Getting Ready
I've got Harry Potter on the brain.

First off, after rereading Book 5 and Book 6, I decided I needed more. So I read What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7. The book is full of predictions about the upcoming HP book. The writers have combed the previous books for clues, and they stake their claim in what is coming in the last book. They include fun things like the "odds" that various characters make it out of the new book alive (Draco, it doesn't look good for you). It includes extensive chapters on whether Dumbledore is alive or not, plus the whole debate about whether Snape has gone evil is included, too. The book is a fun review of all the stuff that happened in the previous books, and I enjoyed all the analysis.

By the way, this book is published by the nerds...er, ah, volunteers...at mugglenet.com The website includes several Editorials that include amazingly detailed literary analysis. If I were back in grad school, I think I'd write a paper about a new breed of literary analysis spawned by the internet. I'd call it "obsessed fandom literary analysis." If you bring a bunch of people who read a book repeatedly together on a website, they bring a lot of interesting insights to the book.

For instance, at the end of Book 6, there is that mysterious note in the locket from RAB. The folks at mugglenet.com think RAB is Sirius Black's younger brother. One bit of evidence to support this theory is that when the book is translated into different languages, the last initial changes to the first letter in the word "black" in the new language. Now that is something that only an obsessed fan would figure out!

Not that I'm an obsessed fan, but this week I've been reading something truly, truly nerdy. I've heard about fan fiction, but I've never bothered to read any before. Fan fiction is where someone uses the characters from a favorite book or movie to write a new story. Apparently there is oodles of this stuff on the internet. With my recent spat of Harry Potter-itis, I ran across an online novel called Living with Danger. In this version of the tale, HP grows up in a loving home, instead of with the Dursleys. It is kind of like "Muppet Babies", because all of the original characters show up as kids. The writing is super cheesy and amateurish and I'm embarrassed to admit I've been reading it. But hey, July is a long way off for a Harry Potter fan.
- posted by Laurie @ 8:50 PM |

 
My Cuties
With Valentine's Day just behind us, I thought I'd post a picture of my two favorite people.

Awwwwww.

Here are the great things Randy and Katie enjoy doing together:

• Katie knows the sound of Randy coming in the door at the end of the work day. She gets very excited, and she "dives" into Randy's arms as soon as she sees him.
• Randy makes up funny, nonsense songs while changing Katie's diapers.
• Randy likes to carry Katie around the house and show his pictures to her. Katie is quite taken with some of his brigher-colored paintings.
• More than once, I've come in to the room to find the two playing together. Randy will have Katie sitting on the floor between his legs with all of her toys spread around them in a big circle.
• Randy is very good at reading Katie books. He does all the voices just right. Such a sweet daddy.
  

- posted by Laurie @ 7:39 PM |

 
Look! No Hands!
Here is a picture of Katie standing on her own, unassisted, for about five seconds!

I can't help but be delighted with Katie learning to take "baby steps." Everyone tells us there is no reason to rush Katie towards walking. Lots of experienced parents say that things just get crazier once these little people get more mobile. I've had any number of people say to enjoy her while she enjoys sitting in my lap.

But practicing walking is just so fun! And when you've got a whole lotta playtime in front of you, practicing walking is a great way to fill the time. So, yes, I've been encouraging Katie to walk. I'm guilty of propping her up on the side of the couch and letting her practice pulling up on my lap. The giggles are worth it.

- posted by Laurie @ 4:24 PM |

 
Games to Play with Baby
We've got a case of cabin fever here at Prairietide. The temperatures have been below 10 degrees all weekend, and the wind is just wicked. So this happy family has been in hybernation for a few days.

Here are the games that Katie likes:

• Bouncing on my knee while I sing "This is the Way the Lady Rides."
• The "I found your bellybutton" game.
• The game where I put my nose against Katie's and say, "Boo!" Cracks her up ever time!
• Patty Cake
• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
• Peek-a-Boo. Sometimes I go into the next room and say "Peek-A-Boo" around the corner. This is kinda fun, but somtimes it's a little too scary.

What else? I've made shakers out of plastic bottles and pasta noodles. Looking in the mirror is always a winner. A nice mirror can even cheer Katie up if she is teary. There is also the favorite, "Stand Up in Mommy's Lap" game. And who could forget the "Cling to the Couch for Dear Life" game?

Then there are board books. Katie has really been enjoying her books lately. I have a boardbook with photos of babies doing signs. I've been showing Katie this book for months, but it is just now that she has started to enjoy the pictures. She'll look through this book for a long time.

Katie has enjoyed the Sandra Boynton books for a long time. I think it is the simple drawings, the bright colors, and the fun stories that are the big appeal. Lately, she's started to like the book Everywhere Babies. This is my favorite board book that we have. It always chokes me up when I read it. This this past weekend, Katie started looking at the pictures very intently. It's like she recongizes the pictures a little.

The weather report makes it sound like we're in for a cold spell. So what indoor games do you have for babies?
- posted by Laurie @ 4:57 PM |