Tag Archives: growing up

What Happens When a Toddler Sees Her Shadow?

07/03/2015 R.C. Liley 6 Comments

We all know what happens when a groundhog sees its shadow, we get six more weeks of winter. But what about when a toddler sees their shadow? Well, I mean when they first acknowledge they are the ones making that silhouette on wall or any other light-colored surface.

Avery recently discovered her shadow and seems to get a kick out of her dark twin. I’ve been pointing it out to her when changing her diaper for a while, but just the other week she finally reacted to it and made her hand move across the wall. She’ll say something in toddler talk and smile, and I smile too because it keeps her occupied while changing her.

Now anytime we are somewhere that her shadow is visible, I can say look at your shadow and it will keep her busy at least for a minute. I love watching her learn something new and can only imagine what’s going on in her head as I explain how the light casting down on her creates that dark object called her shadow.

Just the other day, she was busy removing every item from her basket when I asked if she could find her shadow.

She seemed stumped and maybe a little hesitant at first.

But then she turned right around to come face to, ummmm, face? with her darker, less detailed self.

I asked her if she could find her shadow again and she immediately pointed to the dark figure. Still working on getting toys out of the basket, of course.

She closed in to investigate further with an almost accusatory point of her finger.

Squatting down, she was amazed at how her shadow followed suit.

Back up and a little hand movement just to test the boundaries and she finally accepted her shadow was there to stay.

That’s when she looked away and saw there were more toys to take out of her basket and drop behind me as I cooked in the kitchen.

That’s also when I ~~politely~~ asked her to stop everything! To which she replied with….

Yeah, heart = melted. Oh, and look, she has a heart! Then I offered her a green smoothie which she happily accepted.

It makes me so proud when she enjoys drinking the healthy green smoothies I make. What doesn’t make me proud is when she then proceeds to climb on the couch, throw the pillows off, and eat the rim. green mouth and all.

But I digress, she’s hard to stay upset with for long. I guess those days are coming though, huh?

Can you remember when your little one first started to notice their shadow?

Do you find random teeth marks with food on furniture around your home?

#MySundayPhoto, Parenting

Tear for Mommy: #MySundayPhoto – 06.28.15

06/28/2015 R.C. Liley 12 Comments

Just this past week, Avery seems to have taken on the “terrible twos” duty 5 months too early. She is climbing, crying, and clinging more than ever before which means my wife and I need hurry and adapt to the increased energy very soon!

In the mornings, as Going Mom is getting ready for work, Avery hardly cares what I’m doing and wants to spend all of her time “helping” Mommy as she tries to get ready. Sometimes Nuttzo and banana helps deter her, but when the hair dryer comes on, she’s gone.

I feel bad when the only thing to do is just shut the doors to keep Avery from going in to throw everything out and tug at my wife as she tries to get ready, and I know it hurts Kelley too. Even though I know it’s all phase (isn’t everything, really?), it hurts me too when she could care less about Dad when Mom is around.

This really only happens in the morning, but still, no parent would like the feeling I’m sure. I could babble on, but today’s picture was captured just after Kelley left for work and Avery was crying for attention. She doesn’t cry when my wife leaves, just while she’s there.

She gets over things quickly and we usually have a fairly good day, minus the crazy toddler part, but seeing the tear just makes things so dramatic. Besides the drama, I love the photo, and of course her beautiful blue eyes.

Does your kid go through phases of liking one parent over the other?

Life, Parenting, Photo Journal

Daddy-Daughter Photo Book: Birth to 19 Months

06/24/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

For my first Father’s Day, Going Mom made a Dad and Avery photo book that means the world to me. It’s not just something anyone can buy, and she put some obvious love and quality time into making it.

This year, for my second Father’s Day, she slipped the book from it’s spot on our bookshelf (or tried, because I noticed it was missing) to add to it with more daddy-daughter photos. In my last post, Kelley was in the process of putting it together as I wrote (all hail nap time!), and after seeing the final product, my heart turned from mush to pure liquid. Kinda sounds bad, but trust me, it’s a good kind of mush-to-liquid.

I love it so much and every time I flip through the pages beginning from the first day Avery was born to just a few weeks ago, I am still amazed at how much she has already grown. I figured I’d share the entire book in a post for everyone to appreciate Kelley’s lovely crafting skills and pictures we will hold dear for eternity.

I’d like to note, the pictures of me wearing Avery in a Baby Bjorn are before we learned of the dangers of wearing babies in “crotch danglers” for impeding their hip development among other issues. Plus, having them face outward is also not the best. Not judging, I’ve obviously been there too, but I stopped right after learning of this and hope any babywearing parents will consider the same.

Okay, I’m done with the thought of the day. I can’t express my gratitude to Kelley enough for making this book of memories, and wish I was at least a quarter as crafty as her so I could do the same. Makes my photo coffee mug I got her pale in comparison.

I’ve said it already, but THANK YOU, Kelley, for being such an amazing wife/mother and for the best gift ever. Oh, and the beer of the month club is just stevia sweetened icing on our homemade chocolate cake! 🙂

Do you love sentimental gifts like these or prefer getting gifts from retail stores instead?

What would be your favorite personalized gift to receive? A photo book, jewelry, framed picture, kitchenware, etc.?