Bumps, bruises and blood

When I became a parent, I knew what I signed up for. I expect the injuries and I know I can't protect Allie from everything. We've seen the bumps and bruises plenty in her short life. But last night when she fell and split her lip open and I saw all that blood, it was hard to stomach!

It wasn't really a lot of blood. But it was more than I would have expected to come from her lip. She'd been playing by Dada and fell down hitting Dada's knee. It really gushed out at first and got all over her shirt. I thought she'd lost a tooth! I sat her down out in the kitchen and we wiped away the blood (which gushed out a bit more before it finally stopped!) and could finally see that her teeth were fine. She was fine and she liked dabbing the wet rag on her lip for a little while. Mama kissed the owie and it was all better.

She recovered and went on playing, but ended up sitting on the couch with Mama and Dada and we decided to take her up to bed after that. She was tired. And we were too.

The whole incident was a bit nerve racking. Dada was pretty upset by it. I suppose I was too, but I was more calm. We know this is by no means the last time our little girl is going to bleed. And I'm sure there will be worse injuries than this. But its just so scary to know that not only will our little girl bleed, we can't protect her from it. I guess the only reassurance is that we will be there to help fix it. I just wonder how it will be if or when its something that we can't fix so easily with a little kiss?

Little Miss Smartypants

Allie can count to 10! Last week on Dada's birthday we were on our way out to dinner and she was saying 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4. With some help she went up to 10! She'd been counting to 3 and that was the first time we've heard her go past 3. Tonight at dinner she had a cutie and we counted the pieces. There were 9 and she said all the numbers except 7 and 9. Where'd she learn to do that???

We got her some ABC cards for her birthday but had kept them put away since they aren't terribly toddler-proof. But she keeps pulling them out of a drawer, so we've started letting her play with them and talking about the letters. She sings the ABC song by herself, with or without music.

She really likes putting away the groceries. She takes things out of the bag and hands them to Mama to put away. Every time I'm always surprised by the objects she names, like rice, tortillas, tomatoes and paper towels to name a few.

Her verbal skills are growing a lot lately too. We've been working on saying please and thank you, and she says please at daycare. She's putting together basic sentences in asking for things she wants, like "milk Dada please." Its gratifying to work on something at home and hear that she's applying that at daycare.

Another fun part of the verbal skills is singing. She's been singing along with her music in the car for awhile, but she's really getting good. Tonight she belted out "five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log, eating some most delicious bugs, yum yum." Not quite with all the verbage, but pretty close! It really surprised us. Every night before bed we sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and she sings right along with us.

Endless discoveries

I love our children's museum membership. We don't take advantage of it nearly enough. But we did yesterday. This time Mama and Dada mostly hung back and let Allie go where she wanted to. Its so neat how she discovers new things every time we go!

Driving the cart... I think the animal pulling it may be an ox, but I really don't know. Allie didn't care what was pulling it, she just enjoyed pulling on the reins!

Playing in the little baby area... Allie liked bouncing as well as the pictures on the wall and the aquarium in the background.

Allie found the water fountain... and kept going back. Between the water fountain and the water room, her shirt was soaked!

She really loved watching the birds race down the poles.

Then it was time to go upstairs!

This big table is a model of Madison with all kinds of blocks to build the city and cars to drive on the streets. Allie was building and driving in Lake Monona!

 And of course we had to stop by the paint wall.

She was way more interested in the squee-gee though!

Then it was time to wash hands... Allie liked the soap and used a lot of it.

There were a couple refrigerator fronts with a whole bunch of magnetic words. Of course Allie can't read yet, but she likes magnets! We need to get some magnets for our fridge.

Outside the art studio there's a "car" for kids to drive. Allie wasn't interested in driving though. She wanted Mama to drive and she just rode.

Right before we went home Allie took a ride on this puppy.

Allie would have stayed all day if we'd let her. But it was a good thing we didn't let her... she almost fell asleep in the car. We gave her a quick lunch and she slept for three hours!

This laundry is kind of hard to wash

Allie liked sitting in the laundry basket, but she had a little trouble getting out! Good thing Mama was there to resue her!

Bring on the snow!

With the first snowfall of the winter a week and a half ago, this weekend I decided to have Allie finally try on her snow geat. She seemed to like it.

She even tried to open the sliding door to the deck to go outside!

She has a pair of boots too that I tried on her before the snow pants. Allie has all the necessary items to play in the snow... but now Mama and/or Dada need to get some snow gear in order to take her out! I found out this weekend thats harder than it should be this time of year. Its only late-January and we only got our first snow a week and a half ago, but winter items are nowhere to be found, at least at Target! Most of the snow boots are clearance, which would be good... if my feet were a size 5 or 10! They already have racks and racks of bikinis out at Target! It doesn't make much sense to me... who actually buys the summer's swimsuit in January anyway?

I may continue hunting for the snow boots. Its my sixth winter in Madison and I've finally decided this year that they may be a good investment... you know, for keeping my feet dry and warm when tromping through the snow!

Bouncy Town USA

This weekend we wanted to go somewhere for Allie to play. I have a few web sites I look at for ideas of what to do with Allie and it has a section on open gym times. I was surprised to find there weren't very many that have open gym on Saturday! That doesn't make sense to me.

But we found Bouncy Town USA in Windsor. Its a half hour away, but worked out well because it's only $5 and its open until 8. Allie hadn't taken a nap on Friday so it worked out for her to nap and then we headed out to bounce.

