No News Yet

We're still waiting to hear from the shelter. Sigh...

Have you met my better half, Doormat? I mean, Husbandguy?

I told Husbandguy that he could stop the whole puppy thing if he really wanted to, and, although I think he feels kind of railroaded, he agreed to go to the animal shelter, knowing full well that we would end up with a dog if we did. All he had to do was say no. It wouldn't have been easy. It wouldn't have sounded like this: HG: "No." MN: "Okay." But he could say it and win, eventually. He actually still could because we've applied for a dog and bought a book about dog training, but we don't have the dog yet. Keep your fingers crossed for us, okay?
She's not a puppy, but she might be one of those dogs that pees when she's excited. She's actually pretty sweet and calm. She's just the right size for our little life. Pete and I dreamed about her all night last night. And she's got a cute little underbite. The other sweet, little dog we visited with, who was just a little bit bigger, had scruffy wiry hair, and was measurably more energetic, sniffed Pete in an awkward place twice. Moomie said she wouldn't come visit us anymore if we got a dog that did that... Fortunately the Jack Russel terrier puppies had all been adopted because we're not ready for a puppy and they would have been hard to resist.

So today we're going to put our toys away and make the house dog-ready to show HG that we're serious, and maybe he'll let us go buy a crate and a dog bowl and a leash and a rubber bone so when they call us and say, "Come get her!" we'll be ready.

Lulu's Future?

During a recent conversation, The Grandpa mentioned that he had considered commenting on my post about Mini-Me and the Vacuum. What he thought about saying, I believe, was, "So what are you teaching Lulu about women's roles?" I believe he was implying that, by vacuuming and encouraging her to imitate me, I was limiting her as a female. After some thought, I decided I'd like to respond.

Lulu, even at 2, is one of the most empowered females I know. She has such control over her environment and is already learning already knows how to manipulate it. Whether it's the people around her or the situations she is in or the tools she is using, Lulu knows how to work it. While most of her influence comes from being very smart and very aware, some of it comes from simply being female, from being adorably female.

She has an effect on people that I hadn't witnessed before her. Everyone is drawn to her. As a baby, she would use this by searching a room full of strangers for the one person she was certain would play with her and engage that person, while seated securely on my lap. She would have total strangers, from children to teenagers to moms to old men, playing peek-a-boo before they knew what had hit them, before I had even noticed them. Now, when we are out somewhere, strangers are still taken in by her. Servers at restaurants, other people's grandpas, children at Pete's school, and others have stopped what they were doing to "play" with her or to simply comment on how cute/sweet/adorable she is. Pete is often overlooked, which concerns me, but that's another post...

Lulu is aware that she is a girl and that that makes her different from people like, for example, her dad, and that those other people who are not girls have their own bathroom. She is also aware that she is young and that people who are older than she is can do things she can't do (she says, "When my grow up, my have vitamins!"). Beyond that, though, I don't think she is too concerned yet with what anyone else can do that she can't.

When she does become concerned about it, she has many examples of strong women around her in roles that were traditionally considered "Man's Work." Her doctor is a woman. Pete's principal is a woman. Although, I admit, not as often, she sees men doing "Woman's Work," too. HG cleans the kitchen and vacuums, as do you. He changed her diapers and puts her to bed. We meet lots of dads volunteering at Pete's school. She also sees women doing traditionally female things, but I don't think this is to her detriment.


For me to tell her at any stage in her life that what she is doing is or is not "Woman's Work" isn't exactly my place. It is my place to help her to become a strong woman, whatever she chooses to do and to teach her that there really isn't such thing as "Woman's Work" or "Man's Work." As her mom I can guide her away from situations that are dangerous and even block her way when necessary, but vacuuming isn't one of those situations (HG might disagree...).

Pete Says:

This morning, Pete told Pete's mom to, "Ply it off! Use the pliers and ply it off." Pete's mom doesn't think she has ever heard anyone use the verb 'ply' in that way before.

More Minuet

Pete played the Minuet twice yesterday, the first section anyway - I haven't finished it yet. It sounded great, but she seemed hesitant to play it more than twice ("Aw! [[SIGH]] I'll do it tomorrow, Mom. [[SIGH]]"). I shouldn't have told her I arranged it because for some reason that makes her less than enthusiastic about playing it. Even though it's really for the Grandpa! What's the deal?

