Bookworm

Ben, Calvin and Hobbes

Fun, Fun, Fun

I hear squeals of delight and so head into the other room to see what's going on. 

Me:  Um...I don't think this is a good idea. 

Maggie:  She likes it!

Me:  I understand. But I don't think its safe for her to stand up like that.

Maggie:  Mom, she just wants to be like me, you know, surfin' in the USA 

Why Siblings are Better Than Toys

Cece enjoys being bounced by Ben and Maggie while I (attempt) to change the sheets on her crib mattress.

Really, Who Needs Toys?

Master Chef

Cecilia - 11 Months

Likes: when Daddy walks in the door, peaches, being spun around in circles by Cate and Ben, going on walks, drinking whole milk in a sippy cup, "big kid" yogurt in "big kid" containers, playing in the freezer, crawling up the stairs, scooting down the stairs on her bottom, being chased, lift-the-flap books, baby faces, music, the bathtub, the shower, peek-a-boo, looking out the windows

Dislikes: her carseat, being spoon fed, being redirected, having her diaper changed, when Mommy and Daddy leave, 11-month stickers on her onesie

As you can see from these pictures, Cece was not too impressed with her 11-month sticker.  Immediately after I fixed it in place she tore it off, crumpled it up and would have tossed it on the floor but it stuck to her fingers. 

She is a busy, busy baby.  She is constantly on the go---both metaphorically because she has three older siblings that need to go places, and literally because she now has the ability to go wherever she wants.  She is taking more steps but will quickly drop to the floor and crawl if she needs to get someplace quickly.

She loves books and will crawl over the bookshelf, empty it(!) and then turn the pages of the books piled around her.  Her favorite books to read at bedtime and nap time are "Baby Faces," "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb" and "Where is Baby's Belly Button?"

We've noticed that she ignores her own (baby) toys in favor of whatever Cate, Ben and Maggie are playing with.  This does not always go over so well.  It's almost as if she knows that if no one is saying, "No Cece!  You can't play with that" about a particular toy then it probably isn't worth playing with anyway. 

I think she is getting ready to transition to one nap a day.  The thought of my baby switching to one nap a day filled me with horror when Cate was a baby.  In fact, I remember crying (real tears) over the prospect.  But we are definitely looking forward to the increased flexibility that one nap a day will allow us (especially when it's time to go to the pool).

Cece is definitely starting to "talk."  We think she's said:  mama, dada, all done and bubba (for Ben).  The kids swear they've heard her say "no," much to my great chagrin.  She has a sound that she makes when she's happy or excited.  This is accompanied by bouncing up and down and hand clapping.  She also indicates her displeasure (e.g., tears, arching her back, kicking her legs) if a toy is taken away from her or if she is not allowed to dump a small container of cottage cheese on her head.   This, we suspect, is a sneak preview of temper tantrums to come.

She waves bye-bye, "dances" to music, and continues to delight us every single day.

Party! Party! Party!

Cate's class party

Cate and friend, Catalina.  Clearly the Fun Dip was a popular Valentine's Day treat in their second grade class.

Valentines Day Tattoos.  (NOTE:  This tattoo is so durable that Ben is still sporting it in the middle of his forehead more than a week later.  I'm sure his teacher is thrilled).

Brotherly love (and the only photo of sweet Cece McGee taken on her very first Valentine's day!)

Ben reads his Valentine from our family.  This year I asked everyone to tell me what they loved about everyone else in our family and made mini-books for the kids.  It is not Pinterest worthy by any stretch of the imagination but all three big kids are sleeping with them by their beds.

Valentine Love

Candy rockets

Rainbow Loom bracelets

Unique, one-of-a-kind hearts (plus M&Ms)



We managed to make Valentines for three classes this year.  It was a small miracle that we got them all completed, and I will admit we glued the last Hershey's Kiss to the Lifesaver rocket at about 8:27pm on February 13.

It's a good thing we started working on these in mid-January...

Baby's First Basketball Game

Iowa State Cyclones vs. TCU

Holding Down the Fort

Fort building is taken to a whole new level at our house lately as the kids have been including a "baby bed" for Cece. 

She loves the attention but ignores their pleas to "just stay in bed!" rolling out of bed as fast as they can out her back in there. 

This Slide Rocks!

Cece finds the Children's Museum a little more interesting now that she is mobile. 

Favorites Revisited: Calvin and Hobbes

One of my greatest pleasures is reading before bed with Cate and Ben, particularly since they are now starting to read books that I remember reading (and loving!) as a child.

Ben received the complete boxed set of Calvin and Hobbes from Santa, a series that I remember fondly from my childhood.

We've been reading them at bedtime and I think it's safe to say that all three of us are getting a kick out of the antics of Calvin and his BFF, Hobbes.  In fact, I'm beginning to think that Calvin is Ben's alter ego.  (Although I'm hoping he doesn't actually execute some of the things that Calvin has tried, like parachute out of his bedroom window using a blanket!) 

I think Bill Watterson is a genius as he is able to capture what it's like to raise an independent and adventurous 6-year-old boy in a four frame cartoon.  Scratch that---I think he is able to capture what it's like to BE an independent and adventurous 6-year-old boy.  I think I've gained more insight into how his little brain works from these cartoons than from any parenting book I've read in recent years. 

This cartoon pretty much sums up what it's like to parent Ben. 

Love that kid to pieces.

Sack of Potatoes

Now that Cece is mobile she is increasingly interested in what her big brother and sisters are doing.

They've taken to physically moving her out of the way, if necessary, much to the great annoyance of their parents.

Chris and I are constantly saying, "PUT THE BABY DOWN!"  and "I DON'T THINK SHE LIKES TO BE CARRIED LIKE THAT!" among other things.

Cece is not helping our cause because every time they pick her up (see photo above) a giant grin spreads across her face and she starts laughing, which leads Cate/Ben/Maggie to respond, "No Mom!  She really does like it!  See?  She's laughing."