Just another beautiful morning!

I know that I'll look back and cherish these hectic mornings.  I know I will.  In fact, there are a thousand little moments each day that I scoop up carefully and lock away in my heart, knowing that while my mind may forget these teeny blessings, my heart never will.

I wake up as usual, with Chris poking and prodding me, "It's after 7. I'm late! You have to get up now!  Come on, are you awake?! Get up! I'm leaving!"   I try heroically to pry my eyes open and fight the tiny be-horned, red-dressed Bonnie on my shoulder urging me to ignore his pleadings and drift back off.  Shortly after I hear the alarm set, and his thump, thump, thump off the porch and the roar of his super-cool muffler (or lack thereof) on his truck, I am able to relax again. 

Drifting off... nice and easy... "eh."  nice and... "eeehhh."  "EEEHHH!"  Like the winding up of a firetruck siren, I hear the whine begin.  Slowly and spaced out, at first, growing in urgency and demand the longer I wait.  "Just five more minutes," I plead.  "Just play with Bunny Bear and your feet, or something.  I'll be right there," I beg the one-way monitor, who I know is not passing my message on to the increasingly impatient toddler a few rooms away.  THWACK.  There goes Bunny Bear.  My time is short now.  I jump out of bed, stumble into as few pieces of furniture as possible, and stagger into her room.  As I finally peel back the sleep mask (why didn't I think of that sooner?), I see her sweet rosy cheecks and chin resting on the rail of her crib, arms outstretched and she coos an excited greeting to me.  "Well, hello there, my Little Bit.  How's my Love Muffin this morning?"  Her arms reach up and around me, briefly, and she points excitedly toward the door - "Da-da!".  Of course.

"Honey, your Da-da has gone to work already, but what about me? I'm here... Remember Ma-Ma?"  "Da-da!" she states emphatically and squirms to be let down.  "By all means, go look.  I'll just get you a clean diaper and a change of clothes and some juice while you look for your precious DaDa.  I'll just think of all those times when I puked first thing in the morning until I laid my head back in bed at the end of the day while I was carrying and carefully nurturing you INSIDE MY BODY while you go look for dearest Dada."  P.S. - I'm not bitter that she loves him more.  I'm glad she's so head over heels for her DaDa.  It's what I've always dreamed of.  Seriously.  Not at all bitter.

As I carry the clothes and shoes and other necessities to my room, she comes scooting in on her little pink car, fearlessly flinging herself into the same doorways and furniture legs I sought to avoid mere moments before.  Grinning ear to ear, she leaps into my arms, and with only a little pleading from me, gives me one of the sweetest kisses I'll ever recieve before flopping excitedly on the bed and pointing to the TV.  I take what I can get.  And love every second.  "So what is it this morning, your majesty?  Toys? (Toy Story 2)  Baa? (Shaun the Sheep), Shrek? (Shrek 2)"   "Cars!" she demands.  "Hon, cars are only on the computer.  You can watch those with Daddy tonight"   "Daddy?" she looks around expectantly.  "No, tonight.... nevermind.  Here, let's get dressed".  Cars is her word for watching the endless YouTube clips Chris has found of antique cars being driven.  When she gets bored of that, they watch a  little "Row, Row" (your boat), and some "Itsy Bitsy" (spider), then maybe a little bluegrass before she's back to watching cars.   I honestly have no clue how he's done it, but the two of them have one another wrapped around their fingers.  It's sickening, really.

Once dressed, she watches her movie as Mommy scurries to get ready, often noshing on Cheerios or dried fruit and sipping milk. "Come on, cowgirl, time to head out.  Ready to go to school and get Bite Bites and see Ms. Lauren?!"  Nodding emphatically, she grabs Bunny Bear, jumps aboard the pink car and begins banging her way through the halls to the kitchen.  There we have to stop so I can give her medicine - the latest round of antibiotics for the latest ear infections... fun.  Thankfully, the kid loves medicine.  She's on the far side of the island when I tell her it's time for her medicine, and suddenly I see a chubby hand pop up over the edge of the counter and a pacifier flies onto the granite.  Then stomp, stomp, stomp, and a very excited young lady is standing in front of my eagerly awaiting a tube of yummy medicine.  She sucks until it's empty, then looks up expectantly - "Mo?"  "No, honey, no more until tonight... go get Bunny and let's go"

