Here is a recent exchange between Drew and Rachel:
Drew: Can you give Daddy a kiss, Rachel?
Rachel: No.
(Drew makes a sad face).
Rachel, visibly distressed: No, Daddy, I need you!!
(Drew thought she was trying to make the point that just because she didn't give him a kiss didn't mean she doesn't still love him and need him!)
Another exchange:
Drew makes a sad face.
Rachel, visibly distressed: No sad, Daddy! Be happy!
Drew was very impressed by her emotional acuity.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Molly's here!
Molly and the kids got here Sunday morning and oh, what fun we've been having! Calvin, Camilla, Marigold and Rachel played together while Drew supervised and Molly and I talked; then Molly's ex-husband picked up the kids and we spent the rest of the day doing...what, I can't remember. It was three days ago but feels like forever!
Yesterday Drew took Rachel to school while I took Molly shopping. She introduced me to a very cute kids' boutique called Bella Stella; between this place and Target I found several great, cheap raincoats I could have bought Rachel for this winter if only I had known! Instead we got a free Lands End jacket from a friend of ours. So I can't really justify buying yet another coat.
She and I also went to Powell's where I bought two books; even though I was loath to spend money I am constitutionally unable to walk into Powell's without walking out with a book. Or three. I think there's a book-buying drug they put in the air.
Then today we all drove Rachel to daycare, then continued south to Eugene where Molly used to live and where Drew lived briefly years ago. We dropped Molly off to visit a friend of hers, then Drew and I had a great lunch at Zenon Cafe, a favorite of ours for the desserts (although mine was just so-so). We went to a bookstore near the University of Oregon campus and we bought two more books, including a complete four-volume set of the Madeline books for Rachel -- for only $10! I can't wait until she's ready for me to read them to her!
Then we got back to daycare late (arghh...I hate this blasted rain, it makes driving impossible), swung by the law school to pick up some soup I had left in the office fridge, then home. Molly is asleep upstairs, Drew is putting Rachel to sleep and later I am going to make some hot chocolate and schnapps while Drew builds a fire. All in all, should be a lovely evening!
Yesterday Drew took Rachel to school while I took Molly shopping. She introduced me to a very cute kids' boutique called Bella Stella; between this place and Target I found several great, cheap raincoats I could have bought Rachel for this winter if only I had known! Instead we got a free Lands End jacket from a friend of ours. So I can't really justify buying yet another coat.
She and I also went to Powell's where I bought two books; even though I was loath to spend money I am constitutionally unable to walk into Powell's without walking out with a book. Or three. I think there's a book-buying drug they put in the air.
Then today we all drove Rachel to daycare, then continued south to Eugene where Molly used to live and where Drew lived briefly years ago. We dropped Molly off to visit a friend of hers, then Drew and I had a great lunch at Zenon Cafe, a favorite of ours for the desserts (although mine was just so-so). We went to a bookstore near the University of Oregon campus and we bought two more books, including a complete four-volume set of the Madeline books for Rachel -- for only $10! I can't wait until she's ready for me to read them to her!
Then we got back to daycare late (arghh...I hate this blasted rain, it makes driving impossible), swung by the law school to pick up some soup I had left in the office fridge, then home. Molly is asleep upstairs, Drew is putting Rachel to sleep and later I am going to make some hot chocolate and schnapps while Drew builds a fire. All in all, should be a lovely evening!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Back online!
..thanks to Drew, who ordered us a new modem and installed it tonight. Thanks, Drew!!
We've been having a fun, lazy two days -- getting up late, eating leisurely breakfasts, playing with Rachel (Drew), running around doing errands (me, including the most boring errand imaginable -- buying new BRAS, but it had to be done, my old ones are too big now that I've lost weight), cooking dinner at home, putting Rachel to bed (Drew again), cleaning up and de-cluttering the house (me) and watching movies at night.
I could totally get used to this life.
Rachel startled us both last night by announcing, "It's 9 o'clock." Neither of us commented on the time; when did she learn how to read a clock??
We had a late Hanukkah last night, since Drew had a hankering for latkes. I made seven and they turned out perfectly. And Rachel LOVED Drew's gift of a baby doll with a stroller. She has put Dolly (that's its name; I asked) in the stroller and wheeled her (him? it?) all over the house multiple times already. Dolly has a seat at the kitchen table (near the window that looks out onto the driveway) and Rachel tried to feed her some ravioli tonight. When I walked into the bedroom just now, Rachel was sitting in the glider, Drew was next to her reading a story and Dolly was in her stroller. "She's naken!" Rachel announced proudly, and it's true, Dolly was missing the little pink baby pajamas she came with. I think she is fated to be naked as long as Rachel owns her. (If I were Mom, I would have sewed an entire wardrobe for her by now, but I have forgotten all the sewing skills I fleetingly acquired in 7th grade home ec class).
We've been having a fun, lazy two days -- getting up late, eating leisurely breakfasts, playing with Rachel (Drew), running around doing errands (me, including the most boring errand imaginable -- buying new BRAS, but it had to be done, my old ones are too big now that I've lost weight), cooking dinner at home, putting Rachel to bed (Drew again), cleaning up and de-cluttering the house (me) and watching movies at night.
I could totally get used to this life.
Rachel startled us both last night by announcing, "It's 9 o'clock." Neither of us commented on the time; when did she learn how to read a clock??
We had a late Hanukkah last night, since Drew had a hankering for latkes. I made seven and they turned out perfectly. And Rachel LOVED Drew's gift of a baby doll with a stroller. She has put Dolly (that's its name; I asked) in the stroller and wheeled her (him? it?) all over the house multiple times already. Dolly has a seat at the kitchen table (near the window that looks out onto the driveway) and Rachel tried to feed her some ravioli tonight. When I walked into the bedroom just now, Rachel was sitting in the glider, Drew was next to her reading a story and Dolly was in her stroller. "She's naken!" Rachel announced proudly, and it's true, Dolly was missing the little pink baby pajamas she came with. I think she is fated to be naked as long as Rachel owns her. (If I were Mom, I would have sewed an entire wardrobe for her by now, but I have forgotten all the sewing skills I fleetingly acquired in 7th grade home ec class).
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Rachel discovers adjectives
Today we headed in to daycare after my dentist's appointment -- Drew ended up dropping Rachel off at Dr. McKeel's and I took her to Salem.
On the way, she said, "Daddy gave me Rice Krispies!"
"Really, Rachel?" I said.
"Yeah," she answered. "Out of the box!"
"The big box?" I said.
"Yeah!" she replied. "It was HUGE!"
On the way, she said, "Daddy gave me Rice Krispies!"
"Really, Rachel?" I said.
"Yeah," she answered. "Out of the box!"
"The big box?" I said.
"Yeah!" she replied. "It was HUGE!"
More Zoolights
During the train ride, I told Drew that he was a good dad.
"I hope so," he said. "I've missed a lot."
"You can't make it up to her, you know," I replied.
"But I'll spend the rest of my life trying," he said.
"I hope so," he said. "I've missed a lot."
"You can't make it up to her, you know," I replied.
"But I'll spend the rest of my life trying," he said.
Zoolights!
Against my better judgment, we took Rachel to see "Zoolights" last night. I say "Against my better judgment" because it was after our commute from Salem, which I had hoped to do earlier in the day, but at 4:15 (the time I got back from my office after doing a lot of running around on dumb errands) the dean, the associate dean, the alumni relations director and one of the admin assistants were in the dean's office drinking wine, and what could I do?? So I joined them and we had a nice long conversation until around 5:40 p.m. or so, when I looked at my watch, hurriedly gathered everything together and dashed out the door.
