Friday, August 29, 2008
Finally, a Leader!
Well, although the thought of Boo Boo in the Oval Office is appealing and hilarious, I am officially supporting Obama. I have liked him for four years now, since his famous speech at the Dem's '04 convention. I have followed his political career, watched his voting, and believe that he is a good man, and a good leader. A leader who is there to serve!
After his history making speech last night, I am more hopeful about the future of America than I have been in some time. Lee and I will be sending him $20, and I encourage all who read this to do the same!
This is the kind of thoughtful, pragmatic, bold leadership we need. America has not seen a leader of this calibre in my lifetime! The ray of daylight that he brought to the political landscape of this country in his acceptance speech has changed that landscape. Whether or not he wins, this change is happening, from the bottom up. We are a democracy, we the people do have the power, and with leadership such as Obama and Biden, we will be a strong, secure, intelligent, compassionate country once more. We can and will heal the damage of the last eight years!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Giggles giggles giggles!
I have to document what happened yesterday morning because I have never heard Olivia laugh so hard for so long!
Auntie Bodo had spent Friday afternoon with us, and we spent the night watching the Olympics and playing charades during commercials. All in all a fantastic interlude! But Saturday morning was the best. :)
Olivia has a pink O ball, as we call it - a plastic ball with lots of holes in it, great for grabbing and whatnot. Well, while Olivia was playing with her stacking cups, Auntie Bodo and I started playing an amazing, Olympic worthy O ball toss game. We each held a wooden "guy" from a pop-up toy she has. The object of our game was to spin the O ball on the little guy, then toss it to the other person - who would catch it on her little guy and keep spinning! Waaaaaaay awesome and very challenging.
Well, turns out Olivia thought this was the most HILARIOUS game in the world to watch. Each time we spun the ball and passed it, she erupted into a fit of giggles. So Bodo and I hammed it up and started making all manner of sound effects. We had the sweet little muffin in stitches for at least ten minutes! Ah, it was priceless.
Auntie Bodo had spent Friday afternoon with us, and we spent the night watching the Olympics and playing charades during commercials. All in all a fantastic interlude! But Saturday morning was the best. :)
Olivia has a pink O ball, as we call it - a plastic ball with lots of holes in it, great for grabbing and whatnot. Well, while Olivia was playing with her stacking cups, Auntie Bodo and I started playing an amazing, Olympic worthy O ball toss game. We each held a wooden "guy" from a pop-up toy she has. The object of our game was to spin the O ball on the little guy, then toss it to the other person - who would catch it on her little guy and keep spinning! Waaaaaaay awesome and very challenging.
Well, turns out Olivia thought this was the most HILARIOUS game in the world to watch. Each time we spun the ball and passed it, she erupted into a fit of giggles. So Bodo and I hammed it up and started making all manner of sound effects. We had the sweet little muffin in stitches for at least ten minutes! Ah, it was priceless.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Land of Nod: Being Asleep or Wandering?
Olivia goes on the most fantastic journeys on her way to sleep. She roams her crib, wailing, as if she were doomed to a life of wandering forever. Some days her gnashing of teeth gives way to actual gnawing on the crib rails. There are times when neither loving arms nor soothing lullabys, rocking or walking can calm her restless wake.
At these times, I wonder about our culture's humorous metaphor for sleep. Maybe it's not so far off, after all!
Many thanks to Daddy'o are in order for being with me this afternoon on a day when Olivia seemed to be wandering in the Land of Nod! It was good to have the company:) We had a yummy lunch together, too. Fortunately, Grandpa's morning with sweet O was a fun one. There was much playing and smacking of cups, much climbing and chattering and eating and slurping! We even got a video of brushing Olivia's teeth, which she loves. Ha!
Well, O just woke up from a nap, so I'll post this entry and get us ready for an afternoon walk!
At these times, I wonder about our culture's humorous metaphor for sleep. Maybe it's not so far off, after all!
Many thanks to Daddy'o are in order for being with me this afternoon on a day when Olivia seemed to be wandering in the Land of Nod! It was good to have the company:) We had a yummy lunch together, too. Fortunately, Grandpa's morning with sweet O was a fun one. There was much playing and smacking of cups, much climbing and chattering and eating and slurping! We even got a video of brushing Olivia's teeth, which she loves. Ha!
Well, O just woke up from a nap, so I'll post this entry and get us ready for an afternoon walk!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Garden Bounty
Mary K is out of town and left Olivia and I in charge of seeing to her garden. We went over today and had a wonderful time playing in the dirt! I did some hard core weeding, then harvested some goodies: red onion, yellow squash, banana peppers, and tomatoes! MMMMMMMM!! I made my first tomato sauce of the season, and Sean and I enjoyed hearty platefuls of pasta for dinner tonight.Thank you, Mary K!
Our First Night of Separation
It's been awhile since I've bestowed a KLASS award. This month it goes to Sarah Bodine!
