Conversations with Linus

I've only hinted at it here, I think, but a source of anxiety for me has been HOW LONG it's taken Linus to start "talking" and smiling. (He'll be three months on Thursday!!) Well, I'm glad to be able to say that he's talking up a storm these days and the smiles are getting more and more plentiful, as well. I caught him on video this evening, while the girls were in the bath--a rare just Mommy and Linus moment. He warms my heart.

You Know You Have Major Plumbing Problems When...

...one of Amelie's new favorite games is played by calling Roto Rooter on her new toy cell phone.
Recap from last week--
Front yard?
Dug up.
Main drain for the house?
Replaced.
Saving account?
Cut in half.

Update from this week--
Toilet running slow again. Therefore, Roto Rooter is on the way. I'll let you know how it goes.

New Addiction

So, why haven't I blogged recently, you wonder? I've got one word for you--

Facebook!!

If you're on and we're not friends yet, invite me!! And if your not on and you decide to try it--BEWARE!!

I'll soon post about three children sleeping in the same room and how I feel like I'm in a dormitory when I go in to check on them. I'll also soon post about Duncan's and my anniversary getaway to Georgetown after it happens. Hey, wait. Isn't their anniversary in June, you wonder? Yes it is, and this is the third year in a row that we've celebrated our anniversary in the fall. I'm beginning to think we should have gotten married in the fall. Maybe, if Duncan hadn't have broken up with me thirteen days before he proposed, and then if I hadn't have taken a teaching job in Maryland during those thirteen days, we wouldn't have had to wait an ENTIRE YEAR to get married after our engagement. I guess we'll never know...
[I'm really over this, by the way. It's just a fun story that I use to tease my husband.]

[UPDATE: These pictures were taken in August 2004. Duncan is holding a six-month old Amelie and they are standing with Grandfather Salada in his home in Cadyville, NY.]

Last Monday, Duncan's grandfather, Maurice Victory Salada, passed away. Today would have been his 89th birthday. For the story behind his name, click here. He is Linus' namesake. Here's the text from his obituary:

Maurice Victory Salada Maurice Victory Salada, 88, a resident of the DuBois Nursing Home, formerly of Cadyville, N.Y., died Monday in DuBois. Born Nov. 11, 1918, in DuBois, he was the son of the late Isaac J. and Florence Gray Salada. He was a veteran, having served as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Force and the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was a bomber pilot during World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He was Deputy Commander of the 306 Bombardment Group and the Commander of the 368 Bombardment Squadron, both in 1944. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Lock Haven State Teacher's College and a master of public administration degree from Columbia University. He served as the principal at Saranac Central School in Saranac, N.Y. from 1957-1980, before retiring. He is survived by two sons, Maurice R. Salada of Solon, Ohio, and Michael C. Salada of Galesburg, Mich.; one daughter, Desiree E. Salada of Ottawa, Canada; one brother, W. Thomas Salada of DuBois; one sister, Sara Belle Salsgiver of DuBois; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ruben Salada and Isaac Salada; and three sisters: Elizabeth Woomer, Joanne Jackson and Anzilla Salada. - - - SALADA: Maurice Victory, DuBois Nursing Home, died Nov. 5, 2007. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Goble-Baronick Funeral Home in DuBois. A Ritual Service by members of the DuBois Area Honor Guard will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Ron Lindahl officiating. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the DuBois Area Honor Guard. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

©Courier-Express/Tri-County 2007

He was a delightful man and he will be missed by many. I'm thankful to have known him.

FreeRice.com

Improve your vocabulary and feed the hungry all at the same time by clicking here. This is definitely one of the more virtuous ways to while away time on the internet, I should say. This morning, I earned 500 grains of rice and got up to level 41.[Make that 1100 grains of rice. Good luck NOT getting addicted to this site!!] How did you do?

I love these silly things...

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

What Holiday Food Are You?

Little Brother

Here's Linus, one day shy of 10 weeks. He's laying on the quilt he got for being in the NICU. Some middle school students made it as a service project. It really looks like they made it (and not their moms). It's very sweet and the perfect size for a play mat.
The last few days, Linus has started to "talk" to us and seems to be close to smiling. His corrected age is six weeks tomorrow, so it makes sense, since thats when talking and smiling usually starts in infants. (Can you tell I've been just a tad anxious about this?)


UPDATE: We just got back from Linus' two month well visit. He weighs 11lbs. 4.5 oz. (50th percentile) and is 23" (75th percentile). He might be "losing" the weight race with Rock (much to Duncan's dismay), but he's gaining at an appropriate rate. This mama is very pleased with his progress!!

Balleting

One of our favorite right-before-Daddy-gets-home activities is to put on some music and some ballerina dress up clothes and to "ballet" as Amelie calls dancing. Amelie is showing off some of her most expressive moves and finishes off with some super cheese.

Violet Coloring

One of my both-of-them-can-do-this activities has been to cover the kitchen table with big paper and let the girls go to town with whatever coloring/writing implement they desire. As Violet progresses in her artwork, she gets further and further on the table, to the point of laying on it to get to that spot she hasn't colored yet. This artwork doubles as a tablecloth, by the way.

Sharing a Stool

When Amelie stands on this stool to eat a snack or the occasional meal, she says she's at her desk. Recently, she and Violet have taken to sharing the stool.

Slow Motion Speaking

Violet started saying Amelie's name full out (not just Am-ie) about two weeks ago when she had the croup. She says it so slow and deliberately, like she's speaking in slow motion. She also recently started saying her own name. She ordinarily has a deep voice, but her getting-over-the-croup voice is extra deep. This mama thinks she's too cute. I'm also trying to get her to say her word for goldfish (blub blub) but she wouldn't cooperate on that one. Maybe next time.

Halloween

Our Ariel and ballerina--

What ballerina DOESN'T suck her thumb?
The Beautiful Little Mermaid--
a little pumpkin too--
(Please disregard the pink swing cover...poor guy. Such is the life with two older sisters.)
Can you see my spider jack-o-lantern?