So I asked Drew whether he wanted to see Zoolights last night or tonight. "Zoolights" is a beautiful light display at the Oregon Zoo up in Portland, and I was dying to take Rachel to it because I thought she'd really get something out of it. But it was late, and I was tired, and I was hoping Drew would say tonight instead of last night.
But he suggested last night, so I raced Rachel out of daycare and into the car, drove all the way to zoo only to discover a sign saying "parking full" and directing me to a remote lot where we had to wait for a shuttle. After navigating her heavy stroller down a hill (Drew had already gotten to the zoo and miraculously found a parking spot in the main lot. Residual Parking Goddess magic?). And after I got Rachel's stroller down the hill there was a ginormous line to wait for the shuttle. AND it was cold, AND Rachel had just woken up from a nap, and the diaper bag was killing my back and she hadn't eaten dinner...and I thought of skipping the whole thing.
But you know what? I stuck with it, standing on line because I told myself that sometimes you just have to suck it up in life, and it turned out Okay. Rachel started sobbing when I stood her next to her stroller but cheered up immensely after she realized she was on a BUS (and a yellow SCHOOL BUS, at that; we could've skipped the light show and just stayed on the bus the whole time, I'm sure) and stopped crying immediately. Drew was waiting for us at the shuttle stop and had gotten through the long line of ticket buyers to buy us tickets.
And when we went in, we saw a fairyland! Not a single religious display, but lots and lots and lots and lots of lights on trees, bushes, coffee stands (decorated to look like gingerbread houses), buildings, etc. And the best part was we got to ride the Zoo Train! It's a 15-minute train ride throughout the zoo and all the outdoor habitat areas were encased in lights representing animals (tigers in the tiger area, kangaroos in the marsupial areas, etc.). Some of the displays were moving, like the one that had gazelles jumping over a hump or ants marching in line. Rachel sat on Drew's lap and just took it all in. Before we boarded the train she wanted to touch every single light she encountered, and during the train ride I swear I could see the glow of the lights reflected in her little face. "I rode a train, Jennifer!" she said, practicing telling her daycare teacher about the experience.
We got her home way too late -- she wasn't in bed until 10:30 -- and except for half a granola bar that I offered her, she never ended up having dinner.
But it was so worth it.
So I asked Drew whether he wanted to see Zoolights last night or tonight. "Zoolights" is a beautiful light display at the Oregon Zoo up in Portland, and I was dying to take Rachel to it because I thought she'd really get something out of it. But it was late, and I was tired, and I was hoping Drew would say tonight instead of last night.
But he suggested last night, so I raced Rachel out of daycare and into the car, drove all the way to zoo only to discover a sign saying "parking full" and directing me to a remote lot where we had to wait for a shuttle. After navigating her heavy stroller down a hill (Drew had already gotten to the zoo and miraculously found a parking spot in the main lot. Residual Parking Goddess magic?). And after I got Rachel's stroller down the hill there was a ginormous line to wait for the shuttle. AND it was cold, AND Rachel had just woken up from a nap, and the diaper bag was killing my back and she hadn't eaten dinner...and I thought of skipping the whole thing.
But you know what? I stuck with it, standing on line because I told myself that sometimes you just have to suck it up in life, and it turned out Okay. Rachel started sobbing when I stood her next to her stroller but cheered up immensely after she realized she was on a BUS (and a yellow SCHOOL BUS, at that; we could've skipped the light show and just stayed on the bus the whole time, I'm sure) and stopped crying immediately. Drew was waiting for us at the shuttle stop and had gotten through the long line of ticket buyers to buy us tickets.
And when we went in, we saw a fairyland! Not a single religious display, but lots and lots and lots and lots of lights on trees, bushes, coffee stands (decorated to look like gingerbread houses), buildings, etc. And the best part was we got to ride the Zoo Train! It's a 15-minute train ride throughout the zoo and all the outdoor habitat areas were encased in lights representing animals (tigers in the tiger area, kangaroos in the marsupial areas, etc.). Some of the displays were moving, like the one that had gazelles jumping over a hump or ants marching in line. Rachel sat on Drew's lap and just took it all in. Before we boarded the train she wanted to touch every single light she encountered, and during the train ride I swear I could see the glow of the lights reflected in her little face. "I rode a train, Jennifer!" she said, practicing telling her daycare teacher about the experience.
We got her home way too late -- she wasn't in bed until 10:30 -- and except for half a granola bar that I offered her, she never ended up having dinner.
But it was so worth it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A morning in the life
It occurred to me this morning that I spend a lot of blog posts writing about little snippets of Rachel's day without giving all of you a true picture of what it's truly like. So, here is a sampling of a typical weekday:
I wake up, usually on time to get us out of the house by 8.
I lie in bed thinking about how my life has changed from a year ago.
I get up, turn on my Smartphone and check for messages, make the bed, load the car -- with my work bag, my purse, Rachel's lunch, my yogurt and granola, and turn on the water for tea.
I shower, put makeup on, rescue the screaming teakettle, pour the tea into my "Willamette University" mug, get dressed, take out the coat I'm going to wear that day, then wake Rachel up.
Rachel is often cheerful in the morning but sometimes grumbly. Today she said, "I want to stay in my bed." I was very sympathetic. "I want to stay in my bed, too, sweetie, but Mommy needs to go to work, and you need to go to school," I said firmly.
We cuddle in the glider and then Rachel always insists on "one BOOK." So, I read whatever she wants. Then she wants to cuddle. And cuddle. And cuddle. And eventually I have to put a stop to it, which I hate.
I swing her from side to side and she laughs like a maniac. Then I put her on the changing table and let her choose what she wants to wear that day. Sometimes the clothes (always pants and a shirt) vaguely match. Most of the time they don't.
Then I put her on the floor and tell her to choose socks and shoes. She has a knack for choosing socks that have nothing to do with what she's wearing. I think briefly of explaining to the folks at daycare that I don't have as bad taste as they may think I do. Then I reject that idea.
Rachel insists on doing a headstand in my lap. "Rachel, NO!" I say despairingly, but we HAVE to do this every morning. It's part of the routine. The world would end if we didn't.
I ask her to give me her pacifiers (she routinely keeps two with her, just in case her stuffed animals decide to hide one of them).
She hands them over and I stuff them in the clothes basket.
We go into the kitchen and she tells me to wear the pink raincoat I bought from L.L. Bean a few weeks ago because I desperately needed a full-length raincoat. "Because it's my favorite," she explains seriously, so I always wear it. Even if it looks like a Caribbean morning outside. The coat is her FAVORITE. Pretty soon she'll think my clothes are hopelessly out of date, so I need to seize this moment.
I ask her if she wants milk in the purple cup or green cup. She fakes me out and announces she wants milk in the pink cup.
I ask her if she wants Cheerios or Raisin Bran. She says Wheaties. I say we have none. She cheerfully says Raisin Bran.
I load her up in the car, hand her her bag of cereal, her tiny stuffed bunny and a book or two. It's now 30 minutes later than when I wanted to leave.
We head south on I-5. At the point that we enter the freeway, the sun (if it's sunny that day), shines right in Rachel's eye. "The sun is peeking over my EYE!" she announces delightedly. "Why IS that?"
I give whatever explanation pops into my head: The angle of the sun and the low buildings mean the sun hits her eyes and Mommy's, too.
