I really really want to walk...

Ten months old, and she's on the move. She keeps trying and trying to walk on her own, and she uses anything she can push as a walker wagon to get around - boxes, chairs, the hamper. I love that she's not afraid to fall. Sebastian waited until he was absolutely certain he could walk before letting go; once he did, he walked across the room without falling, and never looked back. She's much more daring and hence awkward.

(I should edit all of these 10 second clips into a movie, but it's a busy time at work, and it's just not going to happen.)

From August 2011

From August 2011

From August 2011

From August 2011

From August 2011

new tricks

From August 2011

Apparently, we can't leave the markers out any longer...

plums

Bunny Fufu and the duckies

Both of our children have lovies that they are very attached to. Liesl became very fond of her bunny by 3 or 4 months old, and now really needs it in order to go to sleep. She likes to eat the ears and smother her face in it. We have one for home, and one for daycare, and I'm considering buying a third, just in case. The original was actually a gift from Carl and Kim for Seb, when he was born, but he never really cared for it. We've named it Bunny Fufu, because I used to sing the little ditty to her when she was tiny:

Little Bunny Fufu hopping through the forest, picking up the field mice and bopping them in the head. Along comes the good fairy, and she says, "Little Bunny Fufu, I don't want to see you, picking up the field mice and bopping them in the head. I'm going to give you three chances, and then I'll turn you into a troll!" OOOOH!

And on it goes, with me enthusiastically bopping the children in the head, until the good fairy turns Bunny Fufu into a troll, and I throw the bunny up into the air and away, and say he was never seen again. Sebastian loved it as much as Liesl.

And Sebastian has his duckies, of course. Duckie 1 and 2, with no other names. He started out with one duckie, of course, but became so attached that we bought a second one. We intended to rotate them in and out, washing one while the other was in use. But then one day we made a mistake, and brought out the just-washed duckie while the other duckie was in his bed. He was thrilled, "Two duckies!!" And ever since, they have been inseparable. Always two. If he doesn't have both, he'll search until he finds the second. They sleep in his bed every night, and are what he wants when he's upset.

daily routines

5:45 am: Liesl wakes up, nurses
6 am: Seb wakes up
6-7:45 am: change L's diaper, get her dressed, feed her some breakfast, play a little, nurse again; get Sebastian dressed; make breakfast for family, eat, clean up; shower, get dressed, get ready for work; pack my lunch, pack L's breakfast, lunch, snack and extra clothes, get Seb into shoes and out door
8 am: drop off children at daycare
8 - 9 am: commute to work
9 am - 4 pm: work work work
4 - 5 pm: commute to daycare
5 - 5:30 pm: pick up children, nurse Liesl, drive home
5:30 - 6:30 pm: feed L dinner, start dinner for family (meat in oven, rice/pasta on boil, chop vegs), talk to Seb, give L a bath, nurse L to sleep
6:30-8:15 pm: finish making dinner, eat dinner, play with Seb, give him bath, read 3 stories, tuck in, hold hands and cuddle and talk about the day
8:15 - 9 pm: empty dishwasher and re-load, wash dishes and breast pump, clean L's high chair, the table, and a 4-foot radius around her chair; make up L's food for next day; fold laundry, pay bills, order supplies online
9 - 10 pm: catch up on emails, both work and personal. Read. Talk to Steve.
10 pm - 5:45 am: sleep, hoping that Liesl only wakes up once, and not four times...

And, repeat.

Stone Barns

We spent a beautiful summer morning at Stone Barns. We saw sheep and lambs, pigs and piglets, lots of chickens, and some cows. Sebastian climbed up onto a stone wall and clambered all along it. Liesl tried to copy him.

(The poor man's double stroller.)

little climber

Liesl has discovered the joys of climbing. She wants to climb everything, from boxes to stairs to bookshelves to beds. She even seems to have figured out how to line things up, so that she can use a low box to make it onto a higher surface (like the couch). We're proud. We're terrified. Sebastian was always such a cautious boy, and she clearly is not, and we were able to keep a much closer eye on Sebastian's playtime. Half the time, I'm in the kitchen, the kids are in the living room, and I can't see them. I'm relying on the lack of loud crying and Sebastian's alerts (mama! Help! Liesl is on the couch!) to keep our girl safe.