Singing and Counting

"I Am a Child of God":

Counting:

Valentine's Festivities

Ever attended her first Valentine's party on Thursday, Feb. 13. When I read "valentine exchange" in the evite, my first thought was, "Do I have to craft?" The girl throwing it, Kristi Rondo, is super-crafty, so I figured it would be all about homemade valentines. Melanie told me she was just going to buy cheap valentines at Target, so I felt better about that. Then I learned at the party that it's less about homemade valentines and more about the candy that is supposed to be attached to the valentines. Ever's valentines did not involve candy, so we were probably pretty unpopular.

We were late to the party because of Ever's nap, so we missed the face painting and the scavenger hunt. We participated-ish (it was a little chaotic) in the valentine exchange and then had to leave quickly for Luc Oddou's birthday dinner. This is a picture somebody else took of the valentine exchange. Ever's on the left:

Luc's birthday dinner was nice. It was just us and the Oddous/Karners, so I felt honored we were invited. I like having friends. When we got there, Ever gave the birthday boy a (leftover) valentine. He didn't want it at first, but Ever kept holding it out until he finally took it. Apparently it was his first valentine.

On Valentine's Day, we went on a triple date with Jeremy and Trisha Wilson and another couple, Brian and Kaci Bronson.  The Bronsons and we left our kids at the Wilsons', and Cali and her friend Mia babysat. Ever was in heaven. At first Jim and I, awkward people we are, were a little dismayed at the prospect of a Valentine's date with a couple we'd never met. (Originally it was supposed to be just a double date with the Wilsons.) It ended up being really fun. We were supposed to go mini golfing but didn't have time before our dinner reservation. Instead, each couple got $5 worth of tokens and spent them as quickly as we could on skee ball and a little basketball. Jim and I pretty much trounced the competition, so that was fun. Then we all made some random kids very happy by giving them the tickets we earned. Skee ball:

Jim, Me, Kaci, Brian, and Jeremy

Jim and Jeremy playing the basketball-throwing game (whatever it's called)

We went to dinner at Tommy V's in Carlsbad. We ate outside. I was the only one wearing a coat, and apparently I was the only one who was cold. It wasn't too bad with the heat lamps, though. I got salmon that I loved (lemon and white wine sauce or something). The desserts were not good. Jeremy and Trish ordered an amazing-looking chocolate cake for dessert, and everybody was raving about it - including Brian, who is supposedly a big foodie. I thought it was nast and had that weird artificial flavor thing. Jim asked the waiter for me if it was made "in-house" (thanks to Bags for teaching me how to ask that question politely), and the answer was negative. I felt vindicated. I'm such a dessert snob.

Us:

The Wilsons with the cake:

Conversation was good, and we shut down the restaurant. Seriously - last people there, and we arrived at 7:45 P.M. After we got home and got Ever back to bed, Jim and I consumed eight gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries (a box of a dozen, minus the four I gave to the missionaries). Jim ordered us two dozen strawberries, and they're supposed to be eaten within 48 hours. So we had to eat one box on Valentine's Day and one box the next night. We are big people. He also had tulips delivered, and they were lovely. I just threw them away tonight, and now the room looks empty. I did nothing for him, but I think he's OK with that.

Dollyisms and First Shiner

"I'm sneaky like a cat."

"Love means hugs."  (In response to Jim's question, "Do you know what 'love' means?")

"Ima get little baby.  I get in charge."  (We're trying to teach her that she's not in charge; Mommy and Daddy are in charge.  So she says, "I not in charge.  Mommy, Daddy charge."  I told her that when she's a mommy and has a baby, then she'll be in charge.)

She said she broke a piece on her kitchen (which she didn't) and then kept saying, "Oh my gosh" over and over again.  She has also learned "dang it" from me.

"----- doodle dandy."  I started this one day when I asked Ever if she wanted a "snacky doodle dandy."  Now we're all about nappy doodle dandies (naps), grapey doodle dandies (grapes), and every other kind of doodle dandy.

"Cookies make me crazy."  Jim and Dolly had a showdown one evening when JoAnn sent her home with a bag of cookies.  (I was at work.)  Ever kept saying, "I want cookie."  Jim said she could have one after dinner.  He tried to get her to eat her food, but she just repeated "I want cookie" about one zillion times. Jim:  "Are you done with dinner?"  Ever:  "I want cookie."  Jim finally lost his mind and ripped the bag open and said, "Fine - have your cookies!"  And they flew all over the place.  Then Ever cried, "Daddy make a mess!"  Jim cleaned up the mess, put one cookie (in pieces) in front of her, and put other cookie fragments back in the bag.  She kept crying for the cookies in the bag and wouldn't eat the one in front of her, so Jim threw them all away and put her to bed without any cookies.  That was weeks ago, and she still sometimes says, "Daddy throw my cookie away."  That night Jim told her she can't have cookies anymore because they make her crazy.

