Our trip out West

We went to Kirkland, Washington for Christmas. On the way there, Maryam was very careful to read the safety card in the seat back of the plane. She asked me to read it to her. It went something like this :There is a plane. And a baby! Look at the mask on the baby! Look at the fire! The people are happily getting out of the plane. See the raft? All the happy people are floating on the raft... She loved it.

When we arrived, we were welcomed by snow. Tons and tons of snow in a city ill-prepared for it. The roads were awful. Neighborhoods weren't plowed for well over a week, which meant that there were grooves a foot deep, and the car basically drove itself.

But we were able to make a lovely pregnant snow-woman. Mom donated her bathrobe for modesty's sake. Maryam loved it!

We were able to meet little baby Daniel for the first time. He's Maryam's cousin, and about 6 months old. He's a cute, very happy baby. I wouldn't know what to do with a happy baby - all I've dealt with is cranky. But I'm guessing that there will come a time when he's unpleasant - I'm guessing at around 16. Seriously, this kid is so laid back! When I was pregnant with Maryam I asked God that she be happy. She is, but she's also very stubborn and can be pushy and bite-y. Laid back she is not!

I was able to visit my dearest friend Maryam, for whom baby Maryam is named. That was one of the best parts of this trip for me.

Uses for a turkey baster

Aidan taught me that a turkey baster could be used as a musical instrument - fill it with water, and blow across it, and squeeze the bulb to change the tone.

Maryam taught me that it is great for drinking out of, especially while wearing mittens and painting. That night she drank so much water that she leaked out of her nightime disposable diaper. Now every time she sees it she asks for a drink.

What else are you going to do...

when it's -4 degrees outside? Put on your swimsuit and get a measuring cup on your head, of course, then grab your guitar!

Ahoy! Pirate Ship!!!

So, out of the super-creative mind of my beloved husband comes this pirate ship.

Note the crow's nest on top of the mast.

Four pirates and three cargo barrels

A hidden compartment that can also be a plank

And most importantly, wheels for smooth sailing across the water.



This is going up for auction on our hyena cart website on Friday - wish us luck!

Baby-Wearing-Baby

Maryam surprised me by wearing her baby (monkey). She found a bib, and stuck the monkey inside. This was done entirely on her own! She was quite proud of herself, and continued to cook in her kitchen while wearing monkey, much as I had done with her when she was tiny.

Favorite Words

"Mine" is used with everything. Not in a mean or selfish way, more of a question or a statement. Even things like a spool of thread. "MINE?"

"Three" is used for her doll's name, her age (although she's only two), and for her name sometimes, although she still calls herself "Ga Goo"

"Baby" is any other child who is not significantly bigger than she is.

And kissy sounds are used all the time, even for a dog across the street.

Trick or Treat!

Our city celebrated what we call "Beggar's Night" tonight, the 30th. They didn't want kids out on the weekend (?).

This was Maryam's first time trick or treating where she could really participate. She did so by crying and hiding and being scared for the most part. She was dressed up as a butterfly, with wings and everything. But she was so terrified she hid her head either between my legs or in my shoulder for the most part.

Aidan and Wayne were scary. Maryam was actually afraid of them with their masks on. Aidan was a guy with a gas mask and a chainsaw. Wayne was a skeleton in an army jacket with a tu-tu (yes, a tu-tu). Wayne went around with us, but Aidan sat on the porch with the bowl of candy next to him. He was perfectly still, until some unsuspecting child came up to take a piece. Then he'd scare the daylights out of them by yelling and moving the chainsaw.

Introducing the newest member of our family!

Her name is Three, although this afternoon Maryam said her name was "One". She represents hours and hours (and hours) of love and work.

Cute, eh?

Maryam is 2!

(okay, so I'm a few days late- Maryam turned two)

For her birthday, she had lots of friends and relatives over, and I made her a monkey cake. Monkeys are her favorite animal.

And a sweeter child I couldn't ask for. Let me brag on my dear girl for a few moments here. She has a temper, but it is quick to go away. She'll get mad for, say, 30 seconds. Then she's fine playing. Now that we have no tv, she entertains herself really well, and will wander around the house finding things to play with.

Maryam's a pretty good listener, and mostly does what mommy or daddy ask, unless it relates to her shoes and socks. She insists that her shoes and socks be off in the house, no matter how cold it is! But where safety is concerned, she listens and obeys with a sweet attitude.

She says two or three words together: "Dada go work?" Or "Aidan Wayne go?" Right now she's playing hide and seek with Aidan, and calls "Aidan, Aidan go?"

She loves to wear clips in her hair, and likes to put them on the dog (she tried the cat but he tried to bite her). Luckily, Sera is a good, patient dog and puts up with most things from Maryam.

So all in all, I love this age! No major tantrums, no endless "nos". Just a sweet tempered, happy child. How did I get so lucky?

Apple Picking

Saturday we spent some time at an apple tree farm and picked 40 pounds of apples. They allow you to try the different types of apples and don't charge you for what you eat. Yummy! Needless to say, Maryam ate a ton. She kept trying to take bites out of the apples that we had picked to buy, though.




All these apples were turned into applesauce and dried apples for the coming months. Next year, my plan is to go to more U-Pick farms and can peaches and pears, and whatever else I can figure out how to can. I remember mom making homemade applesauce, and it's so good! I even made a batch with some of the strawberries we picked in June for Strawberry-Applesauce. Delicious!

At the store after the apple picking, I commented to the cashier that Maryam's belly was all full of apples. Maryam proceeded to pull up her shirt to show off her belly. She's really lost a lot of her baby fat on her belly - it's not nearly as round as it used to be. But she definitely like to show it off!