Making a Birthday Present for Grammy

I brought Eowyn to a "Paint Your Own Pottery" place. Her cousin was in from out of town, and he's 11, and likes to go paint pottery, so we figured it was something both of them would enjoy, on their own levels. We were right. Everyone had a great time. Ewoyn painted a picture for her Grammy Ouellette, whose birthday is Tuesday, but we saw her yesterday to celebrate. We put her hand print in the center when her painting was complete. Here Grammy was taken with how precious her hand print was, after all we've been through with her hands.

Here is the little painter, taking her task very seriously.

Mom Song

Laundry is my chore

Ewoyn has chores. Christopher has taught her to feed the dog, let the dog in and out (with help with the door knobs still) and to help with laundry. Christopher was folding the laundry and kept handing Eowyn a few bibs and baby wash cloths. They go in a drawer in the kitchen. Eowyn would scamper across the living room, dining room and kitchen, open the drawer, stuff the items in, close it and scamper back. He'd give her more and she'd do it again...This happened over and over, for at least 10 trips. Never tiring, or complaining, the little helper scampered back and forth. It was just about the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life.

I didn't get a photo because the angle wasn't good, and it wouldn't have translated as well on stills as on video. But it was hilarious!

Sleeping

Just when you think this baby can't get any cuter!

Helping Mommy

I was working on a video to show how to use one of my new lines of tools, when Eowyn decided to help. Doesn't she look very informative and knowledgeable?

Daddy Is my Hairdresser

There is no story...this says it all.

Footwear Frenzy!

We brought Eowyn to get new sneakers at Red's Shoe Barn today. She walked up the two levels of stairs, on her own, and at the top their was special glow coming from one display, right in front. Eowyn LOVES boots. She is very into shoes, of all kinds, but the spring rain boots just called to her. She tried on ALL of them. It was hilarious. She put them on, walked around, grabbed another pair of mismatched rain ware for her feet and tramped around until another couple caught her fancy. Grammy bought her a pair that look like ladybugs. I think she is bound to enjoy them as much as her snow boots, once home, but the fact they matched and were the right size for her feet, caused them to be cast off in the store.




She did willingly try on the sneakers, which were the reason for going in the first place, but they did not hold the same joy as the rain boots. I was excited to find the simple Nike sneakers, in her size, costing only $10.00 a pair! We bought the next size up, hoping to get through the whole summer of sneaker weather, for $20.00! Wow!!


*Note: for all of you who have ever worked retail, and are grimacing upon hearing of this little girl ripping apart a boot display, we, being the responsible parents we are, put the boots all back where they were, when we left.*

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes....

Saturday night Ewoyn walked over the where I was sitting and proceeded to sing the song Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes, by herself, WITH hand movements. The movements were a little scattered, but it was still amazing! The song is one of the few "traditional" kinds songs she knows. When we were in Shriners, and she had dressing changes, they had a woman who would come in and play guitar to try to calm/distract Ewoyn. It worked okay, considering what kind of pain she was in. But this song became a staple, and one we sang a lot while in the hospital. It was almost sure to bring a smile to her face if, while she was sitting on dad's lap, I would sing the song and do the movements...which is sad to admit, quite a workout if you do the song all the way through a couple times.

In typical Eowyn fashion, she would not perform the song for the video camera...Whenever a camera comes out, video or still, she proclaims "camera", then "baby", and wants you to show her on the LCD screen all the pictures of that very cute baby that are surely on it. Other then an occasional music video with dad, seeing herself on an LCD screen, or on a laptop screen, is her only "screen time", so "Baby Ewoyn" has become her favorite show. We are hoping to get this little act on video, and I'll certainly post here if I do.

Lengthy update...

Eowyn burned her hands. We were at someone's house the wood or gas stove, was off when we arrived, it was turned on while we were there and we were not notified, and Ewoyn put both hands, palm down on the stove. She had 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the palm side of her hands. We brought her to Shriners within hours of the incident, she got the best care I can imagine is possible. She has been healing quickly and there is no concern for longterm scarring or any mobility loss. It's been an emotional and difficult time, in many ways, but we have been blessed through all of this as well. Ewoyn has been a very amazing little person. She does not complain or try to remove her dressings. She is even cooperative during dressing changes, even when she was very upset about them, she was just a great kid. I may write more about the experience as time goes on, but for now, know she is doing great, healing fast and is still a happy, active baby. Here is a picture of her in her dolls cradle with the Teddy Bear her Great Aunt Chip sent her...it came with the hospital gown and bandaged hands... Ewoyn was touched by this...When he came out of the box, she gently patted his bandaged hands with hers, said awwww, and hugged him. She knew how he felt. It was very sweet.

Here you go Christopher...

If you'll notice under the "Happy Birthday Kenny" post, Christopher is complaining that you can't see Eowyn's outfit in the picture. Well, I don't have many of her in full body, since we were eating at a table, but here she is: Playing with the Lemon's from our water (and yes all the grown ups were sitting around the table with great anticipation of the sour facial expression she was sure to don, once she tried to eat them...and Ewoyn, in her typical style, disappointed the onlookers, by actually enjoying her suck on a lemon).

