A book is to read

A book is to read
Originally uploaded by jegoffin.

Nora loves books. She grabs them and looks at them all the time. Sometimes she grabs one and sits for a little SSR. It's funny because we don't have the ritual of reading a book at bedtime, as I thought we would. We do it sporadically. But this week she has started pointing to her book shelf after her bottle and asking "more". What is her favorite? Duh...Goodnight Moon. Another fave is Good Dog Carl. She was fascinated by this one at the doctor's office and so I bought it for her. I swear it is the only book for her I've bought at sticker price.

Now that the walking is progressing apace another developmental "issue" has arisen. That of the temper tantrum. The synopsis is bascially this:

Nora: I love doing things on my own.
Mom: Time to ____________.
Nora: But, this is just getting good, look I've walked all the way over to the dirt pile and I'm examining each and pebble/piece of dirt.
Mom: Seriously, we have to a) change your diaper, b) go to the store, c) take a nap, d) watch Dr. Phil.
Nora (shaking hands): No, I don't want to do THAT.
Mom (picking up baby): Let's go (in a singsoning-if I use this tone she'll forget about it-kind of voice).
Nora (squirming and pinching) FUck yOu.

This happens more frequently out in public and in the car, so leaving the house hardly seems worth it.

A hole is to dig

A hole is to dig
Originally uploaded by jegoffin.

Get out your markers, folks. Construction has begun! This will someday be where our house is. That dirt on the right is Nora's room and that dirt by the bobcat is our bedroom and that boulder is in Alec's bathroom.

I got so emotional in seeing actual progress towards our living situation I actually shed a couple tears. I don't think I've been this emotional since I was pregnant. But then again, this "project" is a little like pregnancy. And in keeping with that analogy, this day is like hearing the heartbeat for the first time. You know it is happening, but this is the first tangible evidence of what is to come.

Fishies!

Fishies!
Originally uploaded by jegoffin.

I love this picture of Nora. I bought this top for her last year and it makes me happy just to look at it. It reminds me of the tops I used to wear when I was little the ones that tied on the shoulder.
So let's see what is new and worth reporting. I know. Nora has strage food likes, I think anyway.
So far she has showed enthusiasim for:
Tzatzki
Goganzola and Walnut tortellini
Portobello mushroom raviolli
Croissants
Comte cheese
Edemame
guava

Rux would be proud.

On her own

Nora has officially joined the upright world. That's right folks, her preferred mode of transportation is now an unsteady,constant balancing act on her tiney little feet. She falls, a lot. But she keeps on keeping on, little soldier. Along with her new found independence is a newfound need to cling to me. The parenting books have some technical term for it, but essentially it means that for every few steps she takes, she in turn whines until you pick her up and hug her. Of couse as soon as you pick her up she whines to get down. Apparently she is working out the conundrum of the cake and eating it. In any case our day tends to be a little more frought than it used to be.

I'm close to finishing the final papers, about 55 left. The grades are due on Monday. I'm not going to have anything to do after that! Well, that isn't exactly true, there is always the taking care of the kid thing....or reading, yeah, I miss that.

So here is another try at doing a link, taking Eunice's advice...
casa

I'd suggest this to anyone and everyone, it is truly a rewarding experience.

LATER

What the FUCK. It still doesn't work. The stuff about a world icon etc. I don't have any icons except a abc one and a picture one. Seriously, I am feeling really incompetant and stupid. Please, there must be a better way. For some reason if you click the title of the blog then it links to the case website. HELP!! Sarah?!! Anyone with a mac, please.....

LATERER

Thanks to Meera I now have a shred of sanity back. Yeah MeeraLee! You were right I do have to do it old school style, safari doesn't support the fomatting button. Blast it all! Also just got off the phone with the apple people rectifying a itunes gift certificate gone bad. I bought my nephew one for his birthday, and let's just say that about now he is asking whether or not his Aunt forgot his blimmin birthday. Argghhhh!!!! Curses! But at least now I have a resolution to the problem, which I should have done in the first place sent him an Andrew Jackson and a card. So much for being the cool aunt.

Little Bitta

Little Bitta
Originally uploaded by jegoffin.

Here's the real squinchy face.

Today is my last day of freedom. Tomorrow the students turn in their papers and I will have another two weeks of correcting. I'm not sure what I'll be doing apres. Probably just getting ready for our trip. Maybe even getting some reading done.

Nora took some steps Monday. It happened at the window showroom, while we were picking out the windows for our new home. She hasn't repeated the performance since, but I estimate that she is only a week or two away from realizing the benefits of two legged transportation.

Trying to learn how to do a link so here's a try for more information on the CASA program that I am doing. Go here

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Have baby, will travel

So, we are planning a trip, to Europe, with Nora. Yes, the craziness continues. I'm beginning to see a pattern. Finishing grad school will pregnant and with an infant, driving cross-country with a six month old and a cat. Yep, seems like old times. Here's the low down. Alec's extemely generous aunt gave us a trip to visit her in CH for our wedding gift. So we feel like now is a good time. There is construction starting any day, all our shit is in storage anyway, and we won't ever have the money anyway!

We've decided to extend the stay to include a week or two in Paris and a week in Venice. It is scary to think about having a baby on a transatlantic flight, but hey it's only 13 hours. I welcome any advice or comments on this plan....

Leave that alone, please

I've gotten used to the lack of privacy, but damnit that's MINE!
In other words I'm used to peeing with the door open, but the fact of the matter is I've always been selfish. I like my stuff, a lot. I don't want other people touching my stuff without permission, especially people who bang my stuff on the floor after they've put it in their mouth. When I was little I loved playing dolls, but before we could play I always had to divide up the dolls and clothes. We'd take turns choosing what we wanted and to confess, this was my favorite part. After everything was chosen we could always borrow, but let's be honest, nothing matched the feeling of actually owning it. Nora has no appretiation for this concept. She take a sick little joy in cruising over to whatever it is I have or am doing and decides right then and there that in fact SHE must now do whatever it is: typing at the computer, eating, writing a letter. She's come to the conclusion that no matter how cool her phone is (which by the way plays do-ray-mi-fa-so-la-ti-doe) my phone is better, infinately better, even when turned off. So I've learned to deal with teeth scratches and settings I have no idea how to change, because the tantrum she throws is worse than the one I'm ready to throw.