Then she asks me to sing the Fire Truck Song, or the Changes Song (Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A'Changin') or the Follow Song ("Try To Remember" from the musical The Fantasticks; the lyrics contain the words "so follow, follow follow follow follow follow follow...) and I tell her to wait until Mommy has finished her yogurt and granola and tea.
And then it's singing and talking (her observing, me commenting) all the way to Salem.
I wake up, usually on time to get us out of the house by 8.
I lie in bed thinking about how my life has changed from a year ago.
I get up, turn on my Smartphone and check for messages, make the bed, load the car -- with my work bag, my purse, Rachel's lunch, my yogurt and granola, and turn on the water for tea.
I shower, put makeup on, rescue the screaming teakettle, pour the tea into my "Willamette University" mug, get dressed, take out the coat I'm going to wear that day, then wake Rachel up.
Rachel is often cheerful in the morning but sometimes grumbly. Today she said, "I want to stay in my bed." I was very sympathetic. "I want to stay in my bed, too, sweetie, but Mommy needs to go to work, and you need to go to school," I said firmly.
We cuddle in the glider and then Rachel always insists on "one BOOK." So, I read whatever she wants. Then she wants to cuddle. And cuddle. And cuddle. And eventually I have to put a stop to it, which I hate.
I swing her from side to side and she laughs like a maniac. Then I put her on the changing table and let her choose what she wants to wear that day. Sometimes the clothes (always pants and a shirt) vaguely match. Most of the time they don't.
Then I put her on the floor and tell her to choose socks and shoes. She has a knack for choosing socks that have nothing to do with what she's wearing. I think briefly of explaining to the folks at daycare that I don't have as bad taste as they may think I do. Then I reject that idea.
Rachel insists on doing a headstand in my lap. "Rachel, NO!" I say despairingly, but we HAVE to do this every morning. It's part of the routine. The world would end if we didn't.
I ask her to give me her pacifiers (she routinely keeps two with her, just in case her stuffed animals decide to hide one of them).
She hands them over and I stuff them in the clothes basket.
We go into the kitchen and she tells me to wear the pink raincoat I bought from L.L. Bean a few weeks ago because I desperately needed a full-length raincoat. "Because it's my favorite," she explains seriously, so I always wear it. Even if it looks like a Caribbean morning outside. The coat is her FAVORITE. Pretty soon she'll think my clothes are hopelessly out of date, so I need to seize this moment.
I ask her if she wants milk in the purple cup or green cup. She fakes me out and announces she wants milk in the pink cup.
I ask her if she wants Cheerios or Raisin Bran. She says Wheaties. I say we have none. She cheerfully says Raisin Bran.
I load her up in the car, hand her her bag of cereal, her tiny stuffed bunny and a book or two. It's now 30 minutes later than when I wanted to leave.
We head south on I-5. At the point that we enter the freeway, the sun (if it's sunny that day), shines right in Rachel's eye. "The sun is peeking over my EYE!" she announces delightedly. "Why IS that?"
I give whatever explanation pops into my head: The angle of the sun and the low buildings mean the sun hits her eyes and Mommy's, too.
Then she asks me to sing the Fire Truck Song, or the Changes Song (Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A'Changin') or the Follow Song ("Try To Remember" from the musical The Fantasticks; the lyrics contain the words "so follow, follow follow follow follow follow follow...) and I tell her to wait until Mommy has finished her yogurt and granola and tea.
And then it's singing and talking (her observing, me commenting) all the way to Salem.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wonderful weekend
This weekend was a reminder of why I feel so lucky -- even though I'm no longer a newspaper writer and I'm earning less than I did even 7 months ago and my husband is away and sometimes I'm too tired to play with Rachel, which hurts me greatly.
Anyway. I'm lucky.
On Saturday we went to grocery store and spent much more than I thought we would -- it's the diapers and wipes that are killing us, folks. Rachel, could you please indicate a little more, um, active interest in using the potty? Thank you.
We got a late start (because we were tumbling on the rug in her room and I kept tickling her and then she tickled me and then I tickled her and then she climbed all over me and I was defeated) and got back just before we were scheduled to meet Doug and Linda and Jack and Andrew for a play and dinner and Christmas lights afterward. Result: The Little Girl skipped her nap entirely.
But she really liked the play, an hourlong production of Hansel and Gretel that was really more teen and adult-focused; the jokes ranged from WikiLeaks to Sarah Palin -- but Rachel was SO impressive! She laughed when the audience laughed and clapped when they did, and spent half the time sitting on my lap and the other half sitting in a seat next to me, clearly entranced by the live theater occurring in front of her. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I told Drew this morning that she may be ready for kids' theater (as long as it's not longer than an hour). Can't WAIT to start taking her to shows!!
We all trooped to a Thai restaurant for dinner, where Rachel refused to touch anything except jarred baby food (and, parenthetically, I am getting REALLY tired of lugging around her own rations, I feel like a newly arrived immigrant). It was cold and windy when we finished and I almost said no to Christmas lights at the Grotto, a religious display and chapel where my chorus has sung in past years, but finally figured, what the heck -- I should stop worrying about Rachel catching cold and just GO. And it was totally worth it! Lovely singing in the chapel (for which Rachel was wonderfully well-behaved; she figured out on her own that if she wanted to rummage through the diaper bag she needed to whisper her request) and gorgeous lights.
The next day our friend Amy came over with her boy Tony -- who Rachel adores -- and they had a great time. At one point Tony graciously took Rachel upstairs and they played while Amy and I actually had A GROWNUP CONVERSATION. After they left, I discovered that Tony had picked Rachel up and put her on the couch in the attic (I had asked her to rehearse beforehand: "Please, Tony, pick me up") and Tony left two "secret letters" for us on the blackboard: "Thank you" and "I love Rachle." Oh, wouldn't it be fantastic if they go to the prom together??
Then last night we headed over to my friend Miriam's house. Miriam used to live in the suburbs but now lives only 10 blocks away, near Grant Park, and we are already making plans to picnic there this summer during one of Portland Parks' free Concert in the Park series. My friend Deni, who is a grandmother but looks 10 years younger, was also there and both made a fuss over Rachel. We toured the fabulous house, which has been extensively renovated, and then sat down to dinner that all of us had contributed to. And all I can say is that Rachel was so self-possessed! She didn't keep interrupting me, she just ate her baby food (again), as well as some chocolate cake I gave her for dessert (and chocolate candy; yes, it was a very un-nutritional meal) but her face looked so cute smeared with chocolate that I couldn't resist. We all managed to have a fantastic talk until Rachel interrupted me: "Mommy, please change my diaper." I'd been having such a good time that I didn't even notice she'd pooped! Then a few minutes later she said, "Mommy, I want to go home." She had been so patient throughout all the grownup talk that I said sure (and it was way past her bedtime anyway), bundled her up and drove home. I got her down by 10.
And then I spent 20 minutes just sitting at the kitchen table, smiling, savoring the great weekend I'd had. I hope there are many more like these in our future!
Anyway. I'm lucky.
On Saturday we went to grocery store and spent much more than I thought we would -- it's the diapers and wipes that are killing us, folks. Rachel, could you please indicate a little more, um, active interest in using the potty? Thank you.
We got a late start (because we were tumbling on the rug in her room and I kept tickling her and then she tickled me and then I tickled her and then she climbed all over me and I was defeated) and got back just before we were scheduled to meet Doug and Linda and Jack and Andrew for a play and dinner and Christmas lights afterward. Result: The Little Girl skipped her nap entirely.
