It's Been a Year...Holy Cow!

Well, I guess I didn't stick to my resolution to post more often. Let's try again, shall we?

Cecilia's latest and greatest:

Sunday, October 4, 2009 - We were driving to Fred Meyer when Ceci suddenly yelled "Robyn!" The conversation continued like this:

• R - What?
• C - Robyn Chapman!
• R- Cecilia Chapman
• C- Mommy Chapman!
• R - Ceci Chapman
• C - Daddy Chapman

She's been very interested in using first and last names. Last week, she was in the guest room and I was in the living room. When she didn't get my attention by calling "mommy", she resorted to "Mommy! Where are you?" Too clever!

Tonight, she requested that Daddy read to her from the "Sports Illustrated Book of College Football." Each time Chris turned a page, she would ask, "Is this Oregon State?"

Saturday, October 3, 2009 - Ceci - "Abra-badabra, I made you disappeared!"

Friday, October 2, 2009 - As Chris is driving Ceci home, a song came on the radio that she liked. Her response: "Tres bien! That means good, Daddy!" We have no idea where she picked up French. Daycare maybe?

Sunday, September 27, 2009 - Ceci and I bought dinner for Chris (he was in the middle of Wind Ensemble auditions). As we left the restaurant, she wanted to sing. I was expecting a request for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Nope! She wanted "Beer Barrel Polka", "Dragon" (OSU drum cheer), "Hey Baby", and "Hail to Old OSU". Such the little band girl!

Sunday, September 20, 2009 - Cecilia told me tonight that she was going to be a "tall teerleader" when she got bigger. I asked her, "Are you going to be in band?" Response - "Only with Benny."

A couple of weeks ago, I'm getting ready to take her to daycare. I asked if she wanted pigtails. She answered by singing "No no nuh-no noooo, no no nuh-no no nuh-nooooo!" (to the tune of Beer Barrel Polka)

September 5, 2009 - Cecilia has sung the following songs today: "Hail to OSU", "I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State", "Beer Barrel Polka". Well on her way to being a band geek :)

Every day is an adventure! we are so lucky to be a part of her life! I'll post some links to new pics and videos.

Holy Guacomole, It's October!

I am so sorry that I haven't updated the blog in two months. I guess a new job will do that to you.

Recent highlights:

*Ceci started at a new day care 4 days a week. This morning she woke up, saw Chris was dressed and said "friends, Yacob". She wouldn't let up. Chris finally had to take her to school so she could see her friends (one of them is named Jacob).

*Cecilia has discovered "princess". She wants to watch movies with princesses, listen to the same track on her Backyardigans CD "I Love Being a Princess", and she's going to be a princess for Halloween.

*When she's not listening to the Backyardigans, Ceci asks to listen to "band." It started when she heard the Oregon State fight song on the radio a couple of weeks ago. When it finished, she asked for "band". I guess she thought it was like a live band performance where she would hear more than one song. Anyway, she asks for "band" whenever we get in the car. It can't be wind ensemble or orchestra - it has to be marching band. Right now, her favorites are the OSU fight songs (both Oregon State and Ohio State), marches in general, and "Rock Lobster."

*When she hears the garage door, Ceci yells "Daddy. I coming." and runs for the door. I open the door so she can greet Chris as he comes in from the garage. This was especially cute (and a little scary) a couple of nights ago. Chris came home while Ceci was taking her bath. She heard the door, said, "Daddy! I coming." then tried to get out of the tub to go get him! She was so upset that I wouldn't let her out to meet him.

*She likes to eat her meals at her little table from IKEA, but she will look at you and tell you to "sit" next to her.

*Her favorite book is "There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow."

*She recently acquired a taste for pork. Usually, she won't eat meat, but the last couple of times she gobbled up pork chops and pork roast.

*When she wants to relax, she says "hair". She wants you to comb her hair with your fingers.

*Cecilia will be 22 months old on the 19th of October.

*Ceci just got her first Oregon State football jersey.

*She can buzz on brass mouthpieces.

*She takes very good care of her "Golly" by feeding her, trying to dress her, and wrapping her up in blankets.