Bach's Minuet in D minor

The Grandpa is learning Minuet in D minor, and when he was talking to Pete on the phone the other day, he asked Pete to learn it too and play it for him so he could hear what it should sound like. That's what Pete says. So yesterday at her piano lesson, Pete asked her teacher for the music who gave it to her. So my newest project to postpone writing my novel is to arrange this pretty little piece for easy piano, and I really think I can do it. When it's done and Pete has learned it, I'll try to remember to post a sound file for you to hear (remind me if I forget).

Superbaby

Lulu sat in her stroller for 2 hours this morning at the dentist while Pete and I got our teeth cleaned and she was really good. This morning she was Superbaby.

Help, please!

I need a new book. Any suggestions? I just finished a couple if Ibsen plays and had to return the book (otherwise I might have read a couple more) and am going to clean off the desk today and find an essay the Grandpa suggested I read that's at the bottom of the mess, but after that, I don't have anything lined up. What would you recommend?

Denial

Lulu was in the other room, and there was this sort of rude sound, like a little trumpet (youknow?), and I said, "Excuse you?" and she said, "That was the chair!" Uh-huh...

More About the Dog

Husbandguy has that look on his face now that says, "I really don't want you to get a dog, but I think I'm losing that battle." He's not putting his foot down, but he's not really a putting-his-foot-down kind of guy. He did seem a little relieved that I decided not to take Pete to PetSmart this afternoon to see if they had puppies for adoption and that I told Pete we really needed to take her daddy with us when we went to look at puppies anyway so there would be someone there to say no and that I realized that right now is the exact wrong time to invite a new family member because we're trying to spend a little time at the Grandpa and Meme's house and it wouldn't be fair to a dog to bring it home and leave it with HG while we're away. Actually, that wouldn't be fair to HG, either. And I don't want to be the type of person who would be comfortable saying, "Hey, can we bring our new puppy with us?"

But the animal shelter has puppies. Sweet, little, 2-month-old, fuzzy-face Jack Russell Terrier/ English Springer Spaniel mix puppies RIGHT NOW. Three of them! And I want one. Wouldn't you?

Mommy's Nintendo Is an Indoor Pet

I don't like to play outside. I might like to sit outside. In the shade. When there's a cool breeze. If there's a good reason. Or at the beach (in the shade, still). But mostly I like to be inside. Where the air conditioning is.

The problems with this are:
1. I have 2 young daughters who are not indoor animals.
2. I live in the South, where it was already nearly 100º at the end of May this year.
3. It hasn't been raining enough for me to claim that as a valid excuse for denying my children outdoor time.

On the plus side:
1. We have a GIANT oak tree in our front yard. Ours is 1 of only 2 houses in our nearly clearcut neighborhood with an original tree in our front yard so we've got some shade there.
2. Lulu's school, which is only a 3 minute drive (plus 28 minutes for getting out of the house and into the car, but who's counting that!) and now closed for the summer, has a nice playground that is also shaded by a GIANT oak tree. And the girls like it there. And we're allowed to use it.
3. Aside from May, June, July, August, and September, the weather here is actually pretty nice, and I might be tempted to go outside. Maybe... Sometimes...

So what I'm saying is this: If you want to play outside anytime between a month ago and 3+ months from now, don't worry about inviting me. But would you take my kids?

I Still Want a Puppy

but I'm thinking we should wait until we don't have the kitty to take to the vet anymore.

My Novel

Guess what, guys! I was talking to The Grandpa and I realized that my novel is actually complete... I just don't have any text yet...

Little Mommy

Yesterday I was vacuuming... Yes I was! Nuh-huh! Shush! Let me tell my story!!

Yesterday I was vacuuming the living room carpet with that typical back-and-forth motion. Out of the corner of my eye I saw what appeared to be a miniature reflection of myself vacuuming the living room carpet with that typical back-and-forth motion. I looked and saw Lulu, with the girls' toy vacuum, perfectly imitating me. I wish I'd had the camera nearby or that someone else had been nearby with a camera because it was REALLY FUNNY! And it's actually not as hard to vacuum while you're giggling as you'd think...

For Just a Moment...

Don't tell Husbandguy, but for a moment this morning, as I was sweeping the various and unidentifiable crumbs from under Lulu's chair, I considered getting a puppy. Our main reason for not having a puppy now is that we don't really have a back yard. The 1/3 acre our house sits on is mostly wooded and not fenced so we couldn't just let the dog out back if it needed to go. You know? But it sure would be nice not to have to sweep under Lulu's chair every 20 minutes. And puppies are so cute. And people keep dogs in apartments without problems. And I don't want a big dog. I wonder what HG would say if one of our MSC field trips took us to a place where there are puppies in need of a home...

