Wo Go?

My mom likes to talk about how, when I was little, I would walk up to complete strangers and ask them: "What doing?" My brother, meanwhile, was always pointing to things and asking: "This? This?" My mom and dad were never quite sure if he was just stockpiling as many words as possible, or if he was testing them.

Stella's question is "Where go?" Or, as she pronounces it "Wo Go?"

(Obligatory Stella photo.)

Sometimes, its particular: "Wo soothie go?" Sometimes, its joking. "Wo go?" ...as she tosses the item in question over her shoulder. Sometimes, its enigmatic, leaving us to guess what she's even asking about. Other times, it almost seems rhetorical, as she asks about something sitting directly in front of her. Regardless, I've never encountered someone so obsessed with the situational geographic locations of various trivial objects.

It probably doesn't help that, often, if you ask her a question in return, she will greet it with a "huh?" as though she didn't hear you. A sample conversation:

"Wo go?"
"Where did what go?"
"Huh?"
"What are you looking for?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Soothie."
"It's in your hand."
"Two soothie. Wo go?"
"The other soothie?"
"Huh?"
"Where did your other soothie go?"
"Wo go?"
"I don't know."

...You get the picture.

Actually, it's generally pretty cute.

Another favorite activity of Stella's, when not reading or wondering where things are, is putting her various stuffed animals and dolls to sleep. She'll spend hours dutifully and diligently spreading her blankets and towels out gently over them. Leading Sarah and I to observe that they must have all been bitten by tsetse flies, because they are the sleepiest batch of play things we've ever encountered.

Some examples...

My old Snoopy stuffed animal asleep on a bin full of his clothes.

The baby in her doll house, asleep under a giant hand towel.

Her bath penguin, asleep on the coffee table. Note: That these are all just pictures I took this morning.

At least she now lets their heads stick out from under their blankets. Originally, she'd cover them from head to two... which sort of made our house look like one giant homicide crime scene.

Transitions

It's a busy time in the Hill-Stach home--baby number two's arrival keeps inching ever closer, and Stella's making strides of her own every day....


I don't know why, but Stella looks like such a big girl in this photo to me--she's growing up!

One thing I didn't know before having a baby was how much life would revolve around going to the bathroom. When you have an infant, checking for wet diapers is one of the few communication channels you have for knowing if the baby is eating enough. You know you're really in love with your little one, because you think even their poop (at least until they start eating food) is cute. And then there's potty training.

Somehow, like a number of things, Tyler and I just fell into potty training. We had gotten some training pants at some point--her child care teacher must have mentioned at some point she thought Stella was getting interested in undies that older kids were wearing. One Saturday she wanted to wear them, so we put them on and tried to keep her off the carpet. She wore them most the day that day and most the day Sunday except when we went out to run errands and stuck a diaper back on. (In some cases, over the undies, which she didn't want to take off.)

On Monday, we brought undies and diapers to school and told the teacher Stella had started wearing them. She asked if it was OK if they just stopped using diapers at school, and--poof--there you had it--we were out of diapers just like that!


Potty time! Also involves lots of book time.

Surprisingly, it doesn't even feel so much like "training." I was sure there would be something else involved--sticker charts or M&Ms, a weekend of "boot camp" with Stella running around make a mess of things. Rather it's been a few weeks of reminding Stella to use the potty, getting very excited when things happen in the potty, and getting less and less excited about the occasional accident. I wouldn't call it a done deal, but she almost always makes it through the night, she's not yet had an accident in the car or in public, and the biggest challenge to overcome is having BMs in the potty, but she's made great strides on that front in the last few days. So yay for no more diapers, at least for a little while!

Stella made another big transition right around the same time--moving from the crib to a big girl bed! Funnily enough, the night before we got the bed, I was assuring a friend we were in no hurry to move her out and didn't expect her to go into a bed until after the baby came. But a friend made a comment about being careful about it seeming like the baby was kicking Stella out of something that was hers, a great bunk bed was on sale, and--ta-da!--big girl bed it is. That transition has been shockingly easy. Stella took right to it. She hasn't been getting up earlier, more often, or coming out of her room in the middle of the night. On the first day she was home for a nap, she did discover she could climb out if she wanted to (and, cutely, was laughing loudly, clearly wanting us to know she had discovered this as well!).


