Environmental Print

When Mommy was studying education (that's a funny concept) in college, one of the buzz phrases she heard over and over was "environmental print".  Environmental print is the print that we see all around us in everyday life, and it's usually the first print a child recognizes.  Stop signs, the Disney logo, and McDonald's golden arches are all examples of environmental print.

Environmental print can play a big role in a kindergarten classroom, because it helps kiddos who haven't had much literary exposure realize that they already know how to "read" some words.

Evidently, it can also play a big role in the life of this toddler.

It gives me the confidence I need to read the weekly circulars.

 

Helps me understand how to properly install my convertible carseat.

And enables me to read my most favorite word of all.

(Seriously. I can already "read" that word.)

Mommy and Daddy are not, however, looking forward to the day I can read this piece of environmental print:

A Few of My Favorite Things: Hairstyle Edition

Yesterday, I overheard Mommy saying that it might be time for me to get my first ever haircut.

I'm really not sure what to think about that idea. I mean, I realize that it is getting a little long in the back...but I'm really worried that a cut will hinder all of the trendy hairstyles I have recently pulled off.

I'm most worried about the fate of the emo,

the Dwight Schrute do,

and the female fauxhawk.

On the other hand, maybe a cut won't curb my creativity.  It appears that my hair is capable of all kinds of craziness...no matter what the length.

Sunday Best: Mother's Day Edition

Happy belated Mother's Day to all you mommies out there!  I hope your whole weekend was as great as my Mommy's. 

As you can see from the redness around my eyes and nose, I have been bit by the allergy bug (again).  My nonstop runny nose meant that I spent the Mother's Day service in the sanctuary with Mommy instead of in the nursery.  She was so proud of me, too.  I made it through the first hour of service (with a tiny break at about the 30 minute mark) before Mommy and I had to relocate to the cry room.

After service, it was family picture time!

Can you tell that I was really loving my thumb yesterday?

This is one of Mommy's favorite pictures of the day.  It was the first time Leila, Karsyn, and I were all together.  You can be sure it won't be the last, though.  According to Mommy, these babies are destined to be by best girlfriends...either by choice or by force.

When we were finished with our post-service photo shoot, all of my family headed back to my house for some yummy Asian Beef Skewers.  This dish has really become Daddy's specialty.  Here we have Grampa, Daddy, and Auntie hard at work.

We also enjoyed looking at the photo albums Gramma is working on of my cousin (Micah) and me.

And, for the sake of comparison, here is a shot of Mommy and me from last Mother's Day.  I've got a few more hairs on my head nowadays!

The BABIES Are Here!

Have you seen the trailer for the BABIES movie that hits theaters this weekend?  I have...and I love it!  In fact, I've watched it several times in the last two weeks.  As soon as the video is over, I look at Mommy and sign "more".

Last night, Mommy saw an early screening of BABIES with Kelly, Michele, and Tara. Since all four of these mommas have had a baby within the last 15 months, Mommy was sure they would be able to identify with the images in this film. While this assumption was mostly correct, there were also plenty of images that they could not identify with.  It was certainly a lesson in how culture shapes parenting!

In fact, these are the three biggest lessons Mommy learned from watching BABIES:

 All over the world, babies are mostly the same.

Mommies are not.

Playing in the dirt will not kill me.

Does Mommy think you should see BABIES in the theater?  Yes.  Especially if you are now (or ever plan to be) a mommy yourself.

How I Got My Name

Mommy and Daddy think one of the earliest challenges faced by parents is picking a name for the new life they have created.  Apparently, choosing one name that will follow this human being throughout infancy, childhood, the teen years, and adulthood can be quite daunting.

They did have it easy when it came to the middle name, though. Elizabeth is Mommy's middle name, and they really wanted to pass that down.

Here are the criteria Mommy and Daddy agreed on for my first name:

Must have a strong meaning.

Be nicknameable.

Contain more than one syllable.

Not send Mommy into a teacher coma by reminding her of any of the behaviorally challenged students she was priveleged to teach.

When Mommy was 5 or 6 months pregnant, the list of possible first names had been narrowed down to:

Hannah was the first to be crossed off the list.  Mommy had a Hannah in her classroom last year, and she didn't want any of her other students/parents to be offended by that name choice.  There was also already a Hannah in Mommy and Daddy's social circle, so it made since to go with one of the other names.

Mommy and Daddy were having a really tough time choosing between Abigail and Katelyn.  They were both asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom to know which name was the right name for the little baby they were about to have. 

