I don't have one

These pictures were taken the morning of the fourth. By evening quite a bit more was covered but I haven't taken a picture of that yet.




I was feeling a lot better until this morning when I woke up with pinkeye and probably an ear infection in my right ear. The ringing has been nonstop. Cora was not cool with me resting today so I am tired but wanted to get this done anyway.

Nyla came downstairs the other day and told me that one of her hurts was singing. She asked if I had ever seen that before. I didn't tell her that I couldn't hear it singing but I was able to honestly tell her that I had never seen it before.

Yesterday morning I talked to Bohdin about the new stage of Cora's life. He doesn't like me to come down to the basement because I make him clean while Cora destroys his intricate toy layout. Generally he tries to get me out of there as quickly as possible. Because of this and the fact that the house is so large I don't see Bohdin very much. I see Nyla more because she is still young enough to want to be with me sometimes. She wanders upstairs and plays with Cora or lets me read a book to her or play. We played mommy and Nyla with me as Nyla and her as mommy. I found it interesting how many times she called me honey and sweetie. I never call her that. She really enjoyed that game and we played a little bit today as well.

Back to Cora and Bohdin. In the process of sharing the challenges we'll be facing with a curious one year old I pulled out the blog book from when Nyla was this age. Bohdin, Nyla, and I looked over the pictures. When we were in December I read a little bit because that is almost Nyla's current age. I was surprised at the similarities. I had forgotten that Bohdin used to act like a four year old. He really enjoyed hearing about himself and I told him that I still write about his day. At dinner Bohdin asked if I knew how you make bubbles in a cup with a straw. Bohdin said, "You blow air in" Then Nyla interrupted and said "No! The bubbles are made in China!". Bohdin then proceeded to give a very long detailed explanation of making bubbles in a cup. He noticed that I had written down what Nyla said but not his response. Since it was so long I was just going to write that he gave a correct explanation but he wanted me to include this. Thankfully he shortened it. "You blow air through the straw and the air floats up as bubbles.".




I found an incomplete discontinued Playmobil castle on craigslist Monday and went to a store in Indiana to pick it up. There are a lot of reselling type stores in this area. It took me a while to find the correct booth and when I did there was a man standing in front of it asking his wife over the cell phone if he should get it. I swooped in and told him that I was getting it. I think he was a little stunned at first so just moved on but I saw him give me the evil eye later. Whatever. I only paid seventeen dollars. There aren't that many pieces missing. We've combined it with something we already owned and did some rearranging. The top looked better before Cora Destructo came through.

Sick

Bohdin and Nyla went to the doctor on Friday for ear pain. Bohdin had woken up in the middle of the night Wednesday crying because his ear hurt. Nyla also complained of ear pain on Thursday. It turns out that Bohdin's ear infection isn't quite healed despite the 10 days of antibiotics. She prescribed ear drops to control the pain. Nyla had an ear infection and is now taking the same antibiotic that Bohdin hated. Bohdin did a really great job taking his antibiotic even reminding me at times when it was due if I was late despite the fact that he loathed it. Nyla doesn't have the same sense of duty so each time will be a struggle.

Friday night I became sick. I started running a fever and just felt miserable. That lasted throughout Saturday. Bohdin and Nyla did an excellent job staying out of my way while I rested and Buddy's way while he laid tile. The basement is a mess of toys and half the living room has become a giant box, pillow, and blanket "house". They had a lot of fun playing and it was hard to pry them away from it.

