conuly

The time of year when people are posting wishlists! I actually have a few things I actually want, so I'll post it now.

( Things for my niecelings )

( The School! )

( Me )

So yes, that's my list. I feel very greedy now. But go and post your own wishlist, and if there's anything I can do, I'll try to do so.

I'm going to post my address in a LOCKED post in a minute. If anybody else needs my address for any reason, please contact me privately. When I say contact me privately, just email me. I'm conuly over at yahoo as well :) LJ PM's add an extra step to the email process, and every time I use them I regret it later.

My family is phone-cursed. Seriously.

Jenn's phone got dropped in a toilet about a week ago, and it worked kinda since then, but now it's fading, and fading fast. Nobody can hear her talking, she can't hear them.

We need either a new phone (new meaning new to us, used works just fine) or *maybe* a headset - but there's no guarantee that'd work. Of course, nobody can afford any such thing. Of course. If anybody can help us out, we'd be thrilled. These phones are one step short of a necessity, since none of us has a landline. The provider is Verizon.

(We also need 3T and 12 month cold weather clothes, used rocks, but that's somewhat less urgent. If anybody's sent any, it never came - I can't remember if any should've.)

Remember when I was begging for used winter clothes for Ana, and you all came through beautifully? (And did I thank you all? Because that was wonderful, and I love you.)

This isn't like that.

At the moment, Ana fits into all her summer clothes (assuming we can find them - they were in the drawer a few months ago, but now I haven't the slightest clue where they've run off to. Well, if they've started walking they must be in New Jersey by now, right? :P), but she won't in a few months.

So, if anybody has any used 3T t-shirts, dresses, jumpers, shorts, pants, overalls, "shortalls", or any other article of clothing that's suitable for summer, and would like to send them our way, you can feel free to do so.

Am also accepting used toys and books, though we're *really* not hard-up for non-necessities. (Not hard-up for summer clothes either, not at the moment - it's a few months from now that I'm worried about. I've seen how fast she's growing!)

And, of course, used items of this nature can always be sent to a local charity or freecycle.

I will *not* want brand-new items. We don't need them. Should you feel the need to purchase a brand-new item for Ana's birthday (coming in a month), that's your business, but don't tell me. I'm just asking for people with used items who somehow lack a younger child to give them to to pass them on a little further afield if they want.

After Ana has 'em, they'll pass on to smaller friends of hers, to Eva, and eventually to other children elsewhere.

*thinks* We actually did get a lot of 3T pants used from one of your neighbors, which are very much appreciated. She fits them now. It's scary how she grows, really. As *all* children grow. Remember - local charities are well more wanting than we are. *nodnodnod*

I intend to post the semi-annual Really Big List of Wish Fulfillment for Ana in a few days. You can, as always, ignore anything I post. I like making lists is all :)

Edit: The baby has plenty of weather-appropriate clothes. Baby clothes should *definitely* go to charity or closer neighbors, we're not lacking in summery clothes ranging from 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and even 9-12 months.

I mean, I do know why, it's because of the baby, but it's stupid. Life is easier once we're all outside. MUCH easier.

Cute Ana anecdote of the day: So, my mom got her a locker mirror to put on the fridge so that Ana could look in the mirror without being hoisted up (and just today we learned that now Ana can see herself in the bathroom mirror by standing on the toilet, all by herself). The other day, Ana and I are cuddling in the kitchen right after her mom left. Suddenly, she goes "OH NO!" and picks herself up to turn the mirror - it had been vertical instead of horizontal. This kinda sucked, because she turned it crookedly, so now it was irritating *me* instead of her. Not to fear - as soon as she sat down again, she sees the problem, goes "OH NO!" and goes and fixes it :) I'd feel bad about this, warping her little mind and all, but I haven't straightened *anything* around her. Ever. So it's Not My Fault (or problem)!

( More stuff )

Oh, nevermind. The details are unimportant.

