On the days when I feel that Solanne is going to be a little more trying than usual, I do this to her. It's pretty hard to get mad at an anime character.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Hair: redux
On the days when I feel that Solanne is going to be a little more trying than usual, I do this to her. It's pretty hard to get mad at an anime character.
Sewing
Well, knitting season is over for now... I finished a green coat with matching hat for Maïa, which has actually come in handy in the past few weeks. But with summer fast approaching, I thought I'd try my hand at sewing. I have this fantastic machine that my mom got me, and it's been waiting for bigger projects than hemming pants and curtains.
So I got started on some little summer dresses for the girls (Maïa especially, whom I'm often hard-pressed to convince to wear anything but a dress). Luckily, dresses are pretty quick to whip up, once one gets the hang of pattern language — I swear, it's a whole other dialect of English. The fabrics at the store are so scrumptuous that I had a hard time choosing; I picked the most vibrant colours I could find. And at less than a metre per dress, it is an entirely affordable option. So here are my first tries:
I completed this one just last night. It took me one short evening of cutting two of these and another short evening of stitching up this one (the other will be pink with a bottom frill). Maïa wanted to wear this one today; luckily, the weather was clement enough to allow it! The fabric is a cotton. The dress itself is a simple slip-dress with ties at the shoulders: no pesky zippers or buttons. A breeze.
The other dresses that Maïa is holding are two that I made three weeks ago. It took one evening of cutting and one very long evening of sewing both dresses. At one point, I felt like I was working in a factory, only without the expertise. Luckily, my mom was staying with us, and she gave me some great tips and lots of help. This being my first project, I wasn't sure what I was doing! The fabric is a seer-sucker (no ironing!). The dress is A-line with a one-button enclosure at the back of the neck. I added the bottom trim to finish it off.
Some of the cool stitch work that my machine can do.
So I got started on some little summer dresses for the girls (Maïa especially, whom I'm often hard-pressed to convince to wear anything but a dress). Luckily, dresses are pretty quick to whip up, once one gets the hang of pattern language — I swear, it's a whole other dialect of English. The fabrics at the store are so scrumptuous that I had a hard time choosing; I picked the most vibrant colours I could find. And at less than a metre per dress, it is an entirely affordable option. So here are my first tries:
I completed this one just last night. It took me one short evening of cutting two of these and another short evening of stitching up this one (the other will be pink with a bottom frill). Maïa wanted to wear this one today; luckily, the weather was clement enough to allow it! The fabric is a cotton. The dress itself is a simple slip-dress with ties at the shoulders: no pesky zippers or buttons. A breeze.
The other dresses that Maïa is holding are two that I made three weeks ago. It took one evening of cutting and one very long evening of sewing both dresses. At one point, I felt like I was working in a factory, only without the expertise. Luckily, my mom was staying with us, and she gave me some great tips and lots of help. This being my first project, I wasn't sure what I was doing! The fabric is a seer-sucker (no ironing!). The dress is A-line with a one-button enclosure at the back of the neck. I added the bottom trim to finish it off.
Some of the cool stitch work that my machine can do.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Rant
I have a beef with those parents out there who take their contagious children out to public places. I mean sniffly, coughing, feverish, vomitting, or diarrhea-suffering. I acknowledge that on occasion, we parents leave the house with what seems a perfectly healthy child only to have that child vomit or spike a fever at whatever outting. I give those parents immunity from my criticism. I also give immunity to those parents taking their slightly sick kids on errands that must be run, or a sniffly kid to daycare when there is no other option (most daycares don't have rules against sniffly or coughing children coming to daycare). I even forgive the parents who take snotty kids to the park (a parent's gotta get out some time!).
My beef lies with those parents who take their snotty, coughing, feverish kids to those venues where there will certainly be other kids, namely playgroups, church nurseries, swimming lessons, library circle times, or any other enclosed area where a number of small children will be playing with, and placing into their mouths, common toys. It is not necessary to bring our children to those places: we do have the option of staying home, or taking a walk, or going to a place where the child won't be sharing toys or close space with other children. There is no question that at least one other child will catch whatever is going around. And that child, it seems, is usually mine. And I'm getting quite tired of it. When I bring my children to the nursery at church, I just assume they'll be in a safe environment. But then there's the lurking kid with the runny nose. I might as well just have Solanne lick the child because the effect is the same: she's gonna get sick.
And sick she got. Runny nose and two miserable nights of sleep (up every half hour on one night!). All because that kid's parents had to come to church and they just had to bring their kid to the nursery instead of keeping him with them. Why? I just don't understand it.
So this is the sign I would like to post in all children's indoor play areas:
IF YOUR CHILD HAS A RUNNY NOSE, PERSISTENT COUGH, OR HAS HAD A FEVER/VOMITTING/DIARRHEA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, PLEASE CONSIDER THE HEALTH OF OTHER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD WITHIN THIS SPACE.
