Snow, snow, and (maybe) more snow
We are bracing ourselves for more snow this weekend, although so far the snow that has fallen hasn't even stuck to the grass. Since Baba was given the day off today due to the anticipated storm, we went to the library to stock up. Louis kept looking for something to do to help in the kitchen, so finally I had him transfer our box of oranges into another box--a task he was happy to complete. He loves to work, and I try to think of ways a 2-year-old can feel he is participating.
Yesterday Louis and I drove 1 1/2 hours to visit John's parents and 1 1/2 hours home. Louis had a wonderful time at their house, admiring Poppy's (and John's) trains and playing with some of the toys they had on hand. He did as well as can be expected for a child who is strapped into a car seat for that length of time. Luckily tasks such as removing his socks and shoes and strewing Cheerios on the car floor fill some of the time, and we bring books along. Mostly, though, he likes me to talk and sing "The Wheels on the Bus," especially the "shh-shh-shh" part, and he enjoys making guttural throat noises (and having Mama do the same) and yelling "In de ba!" back and forth over and over. We also point out cars and trucks and anything yellow. Sometimes he falls asleep, and that works well, especially if it's nap time and he stays asleep when we get to the crib.
Last night Louis and I stopped at the grocery store, the worst decision I have made since bringing Louis home. Lately I think I have become too confident in my abilities to take Louis places, and I should have realized when there were no grocery carts to be had that I couldn't possibly contain my energetic toddler in a store full of the half million people buying milk, bread, and toilet paper (and Super Bowl party goods) before the storm. Louis was great about walking and loading our hand basket with items for me, but it got to be too much when we had to wait in two lines. The highlights were meeting an incredibly nice woman who let us get in front of her in line and being able to tell John just to come home when he called this morning from the store and said he had waited 45 minutes in line for his prescription and did he really have to get the groceries.
Here are a few photos from our snow earlier this week. We don't have a sled, but I think a laundry basket is safer for Louis at this point anyway. At first Louis couldn't figure out what I was up to, but when Baba got involved in the sledding, he thought it was terrific fun. And it was.
Going to the library with Baba
Stacking oranges
In my defense, it wasn't very cold after the snow fell, but Louis was wearing a hat and gloves until he shed them right before the last (and most fun) sledding spree.
Here Louis is talking into his Elmo phone (a gift from his Elmo-loving cousin Mary) as we drive through town. We love how he talks on the phone, giving hand gestures, and pausing to listen to the person on the other end. I wish I could have captured him saying "hello" and "bye-bye," but he didn't waste time on such courtesies in this call, which was clearly important.
Yesterday Louis and I drove 1 1/2 hours to visit John's parents and 1 1/2 hours home. Louis had a wonderful time at their house, admiring Poppy's (and John's) trains and playing with some of the toys they had on hand. He did as well as can be expected for a child who is strapped into a car seat for that length of time. Luckily tasks such as removing his socks and shoes and strewing Cheerios on the car floor fill some of the time, and we bring books along. Mostly, though, he likes me to talk and sing "The Wheels on the Bus," especially the "shh-shh-shh" part, and he enjoys making guttural throat noises (and having Mama do the same) and yelling "In de ba!" back and forth over and over. We also point out cars and trucks and anything yellow. Sometimes he falls asleep, and that works well, especially if it's nap time and he stays asleep when we get to the crib.
Last night Louis and I stopped at the grocery store, the worst decision I have made since bringing Louis home. Lately I think I have become too confident in my abilities to take Louis places, and I should have realized when there were no grocery carts to be had that I couldn't possibly contain my energetic toddler in a store full of the half million people buying milk, bread, and toilet paper (and Super Bowl party goods) before the storm. Louis was great about walking and loading our hand basket with items for me, but it got to be too much when we had to wait in two lines. The highlights were meeting an incredibly nice woman who let us get in front of her in line and being able to tell John just to come home when he called this morning from the store and said he had waited 45 minutes in line for his prescription and did he really have to get the groceries.
Here are a few photos from our snow earlier this week. We don't have a sled, but I think a laundry basket is safer for Louis at this point anyway. At first Louis couldn't figure out what I was up to, but when Baba got involved in the sledding, he thought it was terrific fun. And it was.
Going to the library with Baba
Stacking oranges
Here Louis is talking into his Elmo phone (a gift from his Elmo-loving cousin Mary) as we drive through town. We love how he talks on the phone, giving hand gestures, and pausing to listen to the person on the other end. I wish I could have captured him saying "hello" and "bye-bye," but he didn't waste time on such courtesies in this call, which was clearly important.
Okay, that was clearly not Chinese! The Chinese don't say "um," they say "ar," and did I catch a "doing?" in there? Too cute!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I think too! I keep telling John that he is definitely speaking in English. At one point today he said something that sounded like "Is this fun or what?" repeating one of us. I really think he's losing his Chinese, which is sad, but he is definitely gaining some English!
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