Point is, mom = on the spectrum, kid = diagnosed, passed her my journal address because I never check my email, and would like links to relevant autistic-related sites (she's new to this she says) if she shows up (unlike the person I met at the zoo, who could've benefited from them....), because I never know if my links are the best. Nice person. Not curebie. I could give her a big ol' hug, except I don't really know her. And I had a baby on my chest who might've objected....

'dul has the week off from his paying job, which he's spending watching the kids and doing his art.

Which gives *me* some time to Read! Read! READ!

Mostly, bad fanfic. I don't know, it's like I'm a glutton for junk food of the mind or something.

I'm itching for some Dudley fic, just to prove it exists, and because my birthday is coming (31st of January) so I thought if I asked now, the birthday fairy would provide.

Hey, I could just post my normal list of toys. For, um, Ana. This is better, isn't it?

_{I probably will make a few new lists later, which you can feel free to ignore, or read as you please}

Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good, she was very very good.
But when she was bad, she was horrid.

Yes, that girl is Ana.

Even though I managed to cut our travel time to the museum in half, we still got there an hour late for the toddler program because Ana kept throwing tantrums. I had half a mind not to go at all!

And yet, intermittantly, she'd stop a tantrum to do something *really* adorable. Like reading to her sister (complete with turning the book around to show pictures, pointing at stuff to describe it, and singing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"). Or, while we were putting on her scarf, and noticing it didn't fit inside the jacket so the ends had to go kinda around her stomach, crying out "Put-a doll! Put doll in scarf, please!" because, of course, her parents carry the baby around in a sheet that same way.

She was much better at the museum. Naturally.

We stayed a while and played with her friend Meghan for a bit. And then it was time to leave. Having two around is a bit easier - first you say "Look, Ana, Meghan's leaving, let's go with her!" and then you go "Look, Meghan, Ana's leaving, don't you want to come with us?" and you just keep that up all the way out the door.

They'd paused before putting their jackets on in order to get some water (which Meghan's mom and I put a stop to as they started to play with the water). And after Meghan's mother was holding the elevator, and Ana was ready to go in, Meghan went back for more water. Uh-oh...

So I run after her, because Ana's right in sight of Catherine, and I try to get Meghan to go back to her mom. And then, the flash of inspiration. Just like I would with Ana, I hold out my hand and go "Meghan? I'm very scared. Can you help me?"

Worked like a charm. Worked so well that I made a point of telling her mom what I'd done, because this is an impressive feat that it works not just with one tired, hungry toddler, but with two of them. I didn't know if it'd work on her! And now I'm telling all of you, in case it should ever come in handy.

And one last thing. I know I often ask for things jokingly. This time I'm serious - Ana *does not* have enough warm clothes, and Jenn *does not* have enough money to buy new (or even used) - she barely has enough to pay her bills. I'm asking quite seriously, if anybody has any sweatshirts or sweaters or heavy flannel tops in sizes 12m - 2T (or even larger, we can make do), or if they have any jeans, overalls, corduroy, sweatpants in sizes 18M - 2T, we'd be very much obliged. Her heavy jacket for this year not only doesn't fit properly (and it was bought to fit a 4-year-old, so that makes no sense) but the zipper is already broken - luckily, she still has her nice winter coat from last year, which fits fine, but it's still... *sighs* Honestly, I never intend for my "oh, I want this, and this, and this!" posts to be in any way taken seriously, that'd get real obnoxious real fast, but this time... She's drowning in clothes, but they're not warm enough for anything, and it's not like we can just walk out the door and into the car, we spend a lot of time waiting for the bus, or going to the outdoor playground. I didn't realize how bad the situation was because it's been so *warm* up until recently!

Edit: Love you all, seriously - don't go *too* overboard if it's not used, though - I have fears of drowning in warm clothes!

If you need contact information, there's a link on my user info. You *have to* comment there for me to add you. I won't tell you if I've added you unless you request it, because I'm lazy that way.