Thursday evening we went outside to hang out. Cora started pushing the bike around but Nyla wanted to ride it. Cora was holding on and walking quickly behind it really well for quite some time. Then just as I was snapping a picture she went down. Nyla didn't notice and I had to yell at her to stop. Cora wasn't going to let go for anything. She skinned both knees but didn't complain at all. I took her inside to get some leg coverings and when we came back outside she did the same thing. She held on for a while but once again was dragged. She didn't seem to be hurt so I think her crying was one of anger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

Growing up

Cora's has advanced a lot in the past few weeks. Every week she discovers some new way to be a trouble maker. This week she is opening up cabinets. I showed her a drawer in the kitchen with baking things in it and she frequently opens it up and helps herself to a toy. The problem is when I need a whisk or measuring spoons they are nowhere to be found. The bigger issue is her fascination with the toilet. I had thought toilet locks were invented for parents that zealously child proofed a house. Now I've come to realize they were made for babies like Cora. Yesterday she threw Bohdin's new water bottle in the toilet. It was the same toilet that Nyla had pooped in earlier and forgot to flush. This morning she threw a pen and a toy in the toilet. For now we will just have to remember to put the lid down but I can envision a day when that will not be enough. Buddy put it well when he said that Cora has Bohdin's curiosity without his cautiousness.

Nyla and Cora have been playing together more. They sort of play dolls but mostly they just do random things since Cora is so young. Nyla likes to set up blanket boats or put babies to sleep or just do wild silly things with her. Nyla also introduced Cora to an empty box. Cora didn't like it at first but has since warmed up to it and when Nyla gets in Cora will follow her. The pictures below were taken on two different days.





Yesterday morning as we were getting ready to leave to the zoo to meet up with friends I spotted a deer in our backyard. We have had heavy damage from that deer eating our stuff and trampling our garden. I don't think there is one thing we've planted that hasn't been affected. I didn't know deer were interested in so may different things. The sunflowers are a favorite along with green beans. When I saw the deer I told Bohdin and Nyla to go chase it away. They just stood outside yelling at the deer but the deer just stared at them so I had to go out myself. The deer ran through the open back gate so I had the kids close it. I don't think it will keep the deer out but at least I can make him work for his food.

Bohdin has been reading a lot more lately. It's hard to believe that a few months ago I was wishing he would read more and now I am telling him to stop reading. Yesterday as we were walking out the door to go to the library he wanted to finish reading a book. He brought it with him. Inside the library he read a book while I did damage control with a walking Cora. She was a tornado and won't have the privilege of walking again any time soon. Cora actually walked out the door as I was checking out but the library guard picked her up before she got away. I collected Cora and couldn't find Bohdin. He was back in the kids' area reading another book. I checked out again and he read on the way to the grocery store. Inside the grocery store he walked slowly while reading the back of a cereal box. That reminds me that at the zoo he was more interested in the signs than the actual animals. It seems that he has finally discovered the wonders of reading.

Blueberries

Nyla's dollies ready for bed.


Bohdin missed a soccer practice the week he was sick. On Thursday I asked the coach if Nyla could take the make up session instead of Bohdin since we would busy on Saturday. On Friday they just have little kids and Saturday was the last day of the current session. The coach agreed and Nyla was so excited. She has been asking to play soccer for a long time. The coach invited Bohdin to play with the three year olds also. Nyla had a lot of fun. I thought she looked so cute out there because she was so enthusiastic. We may do soccer for her in the fall. Or if not soccer then something else. They created a special July session for Bohdin's age but Bohdin wanted to take a break.






Saturday morning we intended to wake up early to go blueberry picking. We didn't leave as early as we originally thought. I did wake Bohdin and Nyla up early but we arrived at 9am instead of the 7:30 we were shooting for. The place was packed and we had to hunt for blueberries. Bohdin did a great job picking while Nyla picked a few but then just ate them. We came away with just under 10 pounds of blueberries. The day we go blueberry picking is the day of the year that the kids eat more fresh blueberries than the whole rest of the year combined. They sat on the counter all day yesterday and I don't think Bohdin or Nyla ate one.





Our next door neighbors had family over on Saturday including their 3 year old great granddaughter. Nyla was excited and wanted to play with her so we invited her over. They ended up playing for hours. The little girl cried when it was time to leave. Nyla was asking about her yesterday. I hope we see a lot more of them this summer. They seemed to hit it off quite well. While Nyla was playing, Bohdin was listening to an audio book. He has spent most of the weekend listening to books.

