Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thank God for Consignment Sales
Twice a year, Sunset United Church (the church we attend) holds its used Children's Clothing sale. This is an amazing sale. Folks bring in their gently used clothing and various toys, bedding, and accessories, to consign for folks like me to buy. This is a popular sale, with people lining up at least an hour ahead of time in order to get the best buys. Now, I was asked to volunteer at the last Spring sale, and the motivating factor for giving time to the sale is that all volunteers who do three hours of work get to be part of the coveted "Pre-Buy". About two hours before the doors open for the public, the mothers who have spent time getting ready and such, flood the floor searching out the things they saw the night before. It's a bit overwhelming. In the Spring I was a pre-buy virgin, which means I was quite as assertive as I needed to be. But I learnt, and this time I got what I wanted. And with a minimal amount of pushing and aggressive behavior! I get David to come along, and on the morning of the pre-buy we create a divide and conquer strategy so that we get what we want. He does toys and shoes, I do clothing.It's a great sale, and I plan to offer my services again! The 25 folks at the pre-buy spent nearly $3800. Can you believe it?
Here's what $135.00 will get ya:
Here's what $135.00 will get ya:
In the Last Month...
The month of September (and the very end of August) brought a visit from Grandma Gladys, variable weather (6 to 30 in a matter of days! Oy!), the start of programs, and lots and lots of growing.
She's getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. One day she'll stop, right? Is that when she'll start sleeping through the night???
We had a wonderful visit with Graham, who was making his way to London, Ontario, for his internship. Sophie was a little standoffish but...
She eventually warmed up to him!
We also had a visit from Godmom Melisa, along with Taylor and Ayden!
If I stretch reallllll tall, I can get that strange yellow thing.
Sophia is beginning to show an interest in helping clean. Here she's exploring what it means to Swiffer the carpet. I think she found out that it looks more fun than it actually is.
Practice continues for the Strongman competition.
A budding interest in human anatomy or a morbid fascination with empty skulls...you tell me.
David spent a weekend doing manly building things. At the end of the weekend, we had a swing! Sophia loves it. She pokes at the kitchen window as a hint to go outside.
She finally figured out what to do with the stacking rings. Doesn't she look pleased?
Proper hotdog eating etiquette is being worked on. This is the first step, taken at the annual Science department dinner and hangout at the Science Center.
She's getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. One day she'll stop, right? Is that when she'll start sleeping through the night???
We had a wonderful visit with Graham, who was making his way to London, Ontario, for his internship. Sophie was a little standoffish but...
She eventually warmed up to him!
We also had a visit from Godmom Melisa, along with Taylor and Ayden!
If I stretch reallllll tall, I can get that strange yellow thing.
Sophia is beginning to show an interest in helping clean. Here she's exploring what it means to Swiffer the carpet. I think she found out that it looks more fun than it actually is.
Practice continues for the Strongman competition.
A budding interest in human anatomy or a morbid fascination with empty skulls...you tell me.
David spent a weekend doing manly building things. At the end of the weekend, we had a swing! Sophia loves it. She pokes at the kitchen window as a hint to go outside.
She finally figured out what to do with the stacking rings. Doesn't she look pleased?
Proper hotdog eating etiquette is being worked on. This is the first step, taken at the annual Science department dinner and hangout at the Science Center.
The evolution of the grandparent
So, September 9th was Grandparents' day. I missed it. I had great plans, however, I was once again getting ahead of myself. So, here is an ode to Sophia's wonderful, truly loving, amazing, and well, great, grandparents four. HAPPY GRANDPARENTS' (belated) DAY.
-with much love: Sophia, Tricia and David
-with much love: Sophia, Tricia and David
Friday, September 21, 2007
And the Official First Word Is....
[insert drum roll]
ROCK
Yup, Rock. Whudda thunk it? Anyway, Sophia uses this word so consistently, and correctly, that David and I conceded the coveted "First Word" title too it. There ya go. No mama or dada for this kid. Rock.
Maybe there is a future geologist in our midst?
ROCK
Yup, Rock. Whudda thunk it? Anyway, Sophia uses this word so consistently, and correctly, that David and I conceded the coveted "First Word" title too it. There ya go. No mama or dada for this kid. Rock.
Maybe there is a future geologist in our midst?
Sunday, September 16, 2007
on making noise and understanding words
Sophia has been making more and more noise these days, some of it intelligible as in Tricia's previous post, and some of it detailed and imaginative babbling. We're still convinced there's a language in there somewhere, but we are not a party to its grammar, so we sit and simply marvel at its complexity.
Aside from making noise, Sophia is also starting to more obviously understand what we are saying. We know that she has been figuring things out in her head for a while, and she definitely understands "NO!" whether or not she pays any attention to it. She has a new linguistic pastime, though, whereby she is starting to know her body parts. We ask "Where's your belly?" and she'll poke at her belly button (or occasionally her thigh, which is close, so half points for that)
Here are some videos of her showing off her anatomy lesson as well as some babbling and one or two recognizable utterances. The babbling is important to record, says my dad (and I agree) because soon enough she will be into real words and the babbling will be gone forever.
