Fancy a Shave?

So, folks, it's Day 8 of "Operation Green Snot," yet, these hardwood floors are echoing once again with the pitter-patter and excited Noodle trills and shrieks.  She's BACK...a wee bit snotty, so still off-limits to her pint-sized amigos, but back to eating, pooping, laughing, and scurrying about

*Did you note the absence of "sleeping" in that list?  I know that you did, JeeYoung & Daniela!

Sleep is still an elusive concept for Ms. Saucy. She is back up to some very old tricks...and being totally (and properly) indulged under the protection of "poor sick baby."  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here she is asleep in my arms on Day 5.  This hasn't happened since she was 6 weeks old.

Today, she nursed her entire hour nap.  I know, I know.  Slippery slope.

 

 

 

 

 

And it's her lucky day because she is about to be shielded by the visit of her beloved Lola.  We shield all our visitors (who sleep only feet away from her door) from Nora's scream-spectacular.  Lucky, lucky girl.

But you know what's going to happen in a week?  The World Premier of the "Boo Hoo All Night Show." That familiar story arch that's acted out throughout the toddler cribs of America.

And what have we been up to on our eighth painful day of shunning playdates and germ-sharing?  Some more stabs at sensory play.  Free-form imaginative play where I disconnect from my Facebook/Words with Friends addiction, tune into watching Nora frolic, and allow her to explore and get messy...very messy.

Today started with an epic FAIL on the "Build a Fort" invitation.  I covered the couch, coffee table and ottoman with blankets and proceeded to entice my daughter by slithering on my belly, through clumps of cat hair, crushed Cheerios, and grains of kitty litter.  

My butt stuck up so high that I kept destroying the fort as I moved through.  Every time I would come up sweaty from a tunnel, I would find her staring at me, knitted brows, questioning my sanity.  Completely still.  Unwilling to climb into the fortress.  Confused as to why I was squealing and giggling underneath the blankets.

 

I felt a bit stupid, disheveled, and coated in cat hair.  I set out to find us another activity.  

 

Whilst rifling through the bathroom cupboards, I came across an ancient (certainly toxic) electric blue shaving cream.  It would never make it onto our skins...so why not into a sensory tub filled with fluffy cream? 

 

The Invitation:

• plastic tub 
• shaving cream
• paint brushes
• golf balls
• ice cubes
• spoons
• various cups and tupperware containers

Sensory Vocabulary:

fluffy, creamy, cold, wet, dry, slippery, rough

 

And what did Noodle think?  Well, the pictures tell the tale.  She kept HERSELF amused (with me nearby) for 51 minutes (yes, I noted the time on the photos).  This was fabulous...for both of us.  Our minds and imaginations went wild.  We were outside on a warm fall day.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hmmm, what's this stuff?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Cool, slimy golf ball and a cold ice cube."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Look, Dad, doesn't this look fun?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I think I'll paint my feet."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mom, you need some, too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus. Focus. Focus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Excuse me, I'm playing here."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And look, John, you would be proud.  A petite painter who always washes her brushes!

 

 

 

This photo is for Grandpa John & Grandpa Steve.  The painter and the golfer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not so fun when I brought her inside for a warm bath.

 

*Look closely, there are some glistening tears involved.

 

 

It was heaven.  Pure joy, laughter, bonding, and fun.  

Comments

[courtney]

I love it!

[Natalie]

I love the shaving cream! Looks like fun... I have also tried the fort idea with Olive. Sometimes she likes it and sometimes it ends up with just me sitting underneath. Those darn toddlers, always changing what they like and don't like! Ay yai yai! :)

[Carrie]

Will you be MY mom? You are awesome.

[Aunt Kathy & Uncle Shane]

Can she be anymore adorable!?!?!?!