We have another August birthday to celebrate in our house — Daughter #1. That’s right, Devi is a grand old lady of 7 years old today. Dad gave her her very own steak for dinner (as well as some dried dog food “Doritos”). No doggie birthday cake, but I think she was happy enough…
Happy birthday, Sassbox!
Well, we finally got around to visiting a dentist for the first time since moving (I KNOW.) I like her — her name is Dr. Fukuda and her office was very friendly and fun — she must be a UW alum, because every exam room was FULL of memorabilia!
We all walked up to 82nd street to get to my appointment at 8am (Daddy had to carry Meredith on his shoulders the last few blocks because Miss M. was having fun dawdling and carrying Baby…) Meredith found a naked Barbie doll in the toy box (”NA-KED! NA-KED!”) that she wanted to bring in with her. We all went into the exam room together so that Meredith could see what was happening, because it would be HER turn next. The exam went really well — got X-rays done, got the cleaning (AHHH — feels so good) and then it was Meredith’s turn. She had been doing well up until that point and didn’t seem to be nervous or anything, but once we actually got her in the chair, she didn’t want to let the hygienist clean her teeth at all. (Although she was very good about opening her mouth so that the dentist could see how many teeth she has and how Momma brushes her teeth.) Everyone was very nice and understanding and said that it was perfectly normal at this age — they don’t push anything so that the little ones will have only good experiences at the dentist. Meredith still got to pick a goodie from the treasure chest — a little green frog. 
So maybe next time we’ll actually get a cleaning in — in March!
So we left Daddy to do his appointment at 9am (which also went fine — a couple of spots to watch, but no cavities!) and we walked home to meet up with Esme at 10am. A big day full of new experiences!
That about sums it up, right there! Our little monkey is now officially the big “2″! We’ve been reading “The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly” with Meredith, and she calls it the “old lady” book. So when I asked her, “Meredith, how old are you?”, she responded with “old lady!” Yes, you are an old lady!
We had a small party Saturday for Meredith with Esme and Luis and Michelle, Adam and Cate. (We had hoped to have Tyra, Matt and Aurora, too, but they had a wedding to attend. Booo!) There were little finger snacks and a really yummy chocolate monkey cake, courtesy of Daddy! (Not made with real monkeys.)
So many pretty clothes and fun toys from everyone in the family! Thank you to everyone for the presents and the birthday wishes to make Meredith’s day extra-special! Another year begins…here we go for the big “3″!
Back from Australia, Kevin is posting pic taken with a BlackBerry. The Canon was awaiting his return, much like April and M, and the 365 project has resumed. Tomorrow? Cake day!
What are you waiting around here for? Go look at pics!
I thought I remembered writing a blog at some point… Sorry for the lack of updates — things get busy and then get away from us, as usual. We girls have said goodbye to Kevin again for over a week this time, so we are trying to keep ourselves amused. (For Meredith, this mostly means dragging me around the backyard by the hand. :>) We can tell that Daddy is still on Meredith’s mind, though — the very first words out of her mouth this morning were “Daddy go?” Yes, Daddy went to Australia…
New little things here and there: Meredith is starting to read along with us when we sit down with her favorite books at night. Well, she’s still not very patient about the books and flips forward many pages while we’re trying to read. But when we reach a spot she likes, she’ll say the words with us! She’s also becoming a champion puzzle-solver — where just a couple of months ago, she couldn’t even match one shape, she can now get them all pretty much on the first try, and quickly! She also goes gangbusters on her shape sorter. She’s starting to get the idea about singing — she often wants Kevin and me to sing for her (especially “Tingle-bye” — Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). While we’re reading her Mother Goose book (which has lots of nursery rhymes and songs), she’ll talk her little Meredith language but do it in a sing-songy way that’s obviously meant to be a song of some sort. Hopefully she’ll be able to carry a tune better than her daddy. ;>
Otherwise, not much new here. After more than a year of looking, I finally found a replacement for my old office chair, which is now sitting at my desk. It’s black leather and looks very similar to the (fake) Eames chair in our front room. And the best part? NO CASTERS. So now anyone who sits at my desk doesn’t go rolling toward the front window as soon as they sit down…
So the girls are counting the days until Kevin gets home safe and sound — I know that, halfway around the world, he’s doing the same. Maybe if we’re lucky, he’ll log in and post an update if he gets bored…
So, Dad’s back from Europe, his camera is in with Canon for repair/replacement. San Francisco was nice enough, but rather more spread out than we all expected. Dad has a summer cold, which is miserable and unfortunately coinciding with what might be the hottest day on record in Seattle - EVER. Little M has had a drippy nose already, so she’s probably been through it and gave it to dad. Mom is so far immune, but Esme is snifflely… oh, and Dad’s off to Australia in a little more than a week, shortly after a neighborhood block party next week for the Seattle Night Out.
Whew.
-K
Kevin and M’s 365 project is on temporary hiatus. Long story short, the camera’s busted.
Boo.
It’s official: Meredith is now sleeping (probably — it’s quiet anyway) in her new rail-free non-crib big-girl bed. She’s been having a blast all evening climbing in and out of it all by herself! The past few nights we’ve been shutting her door (which we never have before) in order to prepare for tonight, so that she wouldn’t be roaming all over the house in the middle of the night. She’s been crying less and less since we’ve been doing it — tonight, success! No tears at all. We’ll see how the night goes, but from here on out, it’s a whole new world…
(Pictures of the new bed soon!)
It was a Monktastic day. Monklicious, even.
There were readings of curious George, monkey master extraordinaire. Playing with monkey dolls. A brand-new monkey backpack, whose tail is a leash for mom or dad to hold. Much discussion of “mahn-gees” by little M. And the crowning monkey moment of all: Monkey M’s first escape from the crib… followed immediately by a loud thump and lots of crying.
She’s fine, or course, but it’s scary to fall from that high. So, it’s time to change up the routine, start closing her door for security and then… no more crib. Later this week, I’ll be taking down the rail and putting up the stubby sides. It’s time not only because she’s able to climb out, but today while out and about, M discovered small tables and bed that were just here size and was completely enthralled.
So. Almost two. Graduating to a big girl (sort of) bed. Just started facing forward in the car like a big girl. Things are really starting to move for little Miss M.
-K
By the way, if you hadn’t caught on yet, April’s Flickr stream is no longer your most prolific source of pictures of M. I’ve upgraded to a Pro account myself, and am attempting a 365 (that’s a picture a day for a year) for myself and also for little Miss M. April’s stream is still the place for prettier pictures, and hopefully mine will improve (that’s part of the point of a 365 project, after all), but sometimes Grandparents prefer quantity over quality…
Come join the fun at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinbingham/ and wish me luck in this endeavor.
-K