Word World

I wanted to keep track of all of Eli's first words.  I started keeping a list on January 4, 2011, and I haven't written on it in some time, since he pretty much has full sentences going on.  Pretty-much-full-sentences for Eli go something like, "Mama, me go Alex's house, please, right now," "Daddy play cars please play cars please," "Spencer, where are you go, Spencer?" "Time for lunch, eat M's, eat peanut butter honey," "Maddie's house, music class today, please, Maddie hooouuuuussse."

Looking over this list of words, I realized I have some duplicates, but it was hard to keep track of so many words. All of these were added within one month.  I wrote down 15 new words per day for the first couple of weeks, and then I forgot to keep the list for a while, then added a few before February.  So at 20 months Eli could say

up, down, boo-boo, Lightning, truck, Lego, nuggets, ketchup (chup-chup), dinosaur, eat it, smoothie, cereal, pj's, mama, daddy, Spencer, table, juice, milk, roar, choo-choo, dishes, spoon, fork, cup, bath, jump, diaper, dressed, yogurt, cracker, cookie, book, digger, more, hot, uh (yes), no, Jesus, please, jingle bells, twinkle, little, star, warm, done, off, soap, cold, walk (50), yucky, shoes (oosh), what, waffle, ready, Costco, van, bath, pee-pee, poo-poo, cheese, mac n'cheese, Grandma, rest, night-night, run, nose, eyes, toothbrush, kitchen, hand, rock, me, arm, beat you, Ryan, ball, butter, that, treat, baba (nurse), turn, dog, monster, boo, 'fridge, Bob, Mouse, baby bus, big, ta-da, I love you, help me, button, socks (rocks), on, light, hi (100), hello, phone, cat, geese, hurt, thank you, pancakes, deer, kitchen, tackle, Doc, Sambo, mess, cooking, again, pooping, farting, touch it, email, Woody, water, mouth, teeth, neck, whoa, fish, moo-moo, hiding, sweeping, muffin, stab it, spit, dump it, hold it, turtle, lap, open, Mater, bulldozer, funny, heavy, coat, pizza, cereal, Cheerios, Lena, music, chair, stir (150), bubbles, need me, why, chest, party, stretching, blow, later, because, cake, sandwich (mandich), hey, hugs, chips, chainsaw, tower, your turn, Barbie, cupcake, cat, movie, ice cream, bagel, nine, nineteen, two, one, hit, game, mine, my, Court, Mickey, Iron Man, drink it, Rex, cow, sheep, wet, oven

and then I lost track and was going crazy because he had too many words for me to count or remember or know which ones were really new.  I have no estimate as to how many words he has, but he can sing a whole bunch of songs, like Iron Man by Black Sabbath, all of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse songs, and a whole bunch of songs by Thaddeus Rex.

His voice is so cute! Video coming as soon as I figure this thing out.

Homemade Tomato Soup

I love making things from scratch.  There's something wonderfully provident about it, especially when it is super healthy AND uses up leftover things in the fridge.

Here's a recipe for Homemade Tomato Soup that is about 80 calories per cup, and very filling.  As a sneaky chef, I added half a yellow squash and a handful of carrots, topped it with bacon pieces, shredded parmesan, and homemade garlic croutons.

No picture this time.  I'll have to get on that, just for the sake of blogging.  I don't usually photograph my food.

All About Spencer

Sometimes doing "school" seems like a chore for Spencer already, so today I told him it was going to be "all about me" day.  Instead of workbooks and card sorting, I made a list for him to record information.  He had to know his first, middle and last name, birthdate, and age.  We measured his height (38.5") and weight (32.5 lbs), and did some investigation outside to figure out where we lived (he found our house # over the garage).  A few other facts, and then we did the Favorites quiz, which he thought was pretty cool, and I don't want to forget.

Spencer's Favorites
color: blue
number: 3 or 1 or 2
food:  bananas and Cheetos (I don't think he knows what Cheetos are, but said, "it sounds like we're cheating somebody"
day: August 29
holiday: Halloween
friend: Steven
teacher: Sister Gibbs
game: Toy Story 3 memory
family member: Sami
song: Hello, Hello (I thought the Primary song, he said it was the Beatles Hello song, Hello, Goodbye)
movie: Toy Story 3
toy: cars

Remember the compliments you receive

Like the Baz Luhrman address states.  I had to have some fasting bloodwork done, so I went on President's Day when Ryan was home, so I wouldn't have to get the kids ready.  I was totally grubby, unshowered, and in a college hoodie, sweats, and ponytail.  The tech that called me back looked at my paperwork, puzzled, then back at me, and said, "How old are you?" really giving me the staredown.  I told her I was 27, going to be 28 next week.  She said, "Oh, I thought there was some mistake here in the paperwork for this kind of blood test.  I thought you were a teenager."  Not that I feel very old, but that made my day :-)

The flat bread was worth it

Fresh French bread really is like a piece of heaven.  All white flour, piping hot with a smidge of butter.  Yum.

A lovely lady at church gave a RS meeting about baking French Bread.  I sort of remember having an Enrichment like this several years ago and it seeming to be more complicated.  This gal said that a baguette, start to finish was about an hour.  An hour?  Even I can do that, and have helpers.

We made some baguettes at church and they were pretty great, had risen beautifully into nice little round  baguettes so cute I could pinch them.  I didn't want to look like the glutton I felt I was inside, so limited myself to just two pieces.  I knew I'd have to make these again soon.  I wanted to try out this recipe at home, and I wanted it to be absolutely as perfect and delicious as the one we made at church.

The next day, Sam got out of school early, and so when the boys went  down for a short, very late nap, I asked Sam if she wanted to try this new recipe that I had gotten the night before.  Her response was, "You want to try this... with me... for the first time?!  Oh, mom, that is SO COOL!"  That was followed by lots and lots of hugs and smiles.  After that, I let Sam do pretty much whatever she wanted to do with the dough.

So they came out a little flat.  Oh well.  It was so wonderful to make bread with my big girl and have her appreciate that time with me.  Who cares what shape the bread was?

Me, blog?

I don't think I understand this very well. The dashboard says I have 1 post, but I don't remember posting anything. I haven't logged in here for a full year now, so I guess it's about time I get started blogging. Stay tuned for more...