Cecilia's been having a lot of fun with solid foods lately.  She hadn't had anything besides straight, unseasoned fruits and veggies, but I decided to let her try the lentil soup I made this week, since it was pretty thick (and lentils are delicious and so high in iron!).

She is a BIG fan!  The big, soft chunks of carrots were particularly delicious, but she also seems to really enjoy the seasoning (cumin, thyme, garlic, a little salt).  Finally, food that *tastes* like something!

It's a heck of a lot messier than green beans, but she has been SO happy eating the leftovers for the past few days.  Thankfully she's not as bad as John Paul was at this age - very few lentils up the nose, and none in the ears or hair (yet)!

The limitless persistance of a child

"Nothing's impossible I have found,

For when my chin is on the ground,

I pick myself up,

Dust myself off,

start all over again."

 

Our latest oddities

I thought maybe John Paul was weird for liking green beans so much from about 6-10 months of age.  Apparently Cecilia's a big fan, too:

Two green beans kept her occupied for probably 15 minutes.  And she actually consumed like, half of one. 

John Paul's latest thing is lining everything up.  He lines up his letter cards.  He lines up his blocks.  Apparently he's also lining up his magnets...

It's hard to see, but he spelled the word "dad" underneath the line.  Yeah, he can spell several 3-letter words (mom, dad, big, bag, hat, yes).  He's basically a super-genius.

Earthquake!

Totally weird - my first earthquake!

Cecilia and I were downstairs watching TV when the whole place started rumbling.  For a second I thought John Paul was just jumping on the bed REALLY hard.  Then everything started shaking harder and I thought the water heater was about to explode so I grabbed Cecilia and RAN upstairs!  I turned on the monitor to make sure John Paul wasn't freaking out.  He was totally silent - apparently THIS is what we need to get the kid to shut up when he should be napping...  Things were shaking a little less at this point and I saw a few neighbors outside so I went out to find out what was going on.

It's kind of nice that we live around a bunch of old people - all of them remember earthquakes from like, 30 or 40 years ago and they *knew* that's what it was.  Came back inside and checked facebook immediately after google failed to confirm my suspicions - everybody had statuses up talking about an earthquake, so I figured that must be what it was.  Then I found out it was rated 5.8 on the Richter scale - not too shabby!

Our total damage?  The palms behind a crucifix fell down and a few things I keep on the stove fell as well:

If that's what an earthquake feels like, I'm never moving to California!

Where were you?  Did you feel it?

Marian Devotion

John Paul is really into Mary lately.

Like, the BVM.  Blessed Virgin Mary.

We got a CD in the mail from some nuns and it's his current favorite thing to listen to.  He is CONSTANTLY requesting the Salve Regina or Immaculate Mary or Hail Holy Queen.  He can "sing" them himself (and spent the entire time at the Lego exhibit at the Building Museum singing, "Ave, ave, ave ma-DEE-ah...").

The other day I turned on his monitor when he should have been napping and heard him praying a Hail Mary.  Then he sang the Salve Regina (and immediately started singing Tingalayo, another of his favorites).  Then he prayed the Hail Mary in French (well, he read it from one of his books).   I went to get him after his nap and he had "Je Vous Salue Marie" (Hail Mary in French), "Prayers to Mary" and "Moo, Baa, La-la-la" on his bed. 

He was ridiculously excited at Mass today - we sang "Immaculate Mary" and "Salve Regina" and his eyes lit up as he marched in place singing very quietly to himself. 
Seriously, if this kid doesn't end up getting ordained, his wife is gonna have some BIG shoes to fill!