But she really liked the play, an hourlong production of Hansel and Gretel that was really more teen and adult-focused; the jokes ranged from WikiLeaks to Sarah Palin -- but Rachel was SO impressive! She laughed when the audience laughed and clapped when they did, and spent half the time sitting on my lap and the other half sitting in a seat next to me, clearly entranced by the live theater occurring in front of her. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I told Drew this morning that she may be ready for kids' theater (as long as it's not longer than an hour). Can't WAIT to start taking her to shows!!
We all trooped to a Thai restaurant for dinner, where Rachel refused to touch anything except jarred baby food (and, parenthetically, I am getting REALLY tired of lugging around her own rations, I feel like a newly arrived immigrant). It was cold and windy when we finished and I almost said no to Christmas lights at the Grotto, a religious display and chapel where my chorus has sung in past years, but finally figured, what the heck -- I should stop worrying about Rachel catching cold and just GO. And it was totally worth it! Lovely singing in the chapel (for which Rachel was wonderfully well-behaved; she figured out on her own that if she wanted to rummage through the diaper bag she needed to whisper her request) and gorgeous lights.
The next day our friend Amy came over with her boy Tony -- who Rachel adores -- and they had a great time. At one point Tony graciously took Rachel upstairs and they played while Amy and I actually had A GROWNUP CONVERSATION. After they left, I discovered that Tony had picked Rachel up and put her on the couch in the attic (I had asked her to rehearse beforehand: "Please, Tony, pick me up") and Tony left two "secret letters" for us on the blackboard: "Thank you" and "I love Rachle." Oh, wouldn't it be fantastic if they go to the prom together??
Then last night we headed over to my friend Miriam's house. Miriam used to live in the suburbs but now lives only 10 blocks away, near Grant Park, and we are already making plans to picnic there this summer during one of Portland Parks' free Concert in the Park series. My friend Deni, who is a grandmother but looks 10 years younger, was also there and both made a fuss over Rachel. We toured the fabulous house, which has been extensively renovated, and then sat down to dinner that all of us had contributed to. And all I can say is that Rachel was so self-possessed! She didn't keep interrupting me, she just ate her baby food (again), as well as some chocolate cake I gave her for dessert (and chocolate candy; yes, it was a very un-nutritional meal) but her face looked so cute smeared with chocolate that I couldn't resist. We all managed to have a fantastic talk until Rachel interrupted me: "Mommy, please change my diaper." I'd been having such a good time that I didn't even notice she'd pooped! Then a few minutes later she said, "Mommy, I want to go home." She had been so patient throughout all the grownup talk that I said sure (and it was way past her bedtime anyway), bundled her up and drove home. I got her down by 10.
And then I spent 20 minutes just sitting at the kitchen table, smiling, savoring the great weekend I'd had. I hope there are many more like these in our future!
She gave the applesauce a timeout
Rachel was frustrated yesterday at snacktime because her cup of applesauce kept slipping out of her little hands when she tried to close it.
"I give a timeout!" she said.
"Um, Rachel, did you just give your applesauce a TIMEOUT?" I asked, trying not to laugh. Too hard.
"It falling!" she said.
Then this morning she started yelling at Maisy, the mouse who makes gingerbread cookies. Usually she loves this book, but this morning she kept yelling at it. "No NO, Maisy!" she scolded.
I never did figure out what Maisy did wrong, but I bet Rachel gave her a timeout, too!
"I give a timeout!" she said.
"Um, Rachel, did you just give your applesauce a TIMEOUT?" I asked, trying not to laugh. Too hard.
"It falling!" she said.
Then this morning she started yelling at Maisy, the mouse who makes gingerbread cookies. Usually she loves this book, but this morning she kept yelling at it. "No NO, Maisy!" she scolded.
I never did figure out what Maisy did wrong, but I bet Rachel gave her a timeout, too!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Future NYC commuter?
Looks as if Rachel has picked up on my impatience with traffic. This morning I was waiting to turn left from Broadway onto the highway and there were a bunch of cars ahead of me. (Keep in mind that I had to get to work by 9:15 to meet a photographer for a magazine interview at 9:30. So, I was a little anxious).
"C'mon, people," I said under my breath.
And then from the back seat, a little voice piped up:
"C'mon, people! I gotta get to school!"
I almost doubled over with laughter.
"C'mon, people," I said under my breath.
And then from the back seat, a little voice piped up:
"C'mon, people! I gotta get to school!"
I almost doubled over with laughter.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
More Rachel soundbites
Folks, our modem is broken so I have no Internet connection at home. We're researching whether to stick with Qwest or try to get a better deal with Comcast, so these posts will be brief until I can spend more time with the blog at home.
Until then:
Yesterday while we were in the car, I tried to tell Rachel that I was little once, too.
"No, you big!" she said.
"Yes, but I was little once," I replied.
"No, you big once!" she said, visibly disturbed.
"No, Mommy was little," I said, trying again.
"NO!" she said. "You big to me!"
And then she started banging her picture book against her car seat.
***
We're reading a book about all different kinds of animals, which she absolutely loves. Last night I tried to tell her that she's a mammal.
"You're a mammal, Rachel!" I said.
"I not a mammal!" she replied. "I Rachel DEE-Silver!"
"OK, who am I?" I asked.
"You Mommy DEE-Silver!" she replied.
Looks like I've got a new name these days! Mommy DeSilver. I love it!
***
When we arrived home, we had our usual quick dinner and then I started cleaning up.
I asked her to help me clear the table and to bring her cup of milk (without a top) to the counter.
"I worried I spill!" she said, a worried look on her little face.
"Rachel, it's OK if you spill," I said reassuringly. "But I need you to help me."
"I don't WANT to!" she said, clearly anxious.
"Rachel, if you spill it'll be an ACCIDENT," I said.
"Mommy yell at me," she replied.
"Mommy won't yell at you," I said. "But I want you to at least try. Sometimes you never know if you can do something unless you try."
After some more back and forth, she brought the cup to the counter without spilling. I of course praised her lavishly but reassured her again that it's OK to spill.
Whereupon she immediately went back to the table and grabbed her empty plate.
"I can manage it," she said proudly. And she did!
Until then:
Yesterday while we were in the car, I tried to tell Rachel that I was little once, too.
"No, you big!" she said.
"Yes, but I was little once," I replied.
"No, you big once!" she said, visibly disturbed.
"No, Mommy was little," I said, trying again.
"NO!" she said. "You big to me!"
And then she started banging her picture book against her car seat.
***
We're reading a book about all different kinds of animals, which she absolutely loves. Last night I tried to tell her that she's a mammal.
"You're a mammal, Rachel!" I said.
"I not a mammal!" she replied. "I Rachel DEE-Silver!"
"OK, who am I?" I asked.
"You Mommy DEE-Silver!" she replied.
Looks like I've got a new name these days! Mommy DeSilver. I love it!
***
When we arrived home, we had our usual quick dinner and then I started cleaning up.
I asked her to help me clear the table and to bring her cup of milk (without a top) to the counter.
"I worried I spill!" she said, a worried look on her little face.
"Rachel, it's OK if you spill," I said reassuringly. "But I need you to help me."
"I don't WANT to!" she said, clearly anxious.
"Rachel, if you spill it'll be an ACCIDENT," I said.
"Mommy yell at me," she replied.
"Mommy won't yell at you," I said. "But I want you to at least try. Sometimes you never know if you can do something unless you try."
After some more back and forth, she brought the cup to the counter without spilling. I of course praised her lavishly but reassured her again that it's OK to spill.
