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8.31.2007

34 Months (and 2 days)

This has been my favorite month ever with Chloe.  She has been absolutely precious.  Quite a change from last month at this time!

We have had lots of fun playing together.  We read and play with her "peoples" everyday.  She is getting old enough to really help me around the house.  She is a learner, and is currently enthralled by maps and American flags.  She loves to look at maps and know that they "show us where we are" and on tv they "show us where it's rainin". 

Last night she started Awana Cubbies, and was an angel.  I look forward to memorizing verses with her.  It will be good for both of us!  When we got home from church, she talked endlessly about Cubbies and all of her friends who were Cubbies, ending the night by sleeping in panties because "Cubbies don't wear diapers."  As soon as I get her vest I will be sure to post a picture of her in the official attire.

Favorites:

Books- any Thomas book, Dora books, It's Fall!, and There's a Billy Goat in the Garden

TV- this month has been a revival of the old faves: Blue's Clues, Barney, Cedarmont Kids, Winnie the Pooh

Foods- Bagels, chicken, strawberries, chips, waffles, watermelon

Things to Do- Puzzles, color, go to church, go to the library, jump on beds, jump in general, climb, stroll her babies along the sidewalk, read, tickle, laugh

A Case of the Gimmes

It cracked me up yesterday when we were doing some grocery shopping and Chloe was near tears begging for me to buy things for her.  Ashamedly, I admit I gave in to her pleas and bought the rotisserie chicken and the watermelon she so desired.

8.27.2007

Do As I Say

Overheard and seen via the rearview mirror while driving home from the store this morning.

Eli: (repeating over and over, getting succesively louder and more annoying) Mah-Moe, Mah-Moe, Mah-MOE, MAH MOE, MAH MOE......

Chloe: (sweetly) Don't say Mah-Moe, Eli.

Eli: Mah-Moe

Chloe: (a little annoyed) I said don't say mah moe, E!

Eli: MAH. MOE.

Chloe: (very frustrated) Eli, look at me, look at my eyes.  Don't say Mah-moe.  Do you understand?

Eli: Mah-moe, mah-moe, mah-moe!

Chloe: (exasperated sigh, wags finger in his face) Eli, no more. DON'T SAY MAH-MOE! Ok?

Eli: Mah-moe

Chloe: (grunts and looks out window)

Silence, lasts about a minute or so

Chloe: OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah.......

Shhh... It's a Surprise!

This is hiding under the flannel snowman sheet in the back of my closet :)dollhouse1.jpg

8.21.2007

Dollhouse Dreams Dashed

We just received an email that said, "we're sorry.  when we sold you the dollhouse we didn't actually check to make sure we have it in stock first.  we don't. and we won't get more.  we'll refund your card. thank you, come again."

Morning Fresh

chloe-outside.jpg

Dollhouse Dreams II

The word "dollhouse" is a powerful one for little girls and women alike.  It's full of all kinds of memories of days gone by, or for the younger ones, hopes for future fun.  The word has recently elicited a variety of animated stories that have been so fun to hear.  From what I've heard, it seems there are two kinds of girls in this world. There are those who are Dollhouse Girls and those who, quite simply, are not.

My grandma is a Dollhouse girl.  There were two things she always wanted to have, a bicycle and a dollhouse, both of which she never got.  When she was a young girl, her Aunt Lenoir had lost two children and wanted to take my grandma as her own.  She was a kind woman, who never said a cross word.  She was gentle and sweet, and promised grandma a bike and a dollhouse and new dresses if only she would come be her daughter.  Coming from a family of five children, this request didn't seem at all unreasonable to grandma, plus her mom quarrelled all the time.  Her house was loud and chaotic, they wouldn't miss the youngest of the five.  Grandma begged and pleaded, but her mom never relented.  So after many tears were shed, grandma made due, fashioning dolls and furniture out of scraps of this and that she found along the way.  She used her imagination and had very lively dollhouse adventures without the aid of an actual dollhouse.  Eventually, my grandma would have a daughter, and she vowed her daughter would have a better life than she had.  Her daughter would have a dollhouse!  Of course, my grandma didn't bargain for my mom, whose idea of a fun time was painting all of her baby dolls and jumping on her shiny, new dollhouse crushing it to bits.

Some people have been worried that a nice dollhouse is too much of an investment for a three year old little girl.  What if she doesn't like it?  And while the question is certainly a fair one, (I have seen more than enough postings on craigslist advertising a $200 dollhouse that was "never played with" or "only collecting dust") I don't think we need to worry.  You see, there are two types.  I'm a dollhouse girl, my mom was not.  My sister wasn't and neither is her daughter. My grandma was, as was Mimi. Wormy has gone the past year with only a doll family, and like grandma, has spent countless hours imagining a home and furniture for her little people.  Her face lights up when she sees pictures of houses online, and asks for a "Happy Birthday House" nearly everyday.  I think it's safe to say she's a Dollhouse Girl.

8.18.2007

The Other, More Important, Side

In case you want to see the inside of Sunshine Manor....

Dollhouse Dreams

It was almost refreshing to see the giant goblins set-up in Sam's Club this morning.  It helped us know that we weren't the only ones looking forward to that last weekend in October, and we weren't completely crazy for thinking about it oh so soon.  Of course, it's not Halloween that excites us, but Wormy's third birthday, just two days before the big day of bewitching. 

We have been giving her birthday lots of thought for awhile now, primarily concerning ourselves with the perfect present.  We decided this year, if at all possible, would be the year of the Dollhouse.  We want something special, nothing plastic and fleeting, but rather a rich, wooden, heirloom that will be enjoyed not only by Chloe, but by the next generation as well.  I've been combing the internet looking for the perfect match, and have attempted to snag a few pretty good looking ones on Craigslist, always to be beat out by a swifter, more desperate mommy.  Afraid we would never be able to buy anything nice, I asked my mom and my grandma if they would be willing to go in with us instead of buying Worm a seperate gift, and they were completely excited to do so!

