Arwen's Weblog tag:bradchoate.com,2008:/arwen//22 2008-08-06T22:31:32Z Movable Type 4.1 "Coffee" house tag:bradchoate.com,2008:/arwen//22.2696 2008-08-06T22:30:25Z 2008-08-06T22:31:32Z At Starbucks this morning before going to the free movie, Arwen said, "This place smells like sugar."... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ At Starbucks this morning before going to the free movie, Arwen said, "This place smells like sugar."

]]> He's and She's tag:bradchoate.com,2008:/arwen//22.2688 2008-04-25T18:10:15Z 2008-04-25T18:24:34Z Yesterday I rolled Arwen's window down so she could say goodbye to a little friend, and her purple balloon got sucked out the window! If you've ever witnessed this, it is a true heartbreak for a child. Their tears are... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Yesterday I rolled Arwen's window down so she could say goodbye to a little friend, and her purple balloon got sucked out the window! If you've ever witnessed this, it is a true heartbreak for a child. Their tears are genuine.

Trying to put a good spin on her tragedy I said, "But he's free now! He got his freedom!"

I expected more tears, but she said, "You mean she."

]]> April 22nd tag:bradchoate.com,2008:/arwen//22.2686 2008-04-23T05:57:47Z 2008-04-23T06:03:13Z She climbed into bed with us this morning, as she does every morning, and we oohed and aahed about her being 4! But she says, "But I'm not big." I know what she means. She's been babied. She is the... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ She climbed into bed with us this morning, as she does every morning, and we oohed and aahed about her being 4! But she says, "But I'm not big." I know what she means. She's been babied. She is the baby, and she still looks like a baby. Her face is still round; her hands are still dimpled. Arwen is a peanut. All the strangers at Trader Joe's seem surprised when she tells them she's turning 4, not 3.

Highlights: chocolate muffins, a tea party board game and cheeseburgers with her family. The big party with all her little girlfriends is still 10 days away.

]]> It is a big job, but somebody's got to do it. tag:bradchoate.com,2007:/arwen//22.2666 2007-07-28T22:32:46Z 2007-11-23T01:37:58Z Arwen and I were kickin' back on the couch - all the delicious fruit from the farmer's market settling in our bellies. She said, "Mama, you sooo brave." Mom - "Really? How am I brave?" Arwen - "You feed us."... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Arwen and I were kickin' back on the couch - all the delicious fruit from the farmer's market settling in our bellies. She said, "Mama, you sooo brave."

Mom - "Really? How am I brave?"

Arwen - "You feed us."

]]> Faerie princess perfume tag:bradchoate.com,2007:/arwen//22.2611 2007-02-07T04:10:30Z 2007-02-07T05:53:07Z Every Saturday is pancake day. For a few hours after breakfast, when I kiss Arwen's round, little cheek, her mouth smells of syrup :)... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Every Saturday is pancake day. For a few hours after breakfast, when I kiss Arwen's round, little cheek, her mouth smells of syrup :)

]]> Arwen's changes tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2586 2006-10-29T16:13:39Z 2006-10-30T19:19:41Z I'm not sure what's happened to our faerie princess. She still binges on affection, but it's harder to coax out of her. It's now harder to distract her from her temper or general grouchiness. Making up songs is my best... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ I'm not sure what's happened to our faerie princess. She still binges on affection, but it's harder to coax out of her. It's now harder to distract her from her temper or general grouchiness.

Making up songs is my best diversion, especially for her "nappy pappy". The songs usually involve her being in my belly at one time. That gets her attention, 'cause isn't that a strange concept to a child? I used to be where? I used to be so tiny you couldn't see me?

Her 1/2 point (at 2 1/2) has also seen her get a lot louder. We love hearing her say her new words and watch her understand abstract ideas and express them the way babies do. Today walking across the Trader Joe's parking lot with all 3 of them, I reminded them to look for cars. "Stay alert," I said. Halfway across, Arwen saw a car, plenty of yards away that it didn't matter, backing out of its parking spot. She yells about as loud as she possibly can, "Alert! Alert! Car. Alert!" So she's not the faerie princess we thought she was, but I'm happier to see her genius. And they are geniuses at this age. They're learning far more and faster than I possibly could at 31.