She stomps around to the other side of the island and I see the chubby hand pop back over the edge of the counter,  feeling around for the paci... I slide it closer, and she finds it.  I hear the happy slurp as it hits it's target and shortly she appears next to me, bear in hand.  She proceeds past me to the door and begins slapping it loudly ("knocking", or our version of it), as I snatch my purse and bags, set the alarm, and out we go.  Or out she goes, and stops abruptly in the doorway (just like her Grandma).  "Mauwh Mauwh?" she asks, elbows akimbo, hands bouncing in the air.  "I don't know where our kitty is this morning, baby.  Why don't you call him?" I say as I scurry past her to drop my load in the car and get her seat ready.  At this point, we're desperately late, but that doesn't concern her... "MAUWH MAUWH" she cries, looking in every direction.  I try to get back in time, but no, she's found her rocks.  Has one in each hand and is wielding them somewhat scarily near the bathroom windows.  Calling for the cat and stomping along the porch with her rocks, any attempt by me to extract her from the situation is met with a firm howl.  "Bite Bites, school, Ms. Lauren," I remind her.  She flings the rocks down and starts running toward the steps, hollering "Bite Bites" with every step... At least I know how to motivate the kid.  About that time, Mauwh Mauwh shows up, so we have to shriek at him, pet him, then laugh and shriek som more as he begins winding himself through my legs.  I have to navigate the field of land mines between letting the very independent toddler walk down the stairs and to the car herself, all while trying not to break an ankle in my heeled shoes on the gravel walk, and avoid tripping over and killing the damn cat (actually, most of the time I like the cat, but when he's between or in front of my every step and I'm already late, he's a damn cat).

Finally, everyone in the car, buckled up and we're on our way. Whew.  Hayden has her cell phone and is jabbering excitedly into the reciever.  I think it's Mema and Poppie we're talking to this morning.  Or about them.  I'm never quite sure.  She sounds an awful lot like the lady that does my nails, and as I look in the rearview mirror, I can see she's literally foaming from the speed at which she's talking.  Every once in a while, I catch a word I think I might understand.  "bawl... Mauwh... wock (rock).... Pop-pee...buhbuhls...bite, bites...oooh, oooh (her dog bark)..."  This feverishly paced conversation continues until we get to school, and she happily flings the phone aside (I think it landed in the cupholder on the other side of the car) and snatches up her bunny bear and paci and reaches for me.  Once unfastened, I remind her the paci stays in the car and she flings it into her seat and bounces happily in my arms.  It's Bite Bite Time!

I drop her off in the room, where she runs happily to an empty chair and sits, legs pumping, for Ms. Lauren to bring breakfast.  This morning it's a biscuit, chicken patty, and applesauce with milk.  She grabs the biscuit and chicken, takes a lick of the chicken before tossing it back on her plate and tearing into the biscuit.  I get her attention and blow her a kiss bye-bye, and wait long enough for her to blow me one back "Mwah!".

And, I'm off to work... finally.  Late, but I wouldn't trade a minute of the morning I've just had.  And not that late...At least we had no melt-downs, explosions or other heart-breaks this morning.  I'm sure she's saving that for tomorrow.  I can't wait.

"Oh, God"

My dearest little pudding-pie honey bee sweetums came out with her first inappropriate phrase this weekend (we won't say bad, although she did come out with one of those as well), and while I'm blaming this one entirely on daddy (give me a minute, you'll see why), it's been a wake up call to us both that we need to watch our mouths.

As I was changing the aforementioned Snookums' dirty, dirty diaper this weekend, I made the comment, "Ohh, Honey! Let me get the wipes.  This one's a doozie!"

To which my little angel-babe responded, "Oh, God!" (which in her VERY Southern accent came out, "Ohhh, Gaaawwwwd!")

I froze, not sure I'd heard her correctly. "What, sweetie?"

"Oh, God!"  It was then that I realized just exactly who she sounded like.  Her loving, doting father has the exact same reaction whenever he releases those little tabs to discover one of her more "productive" creations...

