Knock on the door, ring the bell, peeeeeek in

Hannah insists that I play with her before she will sleep. We say a few poems, have giggles. She pulls a pillow over for some peekaboo. She crawls over to inspect the light (as in previous post). Then she is happy to sleep.

We bought a mother goose book at the swap meet.

Knock at the door (knock on baby‘s forehead)
Ring the bell (tug hair)
Peeeek in (lean in to baby, peering into her eyes)
Pull at the latch (tug nose)
Walk in (walk fingers into mouth)
Go downstairs (slide fingers down chest)
AND EAT APPLES. And eat aapples (tickles)

Kiwi, garden, swap meet

Kiwi fruit is well designed for baby. Soft insides, with a rough yet edible shell. I half-skinned one, rather overripe, passed to baby. She stuck her thumb in the dark, soft flesh, and spent some time sucking and gnawing. Bought me some time in the kitchen too.

After 10 minutes, it was everywhere. I‘ll be finding tiny black seeds all week now.

Today was beeautiful. We put baby on a mat on the lawn with a few toys, and managed to weed nearly all the front gardens. I need to start my seeds for the year, and hope the baby doesn‘t get into my indoor soil.

I went to a kids swap meet early Saturday morning. It was a.maz.ing. I actually wish I had bought more from the few expensive brands I saw for cheap. I picked up some cute pieces from Tea Collection, a few books and toys. I was lucky to find Fred Gwynne‘s The King Who Rained, which is of the same style as The Sixteen Hand Horse. Looking forward to the next one!

It‘s funny because I used to wait at the bus stop right outside the venue, and would read the upcoming events sign. Never thought Kids Swap Meet sounded too interesting. Oh how wrong I was ..

Being beckoned, mmm ma, mmm mam

So tired

Hannah and I had a bath together around 830, and since she came out, she has been tired. I should have just taken her to bed, but I wanted to write a letter and see Celebrity Apprentice. It is 1130 and the little sweetie is napping on my lap. I still have to change her and put her to bed.

No matter how tired she is, I have a hard time just laying her down and putting her to bed. She always wakes up. Sigh.

Crawl explorer

Before we can go to sleep, Hannah now has crawl exploring to do in the bed. Tonight she crossed my pillow to visit the flamingo lamp I use for warm soft light. She was thrilled to touch it at last.

I made the most fantastic brownies last night. Hannah even crawled all the way into the kitchen to see what I was up to. I took my usual Steffi‘s Brownies recipe, replaced solid choco with cocoa, one of the eggs with fake egg (flour, baking soda, powder, water), dash of cinnamon, and a bunch of 10% fat plain yogurt, maybe 1/3 cupish. It came out like moist chocolate cake.  We ate it for breakfast.

Took Hannah out for sushi and socializing with my friends this evening. She is so good, very portable, makes friends with everyone. Almost everyone: the dog got a little playful with her and gave her a scare.

Her second tooth, the right bottom, will be up soon. Today she was clicking her tongue, a new sound.

Went for a walk with baby in the wagon this afternoon. I need to start my seeds for the garden!

Spaetzle amd kiwi

Baby loves spaetzle. Finds kiwi sour but enjoyable. I find spaetzle less scary to give baby than other pasta. Firm enough she can hold, yet weak enough she can chew and mush it.

Sick week

I‘m glad it is spring break, because we are sick. No classes, no moms group, no baby tea. I‘m improving, and we‘re both sleeping better. Unfortunately my husband is coming down with it now.

Photo from Hannah‘s two hour nap in my arms yesterday.

Family music

My husband‘s favourite way to entertain baby is by playing her songs on the guitar. Last night she joined in with her maraca. She will also bang wooden blocks together to make hannah-music.

As baby and I both have colds, we took a nice steamy bath together for the first time, see if it would get the mucous flowing. Not sure if it did, but it was sure fun. I haven‘t shared a bath in so very long.

We have also signed up for a mom and baby aquafit class in May. Yikes! Public pool? Baby? Bathing suits? Chlorine? My hair!

Baby jeans from daddy‘s pants

I‘ve been seeking a way to repurpose my husband‘s nice jeans with an unfortunate hole in the crotch. At moms group a few weeks back, one of the little girls was running around in just such a pair of upcycled pants, with bottom and side seams intact.

I just traced a pair that current fit baby, added some seams, length, and room for a waistband, did some pinning and sewing, bam! Pants.

Puh Puh Puh

Hannah wakes me up at 7:50. I try to nurse her, no go. She keeps letting go, which is usually a sign of something. But I'm still so tired, I just pretend to sleep hoping she'll do the same.

She turns to me, and puffs air into my face, puh puh puh puh puh. I usually do a motorboat sort of sound when she has to poo or is pooing, and this was her version of it. She then let out a little fart to drive her point home.

When we arrived at the washroom, poo.

She's almost 8 months, and becoming sentient.

We're working on the sign language too. I could've sworn her hands were making the poo sign as well, as she was gripping a finger or too, but I think that is coincidence. I use milk, toilet, poop, all done, and more, with her. I like to believe she signs all done when she is finished on the toilet, and I obey.

Cookie monster

Hannah had her first cookie yesterday. I picked one up on my way out of moms group, and somehow it ended up in her hand, and then her mouth. I should‘ve known she wouldn‘t just sample and return it to me after a single lick.

When we arrived home, it was everywhere. I‘m still finding dried cookie on her car seat today. But she was just so happy, wet glob of dough in her hand, cinnamon ginger smudges all around her mouth.

She is definitely mine.

Celebrity

Walking around Main St. with Hannah this past weekend, it was like having a little celebrity slung over my hip. Perhaps it was the audience, as we visited independent, locally made women's clothing shops. Maybe it was her adorable yellow bonnet and white sweater, against the shock of my neon pink coat. Or she really is that darn cute.

Every store. She is SO cute. Did you see the baby? Isn't she the cutest? How old is she? (talks to baby). In Hong Kong we wear them on the back like this, I never seen like that, I tell my daughter. Did you make the bonnet? What's the pattern? SHE IS SO CUTE! Auww

I couldn't even shop in some places, it was all about Baby Goo. I don't mind. I just hope in a year or two, it won't be "Ma'am, please remove your booger-eating hellion from the premises."

Child Care

I put Hannah in Child Care at the church during an event last week. It's the first time someone has taken care of her other than family. Actually, the only other person I've really left her alone with has been my husband.

She did well! It was an hour and 15 minutes before they gave her back, crying big fat tears and with a wet diaper. Poor thing. I meant to get her at 1 hour and change her, but forgot. I peeked in a few times, and she hadn't really moved! Just sat where I plopped her, next to some other baby girls she sees every week.