The first test run. She had to tuck in her doll, Claudette, next to her, along with a blanket and stuffed animal. She also picked out the bedding--loves the animals!

On other fronts, she is mostly totally awesome and fun (except when she's not). She's suddenly gotten less picky about food (yay!) and is getting more and more talkative. She's talking more about being a "big sister" so that seems like a good sign. Here are a few of Stella's current favorite things:


Riding her tricycle--she's getting better at peddling and steering! And she's learned about helmets at school. Since we are (apparently) negligent parents, she decided to make her own with this toy box.


Picking out her own clothes. On this particular day, she needed to wear her frog hat, her flower jacket, her dog purse, and her owl socks on her hands as mittens. Whatever works.


Taking photos--I think the self-portraits are accidental, but cute.


Helping cook!

I'm really enjoying this stage, where Stella's still really affectionate and fun to play with, but also independent in many ways too. I have to admit that as the weeks go by, I'm really trying to appreciate the things that have gotten easy with one child who's older. We're about to enter a whole new ball game...

If we get around to it this weekend, I'll add a photo of me at 24 weeks!

Introducing Baby #2

This morning Sarah, Stella and I hopped in the car and drove to Swedish Ballard for Sarah's ultra-sound appointment. I could make small talk, but instead, let's jump straight to the images, since I know that's what the Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles are all eager to see....


Boo! OK, so this image is a little skeletal, and that blur above the baby's head makes it look like it has my haircut, but look at all the amazing detail, you can see babies head, and left forearm and hand really clearly (and the their respective bones). Baby is giving us a little wave!


Here you can see the baby's lower right(?) leg and its foot while it pushes off of the inside of Sarah. While we were watching, at one point, it gave a little kick that Sarah could feel. She said it was pretty cool actually seeing the little movements she's been feeling increasingly. Recently, holding my hand to her belly, I've even felt a little kick or two.


I love this little detail. The perfect little hand. While not one of those fancy 3D ultrasounds you see ads for, its still amazing the level of detail that will flicker into view. Like this...


Here you can see its head, with its right arm sort of reaching toward us, and its left arm folded up around its head. While most of the head images looked like little skulls, this one you actually get a sense of the heads shape more (though the lower lip and jaw appear to be hidden by "darkness." Still its interesting to see how this baby definitely looks different than the ultrasounds of Stella. As Sarah observed, "its already its own little person."

And, just to compare, here's a little profile that matches up pretty closely with Stella's from her ultrasound (though flipped):



As for Stella, she was pretty non-plus about the whole thing. I'm pretty sure the images were too abstract, and she's still trying to get her head around the idea that there is a "baby in mommy's belly." Its funny because sometimes she doesn't seem interested, other times she seems excited by the idea and occasionally you can tell she feels a little threatened by the whole thing. For example, during the ultrasound she suddenly exclaimed "don't want baby!" ...Much the same way she would declare her dislike for a dinner she didn't want.

And, just so that this isn't all just pictures of the inside of Sarah's belly, here's the outside!


Sarah at 21 Weeks!

Quilts! (a suprisingly non-baby-centric blog entry)

I started quilting when Tyler and I returned home from our round-the-world trip. I had two weeks before going to back to work and, besides getting over jetlag, finding an apartment and moving our belongings out of storage, I had plenty of time. We were staying with my in-laws, and my mother-in-law, Susan, is a master quilter. It seemed like the time to take a crash course (and to have the perfect opportunity to raid her fabric stash, use all her supplies and have her tutelage readily available!). I didn't start small; my first quilt was a bed-sized quilt Tyler and I still use. The pattern was probably about as easy and forgiving as one could be for a beginner: cut many long strips of fabric, cut them in uneven lengths, sew together, and--ta-da!--quilt top made.