Sweet Bodo spent Saturday and Sunday with Boo-Boo so Mama and Pappa could get away for a night. A good friend of mine from college got married in Davenport, IA on Saturday. Congratulations, Rachel! :) Sean and I decided to make an adventure of it. We set up camp a little north of town at Scott County Park, drove into town for the wedding, played at a couple of parks between the ceremony and reception, enjoyed dinner with friends at the Abbey Hotel, and danced danced DANCED the night away. Ish. Okay, maybe we left at 10p.m. because we were pooped. But still! We had a long, full, awesome day!
It felt so good to camp. To sleep under the stars. The rain in the morning flew me into a panic - Sean is probably still laughing at me, for it wasn't really rain so much as it was a few droplets. I guess I couldn't quite manage to let go of Mama Mode! In any case, we got up pretty early and headed to breakfast with...
The Sawyers! Princeton, IA, my old stomping grounds when I was but a babe. Norman and Lorna Sawyer are still fast friends with my parents, and truly a delight to have in my life (and Sean's and Olivia's!) as well. They hosted us for a reeeeeeal yummy breakfast: eggs and sausage and muffins and raspberry cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit and orange juice and coffee - OH MY!! I got to see pictures of two of their kids' weddings. Sarah was even in town for the night, and we saw her and her husband Mike at breakfast, too. Sean got to drive around and see the farm with Norman, and I got to catch up with Lorna. It was great fun to reminisce about my visits when I was much younger (playing on the hay bales, baking cookies, violin). I hope we can visit them again soon! And we have to bring Olivia next time:)
Olivia. Sweet girl! She had a ball with Sarah, including a giggly little interlude with her fairy godmother as well. Sean and I were just tickled at how much she loves her Auntie Bodo:) Come again, come again!
Sweet Bodo spent Saturday and Sunday with Boo-Boo so Mama and Pappa could get away for a night. A good friend of mine from college got married in Davenport, IA on Saturday. Congratulations, Rachel! :) Sean and I decided to make an adventure of it. We set up camp a little north of town at Scott County Park, drove into town for the wedding, played at a couple of parks between the ceremony and reception, enjoyed dinner with friends at the Abbey Hotel, and danced danced DANCED the night away. Ish. Okay, maybe we left at 10p.m. because we were pooped. But still! We had a long, full, awesome day!
It felt so good to camp. To sleep under the stars. The rain in the morning flew me into a panic - Sean is probably still laughing at me, for it wasn't really rain so much as it was a few droplets. I guess I couldn't quite manage to let go of Mama Mode! In any case, we got up pretty early and headed to breakfast with...
The Sawyers! Princeton, IA, my old stomping grounds when I was but a babe. Norman and Lorna Sawyer are still fast friends with my parents, and truly a delight to have in my life (and Sean's and Olivia's!) as well. They hosted us for a reeeeeeal yummy breakfast: eggs and sausage and muffins and raspberry cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit and orange juice and coffee - OH MY!! I got to see pictures of two of their kids' weddings. Sarah was even in town for the night, and we saw her and her husband Mike at breakfast, too. Sean got to drive around and see the farm with Norman, and I got to catch up with Lorna. It was great fun to reminisce about my visits when I was much younger (playing on the hay bales, baking cookies, violin). I hope we can visit them again soon! And we have to bring Olivia next time:)
Olivia. Sweet girl! She had a ball with Sarah, including a giggly little interlude with her fairy godmother as well. Sean and I were just tickled at how much she loves her Auntie Bodo:) Come again, come again!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Nothin' Like a Little "Hallelujah Chorus" to Wake You Up in the Morning
Great merciful God in heaven, our Boo-Boo has slept through the night! And more. Yes, she made it from 6:30 last night until 6:30 this morning and only stirred to eat briefly at 3:30. I was so giddy this morning I had to put on Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" and make up my own lyrics in praise of darling O. Ha! Now my hope is that I can figure out a way to heal my own sleeplessness and get that kind of rest, too.
I am borrowing a book from another hip mama at my H. Bambino group that is working MIRACLES in this family. Olivia has gone from erratic napping and frequent nighttime waking to a regular nap routine and one or two nighttime wakings. Sean and I are agreed that this new book came at just the right time; we needed this new information to help us work through the challenges of PCSS (Post-Colic Stress Syndrome).
For those of you who may also be struggling with sleeplessness or sleep-related troubles, the book is called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child", by Marc Weissbluth, M.D. His emphasis is on healthy sleep for the whole family - very important, as we have discovered!
Now then, I'm off to greet the day with my well-rested, brightly shining, sweet baby girl!!
I am borrowing a book from another hip mama at my H. Bambino group that is working MIRACLES in this family. Olivia has gone from erratic napping and frequent nighttime waking to a regular nap routine and one or two nighttime wakings. Sean and I are agreed that this new book came at just the right time; we needed this new information to help us work through the challenges of PCSS (Post-Colic Stress Syndrome).
For those of you who may also be struggling with sleeplessness or sleep-related troubles, the book is called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child", by Marc Weissbluth, M.D. His emphasis is on healthy sleep for the whole family - very important, as we have discovered!
Now then, I'm off to greet the day with my well-rested, brightly shining, sweet baby girl!!
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