Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Hula hoops, old men, and Fraggles (what a combo!)

Favorite thing AM did this week

It's quiet around here since AM has gone to spend a few days with my parents at the beach. Before she left she was thrilled to constantly remind me that Grandmommy and Grandado were in Alaska, seeing whales. I think that might be all she ever associates with the state of Alaska.

In unrelated rambling, AM thinks she has mastered the hula hoop. At the tender age of 23 months, no less. Her version of "hula hooping," however, is holding the hoop up to her waist and spinning herself, rather than the hoop around. It's quite funny, but I have been very slack, and do not have this "skill" on video yet.


Favorite thing I read this week

I love this brief article from today's Birmingham News (originally printed in the Decatur Daily). What an adorable group of old men!



Favorite thing I saw this week

I let AM rent a video from the library last week, and she chose (okay, I chose for her) Fraggle Rock, Season One (Disc 1). I loved this show as a kid, and watching it 25 (or so) years later, it did not disappoint. AM was less amused by the Fraggles, and more amused by the puppet dog, Sprokit, but that's alright. We'll get Disc 2 next week, and I know she will grow to love the Fraggles themselves, just as much as I did.



Monday, July 20, 2009

Knuffle Bunny and then some...

Favorite thing AM did this week

Lately anytime AM says "thank you," she adds a "so much" at the end. I've tried to capture it on video but she usually says it so low that it doesn't turn up on the audio very well. I'll keep trying!

On a totally unrelated topic, AM's giant set of Lego blocks came with one little man figure. We named this guy George many months ago. I cannot remember why. Last month a family friend gave AM a set of 20 (!) little Lego figures. They represent everything from a doctor, a zookeeper, and, I kid you not, a prisoner. Anyway, in response to the original George, AM has named all of these extraneous Lego figures "not-George." Here's a picture of a few of the not-Georges, including prisoner # 62019.


Favorite thing I read this week

AM and I both love reading Mo Willems' books. We started out with his Pigeon series, and then moved to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Last week we checked out Knuffle Bunny Too: A Tale of Mistaken Identity. It is hilarious, and all kids (and mommies, daddies, etc.) should read it. Here's a link to all things Mo Willems, including his funny blog. He's a genius of a kids writer, and there may be a Mo Willems-themed birthday party on the horizon! http://www.mowillems.com/
Favorite thing I watched this week
Summer TV is the pits since I hate reality-television. I have, however, rediscovered the glory of "Cheers," whose reruns play super late on the Hallmark Channel. I DVR them, and they are the perfect show to fall asleep to (with visions of Sam, Diane, and Carla dancing in my head).

Monday, July 13, 2009

Two Faffies!

Favorite thing AM did this week

I tell myself that we are truly trying to break the pacifier (a.k.a. the "faffie") habit, but AM is only growing more attached. She is only allowed to have a faffie in bed, but has lately insisted on "Two faffies!" when she goes to bed. Matthew went to get her from her nap the other day, and discovered she has even invented a way in which she can "hold on" to both faffies while sleeping...
Basically, she hooks the ring of one around the sucky-part of the other. The result looks a little like a pacifier-rhinocerus.
Favorite thing I read this week
Not much reading time this week, but I did manage to make it through an entire Real Simple magazine while on the bike at the gym this morning. I love that magazine, and this month it featured a cute article about a group of 7 friends who take turns planning a "surprise" trip for themselves each year. I love this idea, mostly because I like the idea of making sure you get together with your best girl friends on a regular basis, despite geographical obstacles. The surprise element would make me a little nervous, not because I'm a control freak, but because I love to plan! On the other hand, maybe it would be relaxing to know all details are taken care of (by someone else) ahead of time.
Favorite thing I saw this week
Kristi, my loyal movie-going friend, and I saw The Proposal this week. I'm not always in the mood for a rom-com, but this one was actually very cute. I did not regret splurging on the $9.25 ticket one bit. And Sandra Bullock's clothes in it were great!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

We had a fun 4th weekend at the lake, and then came back in time for me to get some sort of bug. Feeling better now!

Favorite thing AM did this week

We are lucky to have numerous friends who love AM, and whom she loves back. Here's a picture of her doing "flips" with our friend Nicole at the lake. Poor Nicole was probably sore the next day because AM made her do so many of them.
As an aside, my least favorite thing AM did this week was figure out how to crawl out of her crib! And land face first on the floor. No damage done, just a little rugburn to the forehead. I didn't think it was time for a toddler bed yet, but perhaps it is...
Favorite thing I watched this week
From my Sunday morning sickbed I loved watching Federer vs. Roddick at the Wimbledon final. I always cheer for Federer, but I wouldn't have hated it if Roddick had won. I felt bad for him after he played so well for 70+ games. I wish he hadn't cried though.
Favorite thing I read this week
I finished Whistling in the Dark (see last post), and its ending was just as good as I had hoped it would be. Sometimes when I read a book I truly love, I have a hard time starting a new book. I'm trying to fight that by already starting my next read, Lake Wobegon Days. I was craving another small-town, down home, eccentric character-driven story. So far, it's not as good, but I'm hoping it picks up. (P.S. I know that Milwaukee, where Whistling in the Dark took place, is not a small town, but the neighborhood in the story felt like one)