Allie had fun! It was decently busy, but the toddler areas were empty. She enjoyed it, but I think she would have more fun next time if we went with a friend.

It was a fun evening. After playing for a little over an hour we went to Chili's for dinner using the gift card Dada got for his birthday. We had to wait about a half hour but Allie was really good during the wait and the meal. A few of the restaurant staff stopped at the table because she was being so cute. And when anyone came by, Allie definitely turned on the charm!

Introducing baby Tyler!

On Thursday, Jan. 5, I became an aunty again and Allie got a new baby cousin!

Photo by Jocelyn Swanson

Baby Tyler wasn't due until the end of February. But complications with Mama, my sister Jeni, moved up his debut. Born eight weeks early via emergency c-section, he weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces and was 18 inches long.

It was all very sudden. Tyler was born on Thursday and we were supposed to have her first of two showers that Saturday! I had to hastily let everyone know it was canceled. We just rescheduled it and its the invitation photo card that I shared on the post under this one. Unfortunately I was looking at the wrong month when I put the date on the card, so we'll have to figure out a way to fix it when I get the cards this week! But I'm very excited to throw a shower for our new Mama!

It was a couple days until Mama got to meet Tyler. But when she did, they were both so excited.

I stole this photo and the next four from Jeni's facebook page.

Here's Tyler with his Dada, Allie's uncle Dave.

And here are some great pictures of baby Tyler! He's such a cutie, especially now that he's starting to open his eyes more!

Congratulations Aunt Jeni and Uncle Dave!

We went and saw Jeni in the hospital the weekend after Tyler was born and we saw Tyler in the NICU. I didn't get to hold him that day though. But last weekend I went to see Tyler again and got to hold him! He's so little!

This photo is actually mine.

Baby Tyler is doing great. He's been gaining weight like a champ and today was up to 5 pounds 8.4 ounces. He's sleeping in a regular crib, meaning he's maintaining his body temperature on his own. The only issue is in feeding and its just going to take time for him to get it. Everyone's hopeful he can go home from the hospital within the next couple weeks.

Photo Card

Hey Baby Baby Shower

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Three cheers for cheerios

The other day we got lazy with dinner and gave Allie chocolate cheerios. For the first time ever, I put milk on her cereal. Apparently she's been eating cereal like this at daycare for awhile now. I'm happy to report that she didn't spill anything! She's also getting really good with the spoon, though after awhile she gave up and went back to eating with her fingers.  

New hiding spot

We took down the Christmas tree on new years eve. I've been known for leaving the tree up until April, but this year we were tired of it. It was time to come down. In place of the tree, we moved Allie's art table over to that corner and now most of Allie's stuff is over there. Before there was some stuff next to the TV and some in front of the fire place. Mama and Dada like it because having the table in the corner makes the room look bigger. And Allie likes it because she can have plenty of fun hiding under the table and behind the couch. Win win!

Brown bear brown bear

What do you see?

Credit: Amazon.com

Uncle Justin and Aunt Kira gave Allie this book for her birthday and right now she can't get enough! We read a book before bed and I can't remember the last time we read something other than this! We brush teeth and she asks for "brown bear brown bear."

We don't usually read before nap time, but lately she's been asking for brown bear brown bear before naps too.

She's learning what all the animals say, except for the goldfish because goldfish don't talk. I think maybe she's learning her colors too. She loves the slide and find doors!

We've all memorized the book. Allie "reads" along with us. Tonight when we got to the end she recited the last two pages by herself: "Teacher teacher, what do you see? I see... children looking at me!" It was adorable.

Kira and Justin have given us lots of great books because Aunt Kira works at Barnes & Noble. Allie got a reindeer finger puppet book for Christmas that was a big hit as well. Kira tells me that Justin was the one to pick out brown bear brown bear, however, and that he's quite proud of himself! Well thank you Uncle Justin and Aunt Kira!

Partners in crime

A week or so ago we went over to Grace's house to play. We hadn't been there since before Thanksgiving since life has been so busy. But Dada had a work party and Mama and Allie had to wait up to pick him up, so what better way to spend an evening than having a quick dinner and then going out to play?

 Grace was in a really fun mood. And the girls became partners in crime, each feeding off the other's energy!

 Allie made herself at home playing with all of Grace's toys.

But perhaps the most interesting moments came when Grace decided to crawl into one of the dog's crates and Allie crawled in the other! I didn't think Allie would fit, but the one she went in is a little bigger. This went on for awhile until it was time to go pick up Dada. What funny times to tell Dada about how we were a bit late picking him up because I had to get Allie out of the crate!

Imagination at work

I feel like Allie grew up on our Christmas trip. One major new development is evident in her play these days. You can really tell that her imagination is going strong!

Allie knew just what to do with her Baby Alive. We named her baby Annie. She likes to feed, burp and dress baby Annie.

Last week when I came home from work one day, I was greeted by Snow White Allie! She got a trunk of princess dress-up clothes for Christmas. She loved the slippers on her feet and also the ring. She carries the ring around. And of course there's the phone. She got three phones for Christmas and she knows just what to do with them!

The present that we were sure would be a slam dunk, however, was her cooking set. I'm generally against toys with lots of pieces. But this one is great. There are a couple different pans that light up and sizzle. There are also lids and utensils, her favorite being the whisk. And of course it has food too!

Doug sent me this picture the day after Christmas after we'd opened out presents when I'd gone to the chiropractor. Here she is talking on the phone while cooking and feeding baby Annie and her other friends! Priceless!