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By all accounts today should not have been as bad as it was, but something, somewhere, somehow put me on edge today. Rachel woke up at an astonishingly late 8:30, 2-2.5 hours later than usual. Her nap was on the long side of normal. She was not terrible fussy. She ate well and went down for her nap easily even with the late morning. We took an easy day and stayed inside for most of the day. In the late afternoon we went into the backyard for awhile. By all account it should have been a good day.

Sick
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I've recently been floored with an attack of allergies. This morning, it seemed, some had drained into my chest and caused a little congestion. Not enough to get me really sick, just enough to wind me and make me tired all day.

Rachel
As I said, she was pretty good today, but there was something (maybe me being sick) that caused me to be easily aggravated at her. Sometimes, I wonder if I am even getting to her at all. I have been trying to teach her her colors, but everything ends up blue. She won't even repeat the color when I correct her. Then she'll repeat some obscure word I say. I'm sure everything will turn out all right, but sometimes, I get a real sinking sensation I'm screwing her up.

Blog
I wonder if I'm sitting here yapping to myself in all these posts. And really what does it matter if I am. I would like someone to be reading it and commenting, if they like or don't like what I have to say.

Computer
I recently got a new computer. There are always hidden things that you forget, or can't transfer. I ran into that today as I tried to pay my bills online. I ended up getting our Discover account locked because I guessed the wrong password too many times. By this time it was the hay and the camel's back.

In Monday's post, What did you say?", I mentioned about trying to post through the haze of a allergy attack. While I felt a little better through the middle of the week, it hit me doubly Friday. I did go out to the park Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday which I'm sure did not help the situation.

I do not plan to bore you about the details if my seasonal allergies, but, unfortunately, I think I gave my curse to my daughter. The last couple of days she has been rubbing her eyes and nose. Although I don't think she is suffering as bad as I am at the moment, this child will have many uncomfortable springs and falls to look forward to.

While medicine may have gotten a little better since I was a child, I'm sure she'll have to, at some time, to chose between the haze of a stuffy head and the haze of antihistamine.

So, tonight as I suffer through the haze of allergies, I plan to veg out in front of the TV.

Today, as she has on many occations, she dumped all of her toys out and have climbed in the tub. She has played with this tub, a tub at my mothers house, our laundry baskets more hours than I understand. There is some fascination with her and things that she can clinb into this includes boxes that have once held many an expensive toy. As she sat there today, I remebered a conversation that my wife and I had about her first Christmas presents.

background info: When we had this conversation, she was due the 24, however she ended up being born the 6th due to complications which mad eme feel better about buying the toys.


"Honey," my wife starts, "do you think that we should get Rachel presents for Christmas this year?" (Looking back I see this is a loaded question. To bad I missed that then.)

"Hmmm, No. I don't think we should; there is no need."

"Well, when she's older she'll know her birthday and will wonder where her first Christmas pictures are."

"We'll tell her we lost them." (I'm sure exactly what I said here, but I'm sure it was something dismissive like this.)

"I think we should," she replied in a very firm this-matter-is-settled sort of voice.

"Well, we can buy her diapers and wipes, wrap them, and take pictures."


We ended up buying her real toys for her first Christmas. But, now, as I sit here watching her, I wonder how much she would have like the box the diapers would have come in. I wonder if all the crap we just have to buy for our children is actually our fault. If we didn't stress toys at some age then they wouldn't demand them. Maybe we should buy are child a box and force them to use their immagination.

A few days ago, I wrote a post about our picnic in a park. While this park is closer to our house than another I like to go to, our city is smaller with a smaller young child population. So I hope in the truck, cross a river and enter a bigger city and maybe a little better park.

I took Rachel to this park across the river both yesterday and today. We had fun both days, but there was definitely more people there today than yesterday. Yesterday morning was raining with an overcast that stretched into evening. Thus a lot of the playground equipment was still wet and it was still a bit cool.

I understand that everyone has opinions and that everyone is entitled to those opinions especially when the debate is a hot subject like child rearing. It seems that I always attract those very pushy people who like to force there thoughts on others. Yesterday the only other adult there was this woman who would NOT stop talking about the horrors of vaccines.

Today was a much better day. It was warm, hot in direct sun, so a lot more people were out today. Rachel had a blast running around playing on the equipment. She went down the slide herself (don't tell the wife) and she just loved the swing as she did yesterday. I must have looked like an idiot (I don't care) as I would act like Rachel hit me as she swung toward me (I was standing in front of her.) Rachel and I laughed and that's all that mattered.