THANK YOU
Keep your little germ factories home!!
My beef lies with those parents who take their snotty, coughing, feverish kids to those venues where there will certainly be other kids, namely playgroups, church nurseries, swimming lessons, library circle times, or any other enclosed area where a number of small children will be playing with, and placing into their mouths, common toys. It is not necessary to bring our children to those places: we do have the option of staying home, or taking a walk, or going to a place where the child won't be sharing toys or close space with other children. There is no question that at least one other child will catch whatever is going around. And that child, it seems, is usually mine. And I'm getting quite tired of it. When I bring my children to the nursery at church, I just assume they'll be in a safe environment. But then there's the lurking kid with the runny nose. I might as well just have Solanne lick the child because the effect is the same: she's gonna get sick.
And sick she got. Runny nose and two miserable nights of sleep (up every half hour on one night!). All because that kid's parents had to come to church and they just had to bring their kid to the nursery instead of keeping him with them. Why? I just don't understand it.
So this is the sign I would like to post in all children's indoor play areas:
IF YOUR CHILD HAS A RUNNY NOSE, PERSISTENT COUGH, OR HAS HAD A FEVER/VOMITTING/DIARRHEA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, PLEASE CONSIDER THE HEALTH OF OTHER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD WITHIN THIS SPACE.
THANK YOU
Keep your little germ factories home!!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
News Release
Clicky Sky has been found safe
MONTREAL, May 17, 2006 -- The beloved friend of Maïa, the tiny horse named Clicky, has been found safe, if a little rumpled and flattened. The horse had last been seen in Maïa's arms on May 14 at the church the family attends. It was unclear, however, if the horse had made it home. It was also unclear whether the horse had run away or if he had been kidnapped.
A witness confirmed, late yesterday evening, that Clicky was in the family household on the afternoon of May 14. The witness, Katie, is a good friend of the family. The sighting confirmed that Clicky was within the family home. Although a thorough search had already been conducted by investigators, the search-and-rescue team was called in as the situation had become dire.
A rescuer found the tiny horse behind a couch cushion. Having believed that the space was too small for the horse to hide within, it had been overlooked in the initial tearing apart of the house.
MONTREAL, May 17, 2006 -- The beloved friend of Maïa, the tiny horse named Clicky, has been found safe, if a little rumpled and flattened. The horse had last been seen in Maïa's arms on May 14 at the church the family attends. It was unclear, however, if the horse had made it home. It was also unclear whether the horse had run away or if he had been kidnapped.
A witness confirmed, late yesterday evening, that Clicky was in the family household on the afternoon of May 14. The witness, Katie, is a good friend of the family. The sighting confirmed that Clicky was within the family home. Although a thorough search had already been conducted by investigators, the search-and-rescue team was called in as the situation had become dire.
A rescuer found the tiny horse behind a couch cushion. Having believed that the space was too small for the horse to hide within, it had been overlooked in the initial tearing apart of the house.
Monday, May 15, 2006
MISSING
Name: Clicky, a.k.a. Clickster, Clicking Clickeroo, (tongue clicking)
Date of disappearance: May 14, 2006 (His second disappearance in seven days)
Last seen: in Maïa's arms some time after church, approximately 1 pm local time
Description: brown and white horse, skinny, wobbly, matted mane
Distinguishing features: cataracts, frayed tag
Return to: Maïa
Thursday, May 11, 2006
On being alone with girls having a love affair with dirt
With Derek working out of town three days a week, I have tried to keep it together and keep things working smoothly around here. So far, so good. But I must say that I have such huge respect for those mothers who do it alone. I don't know what I would do if I had to do this full time, with no breaks and no partner to help.
The evenings around here seem mighty long with the only dinner conversation going something like this:
me: Maïa, what did you do at daycare today?
Maïa: I played with Clicky.
me: What else did you do?
Maïa: (clicking her tongue)
me: (sigh)
So to aleviate some of the longevity of the post-daycare-pre-bedtime segment of the day, we go to the park. Luckily, the weather has been very cooperative lately. The one down-side: the dirt. Note: those aren't tans on my kids (if you know them at all, you would know that). That's all 100 percent, premium grade "A" Montreal dirt.
Maïa
Solanne
Even mummy can't escape the long reaches of the dirt beast
The evenings around here seem mighty long with the only dinner conversation going something like this:
me: Maïa, what did you do at daycare today?
Maïa: I played with Clicky.
me: What else did you do?
Maïa: (clicking her tongue)
me: (sigh)
So to aleviate some of the longevity of the post-daycare-pre-bedtime segment of the day, we go to the park. Luckily, the weather has been very cooperative lately. The one down-side: the dirt. Note: those aren't tans on my kids (if you know them at all, you would know that). That's all 100 percent, premium grade "A" Montreal dirt.
Maïa
Solanne
Even mummy can't escape the long reaches of the dirt beast
Solanne's name: FAQ
Q: Solange?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Solaine?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Sola?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Solano?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Oh, Solanne. That's an interesting name, did you make it up?
