Spring has Sprung

Snow Place Like Home

Our snow disappeared quite suddenly this year. Over my spring break, we went from about a foot and a half of snow to bare ground within a couple days, between warm temperatures and rain. One day after her nap, Nellie woke up and the snow was gone! She asked me where the snow went about a hundred times over the next few days, and I would respond, "the snow is gone. It melted away." Recently we were playing outside and she asked about it again, and I gave my usual response. She paused, then asked, "it went home?" "Yes," I said, "the snow melted away to its home." Nellie stood thoughtfully for a minute, then yelled into the sky, "GOOD-BYE SNOW! SEE YOU NEXT WINTER!" And she hasn't asked about it since. All is well.

Our Big House

While reading one of our favorite books called "Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef" (great book, by the way), Nellie asked which fish I liked the best. Then which Daddy liked the best, then Annie, then "Our Big House." I found this funny for two reasons:

1) I think she considers our house part of the family. It makes sense, because when we teach her about family we ask who lives in our house. Our "big family" includes grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, etc. But we're the Wernets, we're a family, and we live together in our house. So the house must be a member of the family.

2) Our house is not big. In fact, I am regularly mumbling under my breath (it really doesn't matter what I'm mumbling) as I search for one more nook for this toy, one more cranny for that kitchen utensil, and one more inch of closet space for our clothes. I often daydream about a better economy in which we can sell our house to the next childless couple and move to a house with, say, a garage for the bikes, tricycles, and bin after bin of girls' clothes that live in our basement.

But to Nellie, and someday Annie, this house is big. There's a racetrack around the kitchen, dining room, hallway, and living room, for goodness sake! The possibilities of things to do in this house are endless! Build a fort! Ride your school bus! Jump on the giant trampoline that mom and dad sleep on! Play the piano! Climb on the toy chest to look out the picture window! Have movie night on the futon in the basement! Play "water" in the bathroom sink! Take a bath with your sister! Stand on the toilet lid while mom gets ready! Help mom cook!

Someday, long after we move, we will probably drive by this house and point out of the car window at the place where the girls were born and spent their early years. They will probably be surprised at how small it really is, how much smaller it is than how they'll remember it.

And even as I write this, I am realizing how profound Nellie's statement was. Because this 912 square foot house that is bursting at the seams--with stuff, dogs, toys, people, music, dancing, love, memories--is very much like a member of our family.

Pancakes for supper

Annie ate an entire banana-oatmeal pancake at dinner tonight. And fed herself applesauce out of a bowl, which was a funny sight!

Crazy thoughts

During those times of night when I've been awake for an hour or two, having been in and out of the girls' room several times, I have the craziest thoughts. Not dreams, mind you, but real, conscious thoughts. Some things are fairly reasonable, like "we should move the crib into our room," or, "we shouldn't let Nellie drink milk before bed." Others are borderline rational, like "I'm leaving right now to sleep in a hotel" and "maybe tomorrow night Kevin will get up with the girls." But when things get really, really bad, I think (because Annie is still nursing) "that's it, I'm going to try giving up chocolate and coffee and see if that helps."

Luckily, things always look different in the morning. As I drink that first cup of coffee and my head clears, I think, "I need to be less dramatic."

Nellie-isms Part Two

"Eh [shoulder shrug], no biggie."

"I just love my cozy home."

Nellie has taken to calling Kevin "Mister Daddy" and me "Miss Mommy." And the other day, she asked Kev, "Hey big guy, want to watch a movie?"

She informed me that she, like her Aunt Sarah, has a baby in her tummy, and started putting her little stuffed bear in her shirt and walking around pretending to be pregnant.

Tonight, Nellie and Kevin built a fort using the piano and blankets. She told us an elaborate story about how she lives there alone with her bear because all of her family and uncles are sick, and she has to go fishing every morning so she can eat.

Annie Stats

In honor of Annie's 8-month birthday (last week), here are some of Annie's big accomplishments and other things to know about her!

Name--Adrianna Grace

Birth--June 24th, 11:20 a.m., 6 lbs. 5 oz., 19.5 inches

Two months--10 lbs. 6 oz., 23.5 inches (4 inches in two months...not bad!)

Four months--12 lbs. 11 oz., 25.25 inches

Six months--hmmm...I can't find the sheet. Long and lean!

First smile--4 weeks old, at mommy!

Rolled over--at Aunt Pam's house around 5 months. Can roll both directions, but STILL does it rarely. I've actually only seen her do it a handful of times!

Sat up--started right after Christmas, was a solid sitter by the beginning of February. That's her main skill. :)

First tooth--nope.

First time sleeping through the night--ha.

First "word"--started saying "dadadada" and "babababa" February 21st, started growling a few weeks before that. Hilarious!

First solid foods--started solids (bananas) right around 6 months and likes everything we give her! Her favorites lately are toast, cheese bits (for the first time tonight) and peas.

Sleeps with--her pacy and "silky"

Loves--Nellie! Everyone, really, but has a particular fondness for Papa Mike. Singing. Bouncing in the Jumparoo, standing up (with us holding her up), her pink baby computer, bath time, playing peek-a-boo. Other kids. Reading books, but she always tries to grab them!

Hates--Being sick. :( Sleeping for more than two hours at a time. Lately, riding in the car.

Overall, Annie is a happy, smiley baby who loves everyone! She especially likes her big sister. Kevin and I are fond of saying she's a typical second child--easy going, sweet as can be, super smart--just perfect, really.