Only one baby chick remains. We don't know what happened to the other two.

Nap Strike

Cora normally takes two naps per day but not this week. Monday she took her morning nap but would not go to sleep the rest of the afternoon despite repeated attempts. Her second nap had been moving further and further into late afternoon so I thought she might be ready for one longer nap in the middle of the day. Tuesday morning I was able to accomplish so much with Cora's delayed nap. I put her down to sleep about the noon which is around the time she usually wakes up. She had no trouble going to sleep but she had a really short nap. She was pretty tired by evening and went to bed a little early. Wednesday we went to story time for the first time in a long time. We stopped going when it interfered with Cora's nap. This time she went to sleep even later because between story time and walking to the Walmart next door for groceries it was close to one. Cora didn't fall asleep in the car so when we came home I put Bohdin in charge of lunch and took Cora upstairs. She feel asleep but woke up a short time later and refused to go back to sleep. It is quite common for her to wake up multiple times during her nap but fall back asleep. I tried to get her to take a later nap but she refused. She didn't even go to bed early that night. Yesterday was a really busy day. In the morning was dentist appointments. Cora fell asleep on the way home but wouldn't go back to sleep when we came home. In the afternoon we attended a library program about owls which Bohdin and I liked. One of the owls wouldn't stopping hooting which was neat at first. Cora again fell asleep on the way home. This time she did fall back asleep after being carried inside but didn't stay asleep for very long. By the time we made it Bohdin's soccer practice she was exhausted. She was in an awful mood but playing in the water fountain kept her occupied until practice was over. She screamed on the way home. She was so tired but just wouldn't sleep. It was like traveling with newborn Cora all over again. I hope today she will finally have a longer nap. She just woke up and already she seems tired and grumpy.

Bohdin's enjoyment of audio books has increased over the past several months. He has listened to a wide variety of stories that I never would have had the time to read. One of the latest checkouts was Castle in the Attic which came in a pouch with the book. Bohdin listened to it on the way to soccer practice and a bit on the way home before the screaming started. As soon as we arrived home he started listening to it. He sat there and listened to the whole thing which is over four hours long. By the time it was over it was past time for bed. This morning he woke up early and started the book over again. I thought that these audio books would make him not want to read anything himself but in the past week he has been choosing to read books. He read one on the way to the dentist yesterday and read some on the way home from the library. It's good to see his reluctance for reading is disappearing.

Just pictures

Pink eye

I forgot to post the picture of Bohdin bringing in the lettuce the other day. The kids were throwing things out the window to see where they would land. When Bohdin was outside I told him to grab me some lettuce. He tried throwing it up to me but it didn't work so I grabbed a rope. He tied it but then wanted to pull it up also. I held the rope while he came up. He thought it was a lot of fun to bring stuff in this way.

I took Bohdin to the doctor Friday because he was complaining of ear pain. He had also mentioned it on Tuesday but then not again until Friday. He was diagnosed with bacterial pink eye and an ear infection in both ears. His eyes actually started clearing up by then but he is taking antibiotics anyway. The discharge has cleared up but the skin around his eyes is still a little puffy and red. Nyla was sad that she couldn't have a doctor appointment also. She strongly felt that one of her scratches needed to be addressed.

When we went to J-s house on Thursday (which in hindsight was not a good idea since Bohdin was sick) Cora was terrified of the dogs. They were large dogs and she liked them okay from a distance but when they came close she was so scared. It was the first time I've ever seen her scared. I would pick her up and a minute later she would want to get down again. Saturday she was scared again. Nyla put on a Halloween mask that really scared Cora. It took a few minutes but she realized it wasn't so scary and wanted to play with it herself.

Cora's seventh tooth pushed through sometime last week. She has four on top now.