She knows "I Am a Child of God" really well and "I Love to See the Temple" quite well ("I'll prepare myself while I am yum").  She calls them "God" or "Child of God" and "the temple song."  It's really sweet to sing them with her or hear her sing alone.  The only other songs she's into right now are made-up songs.  She tells me to "sing about Kara," "sing about cats," "sing about JoAnn cat," "sing about your eyes," etc.  The John Denver obsession seems to be lessening.

Friday night we were getting ready to leave for a Young Women fundraiser.  I was in our bedroom.  Jim went downstairs, and Dolly wanted to join him.  She headed down alone in the mostly-dark wearing shoes that are a little too big.  We heard a loud bang as she hit the plastic shield we put along the railing to prevent her from falling through because the bars are too far apart.  Then she started crying.  I went out to find her lying face down sideways on a stair.  Apparently she hit her face on the wood at the base of the railing.  She had a good cut by her right eye, and it swelled and started to bruise immediately.  Now she's got a shiner.  People keep asking her what happened.  At least once today she answered, "I got hurt," but her usual response is, "I need a Band-Aid."

The fundraiser consisted of dinner, a silent auction, a live band, and dancing.  Ever was a little out of sorts and refused to go to the nursery.  We took her into the party with us.  She was in awe of the band and loved dancing. She and Jim were adorable dancing together.  This is the only picture I got:

Apparently she and Christian Karner had a cute dance together, too, but I missed it.  Afterward she said she wanted to dance at church again.

Needless to say, that was a late night, and she was incredibly overtired by the time we got her to bed.  I ended up putting her in her crib while she was crying and freaking out.  I turned my back to leave, and before I was out the door, I heard a loud thud.  I turned around, and Ever was lying on her back on the carpet perpendicular to her crib.  She has never escaped before, although she has gotten in twice by herself.  I was cleaning the bathroom while she roamed around and ended up finding her inside her crib.  I made her show me how she did it, and she obliged.  She pulled herself up, got her torso over the side, and dove head first, letting her body flop over and her feet hit the other side of the crib.  It appears that was the exact method she used to get out of her crib Friday night.  I fear she's going to break her neck if she keeps it up.

Speaking of sleep, she's starting to be more of a troublemaker.  She sometimes cries and screams and makes ridiculous demands after I put her down at night.  Once she was screaming, "And then wake up!" over and over after I left the room.  Every time we talk about taking a nap or going to sleep, she says, "And then wake up."  This particular night, I went in and acknowledged that after she went to sleep, then she would wake up.  She was fine after that.  Often she cries for "little bit water."  Then she wants her blankets on (because she got up after I put them on the first time).  Sometimes she wants to read another book or sing another song.  She has started asking what we're going to do after we put her to bed.  I think she just has FOMO.  It's hard to know how much to ignore.  If taking some water in will calm her down so she can go right to sleep, while ignoring her would result in an hour or two of screaming and just make her even more tired....  Little rascal.  Maybe she is sneaky like a cat.

Bye-Bye, Night-Night

Recently Ever started waking up once in the night crying for her "night-night" (pacifier).  Sometimes it was right by her head, and she apparently just didn't really look for it.  Sometimes it had fallen out of the crib.  Jim usually slept through these episodes, but it really interrupted my sleep.  I stopped going to her, and I let her work it out herself.  After a minute or two she'd generally go back to sleep on her own, but I hated being awakened by her crying.  Then she woke up screaming for her night-night at 5:45 A.M. on Wednesday.  It was close enough to her normal wake-up time that her sleep was wrecked for the morning.  So I decided I'd had enough, and the night-night must go.  

Wednesday's nap was a little bit of an ordeal.  The night before had been really short (I think I got her to bed abnormally late, on top of the early morning), and then we had a midday outing that made her nap late.  She was exhausted.  She grabbed her night-night off the changing table when I was changing her diaper, so I told her she could have it while I changed her and read to her, and then we were putting it away before she went to bed.  She fell asleep while I was reading to her.  She woke up when I put her in her crib, and then I had to take the night-night out of her mouth.  She cried and cried and cried, and it was sad because I knew she was just so tired.  I think Jim or I may have ended up going in to calm her down, and then she eventually fell asleep without a night-night.  She's been pacifier-free ever since.  We gave her a sticker each time she slept without a pacifier for a couple days.  She never really cried again, and she  hasn't woken up in the night.  She seems to be falling asleep pretty quickly now without it.  I'm thrilled that the whole thing went so smoothly.  Hooray for breaking the dependency on night-nights for sleep!  

