Maya had a fever about a week and a half ago. This was her first fever. She had a few nights where she was fussy in the middle of the night but it passed with no problems. Compared to Magnus, she's had so many more colds, coughs, and runny noses in the first 9.5 months of her life. However, they are never really that bad. I remember Magnus never got sick until he hit 1 - and when he did get sick my Mom and I were up several nights in a row taking turns nursing, soothing, and cuddling him.
Here's Maya getting ready for a boat trip before the fever struck:
Today I had a 10 minute parent teacher meeting with Magnus' new teacher. She's only had him in her class for 3 weeks, but she is quite happy with his progress. I raised the one question that Kendrick and I always want to ask: is Magnus socializing normally? Her answer was yes, he has social skills and interacts normally with the other students. There are however several situations where he will prefer to play on his own, and not join other kids unless specifically invited by his teacher. For example, when they all go play in the miniature town, Magnus almost always goes off and finds his favourite toys (toaster, toast, ice cream cones) and plays all by himself. We agreed that he was a bit of an introvert. No surprises there, right?
I snapped a picture of the Christmas concert stage on my way out (Magnus' show is in 2 days):
Introvert though he may be, Magnus is of course still yakking our ears off. Here are the latest quotes:
As we speed by on a boat:
Gina: Magnus, look, do you see that? It's the tallest building in the world!
Magnus: (nods) Mommy, is it the burj Khalifa?
Looking out the window from our guest room at all the skyscrapers:
Magnus: Mommy look at all the castles!
Looking out from Cesar's balcony on the Palm Jumeirah
Magnus: Mommy look, it's Treasure Island!
Chatting about his little sister:
Gina: Maya can't even walk, can she?
Magnus: No, she is just a baby, and her hands are so chubby!
Yummy is what matters:
Magnus: Mommy, apples are good for you
Gina: Yes, apples are good for you
Magnus: Mommy, cakes are good for you
Gina: No, cakes are not good for you!
Magnus: (pause) Mommy, are cakes yummy for you?
During the song "Over in the Meadow":
Magnus: Mommy, It's a hairy mother spider
Gina: Yes it is! Who else is hairy, Magnus?
Magnus: Gong gong!!
Gina: Um, his name is Harry, but he's not hairy!!
I have yet to explain bird reproduction:
Kendrick: What do birds eat?
Magnus: Eggs!
How many times have we played "this little piggy???"
Magnus: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven! Mommy, I have eleven toes!
Gina: Are you suuuure?
Magnus and fashion:
Magnus: Oh! Mommy you are wearing a merry-go-round!
Gina: Actually Magnus, that's a pattern called paisley.
No videos for this post, but something interesting has been happening with one of his recent videos. The video of Magnus watching Gangnam Style has been getting over a hundred hits - mostly from Italy. It's the only one of his videos that has so many views, and there are hits from all over the world (azerbaijan, finland, etc)- usually singletons. It occurred to me that Gangnam style is soooo popular that many people have mis-heard and/or mis-typed the name while searching youtube, and thus came across Magnus' spelling of the song, "Opee Ganna Sta," and for whatever reason watched his video. How very interesting....
Maya is starting to do things that Magnus never did to us. I specifically chose the words, "to us," in order to emphasize how her actions are spurring us to use more surveillance, baby-proofing, and all around kung-fu reflexes.
Here are some examples:
Maya will stand up in her crib and bounce. We lowered the crib 2 months earlier for her than we did for Magnus.
Maya will stand up in her stroller and bounce up and down. Magnus never, ever, did this. Ever. We now strap her down every time.
Maya will splash her bathwater so that it hits her face, and then giggle. She also tries to stand up in her bathtub and bounce.
Maya had a sparkly, pink sticker appear in one of her doody diapers.
Maya got stuck under the coffee table. She bumped her head a few times, and then screamed. In despair? No. In anger? Yes.
Magnus is seeing his monopoly over his toy empire slowly eroding, as Maya wants to play with just about everything and we are forcing him to slowly give way. Despite this, every morning is a new day, and he still loves his little sister. Here are some things that Magnus is saying these days:
Lunch pre-empted
Gina: (rapping) What time is it? It's time for lunch!
Magnus: No, it's what time is it? It's time for potty!
Gina: You have to go to the potty?
Magnus: Yeah!
Gina: Go, go , go!!
Not sure I get the joke..
Gina: Did anything funny happen at school today?
Magnus: Yes. All my friends ate my donuts. (laughs)
Magnus disagrees with Dr. Seuss
Gina: One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish
Magnus: No, it's one fish, two fish, three fish , four fish
Gina: No, it's One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish
Magnus: No, it's white fish, green fish, red fish , blue fish
Running away with the thermometer:
Magnus: (singing)You can't catch my temperature!
Opening the curtain and letting the sunlight in:
Magnus: Mommy, it's light time!
Gina: It's daytime, Magnus
Practising for the Christmas concert:
Gina: Oh what fun, it is to ride, in a one horse open...
Magnus: Snake!
Gina: No, it's sleigh, Magnus
Magnus: No Mommy, it's snaaaake!
Imitating his Mommy:
Magnus: Do you know what, Mommy?
Gina: What?
Magnus: Water will make you feel better…
Maybe he's right:
Magnus: I is for ice cream! Mommy ice cream is good for you.
Magnus chats on the phone:
And now, life in pictures. Maya now officially sits in the high chair, and Magnus sits in the booster chair. It only took a couple of days of training before Magnus was happily repeating after me, "High chairs are for babies!"
This morning was nice and sunny after a rainy day yesterday.
