Time to relax...
Yesterday was a nice and relaxing day. I'm still very angry with the Army. My grandparents sent their gifts out before my aunt sent hers, but they still haven't arrived, while my aunt's package arrived around the 22nd of December. If this was a fluke, I woulnd't be so upset, but the Army has a habit of not taking the mail seriously and often messing it up. I've had packages I've paid express postage on, take over a month. It's all a big joke to them.

Aside from the package ordeal, the day after Christmas, or for the British, Boxing Day, was a nice day to vegitate. My husband had off work, so we could lounge around the house as a happy family.

That meant Paulchen had two of us to keep placing him in the rocking horse, getting frustrated when he hopped off, then wanted to get back on again.

He's also very stubborn about drinking out of a cup. He's getting really good with his first few sips, but then gets overconfident and tips the cup back like a sipper cup. Thus a huge mess on the floor. We try to keep him on the sipper cup for now, but once he sees up drinking, he wants to drink like a big boy and is so determined.

Today I have to open and close the store from 11-7pm. I hate being there so long, as I'll have Paulchen with me, but at least he gets pretty free reign of the place and I'll bring plenty for him to eat and play with.

My husband is trying to get out a little early, just so he can take Paulchen out a little early. As for those who advocate using daycare, well, this is the Army.

First, they generally have a waiting list 70 people long for daycare and I'm not willing to pay full-time prices when I only need them two days a week. Thus, I'm low priority and will continuously get bumped.

Second, I've heard too many horror stories about the base daycare. Unlike many daycares in America, these aren't trained professionals. These are housewives who have nothing better to do, so they get a job. Yet they are not trained in child care or child development and many don't have any education beyond high school. In other words, military promoted, unsupervised baby sitters. Yet I'm not allowed to take my son to someone on base to be babysat, as they aren't endorsed by the Army, and thus not allowed. Nor are they overbooked so they don't have time to watch my kid. Once again, it's the Army and their attitude about screwing over the soldiers and their families. Oh well. Hopefully daddy can get Paulchen a bit early. It's nice not to have to listen to the self-rightous idiots who come into the store and tell me brining my son to work is abuse and so horrible. I'm glad they are happy having no life and don't want to have semi-intelligent conversation, but are content with baby babble 24/7. :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I could barely sleep last night, since today would be Christmas. Okay, so I'm 26 years old, but my son is only 19 months. He wasn't that much into Christmas last year, at only 7 months. But I was so excited about his today. I couldn't wait for him to see all the presents under the tree. We read him The Night Before Christmas, last night and had him put out cookies and eggnog for Santa. He was so cute cuddled up in his little pajamas.

After we put him to bed, we put up the gate between his room and the living room. That way he had to wake us first. Then we put out ALL the presents under the tree. We didn't put out a single present, even from family, as we wanted to really surprise him. We also put out his new spring-rocking horse we put together the night before.

This morning was AWESOME! He came to our room and we ran and got the camera ready, as well as turn all the lights on. Then we let him loose. He wasn't sure what to make of it at first. When I turned on the Christmas music, he was distracted. Then when Daddy tried to put him on his rocking horse, he was still a little tired and confused and wasn't too keen on it.

After a little bit, we got him into the whole opening presents mode. But once he saw a new book, we had to sit and read to him and then we could open more gifts. It was so cute.

After all the gifts were opened, it was time to assemble the toys. Then Paulchen played like crazy with his toys. He loved his little castle set, which Opa went overboard with and bought ALL the accessories, and made the sound of trumpets blaring when you push the flag.

When Daddy was in the shower, I popped the little man on his rocking horse and showed him how to bounce. His feet can't reach the stirrups yet, but he braces himself on the back bar and really goes crazy on the bounce. He loves the horse so much, it's awesome! He can't get on it yet without help, but he can slide off pretty well.

After we changed his diaper, we put him in the cutest little suit with a vest and tie, all in Christmas colors. He looked so dashing. Then later it was on to Christmas dinner, which was prepared during his nap time.

We had a nice roast goose, squash, mashed potatoes, cranberry jelly and figgy pudding, just like in the Christmas song We Wish You A Merry Christmas. It all turned out pretty well and was a Very Merry Christmas.

