Howdy folks. So I've become nearly so overwhelmed with the idea of catching up on three months of blogging, I've decided that I need to streamline it. My old computer is a blowhog, so I'm trying to figure out an easier way to upload pics with the new computer without using up the memory, hopefully ending the reign of the blowhog. Likewise, this first one will be pictures. I seem to have lost my sense of humor this summer, so I won't try to write anything cute and/or clever.
Our final romp in Bozeman. This are on some of my favorite running trails there, and one evening after dinner I showed em to squeek.
she got quite excited
and decided to do some running of her own.
then we had to move.
This is another addition to the "Where's squeek?" file.
Then we went to North Carolina for the big reunion.
we flew kites
dug holes
paddled around
Sienna actually loves being on the water, we discovered. So, we've gotten out a few times since this trip.
Then we moved to seattle.
This is an excellent glimpse into sienna's brain. This is a frame of baby pictures of me and my sibs, placed on the car because, well, it's good to share your toys with other babies.
The beginning of squeek's love affair with auntie patience. Here at the K.D. Lang concert at the zoo
With sienna's advancing age comes new adventures, now in the form of word puzzles. She'll repeat most anything we say, which is fantastic, cute, and terrifying. Right when you think she isn't paying attention, we'll start gossiping about her new haircut, and then ten minutes later she'll be reciting to us: "looks like rat nesht. Looks like rat nesht. Rat nest." Thus, laura's belated lent commitment is to give up her sailor ways and keep the cussing to a minimum. This is good. In my favorite sienna-ism to date, we were at an end of the year dinner party for my med school class (year one done, whooo!) and we were in teh kitchen and I said let's go say goodbye to the boys, and we walked into the living room with four male classmates sitting on the couch. They look over expectantly as she says "buh-bye boys," waves and proceeds towards the door. It made my week. Also, it snowed last week and sienna came running into the office when she woke up and said, "hey dada, it's snowing." Indeed it is. Oh, another big breakthrough. Sienna blamed her fart ("toot") on the toy frog ("ohh, fwog!"). Awesome.
Anyway, here are some pics from easter.
Sienna did not (!) want to be put down by grandma, regardless of
if she was busy at the time.
She is sure gunna miss grandma
So, to understand sienna at this age, the video below helps explain her...protective side. Everyone under four feet tall she assumes is trying to steal her stuff. Thus the "nonononono," as a young girl got within fifty feet of her. other than a few moments of cuteness, she's not the most social gal. Unfortunately, her numerous possessive neighbors have imprinted on her that, indeed, everyone is out to steal her stuff.
And her she is jumping like stunt double.
I love this... badgering the innocent duck.
I should mention that these videos are from a month ago. Looking at them it feels like forever ago because of how quickly she changes. It almost feels futile to try to capture and relay the sienna story because by the time I'm able to download and blog about it, she's all ready moved on and is onto other more noteworthy things. For example, while she still loves nonononono, it's mostly been replaced by "yeah." this is adorable, because she'll agree to anything. Did you have fun today? yeah. did you peepee on the potty today? yeah. did you see any bears in the woods? yeah. wait, what? It's great though, because it just melts your heart. She has also conquered the counting to ten thing, and acutally knows what it is. She is still hesitant to answer "how many?" but several times she's pointed at something, saying "three squares...black squares... red circles" (meaning look at those three traffic signs which are black squares with red refelctive circles in them).
okay that's it. Now that I'm off of school, maybe we'll get more pics/vids. oh, and...
Due thanksgiving, 13 weeks in now, unknown parts. Laura is horribly sick all the time. we're psyched! Laura has rejected all names, so suggestions are welcome.
Soooooo, it's been a busy spring, but here we are, still alive, still kicking, and still balling...wait, I got that wrong...still kickballing. yeah that's it. now that the snow has melted we can get outside and enjoy all that MT has to offer. Better do it now while we can, since we moved. Well, we still live here, but we moved all ready. Laura had the swell idea of going out to seattle over spring break and taking half (0.500) of our stuff, dumping it, and then doing the rest as our final move come may 26th, which is coming up. Unfortunately, things got epic on our first round.
she's sleeping, but only with big bear suckin her face.
The cop in the background gave squeek a ticket for
expired tabs. She thought that was hilarious.
It turns out that the whole, must be over the age of 16 to drive thing,
is a superb law. and I trusted her!!! We ended up in this 40 car pile-up on
snoqualmie pass. we're okay, the truck and trailer got minor dings
from the two cars behind us that couldn't stop. but we did much
better than the 40 totalled cars in front and behind us.
the upside is that squeek had a great time, all three hours of it.
Yeah, then we moved and we're back. meanwhile, squeek continues to grow and talk and all that other good stuff. she's naming colors somewhat accurately, and she counts to ten, though I don't know that she knows what the numbers mean, just that they're sequential and all that jazz. she likes to throw and kick balls, and jump around and ride bikes and all that stuff. She's somewhat potty-trained. unless she poos during nap, she tells us when she's ready to go and off we go. been that way for a few weeks. the pees are decidedly harder, so we're working on that. OH, did I tell you? sienna has a crush! Asher! he's a babe of a four year old, and she calls for him all day (he's the neighbor. he's all right, I guess. i don't know why she doesn't go after guys her own age.)
I had no idea that it started this early.
To prepare myself for these future-teenage-daughter-conflicting-emotions-things, I decided to start reading laura's diary. I know, you're not supposed to do that, but I figure if I get really good at picking those absurdly small diary locks, than when sienna gets a diary (her next birthday) and starts spilling her guts onto paper, then I'll better know what's going through her head and how to deal with her. And no, I won't feel guilty about it. I'll also get some practice being a frickin ninja.
I have to say, however, that I was extremely surprised to find what I did in laura's diary. It just doesn't really seem like her.
"Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal--on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed."
"Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small) comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part."
"Have him lean back ina a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax--unwind."
(These are taken from "Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader, Eighth edition," from Bathroom reader's press in Ashland, OR. Supposedly, they are excerpts from a real life 1950's Home Economics textbook. Brilliant. It is the best book that I've read in years. scratch that, best book I've EVER read. Get it: http://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Ultimate-Bathroom-Reader-eighth/dp/B004RTH8R8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335240108&sr=8-1)
Anyway, I degress. To combat the sienna's romantic feelings, we took her outside.
We're starting a new segment here. Where's Squeek?
Anyway, we've got easter and duck shots that will be the next post. hopefully soon. stay tuned.
Thus ends the sienna portion of this presentation.
Now onto what this blog was supposed to be about when we started it 19 months ago: sweet adventure pics. Unfortunately, we don't have any of those, so these'll have to do. From the other weekend
laura managed to relive the times of old, 'shwackin'.
Actually, I lied. We do have another squeek picture:
Perhaps an explanation is due. This is amazing. While this
may seem like endless doodling, it is in fact a huge improvement over
her past work. Before, she would simply go up and down, so you'd
get lots lines. Note her departure. a little squiggle here, a little
squiggle there, circles with lines. This is legit, man.