LL Says:

Yesterday, Lulu's mommy was very tired of Lulu acting her age, and, after chasing Lulu down for the 3rd time at Best Buy, Lulu's mommy scooped Lulu up and headed for the door. Lulu did not like this and complained. At the door of the store, the greeter-guy told Lulu's mommy to have a good day, to which Lulu replied, "I don't want to have a good day!"

On the drive home, Lulu's mommy opted not to answer Lulu's question, Lulu's same question, for the 6th time, which made Lulu upset. Lulu yelled at her mommy, "ANSWER MY QUESTION!" but Lulu's mommy did not. Then Lulu said more quietly, "That freaks me out, man."

Lulu then began yelling again, and when her sister asked her to stop yelling, Lulu yelled, "NO! I CAN'T!" but a moment later, Lulu said in a normal voice, "Sorry. I can."

Is it really fair of her to be 4 years old and also 2 years old at the same time?

Learning to fingerpaint

...among other things.

Overheard at MSC

"Nooooo!! Get out of my space!"

Guess who said that to whom. Leave a comment.

Dads

Happy Fathers Day, The Grandpa! Wish we could be there with you!!

Happy Fathers Day, Husbandguy, the Best Dad Ever!!

My Storyteller

Lulu has developed an amazing knack for storytelling. She's only 2, remember, but she will tell you the events that took place on our walk or at the library this morning like she was 4 or 5 years old. She'll recite to you how Mommy and Pete and she went for a walk, and she fell down and got a hurt on her knee, but we kept walking because Mommy asked if we should keep going she said yes, and when we got home we put a Barbie Band-Aid on her knee. The whole story. Just like that. Unless I want her to tell you the story. Then she'll just say, "AahdunNO."

HG's Project

Did I mention this? A couple of weekends ago, Husbandguy disappeared into the garage after breakfast on a Saturday. Then he cut a hole in the back of my kitchen counter and built a bookcase to fill it. It's in a corner cabinet that was mostly unusable space because of the weird angle. The bookcase is pretty much finished; we're going to paint the cabinets after he finishes another project he's been considering. I like it. Now maybe we can bring some of my cookbooks in from the box in the garage...

Peace at Mommy Summer Camp

Right now, the girls are watching Muzzy and learning French. I know you're not supposed to let your 2 year-old watch too much TV, but she's learning French! At least that's what I'm telling myself because they're not fighting or whining or bored. So far, MSC is a bust, but it's only been 2 days and today we printed out our weekly schedule and reviewed the chore list (Lulu's chore is to feed the cat) and next week we'll have library time and craft time and "cooking camp" with Pete's friend(s) and do better at following the schedule and leave "Virtual Villagers" turned off most of the time. So wish us luck!

My Crush Has Been... Crushed

So I kind of had the hots (nuh-huh! it is 1984 and I can say "the hots") for the deck manager at Pete's swimming lesson. He's cute in a snuggly, soccer-player-build kind of way, and he's got dark, wavy hair and dark eyes and I'm married, not blind so why can't I have a little crush. I guarantee I'm not the only soccer-mom-type person who goes there with their kid and looks forward to the announcements. But last night he ruined it with a big, minute-long, old-lady-esque SHUSH. "SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," he said. Ew?!

The Trouble with Storms

Apparently Lulu is afraid of thunder. After Pete's swimming lesson tonight, Lulu didn't want to come in out of the rain. HG was telling her that she had a minute and then she needed to come on in when a BIG thunder sounded. Lulu shrieked, a scream worthy of a slasher movie, and scrambled to the door, clearly desperate to get in. HG let her in, and we both comforted her (while trying not to laugh). "Are you okay?" we said. She said, "No. The thunder scared me and... the thunder scared me and... the... thunder scared me!"

It Might Be a Long Summer

Pete had been awake for 3 minutes and she was already bored.

OOPS! I Missed It

Sorry. I'll get back to you tomorrow...

Don't Wait Up

Since Pete's room is still clean and Lulu's party is over, I'm going to surprise Husbandguy and clean our closet so this might be all you get today from me. I talk to myself when I clean, though, and may think of something clever to post so maybe...

Pete's Recital

Pete's very first piano recital was yesterday. She did an amazing job. She played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." She got stuck in the middle on one note. But she figured it out and went on. We're very proud of her.

