language acquisition

It's been a never-ending source of amazement to me to watch Andrew as he gradually picks up new concepts and abilities. Lately, although his practical experience with language still seems limited to making a variety of noises and partial words ("ch" for cheese, "sa" for sock, "sh" for fishies--i.e. goldfish, etc.), his theoretical understanding of language definitely is improving. For instance, if I say, "mommy has to go potty" (I've been told that narrating action to children is good for them, although maybe he doesn't really need this level of detail), he generally responds by promptly trotting over to the bathroom door and looking at me expectantly. And tonight, when I told him it was "time to go 'noosy'" (a word I picked up from Dan who picked it up, I think, from his sister Sarah--it's sort of a cross between "nursing" and "snoozy"), Andrew started a funny little "uh uh uh" whine of excitement and practically ran down the hall to his bedroom. When I opened the door, he made a beeline for the rocking chair and, within minutes, was indeed snoozing away happily.

Hurricane Andrew

While winter weather seems to have (finally) settled into Pennsylvania and other regions of the East coast, an unusual (on second thought, maybe not so unusual) weather phenomenon hit our house: this phenomenon is perhaps better known as Hurricane Andrew. Using his usual initiative, Andrew seized the opportunity afforded by an inattentive moment on his mother's part (I was talking to my boss at the Writing Center), to pull a nearly-full box of Kleenex off the table and strew the contents merrily in his path. I didn't notice until the dirty deed was a fait accompli. When I tried to clean up the mess by stuffing the kleenex back in the original box, Andrew helpfully tried to pull them back out again.



To escape the frigid temperatures that seemed to have settled into State College during the latter part of the week, we took the opportunity on Saturday to drive down to the balmier climes of Washington DC to attend the temple. Some friends of ours (Adam and Lauren Christensen) kindly invited us to go with them and offered to trade babysitting. Personally, I think we got the better end of the deal. While they had to entertain an active Andrew, we got to hold their placid eight-week-old baby, who slept for about half of our shift anyway. It was certainly nice to go to the temple again, not only because we were able to attend a session together! The weather was also cooperative--the sun was shining and the weather was in the fifties. It also seemed to be a day for running into old friends acquaintances: I saw Caitlin Thompson Torgerson (a former roommate); Caitlin's mother (who was a temple worker that day); and my brother Jared's old roommate and former BYU Stat department graduate Alvin (I don't remember his last name!) and his wife; Dan also ran into an old acquaintance from SUU; and we both saw our current bishop and his wife. I suppose that the world is already fairly small when you're Mormon (we seem to have some sort of connection just about anywhere)--but it's even smaller at the temple.

In other news, Andrew seems to have inherited his dad's passion for music--he hasn't quite figured out how to dance to music, but whenever he hears music played he waves his arm up and down in time (sort of) to the music. (He seemed particularly interested in Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker", but that's a different story!) He's pretty funny.

Andrew has also discovered a favorite cubby-hole. He likes to pull aside the box that is nominally supposed to protect our boombox (which is so ancient it probably doesn't really need protection) from Andrew's ravages, and wedge himself in the resulting space. Below, you can see him, sitting proudly by the boombox below the entertainment center. I really think we need to find him some sort of child's chair, since he has this new fascination with sitting in confined spaces. Well, only when it's voluntary--he still hates being restrained in his car seat!

Doldrums

We have very little to report this week, which is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, this means that our lives continue apace and we settle back into the routine that was disrupted by the holidays. On the other hand, we don't have much to say (which may also be a blessing for some!). We did formally receive callings in the Huntington branch: Dan is to work with the young men, and I am (despite my protests) to be the choir director--probably the most challenging calling I've faced so far, and that's including being the Relief Society president! I wasn't nearly as scared of that. Through the kindness of our friend Wendy, Dan and I were also able to enjoy an evening out this week, a respite from parenthood that was much appreciated!

In the absence of any real news, we're compensating by loading our blog with pictures of Andrew. That's what you really want, anyway, isn't it?













This last picture I call my "blue ewok." Because this one-piece outfit is blue and fuzzy and Andrew waddled around the house in it all day, he did look rather like an ewok, sans headpiece and furry face.

