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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

It’s been a while

We haven’t been to the playground since before Miriam was born. That’s a long time in the world of a two-year-old. That’s a long time in the world of a mother. And I can’t be sure but I think that’s probably also a long time in the world of a grandmother. For Miriam, it’s been a lifetime.

Needless to say, it was nice to get out into the sunshine today for some quality playtime.

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Rachel always takes a little while to warm up to the playground, especially when there are a bunch of little strangers around—she takes a long time to make friends, too—so she stood around looking overwhelmed for about a half hour before she let loose and actually started playing. Once she did, she had a lot of fun.

The first thing she headed off to was a little toddler playhouse. We convinced her that she could climb through the circles. She went through the big one just fine and then tried to climb through the little one. It was a bit of a tight squeeze as she tried to put her head and arms through at the same time. Once she got started, though, she just popped out the other side and completely face-planted.

It was awesome.

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She also had a lot of fun with these little turtle shell things. I really have no clue what they are; Rachel used them as rocking chairs, purposely knocking herself backwards into the sand.

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To get Rachel to go down the slide the first time I had to walk up to the top with her. For some reason she forgets that she enjoys it and psyches herself out. She went down that first time, all slow and timid, and then started running wild circles—up the stairs and down the slide.

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I also went down the slide, with Miriam. I figured since I had hiked all the way to the top of the play structure with Rachel I may as well have some fun coming down. But it wasn’t fun. Truthfully, it was a pretty uncomfortable ride—rather rough and bumpy. I think I bruised my behind. Seriously. But maybe I’m just a wimp; Rachel didn’t complain once and she went down tens of times. Kids are durable (I think they have calloused rear ends). Miriam slept through it all.* I don’t even think she noticed we were hurtling down fifteen feet of plastic. Of course, if I had sent her down the slide herself she might have had a few choice words to say about it…

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It was nice to let Rachel get all her wiggles out outside of our apartment for a change. I, for one, can’t wait to go back…

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* Miriam slept all through the night, amazingly enough. I was totally banking (ie: dreading) that she’d be wide awake at 2:00 AM until sunrise. But no! I had to force her awake at around 4:00 AM because I was afraid that she hadn’t eaten in far too long. She ate and fell, used the potty, and fell promptly back asleep (as in as soon as she pooped, while still sitting on the potty). She woke up on her own at 8:00 AM, happy as a clam.** She’s already been awake for at least twice as long as yesterday. AND we haven’t soiled a single diaper*** today (from like 4:00 this morning until now). Yay for potties.

** Are clams really happy? All of them, all the time?

*** There were a bunch of British moms at the playground and they kept calling their kids over for “nappy” changes. “Come here, so-and-so, let’s change your nappy!” I think it sounds quaint but I rather like it. I submit that we should start using that word in North America, too.

10 comments:

  1. Sheesh, Nancy, don't go down slides when you've just had a baby! No wonder it hurt! We started trying to get Maddie to go on the potty around 7 ish months, and so for about four months she's gone at least poo on the potty, but recently she has become a very "sneaky pooper" and refuses to go on the potty. It's a little depressing. For some reason after Maddie was born I didn't want to do EC but then later on I kind of did. So with my next, I think I will try much earlier and see if it works better...

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  2. sorry Nancy, this isn't Matt, it's Becky, but my husband is signed in instead of me :)

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  3. Yeah, I didn't think of that until mid-flight, unfortunately...

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  4. Those turtle shell things have some kind of catchy name...they're a European innovation. I kind of want one for Miriam (my Miriam).

    Nice park, by the way! And I'm so glad Miriam wasn't up all night.

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  5. Google terms: turtle shell plastic thing

    Search result: Bilibo

    Those Swiss! They think of everything.

    I kind of want one for Rachel...and my Miriam. If only they weren't like $30 a pop...

    The Swedes should have thought of it first. Then Ikea could sell them!

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  6. But only $25 on Amazon...hmmm...maybe next year.

    BTW--That's the park at the Maadi House...Wednesday is free day...so we love Wednesdays!

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  7. I saw you leaving the Maadi House today (I was in a car) - so sad I missed you!

    But seriously; "nappy"??!
    18 November 2009 at 17:20

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  8. Oh, no! We were hoping someone we knew would be there so that Rachel would have half a chance of playing with someone, but no. There were kids everywhere and I couldn't get her to play with anyone...oh, well. Maybe next time!

    And, yeah, nappy. It would switch things up a bit. ;)
    18 November 2009 at 19:37

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  9. I think nappy is good. Let's start that and see how far it goes:)
    18 November 2009 at 22:01

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  10. i have no one in nappy's!!!!!!!!!
    19 November 2009 at 02:07

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