Friday, December 26, 2008

Have Coat, Need Snow.


New Coat and Boots, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Just a quick post, hoping you all had a nice holiday.

Rowan got a new snow ensemble, but when there's no snow it's not really worth the effort to put on the snow pants that match it. But I do love the coat--she's our little snow bunny. Here we are, out for a walk/slide. (It's quite icy around here.) Later that evening, we got hit with a big rainstorm. Who knows what we'll get tomorrow? (Hoping for snow--she got a sled for Christmas.)

We hope you can take some time to relax between now and the new year!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Little Pitchers


Upon looking at the cover of a book she loves:

"Look, honey! What does the cow say?"

"Mooooo."

"Good job! What does the sheep say?"

"Mooooo."

"Well, no, he says 'Baa'. Can you say 'Baa'?"

"Baaa!"

"Right! And the pigs?"

Right on pitch, and in rhythm... "Na Na Na*!!!"

Thank you, Sandra Boynton. Apparently my daughter thinks all pigs are wonderful singers.




*N's are currently her version of L's. Lucy is now "Nootsy".

Monday, December 22, 2008

Merry Christmas 2008


Merry Christmas 2008, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Butter on My Doorpost and Candles on My Head

Yeah, it's been a while, sorry.

Just didn't feel like posting more of "I'm stressed--it's the holidays--ACK!" I am living it, so are you, don't need to rehash.

Rowan's doing well, and getting new words every day. Today we got "Sorry!" which is big, let me tell you. Especially after 4-7 PM. Ahem. She is likely teething again, because a string of weird symptoms led us to a semi-emergency doctor appointment on Thursday afternoon which didn't turn into anything except one MAD little girl who did not appreciate getting checked for a bladder infection. Which she didn't have. Ouch.

Anyway, the blue lips and hands, crankiness, tugging at the ears and sticking her hands down her diaper a lot, more crankiness, and 102.5 fever turned out to be...nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Great. We missed a Christmas party for nothing. (Ok, the weather was bad, too, so it's not all her fault.)

The weather's been weird, cold and then warm and sleet and snow and wind and ice. My gifts are bought, wrapped (except 2 hiding from Dr. B until he goes to his meetings tomorrow), and mailed, and the Christmas baking is on hold because I kind of like it when my jeans fit. We've made our holiday plans, though they don't include driving 48-hours round trip back to the tundra this year. We'll spend our Christmas here, at home, doing our own thing, and that's good. We're looking forward to making our own traditions.

Rowan is loving the tree ("Tee! Pee! Pee!"= Tree, pretty, pretty!) and has only broken one decoration so far. The one-finger touch rule is doing its job, though she usually grabs the ornament with the other hand and then touches it with one finger, but all the glass ones are still in the attic, so it's all good. She loves to listen to us sing carols, and nods emphatically when asked if she is a good girl. Tonight, after the meltdown that lasted hours, I asked again. She didn't nod this time. That's when she learned to say "sorry". Hey, whatever works! I'm sure Santa will be good to her.

Tonight is the winter solstice, one of my favorite nights of the year, because of the sense of hope for the future. I hope I hope I hope it will stop being so darn dark outside. Though the holiday lights are cheerful and uplifting, there's nothing quite like Old Mr. Sun coming back to take away the winter blues. We're celebrating by relaxing on the couches with some cocoa. Just didn't feel like walking around with candles on my head or covering my doorpost with butter. Maybe next year.

Tonight is also the beginning of Hannukah. Though I am not Jewish, fried food is wonderful and I like candles so Happy Hannukah! To Seth, I hope you get lots of high holiday bacon.

Wherever you are, I hope you are warm and comfy and have good things to eat. And if I don't get off my tush and post until then, Merry Christmas, too.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

I can complete a sentence.

Feel free to play along in the comments section or on your own blog. I stole this meme from my cousin because I've got a busy weekend planned.


Today I: went to Barnes and Noble with Rowan. Mistake: see "leaving the Library tantrum" (except there were more people at Barnes and Noble.)

Tomorrow I will: sing in concert with Essence 2, the Choral Society, and the middle and high school Honor Choirs. We're doing the Daniel Pinkham Christmas Cantata Gloria. It rocks! WOOT!

I'm looking forward to: being done with Christmas gift getting and mailing. I love it, and I hate it.

I could pass on: Liver and onions (love foie gras, but hate the fried stuff), baked beans, watermelon, and hot dogs. The weird chemicals give me headaches, and I hate yellow mustard.