Lessons in Destruction

Andrew is apparently not content with simply pulling items out of containers any more. In the last couple of days, he has also figured out creative ways to wreck havoc by putting things in certain less-than-appropriate containers. Yesterday, he dropped one of his Little People farm animals in the toilet and later tried to throw one of Dan's socks away in our kitchen garbage can. (He looked quite pleased with himself too--darn kid is a bit too observant sometimes).

Updates continued

Hopefully this will be our last update (on Christmas, that is), as my memory of those far distant days is becoming increasingly fuzzy. Maybe that has something to do with actually working on my dissertation this week--if I concentrate for too long on the nineteenth-century, it becomes somewhat difficult to focus on the twenty-first.

First, though, we'd like to announce a recent change in our lives--last Sunday, we were given an assignment from our stake to attend the branch in Huntington (about forty miles from here). Three families from our ward (including us) are currently assigned there to help fill in callings as needed. Today was our first day in our new branch--everyone seemed quite friendly and nice. Andrew, though, may prove to be something of a distraction--we still haven't accustomed ourselves to a fully mobile toddler and Andrew took great delight in exploring every room that we were in. I think that he must have visited every sister in Relief society at least once today (more likely two or three times) as he made his rounds around the smallish Relief Society room. He also reduced another toddler to tears, simply by being extremely interested in her business. Her mom finally had to take her out of the room. I worry that he'll distract everyone else, but Dan says (and I think he's right) that the older sisters enjoyed the attention. We haven't received official callings yet, although the branch president today gave us intimations that they may put Dan in the Young Men's and me as choir director (eek! Does anyone else see the problems with that? I tried to explain to him that my family is not exactly known for our singing, but he seemed to think that simply being able to read music qualifies one for directing music. Since I don't always recognize when singing is off-tune--being frequently guilty of that myself--I'm not entirely sure how I would be expected to lead others in tuneful harmonies! However, since nothing has been made official yet, perhaps there's still a slight chance that I might escape that calling).

That said, we return to our Christmas update. We left Cedar City for Provo on the day after Christmas (and apparently just missed a snowstorm that dumped 10 inches of snow on Cedar City and missed the nearby mountain ski resorts almost entirely). We had a quiet day or two with my parents before the rest of the horde descended on Wednesday evening (Justin, Lia, Julia and Eli; Jared, Mitcee and Joshua; and Dan, Andrew and I all stayed at my parents). On Wednesday, my mother and I went to get our hair cut--for me, this was the first hair cut since before Andrew was born! Needless to say, I was long overdue. I also decided to be a little more adventurous than normal (besides, Dixie, our hairdresser, assured me that my hair would be just long enough for the ten inch minimum required to donate it to Locks of Love)--and chopped off a full ten inches. Most of you have already seen my new do, but for those of you who aren't in the vicinity, here's a snapshot. (It looks a little fuzzy here--I promise that it can be much more elegant. At least, when I bother to do it).



Thursday morning--after much debate--we decided to take the kids up to Salt Lake to the Discovery Museum, which is geared towards childrenof all ages with all sorts of learning activities. I think the museum would have been an unqualified hit if it weren't for the fact that most of the other parents along the Wasatch Front seemed to have had the same idea for whiling away a gray winter day (we had opted out of a trip to the zoo because it was so cold outside). There were WAY too many kids there. At any rate, some of the kids liked the exhibit--Andrew liked playing in the water and pulling the plastic vegetables out of a play vegetable garden.


Andrew playing in the water.


Andrew driving a play car. He looks rather stoned here--not sure why. Shortly after this picture was taken, he was driven away by an older toddler who actually knew what the car was for.


Andrew's cousin Emi sitting atop a life-sized model of a horse. I don't think she was too excited to be there.


In one of the cooler parts of the exhibit, kids got to sit inside an actual rescue helicopter. Here, Andrew's cousin Jacob poses for a snapshot.

