Saturday, December 16, 2006 by Amy
Wahoo, I finally have pictures! Now just to wait for them to download.
Today was pretty boring, and I should have made phone calls, but didn't. Last night, as I was on my way to a little toy shop downtown for stocking stuffers, my car starts acting up. Just what we need. Cars always run really well when you have extra money lying around. It idles really low, and stalls unless I give it gas. And when I'm driving the RPMs take a dip, making the car jerk. But no corresponding noise from the engine, and no "check engine" light.
Riley cried for Jay again today. She wants him to come to her Christmas and her birthday. She also has been asking if Abby will come to her birthday, although she has made it abundantly clear what she intends to share with Abby, and what she will not. I've got news for you, kid...Hopefully the birthday ceremony at school will help feed her desire for birthday attendees.
Getting Riley to sleep lately has been really frustrating. She knows all the words to the stories that I tell. Some are short stories, like "Little Red Riding Hood" or "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." But some are long, like "Rumpelstiltskin" and she still knows them and wants to interject or tell them herself from beginning to end. She knows all the songs, including "Baby Mine" from Dumbo, which she likes to sing with me. All these activities defeat the purpose of the ritual: to get her to sleep. So I am constantly having to think up other stories that she doesn't know just to get her to sleep. I'm running out of ideas. Plus her naps have been all out of whack. Yesterday she napped from 3:30 to 5:30 and didn't go to bed until 1am, but got up at 7:00. She was understandably tired, so she napped this morning at 11:30. She went to bed tonight at 9:30-ish, so tomorrow better be a more normal day.
Avery is developing quite the dramatic personality. I call her "La Divina." Today I was trying to finish my dinner and Avery was standing at my feet looking up at me fussing for me to pick her up, and whenever I looked at her she would crumble herself to the floor, only to stand up and do it again. And then she went over to Rudi to perform the same tragic play.
Speaking of Rudi, he's been like Wonder Dad for the past two days. He's been getting on the floor and playing with the girls (doesn't seem like much to anyone else, but he NEVER does this). He's been incredibly patient with Riley. Just a little undivided attention really goes a long way with a child. Riley is responding a lot better to him and not being so aggressive towards Avery.
So I'm finally making progress on Riley's doll. This is what it looks like so far. After making the head, the body comes really easily. When the kit came in the mail, I looked at the huge bag of wool stuffing and thought there's no way that'll all fit in one doll, but it sure does. A whole lot of stuffing is involved to get the head as rock-hard as possible. I don't look forward to doing the hair, but in a weird way I kind of do. I guess I'm a sucker for punishment.
Today was pretty boring, and I should have made phone calls, but didn't. Last night, as I was on my way to a little toy shop downtown for stocking stuffers, my car starts acting up. Just what we need. Cars always run really well when you have extra money lying around. It idles really low, and stalls unless I give it gas. And when I'm driving the RPMs take a dip, making the car jerk. But no corresponding noise from the engine, and no "check engine" light.
Riley cried for Jay again today. She wants him to come to her Christmas and her birthday. She also has been asking if Abby will come to her birthday, although she has made it abundantly clear what she intends to share with Abby, and what she will not. I've got news for you, kid...Hopefully the birthday ceremony at school will help feed her desire for birthday attendees.
Getting Riley to sleep lately has been really frustrating. She knows all the words to the stories that I tell. Some are short stories, like "Little Red Riding Hood" or "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." But some are long, like "Rumpelstiltskin" and she still knows them and wants to interject or tell them herself from beginning to end. She knows all the songs, including "Baby Mine" from Dumbo, which she likes to sing with me. All these activities defeat the purpose of the ritual: to get her to sleep. So I am constantly having to think up other stories that she doesn't know just to get her to sleep. I'm running out of ideas. Plus her naps have been all out of whack. Yesterday she napped from 3:30 to 5:30 and didn't go to bed until 1am, but got up at 7:00. She was understandably tired, so she napped this morning at 11:30. She went to bed tonight at 9:30-ish, so tomorrow better be a more normal day.
Avery is developing quite the dramatic personality. I call her "La Divina." Today I was trying to finish my dinner and Avery was standing at my feet looking up at me fussing for me to pick her up, and whenever I looked at her she would crumble herself to the floor, only to stand up and do it again. And then she went over to Rudi to perform the same tragic play.Speaking of Rudi, he's been like Wonder Dad for the past two days. He's been getting on the floor and playing with the girls (doesn't seem like much to anyone else, but he NEVER does this). He's been incredibly patient with Riley. Just a little undivided attention really goes a long way with a child. Riley is responding a lot better to him and not being so aggressive towards Avery.
So I'm finally making progress on Riley's doll. This is what it looks like so far. After making the head, the body comes really easily. When the kit came in the mail, I looked at the huge bag of wool stuffing and thought there's no way that'll all fit in one doll, but it sure does. A whole lot of stuffing is involved to get the head as rock-hard as possible. I don't look forward to doing the hair, but in a weird way I kind of do. I guess I'm a sucker for punishment.
The doll looks awesome! Although kind of creepy laying on the floor chopped in half. ;) Wahoo dad!