Luthien,
Okay, okay, it's been predicted by some for a long time. But I'm finally ready. Documentation of your life will from this day forward be combined with that of your brother Bastian, here. Previous writings will still be available via blogger for awhile, but can be viewed in your very own hard copy journal, titled Letters to Luthien of course.
Love,
Mama
10.02.2011
9.23.2011
This little (wait big!) girl...
Started Preschool this week! With yours truly, her mama.
Luthien you amaze and challenge me every day, hour, and practically minute. You still scream before every nap and every night-time sleep and we practically have to think of a new trick to get you to actually go to sleep every night. Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
That's all for now!
That's all for now!
Aren't cameras wonderful?! Glad to have one again; even the most simple camera does the trick.
Love,
Mom
9.17.2011
Quote for this week
Luthien,
Yesterday I was folding yet more laundry in my bedroom while talking with you and Bastian and trying to convince you to join in. The two of you went out to the family room where you started jumping from the windowsill (which is very high up since we live in a loft) down to the couch. This is something I let you do when I am there to supervise, just in case you get hurt obviously, but also because Bastian badly wants to join in and of course he can only do it with my help. So here is the conversation that happened once I heard what you were doing and heard Bastian whining, "Up, Bastian!!"
Mom (calling from bedroom): Luthien, please come back in my room with me!
Luthien: No mom, let me jump down to the couch!
M: No Luthien, you need to come where I am and bring Bastian because I can't watch you out there right now, and you're making Bastian jealous!
L: Mom, I need you to stop telling me what I can't do!
M: What did you just say?
Mom can't believe her ears so she walks out to the family room, only to find Luthien rolling around on the ground.
L: Mom, you're stressing me right now.
Love,
Mama
9.05.2011
Quote
It is so amazing to listen to you talk these days. You are becoming so grown up and you love every minute of it. Sometimes I can't figure out where you get the stuff you are saying, it's hilarious. A few days ago I was in the bathroom dealing with some laundry while you and your brother were jumping on your bed in the next room over, and this is the conversation I overheard:
B: Fall!
L: Yeah, let's fall down together!
(both jump and fall onto the bed)
B: babbling, I think he was saying "go"
L: Did you say love?
B: Uh-huh
L: (in a high-pitched, "baby talk" voice) No, no silly Bastian, we're falling down, mommy and daddy fall in love
B: Oh
I'm so happy you clarified this for Bastian; I'm pretty sure he thought you guys were falling in love :)
And by the way, thank you for playing soooo much better with your brother beginning just this past week. I have felt so guilty taking 30 minutes or so at a time to get things done around the house, but you two have been having so much fun together. I think it's a good thing for all of us.
Love,
Mama
8.15.2011
Alive
Well we're still alive and well my Luthien, just caught up in summer. I love that summer is something that can be enjoyed, looked forward to, and full of outdoor activity rather than dreaded! We have been busy here, going to the beach multiple times per week, enjoying the summer's bounty of fresh local produce that our dear Daddy is harvesting, visiting New England farms and museums, and berry picking. We're pretty sure you love Massachusetts as much as we do. Things have gotten a little stressful as we are preparing for year 2 of law school for Dad, I am preparing to do some more formal education at home with you, and you have been helping me (sometimes not with much enthusiasm) preserve all the wonderful produce we are blessed with! On top of all this it feels as though we have been house-sitting all summer. There are definitely some perks to this, and the current home we are staying at you never want to leave, but mommy and daddy are definitely ready to be done, and can't wait to feel a little more organized in the confines of our own home.
I have to say that of all your stages, this age of 3 is the most difficult by far. We are having a hard time knowing how best to provide you with the loving discipline you need in order to understand boundaries, right from wrong, etc. Sleeping has been very hard lately too. I really hope getting back to our home will help this as well. Your memory and ability to re-tell stories amazes me, as well as your love for insects and creatures of all kind. Your ability to learn the alphabet (visual recognition of the letters) and sounds is slow going- there are about 5 letters you can recognize independently and sounds are prompted, but we will be working on this, hopefully in a fun and creative way soon!