Saturdays

Jim and I decided that two Saturdays a month should be fun days.  We want to hike once a month and then do some other family outing on the other fun day.  On the non-fun days, we'll do a family run in the morning, maybe get some yummy breakfast grub, and then do whatever else we need to do (for Jim, that means working on the house). 

Last Saturday we ran on the San Luis Rey trail.  My right knee only made it about 3.5 miles, so we started walking at that point and let Dolly get out of the stroller.  I had to keep reminding her to run on the white line so she wouldn't be in the way of the bikers zooming by.  We love our family runs, and I'm excited to teach Dolly to be active.

 

Today we did a nearly 3-mile hike in Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve.  It was a decent climb up to a reservoir.  Dolly began asking to get out of the backpack when we were about 2/3 of the way up.  We let her walk the last 1/4 mile or so to the reservoir/picnic area, after a brief interlude of dirt and rock throwing.  At one point, I told her to get over to the side behind Daddy (hikers coming down needed to go by), and she said, remembering last week, "So bikers don't get me."   There wasn't a big payoff at the top, and we couldn't even get a very good look at the reservoir.  But it was really nice to be outside.

This picnic area appeared to be the closest you could get to the reservoir, but another family was using it.  The husband offered to take a family photo for us, though, so that was nice.

Dolly walked the entire 1.4 miles down.  Jim and I each took a hand, and she just charged.  It was incredible.  We wouldn't have gone much faster without her.  I was very proud.  We had told her she could touch the water in the river at the base of the trail when we got back down, so maybe that was her motivation.

Posing for a picture during the descent:

Ever's big word today was "dangerous."  As we hiked down, she said something like, "Those are big rocks.  They are so dangerous."  We were very impressed and congratulated her on the big word, so she used it a bunch more times.

And the exciting water-touching conclusion:

This was when Dolly was saying she wanted to get all the way in.

Back in the parking lot after a job well done:

After our hike, we went to Marie Callender's for a late lunch.  Jim and I used to go to a Marie's by my first apartment in L.A., so it was sort of for old times' sake.  Dolly was really into the cornbread.

Bedtime Sweetness

The night before last, Dolly said, "I want to sing John."  (She and Mr. Denver are on a first-name basis now.) We started out with her head on my shoulder, but she had a hard time getting comfortable.  I shifted her down so I was holding her like a little baby in the crook of my arm, rocking a little as I sang.  She reached up and put her hands on my cheeks, and she held my face like that until I finished singing.  It was the sweetest thing ever.  Made me cry.  It's crazy how into her I still am after two years.

Jim came in while I was singing and crying.  He thought I was crying because he had just sledgehammered the brick at the base of the fireplace in the living room and covered the entire downstairs (and partway up the stairs) with red brick dust.

(Yes, the piano was in the thick of the action.  This picture was taken after I dusted it.)

My distress over the state of the house might have amplified my emotional response, but I'm pretty sure the crying was because of Dolly.  I have to say, though - I can't wait until our downstairs is done.  And maybe I never want to live in a house while doing major renovations again.

Probably Blowing Kisses

I love having a toddler who talks.  I'm still a little amazed that Ever and I can have conversations.  I find the things she says so cute.  For instance, one word she doesn't quite grasp yet is the word "probably."  She uses it a lot, as in, "I probably take my lawn mower downstairs" or "I probably gonna get the ball."  She also likes to tell me what she's going to do and then say, "I'll be right back."  Lately there's been a lot of Band-Aid fetching.  She says, "Ima go get a Band-Aid for Mommy.  I'll be right back."

When Jim leaves for work in the morning, Chava generally says something like, "Ima blow kisses to Daddy" and runs to the door.  She stands in the doorway and blows kisses, waves, and grabs at the air to catch Jim's kisses back to her.  It's impossible to do it justice in words.  I should try to get a video.  It's pretty much my favorite.

December Festivities

To recap the remainder of December:

We had a Relief Society Christmas dinner early in the month.  Amy Thompson (RS Second Counselor) and Kristi Rondo (head of the RS Meetings Committee) did so much work.  The cultural hall and tables were beautiful.  Kristi made these little doohickeys to use as silverware holders:

Photo far away, with writing sideways, for a reason.

