Sunday, January 29, 2012

Iris Lists

Here's some lists of things about Iris at 1 year and 3 weeks. This is originally a Clark list from the same time. The original can be found here . I'm just going to modify Clark's list by crossing things out and adding some so you know what Iris is up to, and can compare her to Clark as this same age.

IRIS Clark can make the following word-like sounds...

  • mama
  • dada
  • yumyum
  • eggeggegg
  • oh no/uh oh
  • bababababa
  • do (dog)
  • ttttttt (turtle)
  • kkkkkkk (Clark)
  • (S)he also "sings" along with me when I sing to him, its like humming with an open mouth and its precious.
  • (S)he also sings a high note when I play the guitar or (S)he gets excited or when she plays with her Singamathing
  • SHE can say mmmmmm after taking a big bite of food. 
  • SHE has conversations back to you, even though you don't really know what she is saying.
  • She makes engine noises when driving a car or train or other machine
  • She can do our "pee pee" high five that we do with Clark after he pees on the potty. Its a high 5 with a "ptsss" sound
  • She clicks at cats.

Iris Clark can...
  • clap
  • wave hello
  • wave goodbye (although a minute after the person has left) (as soon as you start discussing going somewhere)
  •  indicate all done (kind-of)
  • shake his her head "no"
  • stab with the fork (like a murderer)
  • get food on his fork
  • fork food into his mouth
  • put the spoon into the bowl/food area
  • put the spoon into his mouth (most of the food falls off, but he's getting better)
  • open cabinets
  • climb stairs
  • go down steps face first - crawling style
  • walk
  • stand up without pulling-up on an object
  • bang objects together
  • "play" the guitar and piano
  • climb into a cardboard box
  • sit happily on his potty chair
  • stand on the potty stool and get his hands washed
  • hug
  • kiss mama and dada
  • blow on our bellies =)
  • sing a very high noted aria.
  • almost always sleep through the night until 6am (we are now working on a 7 am wake up/expect mommy to get-to-work time)
  • Iris can additionallly....
    • climb down the stairs, and slide down on her belly like a rocket
    • eat with desire and pleasure
    • slap her legs to a rhythm when certain songs come on
    • dance back and forth
    • swing her arms like holding a baby
    • point
    • feed us food on a spoon
    • put food in my mouth, or in the Singamathing's mouth
    • get us to do just about anything she wants at any time... go figure.

things Iris Clark doesn't like...

  • wearing hats
  • wearing his bike helmet
  • being laid down to get his her diaper changed
  • balls or balloons or things that are larger than his head.
  • getting knocked over by Clark (or Owen) 
  • not getting what she wants when she wants it

things that will make Iris Clark ridiculously happy...
  • being ticked on his knees, toes, and neck
  • extreme peekaboo
  • running between dangling things (strings, curtains)
  • watching himself on video
  • Tom's funny faces
  • plastic Solo cups
  • Iris additionally loves
    • dogs, cats, and any fluffy real or stuffed (including her Elmo chair and pillows)
    • music
    • being lifted up into the air in order to enjoy things on the ceiling or on a high shelf
    • climbing up onto anything so she is higher
    • Clark's funny faces
    • food

things that Clark really likes to do right now.
Drag things around the house including:
  • Alligator Piano/Xylophone drug by the string and mallet
  • Puppy Dog drug by the leash
  • Camera Case drug by the shoulder strap
  • Shoes drug by the laces

Chew on things and walk including:
  • very large cardboard boxes
  • pencils, spoons, long stick-like objects (we remain vigilant for his safety)
Door interactions
  • stand by the door and look out at the world
  • bang on the door
  • open and close the door (but not his fingers- that goes under "dislikes!"
  • climb face first out of the doorstep
Other things
  • walk around with toys and leave them scattered all over the house
  • open and close cabinets and doors
  • inspect everything that looks like a button, grommet, knob or protruding round thing (and see if it has milk in it)
  • turn things like gears or handles and generally try to modify the environment
  • this kid really loves mechanics.
Iris things
  • play with balls
  • play with cars or trains or busses or things with wheels
  • color on a magnadoodle
  • play with an electronic "ipad" thing that she got for Christmas
  • anything that makes music
  • opening and closing desk drawers
  • taking things out of boxes, laundry baskets, cabinets
  • putting things into boxes, laundry baskets, cabinets. 
  • going down the slide
  • swinging
  • climbing stairs 
  • climb the playground structure and go down the curly slide all by herself.
We love him. 
We do love Clark, be we love Iris too. She's amazing.
Love, Veronica and Tom.

An interview with Clark

An interview with Clark about the Meadowside Nature Center Preschool Field trip on Tuesday where we played in an indoor outdoor exhibit featuring caves with a slide, eating lunch outside, and playing with dishes.  

Clark, tell me what you did today.
Today, Kathryn said no pushing. I push Owen. No pushing. 
Tell me what we did today. 
We saw Owen and Emily and Kathryn and Sara and we went down the slide.
Where was the slide? 
In the dark cave.
And then what did we do?
Lunch. We ate lunch outside. 
What did you do after you ate lunch?
Sticks with Owen. We picked up fireworks. We collected fireworks. (referring to firewood. Then he sings) What's gonna work? Team work! What's gonna work? Team work! (because they worked together to move giant sticks)
Anything else?
Mommy, then I chopped fireworks for you. Then I made some coffee for you. Then we went down the slide. Then we hit. No hitting. 