We love you,
Mama
I have to say that of all your stages, this age of 3 is the most difficult by far. We are having a hard time knowing how best to provide you with the loving discipline you need in order to understand boundaries, right from wrong, etc. Sleeping has been very hard lately too. I really hope getting back to our home will help this as well. Your memory and ability to re-tell stories amazes me, as well as your love for insects and creatures of all kind. Your ability to learn the alphabet (visual recognition of the letters) and sounds is slow going- there are about 5 letters you can recognize independently and sounds are prompted, but we will be working on this, hopefully in a fun and creative way soon!
We love you,
Mama
7.05.2011
This Many
My little Lu-Lee;
It seems everyone is asking how old you are, or how old you are turning these days (appropriate, given today is your big day). No matter how many times I tell you to say "three" instead of just holding up your fingers, and even though you can say the number perfectly (even the /th/!) you still prefer the finger/"this many" method. This makes things especially difficult when talking to family over the phone! Just one of the many things I am loving about you these days.
Tonight I told you the story of when you were born. You had a bit of a difficult beginning and sure made your Mama and Daddy very tired for the first 6 + months, but it has all been well worth it. You are our bright, pensive, observant, dreamer, animal-loving girl, and you are only getting more fun and interesting to be around by the day.
You FINALLY (on your own time table, not mine) are recognizing letters and saying the names and sounds independently. You love to make letters in the sand on the beach especially! Yesterday at the beach you FINALLY went into the water and played and splashed around for a long time. You continue to love stories, and especially the conflict. You are always asking to hear about the "naughty guy" or part over and over again. I also meant to tell you a little while ago that you started eating raw greens (lettuce, etc.) which I was very excited about, but that isn't really happening anymore. Although, you are still a really good eater and if I bribe you with even the smallest of treats you will pretty much eat anything (I'm talking 2 chocolate chips, now 3 because you had your birthday :)
We have had family in town and are having lots of fun adventures for your birthday, including staying over at your friend Dot's house for 3 weeks and milking their goat Oma. Sadly I still have a broken camera, but here are a few shots from Aunt Maria's phone while they were visiting the last few days:
You with cousin Georges waiting for the 4th of July parade to start. You weren't really that excited about it ahead of time, but once it started you both went nuts! It was so cute to see your faces light up as each new person/vehicle/float passed by (mostly for candy, but still cute).
Enjoying fresh caught/cooked lobster (and making the lobsters kiss). You of course ate TONS of lobster since we had a delicious butter sauce made by Dad.
Holding hands on the Cliff Walk of Newport....a perfect day! And no, I am not pregnant, and yes, Kim if you read this I am wearing a shirt of yours!!
Family left for Brooklyn today, Dad went to work and we were sort of back in the swing of things, with the exception of being at Dot's house. I needed you to stand and entertain Bastian for a few minutes while I did something in the afternoon, and all of the sudden I hear him start crying. I quickly ran to pick him up and asked what happened, and you said "Bastian was bugging me so I smacked his cheek." I had to hold back my laughter while implementing some sort of discipline for this. I love your honesty (how long will this last?!) and I love (and worry a bit!) how you talk exactly like me.
Happy Birthday my sweet girl Luthien!
Love,
Mama
It seems everyone is asking how old you are, or how old you are turning these days (appropriate, given today is your big day). No matter how many times I tell you to say "three" instead of just holding up your fingers, and even though you can say the number perfectly (even the /th/!) you still prefer the finger/"this many" method. This makes things especially difficult when talking to family over the phone! Just one of the many things I am loving about you these days.
Tonight I told you the story of when you were born. You had a bit of a difficult beginning and sure made your Mama and Daddy very tired for the first 6 + months, but it has all been well worth it. You are our bright, pensive, observant, dreamer, animal-loving girl, and you are only getting more fun and interesting to be around by the day.