Partway into the dinner, Jane Oddou called Carolyn Johnson (who is on the meetings committee) over and asked if she knew what the deal was with the silverware holders and if they had any significance.  Jane showed Carolyn some of the more exciting ones on their table.  Turns out Kristi had been given the book Act of Marriage as a wedding present and had never read it.  She ripped out all the pages to use for crafts and thought they were the perfect size for this project.  So the silverware holders contained graphic language about one particular act of marriage.  I have no idea how Kristi put all those things together without noticing some of the words.  I mean, there are certain words that really pop out at you. 

In any event, Carolyn pointed it out to Kristi, who was mortified.  Thereupon began an undercover operation to remove the doohickeys without making their contents known to those who were still oblivious.  Carolyn tried to pick up one at an elderly lady's place; the lady told her not to, that she was going to keep it.  (Clearly she had not read it yet.)  So when she got up to get dessert, Carolyn snaked it and replaced it with a clean one. 

Carolyn and I were giggling about the whole thing in the kitchen as we were cleaning up.  Diann Voordeckers (our feisty, wonderful, 72-year-old RS President) came in and asked what we were laughing about.  Amy, Carolyn, and I filled her in and showed her some of the gems.  Never in your life have you seen a woman laugh so hard and so long.  It was the funniest thing I have ever witnessed.  Kristi came in partway through and said something like, "No, you are not telling the Relief Society President!"  But she couldn't be mad at us when she saw how very much Diann enjoyed the whole thing.  Kristi said next time she'll ensure her termination as head of the committee by including pictures in her porn. 

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The Saturday after the RS Christmas dinner was the ward Christmas party.  We did a dessert party, complete with hot chocolate, whipped cream, and marshmallows.  We debated the hot chocolate, but it was a hit.  Dolly wore a fancy outfit that somebody gave us when she was born.  It's size 12 months, but the pants are huge around the waist.  I safety-pinned them, and they were still falling off her.  She looked cute, though, and I was glad the outfit was finally worn.

The Primary kids did a great job with the nativity.

Ever was terrified of Santa and refused to sit on his lap.  She had more fun playing with the church balls when the party was winding down. 

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We got our Christmas tree later than I would have liked.  Chava was more interested in sweeping up the Christmas tree lot than anything else. 

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Melanie Karner and Stephanie Alvarez (my visiting teacher) brought their kids over to make gingerbread cookies one afternoon.  Everyone had a good time, despite the fact that Ever and Charlie Alvarez fought over Ever's new lawn mower.  (For a few days afterward, Ever kept saying something like "I take Charlie lawn mower.")  I really wanted to do a reading of The Gingerbread Man, as that was my inspiration for the whole thing, but it got too late. 

Mel, Alina, Christian, Ever, Kara, Stephanie, and Charlie:

Christian and cookies:

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Once when Jim was watching Ever, this happened: 

 

Chava likes stickers.

 

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Jim finished building a new little pantry.  One Friday, I was moving canned goods to the pantry from the old bookshelves we've been using for storage.  I did most of it before Dolly got involved, but then she wanted to help.  I let her carry a few cans.  She dropped one on her right big toe.  Underneath the nail filled with blood immediately.  She cried some but stopped before too long.  She began hobbling around, walking on the outer edge of her right foot so she wouldn't have to put her toe down.  But she didn't make a fuss about it, and I didn't give it a second thought.  When Jim got home and learned what had happened, he was concerned - and bummed that I hadn't contacted him when he was at the office and could've taken care of it.  We took her in to San Marcos the next morning, which was Saturday.  (Kaiser is amazing.)  No fracture, but getting the x-rays to confirm that was really awful.  Chava was screaming the whole time, and I had a heck of a time trying to pin her down.  The doctor made a hole in her nail with a hot poker thing to let the blood out and relieve the pressure.  It looked so much better, and we were relieved.  Jim took this picture at the doctor's office:

 

 

The wounded warrior and her negligent mother:

 

 

It appears that despite our efforts, she's going to lose her nail.  So I guess maybe I shouldn't let Dolly carry heavy things? 

 

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It was our first Christmas home alone, but it was nice and quiet.  Our family room/kitchen area isn't designed for a Christmas tree, but we put it the only place it could go. 

Christmas morning:

Santa brought Dolly a bike.  She's has been asking for one for a while.  I don't think the helmet fits properly, but she wore it through much of the present opening.  It's going to have to do.

