Day: July 29, 2006

Andy found a pink sit-on-top truck (or car?) for Leilani at a thrift store. I tried some weak objections, but was overruled by his enthusiasm. A few weeks before that I had gone off against battery operated toys on the blog – but of course the truck’s main purpose was as a riding toy. And Leilani was only 6 months then. Waaaayyyy too young. I figured she’d be a year or so, but last week she discovered it next to the clothesline and wanted to know what it was. I sat her on top, and she immediately found all the levers and buttons, so I cleaned it and brought it upstairs. She needs to be watched all the time when on the truck, because she can’t get off (tried, fallen, but not cried).

A little crash course in German baby talk:

Some people are unhappy about Leilani’s sleep. Not Andy and I, and also many young mothers I know think she is pretty good, but I just got off the phone with a childless and otherwise dear friend, who suggested blaring some horns in the bedroom while she is falling asleep, so she can get used to falling asleep while there is noise!!!! I wonder how she’d like the horns in HER bedroom! I had told her she couldn’t come over after Leilani went to bed (probably around 8) because for the next hour it needs to be fairly quiet. I mean, she sleeps at campgrounds, and naps through lawnmowings (but not always), but if we have guests and she hears Andy and me laughing and talking, she gets up because she wants to see what’s going on and be part of it… I tried to tell her how good Leilani’s sleep is otherwise, always being quiet at night, even when she is awake or sick or teething and hardly ever waking up except for nursing, she didn’t even hear me out. I hate that.

Ever since she was 2 months old Leilani has not pooped her diaper during the night, and has waken us up to go potty a total of only 2 or 3 times (between midnight and dawn). But a while ago there was the lady at Aloha International’s talk story, asking wether she was on a schedule yet, and when told no, with a stern look on her face, if at least she was sleeping thru the night. Leilani started crying right then. At least the comments about her sleeping in our bed have – more or less – stopped.

An excerpt from our parenting philosophy: We won’t put Leilani on a schedule if we can avoid it, instead we’ll try to have her fall asleep, eat, nap, go potty when we notice she needs to. She will sleep in our bed as long as we can manage, up to an age of 3 or 4 from what we read. I will breastfeed her as long as possible, up to 2 or 2 1/2 and she’ll eat very little canned/jar food (have you tasted that stuff?). TV – moving pictures in any form – will not be used as babysitters, and be limited to a few minutes a week, mainly at other people’s homes.

Karla, Klaus, and Ian came to visit us last week (7/20). If you think I haver a hard time tossing (or not posting) photos – I deleted over 90%… still a lot left, but all cute.