Bad Hair Day...

...enough said.

11 months old and walking!!

Eowyn has been taking steps here and there, as you know. But on her 11 month birthday she started walking yards, not a couple steps. She can lift herself off the ground, stand, without assistance, stabilize and start walking. She still falls quite a bit, but I do believe she is now saftely considered a 'walker'.

She went to visit her grammy today, and walked around the yard with a big purple ball! She thought she was hot stuff...

Christopher's Musings...

When I started this blog I figured Christopher and I would both scatter our thoughts on raising Eowyn, throughout the "pages". As you who read often know, it's all me. But from time to time I reference Christopher's observations. This is one of those times:

We feed Eowyn healthy foods. Most of her baby food is homemade, by me, using wholesome ingredients and a blender. I've tasted this whirled cuisine and have found it to be very palatable, despite it's lack of salt, or added sugar. She likes most of what I serve her, though from time to time she will turn up her nose, or more likely wrinkle her face in disgust over something we've spooned into her mouth.

Then there are times when we are playing outside. There is grass, rocks, woodchips, or sand. All of these things my tactile baby loves to explore. Often times they head towards the mouth. Sometimes we don't catch it in time and it reaches it's destination. Such was the fate of a handful of sand at the lakeside beach. We diligently tried to wipe away all the little particles, which we succeeded on a moderate level. As Eowyn happily gummed the gritty residue, and reached down to try this move again, Christopher started to ponder... "Why disgust over tasty morsels in her highchair, but enthusiasm over a mouth of dirt?"

Conclusion: Children must have a switch in their brain. Food or Explore. When the food switch is on, the child has the ability to discern flavor, texture, and temperature. These all must align in perfect harmony for success to be achieved. But click the brain to Explore and anything and everything is fair game, and quite tasty to the little adventurer. Unable to find the switch, we will continue to dodge handfuls of sand and the occasional ant traveling along the floor...

Standard Issue Teddy Bear...

Legend as it, my Aunt, Uncle and Father were talking about "the problem with kids" and someone determined the problem to be the fact no one gets "standard issue Teddy Bears" anymore. Simple brown, soft bears, who don't talk, sing, dance, they just "are". So started my Aunt Eileen's (loving refered to as Chip by all her family...another story) quest of ensuring the children of the family start out on the right foot. A "Standard Issue Teddy Bear" is given to all the kids when they are born. I had one, my cousins all got one, and Eowyn recieved hers, as well. She loves that bear. She likes to drag it around, lay on it and give it great big "bear hugs" complete with a little growl of enthusiasm. Here is Eowyn, happily enjoying "StandardIssue", the Bear. Thank you Chip and Thank you Grammy Ouellette for the fabulous picture!

Showin' off for Uncle Kenny

Christopher's youngest brother, Kenny, came over for dinner tonight. Eowyn decided to take the opportunity to break her record of 4 steps in a row (which was achieved on the evening of the 20th), with a whopping 7! This is also the first time that she walked on her own, where the goal of her strides did not involve something we had told her she couldn't have. She was walking to Daddy tonight...aaawwwww.

And to the top...

Eowyn loves stairs! She doesn't take them slow either. If you are her finger support and she heads for the stairs, be ready. She is beatin' feet up those babies, and don't expect her to get both feet on one step at a time...one step = one foot, just like the "grown ups" do it. I'm sure that will change when she's flying solo, but right now she has many an adult taking the stairs!

Like mother, like Waterbaby

I love the water. If I'm stressed the best way for me to calm down is relaxing in the tub. In the summer, I love floating in the water in a nice big innertube. Eowyn seems to find the same solace and enjoyment in the lovely mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. She enjoys her baths, loves when Grammy W lets her play in the sink after a particularly messy meal, and recently had her first adventure in a lake. Here is the sweet baby girl enjoying her new floatie from Grammy O.

Summer Fun!

We went to our first BBQ with Eowyn. My cousin's son, Will, was baptised on Sunday, and we went to the "After Baptism BBQ". It was a great time and Ewoyn loved their lawn! She had the best time exploring, and I couldn't take my eyes off her, it was such a delightful sight. She picked up grass, leaves, rocks and the best part...nothing went to her mouth! She did a great job of exploring with her other senses, instead of her old standby. She also spent a good deal of time watching all the big kids play. You could see the wheels spinning. She wanted to be out there running around too. I'm sure she will be by the end of the summer. I took a ton of pictures and this is one of my favorites. It makes me smile, I hope it makes you smile too!

More elusive than the...

the black rail, a mythic red-eyed bird so rare and secretive, so deftly elusive in the fine grass of its meadow home, that few ornithologists had ever even seen it...

