Burn Baby Burn

We had our first fire in the fireplace today. The chimney inspector came this morning and gave us the go ahead. While it didn't compare to the Blaze King "Princess", it was nice to be able to see some flames and cozy up next to it. The heater hasn't been on since noon. It is a bit cold downstairs, but that's what down comforters are for!

Moving Down, Down, Down

To the basement, that is. We spent our first night in our new bedrooms in the basement last night. It was a restless first night for me (migraine-the fifth or sixth in the past eight days) but a good night sleep for Mike and Clare. LLSS woke up early but managed to snuggle between Mike and I for another hour and a half. Aside from leaving me about three and a half inches on my side of the bed, it was mighty nice of her.

Here's our typical morning conversation:

CLARE

"Clare's ready for dinner."

MIKE

"Are you ready for breakfast?"

KATE

"hhmmgharrgh"

CLARE

"It's time to get out of bed. Mama, get out of bed."

KATE

"ummm, ahhhh"

CLARE

"Daddy, turn off the alarm. Turn it off."

MIKE

"Clare, Daddy will get up with you."

CLARE

"MAMA! Time to get up."

KATE

(Refraining from swearing) "Okay, I'm getting up."

And so it goes. Even when my loving husband is eager to get up early with the little girl, she still needs the company of both of us. Ocassionally he is able to persuade her to come to the kitchen with him, but within five minutes she is back in the bedroom, pulling on my hand, yelling at the bed, or using the power of tears to drag me from my slumber. I really miss sleeping in. Really. Miss. Sleeping. In.

Life Made Simple

A little conversation Mike and I had today with Clare:

Mike

"Are you going to eat cheesy pasta for lunch?"

Clare

"Yep. It's going in my tummy."

Kate

"That's right."

Clare

"Then it comes out the butt."

Us

"Um-huh."

Clare

"Then it goes bye-bye, in the potty."

Us

"Yep."

Life made simple, by a two-year-old.

Raining in the Desert

After a failed attempt at firewood collection (truck issues) we headed to Cambridge for a little arts and crafts show. There was some interesting stuff, but mostly it was a bit too "country" for my taste. Just really not my style. It was a nice drive and we extended it by driving to Brownlee Reservoir to check out the dam. Quite a feat of engineering there. Lots of concrete and blasting involved in the building of that one.

Clare's new expression is, "What is Mom figuring out?", or "What is Dad figuring out?" when we are working on something she doesn't quite understand. She also made a reference to bodily functions today as "butt music", as in, "Daddy is making butt music." Can't wait for her to use that one at the post office or the library.

Oh yeah, it's raining here tonight, which, unlike Sitka, is really something to write about.

Recipe

Here's a little recipe I discovered recently:

1 healthy baby
1 well-baby appointment
1 doctor's office
1 plastic table
1 activity cube
2 magazines
1 friendly four-year-old

Mix all of these ingredients together. Wait three days. Sneezing will indicate that the mixture is successful. Runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, and stuffed up head to follow.
After all the symptoms have developed, allow once-well baby to sleep in parents' bed so at least someone in the family can get some rest.

Makes me think I should have kept her home from the "well" baby visit as she is now a "sick" baby. At least she got a flu shot out of the deal as well. Now, if only she would learn to open her mouth to breathe while sleeping.


Here is a little conversation we had on our way home from the post office yesterday.

Clare

"Look mama. Two puppies (small dogs, but full-grown)."

Me

"Yep Sweetheart. What are they doing?"

Clare

"The doggies are playing tag. He got him."

The two dogs are now having sex in the road!

Me

(Giggling a bit.) "Yep, Sweetie, he got him."

It seems a bit early for the birds and the bees to me.

Trying Something New

Cabin completion! Here are some photos of the completed cabin at Starrigavin Campground north of Sitka. Mike aided in putting together the walls and the roof. The rest was finished after we left. It is located in a developed campground and is completely accessible. I'll try to post some links to information from the time it was being built.

Today I am trying to import some video into the blog. If all goes well and it doesn't take all day! Okay, finished.

Here is Clare on Halloween night, about three houses into the trick-or-treating experience. I know this because I am only carrying her bag and not the Queen Bee herself. House four is when that happened! Sorry the audio is so jumbled. I feel our camera was better at picking up the sound of crunching leaves that tiny baby voices.

Catching Up a Bit

In early October, Mike's parents came for a visit. While Clare has spent time with relatives before, she is just coming to an understanding of what it means to be the center of attention. I think she really has a knack for it. She was quite the hostess while they were her. She took them on a walk to the post office, drug them up and down the stairs a million times to share her toys with them, gave them plenty of opportunities to practice their reading skills, and doled out the love on numerous occassions.

Eating breakfast with Grandpa.

Reading with Grandma.

Thanks Bob and Carol. I enjoyed the break as well.