Playing with Daddy:
Alexander likes it when Mark sprays him with the supersoaker.
Swimming with Mummy:
I got into the pool again to cool off before dinner, after Alexander had theoretically finished swimming. He decided he wanted to get back in the pool with me, and embarks on some non-floatie-assisted swimming.
Mark, Alexander and I watched the highlights of the Federer vs Kohlschreiber Wimbledon match together earlier in the day.
Kristen: Alexander had a pretend telephone conversation with Marc today.
K: It went something like this:
K: Hello Marcus! Yes. Play baseball. Mmm. In Japan! Yes. Farmer Alfalfa Book! Goodbye!
Katie: LOVE IT!
Kt: I miss that little boy
Kt: So cute, and glad he still remembers his uncle Marcus!
K: Yes. He remembers you both.
K: He was looking at your pictures today, and whenever we would point to you, he would say Auntie Katie! In Japan!
K: Also, there is a People magazine in your room that has Jennifer Aniston with a puppy on the front.
K: I pointed at the puppy and asked Alexander “What’s that?” and he said “Auntie Katie! Got a doggie!”
Kt: Love it. He is the best.
Kt: Glad it was Jennifer Aniston and not some heifer!
So, while the rest of the world talks about the sad passing of Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson and an erroneous story about the untimely death of Jeff Goldblum (who, as far as I can tell, is still alive and kicking), I’m going to talk about….What People Do All Day.
Alexander received this book as a Christmas gift from his Uncle Marcus. It was popular from the beginning, but until recently had always played second fiddle to Alexander’s favourite books about trucks and diggers. At some point in the past couple of weeks, Alexander has developed an obsession with “What Do People Do All Day?”. It’s what he wants us to read when he wakes up in the morning, it’s what he wants to read after breakfast and before nap and when he wakes up from his nap and before he goes to bed at night. Alexander refers to this book as the “Farmer Alfalfa Book”, presumably because it contains a short story about an anthropomorphic goat (ram?) called Farmer Alfalfa, who grows corn in his field and then takes it to Grocer Cat and sells it and then buys a new tractor for himself and a few things for his family with the money he earns. Why that specific character from that specific story is the one that sticks out in Alexander’s memory, I have no idea.
Anyway.
When I left to walk Rosie this morning, Alexander was sitting on the sofa with Mark, reading the Farmer Alfalfa book. By the time I came home, Mark was getting dressed for work, and Alexander was playing with some toys in the living room. When I came back through the front door after the walk, Alexander ran towards me and greeted me enthusiastically. “Hi! Mummy!” He hugged my knee and looked up at me all big eyed and smiley. “Hi Alexander. How are you?” I replied. “Fine Mummy! Come on! Read Farmer Alfalfa!” See? He’s getting tricky!
The thing is, Mark and I are fast growing tired of the Farmer Alfalfa book, but Alexander will not permit any other reading material to be presented to him at this point in time – not even books about Trucks or Diggers or Very Hungry Caterpillars or Pigs who like Pancakes or Pokey Little Puppies or Little Engines That Could. He also will not sit and “read” the Farmer Alfalfa book alone. We actually do have other Richard Scarry books back at our house, but we didn’t bring them with us during our current Remodel Relocation to Katie and Marc’s house.
So today, in an effort to save my own sanity and that of my husband, I ordered Alexander 3 new (well, new to him) Richard Scarry books – Bedtime Stories, Cars and Trucks and Things That Go and The Great Pie Robbery and Other Mysteries. I hope the postie hurries up and delivers them soon, and I hope they do the trick of introducing some new reading material into the rotation!
Bump Watch 2.0
Originally uploaded by krisalis.
Week 17.
Here’s the link to week 17 pic from Bump 1.0 for comparison. The belly is definitely bigger this time around!
I sing daft songs to Alexander all the time as we do everyday things.
When we wash his hands, I sing a made-up song to the tune of “Row Row Row Your Boat” that goes something like this:
Wash, wash, wash your hands
Wash your hands today!
This is the way we wash your hands
When you’ve been out to play!
When it’s time for his bath, and I need to take his clothes off, I sing “Hands Up” as I pull his t-shirt off over his head.