My first quilt: a Kaffe Fassett pattern in various blues, creams and some browns.

Before then, I had dabbled in various crafts, but mostly when I was much younger. Some sewing, some cross-stitching, but I hadn't really done really anything craft-y since middle-school. The first hook was probably set when Tyler and I got engaged. It was tradition for Susan to make a wedding quilt for her sons; the fiancee got to pick the pattern and the fabric. I was in heaven amidst all the fabric options. I loved finding fun patterns, quirky combinations and using lots of different colors and designs.

My second quilt was a small, lap quilt for my friend, Alison. She had also put us up as Tyler and I transitioned back to work and life in Seattle and had been really supportive of my first quilt attempt. This time I was slightly more ambitious--I had seen a pattern I liked online that I wanted to replicate. Still fairly straightforward, but it did mean that I had to figure out my own pattern.


Alison's quilt in browns, pinks and golds.

Then I was pregnant. Between Susan's quilting and my mother's amazing knitting, this baby wasn't going to suffer for coverings, but I wanted to make my own baby quilt. I went simple, with a pretty traditional square patchwork design, but again mixed it up with some retro fabrics, some Asian, an eye-popping orange, and flannel sock monkeys on the back.


Stella's quilt, in gender neutral blue, green and yellow.

So now it's baby number two's turn. I know it's practically tradition to not finish the second baby's project, but I'm on a mission. I had a hard time getting started on this one. I picked fabrics and decided they were too mature. I picked a design and then changed my mind. Finally I decided to tackle something I've wanted to do for a long-time--pinwheels.


Baby Number 2's quilt: probably my most ambitious piecing and first time with prairie points, too.

I'm glad I waited until now to do it. It definitely requires more attention to detail and more consistent sewing then I could have pulled off with my first few quilts. I've learned over time that it really is worth it to get it right, measure closely, sew straight lines and pull things apart and start over if they're not right. (It's funny--I enjoy that kind of fastidiousness now with sewing but I still prefer cooking over baking for its forgiveness of improvisation.)

I'm thankful that meeting Tyler and then Susan introduced this kind of activity back into my life. I love the fabrics, the opportunity to connect with other sewers and crafters, the creative outlet and the way to show love and appreciation to people in my life. I have far more ideas and quilts I want to make then time!

PS: here's how I'm looking at 19 weeks. You can definitely tell this is a second pregnancy. Here I am at 19 weeks for comparison!

Two-Years-Old/Baby Number Two

It's been too long since I posted. That's mostly because right before Stella's second birthday, I went from being "happy-go-lucky" pregnant to "24-hours-a-day nauseous and exhausted" pregnant. For 8 weeks. But more on that later.

Stella's two. And until about a week ago, I was regularly telling people how awesome I thought two was. Sure, we had moments, but on the whole, it's been pretty great. High points: unsolicited "I love you"s, singing (particularly "itsy, bitsy spider"), "reading" books like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" from memory, and generally being engaged, talkative, curious and fun.


Stella in her butterfly pants and with her first ponytail. She was quite pleased with herself!

Well, a week ago, Stella decided to embrace two in a new way. And it's still not terrible, but I have a feeling we're getting a taste of the next year....or so. Now when she sits down for dinner, she immediately says, "I don't like it!" and pushes her plate away. The response to nearly any suggestion is "no", and today she pulled a teenage move by getting offended by Tyler for some mysterious reason (have I mentioned she can have a flair for the dramatic and sensitive?), ran to her room, and shut the door hard. I thought we wouldn't get that for at least 10 more years! There's also the bedtime procrastination, the fight to put on her coat *every* morning, you get the idea. I know this is an important stage, and she's just asserting herself, but living with a constant contrarian can be taxing.

