She Loves to Cook

Sadie loves to help in the kitchen! Some of her favorite kitchen activities include grinding coffee beans for Mommy and Daddy's coffee, spreading butter on toast and using the salad spinner but her number one favorite thing to cook is English muffin pizza...she loves to make these and eat them.

If I get the ingredients out, Sadie can almost make these by herself. She spoons the sauce onto the muffin halves, spreads it around and tops them with a good handful of shredded cheese. We melt the cheese in the microwave, heating it for just a few seconds so the pizza doesn't get too hot.



She made herself some tonight and also helped me with making the carrots. " I want some carrots. Mama, did you know big girls like to eat carrots?" she told me.

Sadie asked me to photograph her meal. As I snapped the picture, she said, "Say cheese, dinner!"

Hooked on Phonics?

Recently, Sadie has been very interested in the letters of the alphabet. She knows S is for Sadie and D is for Daddy and dog and Dan, M for Mommy and quite a few others.

Last night at dinner, she was looking at her cereal box and remarked, "I see the one for queenandquail! Two of them!" Can you see them? (We're pretty sure Sadie thinks "queenandquail" is one word because when Dan asked her what a quail was, he was rewarded with a blank look.) She also noted that she saw the W.

From the Archives

This is an entry I wrote in early March and then forgot to post.

Yesterday evening, Sadie and I were at the supermarket buying some last minute things for our trip to Disney World. One thing I got was a dark chocolate/espresso chocolate bar for Dan and I to have for the drive to Boston. Sadie didn't notice it when I put it in the cart but she did notice it when I put it up on the belt to buy it.

"It's chocalee, Mommy?"
"Yes, it's a chocolate bar for grown-ups."

That seemed to satisfy her but as soon as we got home, she began rummaging through the bags to find the "chocalee bar!". She was desparate to eat it and no excuse I gave was good enough. Soon, she had dissolved into tears. Even the offer of an M&M, which is usually met with glee, didn't help.

Finally, I had an idea, "It's spicy chocolate, Sadie, you wouldn't like it."
She looked at me and thought for a minute, "Is not picy candy! Is just a little bit flavah-ful. I want it."

Now, this is exactly, word for word, what I say to Sadie if I want her to try something that she has deemed spicy. I do say, "It's not spicy, it's just a little bit flavorful!" I can't argue with my own words!

The whole matter finally ended with Sadie helping me make some toast and scrambled eggs for her dinner.

Sadie on Anatomy

"This is your biggest, biggest bone!" (she says this apropos of nothing and then grabs her thigh)
"It's my food pipe!" (points to her neck)

A good place to read

Sadie was so engrossed in her reading that she wouldn't look at the camera.

We're finally having some good weather here. This morning, we noticed that our crocuses were coming up. Sadie remarked, "It's sping-time now! Time to take out my bike. Time to take out my car. Time to take out the slide. Pyease do it, Mommy!"

Quotable Sadie, again...

Sadie: Mommy has boobies, for nursing. And Daddy has nipples.
Ann: What are his nipples for?
Sadie (pauses to think): For nippling!
***
Sadie (playing with her fork and spoon at the table): My two pencils! Two pencils.
Dan: Those aren't pencils, Sadie.
Sadie: Yes! My two pencils.
Ann: No sweetie, that's a fork and a spoon.
Sadie: Two pencils!
Ann: Oh, you mean "utensils!"
Sadie (delighted expression): Yes, you pencils.
***
Sadie: I'm a bird. I'm in an egg! I'm out of the shell. I'm a birdie. My little birdie in my belly. Oh, she's out. Teeny tiny baby birdie. Hi baby! Wanna eat some eggs for dinner, baby birdie? I go back in the shell now. Hatch me, Mommy!


(Unrelated, but cute pic of Sadie relaxing by the pool in Florida...)

Great news!

Kristin and Doug are expecting a little friend for Sadie, due in September. We are so thrilled to hear this news. We'll be adding a link on the side for the Dutch Baby (I am going to call it Dutch Baby until I know the real name...and perhaps afterwards...)

I told Sadie and she asked, "Baby Samool in Kiss-tin's belly?"

Ariel's Grotto

This water playground was one of Sadie's favorites at the Magic Kingdom. She loved running around with other children and enjoying the water that sprayed from the fountains.

