She then spit it out dramatically and said, "CRAP!"
Where did she get THAT?!?! (whistling and looking around innocently)
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Sunday, March 13, 2005
They Might Be Giants
After Robots today (GREAT movie! But Signa slept through it), we stopped at Border's Books and I got the Here Come the ABCs DVD for Signa and a copy for Andrew, who's third birthday is on the 26th. It's is great! She's watching it now and the music is great. I highly recommend it.
We were supposed to go to "Baby Manay's" house for dinner tonight (my coworker and his wife and new baby- Renee), but Marc feels like he's getting a sore throat, so we just cancelled. I hate doing that, but I know that I would feel worse if we gave her the very first cold.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Nanny 911
I never watch these shows, but I caught the one last night. This family had a zillion children and no control over any of them. Signa, who obsesses on phrases and sentences, repeated ALL night (even woke to say it), "Kids are b-ahhhhhhhh-d." And they were, but because no one was paying any attention to them. Any GOOD attention. Ugh. I'm not saying I'm at all perfect. I'm saying that from afar, I wouldn't do it like that.
We also noticed that we were much nicer to Signa than normal when we were watching it. I'm not joking.
Okay, so back to obsessing on phrases and sentences... It started with Skooter. "Skootr gone. Skootr died. Miss her." Over and over and over again. Now it's all kinds of things, but over and over again if she gets reminded. "Momma stepped on a snail. Squished in her toes. Ewwe." Over and over again for hours and then picks it up again days later. "Gramma went home. See Meow-Meow. Meow-Meow hissed at me." Or one of my favorites, "Jack ate it. Then hurled. Jack hurled when he ate it. Move it up." Also the spider one. "Scary spider. I mashed it." Then when we went out to the movies alone and left her with Mom. "Momma and Daddy went to the store. I
stayed with Gramma."
I think this is normal, but it's very RainMan-sounding. But then Signa doesn't ACT Rainmany at all... So I don't know what to think.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Tantrums and Words and Classes
Signa always follows her tantrums with, "What happened, Momma? What happened?" Then I tell her she had a tantrum. She nods goes about her business. The thing she can't get over is not getting us to understand her words. If she says something that we don't understand, she will just repeat it until we get it. And she doesn't get faked out with "Oh, yes. I agree." Or any such thing. She KNOWS we don't get it and she keeps saying it until we do.
I signed Signa up for swimming lessons starting the end of the month. It's beginning, so I get in with her. She is very excited about it. I also found a dance class for her that I hope to enroll her in. We'll check it out on Saturday to see what we think. Here is the link:
She will be a Twinkle Baby. They will be very surprised at how Twinkly she is...
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Thursday, March 17, 2005
Odd Things
Signa cannot rest or sleep or calm without massaging elbow skin. Anyone's elbow skin. In fact, if we are out and about and there is a kid with his or her back to her, she will grab their elbow and try to KISS IT.
But to sleep, I must have elbows airing. And I am never allowed to wear button-sleeves or any sleeves that can't be pushed up or fit her arm up it to reach the elbows.
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Friday, March 18, 2005
(Not) Potty Training and (Yes) Dancing
Since just before Constipation introduced itself to our lives, Signa has stopped wanting anything to do with the potty. Not sure if it's coincidental or not, but she is just not interested at all. And we are slightly thankful. The park that Marc takes her to has no bathroom and is about a mile from the stores. So if she had to go... well, they won't be able to go to the park any more. So we are glad that she's just happy and content in diapers. The park is a nice way for Marc to end the stir crazies.
Signed her up for Dance! How cute it will be. Not until July, but still. I'm already excited. They do tap and ballet. Holy smokes, I almost cry just thinking about how funny and cute it will be. If she even ventures off my lap. You never can tell with her.
Swim starts in 2 weeks.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Napa Valley
Cindy came to pick me up (way out of her way, but she wanted us to drive together and for me to not rent a car) at about 9am Saturday. We left soon after. Suddenly, we were way past where we needed to turn off to go to Napa and Cindy said she'd taken a day trip to Muir Woods before and could we please go. I hadn't been there in years and years, so I couldn't wait to see it again.
We strolled a couple of miles leisurely and then had breakfast/lunch in the café there. That's when I noticed that I did not have my drivers license or bank card with me. I knew I couldn't relax without it and I may as well go home. But we called Marc and he brought it to us at the junction where we went wrong (Marine World: www.sixflags.com/parks/marineworld/index.asp).. At least 3 hours out of his day. What a hero. Signa loved looking at the roller coaster and we are taking a trip there in May.
I kissed them goodbye and we were on our way again. We got to the hotel (www.villagio.com) just before check-in time and they had our room ready. We admired the room and threw our things down and then went to see if the spa had any openings. They did, but at 6:30, so we decided we'd have a snack for lunch and then a late dinner. There is a shopping place next door (www.vintage1870.com) and we found a small cheese shop there. We got cheese, salami, crackers, olives and a fancy dish and took it back to our room where we lounged and snacked, while sipping our wine. We went down to the lobby and had the concierge make us reservations "somewhere fancy" for 8pm.
