The Stella teeth-brushing miracle lasted for a day and a half. Then it was back to World War 3. Not sure why it started. Not sure why it stopped.But...As I sit here in San Diego at the winter Fancy Food Show, word comes from Brooklyn that Stella has started brushing her teeth again. In a phone conversation with her, Stella told me she tickled her teeth and she got lots of stickers. She also demanded that I bring her back a scooter from California because of her good behavior.I think I'll wait to see how long this lasts.
Last night Stella emerged from the bathroom holding her toothbrush and brushing her own teeth! This came as a total shock to Lisa and I since brushing Stella's teeth is usually quite an ordeal.Stella was rewarded with kisses, praise, and 2 stickers. Let's see if this lasts.
The gals went on their "Nana/Papa Tour 2007" over the Christmas/New Years holidays. First stop... Natick.
There was tons of new snow for Stella and Marni to play in, and they took full advantage. We ran, sledded, threw snow balls, made snow men and made snow angels. Marni even insisted on pushing a stroller through the mess (for which she was rewarded with a bump on her coconut when she fell on the street).
Toots and Glenn stopped by, late Hanukkah presents were exchanged, Popsicles were eaten, and Nana and Papa were treated to the full Stella/Marni experience.
On Christmas Day they girls headed to Albany for part 2 of the tour and I headed home on Amtrak for another day or two at work.
You've gotta love the Interweb. After putting in a search for the words Stella and Marni, what should Google pop up but a book entitled Assignment Stella Marni. Written in 1957 (the year I was born!!!), it seems to be a steamy private eye novel centered around a dangerous blond who was "murder on heels".
What an strange coincidence.
I've purchased a couple of copies of the old paperback. A nice oddity to have around. Although I don't think it will be one of the books we read to the girls each night.
From the world's cutest elf... Marni Narno!
"I'm all finished" is used in one of three ways:- To indicate she is done eating.
- To indicate she is done sleeping (she yells this down to us when she is sleeping up in our bed).
- To indicate she is all done peeing or pooping on the potty.
For probably the third year in row, the Shepard family joined everyone else in NYC and trekked to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The subway ride was quite exciting for the girls. We're getting very good at carrying the Phil & Ted double stroller up and down stairs with Marni in it and with Stella walking along side us!
The crowds were thick as usual at The Tree. And two seconds later, we were done.
Off to Sacks so mommy could pee. At this point Marni was getting a little bit difficult and insisted on walking through the crowds on the street and in the store on her own. After a few near misses with shoppers, she was put in the stroller which led to the most energetic meltdown of her short life. The meltdown was so traumatic (for all) that Marni fell asleep afterwards. This allowed the three civilized Shepards to share a big pretzel and walk down to the Bryant Park "village" for some sightseeing and noshing.
The little restaurant in the village was even nicer this year then in previous years. Stella and mommy and I shared hot choco, chili, corn bread and salad. Marni was still passed out.
After lunch, we watched the ice skaters for a few minutes and then headed to the subway. Marni stay asleep all the way to the station, down the steps, and onto the platform. An incoming subway train woke her and she was back in good spirits.
The subway ride home was uneventful and we got home safely. Once home, we wondered (as we do every year) "why do we do this"?
This morning NYC was covered by a light coating of dry snow.
In the Shepard tradition, it was time to take the kids for a drag around the parking lot. After WAY too much clothing was forced onto them by mom, the girls were ready to play in their urban winter wonderland.
We walked, touched snow, cleaned off some cars, took a toboggan ride, threw snow, and ate some snow.
Then Stella declared that it was freezing outside so it was time to go in.
We were back at "The Gris" in Essex, Connecticut after a 1-year hiatus.
Everyone arrived Wednesday afternoon and checked into their rooms in the Hayden House. Lunch was at The Gris. The weather was nice enough to allow everyone to take walks around town and do some shopping. Dinner was at The Black Seal.
Thanksgiving Day was exceptionally warm and everyone walked down to the water to play on the grass and look at the boats and ducks. Harold kicked around a ball with Lisa. We pretty much took over the entire Hayden House and there was a nice nosh put out to tide everyone over until turkey. Thanksgiving dinner was at 4:30. It was very nice aside from a metldown from Stella that required both of us to go back to the room to calm down.
Friday was spent in Mystic at the aquarium with Nana and Papa Hoffman and Toots and Glenn. The girls had a blast. Then a nice lunch at The Ground Round with Nana and Papa Shepard topped it all off.
