kt moxie

While I'm not a huge South Park fan, this little online application to make your own South Park character was just too fun to pass up!  (kudos to Nicole!)

So, here I am, South Park incarnated: purple sweater, floppy hat, messy hair, ice cream ... and a sword.

And, because John doesn't blog, I had to do his, too!  Karate outfit, light saber, listening to tunes and having a beer.

After going this far, Amelia must have one, too!  Dragging her teddy bear, dancing with her guitar, messy hair do, diva crown, but still cute as a button!

Amelia loves fish and crackers - so goldfish crackers are a great snack!  Isn't this a fun picture?  Visit more of this photographer's pics called "Hooked on Colors."  Lots of fun colored food.

Amelia is starting in her new daycare on Monday.  This is because Weezie - her current daycare provider - is taking a two week vacation, so Amelia is going to her new daycare for two weeks, then back to Weezie's for a month, then back to the new daycare in September.  Not ideal, but oh well. 

So, I've had to write up "instructions" for the new daycare.  Yes, I think I've found "the best of the best", but they don't know my Amelia.  ;)

For your amusement, here's my notes to the new daycare...

Amelia – notes

• 19 months in July 2005
• The other kids can call her “Mia” if they have trouble saying Amelia.
• We had a nice “partnership” of raising Amelia with our last daycare and would love to continue that! Please keep an open and ongoing conversation with both John and I (Kristen) about concerns, new developments, behaviors, etc!

Usual Schedule:

• She ate breakfast at her last daycare between 8:00-8:30am. 
• Lunch 12-1
• One nap a day – approx. 2 hours from 1-3pm (sometimes shorter or longer).
• She can have her pacifier at naptime, or if she is upset, but put it in a place she cannot see it at other times.
• She often wakes herself about 1 hour into her nap. Ignoring this is usually the best approach, and she will go back to sleep on her own.

Eating:

• Amelia will eat just about anything. Loves fruits and most vegetables.
• She can use a toddler or small fork and spoon.
• She usually drinks whole milk from a sippy cup, and other drinks (sugar free, or watered down) from a covered cup with a straw.
• She likes to sit at a kid’s table to eat (she does this at home), but can also sit in a high chair if needed (she does this at her old daycare). She will need to be reminded to sit down to eat if she is sitting at a table.

Language & Communication:

• Amelia can understand and follow almost all instructions from adults. She can help clean up at the end of the day if this is part of the normal routine.
• She still prefers to communicate through pointing, gestures, head nods and shakes, but she does have many words. Shoes, again, kitty, doggy, done, daddy, mama, apple, fish, and ball are favorites.

Behavior:

• The “Good”: Amelia loves to observe other kids, and will love to watch the other, especially older, kids play. She is very good at playing independently as well. She also loves music, and will love to interact with any toy or game that is musical.
• The “Bad”: Amelia is strong willed, and will make it quite clear when she does or does not like something, wants something, or is frustrated by one of the other kid’s actions. We’ve found that re-directing her works quite well. Also, if she is not following directions, taking something away she wants and repeating the directions (telling her she’ll get it back when she starts doing whatever it is), seems to work well. If she gets very upset, she has a very hard time calming herself down. The pacifier is helpful. Holding her in a calm space is good as well.
• The “Ugly”: Amelia loves to take her barrettes out and shoes off! We just try to keep some available, and keep putting barrettes back in her hair. She knows she cannot go outside without her shoes (and she loves to go outside).

Interests:

• Dancing/music: Anything with a beat will get this little girl going.
• Wiggles: Avid fan! If you ever play videos, this will make her a dancing fiend!
• Other TV: Dora, Blues Clues
• Toys: Carts, strollers, anything to push around. Balls. Puzzles.
• Animals: She loves dogs, cats, and fish. She will want to pet any animals she sees.

Warning:  parent gloating to ensue.  

Time to talk about the little monster!  Yes, she is daddy's little girl.  But, I don't mind.   Here she is in daddy's lap - AKA "the best seat in the house."  View more pictures of Amelia playing with daddy and his Piston's hat! (login required)

Her vocabulary is increasing every day, even though she still prefers to communicate through pointing and head nods and shakes.  Mama, daddy, apple, puppy, kitty, shoes, again, done and bump are few of her favorite words.  We are desperately trying to get her to say "please" - but this seems to be a point of contention...

Amelia is one precocious toddler.  She has recently wanted to sit at the table without her booster seat - "like a big girl."  So, now we spend most of dinner saying "sit down, Amelia." 

My first middle of the night post!  Ah, I'm already feeling one with the blog.  I've added photo album section - but you'll still have to login to the Kodak (formerly ofoto) site to see any adorable pictures of Amelia.  So, I know who you are!

For those of you without young children (or haven't been near Amelia, John or I), The Wiggles are an Australian children's band.  They are four men - Greg, Anthony, Murray and Jeff - who are taking the world's children (and their parents) by storm! 

Amelia showed an interest in music and dancing at 6 months old, so when I found out about The Wiggles, I purchased one of their DVDs.  The rest is - hoop-dee-doo - wiggly history!  I now have Wiggles songs on the brain 24-7.  A favorite - of course - being Fruit Salad (yummy, yummy!).

Now, The Wiggles are no Barney.  Or Sponge Bob.  They actually are high quality children's entertainment - they are true musicians who love and understand children.  They dance, play and sing at children's level - not down to them.  Think the American entertainment industry would have initially financially backed four male children's musicians?  Disney only picked them up after they had successful international tours.  BTW - they just became the wealthiest Australian entertainers - beating out Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.

Instead, Disney invents The Doodlebops.  Ick.

Well, since I "blamed" the Wiggles for starting this blog, I thought they deserved my first "real" post.  Oh, and guess what our first "real" concert is since Amelia's birth?  Yes!  The Wiggles live at the Palace in August.  Can't wait.