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December 22, 2006
10 months and dancing!!
It's been well over a month since I've written anything on this blog. Pitiful, really. There is so much to write, so many milestones and levels of cuteness Uma surpasses daily, and I have been a very poor documenter.
I don't know if it's that I am trying to just soak up every moment I have with Uma so I don't have time to write or if it's just my utter exhaustion from teaching and working that I haven't kept up. Either way, enough self- depreciation and more baby appreciation.....
First the milestones....
As I write, I am at my father's house in western foothills of Denver. We have been here through the blizzard- apparently the fourth worst ever in Denver's history. It was awesome. It snowed 39 inches in two days. We got to hang out with Grandpa Kitty (my dad), Tanya, Uncle Casey, Aunt Mak, and Uma's only cousin (that she knows)- Lil Lucas. We had good fun. Uma charmed them all with her sparkling personality and they all took such good care of her. Very sweet.
Uma ran around my father's house like it was an amusement park all day long. She loved his stairs and walking around his kitchen pushing empty boxes like they were walkers. It was seriously a workout keeping up with her.The girl is so determined. She has a Taurus rising , an Airies moon and Mars on her ascendant. The girl knows what she wants and goes for it. She goes with a gusto wherever she decides to go and if anyone tries to impede her- WATCH OUT!!!!! She is gonna be one strong woman, that's for sure!
While we were here, Uma really brushed up on her dancing skills. She has five distinct moves down now. She has had many of these under her belt for a while but now she pulls them out with such flair that they are worth noting.
1. The "Stevie Wonder" rhythmic head swaying
2. The "no-no-no" dramatic head shaking
3. The "ya-yea-yea" spastic head throwing (to Guns and Roses today)
4. The "Elvis" - where she is on her knees and she thrusts herself up dramatically
5. The "Ride-em cowgirl" when she's on all fours and she bucks her knees and feet up.
(The last two listed are quite strenuous and challenging for grown-ups!!))))))
As we have been in front of the TV way more than normal this past week, she would start dancing whenever she heard a jingle or song or tune of any sort. She is such a HAM!!!!
Below is a video I found on YouTube that I think is awesome. It is not Uma, but her soul sista- Lil Beyonce!!
I don't know if it's that I am trying to just soak up every moment I have with Uma so I don't have time to write or if it's just my utter exhaustion from teaching and working that I haven't kept up. Either way, enough self- depreciation and more baby appreciation.....
First the milestones....
**Uma has been standing squarely on her two feet unassisted for about three weeks now.
**She made it to the top of the stairs about a month ago and now is a champion, non-stop stair climber extrodinairre.
**UMA CUT TWO TEETH!!! (the apex of the teething pain was on thanksgiving- quite fun)
**UMA TOOK THREE STEPS TODAY!!!!
**She made it to the top of the stairs about a month ago and now is a champion, non-stop stair climber extrodinairre.
**UMA CUT TWO TEETH!!! (the apex of the teething pain was on thanksgiving- quite fun)
**UMA TOOK THREE STEPS TODAY!!!!
As I write, I am at my father's house in western foothills of Denver. We have been here through the blizzard- apparently the fourth worst ever in Denver's history. It was awesome. It snowed 39 inches in two days. We got to hang out with Grandpa Kitty (my dad), Tanya, Uncle Casey, Aunt Mak, and Uma's only cousin (that she knows)- Lil Lucas. We had good fun. Uma charmed them all with her sparkling personality and they all took such good care of her. Very sweet.
Uma ran around my father's house like it was an amusement park all day long. She loved his stairs and walking around his kitchen pushing empty boxes like they were walkers. It was seriously a workout keeping up with her.The girl is so determined. She has a Taurus rising , an Airies moon and Mars on her ascendant. The girl knows what she wants and goes for it. She goes with a gusto wherever she decides to go and if anyone tries to impede her- WATCH OUT!!!!! She is gonna be one strong woman, that's for sure!
While we were here, Uma really brushed up on her dancing skills. She has five distinct moves down now. She has had many of these under her belt for a while but now she pulls them out with such flair that they are worth noting.
1. The "Stevie Wonder" rhythmic head swaying
2. The "no-no-no" dramatic head shaking
3. The "ya-yea-yea" spastic head throwing (to Guns and Roses today)
4. The "Elvis" - where she is on her knees and she thrusts herself up dramatically
5. The "Ride-em cowgirl" when she's on all fours and she bucks her knees and feet up.
(The last two listed are quite strenuous and challenging for grown-ups!!))))))
As we have been in front of the TV way more than normal this past week, she would start dancing whenever she heard a jingle or song or tune of any sort. She is such a HAM!!!!
