Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Night Chirper

You may recall that last month Jim and I were suffered from a rare form on insanity brought on by a crazy loud, annoying night chirp.  We did a lot of google searching and couldn't really come up with an exact species but there seemed to be a large population of people with complaints regarding crazy night chirping birds. In was really starting to disrupt our sleep (which is saying a lot since we sleep half the night with a rolling toddler punching us in the head), so the night following my post about it Jim decided to go on a hunt and capture mission.  I don't really know what his plan was in regards to catching a bird but the guy has no fear with that kind of stuff and was on a mission.


Yes you heard it right.  It was not a bird, it was a little tiny frog.  I don't think the video does it justice but the thing was so darn loud.  You could hear it all over our neighborhood.  Side Note: The reference to the beaver trapping expedition is a story for another day.  Pretty darn funny but possibly only to Jim and I.  Anyways....


We put some wet grass in the container and stuck it under the porch light for the night, since light seemed to stop the annoying noise.  After a bit of debate, the next day we dropped him off behind a gas station.  It's a pretty nice area with a little pond area, ducks, and other wildlife.  Plus it's far away from residential areas. Jim asked a few neighbors if they had noticed the sound (of course they had!) and relayed his heroic story.  He is the neighborhood superstar now. 

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Riesling

I'm constantly amazed by how many new things Riesling is picking up on a daily....even hourly basis.  Her cognitive and language development is exploding right now. Her brain must be working triple overtime.  Just today she pointed out and said "bus" in the grocery store parking lot; she used multiple syllables with a double "B" sound in an attempt to say "blueberries" and yesterday she had me on a search for the "clock"....which I had no idea she could say or where she picked it up since we only have one clock in the whole house and it's in the guest bedroom where we never really go.  She now walks along the clothesline and points to each item and identifies it as Mama's or Dada's, using a plural sound and says a few two word combos like "Bye Bye Dada/Mama" or "My Dada."

We've have continued to use some simple sign language with her as well and she is definitely using it more on her own and we try to incorporate new signs for words/concepts we are struggling with.  She is really good at comprehending instruction or direction but doesn't always like what is being suggested.  We are really working hard on trying to get her to use words or signs instead or screams or cries.  We try to get her to start with "Mama/Dada" and follow with a word or sign such as "help, up, water."  Depending on her mood she can do really well with this.  We had a rough couple of weeks recently, I think mainly due to getting in her molars, and I noticed a lot more whining and crying than usual.  She seems to be getting back to her old self though.  That being said, her old self is pretty darn independent.  This girl knows what she wants, wants to do it herself, and is not happy when the situation calls for otherwise. She loves to explore, which I encourage but there has to be an understanding of danger and boundaries.  Such a hard concept to

She has also started with some imaginary play which is so darn cute.  She rocks her baby or Minnie Mouse doll and wraps them up in blankets.  She wants Bear to come to breakfast and tries to feed him and give him some water.  She loves putting slippers on Puppy and making him dance.  It's freakin' adorable.  As is this cute little face.  Run Riesling, Run.







Monday, June 3, 2013

Letters from Riesling

Dear Friends & Family,

I am so behind in my writing.  I have just been so busy with my perfecting my motor and verbal skills, I have completed neglected my other areas of study.  I know it's important and it's not a good excuse for not writing, but man oh man have I been having some fun.  I love running, jumping, climbing, and leaping all day long.  I don't even care how hot it is outside.  A couple of days it was really hot and I got to play in the hose.  Summer is going to be so much fun.  

I've also been learning to say a lot of new words as well as some sign language.  I love to say, "Mama Up. Up. Up" and in the morning I say, "Bye bye Dada" when he leaves for work.  I love Mama & Dada!

Love always, 
Riesling