]]> New thing today tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2585 2006-10-29T16:10:55Z 2006-10-29T16:11:56Z Arwen can tickle herself :)... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Arwen can tickle herself :)

]]> Starting conversations tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2577 2006-09-08T22:41:52Z 2006-09-08T23:22:18Z Picking Brad up from the train station 2 days ago, Arwen pipes up from the back of the van, "Dad?" "Yes." " 'Member cah wash?" A week earlier we'd gotten the van washed, which is like being at the carnival... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Picking Brad up from the train station 2 days ago, Arwen pipes up from the back of the van, "Dad?"

"Yes."

" 'Member cah wash?" A week earlier we'd gotten the van washed, which is like being at the carnival for a toddler, well, for Mama too.

"Yes, I remember." Daddy answered.

"Dat fun!"

She immediately picked up on how much we loved this conversation. I believe it's the first one she has started herself. Just out of her own thoughts, decided to contribute to the daily art of conversing. So she has repeated it a few times, always in the van going to or from the Bart station. Only her last sentence has been shortened to just "Fun!"

]]> Taking to the kiddie pool tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2559 2006-07-17T00:15:52Z 2006-07-17T00:24:33Z Well, she's finally taking to the kiddie pool. The secret is setting it up early enough in the day, right in the sunshine, so that it warms up by the afternoon. It's good because she loves being outside, but she... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Well, she's finally taking to the kiddie pool. The secret is setting it up early enough in the day, right in the sunshine, so that it warms up by the afternoon. It's good because she loves being outside, but she would get soooo hot because she wasn't staying wet like the others. As all of mine leave babyhood, they really take to getting splashed. She still knows when to get out of the way though when Savannah and Seth are splashing like mad, just not big enough yet to keep up.

]]> Let's remember what's really important tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2554 2006-07-13T05:37:22Z 2006-07-13T05:40:46Z For the last several days, every time we pray at dinner or bedtime, Arwen twines her fingers together as usual, but now, she thanks God for lollipops.... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ For the last several days, every time we pray at dinner or bedtime, Arwen twines her fingers together as usual, but now, she thanks God for lollipops.

]]> Books tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2548 2006-06-25T06:22:58Z 2006-06-25T06:22:58Z What we're reading now: I Hear (a book of sounds) Yellow and Yummy (Pooh book) Happy Baby 123 Curious George's Are You Curious? She's suddenly in love with books. She's caught on that most of the times that she comes... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ What we're reading now:

I Hear (a book of sounds)
Yellow and Yummy (Pooh book)
Happy Baby 123
Curious George's Are You Curious?

She's suddenly in love with books. She's caught on that most of the times that she comes to us with a book, we say yes! especially Daddy. Once the house starts waking up, he gets her out of her crib and she snuggles between us, insisting that Daddy reads and that I give her half my pillow.

]]> More cussing! tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2540 2006-06-15T05:00:15Z 2006-06-15T05:00:15Z Because Arwen has heard our discussing her new cuss word, and our laughing about it, she's saying it that much more!... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Because Arwen has heard our discussing her new cuss word, and our laughing about it, she's saying it that much more!

]]> Winnie the Pooh's cuss word tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2539 2006-06-13T18:08:18Z 2006-06-13T18:08:19Z When we've told Arwen no, or something doesn't agree with her, her little expletive is "Oh, bothuh!" (bother).... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ When we've told Arwen no, or something doesn't agree with her, her little expletive is "Oh, bothuh!" (bother).

]]> Get candy, Get candy, Get candy! ....J. Seinfeld tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2533 2006-06-07T06:51:28Z 2006-06-07T19:18:43Z I'll never tell my children this, but I find their desire for sweets very endearing, looking up at me at the kitchen counter, begging, pleading, a little hopping, offended at the thought of being left out! .....my little trio of... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ I'll never tell my children this, but I find their desire for sweets very endearing, looking up at me at the kitchen counter, begging, pleading, a little hopping, offended at the thought of being left out! .....my little trio of beggars.

]]> A few of her words tag:bradchoate.com,2006:/arwen//22.2527 2006-06-02T05:43:28Z 2006-06-02T19:53:51Z Savannah ="Eh" Seth = "Et" Seffie = "Ety" (and my favorite) "I lah-you, Mama." "I lah-you, Daddy."... Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Savannah ="Eh"
Seth = "Et"
Seffie = "Ety"
(and my favorite)
"I lah-you, Mama."
"I lah-you, Daddy."

]]>