Grady can read!*

* Letters.

(Excuse the poor quality of the video; wielding a camera and a phone (with an alphabet app) at the same time near a toddler is no easy task.)

While on vacation last weekend Grady surprised me by recognizing the letters on one of those gas station “THANK YOU” trash cans. I didn’t plan on teaching her the alphabet until she turned two in October, so needless to say this was a huge surprise. She already knew basically the whole alphabet, but for the letters she has trouble pronouncing like J, G and W.

The culprit? Super Why. This show on PBS has so few flaws; even I don’t mind watching it. It’s all about books and reading, and Grady loves it. The basic premise is that one of the Super Readers encounters a day-to-day problem (examples: I have no one to play with, I want more toys, I don’t understand what my grandma said) and they find the solution to their problem in a book. My only issue (surprise, surprise) is with the way they present the leading women; Princess Pea and Red are pretty typically limited by their commitment to femininity. But at least they’re presented as very smart, and at least the show has some racial variety among the protagonists.

Hey! Hey you guys!

I have an idea! Let’s blog about every thing that isn’t sad and/or confusing!

Bean sprouts are probably some of the best things in the world. Just yesterday morning these gigantic babies were still under the soil. Bean sprouts are just so dramatic and satisfying. I also like how the seed is part of the sprout in a way much more obvious than in other plants. (Those two bottom fake-leaves are actually bean-halves. Totally awesome.) I’m growing three variations of garden beans this year; one green, one yellow, and one deep purple. Those tall babies in the background are corn, obviously.

Also, this just made me realize I should blog about the specific ways I overcame the magnificent massacre that was last year’s garden. Noted.

Jeanette gave me this awesome dollar-store candy bracelet the other day, and I loved it. Huzzah for awesome lady-friends.

Grady prettymuch tries to copy everything her Grandpa does. When he took a wee grass-nap, she tried but only lasted about 30 seconds. Toddlers must never lie down! Did you know this? In any case, I am obsessed with this photo.

Norm! I heart Cheers so much right now. I’m watching it all the way through (as it’s available for instant streaming on Netflix) and it just brings me so much happiness. Currently in season 8, which came out the year I was born.

Smooshy sleepy baby. There is nothing better in the world than holding a sleeping baby. (Excuse my near-boobage; Grady fell asleep atop me while I was wearing a bathing suit.)

Straight from smooshy sleepy baby to fancy drinks? I suppose so. I made this strawberry gimlet thing and am super proud of it. ‘Twas delicious.

AAAAH I LOVE HER SO MUCH IT HURTS. Also, I like how she kind of makes intellectual faces while watching Bubble Guppies.

Squee, bathtub baby! She has recently decided that bubbles are the most delicious things, so we don’t do bubble baths any more. So I thought I’d capture her last bubble bath for a while.

10 cool things for babies

Homemade treasure chests. I don’t dig how gender normative these particular ones are, but that’s the beauty of tutorials – you can always adjust it to your desires.

Easy quilted playmat.

Adorable sailor dress for toddlers.

This homemade Belle dress is pretty amazing.

Sundress/romper for girls.

Babies can make anything cute.

Make your own skirt with built-in shorts.

No tutorial for this, it is just super cute. And it looks like it would be easy enough to make, or to add the doily yoke to another dress pattern.

Tipnut has about a billion tutorials listed for baby stuff in this post.

Felted earflap hat tutorial from Martha Stewart.

Written Nov. 13.