Whereupon she immediately went back to the table and grabbed her empty plate.
"I can manage it," she said proudly. And she did!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
great weekend!
Parenthetically, this is coming to you from my Smartphone because our ancient computer, which Drew refused to replace until it was too late and he left, now is no connecting or loading or whatever it is that computers do to work. Never again will I wait more than three years to replace a compter again.
Ok, rant over.
Rachel and I had a great weekend. Today we went to a gathering of the Chavurah, a group of people from our synagogue who are roughly in the same life circumstances as we are. At first I didn't want to go; it was raining outside and I got the banana bread in late and it just seemed like a haul.
But as always with these things, I'm really glad I went. Rachel made herself right at home after being a bit clingy when we first arrived. She found a toy shopping cart that the host later gifted to us because his girls had outgrown it, and I was actually able to meet new folks and talk to them. Later all the kids trooped upstairs to watch Toy Story 3 and when I went to check on Rachel I got engrossed in the movie as did she- - with occasional breaks to crawl all over me, peer into my face and say hi, and otherwise be adorable.
Some cute Rachelisms from the weekend:
Yesterday I was looking for a recipe to make an appetizer for a potluck at the law school this week. "What should I make, Rachel?" I mused aloud.
"I draw arecipe for you," she said. "Popsicle soup!"
"Wow Rachel!" I said. "What color is it?"
"White and black and other colors," she said.
***
"I can't wait until you're old enough for me to take you to the ballet," I said to her tonight. "We'll go to tea and the ballet, and Daddy can...catch a football game or whatever it is that men do."
"Daddy make chocolate chips!" She said.
***
She is READING, I'm sure of it! Tonight I was reading her a book called, "Red hat, blue hat," which I haven't. Read to her in ages, and after we were done she announced that SHE wanted to read it. Then she repeated almost exactly what one of the pages said: Red hat blue hat yellow hat greenc coat OOPS. I was so impressed!@@
Ok, rant over.
Rachel and I had a great weekend. Today we went to a gathering of the Chavurah, a group of people from our synagogue who are roughly in the same life circumstances as we are. At first I didn't want to go; it was raining outside and I got the banana bread in late and it just seemed like a haul.
But as always with these things, I'm really glad I went. Rachel made herself right at home after being a bit clingy when we first arrived. She found a toy shopping cart that the host later gifted to us because his girls had outgrown it, and I was actually able to meet new folks and talk to them. Later all the kids trooped upstairs to watch Toy Story 3 and when I went to check on Rachel I got engrossed in the movie as did she- - with occasional breaks to crawl all over me, peer into my face and say hi, and otherwise be adorable.
Some cute Rachelisms from the weekend:
Yesterday I was looking for a recipe to make an appetizer for a potluck at the law school this week. "What should I make, Rachel?" I mused aloud.
"I draw arecipe for you," she said. "Popsicle soup!"
"Wow Rachel!" I said. "What color is it?"
"White and black and other colors," she said.
***
"I can't wait until you're old enough for me to take you to the ballet," I said to her tonight. "We'll go to tea and the ballet, and Daddy can...catch a football game or whatever it is that men do."
"Daddy make chocolate chips!" She said.
***
She is READING, I'm sure of it! Tonight I was reading her a book called, "Red hat, blue hat," which I haven't. Read to her in ages, and after we were done she announced that SHE wanted to read it. Then she repeated almost exactly what one of the pages said: Red hat blue hat yellow hat greenc coat OOPS. I was so impressed!@@
Friday, December 10, 2010
Classic Drew
Drew and I would like to buy Rachel a play kitchen, since she loves the play kitchens her friends have when we visit them. I've been browsing Ikea, Craigslist, Toys 'R Us and Target, and I ran across one that was incredibly great-looking -- a retro, 1950s-style kitchen that is fire engine red. I believe it was also $175, which is way beyond my budget. But, hey, it looked really cool.
When I described it to Drew, he immediately replied, "I'm just not comfortable with Rachel having a play kitchen that's nicer than our real one."
When I described it to Drew, he immediately replied, "I'm just not comfortable with Rachel having a play kitchen that's nicer than our real one."
Rachel soundbites
Because Portland is the only major American city to NOT fluoridate its water (don't even get me started on how backwards and primitive this makes us look, as if we needed any help...) I have to give Rachel fluoride drops and, later, pills, until she is 13 or so. She's actually quite good at taking the drops and even reminds me when I forget to give them to her..."DROPS!" she'll yell as I'm about to put her to bed.
For the last two weeks she has insisted on giving ME drops, too! She takes an empty bottle stopper, puts it into a kid's medicine syringe and hands it to me, and I obliginly put it into my mouth. She looks so pleased when I do. It has become our little nightly bedtime ritual. And, strangely, it leaves me feeling as if someone is taking care of me.
***
Tonight Rachel was whiny and fussy and sobby on the way home. At one point, while trying to have a conversation with Drew on the phone, I turned my head and yelled, "STOP IT!" She started crying really hard, which eventually devolved to little moans and sniffles. "Mommy, don't scream at me," she whimpered. You can imagine how awful I felt. I honestly hardly ever yell at her, which is why she hates it so much when I do.
But she cheered up, and we chatted on the way home as we pulled into our neighborhood.
"I stopped crying because I happy now," she said.
"Good, Rachel!" I said. "I'm glad you're happy!"
***
She really loves a plastic doll at daycare that she sometimes takes home. Drew has gotten her a large baby doll with its own stroller, but I'm thinking of getting her a smaller one that she can carry around. I watched her carry it from daycare to the car; she handles it like a football. Guess she's not quite ready yet for babysitting.
***
"I like fireworks!" she said tonight as we passed several houses with Christmas lights.
"I thought you HATED fireworks!" I said.
"I want fireworks for my birthday," she answered.
"Really?" I laughed.
"I want a birthday party," she said.
"What kind of birthday party?" I asked.
"Brown and red and blue and orange," she replied.
And that ended the conversation because, really, what could I add?
For the last two weeks she has insisted on giving ME drops, too! She takes an empty bottle stopper, puts it into a kid's medicine syringe and hands it to me, and I obliginly put it into my mouth. She looks so pleased when I do. It has become our little nightly bedtime ritual. And, strangely, it leaves me feeling as if someone is taking care of me.
***
Tonight Rachel was whiny and fussy and sobby on the way home. At one point, while trying to have a conversation with Drew on the phone, I turned my head and yelled, "STOP IT!" She started crying really hard, which eventually devolved to little moans and sniffles. "Mommy, don't scream at me," she whimpered. You can imagine how awful I felt. I honestly hardly ever yell at her, which is why she hates it so much when I do.
But she cheered up, and we chatted on the way home as we pulled into our neighborhood.
"I stopped crying because I happy now," she said.
"Good, Rachel!" I said. "I'm glad you're happy!"
***
She really loves a plastic doll at daycare that she sometimes takes home. Drew has gotten her a large baby doll with its own stroller, but I'm thinking of getting her a smaller one that she can carry around. I watched her carry it from daycare to the car; she handles it like a football. Guess she's not quite ready yet for babysitting.
***
"I like fireworks!" she said tonight as we passed several houses with Christmas lights.
"I thought you HATED fireworks!" I said.
"I want fireworks for my birthday," she answered.
"Really?" I laughed.
"I want a birthday party," she said.
"What kind of birthday party?" I asked.
"Brown and red and blue and orange," she replied.