Let's make a deal - I will get on here and update the blog once a week. To sweeten the deal, I will throw in new pictures tomorrow.

Thanks for checking in!

The Things Ceci Can Say and Do!

Here are some highlights from Miss Cecilia lately:

* On Sunday at the Benton County Fair, Ceci received a ribbon for having "Longest Eyelashes" at the Baby Celebration.

* She can say "please" when she wants something, both verbally and via sign language. Check out the video at the end of this entry.

* She can point out a band on TV, say "band" and march around the room. When the band finishes, she claps and says "yay!"

* Toby is now "Boy", since she hears us call him that. Also, she will shoo him to the door when he starts grrrr-ing at her, yelling "go, go, go, go" because that's what we do too. Not that she's a mimic or anything...

* Ceci buzzes her lips, and has actually buzzed through brass mouthpieces a couple of times.

* She plays a "gum" which is a drum made to look like a lollipop. She recently played drum set at the McCrackens in Las Vegas and has done some experimenting with making sounds on concert percussion as well.

* She has listened to her Backyardigans CD so many times, that she knows what song is coming next and will shout out a key word from it.

* Ceci can name and point out the following body parts: hair, head, ear, eye, eyebrow, nose,
mouth, teeth, cheek, chin, hand, fingers, chest, belly, elbow, knee, foot, and toes.

* She knows her routine pretty well. If you don't get her dressed when she gets up, she points to the closet and says "coes" (clothes). Also, after dinner, she goes to the door and calls out "awk", meaning, "it's time to take a walk now".

Videos are in the next post below this one. They finally chose to process. Don't forget to check out the photo albums to the right. More news to come!

Videos as Promised

As promised, here are a few videos:

Quinn and Cecilia together. If you listen carefully, you will hear Quinn say "da" for "that" and Ceci repeat it with a "T" at the end for emphasis - "daT"

More silliness from Quinn and Ceci.

Cecilia shows off her mad drumset skills!

Spinning and spinning will make you dizzy.

Saying please.

New Photo Links

Hi all,

Check out the new pictures! Lots going on around here.

I'll write more once the refrigerator is working correctly. Love to all!

Long Time, No See

Hi everyone,

I cannot believe it's been so long since I last updated the blog! I actually don't have too much time, but I did want to give you some new photos and videos.

Cecilia is amazing! Her vocabulary is growing daily, as is her ability to make mental connections for one thing to another. For example, when you take her by certain buildings on campus, she will associate them with Momma or Daddy, and she's right, of course.

Please enjoy the pictures and videos. I cannot promise that I'll be more consistent blog-wise, at least until I finish the degree. Take care!

Ceci playing "peekaboo" with Mom in a new way.

She speaks her own language - Cecilian!

Pom poms? Watch out!

So Much to Catch Up On

Here's the abbreviated list of life in the Chapman household:

March 8th - Grandma Joani shaved her head in support of/to raise money for pediatric cancer. Way to go Mom!

March 9th - Cecilia's first haircut. See the pictures under "March 2008" in the photo albums.

March 14th - Daddy successfully defended his dissertation. He's Dr. Chapman now!

March 16th - Surprise party for Dr. Chapman held at the music building. See the photo album "Daddy is a Doctor Now!"

March 17th - Daddy was the District 7 Honor Band conductor in Coos Bay. Cecilia and mommy went along for the trip. Pics in "March 2008" album.

March 19-22 - Daddy is at CBDNA Western/Northwestern Convention. He's Vice-President for the NW District.

March 21st - Mommy finished the term with straight A's. Yay!

March 22nd - Cecilia and Mommy attended Amanda and Louie's wedding. Ceci ate lots of lemons and basically charmed the pants off of people. (Amanda is one of the drum majors for the marching band; Louie is a cheerleader.) Look at the album "Amanda and Louie are Married!"

March 23rd - Easter! Cecilia had an indoor Easter egg hunt, and helped Daddy pack for NYC. Pics in "March 2008"

That's enough for now. More updates from Seattle later this week.