When he’s got a dirty nappy, I often sing a made up song to a tune I learned as a kid. It goes something like this:
It’s time to change your nappy,
And make your bottom happy,
We’ll make it dry,
So you don’t cry.
I sing all these (and more) without even really thinking about them, much in the same way as I sing daft songs to the dog on a regular basis, just for the pleasure of watching her wag in appreciation. (I swear! She likes it when I sing to her!). I never really considered that Alexander was actually listening to me.
So imagine my surprise yesterday evening after I finished changing his nappy, when Alexander stood up and said “Thank you Mummy! Make a bottom happy!”
What is your current obsession?
Finding a stainless steel look (not actual stainless steel, because that is smudgy) counter depth, french door refrigerator with ice and water on the inside. As far as I can tell, this product unfortunately does not exist.
What are you wearing today?
I was wearing a knee length black and white patterned dress with shiny grey ballet flats, but now I’m wearing my pj’s.
What’s for dinner?
I made grilled fish with steamed broccoli and pan fried polenta.
What did you eat for your last meal?
Uh, see above.
What’s the last thing you bought?
Lunch at Clay Pit.
What are you listening to right now?
Pushing Daisies on the telly.
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I’d take Alexander to visit my Nan. She lives in England and we haven’t seen her in ages.
Which language do you want to learn?
Spanish would pretty handy. But I’d love to understand and speak Chinese. It would be awesome to be able to eavesdrop in a language that no one expects me to know. Heh.
What do you love most about where you currently live?
We’re living at my sister’s house while our home is undergoing some renovations. I love her giant comfy bed. Love it. I may have to get one just like it when we move back to our house. Seriously, it’s that good.
What is your favorite colour?
Meh. I like purple. Not sure if it’s my favourite forever and ever though. I wouldn’t, like, marry it or anything.
What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My new “Alice in Wonderland” deep blue silky dress. It’s so pretty!
What were you doing ten years ago?
June of 1999 – I was living in Singapore. I took my first trip to Australia and visited Melbourne, drove to Canberra and met Mark’s family for the first time, went to Sydney for a few days and then had a lovely week’s vacation on Dunk Island with my family.
Describe your personal style?
Classic, comfortable, unfussy.
If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
Date night with husband-man and a babysitter for the boy. Or maybe Sims 3.
What are you going to do after this?
Brush my teeth and go to bed 
What are your favorite films?
Meh. I like lots of movies, but I’m not a “favourite film” kind of person. I like “Parenthood” a lot, I guess. It’s funny.
What inspires you?
My family. All of them.
Your favourite books?
Again with the favourites! I like lots of books. Books are awesome.
Do you collect anything?
Dust bunnies under my bed? Other than that, no, not really.
What makes you follow a blog?
I follow a lot of people that I know in real life, or people that make me feel like I know them through their writing and pictures. There needs to be a connection.
What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?
Play hide and seek with Alexander. He ‘counts’ and then runs all over the house shouting “Mummy!” and looking for me, then laughs hysterically each time he finds me. Rosie gets all excited and waggy and snuffly too. It’s an instant mood boost to be around that much joy.
What’s one thing you dream of doing?
Ruling the world. Ok, maybe not the world. How about ruling a company?
Lifted from Kris. Take it from me if you want to . Or not. I’m not tagging anyone.
With Baby #2 on the way, we started thinking about where the baby’s room would be, and decided we wanted to turn what is our current home office into a bedroom for baby.
So then the home office would move into what is currently the “formal living room”, which is currently in use as a playroom full of assorted toys for Alexander. But then if we wanted to put up doors to close off the office and move a wall, we’d need to tear up the tile floor. And if we were going to tear up the floor in that room, then perhaps this would be a good opportunity to get rid of the ugly brown tile that runs throughout the family room and kitchen. And, hey, if we’re looking at doing all that…..well, heck, let’s tackle the kitchen and do this thing.
So, here we are, living up at Katie’s house, all our stuff stashed in boxes and crammed into the bedrooms we won’t be working on.
Demolition starts tomorrow.
We must be mad.
Happy renovating!
