Splish, splash.

Sew what

Anni had a little help the other night as she sewed some new bibs for the babies at her school. Elise found sewing really interesting -- until she discovered that she could put the sewing machine cover on the floor and ride it like a horse. Why buy toys when plastic appliance covers bring the toddler joy?

Anni, Elise and Janome.

 

 Put to work, Elise's job was to hold the little spool on top.

It's never too early to learn two lessons. First, sewing pins are sharp. Second, and most importantly, pins do not get dropped because only Dad will find them -- in his feet.

Take a seat

Weekends are a good time to alter Elise's long-established routines. It was on weekends when we made her cry herself to sleep, scrapped the Nuk, went to one-a-day naps, started potty training and moved her from crib to twin bed.

Some of the changes aren't all that significant, but thankfully she usually seems willing to embrace whatever change we thrust upon her.

The latest change: This weekend she lost her spot at the dinner table.

Well, OK, she didn't lose a spot; she still gets to eat. We just got rid of the high chair. She's now sitting in a "big chair," as she calls it. She likes it and it doesn't seem to affect her robust eating habits, as if anything but illness could. 

We quickly discovered, though, that little hands coated in spaghetti sauce or applesauce are drawn to the chair cushion upholstery, so we will need to add some sort of dainty towel -- or industrial tarp? -- to the chair.

There is another benefit to this seating change. I finally get to reclaim my spot at the end of the table. I was bumped from my armchair and end spot when we brought on the high chair. Now, after months at the side of the table, all is right again. (Clearly, Elise got her willingness to embrace change from Anni, not me.)

Her snack of applesauce -- before it ends up on the chair cushion.

What settles for entertainment at our table: One of Elise's stuffed animals given water from a glass.

Elise, meet ralph.

We've reached another milestone in parenthood: the first dispatch of the middle-of-the-night vomit squad.
Elise was in a good mood and seemed in good health when she went to bed last night. Then, at 4:47 a.m. I was dispatched to Elise's room. Not by Elise, mind you, but by Anni, who once again was the only one to wake up to unusual sounds -- like, say, an upset child -- coming from across the hall.
Turns out Elise had tossed up her dinner and clearly was sluggish. So, there we were, pre-dawn, stripping barfed-on bed sheets, washing them and trying to console the vomiter. After that, I went back to bed and Anni -- bless her soul and apparent ability to not inhale -- rested next to the vomiter for a while until she fell asleep.
After further thought, I guess this is more of a milestone for Anni. If we were on a fire crew, she'd be the first responder and I'd be the back-up firefighter called in to collect wet hoses because I slept through the alarm.
Anyway, we kept Elise home from school today, which was a wise move. There was no more barfing, but she was awfully clunky. Yes, that's a medical term. She spent much of the day napping, including an impromptu snooze on the couch (see below).
Here's hoping we're not called for clean-up duty again tonight.

An assist from Santa

I've been trying to figure out which sports Elise may want to play when she gets a little older, because apparently I have no more-pressing matters to think about. I am not planning to pick a sport for her. It's more just a curiosity, not unlike wondering whether she will be right-handed or left-handed or whether she'll start thinking Dad is totally lame when she hits 10 or 11.

Anyway, I think her tour de sports is under way, thanks to a gift from Santa. Just as we were wrapping up Christmas this year, Anni said there was one more present, this one for Elise and me. We were given an indoor/outdoor basketball hoop. Turns out Santa knew that I like hoops and that Elise's doctor pegged her to be at least 5'9" as an adult.

So, this being the middle of winter, we're playing basketball in the living room -- or, as Elise calls it, "bouncy ball."

Even while constantly racking up turnovers for double-dribbling and traveling, Elise is already dunking and attempting short jumpers. She can catch a bounce pass, but doesn't yet understand that you don't get points for trying to eat the basketball. I guess we need to save one lesson for when the hoop goes outside this spring.

 

My little panhandler

Elise didn't want help putting her hat on one day. This was the result. I don't know what the Tupperware's all about.

Here's what I think of your offer

Elise tried to scare away a door-to-door saleswoman tonight by running toward the front door while swinging an empty trash can in one hand and holding a tambourine in the other.
That's right. Elise had a tambourine and a garbage can and Ms. Qwest had a clipboard and a bad offer. Guess who won?