Stella has some interesting phrases and customized words that should be noted:
- "Prettyful" - This seems to be a cross between beautiful and pretty.
- "C'mon, you can do it!" - She uses this when encouraging others.
- "Listen to my words!" - When you aren't paying attention to her, this is what you get.
- "I want something really, really special!" - Usually pertaining to a present or food.
- "You saved the day!" - When someone does something to fix something.
- "That's my rule." - When she explains how something is going to go, or what her plan is.
Last week Marni went cold turkey and kicked the bottle habit. It took a couple of days of crying, but she did it and is now exclusively in sippy-cup land. A couple of years ago when Stella was weaned off the bottle, she went two days without drinking any milk before she finally gave in.
The latest to pop out of Marni's mouth (other than half-chewed food) are: apple, pizza, papa, bubbles, and balloon. Also... "piece" as in "I want a piece of that to eat".
The Shepards hosted yet another NYC Marathon Party today. Special guests were Nana and Papa Shepard. In total we had about 18 people drop by. Lisa provided quite a feast.
As far as the girls were concerned, the most interesting guest was Margaret's dog named Luke.
Halloween 2007 was Marni's first as a walking person. Evidently, humans are born with the trick-or-treat gene, since Marni instinctively knew what to do. Outfitted in her pink ballerina costume and a fuzzy white sweater, Marni grabbed her white candy bucket and insisted on walking around on her own.
She watched Stella to see what the routine was and happily went up to each treat-giver, picked her treat, and placed it in her bucket. There was no stopping this girl.
When we finally made it to the parade, she was fearless and marched down the street with all the other ghouls and goblins.
PS... the headless clown in the photo is Lisa Stefanoff.
While walking through The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze with the girls and the Hills and the Ackermans and Ms. Stefanoff... Stella was looking at the pumpkins carved into dinosaurs. I pointed out some of the dinosaurs and she (correctly) pointed out that the one I was referring to was a triceratops. Who knew she knew?!
Turns out that they talk about dinosaurs a lot at Raindrops. We don't pay those guys enough!
While both kids struggled to get over their first big colds of the season (and Marni's latest ear infection), Daddy jetted off to L.A. to attend the last two performances of Genesis during their 2007 reunion tour. Sweet!
While I was away, the gals attended cousin Tyler's 3rd birthday party. A great time was had by all.
Meanwhile, Marni continues to smarten up at an alarming rate. A lot more words (including "eyes", "shoe", "bye", and "hello") and a very good understanding of what's going on around her.
Most importantly, the ladies at her daycare provided her with her first-ever hairdoo!
Since this past July, Stella has sprouted up about 1/4" while Marni has added another 1 1/4" to her substantial altitude (and attitude).
Recent additions include: "pee-pee" (including pointing at you if she sees you peeing), "baby", and "more"
The Shepards were back in the apple-picking business this year (after a one-year hiatus involving the snake-bite incident).
This year we went to a farm in East Brunswick with the Hoffman clan of Bridgewater.
We all met a 11 am and headed out into the pumpkin patch. Marni had some trouble with the vines, but she prevailed.
Next were pony rides for Stella and Tyler and then a hayride for all but hayfever-afflicted Brian. We saw all types of crops and animals.
A picnic lunch was followed by lots of apple picking. Then we piled our tired broods into our respective mini-vans and headed home (we headed to the Atlantic Antic to visit with Bubbles and the Leons).
After a couple of febrile seizures, we were advised to take Marni to a pediatric neurologist. So a couple of weeks ago we took her to see Dr. Daniel Miles at NYU. Nice guy. Did a bunch of little tests on Marni (touch this, grab this, watch this, etc.). Marni was in rare form. The results... she seemed normal to him (although he could not tell if she was left or right handed). Dr. Miles suggested we take her in for an EEG to check her brain waves.
Last Tuesday Marni, Lisa and I headed back to NYU for the test. Miss Marni was not at all happy getting 24 leads glued onto her skull. But a VHS machine in the room playing Mickey Mouse cartoons help a lot. After 25 minutes of measurements, it was time to remove the leads. This was very unpopular with Marni. But we got through it and she was as happy as could be afterwards.
No results of the test yet, but it was quite an adventure. And hopefully this whole brain thing is behind us.
The Stella teeth-brushing miracle lasted for a day and a half. Then it was back to World War 3. Not sure why it started. Not sure why it stopped.