But overall I'm feeling much less taxed lately. Baby number 2 is doing her/his thing, but I'm back to having energy and generally feeling good. Nineteen weeks tomorrow--nearly halfway! The due date is July 14th, and I'm pretty excited about having a summer baby: sunlight, long days, lots less worry about keeping the baby warm. Poor baby could stand to have a better nickname, but it doesn't mean any less actual excitement. It's interesting being pregnant again. I'm more impatient to get the show on the road, but also more aware that there really is a baby we just don't know yet who's in the process of developing. Stella doesn't seem quite sure what to make of it yet. Sometimes she knows the baby is in my belly (one morning she was insisting it was a girl), and other times she says the baby is in her tummy or that *she's* the baby. This will be an adjustment. Ultrasound is in two weeks--so we'll have pics to post soon! And it's probably nearly time to start with the belly pics--I'm actually still not showing much, but it's not far off....

"Book!" Click! "Mommy!" Click! "Red!" Click!

It's been a long time since I posted here. So long, in fact, my little "Stella Reporting" header graphic barely even looks like me any more. But, I figured it was worth doing an entry so that I could make a big announcement:

I am a photographer.

After much pleading, I finally managed to convince mommy and daddy to let me use their camera. Daddy insisted on trying to explain the "proper" way to hold it and showed me where the button was that caused the camera to click and (sometimes) the light to flash. But, after these brief instructions, it was time to show the world my unique photographic vision. A couple of quick notes on how to take a proper picture:

1) It's important to announce the name of the subject, as you take its picture. This lets the subject know you are photographing them. For example if you want to take a picture of the giant stuff elephant in the living room, shout "elfant" first.

2) Place at least one finger over the lens. I'm not sure why this is important, but it is. Trust me.

3) Aim the camera slightly above or below the subject. This makes the photo more artistic.

Now, on to my photos...


A self-portrait.

My baby, Claudette.

Can you spot the elephant? Where'd it go?

Bike!

Mommy. Mommy is a great subject for my photos.

Daddy. Meh.

Mommy and daddy.

My feet.


A plate for pie. I discovered that putting the camera on a flat surface and pressing the button works well.

Mommy again.

Me and my soothie... plus daddy photo-bombing me


"Melmo" and a doll that my friends, Liam and Meerim, brought me from East Timor, laying on the rug that my parents say I can't have juice on.

Books and mommy.

...Well, that's just a small sample of the 160 or so photos I've taken. Daddy promises he'll upload a bunch of them to Flickr, but we'll see how that goes. After all, he did end his last post by saying "more soon" and that was, what, over a month ago.

Speaking of which, a lot has happened in the last month or so. Daddy turned 35, and must be having some sort of mid-life crisis early, because he got a new tattoo. He says it is me, but it looks like a flower and a star... go figure. We also had a lot of fun during Christmas. First with family up here, and then we went down to Texas to see some more family, but maybe I'll see if mommy wants to post about that.

Oh, and one other piece of news, I guess. Mommy and daddy keep trying to tell me there's a baby in mommy's belly.

I have no idea what that's all about.

'Tis the season...

'Tis the season... to fall behind on blog entries. Fa la la la la la la!

I can't believe that nearly a month has passed since our last entry here, and that last time we checked in, it was only a little after Halloween. Yowza! Anyhow, let's see if I untangle the last couple of weeks and get everyone up to speed!

Late November brought not only Thanksgiving, but also Stella's 2nd Birthday! Since Stella's actual Birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day this year, we decided to throw a party for her on the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving week. While Stella can sometimes be overwhelmed by large groups, this time she really seemed to enjoy being surrounded by her friends, playmates and ...well... cupcakes!

It is basically impossible to take a picture of a room full of 2 year old's and their parents, but this off-the-cuff image catches some of the chaos.

Cupcakes from Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes!

Stella's old nanny, Tirza, and her daughter, Natalie, were able to come to the party. It was great seeing the two girls play with each other after several months of not seeing each other, but you could tell it was hard for Stella to say "bye" at the end of the party.

After that, it was on to Thanksgiving proper. And while, sadly, my Grandmother, Aunt and Cousin's were unable to attend our Thanksgiving dinner because my Grandma had surgery just a couple days before (I've been assured everything went smoothly), we did end up with a full table since Sarah's mom, stepfather, bother and sister-in-law came into town to celebrate with us (as well as Ambika), and be there for Stella's actual 2nd Birthday...