A: No. I had heard it before, though as a boy's name, and it sounded very feminine to me.
Q: Where's that name from?
A: It's a documented French girl's name. About 6 Solanne's have been born in France over the past decade. I've spotted "Solanna" in one baby names book, and it was documented as a Spanish name.
Q: What does it mean?
A: It's a solar name.
Q: huh?
A: You know, it's related to the sun; it has something to do with the sun.
Q: Like what?
A: "Of the sun."
Q: How do you spell it?
A: S-O-L-A-N-N-E
Q: Why did you pick it?
A: Because we felt it necessary to torment our child. We never knew just how torturous it would be.
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Solaine?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Sola?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Solano?
A: No, Solanne.
Q: Oh, Solanne. That's an interesting name, did you make it up?
A: No. I had heard it before, though as a boy's name, and it sounded very feminine to me.
Q: Where's that name from?
A: It's a documented French girl's name. About 6 Solanne's have been born in France over the past decade. I've spotted "Solanna" in one baby names book, and it was documented as a Spanish name.
Q: What does it mean?
A: It's a solar name.
Q: huh?
A: You know, it's related to the sun; it has something to do with the sun.
Q: Like what?
A: "Of the sun."
Q: How do you spell it?
A: S-O-L-A-N-N-E
Q: Why did you pick it?
A: Because we felt it necessary to torment our child. We never knew just how torturous it would be.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Rhymes, puns, and other fun with words
Many of you may not know this about Derek and me, but we are terrible punsters. We reserve the most ridiculous ones for each other, knowing that the other will understand and even laugh when most would just leave the room, utterly disgusted with the stupidity of it all. I would rather not share any here, now, for fear of losing many friends.
The beauty of family is the comfort we feel with one another, and so just as we don't mind when our chidren see us first thing in the morning, bad hair and halitosis and all, we don't hide our punning and word games from them. And so they, too, have picked up on it. Maïa and Solanne are absolute experts in the field now and will certainly surpass us soon.
My very favourite word play, so far, is Maïa's invention. She doesn't do it anymore, or even recall it, but it was brilliant. We were in Nova Scotia visiting Derek's uncle and aunt and their sons; Maïa was 20 months and excitedly discovering language. She was also discovering relationships and how they worked. In fact, a short four months later, days after her sister was born, she would recite our family composition: mummy-daddy-Maïa-Solanne! — over and over again! But at the time, the next best thing to a sister was her friend, Zoë. As many small children, Maïa very much liked butterflies and talked a lot about "papillons." So one day, she started playing with the word and came up with: papillon, mamillon, zoë-llon. Pretty smart, I thought.
Solanne, too, has been known to play word games, but hers so far are mostly sign-word games. Her very first, I believe, was when she was about 13 months old. At that point she had about 5 sign words in her vocabulary, one of which was bird (forefinger and thumb coming together like a bid beak). She was sitting at the table, eating raisins when she discovered that the action of picking up raisins mimicked the sign for bird. She thought it was hilarious! She picked up a raisin in one hand and made the bird sign with the other. Her first "rhyme" was born!
Derek and I, eternal punsters, and very proud of our girls. Of course, we'll have to teach them to keep the worst (best?) word plays to themselves because, really, the world isn't ready for them yet.
The beauty of family is the comfort we feel with one another, and so just as we don't mind when our chidren see us first thing in the morning, bad hair and halitosis and all, we don't hide our punning and word games from them. And so they, too, have picked up on it. Maïa and Solanne are absolute experts in the field now and will certainly surpass us soon.
My very favourite word play, so far, is Maïa's invention. She doesn't do it anymore, or even recall it, but it was brilliant. We were in Nova Scotia visiting Derek's uncle and aunt and their sons; Maïa was 20 months and excitedly discovering language. She was also discovering relationships and how they worked. In fact, a short four months later, days after her sister was born, she would recite our family composition: mummy-daddy-Maïa-Solanne! — over and over again! But at the time, the next best thing to a sister was her friend, Zoë. As many small children, Maïa very much liked butterflies and talked a lot about "papillons." So one day, she started playing with the word and came up with: papillon, mamillon, zoë-llon. Pretty smart, I thought.
Solanne, too, has been known to play word games, but hers so far are mostly sign-word games. Her very first, I believe, was when she was about 13 months old. At that point she had about 5 sign words in her vocabulary, one of which was bird (forefinger and thumb coming together like a bid beak). She was sitting at the table, eating raisins when she discovered that the action of picking up raisins mimicked the sign for bird. She thought it was hilarious! She picked up a raisin in one hand and made the bird sign with the other. Her first "rhyme" was born!
Derek and I, eternal punsters, and very proud of our girls. Of course, we'll have to teach them to keep the worst (best?) word plays to themselves because, really, the world isn't ready for them yet.
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