With the more people today it debated trying to talk to a couple of them. Withholding the friendly "hi" and nods, I really don't talk to other parents. I'm very shy by nature and always fret about what I should say to them. If it's a women, I worry that she might think I'm some creep or that I'm trying to pick her up. Michele says I should just say hi and introduce myself. Well, that's a lot easier said then done. Needless to say my fears won out in the end and I went home again without a park buddy. Maybe someday.

I'm not sure at what point in our lives that we "know better". All I know is it's somewhere between 21 months and 29 years. I love to just sit and watch her as she tries to add to her accumulating knowledge, building on things that she has already learned to experience and interact with the world.

in the last couple of days Rachel has done something that I can only explain as Baby Logic. It's that limited logic that the have. Where she does something that makes no sense to use, but if we drop into her world, there would have been no other option.

Hot Bulb
We have an island in our kitchen with a light fixture hanging directly over it. It hangs down to where Rachel, when standing on the island, has a little room to walk under it. As she stands there, she notices the light and reaches for it. Michele and I, both not wanting her to burn herself on the light bulb, say, "No. Rachel that's hot." To witch she, without hesitation, blows on the light bulbs with a few quick breaths.

Now this may sound absurd to us, but to her limited experience it makes perfect sense. How often do we put something in front of her and say, "It's hot; blow on it." In her world, "hot" equaled "blow on it." It was very cute, and left us laughing for quite some time.

Thumb bread
No matter what we put before her, she always wants some of what we have. We've gone to great lengths to show her we have what she does. She still wants it. Michele, the other day, toasted some cinnamon-raisin bread and slathered it with cream cheese. As soon as Rachel saw it, she wanted some. Tearing off a piece, Michele gives her a corner.

In the process of playing with it and eating it, she puts her thumb through the bread. This is the point that Michele and I just happen to glance up at her. We both saw her look down at the end of her thumb, sticking through the bread. She bend down and tried to take a bite out of that strange part of the toast. She was quickly surprised at the result.

She then repeatedly took her thumb out of the toast and insert it again. She just had to figure out what was going on here.

As her list of words that she repeats and understands grows at almost an exponential rate, I am somehow still surprised at the things she'll repeat. There is a fine line between parroting and understanding. I often wonder which she is doing.

"Go Steelers"
While I am not a huge football fan, I do like to watch the steelers play. (No flaming please.) Unfortunately, I was not able to witness this first hand, but my wife has taught our daughter to say, "Go Steelers" It's the epitome of cuteness when she raises one fisted hand and says, "go steelers."

"I'm Cool."
I asked my mother to come over Sunday night so Michele and I could have some time alone. We were all sitting around talking before Michele and I went out when my mother suddenly says, "Rachel, say 'I'm cool.'" I'm not sure what made her say this, but it was the funniest thing to hear Rachel, in her best attempt, parrot back, "Icool."

"Bless you."
Here is where that line between parroting and understanding gets really blurred. Rachel understands what a sneeze is and will every once-in-a-while will go around saying, "AAACHOOOO!" After sneezing for the one millionth time today (fighting off a allergy attack.) Michele said, "Bless you. That is what you say when someone sneezes." A few seconds later, like clockwork, I sneezed again and I hear this little pint-sized voice ring out behind me, "ess ewww."

"I love you."
Even thought she has been saying this for awhile, I feel that it needs to be on this list. I was holding her when I first heard he repeat back this little gem. She nearly fell to the ground with my jaw. I didn't and really will never care if she was parroting me that first time. It was wonderful to hear. As time has gone on from that first repeat, I believe that she is slowly understanding what this complicated emotion means.

I hope this post makes sense as I am righting it in the middle of a massive allergy attack. So, if the thoughts in my pounding head are coming out correctly, and the blurry screen is being checked by my watery eyes, I am great full. If not, I'm sorry.

It's been pretty busy around here the last few days. Michele had Friday off, doesn't have to work the weekend and is even off on Monday which gives as a nice four day weekend. Because of all this, I've been trying to having a lot of family time - going out and doing stuff.

Thursday evening:
After Michele got home from work we all went out on a picnic. It was not your ordinary picnic, consisting of two pizza's and a blanket. We ate it at the park though! We had a really nice time. After we ate Rachel ran around and played. Most of the time I saw Rachel she was running ahead of us, excited to get somewhere. Rachel will just run to something and start trying to climb it, walk off it or jump over it. I don't know if all kids are this fearless, but Rachel just charges headlong into whatever she wants.