Stella blows out the candles on her cake. (Thanks dad, for catching this picture.)

Unfortunately, while I did click several photos during the actual meal itself, they all pretty much turned out dark and/or blurry, so I'll spare you. But, you can be assured that Sarah cooked another wonderful Holiday meal!

Owing largely to the snow (more on that later), most of the rest of that week was spent hanging out and relaxing with Sarah's family. But, we did make one or two trips out to do some sightseeing with them. Including a trip to the aquarium (which, again only yielded one or two photos) and to the Museum of Flight.

A typical scene from that week, curled up on the couch, talking, read and napping.

Sarah, Tim and Jeanne standing in front of Air Force One, which we got to walk through. I'll spare you the pictures I took of the Air Force One bathrooms...

...but I won't spare you the picture I took of the Lockheed Blackbird. AKA: The X-Men's jet. I geeked out a little.

The one cute picture from our aquarium visit. Sarah and I have gotten bad about not taking pictures any more. Need to get back in the habit. Still, this one is cute.

After Tim and Jeanne left, Sarah's mom and step-dad accompanied us on one other family tradition: Buying a Christmas Tree. For the last couple years, we've bought our tree at the Dunshee House, a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS. A great way to combine two Holiday traditions (buying a tree and giving) into one!

The tree strapped to the top of our car!

That evening, after Sarah's mom and Don had left, Sarah and I decorated the tree... with Stella's help of course. Last year, when it came time to decorate the tree, Stella was just a little over one, not yet walking unassisted, and was in bed before we even began unpacking the ornaments. This year, she was more than happy to help out. Surprisingly, she didn't show much interest in breaking or throwing anything, and instead did her best to actual hook the ornaments on to some of the lower branches. Usually these attempts ended with a plaintive "help peas," but still its the thought that counts.

Making sure every ornament is "just right."

Stella checks out a Christmas book with the tree glowing in the background.

The "family by the tree" photo. Something that's become bit of an annual tradition.

As I mentioned above, it also snowed that week. The first flakes started to drift down during Stella's Birthday Party, but it wasn't until Monday that things started to get white. And, unlike most Seattle snows, this snow actually stuck around for most of the week. The whole thing seemed eerily similar to the snow storm right after Stella's birth, but Sarah and I tried to just roll with the punches, making sure things went smoothly with her family and the Holiday plans.

For her part, Stella seemed nonplus about the snow. She took a couple strolls in it, but was otherwise content to stay warm in doors.

Trying to catch snowflakes with mommy.

Taking it all in...

...but then heading back inside to get warm.

Well, when I initially started typing this, I had hoped to get things caught up through Mid-December, but just realizes that it is nearing 4:00pm, and that I need to get ready to head down to Stella's Day Care to take part in some holiday festivities there (cookies and singing). Sarah is, sadly, not feeling well. Both her and Stella have been struggling with another string of colds recently which is another reason we've fallen behind here. But, hopefully, Sarah or I will be able to do a follow up entry in the next couple of days.

That said, I wanted to end by noting how much Stella has changed in the last couple of months. More and more, her single words are being strung into simple sentences. And, more than once, I've been struck by the fact that I almost feel like I'm having actual conversations with her. Her favorite question is still "wo go?" (where go? ...and half the time the challenge is just figuring out what the "wo" is), but she's also big on color and counting (though her version of counting involves repeating "two, three" again and and again). She still loves coloring, but also loves her play dough (which she play cooks with), her toy pots and wooden food, and especially her dolls (which she spends countless hours putting blankets on top of). She loves Elmo, but has a much more complex relationship with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, as seen in this sample conversation:

Stella: Roar!
Me/Sarah: Is the abominable snow monster scary?
Stella: Yeah. (pause) No teeth!
Me/Sarah: Yes. Then they take his teeth out, and he becomes nice.
Stella: Nice! (pause) Wheeeee!
Me/Sarah: Yes, and then the reindeer fly.


Hopefully more, soon.