I love the Beatles. I can’t think of a better way to introduce my daughter to live music than a Beatles cover band. The music is bright and upbeat with out all those saccharine qualities that drive me nuts about so many childrens’ programs. And did I mention that I love the Beatles.
How lucky was I that the first band to headline in the summer concert series at the mall across the street was just such a band? Incidentally, I used to see this band on occasion at the Phoenix Underground, and Doc Maynards, and other Pioneer Square hot spots nearly 20 years ago.
The mall created something of a carnival atmosphere, with food stands and a beer garden and balloons. Oh what fun.
Gem and Daddy had fun too. Although I think they were much more into the balloon we tied to her stroller.
But she did get into the music too
We’ve been trying to get her out of the house for all different kinds of experiences – but a live band across the street couldn’t get much more convenient. The concert series continues with a different band every Wednesday night through the rest of the summer. I think we’ll be back for more.
We don’t have a lot of money to throw around, nearly every penny is accounted for long before our student loans even come in. So buying a crib was a luxury beyond our means, especially because we had a second hand pay yard that she was sleeping in quite well.
The play yard was a perfectly safe place for baby to sleep, and quite frankly, I don’t think she cared one way or another. But it was hell on my back reaching all the way down to two inches off the ground, over the waist high rails, to lift my now 17 pound baby without the use of my knees. My mother-in-law decided that just wont do, and she bought us a crib (Thank you, Grandma!!!). Now little Gem’s bed is the nicest piece of furniture in the house.
Mommy is standing up straighter already – I expect this hunch in my back to disappear in no time.
Every time my husband shaves off his beard, he first shaves his facial hair into interesting and amusing shapes. What he keeps forgetting is that there is a down-side to being married to a blogger. There is a really good chance I’m going to ambush him with a camera and post the results online.
For the record, Baby thought Daddy looked pretty funny too.
You found your voice this month. It started with little coos, sweet little ooohs and aahs. Every once in a while you would giggle or laugh or even squeal. Then in the past couple weeks you really took off. The vowel sounds are studded with consonants. Complex “words” with multiple syllables, each syllable turning on a consonant. It’s amazing to watch, and you seem to enjoy it as well as there seems to be several squeals of delight in each of our conversations.
I love our little conversations. I can talk to you, and I have your undivided attention. I know that wont last forever. In fact, I’ll probably start losing your attention as soon as you start understanding what I’m saying. But for the time being, we’re having a lot of fun.
You’ve started to play, too. You used to just sit in your bouncy seat or swing, and occasionally you would watch the toys dangling over head. Now you reach out and bat at them. You’ve discovered that one of them will circle right over the top of the bar and get stuck up there if you hit it hard enough. You spend a lot of time trying to hit it hard enough.
This morning I sat on the bathroom sink with you in my lap, and you got to play with the little girl in the mirror. You’ve seen her before, we take you to see her all the time. But today, you had a conversation with her. Oh, my, such happy babies.
One of your favorite things to do is to stand up in my lap. These days I just help you with balance, your legs are so strong, you don’t need me to provide any lift at all. These are the times we usually have our conversations, with you standing in my lap.
We’ve discovered that you really like to be around other people. One day while we were having our little talk the kids outside were playing extra loudly. You turned your head and yelled at the window. I’m not quite sure what you said to those kids, but you sure looked happy when you said it. That’s when it occurred to me that you really don’t spend enough time around other kids. We’re going to try to do something about that. I’ve started taking you to story time at the local book store, you really seem to enjoy that. We’ll find some other activities for you too. That will be a little easier once we are able to get a car.
We’ve had some adventures this month. Both Grandmas came out and spent a Sunday with us, and then we went to visit Grandma Candy (Mommy’s Grandma) a couple times too.
Saturday we went to the Seattle Iranian Festival and you absolutely loved it. This was the first opportunity for many of our friends to meet you – and they all just fell in love with you, and you beamed back at them with your room-lighting smiles.
Sunday was Fathers Day. We stayed home and had lots of family cuddle time. Daddy read all the children’s books in the house to you in one sitting. I think we’re going to have to get more. You really enjoy story time.
I’m so proud of the little girl you are becoming and I’m so happy that I get to be your Mommy.
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