For all of you Annie-lovers, the breeder I bought Annie from has brand new puppies available!
.

.
http://www.rocking2r.com/Miniature%20Aussies%20pg%204.htm
.

If you ever find yourself in the freezer aisle of Trader Joe’s wondering whether to go with the Trader Jose’s Chicken Burrito Bowl or the Trader Giotto’s Gnocchi al Gorgonzola, this blog is a great resource: http://heateatreview.com/

By the way, did you know that Trader Joe’s will take back anything you don’t like for a full refund?! Don’t try that at Target!.
.

There was an article in the Metrowest Daily News today about the Pathways Family Shelter (beneficiaries of our holiday gift drive):
Click here to read it.

Isabel came over today for the 2nd Annual Egg-Coloring Event and viewing of Aliya’s *new* bedroom. Norah was enamored with Baby Billy, and Adlani is claiming that Isabel is one of his girlfriends. He said that he likes tall women. Isabel’s response was, “I am NOT marrying that kid.” We’ll see how that plays out. Although Norah is “an older woman” in comparison to Baby Billy, he’s about to take the lead on weight! They both weigh 26 pounds!! Kelli and I had a few minutes to chat amidst the chaos…I realized after they left that it probably wasn’t a great idea to have chicken pot pie for lunch on Good Friday! Sorry Kelli! I’m not Catholic!

.

I fired up the blog because there was something bugging me but then my brain betrayed me again and I forgot what it was. So annoying!!! I just remembered…

Anybody who knows me has heard the story (probably several times) about how Aliya had an extremely advanced vocabulary and her pediatrician never believed me because she always cried when we were at his office. Well. Norah’s 18-month appointment was yesterday. Her vocabulary is advanced as well, and as I told the doctor, she is actually putting small sentences together. It took Aliya a while to do that. Norah is saying about 100 words (that we understand and about 500 that we don’t), and phrases, like “Here you go Mommy”, “Bye-bye Aliya,” and “Daddy…Where ARE you?” The kid talks CONSTANTLY, and I have witnesses.

So I proudly tell the doctor about her verbal ability, with examples, and this is what he says to me: “Well, the next step is for her to start using words on her own, rather than just repeating what you say.” WHAT?! She IS using words to communicate HER wants/needs. She says “more” when she wants more food, “all done” when she’s done eating, “up” when she wants to be picked up, “ow” when something hurts, “dirty” or “uck” when something’s dirty or ucky, “shhh” when Annie won’t shut up, “cup” when she wants a drink, and “banana” when she wants a frickin’ banana! She’s not a parrot!

I really like her doctor but this is a hot-button issue that bugs me. The other disagreement we’ve had was when the hearing specialist wanted Norah to have tubes surgically installed in her ears and I chose instead to take her to a chiropractor to see if he could help clear the fluid. After 3 or 4 visits her ears were miraculously clear and her doctor said that it was probably just a coincidence. Whatever.

Update: I took Norah to the Dr. today for possible conjunctivitis. While I was talking to the Dr., she fell off the scale and yelled “Whoa!” and pointed to the poster on the wall and excitedly said, “Apple!”. When he asked her questions she responded with “yes”, and “no”, and when he looked in her ear and then said, “This one looks good,” she said, “Thank you.” Too bad she isn’t capable of using her own words.
.