Grandma Lucy

The same day as the "C'mon, people" incident, mom had taken Amara to Mt. Carmel East, to visit her friend Jeanette. They had been in the cafeteria, eating lunch...

Walking down the hall on the way out of the hospital--Amara says "Lucy."

Mom turned around and saw a lady--who, believe it or not, resembled Grandma Lucy. Through their tears, Jeanette and mom explained to Amara that Grandma Lucy was with Jesus and that the pretty lady wasn't her--something I was glad for, because as much as Grandma loved Amara, I would never want Amara to think Grandma Lucy was ignoring her--something she never did.

Amara was just over 11 months when Grandma Lucy passed last year. We talk about her often, and we have photos around--one in particular of Lucy holding Amara at around 4 months old--that is in her family photo book...but she hasn't seen or been around Lucy in almost 10 months.

I wondered if Amara would remember Lucy from all the photos, video, songs, etc. that we were lucky enough to have with her--but that moment, that one tiny moment, makes me realize the impact Grandma had on that tiny little girl--and all of us.

Looking through photos, these have to be some of the last we got together of them. The one in the sweatshirt was at one of Amara's swim classes in April--where clearly Granny was cheering Amara on as if she was going for the gold medal...and the others, (although not so flattering of Amara) were just after Easter at mom and dads, in mid-April. I would bet money that there--like always, she was singing "Here we go round the Mulberry bush" as she did a thousand times with all of us.

I was so amazingly lucky to have my Granny here with me until I was almost 34 years old. I enjoyed her so much, and miss her terribly. I know Amara had fun with her while she was here, and I don't think has the capacity to truly miss her--but maybe Amara reaching out to that lady in the hospital, was somehow Granny's way of reaching out to Amara--to let her know she's there for her, like we all know she is.

C'mon People!

In the category of "things Amara is picking up" from her caregivers...I heard a new one this week.

Mom was sick--so Eric and I got to stay home with her. I was home Monday and Wednesday--so I got to take her to gym class, and I decided to hit the library too!

We had a great time, and she enjoyed the G.C. library (as well as getting her own library card to check out one of her new favorite books "Please, baby please!")...but the real gem of the day was on the way home.

I'm driving up 62, and it's just after school had let out--so there's a fair amount of traffic. I'm pulling up to a light, and I hear this little voice say "C'mon people!" in kind of a bewildered tone...

I looked up to the rear view mirror--mouth open wide, to see this smiling face looking back at me. She said it 2 or 3 more times before I couldn't help it and just cracked up. I said "what did you say?" and then SHE started laughing and giggling, and putting her hand over her mouth as she snickered (also a new development).

I immediately had to make a phone call. I knew this, right away, to be the work of my mother. I can't TELL you how many times I've been on the phone with her (with Amara in the car) that I hear mom say "c'mon people..." so it was just a matter of time before she picked up on it--like anything else toddlers hear over, and over, and OVER again.

I asked mom if she had ANY IDEA where Amara might have picked this phrase up?

(I mentioned mom was sick...) but she laughed (HARD) and said "I really needed a laugh today..." and that was the end of it.

Two days later, I'm at work and I get a phone call, from mom--Amara in the car...saying "I just heard it! I had said "c'mon people at some old lady who couldn't drive and Amara said it right back at me!" She was laughing so hard she almost couldn't talk--but did get out "at least I don't swear!" I guess she's right :)

Well--there you go. Don't say anything around this one, you don't want repeated back!

Ummm...

We've officially crossed over into the realm of "game playing..." as far as I'm concerned. Playing "getchu" (as in "I'm going to get you") is a multiple-times-a-day event, usually with Daddy.

The latest addition to this game is the "Ummmm" element. As Eric is walking around the room "looking for Amara..." he would often say "Umm...is she outside? under the table, etc."

After Eric catches her, we started noticing that if Eric didn't "start" trying to find her soon enough, she would start saying "umm..." on her own, as in "get to it dad! I'm hiding here!"--as if to coach Eric as to how to play the game.

He and I just looked at each other in astonishment, that she had picked up on this tiny detail that he and I never really paid much attention to.

Now, whenever they are "hiding," or playing various games--and there is a lull, you will often hear Amara start in with the "ummmm" portion of the moment. It's evident now more than ever that she REALLY hears, and interprets what you're saying and doing, every second of day.

EARMUFFS!

Daddy's hat

We kind of have a hat "thing" in our family. We really always have, and it has just grown since Amara.

I think Eric and I each have given a full trash bag of hats to Goodwill over the last 2 years, and now Amara seems to be following in our footsteps--she LOVES them!

Here, she snagged Daddy's right after he got home one day.

She was still under the weather from her cold and not feeling her best (still in her jammies) but this made her perk up a little and smile, even if just for a few seconds.

Heather & Ali's visit

We were SO happy and lucky to have Heather and Ali visit us a couple weeks ago!

They came into C-bus to do some visiting, then head back up north to visit a LOT of family up there too. They came in on Saturday afternoon, and back to our place--immediately, Amara was in Ali's face trying to figure her out, touch her, etc. (she's not really around babies much) but then just as quickly, was content to try and sit in her carseat, etc. and more interested in Ali's "stuff."

I could tell Amara liked Ali--because in addition to her yelling "Ali, ali, ali!" anytime I mentioned her name--she was sharing her toys, and even tried to give Ali a cheez-it (clearly I stopped her, but you get the point!)

I like the picture of Ali "looking up" at Amara--like they are really sharing in the singing animal moment.

Ali was trying to crawl and I "think" catch Amara--but I think she was most interested in the singing dog, bear, and gorilla's she received for Valentine's Day.

We had a little sip-n-see for Ali and some friends and family at our place on Valentine's Day, so both girls enjoyed the balloons and decorations too--in fact, we STILL have them! Those mylars last forever!

They are hoping to come back in the summer--the girls will be SO different then! We'd love to get out to Scottsdale to visit too--we'll have to see :)

Suncatchers

On the weekends, Eric and I like to do those things we don't get to do during the week together--trips, classes, crafts--that kind of thing.

We stumbled across our package of suncatchers today (that we started last month and I think got put away with Christmas stuff) and decided to work on a few more.

It's amazing to me, in a short month's time, how much more hand control to squeeze, aim, etc. Amara has in drawing, painting, etc. and if I didn't know better--I'd say she was actually ENJOYING making the little bugs!

She seems like she is REALLY paying attention to detail and is obsessed with the caps and pens and different markers, crayons, etc. Though she still has a short attention span (Gemini), I have a feeling she has an artistic eye :)

Eating snow

Well, it's not really snow-cream (which, frankly--I'm o.k. with) but she likes it!

What better to do on a lazy Sunday morning than to eat snow, right?

I'm not even sure HOW it got started to eat the snow--but now she brings us a bowl and says ice, and we eat it with a spoon--now, mind you, she does enjoy a bowl of crushed ice from the fridge now and then too, so I guess it's not a stretch :)

It's not like she does it all the time, and I think it's pretty funny actually. It's practice for her eating with a spoon on her own, and she's getting really good at it too! Not to mention--she is ALL about the sharing!

Cracks me up.