Monkey Sadie

Sadie did not want to take her nap. Sadie screamed and screamed so Mama went and surfed the internet (on a computer that happened to be at very close proximity to the washer and drier that were tumbling and swooshing as to drown out the screaming). Suddenly, the screams grew soft and then... singing.
"A. B. C. D...."
The singing grew louder and louder...
"E. F. G..."
until Mama turned away from the computer screen and jumped:
"Agh!"
"Mama, you wanna read to Sadie?"
"Sadie? Did you jump out of your crib?"
"Yes. Mama, you wanna read to Sadie? Sadie no lay down."

Her crib days are over. She is now a monkey and is no longer capable of being contained. Did I tell you about her newly acquired acrobatic skills that have enabled her to climb our kitchen counters or reach into the medicine cabinet to eat toothpaste? Or what about last week when I heard "pretty toes!" and rushed over to find she had climbed to reach the top shelf where I had stowed away my RED nailpolish and was painting her toes on the carpet (in the apartment we rent).

I have to admit, each of these incidents make me laugh. I guess I just love her that much.

bees and ladybirds

I think this is a foreign site. There's tons for kids of all ages to do and we've found it quite entertaining.
Originally, we visited it to put all of the spots on the "ladybirds" since Sadie is a fan of Ladybugs (type "spots on ladybirds" into search engine on site to find that game). While searching the site a little more, I found these bees games. This one is my favorite:

http://www.uptoten.com/kids/boowakwala-adventures-bees-makehoney.html

Sadie just laughed and laughed and so did I. I love the wretching noise the bee makes when its depositing the honey into the comb.

Let me know if it makes you laugh too :)

Sadie rocks!

We were watching a commercial on tv the other day:

"Ukey-lady"

There was a woman and her dog. The woman was talking into the camera about prescription meds or something.

"Ukey-lady!!"

I'm thinking "Sadie, that's not nice. She's not ugly."

Then I realize that she can hear a ukulele being played in the background music.

"Ukulele?" I ask.

She smiles and nods. "Ukey-lady, mama."

Later that day, she gets out "my" guitar and starts strumming and singing songs. I just had to video it. I missed some of her candid ballads, but got a good clip (as shown above).

This Christmas we sent web cams to my parents and grandparents. Its been a fun way for us to feel closer to one another and dulls the ache of being miles apart. I like how it lets us talk about the most mundane everyday thing- like the things you talk about when you really are in one another's kitchen. I showed my brother the chocolate mousse I made and swapped recipes with my mom. It took my mom a minute to warm up to the idea of us seeing her. She was trying to hide from it like I hadn't seen her in every possible light while living with her for 18 years.I could see my doggies (who were very confused about the whole thing) and my grandparents house which has always been so dear to my heart.

The downsides =
1. You can't hang out in your underwear. Clothing is not optional when one of us is on the webcam with someone. I discovered this tonight as I was trying to clean the kitchen while Jared was talking to his family. I have this thing about wearing clothes I wore outside of the house inside of the house (I feel like they're dirty after I wear them outside) so I take them off when I come home. BUT I don't want to put on clean pajamas or "hang out" clothes till I've showered because I don't want to get them dirty and then have to wear another set after I shower. I didn't want to shower until I cleaned the apartment because cleaning makes me feel like I'm dirty. I know, I know, I know. I have this clean freak thing going. So I was stuck in clothing limbo and decided to just clean in my underwear. At one point I was almost army crawling on the floor to avoid the webcam, but then I heard G-Ma Rawson say "Courtney I see you!" This thing catches a great range.... a better one than I thought.

2. The guy at Best Buy told me that they're all the same and they all do the same quality of work. Not so. The first one we got was crap. It was hard to set up and operate, had trouble connecting, and the video was slow and ultra grainy. We traded in for one that was ten bucks more and its been a world better.

3. You gotta keep whatever room you're set up in clean. At least the parts being broadcast. Mine happens to be in my kitchen. My kitchen happens to be tiny, thus it looks messy fast. You can actually see most of my kitchen on the webcam so I feel compelled to have it straight and the dishes washed before we make calls.

If any of my pals out there have a webcam, sign up with Skype and look us up. We're theawesomerawsons. I'd love to chat with you. I promise to wear clothes.

You may have noticed I yanked the "sick" posts. I was tired of seeing them there. We're sick in real life, why be sick in the virtual one too.

Christmas 2006 we spent with Jared's family. We had to write on a piece of paper what we were thankful for and what our goals would be for the next year. I was, of course, thankful for family. My goal was to complain less.
You'd think I'd come further with the added bonus year before being held accountable (since we rotate holidays between our families), but unfortunately, like most people, my new year goals are long forgotten by January 7th and this one was not exception. I think I've learned to look towards what I'm grateful for when I feel the urge to complain, but I still wind up complaining and saying something like: "I hate this crappy dishwasher! It leaves residue and spots all over our dishes and doesn't even get all of the food off! But, I'm grateful I have a dishwasher. There are people out there that don't even have dishes!"

Maybe my goal this year will be to remember my goals. ???

My personal court jester

Living with a two year old is sort of like living with a tiny practical joker... or a prankster... or maybe a court jester. You never know what you're going to find waiting for you when you come around the corner. You might find your favorite makeup brush used to clean the toilet. Or perhaps she will have painted the walls with your blush. Maybe she will slather herself in butt paste and wake you from your much needed nap. All of the wipes and diapers could be strewn about everywhere or she might get into the pantry and pull out all of your canned goods and hide them under the bed so when you go to use the tomato paste (that you KNOW you have) you can't find it, thereby ruining dinner. Whatever it might be, its always messy, sometimes tragic (when a beloved possession is annihilated), and inconvenient. But somehow, it always makes me smile, even laugh, as I try to remember to appreciate her humor and savor these days when her imagination runs wild. A huge grin from her helps too :)

Happy Jack

Jack is SUCH a smiley happy baby. It doesn't take much to get him laughing!

Sadie's prayer

Last night was Sadie's turn to pray:

Heaven Faddur...
Tenk you...
For bessings...
For bike...
For baby Jack...
bess me...
Jesus name...
AMEN!

I peeked open my eyes in the middle of it and smiled at Jared, who too, had opened his eyes to share a grin. It melted me that she was thankful for her baby brother.