Eowyn Standing.

She has been standing for short periods of time, all by herself. It started last week sometime, I'm not sure which day, and she's done it several times since then. She gets all proud, but then realizes that she doesn't really know how to do this by herself, then sits down. It's very funny. Until today, I either didn't have my camera at all, or when I did she'd sit down before I could snap! Today however, Laurie, who helps me with my business, was playing with Eowyn during a short work break, had her standing and I had the camera!!

Here's the Sweet Baby Girl showing off, before going to the park with Daddy.

If you are interested in seeing pictures of the Black Rail, you can pick up a copy of William Burt's book on Amazon...for only $5.99 in hard back...any bird lovers out there?

7 Random things about Eowyn's Mom...

1) I didn't want to name the baby Eowyn, because I was afraid it was too weird...I'm glad we did it anyway.

2) I enjoy reading books written by Jodi Picoult and am currently reading 19 Minutes.

3) I love split pea soup!

4) My dog has approximately 103 nicknames, all given by me.

5) I like to sew clothes for my baby girl...but don't get enough time to.

6) I love soaking in the tub!

7) I miss my husband when he's not home.

I'm tagging my friend Ellen, even though she'll probably want to kill me!

EEk I've been tagged!

My cyber friend Kim "tagged" me...so now I must think of 7 random things about me and figure out someone to tag...

This is going to take a day or so to figure out, so check back this weekend!!

In the mean time you can check out the cool stuff that Kim sells on Etsy... She has helped Eowyn to be one of the best dressed babies of all time...especially at mealtime.

This little pinafore is one of her creations...Ewoyn looks adorable in it, and I have a matching bib coming...it's in the mail right now!!

Ready for bed...

Eowyn is a late night baby. She likes to stay up until about 10-10:30pm and then sleep until 9-10am. Since Christopher and I prefer that sleeping schedule too, often we are all up late at night doing stuff, and we occassionally lose track of the time. The other night we were reminded of the hour when Ewoyn brought her little dolly over to the dining room where I was typing, layed her head on it like a pillow, looked up at me and smiled. So off to bed she went. Well, tonight, at 10:30, she grabbed a towel that was on the couch wrapped it around her and layed on the floor. Christopher helped her up and off to bed she went...

Everything is to be explored!

Eowyn was too little to "play" outside the last time the weather was nice in New England, then snow came, cold, followed by rain, but finally the weather is nice and there is a whole world to be explored! Eowyn has been going to the park quite a bit and having lots of fun on the various climbing structures, but a couple days ago she was far more interested in the bark mulch covering the ground, then anything else. She took handfuls of the stuff, dropped it, grabbed again, laughing and smiling all the while. She did not try to eat it, which we were surprised about.

Then yesterday we went to visit our friends at a local campground, and my friend Laura and I walked Eowyn on the edge of the water, barefeet sinking into the sandy "quicksand" as we went. She loved it! She seemed very excited to have the water and sand between her toes. We walked the length of the small beach on the lake a couple times and on the third trip, Eowyn plunked down for a tactile "look" at what she had been walking in. We took off her outfit and let her go. She had the best time grabbing fists full of sand and watching it sneak out between her fingers into the water. Again, none in her mouth.

Finally, today, we went with a group of people from church for a picnic. Eowyn sat in the grass grabbing clumps and pulling. She would investigate her hand with the little blades of green sticking out in all directions. It was very funny. Oh, and yes mom, she had her sun hat on and sunscreen...she didn't even turn pink!

This is going to be a very fun summer! I'm looking forward to time with Christopher and Ewoyn, as we all discover the world around us for the first time, or all over again!

Climbing...

Eowyn and Christopher went to the park yesterday and I asked him to bring the camera. I'm so glad I did! He made a fabulous little video/slideshow of Ewoyn's adventures...

we are having technical difficulty with the video online, so here are a couple pics until we get it fixed...

I can't praise this enough!

Eowyn loves all music, and when she was a teeny baby we didn't worry about the lyrics, but when her favorite song became a catchy tune by Micheal Knott, about a woman and her alcohol struggles, we decided we need some kid music. Well, not as easy as you'd think, since most of it is quite painful to listen to...Enter Frances England and her fabulous CD, Fascinating Creatures!

I can't praise this enough. The songs are clever, catchy and FUN to listen to, for Ewoyn and the adults who join her! There is a song about a tricycle that mentions the Tour D' France, here is a link to a fun video using the song http://www.francesengland.com/video.htm , A fun little tune about Jazz Greats, "Charlie Parker". "Digging in the Dirt" explores gardening. A song about the worlds best breakfast food, "Blueberry Pancakes". For those who want to encourage reading with Children, you'll love "Books I like to Read"and my 3 favorite "Sometimes" which explores emotions, "Daddy-O" which is sung from the childs perspective, to their Daddy...so sweet...and "Paint a Picture" which Paints a touching word picture about family! Several other songs complete this CD that is a total must have for all children and their parents!