At 6:30 we went for massages. I had Michael, a super strong, it hurts but not in a horrible way kind of massage. Cindy had Francois or something. A little French man with lady hands. When it was over, we went back and showered and then off to dinner. SUPER fancy. Napa Valley Grille. www.napavalleygrille.com. I had a "wine flight" (I never heard of it before). Three glasses of wine to try. Cindy had one, too (I had white and she had red). Then we had salads and steak dinners and desserts and a dessert wine flight to share. Yum! I love dessert wines. Taste like Kool-aid. Dinner took a long time, but it was SOOOO nice and so good.
Anyway, we went back and fell asleep almost immediately. We got up in the morning and went down for a beautiful, super yummy buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then we went for our next massage, where Cindy had Momma Masseuse who TOLD her what to do. You just gotta do that with Cindy. I had her French guy with lady hands. I love the soft soothing massages, so it was perfect for me. We then showered and got ready and checked out. We went back to the shops and found a little boutique for children's clothes, where I got Signa a tiara, ring, necklace and bracelet. And Superman/Batman cape (Superman on one side, Batman on the other, so she can choose). She likes to wear it all at the same time.
We wanted to go to Silver Oak Winery (www.silveroak.com), as Cindy had heard a lot about it, but we didn't get directions. So we drove around and accidentally found it. They have only red wines there, but I tried both and they were actually really good. Even for red wine. Then I tried the port and I hate port. But LOVED this. I even bought a bottle.
We drove around more, some on purpose, some by accident and by dinner ended up in Sonoma where we ate at the Girl and the Fig (www.thegirlandthefig.com and then went to Sonoma Market to find the fig cakes that The Girl and the Fig USED to have when Cindy had been there before. We came home about 9pm Monday night.
It was all PERFECT. I was so relaxed and just love being with Cindy. Ahhhhh. Perfect amount of time for me, too, as I really, really missed Signa, but not enough to be homesick.
And when we got home, she put all her "things" on (bracelet, ring, necklace, cape) and said, "Wook at me! I'm a Superman robot princess!" (side note: anytime she has ANYTHING on her hands, she is a robot. Normally it's cups on her hands, so the robot comment kind of makes sense, but jewelry, evidently, is for robots, too).
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Thursday, March 24, 2005
In-terjections! Hallaluya!
Remember that song? From Schoolhouse Rock?
Anyway, when I came home from Napa, I brought Signa a duck cookie that had 2 cookies in it- a daddy and a baby. I took it out and she said, "WooooooW!!!! Cool! Awesome, Momma!!!"
Just about killed me with laughing so hard. "Awesome." My kid says, "Awesome."
And when other people are doing anything, she says, "NO NO NO!!!! SIGNA'S turn!!!!"
Posted by Debbie at 04:46 PM | Comments (1)
March 11, 2005
Big Hairy Balls
Sometimes we need a Signa interpreter. Some things she says wrong, but we can figure it out. Like, "Da-gen" instead of AGAIN. We over-exagerate theright sound, "Ahhhhh Gen" and she does it back, "Duhhhhhh gen."
We also had a problem with "Big Hairy Balls." Yes. Honest. The three of us were lying around in bed one evening and talking about our day. Where we went, what we saw, etc. Suddenly Signa said, "Big hairy balls."
What?
So we told her to tell us again, as we didn't understand. "Bah-ig. Hair Wee. Balls!" Like we are idiots. When we still didn't get it, she just said it over and over and over again. BIG HAIR WEE BALLS! BIG HAIR WEE BALLS!
Finally, she said, "TARGET! Toys and big hairy balls!"
Our Target has big red cement circular anchor things out front. "Big HEAVY balls."
Anyway, that was scary for a bit.
In addition to practically swearing, Signa also has ventured into the land of offending others.
If you have seen the movie, Supersize Me, you will understand. If not, go see the movie and then laugh at Signa.
Mom and I took her to McDonald's for lunch the other day (I know, but it was easy and Signa gets joy there) and up at the counter after ordering a happy meal with chicken "nuggets" and a two cheeseburger meal, Signa broke into the Supersize song. Enunciating perfectly. You can hear it here.
Now imagine a 2-year-old singing it.
"Supersize supersize supersize me, yeah." Thankfully the McDonald's police were NOT there to escort us to the door sans (tasty, unbiodegradable) fries.
Signa also enjoys correcting herself. She will see something, like Spiderman. "Batman, Momma! Noooooo. Nooooooo, not Batman. SPIDERMAN!" She did it with Care Bears last night. We got a catalog of dolls and their cute clothes and matching human clothes. These dolls also have their own teddy bears you can purchase (small bears for a small fortune). Signa was browsing through the catalog naming things. "Dolly. Kid. Princess dress. Pajamas. Care Bear. Noooooooo. Noooooooo, not Care Bear. TEDDY bear." I can't tell if she knows it's wrong when she says it and just like correcting herself or if she really is correcting herself. But whatever it is, it's really cute.
Posted by Debbie at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)