The other day, Thomas showed Eamon how to beat on his chest like a gorilla. I did it with him the next day. Now when I ask Eamon what gorillas do, he grabs his chest (or belly) and bounces up and down.
Whenever he sees a kangaroo, he bounces and grins.
Today he saw a picture of a chicken and said, "bock, bock."
He tries to make an elephant sound, but he just looks like he is constipated. He doesn't make a sound, but he is trying so hard.
On the first page of the Richard Scarry word book, there is a picture of a moose, a mouse, and a mosquito. We say each of the words, then he slaps the mosquito several times.
I got some small stickers to make a matching game for my nephew. Eamon looked at them and was able to pick out the zebra, lion, and giraffe without me telling him what they were. He then picked out their matches.
Each day he is learning more words. Even though he doesn't say a lot of words, he knows what they mean. I have this funny feeling that when he is ready, he will start talking non-stop, just like when he is ready to walk, he will always be moving. It is so fun to watch him learn and make connections and communicate with us.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Costuming 2: Duke Frederick
I used Al Capone as my model for Duke Frederick. However, the actor playing this character, rather than being a large man was a beautiful high school girl. She was also playing the Duke Senior, so I had to develop two costumes that looked different enough, but also made her look somewhat manly.
For the Duke Frederick costume, I borrowed my dad's beautiful grey pin-striped wool suit. It fit the girl in the shoulders arms and length, but had enough room around the midsection for me to build a little bit of paunch.
I got from the thrift store a short sleeved shirt (I didn't want her to be too warm as she was always changing costumes and wearing multiple layers,) and a tie. My original plan was to stitch the shirt into the suit using large hand stitching and stuff between the layers. However, I couldn't get the jacket to lay smoothly on the shirt. So I made a black vest and stitched that to the shirt. I then stuffed the front and sides. Under the jacket, it looked like she was wearing a three piece suit, and was slightly portly. Not much, but just enough to fill in her feminine curves.
The most exciting thing to me was that when she put it on, she began to move differently and was able to complete the look by not moving like a girl. In fact, my favorite scene was of her threatening Oliver. So subtle, so classy, so menacing!
I wasn't thrilled with the way the hair worked, but sometimes it worked better than others. Trying to get long hair tucked into a hat without looking like lots of hair is tucked into the hat is very trying. But she was such a good sport about it. I didn't make anything for Duke Senior, just insisted that she wore a huge baggy sweater that was similar to a farmer picture I found (but didn't save and now can't find it again).
The final thing about this costume that took a lot of time was replacing all the buttons with velcro so she could change faster. Then I had to sew the buttons on top, so it didn't look like she was missing buttons. After all the time I spent on it, I hope this shirt comes in handy for future plays too.
For the Duke Frederick costume, I borrowed my dad's beautiful grey pin-striped wool suit. It fit the girl in the shoulders arms and length, but had enough room around the midsection for me to build a little bit of paunch.
I got from the thrift store a short sleeved shirt (I didn't want her to be too warm as she was always changing costumes and wearing multiple layers,) and a tie. My original plan was to stitch the shirt into the suit using large hand stitching and stuff between the layers. However, I couldn't get the jacket to lay smoothly on the shirt. So I made a black vest and stitched that to the shirt. I then stuffed the front and sides. Under the jacket, it looked like she was wearing a three piece suit, and was slightly portly. Not much, but just enough to fill in her feminine curves.
The most exciting thing to me was that when she put it on, she began to move differently and was able to complete the look by not moving like a girl. In fact, my favorite scene was of her threatening Oliver. So subtle, so classy, so menacing!
I wasn't thrilled with the way the hair worked, but sometimes it worked better than others. Trying to get long hair tucked into a hat without looking like lots of hair is tucked into the hat is very trying. But she was such a good sport about it. I didn't make anything for Duke Senior, just insisted that she wore a huge baggy sweater that was similar to a farmer picture I found (but didn't save and now can't find it again).
The final thing about this costume that took a lot of time was replacing all the buttons with velcro so she could change faster. Then I had to sew the buttons on top, so it didn't look like she was missing buttons. After all the time I spent on it, I hope this shirt comes in handy for future plays too.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thankful
This is really a anniversary as well as Thanksgiving post. It has been a very busy week, so I didn't have a chance to post earlier about our anniversary. So if I get around to it, I will post it later. I made a yummy meal for Thomas that didn't go exactly as planned, but it worked out well in the end.