My little confession...I've listened to it when Eowyn is not in the car! Go ahead and get your copy now!

One hand only, please

Eowyn no longer desires two adult hands to assist her in walking. She only wants one! She's on her way to walking. She actually took a couple steps the other day, all by herself. It was an accident...the thing she was holding onto was further away from me then she thought it was so when she went to grab my leg she let go of her stable support and sort of did the jerky baby lunge, with legs in motion, thing, which qualified as 2 steps, on her own. She has been spotted standing alone for several seconds at a time, that may or may not have added up to 1/2 a minute.

She thinks she's pretty cool, and will often start talking to the dog as she's starting to move from one stable object to another. Maggie fains interest, but really just wants to be sure Eowyn is not going for anything that Maggie wants, like rocks, our shoes, her bone, though she has very little concern with Eowyn investigating her toys...Maggie is actually far more interested in Eowyn's toys then her own lately, and I think would rather trade, so sees "sharing with Eowyn" will acutally work in her favor.



Eowyn is talking to Maggie as she walks with Christopher...She's pretty proud of herself, as she carries her little lion (thank you Ellen). Maggie desires that Lion, too, by the way...

Like Father, Like Daughter...

Eowyn was very tired yesterday afternoon, and had avoided napping, depsite many offers for naps throughout the day. The sweet little girl was rubbing her eyes and looked ready to finally give in. Being naive parents we had a "brilliant" idea. We were going to go see Spiderman 3, I'd nurse Eowyn off to sleep when we got there, and we'd enjoy the film while holding a sweet sleeping baby. (you can stop laughing now...)

We got there and she nursed, as planned, closed her eyes, seemed to be fading off to sleep. Then she sat up, done nursing and started watching the movie! We spent the rest of the 2 1/2 hour film taking turns bouncing her, pacing in the back of the theater with her, and my nursing her. She was really good for a baby in a movie, that wasn't allowed to watch the screen because we didn't know if the "bad guys" would scare her.

When the scene took place in a Jazz Bar, Eowyn sang! When the fight scenes kicked in, she talked like she does when we are in busy stores or other places with lots of people. The two other couples that shared the theater with us, came over afterwards to meet Ewoyn, and tell her how good she was and how cute she is!

All worked out in the end, but we will be getting a baby sitter the next time we want to go to a movie!

The girl has rhythm!

Eowyn is a very musical child. I'm not claiming prodigy (yet) or anything, but she has wowed her dad and I quite a bit. She is certainly drawn to music, and most specifically bass... We have encouraged her enthusiasm by giving her a nice range of musical influences, some musical instruments and she and I recently started going to a music class, called "Music Together". It is an international program for kids and music. It's a great concept, and our specific instructor is excellent. We are having lots of fun! Eowyn's little friend, Carrigan, from mom's group, attends, as well.

Here are the two of them playing with stick to one of the songs. Eowyn was even keeping in rhythm for chunks at a time. Maybe my drum set won't collect dust it's whole life...

Her first Natural Disaster...

A "state of emergency" has been declared for our part of the state. Flooding, serious power outages, and the rain has started up again! While the rain took a break today, Eowyn, Grammy, Grampa and Mom all went for a walk up the road to check on the bridge. We doubt we'll be going anywere for a couple days. Here are some pics...

A flooded bridge up the street from our house.



Eowyn in front of that bridge.





My feet on the yellow line! With water past my ankles, in the shallow part. Further up the street, the water was mid-thigh, on a grown man, who was checking on his flooded house.

Blend it for Baby

I have started making Ewoyn's baby food! It's very fun really. I made Broccoli, Green Beans, Peas and a mix of the three in about 45 minutes, the other day. That was enough for, probably a couple weeks...I blended the veggies, put them in ice trays, let them set and popped them in freezer bags. It was great. I have a few recipes that I'm looking forward to trying next week after I pick up the organic ingredients. A citrus couscous that I think I may make extra of and serve with steak for christopher and I. The recipe came from this fabulous book:



The book doesn't just contain yummy recipes, it also has helpful information in regards to feeding your child, like what foods contain the best 'stuff' for babies, as well as, what not to serve them...like Honey. You should not serve honey to children under the age of 1 because it contains a bacteria that could be harmful to the young immune systems of infants...why have I never heard that? Dogs not eating chocolate, that's everywhere, but honey and babies...well, now you know.