Below is a video I found on YouTube that I think is awesome. It is not Uma, but her soul sista- Lil Beyonce!!
December 2, 2006
November 25, 2006
November 19, 2006
November 17, 2006
nine months and rocking
Uma is now nine and a half months. Every week she seems to add new tricks to her repertoire, this week it's clapping, rocking her body, and swaying her head back and forth like Stevie Wonder.
She's been trying to clap for a while, so that's an exciting new accomplishment, but the swaying and rocking came out of no where. All of sudden, she now thrashes her lil body with all of her might to show her
enthusiasm or glee for whatever it is that's delighting her in the moment. Sometimes its a baby friend, sometimes a cat, sometimes it's a mystery. The head swaying seems kinda like a "no" but it's hard to tell. It's definitely funny.
On the way to school the other day, the song "Lovely Day" came on the CD player, the same song that's on the iMovie I posted a few weeks ago.
She LOVES seeing herself on the computer and she saw that iMovie several times. Uma was squealing, rocking her body, swaying her head, and clapping.
I think that she recognized the song and it brought back all those warm fuzzy feelings of being a movie star.
Either that or the girl just loves a mellow soulful groove from the 70's.
Uma is doing great at school with the nanny.
She really loves other babies, and she really loves the nanny too. She also doesn't mind the attention from all of the other adults and kids in the building.
It's ridiculous. She's like a superstar at Trillium.
At least a dozen adults visit her every day and love on her, and there are now several kids who put "working in the nursery" on their learning plans so they coud play with all of the babies.
I have her at lunch to feed and I am always surrounded by tons of kids jumping up and down, chanting Uma's name, and doing that tongue flicking thing she does to get a reaction from her. Not the most relaxing lunch (we haven't had a lunch break yet this year) but I'm just happy to be able to have her with me throughout the day.
There are glass windows in the nursery that open to the main hallway. All day Uma crawls to the window and beats on the window to see who will smile and coo at her.
She sticks her rear out and wiggles it around, hooting and hollering.
She has the school secretary, Ramona, absolutely smitten.
She wells up when she tells me about their interactions in the day.
Very sweet.
So, Uma is not suffering form any lack of love or attention in case any of you readers were worried.
Lastly, it seems like Uma may be teething once again.
I never realized what a looong process this teething business is.
She has always been quite the slobbering one, but her mouth is now like a faucet and she is feeding continuously throughout the night and sleeping a lot in the day. I am wondering what's going to be first- walking or her first tooth.
What do you think?
She's been trying to clap for a while, so that's an exciting new accomplishment, but the swaying and rocking came out of no where. All of sudden, she now thrashes her lil body with all of her might to show her
enthusiasm or glee for whatever it is that's delighting her in the moment. Sometimes its a baby friend, sometimes a cat, sometimes it's a mystery. The head swaying seems kinda like a "no" but it's hard to tell. It's definitely funny.
On the way to school the other day, the song "Lovely Day" came on the CD player, the same song that's on the iMovie I posted a few weeks ago.
She LOVES seeing herself on the computer and she saw that iMovie several times. Uma was squealing, rocking her body, swaying her head, and clapping.
I think that she recognized the song and it brought back all those warm fuzzy feelings of being a movie star.
Either that or the girl just loves a mellow soulful groove from the 70's.
Uma is doing great at school with the nanny.
She really loves other babies, and she really loves the nanny too. She also doesn't mind the attention from all of the other adults and kids in the building.
It's ridiculous. She's like a superstar at Trillium.
At least a dozen adults visit her every day and love on her, and there are now several kids who put "working in the nursery" on their learning plans so they coud play with all of the babies.
I have her at lunch to feed and I am always surrounded by tons of kids jumping up and down, chanting Uma's name, and doing that tongue flicking thing she does to get a reaction from her. Not the most relaxing lunch (we haven't had a lunch break yet this year) but I'm just happy to be able to have her with me throughout the day.
There are glass windows in the nursery that open to the main hallway. All day Uma crawls to the window and beats on the window to see who will smile and coo at her.
She sticks her rear out and wiggles it around, hooting and hollering.
She has the school secretary, Ramona, absolutely smitten.
She wells up when she tells me about their interactions in the day.
Very sweet.
So, Uma is not suffering form any lack of love or attention in case any of you readers were worried.
Lastly, it seems like Uma may be teething once again.
I never realized what a looong process this teething business is.
She has always been quite the slobbering one, but her mouth is now like a faucet and she is feeding continuously throughout the night and sleeping a lot in the day. I am wondering what's going to be first- walking or her first tooth.
What do you think?