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sleepover!

Clark and Owen at preschool, well, making a train on our train table, and Abby, another friend and her barbie.

Abby is pretty cute!
 Ok, so here's the sleepover photos.
Our poor friend Kathryn was abandoned by her husband as he went to Jordan for 11 days to do some top secret military stuff. She was soley responsible for care of her son, Owen, for ELEVEN whole days. We took pity upon her and took Owen for the night. It was super fun. What did Kathryn do with her night off? She took her dog to the vet because Iris fed him grapes. Not fun for her, sorry Kathryn, at least you got a break from Owen. 
The boys are reading a Thomas book.

They are playing bumper cars.

And a long bath for all 3 kids.
 
with silly faces



and bubble beards

her royal adorableness

oh so cute.
It was fun. The end.

January cooking!

Tom made Tom Ka Gai, a Thai Coconut Lemongrass soup with chicken.  yummmmm
Recently, Tom made the most delicious steaks ever! It was Filet Minon steaks from our Amish dealer (grass-fed, organic, local) wrapped in yummy bacon, deliciously seasoned.  



Clark is a great helper in the kitchen. Here he is measuring Thyme.  We are making Pistachio Encrusted Tilapia


and getting ready to pour it in the food processor (don't worry, I'm careful about the blade!)
and here he's grinding up the pistachios and seasonings.   




And after a long day of helping, we let the kids relax with their favorite snacks. Iris and her milk, Clark and his thumb.


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Greenwell Family Photos

 Since we were all together for the holiday for the first time in a few years, and we had two new babies since our last gathering, we got Greenwell family photos done!
top L to R: James, Dad, Mom, John. Bottom L to R: Monica, Ray, Tom, Andrea


beautiful sisters

Nana and Grandpa with the kids. Clockwise starting with Noon. Will, Ivy, Ruby, Clark, Iris, Ben and Sophia

Everyone!



Just the dudes
Clark has been sucking his thumb and finger lately, this was captured in the rare moment when his finger was out of his mouth!


Our baby Joy, Iris.

Our beautiful, laughing family.

We lined the kids up to take a photo of them all. We told them it was a race!
IT was hard for them to hold still while we got the shots!

On your mark, get set, GO!

Ivy didn't want to leave Iris.

Sophia wasn't sure what was going on.

When Ivy finally realized that Iris couldn't run (or walk!) she took off. Iris indicated, "I'm waiting for someone to come pick me up and run me over there with the big kids!"


Daddy's Girl

Oh, she's so beautiful!

and he's a nut!

and a wonderful big brother.



All the ladies!

what the big kids did while everyone was getting their family photo!

we're a fun group!

our family with Nana

helping Iris walk. This is probably my favorite picture.

Silly kids with Nana and Grandpa!

How to make an awesome holiday...


STEP 1: High 5 on an airplane,


Step 2: Have tons of fun on the airport playground during a layover.


 Step 3: find Cozy Coupe in California. Play in it constantly.

 Step 4: Run around with cousins! Act as crazy and insane as possible (or as your parents allow before asking you to be quiet or calm down).
Step 5: Mimosas!


 Step 6: Open presents with Daddy!

Step 7: Open presents with mommy!


Step 8: Enjoy thyself with thine family.


Step 9: Enjoy thy presents! 

 


Step 10: Find that Cozy Coupe and PLAY!

or a scooter

or a skateboard with no wheels! Whatever, just have fun!



Step 11: Go to the beach. Dig to China.



Step 12: Go to Wild Animal Park and admire animals.


giraffe tongues!
































but don't become one yourself,
Grrrrrrr!

 
enjoy your family


give lots of hugs,

and explore



Step 13: Enjoy local parks and visitors centers. Here's Clark at Mission Trail Visitor Center making a leaf drawing!

and adding a hand leaf to the tree!



Step 14 = SEA WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 Step 15: Celebrate life, like Iris' First Birthday!




 Step 16: Visit with Friends, like our NFP teachers Dave and Cheryl.
 Step 17: Love your sister
 and your Nana!

 and Nana's dog ALLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!




 Step 18: Enjoy the Cozy Coupe... did I say that already? Make sure no one is in it though... Ben drove around on Iris' lap for a while before Tom rescued her!
 Step 19: If you have a holiday goal, I recommend pursuing it....
and achieving it! 
 Step 20: Smile

 enjoy family and down time,


Cozy Coupe!!!!!!

 and finally.... enjoy life's little
Surprises!!!!!!!!!!

There was more beach and friend visits, and some surfing too! Maybe we'll post photos of those things, or maybe we won't. But it was a great holiday and we had lots of fun with our little nieces and nephews. Clark loved his cousins, and Iris loved nana's dog! We are glad we went, and we are really glad to be back in our time zone in our own beds. We hope you had a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a great time in between! Love, the Greenwells!