She got pretty wet, but it was nice and warm out so it felt good. It's a little hard to see, but on her blouse, she is wearing a Tinkerbell pin that was given to her by the concierge while we were checking into the hotel. They are so nice at Disney!

Sadie doesn't know the stories of Peter Pan or Beauty and the Beast, so she is little confused about Tinkerbell and Belle.
"Belle, she's Tinkah-bell's mommy?"
"This the little Belle, where's a big lady Belle?"

Flying!

Daddy let Sadie "fly" before we headed in to see a puppet show last weekend.

What else is new here? Auntie Lauren and Friend James came for a quick visit after Grandpa and Grandma left midweek. When I told Sadie they were coming, the first thing she said was, "James likes to play Legos." I'm not sure how she decided that, but he does!

We are getting very excited about going to DisneyWorld in a few weeks. Sadie wants to see Mickey Mouse, Dumbo and "Cinda-Reya", but does not want to see any kings because they are "scawy". She thinks that knights in armor are kings because they have a suit of armor at the King Arthur Flour Bakery and she does not like it at all. There are two suits of armor at a local brewpub that have freaked her out since she was a tiny baby. I think we'll be able to avoid armor.

One more thing for our local readers...the Lebanon Co-op now offers children's meals at the sandwich counter! It's a choice of PB and J, grilled cheese (any kind of cheese), or a deli sandwich (I think turkey, ham or tuna) on white or wheat, served with fresh fruit and your choice of drink. The drink comes in a reusable kids cup with a straw. All for $3.49! Sadie had grilled cheddar on wheat and ate it all up, as well as all the honeydew and cantaloup in her fruit cup. The pineapple was spit out and pronounced to be "sowder" (sour).

Happy Valentine's Day and...

We're snowed in today, but we're having fun! Up to 30 inches of snow is predicted.



Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and thank you to all who sent lovely gifts...Kate and Ry4an, Sadie especially loves her "big girl hot chocolee cup!" "Let's use it now, Mommy, OK?"



(Happy birthday to Cousin Sam as well!)

Quotable Sadie II

In the supermarket:
Sadie: Hi! What's you name, lady?
Woman: I'm Erika. What's your name?
Sadie: Sadie-Baby!



Also in the supermarket:
Woman: How old are you, little girl?
Sadie: I two in Decender! I big!
(When people ask me how old Sadie is, I often say "She was two in December.")

In the morning:
Sadie (singing, sort of to the tune of the alphabet song): I drink milk and Mommy and Daddy drink coffeeeeee! I like milk! I like cimmanin toast for breffest! I singing about food!


In the car:
Raffi, singing: "And I need some clean water for drinking; And I need some clean air for breathing; So that I can grow up big and strong: And take my place where I belong..."
Sadie: I beyong at home!
Mommy: That's true, Sadie. Where does Mommy belong?
Sadie: Mommy beyong at Mommy's work.

At home:
Sadie: Daddy's the Pince, and Mommy's Cinda-Reya and I'm Seeping Beauty. Let's dance togethah!

Pond Party

We had a great time at the Pond Party yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny day. After crossing the pond, it was time for lunch.

Ann: "Dan and Sadie, do you want a hamburger, a cheeseburger or a hot dog for lunch?"
Sadie: "I wanna hamburger."

We were suspicious because Sadie has never had a hamburger. I was going to get her a hot dog which I know she likes but while Dan pulled her around on her sled while I waited for the food, she kept asking "Where's ma hamburger?" So I got her one.

Sadie ate the entire hamburger in about 5 minutes. She loved it. Last summer, we offered her hamburgers, but she never ate them.

Later, we got samples of 'sugar on snow', which is warm maple syrup poured over snow.

Sadie liked it, but asked after her first bite, "Where's the pancakes?" Then, she became very possessive of her yummy treat.


But her favorite thing of all was the ice slide.
Mommy and Sadie wait for a turn:

We're next!

There she goes!

Daddy was there to catch her at the bottom.

Freezing!

It's cold here! Yesterday, when we left for playgroup, it was just 1 degree out! Today, it warmed up to about 7, but that's still cold. Sadie has been a really good sport about getting bundled up for the cold, wearing snowpants, parka, hat, mittens and a scarf over her clothes. She doesn't like to have the scarf pulled up over her face and remarked, "Not put on ma face. Only Mar-ta wear a skaf on da face!" Mar-ta is Martha, one of the teachers at her daycare. I've never seen her with a scarf on her face, but I bet Sadie is right.