That afternoon, Jared and Mitcee and Dan and I took our kids over to Jeni and Samuel's house. As part of their kids' Christmas, they had splurged and bought a giant inflatable toy yard. Jacob and Joshua delighted in tearing across the yard and throwing themselves down the slide. Emi just stood inside the yard and bounced up and down, grinning madly the whole time. Andrew was too scared to go into the yard (possibly scared of his larger cousins?), but he did like the slides. Dan and Mitcee entertained themselves by watching and providing their own MST 3000 commentary (for those of you who don't know what this is, don't worry about it!) on Interstella 5555, an anime music video.

Friday was comparatively quiet. Jacob got sick, so Jeni imposed a twenty-four hour quarantine on her kids, and Mitcee had to go up to Salt Lake, so we stayed at my parents' house and played pinochle with my parents, and Scrabble with Jared and Lia, who roundly trounced us.

Saturday commenced our big Christmas celebration. Dan and I spearheaded a breakfast of eggs and waffles, after which we gathered in the front room for presents. We started with a chaotic rendition of the nativity story--while my Dad read the nativity story from the Bible, the grandchildren were supposed to enact the story with the Little people nativity my mom had purchased. However, as you can see from the pictures below, this didn't entirely go as planned. Andrew tried to eat Baby Jesus, and the other children generally wandered around the room with random pieces of the nativity. (At this rate, Mary and Joseph would never have made it to Bethlehem!)





Following the nativity, we distributed presents to each other. Although this, too, was a little chaotic (none of the grandkids could wait for anyone else to open their presents), everyone seemed to enjoy it--and we're blessed to be affluent enough that Christmas is no hardship. After we had exchanged gifts, my mom brought up her characteristic mountain of presents from the basement--literally a bag full for each person! I think the highlight of the morning for my mom was not seeing the gifts opened, but my finding her Alaskan ring (which my dad had purchased special for her on our cruise--it has Alaskan gold in the center of the stone), which she had lost a week or so before and despaired of finding, at the bottom of a bag of clothes for Andrew. Andrew was also characteristically helpful--every time another child opened a present or toy, Andrew had to help them play with it (which caused more than a few protests and tears).



That afternoon, while the children napped, the grownups enjoyed a rousing game of Boxers or Briefs. From this, we learned that Justin is the real Slim Shady; that Jared likes to dress up in spandex on the weekends and play air guitar; and that the thing I most need is a "real man" (a card that Dan himself handed me!).

We're also proud to announce that Andrew generally wrecked havoc during his brief stay in Provo. He managed to make every one of his cousins cry at least once: he stepped on and bent Jacob's prize pirate sword; he continually made Julia cry by trying to get in her business (and this despite her parents' frequent reminders that "Julia, you're bigger than he is and you can move faster--just move away from him!"); he terrified Emi (we think because he is both bigger than she is--if five months younger--and because he was at that awkward stage of learning how to walk where he walked with his arms outstretched and subsequently looked like a small Frankenstein); and he made Eli cry to (often by accidentally knocking her over or trying to sit on her). Below, you can see how pleased Eli was to share her Dad's lap with Andrew.




As always, Andrew lost no time in discovering the cupboards and "taking inventory."

Monday morning, we indulged in an orgy of creativity, making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. My creation (made with Julia), you can see below--it was rather a sad specimen. (It was not "a boxcar with a getaway slide in the back, just in case," as has been suggested elsewhere--it was just a partially collapsed house whose architect was decidedly lacking in creativity). Lia and Samuel were much more creative, building respectively a cathedral and a kind of medieval fortress.





All in all, it was, as Dan put it, a "rip-roaring, feel-good time." (If sometimes more of a "rip-roaring" than "feel-good" time!)

More updates

Those not technologically challenged (like me) in our readership will rejoice to see that I've finally figured out how to add a title to our blog. (It took me long enough! I finally realized it was a simple matter of answering "yes" instead of "no" to a question about the blog settings). I realize that I'm still woefully behind in updating the blog (not a mention yet of the craziness that was the Collings household during Christmas. No fears, I'll get there. But maybe not today).