Ahem.

Dear, we need to talk.

She didn't repeat the phrase again until the next poopy diaper a little later that day, and then she again mimicked her daddy.   Soon, though, she'd learned to apply her new saying to all sorts of situations.  Choked on your milk? "Oh, God!"  Dropped your spoon?  "Oh, God!"  Saw a bug?  "Oh, God"

I am avidly working on teaching "Oh, no!" as a substitute, and trying not to show a reaction when the other comes out, but it catches me so off guard to hear this sweet cherubic little voice singing out this little phrase.  Part of me wants to laugh, part of me wants to cry, and part of me wants to break the duct tape out for mine and hubby's mouths.

Gone, Gone!

Hayden started using this phrase last night, along with the hand gestures, and I managed to catch a quick bit of it on film using my phone.

She'd eaten her ENTIRE banana (shortly before downing 3 rice cakes, a handful of puffs, a roll, and 2 chicken tenders. The kid is a bottomless pit!), and was looking for more. I had to explain that it was "gone, gone."

I think she got the picture.



Happy Friday.

Look who's talking

Hayden has been working on expanding her vocabulary over the last few months, and in classic Hayden style, she has done it on her timeline, and when it suits her. She learned several new words early on, used them sufficiently to prove she could say them, then ceased using them at all. Same tact she took learning to wave "bye-bye", same as when she started rolling over. Once she knows she can do it, she doesn't feel the need to practice it anymore or prove to the world that she can do it. And, added benefit: it frustrates Mama and Daddy when they try to show her off, and makes them look dumb. An effect I'm sure she'll work towards for years to come.

Based on my own feelings toward math homework growing up (I learned how to do it, I practiced a few times so I was comfortable doing it, and now you want me to do it how many more times?!?? pppptttttthhhh on that!), I can already see the crying, screaming event Hayden's own homework could well turn into. Maybe she'll take after Chris on that one. Haydie, all I'm saying is that it's hard to become the engineer that you... er...your daddy wants you to if you aren't into math. Chris, good luck with that one. I've done my part.

Anyway, long way back from that tangent, but my point is that Hayden has recently started expanding her vocabulary at a pretty speedy pace (for someone limited to a couple words, anything seems fast). In the last week and a half she's added several new ones, some of them surprising to even us.

She has long been able to say "Hi" (although that one's still on her banned list, for some reason), she can say "Bye-bye" and does often. In fact, the other night at my in-laws they had some friends visiting, and when Marilyn said that they should probably think about going home, Hayden perked up, looked right at her and popped out "BYE!" Cracked us all up. Over the remainder of the visit, anytime Marilyn spoke to her, or Hayden noticed her, she'd just shout "BYE!" (So, speaking her mind - check! One skill we won't need to work on much, I see.)

She can say "Da-da", and does all the time. Still tears my heart into a million pieces hearing that sweet voice call his name, and seeing him respond. I LOVE seeing them together - too sweet for words.

She started saying Ma-Ma last week more often, and to me occasionally. In fact, I was making dinner, and she came toddling up calling "da-da-da-da-da" reaching for the cracker I had in my hand. I jokingly told her that if she wanted something from me, she'd better call me "Ma-ma. MA-MA." Big difference in me and "da-da". Next thing I know she's reaching for the cracker calling "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!" I gave her all the crackers. What else could I do?

She also started saying "Pa-pa" and "Poppie" last week, and surprisingly, "Abbie" - her cousin who she's only met twice up to now, and knows mostly from pictures. If you tell her to show you Abbie, though, she'll toddle right over to her picture and point her out. Of course, seeing the real live Abbie at dinner last night, she refused to display any of those skills.

Another one she's learned is "uh-oh" This is an oldie but goodie that she's recently resurrected around the same time she discovered the delight in THROWING things to the ground. Sometimes when she's done with them. Sometimes just to hear them crash. Sometimes to show you that she's mad at you/the object/life. Sometimes just on accident. So now, around the house, I hear *crash!* "uh-ah, uh-ah, aahhhhh". Of course, she's insistent that you pick it up! right now! so she can have it back and hurl it back. That's a fun game.

