Fotos am Freitag: Week 43 - Wanting Out

Nine?  Can it really be only nine weeks until Lulu turns one..goes from "baby" to "toddler"?  We have a walker coming down the pike...and a little girl who wants out.  All the time.  She stands at the screen door and bangs against the mesh.  When she sees the neighbor kids across the street, she goes crazy with screaches and breathy pants.  Often I cave and bring her over to watch the boys run around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She not only stands but lets go...seemingly unaware that she's standing alone.  Yesterday she twiddled her fingers for 7 seconds before sitting down lightly on her enormous cloth-diapered bum.  Her sitting becomes ever more of a whisper.  Soon she'll not even sit and just bounce, with thigh rolls atop of pudgy knees, atop of sausage shins and eclair feet.  She cruises along the edges of tables and my side-lying body.  Her "speech" is expanding with sweet high-pitched squeaks which always mean she's talking to Max or Sophie. 

 

*This photo is her new passion - "downward dog."  There is also this video of this trick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Max has been a true sport and is reluctantly letting her get a few pats in before scurrying away.  Sophie will have none of it.  She hides just under the crib...knowing that Nora will insist on crawling under the rail - only to continuously bump her head on the edge - and soon give up with a whine and a scream of frustration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A birthday party is officially in the works.  I envisioned a very small affair...us and a few family members.  Besides my in-laws, no one else from out of state or out of town.  Wouldn't think to even invite my own local cousins, who although I adore them, would be pained to attend a baby party.  I grew up with small parties because of geography.  Dinner was fabulously intimate with just my nuclear family (closest relatives were 1200 miles away) and a slice of cake on a bright red plate.  So stuck in my head is the idea of the small party.  This is not the case with Daniel's family.  Children, particularly at 1, are celebrated with a huge family fiesta.  People from out of town/state are invited...and some actually make the trip!  I mean, I would have always invited my dad, brother, and best friend...but would never think of them coming down for Nora's party.  It wouldn't even cross my mind that they would travel for a baby's birthday.

Nora's birthday party could end up being a joyful mix of folks from Vegas and Washington and Northern California...we will have to see.  My mother-in-law shares Noodle's big day so we will always have two special ladies to celebrate on the big day.

 

 

 

 

My fingers itch to start popping out invitations.  Of late, my beloved hobby is paper crafts.  Invitations, cards, stamping, scrapbooking.  I am going to try and send out "real" invitations.  Daniel finds this a bit (or very) silly.  Emailing an invite or posting an event on fb would suffice in his mind.  But the invitations are more of a fun diversion than a burden to me.   And upon these hypothetical invitations will be some sentiment that seems impossible to write without sounding rude.  How do you communicate the notion that because of a plethora of lovely hand-me-downs and generous grandparents, you already have a tub full of clothes and mountains of toys?  How do you express that the 20th pair of pants, 8th pair of shoes, or 30th plastic toy is simply too much for any little girl to possess?

Taking suggestions from all of you parents out there.  How do you keep a mountain of well-intentioned  "stuff" (albeit grateful for the gesture) from piling up in your home?  Is there ever a way to tactfully ask for less?

 

Comments

[Susan Sanford Steyl]

How about listing what you DO want?? Maybe a group gift of jogging stroller, class you want to take Nora to (with a link to click to??), Amazon link for books?? Just thinking people could be thrilled to be part of a special gift that means alot and is not a wasteful expense or won't be used. I know I would, and would not be in the LEAST offended. Would appreciate it greatly.

[Susan Sanford Steyl]

Oh and fabulous pics for her 43rd week!! Love the downward dog!

[Aunt Kathy & Uncle Shane]

Adorable, and yes, providing a list of what you would like is great. Amazon wish lists are easy, although they may not have the types of things you're wanting...lists are a good thing :)

Love to you all.

[Liz]

You could ask for a small donation for your local pet rescue of choice--towels, etc, anything they would need. Or a $5 donation for a charity of choice. Or plant a tree for Nora via Arbor Day Foundation online. I love that, it's so easy, I do that for my nephews every year since they live in an apt in NYC and don't have a lot of extra space for toys.

Amazon wish list is good too, people do appreciate gift suggestions. Even if you politely request no gifts, you will get them anyway.