November 12, 2006
November 3, 2006
uma's first iMovie
Uma is nine months old! She is a toothless wonderkid. She is such a hoot. Our in-school nanny situation is working wonderfully now, she loves all the attention she gets from the hundreds of kids and adults at the school. She also just loves her baby friends so much.
Below is our first i-movie. I am publishing it although it is definitley imperfect and filled with flaws. I figured that this way, when I become a video wiz, you will be able to see my humble beginnings. (Anyone want to donate a video camera to my cause?)
The movie is about 6 minutes, and it is filled with cheeks, drool, blabbering, crawling, and halloween costumes too. I probably could have clipped it in parts, but if you have never met Uma, you can just soak in her yumminess. If you have met Uma, you'll probably endure it anyhow... After you watch the clip, check out "afro-czech sound system" post I made in June to contrast her waking up style and hair growth!
Below is our first i-movie. I am publishing it although it is definitley imperfect and filled with flaws. I figured that this way, when I become a video wiz, you will be able to see my humble beginnings. (Anyone want to donate a video camera to my cause?)
The movie is about 6 minutes, and it is filled with cheeks, drool, blabbering, crawling, and halloween costumes too. I probably could have clipped it in parts, but if you have never met Uma, you can just soak in her yumminess. If you have met Uma, you'll probably endure it anyhow... After you watch the clip, check out "afro-czech sound system" post I made in June to contrast her waking up style and hair growth!
October 17, 2006
8 months and crawling on all fours!
NEWSFLASH!!!
UMA OFFICIALLY CRAWLS
(no more commando scooting on her tummy!)
goddess help us she is also pulling up to standing---
this all in the last few days!
the little stinker!
i'm working on a groovy video to document this milestone properly......
stay tuned.
check out the purple crawling fluffyface below
UMA OFFICIALLY CRAWLS
(no more commando scooting on her tummy!)
goddess help us she is also pulling up to standing---
this all in the last few days!
the little stinker!
i'm working on a groovy video to document this milestone properly......
stay tuned.
check out the purple crawling fluffyface below
October 6, 2006
grandmother tree
A few weeks ago was the anniversary of my mother's death. Uma and I went to the tree where we scattered her ashes up on Mt. Tabor. We sat on the "grandmother tree" for quite a while and nursed, played and soaked up the day. I remembered that it was a year ago, a few days before the funeral in Maryland, that I first saw my belly move. It was so bittersweet, so bizarre. I felt the wonder of new life simutaneously with the sharp pain of loss. Now, one year later, here is this amazing being who is totally alive and my mother is somehow not.
October 4, 2006
puke and poop
Uma and I just survived our first shared tummy flu. I would love to think that somehow we earned our badge and can now check it of the list of "must have" parental duties, but I somehow doubt it.
It's been comical. If we weren't laughing we'd be crying because having a baby puke every ten minutes and puking yourself isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I was worried sick about her, but the little champ has been in great spirits despite the amount of fluid coming out of her every orifice.
Thank goddess. If she lost her babbling zest, I would freak.
Day one was both of us puking, day two was diarrhea for Uma, day three was diarrhea for me and both ends for Uma. Day four was a bit of both for each of us, but much less dramatic.
We did about five huge loads of laundry filled with several sets of sheets, DOZENS of outfits that were soiled daily, and every towel in the house.
There were many graphic details that some of you readers might find entertaining, but others may not appreciate. All I can say is that it reminded me very much of India.
It's been comical. If we weren't laughing we'd be crying because having a baby puke every ten minutes and puking yourself isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I was worried sick about her, but the little champ has been in great spirits despite the amount of fluid coming out of her every orifice.
Thank goddess. If she lost her babbling zest, I would freak.
Day one was both of us puking, day two was diarrhea for Uma, day three was diarrhea for me and both ends for Uma. Day four was a bit of both for each of us, but much less dramatic.
We did about five huge loads of laundry filled with several sets of sheets, DOZENS of outfits that were soiled daily, and every towel in the house.
There were many graphic details that some of you readers might find entertaining, but others may not appreciate. All I can say is that it reminded me very much of India.
October 2, 2006
best friends
Zeke lives next door and he is Uma's boyfriend. They roll around in the grass and joyfully eat flowers togetherSeptember 16, 2006
Back to school
This last week was our first official week back to school. It was a week of heartbreak and tears for Ms. Uma and I. She has been exclusively taken care of by Shannon and other friends in the past.
Last week was her first time staying with a "stranger".
The stranger was a girl I hired to be our school nanny and poor Uma was NOT HAPPY about being left with her.
It turned out that the nanny was not happy about being left with a crying baby and so now we have no nanny.