Mostly, we wanted to interrupt this blog to provide a brief update on the life of Andrew. (Wait, how is that interrupting since that's essentially what this blog is? Don't ask silly questions). This has been a momentous week for Andrew. He was taken to the doctor's office on Monday for his twelve month booster shots--a process that made him scream with joy (well, scream anyway). The dotor said that he weighed in at a health 24 lbs 3 oz, is 31 inches tall (another inch and he will be half my height--frightening, although I'm not sure if it's more frightening that he's so tall or I'm so short), and has a head circumference of . . . something. The doctor had to retake the nurse's measurements, and I'm not sure whether the final was 47 or 49 cm--but large, anyway, like all the Collings clan.

More to the point, Andrew had his one year old photos taken this week. (This was, believe it or not, the reason I started writing today's blog). I think I already sent most interested parties a link with which to view his pictures, but in case I haven't, please click here. The pictures are--as usual--charming. Andrew was too, but he was also so wiggly I wasn't sure if he'd hold still long enough for any pictures. Most of the pictures, as it is, are action shots anyway (all of the standing photos are and most of the sitting ones--within milliseconds of the photo you see, Andrew was climbing over the photographer).

To inagurate the new year, and to follow up on some good intentions, I have this year joined the YMCA (partly because I need the exercise, but mostly because they offer free babysitting for members during their exercise period). So, Andrew has also been callously abandoned to strangers at least twice this week, but he, curiously enough, seems to enjoy it pretty well. It turns out that the YMCA also has some nice programs for kids--on Wednesdays and Fridays they convert one of their smaller gyms into a play area for kids to run around and provide slides and other indoor toys. This has provided a nice alternative outlet for Andrew's energy--I prefer it to having my cupboards slowly dismantled!

As the world turns . . . so our update continues. Andrew's birthday, of course, could only provide so many of the festivities for Christmas Eve. That night, while Robert read the nativity story, the grandchildren, festively dressed in costumes provided by Trisha and Laurie, enacted--supposedly--the events being narrated. Jake made a rather serious Joseph (although you ought to take a close look at his face in this second picture--it's priceless), and Katie was charmingly earnest about her role Mary. It should go without saying that the shepherd, far from adhering to his calling, was more prone to stray than any errant sheep. Lydia, as the angel, was perfectly calm and serene, if somewhat prone to eating her tinsel.







Following the rendition of the nativity, Sarah's kids were each allowed to open a present from their parents (pajamas, naturally!), and then the three youngest children were sent to bed. Once we were sure that Jake was also asleep, we were given the dubious honor of being Santa's helpers. This meant, essentially, that we put together Lydia's tent, arranged Katie's shopping cart and dress-up box near her stocking, and--most importantly--assembled the megablox Pirates of the Caribbean set that Jake got. As it took six adults nearly an hour to assemble the darn thing, I can only imagine that Sarah was grateful to be at her parents' house, where such help was available, rather than at home with only Aaron to help! Although I will say that putting together the water-wheel occasioned the worst fight between Dan and I of the entire vacation (Sarah said she was just about to kick us out!). My version of this story is that Dan put the wheel together wrong--he insists that he didn't. (As it turns out, I was right--and as the editor of this particular blog, I get the last word).



Since Dan and I gave Andrew his presents before we left, Robert and Trisha graciously let their gift to Andrew serve as his present from Santa. Appropriately, this little walker/rider is a fishing boat! We think Poppy is trying to train him young. Below, a close-up of Andrew on his boat.



As you can see, Santa definitely did well by Sarah's kids . . . Jake got the full Pirate experience: a ship, the water tower, a skull island, loading docks, etc. Katie got a shopping cart, princess dress-up box, play cleaning supplies. And Lydia got her own tent--not that this provided much protection from her rampaging older sister and cousin.







Not, of course, that eveything was smooth sailing. As with any family gathering, there was bound to be a few upsets. In this memorable photo (below), we've captured a blatant error on the part of that Santa Claus fellow. In a clear moment of Santa senility, Mr. Claus put a "Davy Jones" action figure in Matt's stocking--although he surely must have known that said action figure was destined for Jake's stocking. Jake, of course, blamed Matt for the switch. (Little did he know that it was really his mother's doing). The outraged youth cried, "That's not fair! That's mine! You stole that out of my stocking!" And although this photo is not a good depiction of the "facial sensation that's sweeping the nation" (Dan's phrase), Jake accompanied his outcry with a pretty fair sausage (crinkled brow, pouting lips, the whole nine yards).



