Posted on 21 June 2012 by: Daddy
Mabel has had a very specific bedtime routine since she was born – well, practically since she was born. The routine goes as follows:
- Announce it’s time for bed.
- Bath — sometimes really short, sometimes long.
- Taco-time (daddy wraps her in a towel like a taco — whenever he gets to be there).
- Brush teeth (more like suck toothpaste from brush).
- Comb hair (now that she has some).
- Run around nakey for a little while while we prepare her diaper and pajamas.
- She picks her pajamas (typically goes for the ladybugs or the flowers).
- Now we get down to business and wrestle her into her night gown (a pouch that zips her in like a cocoon).
- As soon as she’s in that, she knows playtime is over.
- She lays on mama’s or daddy’s lap on the rocking chair — don’t forget her purple dolly!
- And her pink dolly.
- And bear.
- And big dolly — or other pink dolly if they happen to be around.
- Scriptures (Jesus stories), books, and/or froggy stories — as many as she can con us into.
- Songs and hymns — again, as many as she can con us into.
- Prayer — typically said by mama or daddy, with Mabel interjecting whenever she feels prompted to.
- Hugs and kisses while she continues futile attempts to get some more stories or songs.
- Crib — don’t forget her dollies. And her blanket.
- Finally…bed time. Now she sings to herself for about 15 minutes and then she’s out.
- Mama and daddy lay in near-comas wherever possible.
Posted on 14 June 2012 by: Mama
It’s been a fun week with Mabel…as usual, I suppose. A few funny things have happened that I want to record:
Mabel decided to shove play-dough up her nose. I handled it quietly and without frustration, but I was amazed how much she could fit up her tiny nose! It took a combination of tweezers and an aspirator to clear it. The next day, she shoved it in her ear. I’m afraid what’s next…
While texting the story to my friend Becky (“Auntie Becky”), apparently my fingers were typing quite rapidly, as Mabel announced, “mama’s fingers are dancing!”
Today at swim lessons, Mabel’s former teacher, teacher Angie, had on a blue rash shirt rather than the red one she wore for all of Mabel’s lessons. Mabel of course noticed, then announced it. And then during nighttime prayers, prayed for teacher Angie’s shirt.
I am amazed at her memory and I love her descriptions of things.
Odorant = deodorant (daddy’s)
Granola = umbrella
Strawbaberries = strawberries
Bamoonamoon = ballooon
She cannot pronounce “r” nor “l”, which makes some words extremely difficult to understand. Such as “roll,” which is her term for daddy to wrestle with her. You never realize how many words in the English language have both these letters until your 2‑year old is repeating an unknown word repeatedly while you stare wondering what in the world she is trying to say! Fortunately, she is patient with me. 🙂
Posted on 9 June 2012 by: Daddy
Mabel loves to swim.
Posted on 27 May 2012 by: Daddy
Obviously I haven’t done a great job of teaching my little gringuita any Español. I especially like the “fat chance old man” look that she gives me when I announce that we’re going to practice Español. Sigh.
Posted on 10 May 2012 by: Daddy
We took Mabel to a free concert at the local music school last week end. Before the concert, the kids got to play around with the various instruments. She was particularly intrigued by the maracas and the accordion.
But I think my biggest take-away from the experience is that she’s a tiny little runt, she dances with her hands, and she loves a good ‘relajito.’