And that ended the conversation because, really, what could I add?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
"Excuse me?"
Rachel started saying what sounded like a very rude "WHAT?" a couple of weeks ago when she couldn't hear or understand what I was saying. It sounded unpleasant to my ears so I am teaching her to say "excuse me?" instead. (Along with the usual "may I please have..." and "thank you." She's quite good about the "thank you" but needs to work on the "may I please" instead of "I want...").
It makes me realize how much I say "WHAT?" instead of "excuse me." So, looks like I need to change my bad habits, too!
She really impressed me tonight when she said at one point, "excuse me?" instead of "what?" I could tell she was almost going to say "what?" but then thought better of it.
It makes me realize how much I say "WHAT?" instead of "excuse me." So, looks like I need to change my bad habits, too!
She really impressed me tonight when she said at one point, "excuse me?" instead of "what?" I could tell she was almost going to say "what?" but then thought better of it.
She loves her daddy
This morning I wore a locket with Drew's picture in it, and Rachel as usual tried to open it. I, of course, am the one who always opens it, and I always say, "I need to put a picture of Rachel on the other side."
"Rachel and MOMMY," she says, firmly.
When I opened the locket today, she took it in her little hands, looked at the picture of Drew, and kissed it.
I think she's ready for him to come home.
"Rachel and MOMMY," she says, firmly.
When I opened the locket today, she took it in her little hands, looked at the picture of Drew, and kissed it.
I think she's ready for him to come home.
LIGHTS!
That's what Rachel yells out every night after we turn into our street. She LOVES the Christmas lights.
"Christmas tree!" she said delightedly last night.
"Look dere," she said. "And dere! And dere!'
"Do you see it? Do you see it??" she demanded tonight.
Oh, what a delight awaits her this weekend. I'm going to take her to the Grotto, a Christmas light extravaganza, with Linda and the kids. And then when Drew gets home, we'll take Rachel to Zoolights -- the Oregon Zoo, all lit up, and we can take a choo-choo ride around the zoo, and see all the animals, and Mommy will make sure to pack homemade hot chocolate in a warm Thermos so the outing will be cozy and warm...
I was talking to Drew as I took an extra turn around the block tonight and he remarked how wonderful it is that Rachel is discovering everything for the first time, and I seconded that, saying that now I finally understand (now that Rachel is old enough to actually take joy in something) when parents say that children remind us how to have fun and we get to find out everything again through their eyes.
It reminded me of a story a former colleague with a daughter about Rachel's age posted on Facebook not long ago. Helen was driving Tessa home from preschool, and Tessa was hungry, and Helen fished around in her purse and came up with two broken-up cookies. "Moon cookies!" Tessa said delightedly. No, she didn't notice that the cookies were broken. She just saw what she wanted to see.
"That's why I love my daughter with all my heart," Helen wrote, and I couldn't agree more.
"Christmas tree!" she said delightedly last night.
"Look dere," she said. "And dere! And dere!'
"Do you see it? Do you see it??" she demanded tonight.
Oh, what a delight awaits her this weekend. I'm going to take her to the Grotto, a Christmas light extravaganza, with Linda and the kids. And then when Drew gets home, we'll take Rachel to Zoolights -- the Oregon Zoo, all lit up, and we can take a choo-choo ride around the zoo, and see all the animals, and Mommy will make sure to pack homemade hot chocolate in a warm Thermos so the outing will be cozy and warm...
I was talking to Drew as I took an extra turn around the block tonight and he remarked how wonderful it is that Rachel is discovering everything for the first time, and I seconded that, saying that now I finally understand (now that Rachel is old enough to actually take joy in something) when parents say that children remind us how to have fun and we get to find out everything again through their eyes.
It reminded me of a story a former colleague with a daughter about Rachel's age posted on Facebook not long ago. Helen was driving Tessa home from preschool, and Tessa was hungry, and Helen fished around in her purse and came up with two broken-up cookies. "Moon cookies!" Tessa said delightedly. No, she didn't notice that the cookies were broken. She just saw what she wanted to see.
"That's why I love my daughter with all my heart," Helen wrote, and I couldn't agree more.
Monday, December 6, 2010
"Because WHY?"
Yes, we've entered that exasperating phase of toddler-hood when statements start to be followed by, "Because WHY?" Drew is lucky he doesn't have to deal with most of it because he's so far away.
I have taught Rachel to expect the reply, "because I LOVE you" when her questions get too plentiful. And now she uses that phrase sometimes herself!
Here was tonight's conversation in the car as we approached the Terwillger Curves:
Me: Mommy's tired, Rachel.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because I was up late last night.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because a documentary film crew was interviewing me for a film they're making on the state of journalism today. (No, I am not making this up).
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because they heard I was unjustly fired and they wanted to talk to me about it.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because it was a huge blow that changed my life to the way it is today.
Rachel: Oh.
I have taught Rachel to expect the reply, "because I LOVE you" when her questions get too plentiful. And now she uses that phrase sometimes herself!
Here was tonight's conversation in the car as we approached the Terwillger Curves:
Me: Mommy's tired, Rachel.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because I was up late last night.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because a documentary film crew was interviewing me for a film they're making on the state of journalism today. (No, I am not making this up).
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because they heard I was unjustly fired and they wanted to talk to me about it.
Rachel: Because why?
Me: Because it was a huge blow that changed my life to the way it is today.
Rachel: Oh.
The Hanukkah song
This post is in honor of Mom and Dad, who taught us a great upbeat Hanukkah song in Yiddish that we sang every night of Hanukkah when we were kids, and even well into adulthood. I won't even make an attempt at transliteration, but it ends with three cheers of, "Hip hip hooray for the Maccabees!"
This was the first year that Rachel really appreciated it. She LOVES this song. As I was lighting the 6th candle tonight, she actually started saying the prayer with me! She insists that we turn the lights off when I light the menorah and keep them off when we eat dinner. And when I start singing the Hanukkah song her face lights up, she starts smiling and laughing, and at the end she exclaims, "Sing it AGAIN!"
This was the first year that Rachel really appreciated it. She LOVES this song. As I was lighting the 6th candle tonight, she actually started saying the prayer with me! She insists that we turn the lights off when I light the menorah and keep them off when we eat dinner. And when I start singing the Hanukkah song her face lights up, she starts smiling and laughing, and at the end she exclaims, "Sing it AGAIN!"
"No, I'M..."
Rachel's newest habit is saying SHE likes/SHE feels/SHE wants if I express interest/wants/needs desires. So our morning commute today went something like this:
Rachel said something to make me laugh -- can't for the life of me remember what it was -- and I said, "You're funny, Rachel!"
"No, I'M funny," she said.
"No, I'M funny," I said.
"No, I'M funny."
"No, I'M funny!"
"No, I'M funny!"
"We funny together," she concluded.
***
She is becoming quite the singer. Tonight, as I was talking to a friend on my Smartphone, Rachel started SINGING to herself in the backseat! She started with "Rise and Shine" and moved on to a couple of other songs.
"I like hearing you sing," I told her at the dinner table later on.
"I like your earrings," she replied (I didn't have any on at the time).
Thinking she hadn't heard me correctly, I said, "I like hearing you SING, Rachel!"
"I like your earrings," she repeated.
Hopefully she'll get the idea that I'd rather hear her sing than listen to my own voice all the time!
***
One of her current faves is a song I made up on an occasion I can't even remember -- probably when we saw a fire truck and she wanted me to sing about it. This has since turned into "The fire truck song" and the verses go like this:
Hurry hurry fire truck, hurry hurry fire truck, hurry hurry fire truck we've come to fight the fire!
