Tinkle Tinkle

Another update so soon?

Well, I don't time the cuteness. It happens when it happens.

This is how cute she is all the time, I just rarely get to catch it on video. But the time I pull the camera out, the moment has passed. This time I caught a lot of it. A benefit from having a video camera in one's phone.

Enjoy!

First Update!

Mother's Day 2010

Hello World!
I guess it hasn't been THAT long, but Charlie has learned many, many new things so I thought I better update before I get behind. The BIGGEST news is that on Mother's Day, Charlie walked up to me, said "Potty, mama" and led me by the hand to the bathroom where she proceeded to POO AND PEE IN THE POTTY!!!! And she has done so almost everyday since then. She is pulling her undies up and down 20 times in a row during the potty experience and I swear this kid is ready for Pull-Ups at age 19 months! Genius, I swear.

Then tonight, after she pottied, I went to empty the potty and clean it. When I got back, she had pulled the door stop up to the sink to use as a step stool and was putting baby toothpaste on her baby toothbrush and trying to reach the water tap. Which she couldn't reach. Am I naive to be stunned???


Another example of her genius: Last night, while watching some cartoon, Charlie broke into song and dance. She knew the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" even though I've never taught her those lyrics. (Don't even know them all myself... err....) Ok, so she learned them in daycare. Still, it's impressive isn't it? That she would recognize the song and remember the words?

So of course I had to get it on tape.

And of course, the BEST characteristic Charlie owns is that of an industrious child laborer. Ok, that's not really funny. But this picture is.


Happy Memorial Day everybody.

How Do YOU Eat an Oreo Cookie??

While I was making toffee, Charlie wanted to cook too. I put some cereal in a bowl and let her stir it around for a bit. Then gave her a cookie. What a mess! But lots of fun. I love her face when she hears the word "cookie". I remember how exciting that word was when I was little!

SuperStah!

I keep expecting her to get down on one knee with her arms in the air and say: "SuperStah!"




This was on our vacation, in the "Kiddie Disco".

Manners

I already wrote about how impressed Charlie's extended family was over Christmas when she started saying "tank chew" after someone gave her something. Now I'm going to show off to the blog world ;-)

Here she is on video showing off her mad skills. Notice how her grandmother is ready to let her off the hook so easily? That is going to be the subject of a future post, coming up soon....





She also says "please" in sign language. Apparently I taught her the wrong sign for the world "please": it looks like she is scratching under her arms like a monkey whenever she signs "please".

Which is hilarious.

To me, at least. I will not be correcting her any time soon. As long as she's not doing that when she graduates high school, I'm going to enjoy a chuckle every time she asks for something.

So, is this advanced (as far as development goes) to be saying thank you? She is 16 months. Or is this "average"? When did your child start saying thank you or using manners in any way?

LUB CHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all get starry eyed when the lubs a flowin'....

Dance, Baby Dance

Today we went to Charlie's first "dance". It was held at the cool downtown rock spot where all the indie bands play. Basically, it was a fundraiser for a Montessori school, and probably a hundred little kiddos showed up with their parents to get their groove on. At first it was 99 white kiddos, but then, amazingly, I spotted M (a fellow Ethiopian adoptee that we know from our Ethiopian families gatherings) and had a mini-reunion.



Also included in the corners of the auditorium were soft play stations, including tubes the kids could climb through, and play objects they could explore. The organizers provided costumes and dress up materials, as well as hula hoops.




We all had a blast.

Too bad they only hold it once a year. Considering it was cold and rainy outside, this was a perfect opportunity for kids to run around and let out tons of energy in a fun and safe environment.

Here is a video of Charlie dancing. Notice the "Ethiopian shoulders" which must be genetically programmed into her, since she couldn't have learned that in Ethiopia (she was too young when she left.)

Better Late than Never?

My parents are visiting and whenever they visit, there is a long list of "projects" to be completed ;-) I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin'. No time for posting or thinking about interesting posts.

So therefore I apologize for this somewhat lame post.... it's way late. But still cute. It's Charlie's first time out in the snow. This was back in December. Little did we know that soon we would be huddling in 35 degree temperatures inside the house for 4 days without power or heat.





In other news, she has started saying "I love you" back to me when I say it to her first! It sounds like "LUB CHEWWWW!" and is very cute. I will try to capture that on video.

I Didn't Think Anyone Would Believe Me...

... so I video taped Charlie's bedtime routine. I wouldn't believe it myself if I wasn't watching it happen every night. This is what she does. Goodnight kisses to all, then she walks herself to her crib and I put her in. Blankets are tucked and once that door is closed she sleeps through the night. She is amazing!

The first time she did this was when her grand-parents were visiting, and when I came back out into the living room their jaws were still on the floor! I took full credit: "See what an awesome parent I am?" I said, "That's what she always does." (Yea, right! She'd never done it before... and I know I'm lucky as all get out. I've read so many books and heard stories about kids who had awful night time and parents who are exhausted.)

How could she possibly top this?

Next thing you know, she'll be doing a triple sachow back handspring into her crib!


(Ok, the video wouldn't load for some weird reason... now I KNOW nobody will believe me!!)