Showing off her knowledge of body parts
Showing off her vocalizations
And just for fun, here's what happens when Sophia gets interested in the camera in Daddy's hands
Aside from making noise, Sophia is also starting to more obviously understand what we are saying. We know that she has been figuring things out in her head for a while, and she definitely understands "NO!" whether or not she pays any attention to it. She has a new linguistic pastime, though, whereby she is starting to know her body parts. We ask "Where's your belly?" and she'll poke at her belly button (or occasionally her thigh, which is close, so half points for that)
Here are some videos of her showing off her anatomy lesson as well as some babbling and one or two recognizable utterances. The babbling is important to record, says my dad (and I agree) because soon enough she will be into real words and the babbling will be gone forever.
Showing off her knowledge of body parts
Showing off her vocalizations
And just for fun, here's what happens when Sophia gets interested in the camera in Daddy's hands
Monday, September 03, 2007
Out of the Silence
...Comes discernable sounds. It has begun, Sophia is getting words (well, she's getting closer to words and has made the connection between words and things). Here's the current vocabulary:
Oh and Wow -now these two words are multi-purpose...basically they are used as an exclamation over something discovered. It does not matter if said "new" thing is actually something she's seen thousands of times (like Haley's food and water, which she KNOWS she is supposed to leave alone! or the books she "reads" over and over again) to new and exciting things she's never seen before.
Buppy --in Sophia-ese this means "puppy" or Haley depending on the dog in view. That is, most of the time. Sometimes it means picture or whatever looks interesting. But she uses it often enough while pointing to a dog to get it considered a word with meaning!
Baa-bee -- "baby". Duh. Actually she will use it to refer to herself when asked who is the baby, and she will say it when pointing to another child or a picture of a child. Occasionally it is used for a dog, or another person, but again it is used often enough, correctly enough to count as a word.
Wock --no, this is not a leaning towards cooking Chinese food for the rest of her life. In fact, this is proudly said when Sophia stumbles upon her beloved gravel patch between our house and the neighbours, or the patch in the backyard. Sometimes it even comes out "Rock" but 'R's are hard.
Hop -Sophia's answer to "what does a frog do?", all the while bouncing her bath frog along the top of the water. Grandma Gladys helped her with this one last week!
haaahaaahaaa -this is one of those things that doesn't translate into spelling well. When asked what a dog says or where the dog is Sophia will pant in response. It's cute. Really.
Dada -Sophia now uses this more consistently to identify David. In fact, she loves looking at pictures and will point out David while saying Dada. Although, it still has a wide application, but she knows who is who now.
mamama --yup, that's me. Usually used when upset and wanting something. There is something about a whiny "mamamamamama" to get your attention. Why can't she use it when she isn't whining?
Round --and around and around. Sophia learned this at the cottage this summer, when Grandma Diane was distracting her by focusing her on the fan. Now she says this when ever she sees a fan going, or if she sees anything going around. With it comes the pointed finger making the "round" motion as well. What a smart kid!
David, in his most geeky mode, is trying to record instances of these words, and will post these examples when he has ones that are up to snuff. For now you simply have to imagine it!
I am sure that this is just the beginning of what is going to be a very wordy year. Sigh. Each new step brings its joys and challenges!
Oh and Wow -now these two words are multi-purpose...basically they are used as an exclamation over something discovered. It does not matter if said "new" thing is actually something she's seen thousands of times (like Haley's food and water, which she KNOWS she is supposed to leave alone! or the books she "reads" over and over again) to new and exciting things she's never seen before.
Buppy --in Sophia-ese this means "puppy" or Haley depending on the dog in view. That is, most of the time. Sometimes it means picture or whatever looks interesting. But she uses it often enough while pointing to a dog to get it considered a word with meaning!
Baa-bee -- "baby". Duh. Actually she will use it to refer to herself when asked who is the baby, and she will say it when pointing to another child or a picture of a child. Occasionally it is used for a dog, or another person, but again it is used often enough, correctly enough to count as a word.
Wock --no, this is not a leaning towards cooking Chinese food for the rest of her life. In fact, this is proudly said when Sophia stumbles upon her beloved gravel patch between our house and the neighbours, or the patch in the backyard. Sometimes it even comes out "Rock" but 'R's are hard.
Hop -Sophia's answer to "what does a frog do?", all the while bouncing her bath frog along the top of the water. Grandma Gladys helped her with this one last week!
haaahaaahaaa -this is one of those things that doesn't translate into spelling well. When asked what a dog says or where the dog is Sophia will pant in response. It's cute. Really.
Dada -Sophia now uses this more consistently to identify David. In fact, she loves looking at pictures and will point out David while saying Dada. Although, it still has a wide application, but she knows who is who now.
mamama --yup, that's me. Usually used when upset and wanting something. There is something about a whiny "mamamamamama" to get your attention. Why can't she use it when she isn't whining?
Round --and around and around. Sophia learned this at the cottage this summer, when Grandma Diane was distracting her by focusing her on the fan. Now she says this when ever she sees a fan going, or if she sees anything going around. With it comes the pointed finger making the "round" motion as well. What a smart kid!
David, in his most geeky mode, is trying to record instances of these words, and will post these examples when he has ones that are up to snuff. For now you simply have to imagine it!
I am sure that this is just the beginning of what is going to be a very wordy year. Sigh. Each new step brings its joys and challenges!
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