Hurry hurry water tender, hurry hurry water tender, hurry hurry water tender we need to douse the flames
Hurry hurry ambulance, hurry hurry ambulance, hurry hurry ambulance there are people trapped inside
Hurry hurry firefighters hurry hurry firefighters, hurry hurry firefighters you need to rescue the people
..and for all you especially cynical people out there, the last verse is:
Hurry hurry politcians, hurry hurry politicians, hurry hurry politicians, you need a photo opportunity!
(The last verse is in honor of Ray Flyn, who was the mayor of Boston when I interned at the Boston Globe during the summer of 1987. He was genius for showing up at any and all house fires and other tragedies, for reasons I could never figure out).
Rachel said something to make me laugh -- can't for the life of me remember what it was -- and I said, "You're funny, Rachel!"
"No, I'M funny," she said.
"No, I'M funny," I said.
"No, I'M funny."
"No, I'M funny!"
"No, I'M funny!"
"We funny together," she concluded.
***
She is becoming quite the singer. Tonight, as I was talking to a friend on my Smartphone, Rachel started SINGING to herself in the backseat! She started with "Rise and Shine" and moved on to a couple of other songs.
"I like hearing you sing," I told her at the dinner table later on.
"I like your earrings," she replied (I didn't have any on at the time).
Thinking she hadn't heard me correctly, I said, "I like hearing you SING, Rachel!"
"I like your earrings," she repeated.
Hopefully she'll get the idea that I'd rather hear her sing than listen to my own voice all the time!
***
One of her current faves is a song I made up on an occasion I can't even remember -- probably when we saw a fire truck and she wanted me to sing about it. This has since turned into "The fire truck song" and the verses go like this:
Hurry hurry fire truck, hurry hurry fire truck, hurry hurry fire truck we've come to fight the fire!
Hurry hurry water tender, hurry hurry water tender, hurry hurry water tender we need to douse the flames
Hurry hurry ambulance, hurry hurry ambulance, hurry hurry ambulance there are people trapped inside
Hurry hurry firefighters hurry hurry firefighters, hurry hurry firefighters you need to rescue the people
..and for all you especially cynical people out there, the last verse is:
Hurry hurry politcians, hurry hurry politicians, hurry hurry politicians, you need a photo opportunity!
(The last verse is in honor of Ray Flyn, who was the mayor of Boston when I interned at the Boston Globe during the summer of 1987. He was genius for showing up at any and all house fires and other tragedies, for reasons I could never figure out).
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Playdate with Sarah and Noah
Sarah, my former editor (for a short time) at the Oregonian who took a buyout and is now an accountant, came over this morning with her almost-4-year-old son, Noah. I gave Rachel a brief talk about sharing before he came, and she really was great -- didn't mind at all when he comandeered her toys. She was happy to play near him or join the women in the kitchen as we drank tea and talked.
We went upstairs and Rachel tried to get Noah to play with the plastic balls in the big tub. The fun ended when she got herself into the tub but bonked her head on the coffee table trying to get up. She needed lots of comforting and cuddling, which I was happy to do!
This morning over breakfast, she wanted me to sing to her. "Yellow submarine," she said. So I sang one verse of it, and then she asked for "Blue Submarine," and then I got inspired and sang, "We all live in a RACHEL submarine/a RACHEL submarine/a RACHEL submarine." She nearly doubled up laughing, she thought it was so hilarious.
Then she started singing on her own, "We all live in MOMMY submarine," and I started laughing. Then I suggested DADDY submarine, and then ultimately I ended up singing, "We all live in a RACHELandMOMMYandDADDY submarine" and she erupted into such a fit of laughter that it really became time to do something else.
Will someone out there remind Rachel, when she is old and bored and embarrassed by her parents, that once upon a time I could make her laugh so hard that I hoped she'd never stop? Please?
We went upstairs and Rachel tried to get Noah to play with the plastic balls in the big tub. The fun ended when she got herself into the tub but bonked her head on the coffee table trying to get up. She needed lots of comforting and cuddling, which I was happy to do!
This morning over breakfast, she wanted me to sing to her. "Yellow submarine," she said. So I sang one verse of it, and then she asked for "Blue Submarine," and then I got inspired and sang, "We all live in a RACHEL submarine/a RACHEL submarine/a RACHEL submarine." She nearly doubled up laughing, she thought it was so hilarious.
Then she started singing on her own, "We all live in MOMMY submarine," and I started laughing. Then I suggested DADDY submarine, and then ultimately I ended up singing, "We all live in a RACHELandMOMMYandDADDY submarine" and she erupted into such a fit of laughter that it really became time to do something else.
Will someone out there remind Rachel, when she is old and bored and embarrassed by her parents, that once upon a time I could make her laugh so hard that I hoped she'd never stop? Please?
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Hanukkah Song
Mom and Dad always sang a song in Yiddish every night of Hanukkah, a song that ended with, "hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray for the Maccabees!"
I sang it last year but it didn't really register. What a difference 24 months makes! When I sang it for the first time the other night, Rachel was beside herself. She LOVED it. "Again!" her sweet little voice demanded, and I obliged. She loves it when I sign it in the car. And she even tries to sing it herself, but she can't get past the first two words: "Hanukkah, Hanukkah..."
Tonight I raced out of work after a longer-than-expected chat with the associate dean of the law school (a truly nice guy; I could have talked to him for another hour or so), grabbed Rachel from daycare and tossed her into the car seat without any Mommy cuddling -- all in order to get to a friend's house by 7 (we actually got there at 7:10 or so). Suzanne had invited us over because her sister-in-law was making LATKES, and since I have absolved myself of making them this year because it's just too much for a single mom to do (with the proviso that I will make them the first weekend Drew is home for winter break because he made a special request), I decided to take Rachel.
Suzanne is the mom of Lila, Rachel's little friend, and boy did those two have a time together! At first Rachel was a little shy, but then they ended up in Lila's room and we heard much laughter and dumping of Lego blocks. We all thought it would have been lovely to let them play all night so we could have adult conversation, but finally Steve (Suzanne's husband) told the girls that we were LIGHTING THE CANDLES and it was time to come out of Lila's room. Whereupon Rachel marched out in a pair of genuine wooden clogs from Holland (and she looked ADORABLE) and we lit the candles and said a prayer. Rachel swallowed a few mouthfuls of applesauce and challah, and then it was back to Lila's room. More laughter and some shrieking, and at one point Steve checked to see what was going on. Upon returning, he informed us that he wasn't allowed into the clubhouse.
We lured them out again with dessert (last night I baked peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses in the center) and Lila kept at the cookies -- with Rachel right behind -- until "big Rachel" (Steve's sister, who had made the latkes) took them away.
It was so cute watching Rachel and Lila together. Whatever one did, the other followed. Lila is a few months older and is regularly using the potty and wearing underwear. At one point she came back with her underpants down and I pulled them up and pulled on her pants. "Lila, you should tell Rachel that she should wear underwear," I said, not thinking she'd follow through. Sure enough, she came with me into the bathroom, where Rachel was waiting to use the potty (because Lila had used it just minutes earlier) and said earnestly, "Rachel, you should wear underwear." It was hard not to laugh.
At the end of the evening, Rachel generously gave hugs all around. Lila is a hugger, too -- she came right up to me, arms outstretched, in a completely unself-conscious way, to get her hug.
I hope our girls will continue to be great friends for a long, long time!
