Will is doing a great job copying actions. These include:
-- Filling his mouth with water and spitting it out (this used to be our game in the shower.... I had no idea that he would memorize it and try to re-produce it everywhere)
-- Putting on shoes
-- Putting on hats (although he generally prefers putting them on and off other people over himself)
-- Taking kleenex up to his nose/face and making sounds as if he's blowing his nose
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Shoes, hats, kleenex...?
Christmas #1 in Review
Cool stuff:
- Learning that Will LOVES to be carried around in Uncle Skip's arms
- Watching Will play with Skip and Emily
- Playing "Settlers of Catan" with Skip and Emily
- PapPap playing "pillow fight" with Will
- Granna playing "gonna getcha" with Will
- Granna opening presents for Will
- Great food (including my veggie chilli and famous triple C's!)
Cool presents included:
- Paul's super-cool Bose headphones (to help him work in relative quiet)
- Granna's egg poucher (we all learned about this!) and favorite robe
- PapPap's cordless drill, golf shoes, and practice net
- Lots of toys!! Including Pop-on block set, peek-a-blocks, "press and go" plane, wacky saucer, remote control duck, plush bowling set, animal musical instrument set
- My goregous Mingon Faget earring/necklace set (famous local jewelry designer)
- Multi-meter and stud finder for Skip (domestic Boy!)
- Teacher stickers and huge tote for Professional Educator Emily
Monday, December 27, 2004
Will taking PapPap's hat
Will and PapPap at play, December 26th.
(To see more: click on the picture to go to flickr.com where there are more pictures under "hollyscheib's photostream".)
(To see more: click on the picture to go to flickr.com where there are more pictures under "hollyscheib's photostream".)
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Christmas Morning!
Christmas morning at the Scheib's in Mobile, Alabama. With Granna, PapPap, Emily, and Skip. (And of course us and Will!)
We started our morning with Will exploring the Christmas loot...
We started our morning with Will exploring the Christmas loot...
Jack-n-the-Box
We opened a few toys for Will on Christmas Eve. Granna and Will played with the Jack-in-the-Box for most of the night!
Friday, December 24, 2004
Christmas Fun
So far, our Christmas fun has included:
-- Demonstrations from Will: clapping, stepping, climbing, zerbering, raspberry-ing and dancing.
-- Many rounds of "Settlers of Catan", mostly late at night when Will is asleep, making us all very tired in the morning
-- Emily and I bonding over pedicures and gossiping with Annette
-- Making scrapbook pages with Emily (and some help from Skip!)
-- Skip's reactions to diaper changes (he used three wipes to pick up the diaper to throw it away)
-- PapPap using pillows to knock Will over (Will LOVES this and now flings himself head-first at any pillow he sees)
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Fun with PapPap
Will and PapPap have a new game. PapPap will sing with Will in his arms in front of the mirror in the hallway. In time to the music, at the appropriate points, Will bumps his head against the mirror. Example:
"Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday..."
"BUMP"
"Everyone dancing merrily in the new old fashion way...."
"BUMP"
Then, after we all laugh, Will claps his hands. "Hooray!"
(After so many bumps, I guess Will won't be attending Harvard...?)
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Hall Bath - AFTER
The Hall Bath, December 13, 2004. We switched the door around (to allow more space from the door footprint), put in a new toliet and sink, put in wainscotting, painted, repaired plumbing (including a serious flooding pipe burst one night at 11:56pm), cleaned up the shower, framed out the shower, and installed a closet above the shower (the fun of 12 foot ceilings!) New fixtures, mirror, and light as well. Still some finish work to do on the closet, but a great finished product!!
Will Asleep in Aunt Amy's arms
Will, asleep in Amy's arms when we came home from the holiday party last Friday night. What a great Aunt!
Our House, December 12
Happy Holidays at our beautiful home!