The Kilt is a Kilt, not a plaid skirt. Grammy and Grampy Ouellette picked it up on their trip to Scotland. Christopher paired it with a black t-shirt and black cotton tights, for a European Punk Look...we don't, however, have baby Doc's for her...Oh, well, the black Mary Jane's completed the look, in a fair second place. I suggested next time the red long sleeve shirt could go under the black T...

But, I Am the Baby Doll!

Eowyn received a beautiful cradle and high chair for her doll, this Christmas from Christopher's Mom and Dad. It was Painted by Grammy and one of Grammy's sisters, Aunt Heather, made bedding and cushions for the set. Eowyn loves it, and does use it for her doll, but more often, lately, she's been crawling into it herself... Doesn't have the spacial relations down yet... Add to the confusion, she's been told it's for her Baby Doll, well, My mom calls her Baby Doll, and Ewoyn can often be heard walking around the house saying Baby Doll over and over, referring to herself...

So here is the Baby Doll in the cradle.

Happy Birthday Uncle Kenny!

We had a birthday party for Christopher's youngest Brother this weekend. Eowyn certainly gave him a run for his money on attention, but what's new...she really does steal the stage, any stage.

Here she is with the birthday boy, enjoying a good drink coaster.

Loving the snow

There is a lot to love of it, if you love snow. Eowyn had a great time today playing the snow for a short while. She's still getting over that cold, but we bundled her up very warm and brought her outside for the perfect photo op, as the snow was still on the branches and the sun was shining!!

Fashion Forward!

Ewoyn is here to tell you Footie PJ's are "The New Black", and no fashion forward toddler wardrobe would be complete without a lovely collection of wooden bead necklaces , the chunkier the better!

Poor baby

It had to happen eventually. Eowyn is sick for the first time. She had the sniffles when we had a season change, which seemed to be from the change of humidity at night, because she'd wake up stuffy but it went away during the day, no fever or anything. Well, today she has it all. The poor thing is throwing up, has a fever and is visibly sick. She's been a trooper, but I feel so bad for her. She just lays in our arms letting out a fussy whimper. She gets a bit of energy for about 1 hour when the Tylenol has kicked in and before it starts to wear off, but overall she's just a sad little girl. She was particularly sad when despite using all the signs and words she knows to procure a beverage or some food, were met with explanations of how her tummy was too sad to put anything in it.

I guess this is what it feels like to be a mom. Being willing to do whatever it takes to make it all better, and being unable to do anything.

Here is the sweet sick baby girl cuddled on my shoulder.

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

Enjoy!!

What did you expect?

When a man names his daughter Ewoyn, what else would you expect to see on the top of his tree?

Christopher affixes our Galadriel doll to the top of our tree. Since Elves represent Angels in Tolkien's Middle Earth, it just makes sense...

Snow Baby

Eowyn played in the snow today. She and daddy went out played, went for a walk in the woods in Ewoyn's new little sled, to Grammy and Grampa's house. She really seems to like it and really likes riding in her little sled. She's so darned cute sitting in it. It makes me laugh just watching her.

Eowyn is coming into her own lately. A bit more sassy, a bit more mischievous, and a bit more naughty. We have been giving her timeouts, since she is supposedly old enough to understand the concept. I'm sure she understands, I'm also pretty sure she doesn't care. She and Maggie are not doing very well together right now either. Eowyn enjoys chasing Maggie, who really wants nothing to do with that, yet won't just go in another room, where Eowyn isn't, instead she circles Eowyn until Eowyn goes after her. It's an exhausting dance to keep on top of...for me, and evidently for Maggie as well...



I'm sure all these little stages will pass, Maggie will move onto a new form of neurotic, and Eowyn will grow into a new stage as well...I'm sure that will happen, right? That will happen. Please tell me that will happen!

Chai Latte, please, oh and hold the sugar...

Eowyn asked for my tea today, so we mixed it in her bottle with milk. It's a fabulous Chai blend with a Rooibos base, so no caffeine. I acquire my tea type beverages from The Portsmouth Tea Company. They sell high quality teas, and tea accessories. They were recently featured in the Big Gift Edition of Real Simple Magazine. Way to go PTC!

This is what the Portsmouth Tea Company site says about Rooibos, in relation to babies, "The soothing effect of Rooibos, the delicious South African "red-bush," on babies was first discovered by Annekie Theron, and it is now widely used as a milk substitute for infants who are prone to colic. Rooibos is rich in flavonoids and the anti-spasmodic and anti-allergic effects have been ascribed to quercetin, one of the main flavonoids in Rooibos. It is possible that some or other phenolic substances may contribute to the reported benefits."

Eowyn agrees:

Ironic

My friend Ellen has a blog and she found a website that scans your blog to determine the appropriate reading level necessary to enjoy the musings. I decided to run this one through, and was rather amused to find that the blog, about the baby, suggests it's best read by someone with a post graduate degree! I'm still giggling.