And before I forget again, Paulchen can never be a picky eater. My treat on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve is to join my husband in some smoked calmon on toast with cheese and a bottle of sparkling grape juice, as we don't drink. I also add some caviar. Not the expensive kind, but the caviar from the grocery store. Well, it seems Paulchen is just as fond of caviar as his mother. It got to the point where he didn't want the toast, salmon or cheese. He just wanted the caviar straight. So I gave him a little on a spoon a few times. He didn't make a face at the flavor, so that must be good, but I think he also liked the feel of the little fish eggs popping in his mouth. He kept bringing his hand to his mouth like he was going to feel the caviar. But hey, he's a good eater with fine taste. :-)

Running, Counting & Tantrums
Well, the little bugger has tantrums almost down to an art. Except he does them upside-down. I always thought that when a child kicks and screams it should be on the belly. Nope, he lays on his back and throws his fit. All I can say, is he's trying to be original in his tantrums. They're annoying and we ignore them, but it's also hard not to laugh at him. It's so silly and pathetic, Paulchen thinking he can get his way if he throws a fit. He should have learned by now it never works.

The two skills that impress me right now, are running and counting. Paulchen has progressed greatly with his running, though he still doesn't have the greatest balance yet, so he runs a bit then falls down. But it's so cute to watch him waddle quickly across the room. It's even cuter when Daddy is chasing after him and making him squeal.

He's also been trying to count. Granted, he doesn't have the vocabulary yet to say his numbers, he only turned 19 months two days ago. But he goes about the motions so well. He'll point to the rails on the chair and say something for each one, as if he were counting. I counted with him and he got real excited and counted along. It was so cute.

He's also big into looking at photographs. I have to pull out the albums so he can look at everyone. He especially loves to look at his baby photos. Though he tries to read all our books, even the ones without pictures. And he's persistent. He must find the picture less books incredibly dull, but he'll sit with them for a good few minutes and try to read them through. Maybe that's a sign that he'll be a good scholar and academic like his parents. We'll be supportive of him even if he's a ditch digger, but I would love for him to become a great historian.

December 20, 2005
This is a new page and it's dedicated to the wonder that is my son and the future wonder that will be born in early March, 2006.

My father used to always tell me I would understand when I became a parent. Well, he was right, though he better not let that give him a big head. He was always so overwhelming and still is, but now I see why. When I look at my son, he's the most amazing and wonderful person in the world.

My husband and I laugh, as we think Paul II (fondly known as Paulchen), our 18 month old, is so brilliant. He may be normal, but as we see every little progression, each step is amazing.

We were in Aachen this weekend and stayed in a hotel. Paul had taught Paulchen how to open doors, by pulling down the handle and pushing on the door, a few weeks ago. Though he caught on pretty quick, he wasn't prone to open many doors. That changed this weekend. I'm going about my business in the bathroom, perfectly innocent, when suddenly the door opens behind me. EEK! There's a little gremlin there.

The same thing happened when we came home. I tried to take a peaceful shower this morning, but for the first time since we moved into our apartment a little over a year ago, I had to lock the door. I don't care if Paulchen is in the bathroom, but he has the habit of opening the shower doors and letting the water spray all over, unless I hold the doors shut. That is not a peaceful shower.

Well, as much as this new habit is frustrating, I'm very proud that he caught on to a new skill so well. His skill of opening the cupboard under the sink and playing with the garbage is another issue though.

It's been a little bit since I added to this journal, but Paul II's progression is still great. On February 19th, just one day before he turned 9 months, he stood for about a half a second.

Paul and I were sitting on the floor with him and chatting. Paul II placed his hands on my legs and I figured he was going to crawl over me as usual. Instead, he pushed himself off of me and nearly stood all the way up. Then his father and I smothered him with kisses and exhaultations, of course.

He's tried to stnad like that on one or two other occassions as well, but he hasn't done it completely on his own yet.

He goes all over the house and "stands" on one knee and foot, bouncing to fully stand, but he never quite does it. I tried to teach him how to use the furniture to stand, but he insists upon standing in the middle of the floor.

Yesterday, I could almost swear he kissed me. I was laying on the floor with him and he leaned over and placed his open mouth on my cheek. I felt teeth, but he didn't bite. It was so sweet. Of course when I kept asking him to give me another kiss, he kept swatting me in the face with his toy. Paul was cracking up at that.

I still read to him and try to every day. All over his blanket are scattered his German baby books. His favorite seems to be Erdbeeren Sind Rot or "Strawberries are Red." It's probably because the pages are so colorful. But he'll sit on my lap and let me read him a few books at a time now. I love it.