Updates to the yard: freshly sanded and painted fence, cleaned up front yard with brick borders (brick is 100+ year old N.O. bricks dug up and powerwashed from the side yard), and cute mailbox! Lots of work done but still much to do.
Updates to the yard: freshly sanded and painted fence, cleaned up front yard with brick borders (brick is 100+ year old N.O. bricks dug up and powerwashed from the side yard), and cute mailbox! Lots of work done but still much to do.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
FIRST STEPS. Officially.
What: 3-4 steps. Full steps, where he did not fall at the end, but sat down. Actual supported steps.
When: yesterday afternoon, approximately 5:30pm.
Who: toward Granna. Then Mom. Then Granna again. Then Mom again.
Where: Granna's bedroom, in her house in Mobile, AL.
Paul's answer to the question, "guess who's walking?" --- Paul said, "Skip."
Paul's response to finding out that Will is actually the one (almost) walking: "Can we use diving weights to hold him down a bit longer?"
Back from NOVA!
We're back from a trip to Northern Virginia! We:
- Flew in/out of BWI
- Stayed with Paul's boss and family, the Speeds (what fun folks!!)
- Were visited by beloved friends Paul Reeder & Randy and Katherine Musgrove
- Went to Paul's company Holiday Party
- Found out that I worked at Baskin-Robbins (during college) with the wife of one of Paul's co-workers/fraternity brothers
- Had a TON of fun playing with Will and 19-month old Bobby (son of Paul's boss)
- Saw Aunt Amy, who came up from Fredricksburg (an hour's drive) to babysit Will and Bobby
Great trip!!!
The Kitchen -- AFTER (Dec)
The kitchen, December 14th, 2004. Still some work to do (drywall patching on wall to the right) and touch-up painting. But so much improved!! The result of A LOT (A LOT!!) of time and effort!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Who's calling?
It was about 4pm this afternoon. I was working on the computer in the study. My Mom is in her bedroom, arranging holiday gifts and keeping an eye on Will, who is playing quietly and contentedly on the floor. The phone rings.
I answer on the unit in the study. "Hello.?" I wait for an answer.
Then my Mom picks up the phone. "Hello?" she says. I ask, "Mom, did you call?" She says, "No, I thought you did." We both pause; we definitely hear someone on the other end. I say, "Who's there?"
No answer. We both pause. Then an idea occurs. I ask, "Mom, where is Will?"
We walk over to Will. He has pulled my purse down from the dresser, emptied it of its contents, and is hard at work re-filling it with toys. In his hand is my cell phone, still "in use," connected to Mom's home phone number.
What a monkey!
What's that strange sound??
We think it's whistling! Will is at least trying to whistle! We're not sure where he is picking this up, but he is making whistling sounds through his teeth.
It is generally part of his recent foray into vocal experimentation.... loud bellows, soft whispers, raspberries, la-la-la's, shreaks, and now whistling!
Monday, December 13, 2004
If you're happy and you know it...
...clap your hands!
This is Will's new activity. He claps to the Wiggles! AND -- he does it both seated and standing. (Although still a little tentative about standing a clapping at the same time; he's working on that coordination!)
Another trip to the zoo!
Yesterday, Will had a playdate with Alex (a fellow doctoral student) and his son, William!
William is four and has a little sister, Greta, who is a few months older than Will. Greta stayed home with Grandma, so it was just Will and William. (When I asked William what he thought about Will and he having the same name, he politely pointed out, "No. My name is William, and his name is Will." Schooled me, didn't he?)
William was great with Will! Paul, Alex, and I visited for about an hour before going to the zoo while the boys played. Will LOVED William -- he was hugging him, patting his hair, following his every move --- basically, Will was acting like a little brother in total adoration of an older child. And William couldn't have been nicer. He hugged him back, shared toys, bounced to the Wiggles with him, and on and on. It made me feel so much better about the prospect of day-care because Will was so perfectly happy.