Last night, we took the kids to Learning Express so I could see some houses in person while the kids played with the Thomas set.  I decided a few that I kinda liked online were merely okay in person. I was a little discouraged, thinking nothing was quite good enough when I finally saw it.  The one.  The perfect heirloom.  It was beautiful, but not frilly.  Big, but not monstrous.  Modern, but not so to become dated.  And it had a couple of really cool features (ie. a working doorbell and drapes that go up and down), but not so many that the gadgets strip away the need for imagination. I was in love, and so was Patrick.  I looked for a price, and finding none, went over to the clerk to inquire.  I thought it would be a little high, but I didn't think I would see my dreams dashed so quickly and violently! (That much?!? For a dollhouse!!) We left a little dejected, but knew we would find something nice, just not that nice elsewhere.  I decided to look for the one from the store online last night, and hit dead ends at every turn.  Vendor after vendor was sold out with no idea when more would be in.  And then it happened.  I found one!  At a place called Future Memories, no less.  Not only did I find one, but it was fifty dollars  cheaper!  We ordered it immediately, knowing it was still too pricey for a birthday gift, but not being able to help ourselves, and it will be here in a week or so.

Anyone else willing to chip in instead of getting a seperate gift would be greatly, greatly appreciated.  If you do like to buy seperate presents, furniture (Melissa and Doug or Ryan's Room type) for our little people will be much loved, otherwise, they will have only curtains and a doorbell till Christmas!  Those of us who buy the house will all sign the bottomside, adding a special note or Bible verse to make this gift truly special and meaningful for years to come.  We are so excited about it, and really have no idea how we are going to keep ourselves from ripping open the box and ringing the little tiny doorbell before the big day.

I have another story or two to tell regarding this whole thing, but since this has become tiresome already, I will end now, and quench your desire to see what this great thing looks like.... so without further ado...!

                                dollhouse.jpg

Ta-DA!

8.15.2007

(In Raeford) Everyone's a Cummings or a Goins

I was moving furniture around by myself this morning, generally making a monstrous mess of things.  Eli was hanging out by my kneecaps, and Chloe was playing in her room. A loud noise from the living room sent Chloe running out to investigate. 

Chloe: Mommy, what's coming on in here?

Mommy: Huh?

Chloe: What's coming on?

Mommy: Oh, you mean what's going on!

Chloe: (pauses, pensive, replies) No, what's coming on.

Mommy: Oh, ok.  Well, I'm moving the couch. 

Chloe: Ok, Mommy.  You move the couch. (returns to her room)

8.13.2007

Wormy's Words

On Friday Chloe and I were in the living room together, when suddenly something caught her attention.  She stopped what she was doing, looked intently toward me and said, "Mommy, you're not wearing earrings! Mommy, your ears are naked!"

Yesterday she jerked open the refrigerator door, saw a full pitcher of her favorite summer liquid, and passionately exclaimed, "Mommy! God made more lemonade! Thank you, God! Chloe would like some lemonade, please!"

In the van, going to evening church, watching "Red video" yet again.  The Cedarmont Kids logo comes up and Eli immediately starts pointing at each letter saying "O-O-O".  Chloe sweetly replies, "That's not an O, Silly Boy. (Logo goes away) Look, they'll show you.  (Logo comes back) There it is! Look, Eli. K-I-D-S spells KIDS!"

8.05.2007

Daddy Blog: Home Sweet Home

I'm thankful to have a wife that so sweetly cares for our family.  I'm vividly reminded of this when playing Chloe's favorite new game, House.  Friday night we set up Chlo's Little Pink House and a little blue tent that was "Eli's house" in Chloe's room.  We all had a great time entering and leaving and ringing door bells and sheltering from the storms.  Chloe had a little more fun when E was napping and she didn't have someone trying to knock down her walls.  This afternoon while playing House, Wormy wiggled out of her house announcing that I needed lunch and then returned carrying a bowl of plastic french fries.  I asked if Chloe wanted lunch and she said that she didn't...it was just for Daddy.  As I was enjoying my fries, Chlo left to "make Daddy's coffee" and returned with a nice, hot, invisible cup ("Be careful, Daddy.  Don't spill.  It's hot.").  After I had finished slurping down my coffee, Chlo told me, "I need to go to gym."  She then sternly assured me, "I be right back.  Don't cry, Daddy."  And with a kiss to my cheek, she left the house to go "runnin' and jumpin'".  After returning and taking her shower, which was apparently very cold, she ran many other errands, mostly buying milk at the store.  Each time I was instructed to stay inside.  I was finally rewarded with a trip to the park where we had fun sliding down the living room chair and swinging on pillows.

8.03.2007

33 months (and some days)

The month flew by, and a few cute things have happened, but I don't remember them.  As I sit here reflecting, trying to recall what they were, my brain is filled with the memories of day after day of constant, droning whining sounds.

Favorites:

Books- Old Bible, New Bible, Eli's bedtime book, Freight Train by Donald Crews, Truck by Donald Crews, 10 Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle

TV- Red video, Barney, PBS Kids

Things to say- "Like Chloe's doing, Eli!" "No, that's mine!" "Daddy hold you." "No Mommy, not help you, Coey do it all by self."

Foods- strawberries, oranges, corn, organic fruit roll-up type things, chocolate chips

Things to Do- Puzzles, making Mommy draw everyone in the family, stamps, coloring, jumping, taking walks