In the interest of honesty and transparency, this was not the first time I attempted to catch this on tape. The first night, Charlie slipped and fell after kissing Opa. The second night, she didn't want to kiss Opa and stayed in Babcia's lap. The third night... well, it was getting a bit ridiculous trying to catch her doing a flawless good night routine for the camera. Remember those Saturday Night Live skits where the actors would crack themselves up and try to hide it? Yea... um-hmmm... check out my mom when Charlie doesn't immediately go into her normal routine.... Then check out how the camera starts shaking. I almost peed my pants from trying not to crack up.



I'm telling you, my family is totally normal.

Oh Happy Day!

Boy, wouldn't it be great to wake up in this kind of mood every morning?


Who said "Youth is wasted on the young" again? He wasn't kidding. Charlie wakes up in a fabulous mood 99% of the time. I thought I'd try and capture it, because it's so cute. And I'm jealous because I wish I woke up like this instead of waking up grumbling. My dogs also wake up exuberant. They are definitely on to something.

Again, once the video camera comes out she gets inhibited, but you can still get the gist. I love her smile and rosy cheeks when she wakes up.

Did she or didn't she? (New Poll)

Please watch this and tell me at the end if Charlie said "ba-ba".

Then vote in the new poll on the right.

This is just for fun.... I haven't had a poll since posting her possible names way back when.

Please excuse the snotty nose. It's cleaned every 5 seconds and still, it's never enough. And yes, she's drinking out of a shoe. Good thing Christmas is coming, coz this kid needs some toys! Ok, so she's so bored she's figured out how to drink out of a shoe. Not just any shoe, this is the new Shape-Ups by Sketchers. It's gonna make my butt all sek-si and stuff.

Putting Stuff Away (and Charlie's first word!)

Is this kid loved or what????

She has her own cheering section.

Boy do we fawn over her!

But how could you not?



PS Charlie said her first word on Thursday! Well, her first really clearly pronounced word. It was "ba-ba". She said it very well :-) and totally on purpose. She wouldn't say it again, perhaps due to being startled by my impromptu kitchen dance.... but still, big step!! My baby's growing up!

Putting the dog.... should I say it? ...putting the dog "to sleep".

Charlie and her Opa (grandfather) have a blast together. She ADORES him. They play together every day, ALL DAY, when her grandparents visit, and Opa has a great imagination. He comes up with all kinds of games that are exactly age appropriate for her, and help her learn a few skills beyond her level. But they are also tons of fun for her.

Here she is "putting the dog to sleep".

Notice the cuteness of the way she "shakes out the blanket" before laying it on the dog. Opa says Charlie came up with that detail on her own.

So this is a video of that game. Of course, as soon as the video appears, everything stops, or becomes hesitant, or distracted, even after she just did the whole thing 5 times in a row. But I still think I was able to capture most of this game.

Enjoy!

Kali - Goddess of Destruction!

It's raining and both Charlie and I have the snots.

Ugh.

Nothing much to do, even though the grandparents are visiting.

Here's a old video because I don't feel like writing a new post today. Newer, more fascinating, enthralling posts promised soon. For now, we need to buy more Kleenex.

In the meantime, enjoy Kali, Goddess of Destrux! (typo and it's staying).
Please, try as hard as you can to ignore the baby talk. It's sooo awful! I have GOT to stop that.




Happy Veteran's Day all you vets out there! Go get a free meal (Appleby's) or donut (Krispy Kreme) and enjoy your day :-)

Raised by a pack of wolves?

These pictures speak for themselves... Please don't call social services on me!


"Ok, everybody LIE DOWN!"

"And this is your SISTER, Hannah..."

I know what you're thinking... and no, I've never shut the gate on her!

Disclaimer: The bowl had JUST been filled with fresh, clean water! No dogs had drank from it yet! I PROMISE!

This is proof positive she thinks she's a dog...

There's nothing more delicious than dog kisses... except maybe baby kisses!

(Please ignore the baby talk -ugh I can't believe I do that so much!)

It's not easy co-habitating with a pack of dogs, but sometimes it's really cute :-)

What do you guys think?

Dancing Queen

Ok, I know I already posted a video of Charlie showing off her rhythm while strapped into her high chair... but this one is much better and actually shows her various moves since she is standing up. Plus it shows my obsession with Jon and Kate Plus Eight. Yes, I ordered the complete first and second season on DVD. For the weekends. When it's not on regular TV. You can't really blame me.

Err....

"Ma-ma"?

Ok readers... does this count as saying "mama"?

My girl's got RHY.THM!!!!

I'm sure everyone has seen the YouTube wedding march? Well, Charlie has! Check out her rhythm ;-)

We had just woken up and eaten brekkie, so please forgive the lack of hair and makeup ;-) Also, once she realizes the camera's on her she tends to shy up a bit and so I'll probably never get her in a full-tilt boogie... but you get the idea. Thanks to Aunt Andree for the onesie!

Also, a big shout out to my mom today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!! Charlie sends big MWUAHS your way!!

Propagating the stereotype of women drivers....

Raised by a pack of wolves

My friend Cate has 2 toddlers and 5 dogs. Her kids think they are dogs and line up for treats when the pack does, uses the doggie door, and (to her horror) has been caught on (my) film drinking out of the water bowl.

Charlie seems to have aspirations in the same direction....