On the way over to the Zoo, William even reached over and held Will's hand!! It was too precious. It definitely made me want to have another child (after Will is a little older, though!)
So, Alex, William, Will and I all went to the zoo. Will chilled out in the stroller most of the time and slept on and off. William pet one of the baby elephants and we spent a lot of time watching the chimpanzees swing and jump all around each other (they were being very playful!) Although I think William had the most fun climbing around the rock and rope bridges in the "Africa" section of the zoo. It was a short afternoon trip (love that member's pass!) and a lot of fun!
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Pictures
We've been putting pictures up on ofoto.com so that we can print them for Will's baby book and other assorted things. Here are all the current photo albums up on ofoto, old and new:
Will's First Months:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=8wsl6ap.3lxzfl9d&x=1&y=-pwuavw
Will's First Birthday and Fun in Early December:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
First Haircut & Other Fun:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Trip to PA (with Grandma Betty)
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Honduras, July 2004
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Honduras, Summer 2003
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Touched Up Photos:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Late Aug/Early Sept:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Stuff... Sept:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Will's World (early photos):
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
DONE
As of 4pm yesterday, I am officially done with my first semester as a doctoral student! Yippie!
Today has been a "day of merriment" -- no school work and lots of fun! We spent the morning and early afternoon: decorating the front of the house for the holidays, taking Will on a long walk through the "lower" portion of our beloved Hurstville neighborhood, swinging by the local hardware store for wreath hooks and by Whole Foods for dinner (soup) and ingredients for chili (for a mini-dinner party tomorrow with friends).
It is in the high 50s, sunny, blue sky and simply fantastic!
Holly
Thursday, December 09, 2004
First Steps....?
Will turned from his Leap Frog music table this morning and sort of shuffled his feet a few steps , falling into Paul's arms. Not exactly full first steps, but just about the closest thing to the actual thing...
Yikes!
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Toys
Need advice for what to get a one-year old for Christmas? Here is a list of Will's favorite "toys":
1. the telephone
2. remote control(s)
3. plastic water bottles
4. cardboard centers from paper towels
5. utensils (particularly spoons)
6. plastic cups
7. the thermometer in the spa tub
Monday, December 06, 2004
Will Kisses!
New milestone for Will!
I say, "Will, come give Mommy a kiss!" And pucker out my lips.
Will scoots over and slams his little face/mouth against mine (a potential hazard when not fully prepared.)
And we both make the "mmmmmmm...mou!" sound.
It is seriously darling.
Waking Up (!)
Will's new preferred mode of waking up from a nap:
First step: Moving at once from a peaceful lie-down to suddenly sitting straight up on his knees.
Then: Letting out a primal call to let the world know he is awake (single fist raised to the air, optional).
Third: Leaping forward in a full-throttle crawl toward Mom or Granna, even if they are in another room.
And finally: Shaking head back and forth while grunting, laughing, and yelling.
That's my baby!
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Childcare
I'm back at my Mom and Dad's for a few days. Will and I have been here more in the past 2 weeks than we have been in our own home. Why? FREE CHILDCARE.
And so I rant.
The situation for childcare is disgraceful, ridiculous, and disappointing. As if women have any other choice BUT to stay home with their children! We have no options. (Heaven forbid we act like a civilized society and offer flexible work schedules, a reasonable work week, fair pay, good vacation, and have universal health care that doesn't depend on a privileged type of employment.)
All we want is 20-25 hours a week. Not full-time. And it doesn't exist!! The $10/hour we pay Margarita (our spanish-speaking Salvadorean grandmother), even if she does make us tortillas and clean while Will naps, is too much for us to use more than a few hours a week. What is a family to do? We need HELP.
I wish my parents lived next door!
Saturday, December 04, 2004
New Photo Album Up!
New photos from Will's birthday, the zoo, and other fun stuff:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c
Showing off his teeth!
Talking up a storm to us while he plays with his tool chest.
Maybe we could make a thought bubble coming out of his mouth?