I sang it last year but it didn't really register. What a difference 24 months makes! When I sang it for the first time the other night, Rachel was beside herself. She LOVED it. "Again!" her sweet little voice demanded, and I obliged. She loves it when I sign it in the car. And she even tries to sing it herself, but she can't get past the first two words: "Hanukkah, Hanukkah..."
Tonight I raced out of work after a longer-than-expected chat with the associate dean of the law school (a truly nice guy; I could have talked to him for another hour or so), grabbed Rachel from daycare and tossed her into the car seat without any Mommy cuddling -- all in order to get to a friend's house by 7 (we actually got there at 7:10 or so). Suzanne had invited us over because her sister-in-law was making LATKES, and since I have absolved myself of making them this year because it's just too much for a single mom to do (with the proviso that I will make them the first weekend Drew is home for winter break because he made a special request), I decided to take Rachel.
Suzanne is the mom of Lila, Rachel's little friend, and boy did those two have a time together! At first Rachel was a little shy, but then they ended up in Lila's room and we heard much laughter and dumping of Lego blocks. We all thought it would have been lovely to let them play all night so we could have adult conversation, but finally Steve (Suzanne's husband) told the girls that we were LIGHTING THE CANDLES and it was time to come out of Lila's room. Whereupon Rachel marched out in a pair of genuine wooden clogs from Holland (and she looked ADORABLE) and we lit the candles and said a prayer. Rachel swallowed a few mouthfuls of applesauce and challah, and then it was back to Lila's room. More laughter and some shrieking, and at one point Steve checked to see what was going on. Upon returning, he informed us that he wasn't allowed into the clubhouse.
We lured them out again with dessert (last night I baked peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses in the center) and Lila kept at the cookies -- with Rachel right behind -- until "big Rachel" (Steve's sister, who had made the latkes) took them away.
It was so cute watching Rachel and Lila together. Whatever one did, the other followed. Lila is a few months older and is regularly using the potty and wearing underwear. At one point she came back with her underpants down and I pulled them up and pulled on her pants. "Lila, you should tell Rachel that she should wear underwear," I said, not thinking she'd follow through. Sure enough, she came with me into the bathroom, where Rachel was waiting to use the potty (because Lila had used it just minutes earlier) and said earnestly, "Rachel, you should wear underwear." It was hard not to laugh.
At the end of the evening, Rachel generously gave hugs all around. Lila is a hugger, too -- she came right up to me, arms outstretched, in a completely unself-conscious way, to get her hug.
I hope our girls will continue to be great friends for a long, long time!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
We have a chicken in our attic!
That's according to Rachel, who informed me of that this morning while I was singing "Farmer in the Dell." I had run out of words and she reminded me about the chicken laying the eggs. So I sang the whole phrase.
"I have a chicken upstairs," she said.
"Really, Rachel?" I answered. "What's it's name?
"Just chicken."
"What color is it?"
She didn't answer. Then: "You can play with my chicken upstairs."
Pause.
"You can play with my toys upstairs, too."
A colleague at work, who has what she describes as a "gentle" 18-month-boy, was not at all surprised to hear about this sweet side of Rachel. She thinks that girls are more nurturing than boys. She may be right!
***
As I was cuddling her in the rocker this morning she looked at me and said, "Rachel DeSilver! I like that name!"
"Well I'm glad, sweetie, because I like it too!" I replied.
***
Last night I took my contact lenses off and put my glasses on while I was getting Rachel ready for her bath. (This was after she pooped in the potty for real this time, rather than me rushing her to the potty while, um, she was in the middle of the act of pooping).
"You look beeoootiful in your sunglasses!" she said. I couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you, Rachel, you made my day!" I said.
This morning after I'd dressed her in black corduroys, a pink turtleneck and her preppy little L.L.Bean sweater ($4 at a resale shop in Salem), I couldn't help taking her picture.
"I look beeootiful!" she said proudly. Yes, she did!
***
She cleared almost all the dishes from the table tonight, even after complaining her dinner plate was "too heavy" for her to carry. "I think you can carry it, sweetie," I said, and a moment later she picked it up -- and made it all the way to the counter! OK, a couple of spoons fell off, but still, it was the effort that counted!
She also informed me earlier tonight that "I love to cuddle with Mommy!" which of course made my day. Then in the glider she suddenly said, "Big Kiss!" and so of course I had to smoosh her face with kisses. Then it was "Big Hug!" and I had to hug her very tight. Then I asked the same of her. Her hugs are definitely getting bigger and more long-lasting. Oh, if I could just spend an hour at night with her in the glider, cuddling, instead of racing into the kitchen and cleaning up and calling Drew and baking cookies for a Hanukkah celebration tomorrow and getting Rachel's lunch together and calling the handyman who was supposed to come over this week to look at some stuff around the house but couldn't make it because he was sick -- if I could truly push all that aside and snuggle with my daughter, I'd be one happy woman.
***
"You can go in the living room," she informed me last night as we were finishing up dinner. "You can play with my truck. You can make the animals go." (She has a farm truck that makes noise when you press the farmer's head). Oh, yeah, now I get where the whole fascination with farms comes from!
"I have a chicken upstairs," she said.
"Really, Rachel?" I answered. "What's it's name?
"Just chicken."
"What color is it?"
She didn't answer. Then: "You can play with my chicken upstairs."
Pause.
"You can play with my toys upstairs, too."
A colleague at work, who has what she describes as a "gentle" 18-month-boy, was not at all surprised to hear about this sweet side of Rachel. She thinks that girls are more nurturing than boys. She may be right!
***
As I was cuddling her in the rocker this morning she looked at me and said, "Rachel DeSilver! I like that name!"
"Well I'm glad, sweetie, because I like it too!" I replied.
***
Last night I took my contact lenses off and put my glasses on while I was getting Rachel ready for her bath. (This was after she pooped in the potty for real this time, rather than me rushing her to the potty while, um, she was in the middle of the act of pooping).
"You look beeoootiful in your sunglasses!" she said. I couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you, Rachel, you made my day!" I said.
This morning after I'd dressed her in black corduroys, a pink turtleneck and her preppy little L.L.Bean sweater ($4 at a resale shop in Salem), I couldn't help taking her picture.
"I look beeootiful!" she said proudly. Yes, she did!
***
She cleared almost all the dishes from the table tonight, even after complaining her dinner plate was "too heavy" for her to carry. "I think you can carry it, sweetie," I said, and a moment later she picked it up -- and made it all the way to the counter! OK, a couple of spoons fell off, but still, it was the effort that counted!
She also informed me earlier tonight that "I love to cuddle with Mommy!" which of course made my day. Then in the glider she suddenly said, "Big Kiss!" and so of course I had to smoosh her face with kisses. Then it was "Big Hug!" and I had to hug her very tight. Then I asked the same of her. Her hugs are definitely getting bigger and more long-lasting. Oh, if I could just spend an hour at night with her in the glider, cuddling, instead of racing into the kitchen and cleaning up and calling Drew and baking cookies for a Hanukkah celebration tomorrow and getting Rachel's lunch together and calling the handyman who was supposed to come over this week to look at some stuff around the house but couldn't make it because he was sick -- if I could truly push all that aside and snuggle with my daughter, I'd be one happy woman.
***
"You can go in the living room," she informed me last night as we were finishing up dinner. "You can play with my truck. You can make the animals go." (She has a farm truck that makes noise when you press the farmer's head). Oh, yeah, now I get where the whole fascination with farms comes from!
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