  Then, one Sunday morning, our Pastor asked a member of our congregation to share about how God had recently brought her family through an especially difficult time.  Almost exactly one year before I was due, her son and daughter-in-law (who also attend our church) lost the twin babies they were expecting.  When she said the babies were named Ethan and Abigail, Mommy and Daddy looked at each other and whispered, "We can't name her Abigail."  They didn't want their joy to cause this family any more pain.

  So, that's how it was made clear to Mommy and Daddy that I was to be named

And now, they can't imagine their lives without their little Katie Bug.

It really is the perfect name for me!

Happy Monthday to Me!

As of yesterday, I am 15 months old! Can you believe it? I know Mommy and Daddy can't.

Here are some things you should know about me at 15 months:

I am still an outdoor girl! I find it especially enjoyable to watch Daddy do yardwork, play in the dirt, and observe birds.

The most recent additions to my spoken vocabulary are iPod, apple, eggs, "shs" (shoes), and "chs" (cheese). I have also finally figured out how to make a kitty sound (neow).

I haven't asked Mommy to nurse in a week or two!

I know where my head, nose, mouth, boobies, belly, and toes are.  (Auntie taught me the boobies one.)

I enjoy turning my toys into accessories. If Mommy asks, "Do you want your bracelets?" I hold out my wrists for these guys.

Mommy just recently switched me from Pampers diapers to Luvs. I was, unfortunately, one of the many babies who had a sensitivity to the new Dry Max technology Pampers put in their diapers. Suprisingly, though, the Luvs diapers are working out fabulously!

Daddy is my hero. I get so excited every afternoon when the garage door announces his return. As soon as that motor starts running, I reverently whisper the name "Dada".

My favorite song is "The B-i-b-l-e". Most of the time, I join the singer in singing "Biiiiible" at the end.

I am really good at making this face.

If you catch me throwing this look in your direction, though, don't take it personally. It just means I want you to make the same face back at me.

I do not like to be moved or otherwise interrupted from an activity I find particularly engaging. I will probably let you know as much if you are the one who interrupts me.

I have yet to meet a dog I don't like.

I think it is so much fun to spin in circles. And tell my puppies "no". And go in my room all by myself.

I also like to close my bedroom door. It's gonna be a while until I can open it back up, though.

Just for old time's sake, here's a pic of me one year ago.  What a difference a year makes, huh?

(Yup, Mommy typed the wrong date.)

Test Drive

Last week, Mommy and I made our monthly diaper-restocking trek to Babies R Us.  Mommy always looks forward to this trip because she loves checking out all the new baby gear, clothes, and toys. 

Since I was in a particulary good mood, we got a little adventurous and tried out a few higher end strollers.  If I were to draw an analogy between strollers options and car options, these guys would probably be paired up with Acura/Infiniti/Whatever-Other-Manufacturer-Fits-Here.  In other words, these are some quality (pricey) strollers...but there are even better quality (pricier) choices out there.

Mommy and I didn't spend a whole lot of time trying out any of these strollers (since we had no intention of buying one), but we did manage to gather enough data to pull together this rudimentary report card.

*

Maxi-Cosi Foray stroller in Coco Mint: A

This was the favorite of both Mommy and me.  The ride was extremely smooth, one-handed steering was a cinch, and adjusting the 3-position recline was super easy.  Having only one wheel at the front end made it really easy to turn tight corners, too.  We also like that the seat can face in or out.

Here are the two reasons we didn't give this stroller a higher grade:

  Mommy and I are both big fans of this color combo...at this moment in time.  It's a really trendy pairing, so we're thinking it will look quite dated in a few years.  If we were to shell out $350 for this stroller, we would be going with the more classic gray/black combo.

The storage basket was also teeny, tiny.  That wouldn't be a problem, though, if Mommy had a diaper bag with stroller straps.

 

Joovy Kooper stroller in Appletree: B+

This stroller was a bit lighter than the Maxi-Cosi, which (according to Mommy) is a big plus when you're hauling it in and out of your trunk space.  Fair skinned tots will also rejoice over the massive sun canopy.  We thought the reflective strips on the shoulder straps were a nice touch for families who spend a lot of time in urban areas.

We didn't give this stroller an A because the ride, while still fairly smooth, could have been a whole lot better.

It also had a small storage basket.

Quinny Zapp 4 stroller in Black: B

Mommy and I were suprised to find that we were a bit disappointed in this stroller.  We really wanted to like it more than we did.  It definitely had the roughest ride, shortest canopy, and teeniest storage basket of the 3 strollers we tried.

On the other hand, at only 18 pounds, it was also the lightest.

*

Even though the Quinny and Joovy only made B honor roll, they are still wonderful strollers!  We certainly won't be turning our noses up at them any time soon...especially since the stroller we own is at least one step lower in the stroller hierarchy.