Maybe we could make a thought bubble coming out of his mouth?
Diaper Change
Now that Will is happily eating more diverse foods, the quality of his solid production(s) have changed as well.
Smell, color, shape, size, consistency. And the potential for constipation. Paul is handling it all very well, considering he feared this more than other part of parenting.
There's nothing like having a causal conversation with the neighbors while holding your grunting and straining son!
Yet another night of no sleep
I'm not sure when I poked Paul and asked him to get the baby. (Thanks to Paul for being such a great dad to get up and get Will in the middle of the night!) I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Paul and Will are currently sleeping off the rough night cuddled on the couch together.
We're wondering if Will is feeling under the weather (he has been sleeping a lot during the day and particularly clingy with me)? Or maybe more teething? (All of his lower teeth seem to be on the verge of cutting at once.) Either way, it has him a little frazzled and Mom and Dad exhausted. (Happy and in love with our little man, but exhausted!)
Friday, December 03, 2004
Remembering Bhopal
On the 20 year anniversary, the events of December 2-3, 1984 remind me of my personal commitment to making the world a better, safer, world for all people. I believe that my privilege of education, resources, and connections means that I have the duty to speak out against the wrongs of the world. This tragedy, and the tragedy that continues, is one of them.
A wonderful site to learn about the disaster and on-going ramifications:
http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/what_happened.htm
A good site to learn about the history of Union Carbide and its involvement:
http://www.bhopalexpress.com/facts.html
To quote the bumper sticker: "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."
A Rough Side to Parenting
Will has a difficult time falling asleep. Once asleep, we have a difficult time moving him to his crib to continue sleep, or, if we successfully get him in the crib, keeping him asleep in it. So, for the last three (four?) nights, Will has shared a bed with us for most, or all, the night.
Not that we mind sharing the bed with him too terribly much. But he is squirmy! It means that we are waking up at all hours with Will pushing and rolling and kicking and punching. (Seriously, he does all those things!) He somehow managed to get himself completely perpendicular to us so that Paul and I have a width of roughly 4 inches of bedspace each. Really. The bottom line is that neither of us have slept much in the past few nights.
I can remember when Will was only a few weeks old and it felt like we would never overcome the difficult challenges with breastfeeding. Now, it is hard to believe it really was that difficult and challenging. I know that this whole sleep episode will be the same years from now... that we will barely remember the difficulty. We may even wishfully look back to these days with longing for those sleepless moments with our little baby boy. I know that eventually this problem will go away. (As my mother says, "I can guarantee he won't do this when he's 18.")
But for now, it feels like it will never end -- we can't wait to get a restful night's sleep!
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Will posing for the camera!
What a little ham -- posing for his photo shoot on Granna's bed and EVEN pointing his toes!
The Nacirema Ethnography
A little gem of an article:
http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/library/Body-Ritual-Nacirema.html
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Uh-ho for Daddy!
This is how Paul told it to me, over the phone while I drove back from class:
Paul: "Do you want the good news or the bad news?"
Me: "Bad news first."
Paul: "The bleeding stopped."
Me: (after swallowing my heart back into my chest) "WHAT?!"
Paul: "It's okay. The good news is that it was me, not Will."
This is what happened: Paul was being his usual super-dad self and playing with Will: zerbers, laughter, belly tickles, etc. In the excitement, a squealing-with-delight Will stuck his finger up Paul's nose.... HARD. Hard and deep enough to rupture something, causing a sudden and quite severe nose bleed!! Paul said he felt awful having to run to the sink and wait for the bleeding to somewhat subside (poor Will had no idea why Daddy had to run away so fast and was alarmed). Finale to the story is that they both are fine, with the exception of Daddy producing some interesting kleenex for the rest of the night. (Personally, I am a bit worried about Paul and want to keep an eye on this to make sure it heals okay!)
Maybe parenting is a hazard to your health after all!
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