As my grandmother said, I'm thankful for everything. God is so good and "morning by morning new mercies I see." But this year my thankful was my husband and baby. It was a hard year in many ways. The migraine medication treatment was really hard on us. Eamon didn't/doesn't sleep well and it has been ages since I have slept for more than 3 hours in a row. Teething and ear infections were rough. Not knowing what were are supposed to be doing and feeling like we are stagnating is also difficult. But in the face of these difficulties, God has given me a wonderful husband and precious little boy.
By saying that Thomas is a wonderful husband, I don't mean to say that marriage isn't hard work. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I am learning every day the depths of what it means to love sacrificially. I am seeing new ways that I could give up my desires to serve my husband. There are times when loneliness strikes, even though we are sitting across the table from each other. There are disagreements and misunderstandings. But Love is worth it all. All the pain and struggles and sacrifice have led to joy and strength and unity. After all that this year has brought our marriage, we have ended up stronger and more in love than ever. I know that this is by the grace of God and I am so thankful for it. My biggest thankful is Thomas.
And by saying that Eamon is a precious little boy, I don't mean that he never drives me crazy, or that he is an obedient boy, or that he does what I would like him to do the majority of the time. In fact, it is often the opposite. He has a strong will - he knows what he wants and he will get what he wants if it is at all within his power - whether that is another goldfish cracker or the DVD player. He also won't do things he doesn't want - like eat new foods or take naps. There are days when I don't know what to do with him and I yell at him and I flop him in his bed and go hide in the bathroom with the fan on for a few minutes just so I don't hear his whining any more. But through each day and each night, God is teaching me about obeying him, submitting my plans to his plans, and what it means to have compassion. And Eamon is growing and understanding more, so I pray that all the truth I speak to him he will remember, and mercifully forget or forgive all my mistakes. Then leave it in God's hands and give thanks. My littlest thankful is Eamon.
There are so many other things I am thankful for, but I could not begin to list any more. I was just noticing though that the things I value the most I have had to fight for or wait for. Now that I have them, I am so grateful for them, more grateful than I could have known before I had them. My thankfulness keeps growing. Maybe that is why the Bible says to give thanks in all situations.
As my grandmother said, I'm thankful for everything. God is so good and "morning by morning new mercies I see." But this year my thankful was my husband and baby. It was a hard year in many ways. The migraine medication treatment was really hard on us. Eamon didn't/doesn't sleep well and it has been ages since I have slept for more than 3 hours in a row. Teething and ear infections were rough. Not knowing what were are supposed to be doing and feeling like we are stagnating is also difficult. But in the face of these difficulties, God has given me a wonderful husband and precious little boy.
By saying that Thomas is a wonderful husband, I don't mean to say that marriage isn't hard work. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I am learning every day the depths of what it means to love sacrificially. I am seeing new ways that I could give up my desires to serve my husband. There are times when loneliness strikes, even though we are sitting across the table from each other. There are disagreements and misunderstandings. But Love is worth it all. All the pain and struggles and sacrifice have led to joy and strength and unity. After all that this year has brought our marriage, we have ended up stronger and more in love than ever. I know that this is by the grace of God and I am so thankful for it. My biggest thankful is Thomas.
And by saying that Eamon is a precious little boy, I don't mean that he never drives me crazy, or that he is an obedient boy, or that he does what I would like him to do the majority of the time. In fact, it is often the opposite. He has a strong will - he knows what he wants and he will get what he wants if it is at all within his power - whether that is another goldfish cracker or the DVD player. He also won't do things he doesn't want - like eat new foods or take naps. There are days when I don't know what to do with him and I yell at him and I flop him in his bed and go hide in the bathroom with the fan on for a few minutes just so I don't hear his whining any more. But through each day and each night, God is teaching me about obeying him, submitting my plans to his plans, and what it means to have compassion. And Eamon is growing and understanding more, so I pray that all the truth I speak to him he will remember, and mercifully forget or forgive all my mistakes. Then leave it in God's hands and give thanks. My littlest thankful is Eamon.