Most of the remaining terrorizing, I'm sorry to report, was due to Andrew. With a typical toddler sense of property, he naturally thought that anything interesting was his--which not unnaturally upset his cousin Katie a fair bit, as Andrew laid claim to just about everything she'd just been given for Christmas. To be fair to Andrew, however, Katie did the same thing with Lydia's presents. Below, we have documentary proof of Andrew playing with Katie's cart, and Andrew and Katie occupying Lydia's tent. Katie, no doubt, thought Andrew's usurpation of her rights made it only fair that she retaliate in kind--I think she had more fun with Andrew's boat than Andrew did (and those are MY shoes that she's holding).







The remainder of this entry is dedicated to capturing some of the more memorable Christmas moments. (Well, or perhaps more accurately, those moments that we captured in film. As our photos were rather haphazard, I'm not sure they are the best chronicle of events). Below, we display Matt's present to the men of the family--a T-shirt eulogizing the gone (but not terribly lamented--except by Matt) Hinckley Eves, the family cat who disappeared somewhat mysteriously a year or so ago. (Or not so mysteriously. Trisha knows, but she's not telling).



Sarah and Laurie both showed off their seamstress skills at Christmas. Laurie made beautiful bags for the women of the family (unfortunately, we don't have pictures of these) and Sarah made matching aprons for the different couples. Below, we have Laurie, Matt and Robert modelling their aprons (Robert is also modelling the fishing hat he got from Jake, I believe), and Trisha revelling in the latest edition to her teacup collection.









And last, but not least, at the end of a long-day of revelry, the whole family joins in for a moment of rest and relaxation. (Andrew in motion in the foreground was pretty typical of the entire vacation. If he was awake, he was moving).

Our second report is of Andrew's first birthday. Conveniently, his walking predated his birthday by just a few days, so he marked his first birthday with official toddler status. Of course, his first birthday necessitated a big birthday bash. Trisha (Bubby) and Sarah put together a fabulous luncheon spread for December 24th, replete with such childhood favorites as pigs-in-a-blanket and macaroni and cheese. Andrew seemed to enjoy all of it.

As the theme of the party was "Old MacDonald's Farm," Trisha's brother-in-law, Jim Aikens, generously donated the time and materials to creating some fabulous birthday hats for the birthday boy and guests. Each family was given an animal theme: Dan, Andrew and I were chickens (you can see Andrew's "chic" costume below); Robert and Trisha were a bull and cow; Matt and Laurie were goats, and the Wells family were pigs.











And of course, no party is complete without a cake, so here is the piece de resistance:



Trisha convinced me (with the charm for which she is well known!) that I wanted to make this cake. And of course, I agreed before considering the time and ability that would be required! Flowers, I can and have done, thanks to the Wilton courses, but animals were something new. I still think that the pigs look more like pink dogs than like pigs, but on the whole, the cake turned out better than I had expected. For Andrew, we made a separate cup cake with another pink dog--er, pig--on top of it. I don't think Andrew knew, exactly, what to make of the whole proceedings. As you can see from the picture below, I had to blow the candles out.



He didn't exactly like the cake, either (Jake and Katie were much more impressed with it--between the two of them, I think they ate all the frosting animals). Mostly, he picked at the frosting on top of the cake, reluctantly tried some of the cake, and smeared it all down his front.





And thus concludes Andrew's birthday bash. While we didn't have icecream at his party, this was an omission that Poppy didn't allow to last long. Within a day or two, he made sure that Andrew got his first taste of ice cream. As you can tell, this was much more a case of "I scream," as Andrew did not appreciate his first taste at all! However, the irresistable combination of sugar and cream eventually grew on him, and within a matter of bites he had not only reduced his grimace to a mere trace, but he was eagerly opening his mouth for the next bite.