Today is Christmas Eve. Mommy is big with baby and Juliet is getting ready to be a big sister. This blog is [ahem, was intended to be] written with Juliet to capture her favorites and her thoughts.
Mommy: What are your favorite books?
Juliet: This.
M: That's a guide on how to play Daddy's game.
J: A fish. I found a fish.
M: Yes, that is a game about fish. And you love fish.
J: I can't open it Mommy. This is a move.... (I think she's going for movie and thinking about it.)
M: That's a game.
J: This is not a game. Let's find a new movie. Do you know where Babies is, Mommy?
M: Yes! I put it back on the shelf. Do you want to watch it? Go get it.
J: I have the Babies right here! Do you want to watch Babies?
M: Okay. I think that might be fun.
Here, the Babies DVD kisses me.
And so we're watching the movie Babies now. I remember the first time I watched it with Juliet and she was entranced. That was probably when she was closer to a year old. We watched it in a bunch of pieces. Now I found it on Amazon for $6 and bought it. For some reason I don't have those pangs of guilt when she watches it. We talk about what is going on and about the Babies. It nearly feels educational.
A few of Juliet's favorites:
Favorite Toys: These small (probably 5 inches tall), round fuzzy things. Made by TY, the previous makers of Beanie Babies. Juliet started with Picky (a pink one) bought by Daddy at Rite-Aid because Juliet loved it. Mommy thought he was being a sucker, but Juliet has really loved that toy. She is always asking, "Where's Pinky?" It's not exactly a security thing because we don't have to find it. But we often talk about where it is. Then we added Pengy, one that looks like a penguin. And Grammy (Matt's mom) and Aunt Beth picked up a caterpillar-type of colorful striped one. It's tag said Gumdrop and Juliet started calling it "Icedrop" and it stuck. I think they got her another one for Christmas! (Don't tell her.)
Favorite Books: Owl Babies (Little Owl Baby Bill always says, "I want my mommy!" One time Daddy said that Juliet was looking at the book while I was at working and saying, "I want my Rachel!"); Moonhorse (I love the language in that book. Juliet somehow knows the name of the Illustrator of that book too. I'm not sure why.); Inside Mouse Outside Mouse
I asked Juliet if she has a favorite color. She said, " I have a favorite..... I wonder, where the cows?"
Juliet loves animals. She loved this book Daddy has called Big Fish and she recognizes a lot of the fish in there, especially the sharks and yellowfin tuna. She used to always look for the section page titled, "Not Dangerous But Big." I dont know if I wrote that before.
J: I see cows!
Maybe because of Daddy's field guide collection, Juliet knows all about the types of underwater creatures and birds. Gmom and Grandpa reported that they were looking at a book with Juliet with a bird in it and she declared, "blue egret!" She is definitely her Daddy's daughter. That certainly didn't come from me.
I've just started talking to her about the sounds that letters make. She seems pretty amazed. We'll be looking through a book and she'll say, "Do that word," and point at a word and we sound it out. I'm a little rusty on the vowels, I have to admit.
Right now at bed we read 2 books, say a prayer (Juliet requests we pray for good dreams, and last night we prayed for good dreams for Pengy) and then sing songs. I started opening my repertoire out a bit. We used to sing Deer (As the Deer Panteth for the Water which, coincidentally, is the song that my water broke during for Juliet) and then a few pirate songs Daddy introduced us to (referred to as Ship and Bowl). Now Juliet requests the same songs in the same order: Deer, Starry Night, Crossroads, and Sweet Baby James. I remember my Dad singing Sweet Baby James to us when we were little and I'm happy to carry on the tradition.
Juliet is still a pretty good eater. She seems to like her vegetables.
She is very empathetic. When I start getting overwhelmed (being pregnant with a toddler is not easy!) she says, "Don't cry Mommy!"
J: Do you know where Pinky is?
M: I think he's in bed.
We talk about what Baby Brother or Little Brother will do and be like. When I read Juliet books, she points to my other knee and says, "LittleBrother goes there." Gmom told her that LittleBrother will probably grab her finger and she likes talking about that recently and pantomiming holding and rocking him.
Gmom asked Juliet what little brother's name is and she said, "That's a very good question." (We keep that secret until birth.)
I think I've got to go. The katamari game is jumping on the keyboard and Juliet is telling it, "No, don't do that Katamari." I guess this is as good a record as any. This is about how it is here.
I wait for new brother with nervousness. This has been a pretty easy pregnancy physically. A little sciatica when laying down was my biggest physical complaint. Until 37 weeks, I would tell people I didn't remember I was pregnant until I caught a glimpse of my reflection. And then that changed at 37 weeks and I feel very achy by the time I get to bed. And, starting this weekend, I'm completely frantic with my to-do list. I believe this is called nesting, which makes it seem quaint, but it feels like torture. And then combine that with Christmas to-dos and it has been really challenging. Mentally, this has been a very hard pregnancy for me. I can't imagine a newborn and a toddler together.
A story. A few months ago, at dinner at my parents' house, Juliet got down from the table. We asked her if she was going to come eat. She said, "I'm too busy." She started playing with her toys and declared, "I'm exhausted." We laughed. My mom pointed out, "That's a toddler with a pregnant mommy - busy and exhausted!"
So, with that laugh, Merry Christmas! I have to keep reminding myself not to stress over the tree not up, the things undone. It's hard. And through this all, I hope I've been a good mom to Juliet and will be able to navigate motherhood of 2 when it comes. This journey of motherhood is always changing.
No comments:
Post a Comment