Daddy got Ever two "John Denver books" - Take Me Home, Country Roads (which is really cool, actually) and Sunshine on My Shoulders (which is less cool, partly because the lyrics to the song are super-redundant).  Dolly, looking at the picture of John Denver in the back of Take Me Home, Country Roads:

We took an intermission from present-opening to enjoy some homemade cinnamon rolls.  It was my first attempt, and they turned out pretty delish.

After a clothing change, we finished opening the presents.  Jim had the genius idea of printing three pictures of John Denver he found on the internet and putting them in this frame:

 

 

After presents, we took the bike out for a spin.  Jim lassoed it so he could pull it from the front (uphill) or from the back (downhill, to slow her down).  Teaching Ever to steer is first priority; pedaling will come next. 

 

We had Christmas dinner with the Bunnells up the street.  Annie Bunnell is a gourmet cook, so the food was delicious and the company was nice. 

 

Friday, December 27 we had the missionaries over for dinner.  While cooking, I ate a bunch of the chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies Mamo sent for Christmas.  My stomach started hurting.  I thought at first it was sugar overload.  I didn't eat dinner.  That was probably good because there was a french-bread shortage.  One of the elders declined to take the last piece because he didn't want to be "that guy."  The other elder said, "I'll be that guy," and took it.  Then Ever asked for more bread, but alas.  Anyway, as soon as the missionaries left, I lay down on the couch and succumbed to the discomfort.  Jim put Ever to bed.  Eventually I had a violent vomiting episode that was really, really awful. 

 

Jim took care of Ever all day Saturday so I could remain as immobile as possible.  To help with my pain, Ever kept trying to put a bandaid on my knee (?).  At one point, they were outside watering plants when the doorbell rang.  I was afraid it was someone who needed to see Jim, so I got up to answer it.  I found a big box containing about eight loaves of bread and a note that said, "Dear Ever, We are sorry we ate the last piece of bread.  We hope this makes up for it.  Love, The Elders."  Pretty cute.  Ever enjoyed the whole thing and kept saying, "Elders ate my bread." 

 

I stayed home from church Sunday because my stomach was still aching.  (No puking after Friday night though, thank goodness.)  We had discussed going to see the lights at the temple that afternoon and went ahead with the plan, figuring it would be our last opportunity.  I felt pretty good by that time, and the lights and nativity scenes were fun. 

 

Jim and Ever eating sandwiches in the stable:

 

 

 

My main goal was to get a good photo of us in front of the red trees.  Dolly was throwing a fit.  I did the best I could:

 

I love Christmas.  It is such a magical time.  I wish I could figure out how to feel all year round as I do in December. 



Dolly Turned 2

We celebrated Dolly's second birthday on Saturday, December 14.  Karen and Carl Wilson (Nanny and Papa) came, along with Trish and Jeremy and their kids.  Ever's super into the Wilsons and was excited about their coming.  We had pizza and dessert - carrot cake cupcakes, "thrusters" (chocolate chip cookies baked in mini-muffin tins with mini peanut butter cups pushed into their centers), and M&M/chocolate chip cookies - and opened presents. 

We enjoyed a wonderful sunset during dinner:

 

Ever seemed a little scared of our rendition of "Happy Birthday," possibly because we never managed to find the tune.  (Later she talked about it fondly, though.)  She snuggled with me while eating her birthday desserts, which was amazing for me.  As always, the camera meant she should clap her (dirty) hands to her face:

 

 

Again, after she opened her first present:

 

Lukey and Dolly played for a moment before moving on:

Dolly got a lawn mower from Nanny and Papa.  She was pretty excited about that one.  She loves lawn mowers.

 

On her real birthday, Chavalyn opened presents from family.  She got all sorts of neat things from aunties and uncles and grandparents.  We were grateful for the additions to her collection of toys and activities.

 

It's crazy how fast she's growing.  Her speech and her memory amaze me every day.  A guy who checked us out in Target recently asked her age and then said he has "hair envy;" he's got a three-old-year who has not nearly as much hair as Dolly.  Then Dolly said something, and he said, "Wow, she's advanced!" 

 

I tell her I love her about 100,000 times a day.  Sometimes I quiz her, "Who loves you?"  In response, sometimes she says, "Mommy loves you."  But often it's "Anders," or "Clara," or even "John Denver loves you."  (She's gotten a lot better, but she doesn't quite have the me/you distinction down yet.)  She really has a lot of faith in her relationship with the late Johnny D.