A Series of Almosts

We are swimming in a sea of "almosts."

Lily:
You can almost sit up on your own.  Just last week you really started to get the hang of it.  You are strong enough now that you don't automatically fold in half (although you still do this when you are interested in a little toe-munching).  You haven't mastered the head/body separation yet.  If you look up, you fall back.  If you look the the side, you're going down.  I left you propped in your Boppy while I got a drink and while I was pouring it (about 10 feet away) I heard a very angry, somewhat smothered cry.  I walked back over to find that you had keeled over with your pelvis on top of the Boppy and your face smooshed into the carpet.  I'd like to say that I was a good mother and did not chuckle at your predicament, but alas, it was just too funny.

You can also almost drink successfully from a straw.  This is Day 3 of the official How-Do-We-Get-Lily-To-Drink-When-She-Refuses-All-Bottles Project (HDWGLTDWSRABP, for short), and I'm seeing major improvements in the straw campaign.  Sippy cups were a total bust, but you seem to like the straw.  You usually chew on it for a while saying, "Rah, rah, rah, rah!" and then you actually take a drink.  Most of the time you even swallow!  This project, if successful, will hopefully alleviate some of your separation issues from me.  I love you to pieces, you are a joy in my life, but I'd like for others to enjoy you as well. If you know you won't starve you might be more likely to make some new friends.  Like Daddy. 

Speaking of Daddy, you can almost spend time with him without being miserable.  This week you've increased your Daddy-time dramatically, from an average of 30 seconds to 10 minutes or more!  I hope this continues, because he loves you so much and wants to be able to hold you.  We got home from your brother's PTO meeting tonight and I sat you on Daddy's tummy in bed while I got your pj's.  When I came back into the room, he was talking to you and you were cracking up!  I can't tell you how happy it made me to hear your little giggle and know that you were enjoying this time with your father.  He used to think you cried 99% of your life.  That wasn't true, but you DID cry 99% of the time anyone held you but me!  I'd say we're at about 85% non-mom crying time at this point.  Maybe next week we'll be at 80%!

Wyatt:

It is almost time to go on our trip to Philadelphia.  You ask me about it every day.  You told me today that you are excited to learn new things about Philadelphia and you can't wait to see the Liberty Bell.  I think you are most excited to swim in the hotel pool, though!  I'm looking forward to seeing your face as you experience firsthand all of the cool Philadelphia facts we've been reading about. I think we know at least as much about the Liberty Bell as anyone! 

You can almost cross your eyes.  You've been working on it for about a week or so.  You tend to look up and to the left as you say, "Am I doing it? Am I doing it?"  We've had the most success when you stare at my finger as it slowly gets closer to your nose.    

Catch-Up:
Trick-or-Treat was nice.  Lily had to stay home with Grandma due to a cold. We made it almost around the whole neighborhood before Grandma had to call me. It seems that Lily began greeting our trick-or-treaters with screaming and tears (see the 85% discussion above), so I had to come to the rescue.

Wyatt's design, Daddy's knife skills

Our little Pumpkin.  Your legs look so LONG!

You make me smile every day! 

Happy with Grandma (for now)

Treats from Melissa and Tony

A chicken, a gorilla, and a hot dog.  You don't see that one every day.

Jen

The loot!  For each piece of candy you kept, I asked you to give one piece away.  Initially I tried to make the ratio 1:4, but you flipped out and said that the "other person" would have WAY more candy than you.  I caved.  We gave the other half of your candy to Daddy's work.