Art and Talk

Sadie did this drawing on Saturday morning. It is "a snake and Sadie and a cat!"

Two interesting examples of developing language and word understanding:

1. While building with legos with Daddy and Aunt Lolly: "My put this byock ovah-neath the other one!" (Well, since there is underneath, there certainly should be an overneath, right?)

2. This morning:
Sadie: Mommy, my have coffee?
Me: No, it's not for children. When you are a teenager, you can have coffee.
Sadie: (pauses and thinks for minute) When my a tee-ager, my have tea!

Assortment of Sadie

Just an assortment of recent snapshots...


Sadie enjoys a breakfast of Puffins cereal and milk. She calls this "penguin ce-yul". In her hair, she is wearing a little plastic, retro style barrette. When I was little, these came in a package of all different shapes, sometimes animals, sometimes bows/flowers. The only ones I can find are all butterflies.


Just a few minutes later, Sadie pretends her bracelet is a camera. Very post-modern...I am photographing her and she is photographing me at the same time. Note the spilled milk down her shirt-front. We changed shirts before daycare.


In her playhouse on Monday. She brought so many toys and dolls into the house she barely had room for herself.


A serious expression, but I think she looks pretty. When she wears this sweatshirt, she calls the pictures on it "tattoos". She never says this about any other item of clothing.


We lent this costume (from Halloween '05) to a friend. When they returned it, Sadie wanted to put it on. It still fits!

Snow Day

On Monday, we were all home for a snow day, or rather a snow/ice/sleet/freezing rain day. It was pretty gross outside. In the afternoon, Sadie was getting a little stir crazy, so we went out to play in the yucky weather. After about ten minutes, she said she was cold and we went in.
As a treat, I made some hot chocolate. Sadie had never had hot chocolate before and she was a little hesitant to try it because she hates anything hot. Of course, hers was just barely warm, because I had diluted the hot cocoa with cold milk. She finally took a little sip from Mommy's cup.

She liked it! No, she loved it and drank her whole cup of "hot chocolee!" And she was wide awake and chattering to the toys in her crib until nearly 9:30 that night. This child is sensitive to caffeine!

Go Pats!

There's a very important Patriots game on right now and Sadie is watching with Daddy.

After she put on her jersey ("ma football shirt"), I jokingly called her Tom Sadie, but she quickly corrected me..."Sadie-Baby, not Tom Sadie!"
We're hoping that we see a lot of touchdowns by the Pats. Sadie likes to do "touchdown!"

Even though football is fun to watch, it's good to have a back-up activity as well, such as a coloring book, crayons and stickers.

"Kriffin's ovah! Hanukkah ovah!"

I asked Sadie a couple of days ago if she would sing "Jingle Bells" for me. She replied, "No, Kriffin's ovah!" but then she did sing it. She also saw me lighting a candle and told me, "Stop Mommy! Hanukkah ovah!". It wasn't a Hanukkah candle, just a regular one.

Even though the holidays are "ovah!", I wanted to share this picture. She's sprinkling reindeer food on the yard at Nana and Bob-Bob's house on Christmas Eve. The reindeer food is a project she made at daycare...oatmeal, glitter and confetti mixed together and put in a babyfood jar. "I mixed it! I scoop it! Spinkle it!"

Sadie's language is amazing. Looking back to last January, when she had about 10 words and wasn't combining any of them, it's hard to believe how much this has developed in a year. We're amazed with what she can express verbally. Two nights ago, in the bath, she announced, apropos of nothing, "I have Mommy and Daddy. Baby Samool has Beth and Jake!"

Many of the blends still gave Sadie trouble. S blends are particularly hard for her to pronounce, as are the sounds cl- and fl-. But this is very typical for her age. Other than those, her speech is quite clear and easy to understand.

Sadie's first joke?

"Daddy, my have a question," says Sadie.
"What is it?" I reply.
"Turtle turtle!" Laughter ensues, on both of our parts. Where does she come up with this stuff?

Da Pigeon Book!

One last Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year present arrived for Sadie last week.

It was a copy of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus". We love this story. Nana has a copy at her house and we have taken it out of the library before. Sadie was thrilled to have one to keep. She was also delighted with the giftwrap, which she announced was a "hehban cown" (headband crown) and immediately put on her head. Nice '80s look, right?

Thanks for thinking of her, Liz!

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