Neko’s Daily Activities
Animal sound video on youtube (watching in loop one thousand times) - check
Animal books flipped through with sound effects - check
Animal alphabet cards with the boring ones hidden away- check
Magnetic fridge animal farm sometimes found in trash can- check
Visit to Aquarium to point at tanks and scream ‘ish’ ish’ - check
As the 16 month mark looms near, neko begins to exhibit the signs of ‘me me me’ toddler hood (not be confused with teenagerhood): independence mixed in with some misunderstandings (as long as you keep your hands off her spoon she’s cool).
She insists on feeding herself (imagine cottage cheese everywhere)
She climbs in and out of tub unassisted (imagine wet seal with soap in hair)
She walks her stroller down the street (imagine needing 45 min to get to corner)
She plays hide and seek (imagine desperately looking for your child in a panic) and wins.
Yes - she gets smarter, cuter and more astounding every day. Soon she will be making her own posts revealing family secrets and talking about her over protective parents.
Next: neko sleeps in big girl bed and slides off - sleeps most of the night on the floor and likes it (parents don’t even notice)
Neko has a strict bed time routine.
All the books stress how important this routine is in a child’s life and uber important for sleep scheduling (not getting into that issue here out of respect to the public at large and the wish not to bore everyone silly).
Neko just added a new step to the 32 in the daily routine we have developed thus far to try and get her into the blissful state of passed out:
She shoves stuffed animals in her pijamas, then tries to cram them in the three inch gap between crib and wall and also jumps on the bed and yelling “mo” mo” “mo”. Yeah, that’s the way to calm this kid down!
We celebrated the official first day of summer with some rain.
Yup, and the forecast says: rain.
And all of last week, it rained.
At least neko seems happy in her weather appropriate gear:
This gives the phrase ‘playing with your food’ a whole new dimension:
Part Time Work = Fridays off hanging with neko
Trying to raise a cultured child = Go to Park Avenue Armory to check out the Ernesto Neto magical installation
Child screeching like a 4 year old at a birthday party with too much sugar = Happy Neko
These pictures really can’t convey how happy and excited neko was.
We walked in and it was as if the giant labyrinth of stocking material sculptures hanging from the ceiling had been created just for her. I stood back (not true, I chased her the whole time) and watched with pride at how big and confident and happy she is exploring and being free.
This past weekend we watched neko weed upstate (she copies everything now) and her green thumb has now extended to our lusciously green deck (where is the sun in this summer though?)….
So far her capabilities include getting dirt out of the planters, water out of the watering can (on herself and floor) and how to get into the supply cabinet (citronella is so yummy). At least she hasn’t eaten all the mint yet.
Was it just a coincidence or is neko sensitive to the tides?
Like clockwork, right after her afternoon nap on a Saturday, 4 weeks exactly after her last virus, neko started with a fever.
Amazing how kids can still play (although not with usual enthusiasm and most of it in my lap), weed (what, she’s closer to the ground) and gulp down liters of apple juice with a 103 degree fever…..me, I would be lying half dead watching law and order (marathons rule) and crying for Peter to do something for me….her resilience is inspiring!
On second thought, maybe the fever was due to allergic reaction to dirt?
(And also, a little secret, I kinda like it when she lays in my arms for hours all warm and tired….)