The other night, she even said "Hay-deh" when I was talking to her about her name. Not sure if we'll count that one as official or not.

Speaking of official, one last aside - the docs kept telling me she was teething, which I assumed because of the low fever, irritability, drool, etc, but we had NO teeth coming in. I kept waiting on her next bicuspid, and it wasn't showing. It's been months since we've seen a new one! The other day, I decided to feel (this is a risky proposition with this child - she has enough front teeth to chomp a finger off, which she's apt to do if you stick it in there. Not a fan of the tooth check, this one) to see if that tooth was getting any closer. Instead, I felt a tooth behind that one - a Molar! I hadn't even considered molars yet. After a complete, and completely miserable, check of her mouth, I discovered she had THREE molars all partially in! Holy cow! She just went from 5 teeth to 8 teeth, and I missed those coming in! Note to her doctor: sorry for calling you a crazy, out-of-touch lunatic behind your back after we left. YOU WERE RIGHT. (just kidding - I love Dr. V and wouldn't call her that. I would however seriously doubt that one of us had any idea what teething symptoms looked like. Not naming names, just saying).


Merry Christmas to you and yours! Have a wonderful holiday, filled with love, family and joy.

Say what?

Hayden is now saying "Buh Bye" and "Uh Oh" (which often comes out sounding like a little foghorn - "errhhh aaaahhhhrroo", but I know what she means) at will, and by "at will", I mean pretty much never. Hayden's MO is to learn a new skill, trick or word, repeat it frequently and with fervor for several days until she masters it, then to discard it like an old sock and refuse to illustrate her talents except under much duress and after much pleading and cajoling from us. Much like she will as a teenager, I'm sure. Back to the point of my story (yes, there was one, thank you very much!), now that she's easing into the world of the spoken word, it has me thinking back to some of the early and favorite phrases used in our house as I grew up. Many of these have become classics, epic punchlines that only need to be stated at the opportune moment to reduce our entire family to breathless laughter. Those sorts of memories and inside stories and jokes are what binds a family together. It's what makes us look absolutely crazy to outsiders, but lets anyone who understands the meaning behind the words know that they are a part of a larger whole. They are, for better or worse, a member of this ramshakle team.



Now, while many of you will have no idea why some of these things are funny (and, I have to admit, after this many years, I still don't get why some of them are funny, they just are), I'm going to share our top 10 greatest phrases of all time.



10. "Cheesecake boat's a comin', better hurry on down" - Dad or Grace

(This is sung in a very deep voice, and inevitably has Grace and Dad crying from laughter. Apparently there was this comedian this one time, on this show who had a song about cheesecake or something, and I don't know, I guess you had to be there, but it's pretty funny anyway. Just smile and nod)



9. "Somebody gonna hav'ta 'coot over!" - Grace, age 2ish

(Announced loudly to the rest of the family one night on a camping trip, as we were all settling down to sleep in the back of our camper-top truck bed. Apparently even being the tiniest family member didn't make getting squashed against the wheel welll acceptable for Gracie.)



8. "Everybody's different. I'm different, you're different, we're all different" - Bonnie, age 5 or 6

(My parents had a group of students from the college over to watch a movie (the old reel style projector with the screen at the front of the room) and I apparently decided to give a very matter-of-fact little lesson to the crowd about what makes us all unique as we were waiting for the movie to roll)



7. "Candy, Candy,CANDY!" -Mom

(This was said by mom as she would lunge at you, like a crazed candy monster. Ususally after Halloween when she was 'after' your candy. Always sent Grace and I running to protect our stashes!)

6. "House of Insanity" -Any of us

(standard greeting when you call the house. So true. So, so true.)

5. "How's your Helper?" - Mom or Dad

(It means, how's your dinner. Quoted from Family Vacation - the brother in law was so broke, they didn't have Hamburger, just Helper. Cracked us up, apparently. Still does.)

4. "CHAMP! The Wonder Dog!" - Dad

(Refers to our late, great husky mix, Champ. Ususally when he did something especially profound like lay down, or sniff his own butt. He was a Wonder Dog!)