Newest song I like: the sad thing is the only new stuff I know is on preschool TV. Unless you count that Pinkham Gloria! It's new to me. :)


Last show I saw: As in live theater? Rocky Horror in Paris. That's pretty sad. Movie in a theater was that forgettable Cohen Brothers one with Brad Pitt. It stunk.

Something aggravating: Central Pennsylvania drivers. They don't know what an accelerator is.

One thing you may not know about me: I have chronic low seratonin. I guess this means I need *more* chocolate and bow chicka wow wow. Heh.

I can still: put both ankles behind my neck and slip my shoulders through. That scares you a little, doesn't it?

Gift I'd want if money was no object: A Time Machine!

Take it if you want it, and let me know so I can snoop.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I do not understand this state.

It is 11 AM.

It is 34 degrees.

There is not a flake on the ground.

It's not raining.

It's not snowing.

There's no wind.

We're supposed to have freezing rain at 8 PM. That's tonight.

AND TODAY THEY CANCELED SCHOOL.

OK, yes, I grew up in North Dakota, where they don't cancel school when it's -60 F, we have 3 feet of snow on the ground, 80 mph winds, and more snow falling. AND we're all driving around on 2 inches of ice because it's illegal to salt the roads. But come on! This is insane!

Proof: East Coasters are WUSSES.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Groovin'


Groovin'
Originally uploaded by MrsBinParis
It's in her blood, dancing. Also, apparently, a love for Iggy Pop.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Your kid probably already said this.


Goofy girl, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Me: "Did you poop in your pants?"

Her: "No."

Me: "Who was it, then?"

Her: "Grandma!"

Your kid probably already said this

Me: "Did you poop in your pants?"

Her: "No."

Me: "Who was it, then?"

Her: "Grandma!"

Our Favorite

"It's bedtime, Rowan! Let's go! Up! Up! Give your dad a kiss goodnight, and let's go!"

She runs to the stairs, and begins to climb, pausing as her head pops over the banister, and waves goodnight to Lucy. Hand over hand, she goes up. I follow, arms full of clean, folded diapers, a baby bottle full of soymilk, and whatever else. An occasional bump on the bottom from my knee keeps her motivated. She hands me small bits of lint she finds on the carpet as she makes her way up the stairs. I open the top gate, and she stands, running off to find a book or a toy or perhaps one of her dad's shoes.

One of us chooses a story, current favorites being A Wocket in my Pocket and Tous les Amis, and I sit in the old rocker. She takes the bottle, and either joins me or busies herself with other toys as I read. Some nights, she follows the story, pointing to the characters and drinking noisily. Others, she's a cowgirl riding her horse Diane, or a builder, making a MegaBlok tower.

The book finished, I turn out the light and head to the bathroom. I know she'll never leave unless it's dark. I wait, and she joins me, often with another book in hand. I prepare her toothbrush, and stick its little suction cup to the counter. When she's ready, she comes over to get it, playing with the suction cup and giggling, before brushing her teeth, also known as chewing on the brush, with the occasional arm movement. "All done!" she cries, throwing up her arms. I put her on my lap, and finish the job while she protests and squirms. We head back to her room, shutting the door behind.

In the dark, I make my way carefully to the chair, slowly, so I don't knock her over. Her night vision is much better than mine. She comes to my knees, patting them, ready. I pick her up and she wraps her arms around me, tucking her head against my neck. I offer her the pacifier, for sleep only now, and she pops her head up, opening her mouth to accept it.

We rock. She lays against my left shoulder, her left arm curled around me. She sighs. I kiss her neck. "I could kiss you a thousand times a day, and it would never be enough, my beautiful girl," I whisper. She sighs again. We rock some more, the chair creaking. Suddenly, she sits up, pulls the nuk out of her mouth, and gives me a big kiss. In goes the nuk, and her head goes down again.

"This is my favorite time," I say. She nods against my shoulder, and hugs me tighter. We rock.

Again, suddenly, she sits up, looks at me. "Are you ready?" I say. She nods and tries to say, "Ready!" through the nuk. "One more hug," I ask, and she obliges, as I scoop her up, my arm under her bottom, and take her to her crib. "I love you soooo much," I say, "do you know that?" She nods against my shoulder, and squeezes me once more.

I lay her down in her crib, covering her with her quilt and tucking a bear beside her. "Goodnight, my beautiful girl," I whisper as I turn to leave. She jumps up to standing, and smiles. She waves, and blows me a kiss. I laugh, blow one back and close the door.

This is my favorite time.
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