Looking for Mommy's Nintendo

These are the search terms people used to find my blog on Thursday this week:

1. itsy bitsy monkey
2. itsy bitsy ice cream
3. itsy bitsy panties
4. monkey to color in myself
5. monkey with bad hair
6. pianos everywhere
7. picture of a monkey with bad hair day
8. poem "i got a poem in my pocket"

You've got to wonder about #3. Number 8 is cool, though, because it would seem that someone was specifically searching for Pete's Poem in my Pocket Day poem.

I'm busy today...

Tagged by PSP

PSP tagged me. It looked like fun so I'm agonna doit. Here's the setup:

1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favourite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favourite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name? (my search didn't find anything!)

---

I feel funny about tagging people (except PSP, but she always tags me first!). To my regular readers - you both know who you are - it would be cool if you wanted to do this. Leave me a comment if you do it so I and my other regular reader can check yours out.

The Secret Keeper

Don't tell Lulu anything you want to keep a secret. If you're going to buy someone a present and you don't want them to know, don't take Lulu with you. And definitely don't ask Lulu to tell Husbandguy about the party supplies you guys bought if you bought HG a CD at the same time (my mistake). It went like this:

MN: Hey Lulu, tell Daddy what we bought today for your party.
LL: I buyed a CEEDEE.
MN: No, honey. What did we buy for your birthday party?
LL: We buyed a CEEDEE! It was for YOOOO!!
MN: No, shh! Don't tell Daddy about that. Tell him what we bought for you!
LL: We buyed... um... AhdunnOH! We buyed a CEEDEE for YOOOO!

HG just laughed. At me.

Two Things that Made Others Go, "Hmm..."

In the car earlier, Lulu and I were listening to the radio, specifically the public radio station that plays classical music, and the host was reading the weather report. After she read the part where it said it will be 98º on Friday and Saturday, she hesitated for a second and then said, "Hmm. That's kinda hard on me. I don't know about you." You know she was thinking, "What the hell? 98º? It's just barely June!" but she can't say that during "The Mozart Cafe."

This morning, I was drinking my coffee and Lulu said, "Hey! I want some!" so I stuck my finger in and put a drop on her tongue. She made a little tasting-it face (that's the "hmm" part) and then she said, "Actually, I don't like that.*" Good for her!

*can you believe she's only 2?

And There Was Carpet!

I just finished cleaning Pete's room. Pete's room that has been un-navigable for the last several months. It took me 3 days to clean it, and by the end of my time in there today, I was throwing stuff away right and left (poor kid!). She might have opted to keep some of what I threw out if she had cleaned her room herself, but she didn't, even though she had many, many, many opportunities. And it could have been worse. I only have 1 tall kitchen sized trash bag full of trash, and a lot of it really is trash.

Here's the deal, though. I am not cleaning it again before the grandparents come for Lulu's party this weekend, and it will be clean for the party. So Pete will be told to put things away when she's done with them and that everything left out on Friday evening will be tossed into a trash bag by Husbandguy. He's too nice to do that, though. I'm just hoping the threat will be enough for her to put her toys away between now and then. It might mean more if I was the one who would be throwing everything away because I'd actually do it, but why does it always have to be me who's the Bad Guy? For real! It's not fair!!

But right now, her room is clean, and Lulu is napping so it will stay that way for at least 2 hours...

It's Her Birthday and She'll Cry if We Make Her

So this morning, when Lulu called to be gotten out of her crib, Pete, Husbandguy, and I all went in together to get her. We sang "Happy Birthday" and had a presents for her, but apparently we should have warned her because instead of clapping and happily opening her gifts, she burst into tears and had to be consoled. Darn it! Poor kid! Here it is, her special day, and what does her family do to celebrate? Terrorize her!! She got over it, though, and did open her present, a stuffed mouse, which she has been carrying around, tucked under her little 2-year-old arm, all morning.

She's a Big Girl Now...

Happy Birthday to my Lulu!!

She's 2 today.

Most probably she'll spend the day singing the Birthday Song.

Let's all hum along with her and see if we can get a thing going.

Hm Hm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm (Come on - join in!)...

Two Years Ago

It is 7:00 PM. Two years ago at this time I was very pregnant. Two years sounds like a long time, but it sure doesn't feel that way. I didn't realize how big my baby was getting until yesterday at the festival at Pete's school when I saw how big everyone else's "babies" are. I'm a little bit mushy right now. I think I'm not making much sense. I'll be back tomorrow, when my baby can officially drop the "almost" from the answer she gives when you ask her how old she is. I'll probably be mushy then too...