Christopher stories (and a bit of Ashlyn, too)

Trying to take a picture of my family inside the kids' play tent. Ashlyn was closing the roof on me.

Friday was the worst shopping day with Christopher. We went to Safeway, where the child safety straps were broken on our cart. Not a big deal at first, but then Christopher discovered that he could stand in the cart. I picked him up and carried him for a bit, but it didn't last long. I tried to let him walk, but, of course, he ran in the opposite direction. After I'd let him walk, when I would pick him up, he would flail and scream. I'm trying to get the rest of the groceries, carry a flailing kid, and pushing a cart with a broom sticking out of it. I got many looks from other shoppers, including one mom who told me we've "all been there." The lady who checked us out said that Christopher must keep his mom real busy. She had three boys and could recognize the mischievous expression. She held Christopher while I paid and made sure that someone took out my bags.

Unfortunately, with my rush to leave the store, I had to go back in the afternoon to pick up a few things I'd forgotten for dinner that evening. This time I was going to be smart. I put Christopher in the carrier on my back. Unfortunately, Christopher learned last weekend that I don't like having the hair pulled out of my head. So, as I'm pushing the cart to check out, Christopher pulls my hair so hard that my head was jerked back. And, I couldn't get him to let go while I was pushing the cart or unloading groceries. I kept having to stop what I was doing to get his hands out of my hair. I eventually took him out of the carrier and had him in my arms again, flailing.

Christopher doesn't have many words. We've been a bit worried about it, and are trying to work with him to help him communicate. It isn't that he is silent. He says plenty, with signs, gestures, babbles, and screams. On Thursday, Christopher had eaten all of his food. Allen asked him if he wanted more or if he was all done. Christopher signs both "more" and "all done," so Allen was expecting a sign in response. Instead, Christopher clearly said "I want more." We were SHOCKED! Today, he told me "more milk." It almost makes me think the kid just doesn't WANT to talk, but has been perfectly capable all along.

Ashlyn loves to pretend to be a dog ALL DAY LONG. I think even more than being a princess. She barks, even talking in a "doggie voice." She's apparently a little yip-yip dog, because it is high pitched. She was licking for awhile (I think we've gotten her to stop.) She wants to put her face down in the bowl like a dog. She asks for treats that she wants me to feed to her the way I do Ranger. She has started calling me "grandma." Ranger is her mother, so I'm apparently the grandma. Then, this weekend, Ashlyn started doing this:

She is going to hate me for this blog in about 10 years.