Friday Morning:
Nothing too exciting happened. We just went to the local mall and played on the giant food. To see a few pictures see my post entitled What's for dinner? It's really nice to be able to sit back sometimes and watch her play and have fun. We also tried the game room, but she didn't seem too thrilled even with the children's games.

Friday Evening:
Kind of on a whim we decided to head up to Marietta to see what's going on at the Ohio River Sternwheeler Festival. I've heard this is a pretty well known event, but since I live here I really don't know who has heard about it. It was a nice semi-hot evening with a almost constant breeze. Pretty good weather for a carnival type setting. We got there a little early because it seemed like there was not a lot of stuff there. It probably officially started at 7 or 8 and we were gone by 6. The best time was watching Rachel dance to the music of the band playing. She has such a good time. As we were leaving, we bought Rachel an inflatable Boots toy.

We all had a lot of fun on our outings and even got a few more Shouldn't Have to Say. It's nice to take her out so that she can enjoy more than the TV. Best of all, If we run her all over the place, she goes to bed a lot easier.

My wife has commented to me that we should write letters to Rachel that she would open up at a later date. I dismissed the idea, until I came across Doodaddy's post Dear Boobaby (part XIX). I found this a wonderfully good post, and pulled me into the idea of writing my own letters. Here is the first installment.

Dear Rachel,

I must start out with an appology; I've waited way too long to begin writing to you and, if I'm not careful all those times will be lost in distant memories.

Today you turn 21 months, and continue to surprise me with what you know and what you can say. You are quickly turning into a little girl and I can't help but thinking back to when I first saw you. Even though I said I would not cut the cord, when it came down to it, after I saw you, I cut away, proud of my first moment as a dad.

Over the last 21 months we have had our good times and bad times. But as I look back, even though I didn't think it at the time, the bad times seem to fade off as the good times shine bright as ever. I can still rememmber, vividly, sleeping in the recliner in your first month because that is the only way we could get you to sleep. I remember playing Xbox and computer games as you slept peacefully in my lap. I remember how you would look at me as I fed your bottle and how I looked at you.

Now, as you are approaching two years, you are getting your own opinion and personallity. It's bitter sweet when you push me away if I try to play with your while your transfixed on Dora or Diego. It's hard that you are already pushing me away, even if it is in a small way. Your stangle-hold hugs make all the little push-aways disapper and I couldn't be happier as I watch you grow into a little girl.

Love,
daddy

Recently she has learned the art of dipping (and double-dipping). Actually, the chip or whatever is used more as a spoon to transport the yummy stuff to her mouth. While we were at a local mexican restaurant Rachel decided she would like to dip the chip into the hot salsa. And as you can imagine she did not like this one bit, but for some strange reason she kept dipping, trying, drinking lots of her water. This made me think about some of the interesting (and not so interesting) foods that she has come to enjoy over her 21 month life.

Carrots: Although she rarely ate carrots in baby-food form, I've seen this little girl pass up a lot of yummier (in my opinion) food to eat all, and demand more, of her carrots.

Peas: Much to the dismay of my wife, who hates peas, Rachel has loved peas from the beginning. She did have a small period where she'd just smash them and thought that it was fun.

Ravioli: Although some may find this inevitable, and not too surprising, I'm listing it because of the amount she eats. This 21 month old girl will easily eat 4-5 Chef Boyardee ravioli in one sitting. Maybe this is normal for her age, but seems to be a lot, with everything else, to me.

Pineapple: Another that is not too surprising, even though I do not like them. She'll take down a can in a couple of days.

Banana Peppers: Yup, I typed that right. She likes banana peppers. Truth be told, they were out one day and she pointed to them. I gave her one hoping for a funning reaction, but was disappointed when she signed more.

Pickles: I'm not sure of the story on this one. Probably started at a restaurant that game me a pickle with my sandwich and I tried it for the reaction. Dill only!

Hot dogs: Maybe I shouldn't of, but I started hot dogs pretty early. I did cut them up well. She has eaten 2 full hot dogs in one setting before.

Grapes: We love to give our child the choke hazard food. (Joke, please do not send mail yelling at me.)


Those are some of her favorite food. While some of them are pretty common, I thought a couple are very out there. I might expand this list if I can think of some more, but also if some more interesting ones spring up.