3. "Flaps down." or "Flaps up", also goes along with "And we're OFF! Like a herd of turtles!" - All of us

(Flaps up and down, while referring to airplane wings, equals arm rests in our mini van. Mom or Dad would call "Flaps down?", and we'd slap the arm rests down and confirm back - "Flaps down!" And inevitably, after umpteen runs back in the house for this or that, or for a last minute potty break, we'd be OFF! Like a herd of very slow turtles to whatever great adventure lay in store.)

2. "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." - ALL of us

(This quote is from only the greatest movie EVER - the Princess Bride. Quoting that movie is an integral part of being in my family. We love them all - "Have fun storming the castle!", and "I do not think that means what you think it means", and "Twue Love")

And last, but by NO MEANS least,

1. "Wanna see sompin?" - Dan, age 3ish

(My brother's infamous saying, discovered years later in the annals of our family videotape, which he asked the 'audience' while filming his "stories" (nursery rhymes and songs) alone in the den one day. And apparently, after getting confirmation that his imaginary audience did, in fact, want to "see sompin", he, with great flourish, dropped trou. No, he's not a stripper now, why do you ask?)

Quick Like A Fox

Hayden is starting to hit that separation anxiety stage, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to drop her off at school without crying and 'lashing' of the teeth (that's a throwback to our car club's Headknocker, Robert Taylor, who is known more for his humor than bible quotations). This morning was her first day in the Stage 2 Infant classroom, where the babies move once they're mobile and pulling up. It's a bigger room, with more area and activties to help them excel at their new skills, and gives them space to interact with the other babies safely. It's also a great way to help burn off some of Hayden's energy during the day, helping her sleep better at night, but that's a whole different subject...

Back to drop-offs. I brought her in to Baby Room B this morning, and set her down in a great pile of toys in the corral. As I went about the business of putting up her diapers and bottles, she began to loose her stuff. She was one unhappy little girl -she knew mama was getting ready to leave, and was letting us all know that was NOT ok. Ms. Mandy picked her up in an attempt to soothe her, but the wails just got louder and more forlorn. I couldn't leave her in that state, so I came over and took her in my arms. Instant smiles and coos. Not only that, but she began waving 'bye bye', a trick she's recently resurrected, to Ms Mandy as if to say, "see ya Sucker, I'm outta here!" I couldn't help but laugh at her early attempt to get her way, even before she's figured out how to say a single word. So clever, my wee one. Clever, but Mama's still one step ahead of you. Nice try.

Kids say the darndest things

I have gotten a chance this week at church to spend some time with my friends' children, and while I love the age Hayden is now and am enjoying every minute, I have to admit I am looking forward to when she is able to verbalize her thoughts and feelings - I can't wait to see how that little mind works!

A few great gems that I was privy to this week:

The Babysitter
Lexi, 8, is the epitomy of a little lady. She acts and talks very grown up for her age, and has loved the opportunity to help with Hayden. As we were leaving the other night, she stopped suddenly, turned to her mom and exclaimed (finger pointed in the air for emphasis), " I've got a briliant idea! Bonnie and Hayden can come home with us!" As her mom started in on the usual "they have to go to their home now" line, I approached it differently. "Lexi, what about Mr. Chris? What will he do if we go home with you?". "Oh, him?" she pshawed, "he can go to his house to enjoy some time alone."

Gotta give her credit, the girl knows how to push the right buttons... Mr. Chris would have supported that one, no problem. His only issue would be trying to figure out what to do with all that free time! Maybe I should convince Lexi to get Mr. Chris and Hayden to go to her house and let Ms. Bonnie spend some time alone for awhile...


When not to fish
My friend's granddaughter, Carly, sat behind us at church last night and at one point her grandfather, seated on the other side of the church, began quoting from Luke 5. This scripture describes when Jesus instructed Simon to cast his nets despite the fishermen not having caught a thing all night. When they obeyed they found their nets were so full they broke. The gist of his talk was about the fact that the fishermen called their friends to help them, and how as friends we should be there to support one another, but Carly derived something entirely different from the discourse. She leaned over to her grandmother and urgently asked her to please "tell Paw-Paw he's not supposed to talk about going fishing while he's at church!"