Updates on Autumn at 8-1/2 months

Autumn now has 6 teeth and loves to chew on Ronin’s sous’. When she does this Ronin says, “oh no, baby Almond spit up on Ronin’s sous!” But he doesn’t take it away from her. Now if she was chewing on a Thomas train – he would snatch that out of her hand in a moment! So far she doesn’t cry when he takes a toy away. But I think that will happen soon.

Autumn is also crawling across the house in record time. She is all over the place and will follow you whenever you go. But of you suddenly turn around and step over her she will cry – as she is feeling left out. She calls me “mama” all the time and gets excited when she sees Sean, Ronin, the cats and my mom’s dog Spike. She loves Spike. She pulled herself up to a standing position yesterday, with the aid of the couch, to see Leno, the cat walking around.

Yesterday I had Autumn drink out of a sippy cup yesterday. She found the water to be quite refreshing. She is also bathing in the duck bath as she has grown too big for the baby bath. I bought her a few feminine ducks to play with in the bath and she loves them. She splashes and plays in the water and loves bathing. Just like Ronin. Thank G-d they both take after me that way and not Sean (he bathes of course but hates to play in water!) When I pour water over her head she opens her mouth and sticks ou her cute little pink tongue. I think to drink the water. She laughs whenever she splashes herself. She is a very happy and content baby. She makes it easy.

A conversation with a 2-1/2 year old

The Gillhoolley’s visited my mom on Saturday. She is called “Vovo” a derivation of Grandma is Portuguese. We all had a lovely time. Unfortunately Autumn missed most of it while she was taking a nap. But Ronin and his mommy played and played in the sun and water. Ronin dumped buckets of water on me and I sprayed him with the hose. Much enjoyment was had by all. After we played I made a BBQ of hot dogs and hamburgers. Ronin filled up on pasta and potato salad and loved his hot dog with ketchup. When it came time to go, Ronin cried as he loves his Vovo and hates when we leave her.

Ronin: “Vovo you sit here (points to passenger front seat.) You come home. To Ronin’s.”
Vovo: “Ronin, I love you.”
Ronin: Looking at me, “I love her (pointing to Vovo.)”
Vovo: “Ronin I love you too!”
Ronin: “The most?”

It was very sweet. They have a lovely relationship. Once we got home we put Ronin to sleep. He never napped but played quietly in his crib for a long time. After the “nap” Ronin came downstairs and started to play with his toys. Autumn crawled over and was interested in everything Ronin touched. Once she grabbed his Ivo Hugh (a Thomas train) and placed it into her mouth …

Ronin: “No baby Almond. My toy. Ronin’s train. No spit-up on Ivo!”
Candi: “Ronin, she didn’t mean to. She loves you and wants to play with you.”
Ronin: “NO Ivo for baby Almond!” He then proceeds to gather a few toys, place them in his tambourine and says ..” I go to Vovos!”
Sean: “How will you get to Vovo’s?”
Ronin: “I take blue car. I drive. Not Gold car .. too small. I drive blue car to Vovo’s now.”
Sean: “But Ronin you cannot drive without a license.”
Ronin (looking confused): “I drive to Vovo’s. I use wheel and turn around.” Then he walks to the door and puts on his car slip-on shoes. “Ronin has shoes on. I go outside and go see Vovo in car.”
Sean” Ronin you do not know how to drive.”
Ronin: “I drive.” He then extends his arm to Sean and says: “need keys!”

Mid July updates on the kids

Saturday July 12th: Autumn crawled for the first time.

New expressions of Ronin’s:

“What’s happennnning?” Usually said when I come home from work and Ronin wants to distract me in the kitchen so I will play only with him and ignore his baby sister Autumn.

“I do that MYSELF!” This is a new one.

“I don’t like that!” When he tastes Autumn’s baby food and decides that he doesn’t like it and wants me to open up a bananas or pear baby food so he can eat that himself. Hence, “I do that MYSELF!”

“Be careful!” I clearly say this too often.

“Watch out!” Ronin says this as Autumn is on the floor crawling and he wants to get around her or walk over her without actually stepping on her.

“Baby Almond.” Ronin used to call her Baby Au-tum but now it is baby almond. That is her new name and I think it might stick for the rest of her life.

Same Face: Candace 2.0

I always thought my daughter looked liked me. I have been calling her the upgrade: Candace 2.0. She is me but prettier. My mom found this picture of me and I showed it to Sean and told him that mom had framed a picture of Autumn. He looked at it and wondered when it was taken. I said 1974.