We'll figure it out, of course. Who knew sweet lil angel Uma could scare off a nanny like that?
It made me so sad to leave little muffinface crying her eyes out.
Like a dagger through the heart.
That all said, no one said the first weeks back to work were easy for anyone. Lucky for me, my class seems to be pretty darn wonderful. It's likely the "honeymoon period", but I sure do like those kids a lot. A good bunch of eggs.
I realize that if I don't consciously stay incredibly positive about the whole deal, then I might as well forget it. I have to have a great attitude if I'm going to survive.
Uma is developing quite a personality. She is very willful, totally driven. There are certain items that she adores and must have within moments of seeing them; my cell phone, my keys, my glasses, any water bottle or glass, and the computer keyboard. None of these items are ideal for sticking in one's mouth and drenching in slobber, but Uma just finds these things irresistible.
I love that she knows exactly what she wants and really goes for it, however her fire is formidable. I sometimes feel like I'm getting a taste of what the twos or the teen years might hold and I am humbled.
She is talking up a storm! She has been doing baba and dada (the art movement) for months now but now she is saying mama all day long (not exactly to me but it's still heartwarming:)
She tries to say "kittycat" whenever she sees a cat, it comes out "kkkktttt" like a whisper and it's incredibly sweet. One night a few weeks back, she whisoerd "kittycat" clear as a bell in the middle of the night. It might have been a dream but it certainly was lucid.
She also says"dg" for dog.
She loves animals, apparently.
Last week, she started waving.
It seemed like an accident that stuck. I guess most things are that way, really. She waved and said "Hiiii" and everyone around gasped and applauded. Since then, she waves all day. It's reminiscent of a flamenco dancer. She twists her wrist and waves at just about everything. The other day, I swear she said "bye" and waved too. Of course, no one else was there to witness that.
Although Uma loves to chatter away, she also loves good, old-fashioned screeching. I guess you could call it screaming, but it's all in pleasure. This one is so happy to be alive.
Last week was her first time staying with a "stranger".
The stranger was a girl I hired to be our school nanny and poor Uma was NOT HAPPY about being left with her.
It turned out that the nanny was not happy about being left with a crying baby and so now we have no nanny.
We'll figure it out, of course. Who knew sweet lil angel Uma could scare off a nanny like that?
It made me so sad to leave little muffinface crying her eyes out.
Like a dagger through the heart.
That all said, no one said the first weeks back to work were easy for anyone. Lucky for me, my class seems to be pretty darn wonderful. It's likely the "honeymoon period", but I sure do like those kids a lot. A good bunch of eggs.
I realize that if I don't consciously stay incredibly positive about the whole deal, then I might as well forget it. I have to have a great attitude if I'm going to survive.
Uma is developing quite a personality. She is very willful, totally driven. There are certain items that she adores and must have within moments of seeing them; my cell phone, my keys, my glasses, any water bottle or glass, and the computer keyboard. None of these items are ideal for sticking in one's mouth and drenching in slobber, but Uma just finds these things irresistible.
I love that she knows exactly what she wants and really goes for it, however her fire is formidable. I sometimes feel like I'm getting a taste of what the twos or the teen years might hold and I am humbled.
She is talking up a storm! She has been doing baba and dada (the art movement) for months now but now she is saying mama all day long (not exactly to me but it's still heartwarming:)
She tries to say "kittycat" whenever she sees a cat, it comes out "kkkktttt" like a whisper and it's incredibly sweet. One night a few weeks back, she whisoerd "kittycat" clear as a bell in the middle of the night. It might have been a dream but it certainly was lucid.
She also says"dg" for dog.
She loves animals, apparently.
Last week, she started waving.
It seemed like an accident that stuck. I guess most things are that way, really. She waved and said "Hiiii" and everyone around gasped and applauded. Since then, she waves all day. It's reminiscent of a flamenco dancer. She twists her wrist and waves at just about everything. The other day, I swear she said "bye" and waved too. Of course, no one else was there to witness that.
Although Uma loves to chatter away, she also loves good, old-fashioned screeching. I guess you could call it screaming, but it's all in pleasure. This one is so happy to be alive.
September 12, 2006
Here is our lovely ex-pat friend, Dylan, with Uma on Sauvies Island picking blackberries. Dylan came all the way from Amsterdam to make an appearance on Uma's blog. She stated her intentions clearly after arriving, she was happy to visit and all, but she really just wanted a blog mention. Love ya, Dylan!
August 31, 2006
trip to the beach
We took a trip to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago when our friend Nikki was in town from Brooklyn (sorry, Dylan!))))
August 16, 2006
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