You FINALLY (on your own time table, not mine) are recognizing letters and saying the names and sounds independently. You love to make letters in the sand on the beach especially! Yesterday at the beach you FINALLY went into the water and played and splashed around for a long time. You continue to love stories, and especially the conflict. You are always asking to hear about the "naughty guy" or part over and over again. I also meant to tell you a little while ago that you started eating raw greens (lettuce, etc.) which I was very excited about, but that isn't really happening anymore. Although, you are still a really good eater and if I bribe you with even the smallest of treats you will pretty much eat anything (I'm talking 2 chocolate chips, now 3 because you had your birthday :)
We have had family in town and are having lots of fun adventures for your birthday, including staying over at your friend Dot's house for 3 weeks and milking their goat Oma. Sadly I still have a broken camera, but here are a few shots from Aunt Maria's phone while they were visiting the last few days:
You with cousin Georges waiting for the 4th of July parade to start. You weren't really that excited about it ahead of time, but once it started you both went nuts! It was so cute to see your faces light up as each new person/vehicle/float passed by (mostly for candy, but still cute).
Enjoying fresh caught/cooked lobster (and making the lobsters kiss). You of course ate TONS of lobster since we had a delicious butter sauce made by Dad.
Holding hands on the Cliff Walk of Newport....a perfect day! And no, I am not pregnant, and yes, Kim if you read this I am wearing a shirt of yours!!
Family left for Brooklyn today, Dad went to work and we were sort of back in the swing of things, with the exception of being at Dot's house. I needed you to stand and entertain Bastian for a few minutes while I did something in the afternoon, and all of the sudden I hear him start crying. I quickly ran to pick him up and asked what happened, and you said "Bastian was bugging me so I smacked his cheek." I had to hold back my laughter while implementing some sort of discipline for this. I love your honesty (how long will this last?!) and I love (and worry a bit!) how you talk exactly like me.
Happy Birthday my sweet girl Luthien!
Love,
Mama
5.28.2011
Spring and Easter
Well, as usual I waited much too long to caption these pictures, so here is the short version: you are growing up so fast! You are almost 3 and turning into more of an independent, sassy little girl. I will share more on recent happenings sooner than later, but in the past few months you have been really into families. When left to play on your own you walk around the house and find a family of five of your many tiny animals. You then go around talking about the "mommy shark, the daddy shark, the Bastian shark, and the Lu Lu shark" (or whatever animal you have chosen for the next little while, until another animal sparks your interest and you switch up the family. You don't usually call yourself Lu Lu except with your little animal families, and another thing worthy to note is that many times the animal might not actually be whatever you're saying it is. I love that you are getting more imaginative! Also in the past few months you have LOVED being told stories. You are always asking us to make up stories about your families, or animals in general; so much that I have a hard time doing it, but I am getting better at this. As you are getting older I see more and more how this being a mom (and especially a stay-at-home mom) is such a learning experience for me, and I am so grateful for it.
On to the pictures...
As I have mentioned before, I am terrible at putting away laundry. We always have clean clothes but I am ashamed at how long they sit in baskets. I just don't have a lot of patience for, or get distracted by, things like this (and would rather be spending our chore time in the kitchen):
We have this gorgeous little farm near Dad's school in Dartmouth that is amazingly green, well tended to, has a swingset, and sells tiny toy animals in the little farm store. It is everything I pictured when imagining moving to New England....
And here you are on said swingset with one of your favorite friends, Noah. You two play so well together, it's adorable to hear you giggle with him.
I love these "Not a..." books by Antoinette Portis. Here you are as not a box, but a robot :) You had a blast one evening turning your box into all different things.
Another green spring day (Easter) at the park by our local zoo.
I made an asparagus and leek tart with puff pastry as part of our dinner and finally convinced you to play with your own dough instead of the pastry dough. We got these great cookie cutters from a friend that you love to play with...
Just after Easter, at the daffodil fields...
That day you finally decided you would slide down a slide! You had been very afraid of slides until this point. You quickly worked your way up to bigger slides but after a few falls on your bum have decided to stick to the little ones again.
I love pictures like this because of course we were trying to get a "better" shot. But this is a much more accurate portrayal of my life: a babe on my hip and another clinging to my legs...I can't imagine the chaos with even more little ones but that day will certainly come :)
Love,
Mama
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)