There are so many other things I am thankful for, but I could not begin to list any more. I was just noticing though that the things I value the most I have had to fight for or wait for. Now that I have them, I am so grateful for them, more grateful than I could have known before I had them. My thankfulness keeps growing. Maybe that is why the Bible says to give thanks in all situations.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Costuming 1: Introduction
Play: As You Like It, by William Shakespeare
Setting: 1920's
Director: Keith (my brother)
Costumer: Me
It amazed me how well this play fit in the 20's. From the power play between the Dukes, to the class system, to the "wrestling/boxing match," things kept coming up that fit perfectly. We had Al Capone as a model for Duke Frederick and Charlie Chaplin as a model for Touchstone. I also used Jack Dempsey, Rudolph Valentino, and Louise Brooks for inspiration. Movies such as Chariots of Fire and Enchanted April also proved helpful.
I started with the "City" people - Frederick, his lords and ladies, Rosalind, Celia, Oliver, and Touchstone. My director's idea was to use the power-play of the 1920's gangsters to explain the setting, so I researched Al Capone and his influence on society to build the costumes. In my research I spent at least an hour drooling over the suits and dresses on Boardwalk Empires Facebook page.
Rosalind and Celia were to be flappers, but not too flighty. I imagined Rosalind to be a bit more "sporty" and Celia more "sparkly." I tried to bring out roses in Rosalind's costume wherever possible. We had one of the characters "Lord" actually be Duke Frederick's wife. I imagined her to be a combination of "The Master's" Wife from Dr. Who and Caroline from Enchanted April. And as soon as I saw pictures of Charlie Chaplin, I knew what I wanted Touchstone's costume to be.
Then moving to the country, I researched farmers of the 1920's. Overalls and jeans were not uncommon, but neither was making hay while wearing dark vests and pants. Keith wanted Duke Senior to be a Gentleman Farmer and create a difference between his rank and Silvius'.
I pictured Rosalind and Celia to dress up as they thought farmers looked, not like they really would have dressed. Corin and Audry were combined into one character and Silvius and Phebe were part of the Duke's entourage. Jacques was a traveler, so I wanted him to convey the idea of being well-to-do, but also travel worn.
I am very happy with the way everything turned out, but there were a few pieces that I was especially proud of, so in following posts I will show pictures and explain what they are and how they came to be.
Setting: 1920's
Director: Keith (my brother)
Costumer: Me
It amazed me how well this play fit in the 20's. From the power play between the Dukes, to the class system, to the "wrestling/boxing match," things kept coming up that fit perfectly. We had Al Capone as a model for Duke Frederick and Charlie Chaplin as a model for Touchstone. I also used Jack Dempsey, Rudolph Valentino, and Louise Brooks for inspiration. Movies such as Chariots of Fire and Enchanted April also proved helpful.
I started with the "City" people - Frederick, his lords and ladies, Rosalind, Celia, Oliver, and Touchstone. My director's idea was to use the power-play of the 1920's gangsters to explain the setting, so I researched Al Capone and his influence on society to build the costumes. In my research I spent at least an hour drooling over the suits and dresses on Boardwalk Empires Facebook page.
Rosalind and Celia were to be flappers, but not too flighty. I imagined Rosalind to be a bit more "sporty" and Celia more "sparkly." I tried to bring out roses in Rosalind's costume wherever possible. We had one of the characters "Lord" actually be Duke Frederick's wife. I imagined her to be a combination of "The Master's" Wife from Dr. Who and Caroline from Enchanted April. And as soon as I saw pictures of Charlie Chaplin, I knew what I wanted Touchstone's costume to be.
Then moving to the country, I researched farmers of the 1920's. Overalls and jeans were not uncommon, but neither was making hay while wearing dark vests and pants. Keith wanted Duke Senior to be a Gentleman Farmer and create a difference between his rank and Silvius'.
I pictured Rosalind and Celia to dress up as they thought farmers looked, not like they really would have dressed. Corin and Audry were combined into one character and Silvius and Phebe were part of the Duke's entourage. Jacques was a traveler, so I wanted him to convey the idea of being well-to-do, but also travel worn.I am very happy with the way everything turned out, but there were a few pieces that I was especially proud of, so in following posts I will show pictures and explain what they are and how they came to be.
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