Oscar weekend!

...and what a busy one it was! Lots of activity, as usual. The highlights:

--Saturday we went to visit our friend Suzanne who recently had a baby (actually, three weeks ago, and I was struck by how calm Suzanne was and how much weight she's already lost. She says it helps that she's been through the baby routine before - her daughter, Lila, is Rachel's best friend and they're around the same age - and that this child, Eva, is a lot easier that Lila was. I do long to have a second one but I'm terrified that he/she may be the difficult child we thought Rachel would be, and instead we ended up with the mellow kid from Heaven). I brought over some lentil stew and a chocolate chip cake, and Suzanne and I were able to talk for quite a while while Rachel and Lila sat at Lila's play table (mental note: Must buy Rachel a miniature table and chairs, a mini-kitchen and an easel for her to do art) and imitated each other. It was so cute! Lila made up words, then Rachel would repeat them, then Rachel would say something and Lila would repeat it -- it was so adorable!

Then we went to the dining room table. The girls had cheddar bunny crackers, which Suzanne got at New Seasons which means I won't be buying them for Rachel because New Seasons is way too expensive for me these days, and milk. And chocolate chip cake. And the best part of the day -- the best part of the whole weekend -- was when Steve, Suzanne's husband, offered Rachel some lentil soup and she said, "No. Thank you for offering!' Steve was so impressed that he said to Lila, "Did you HEAR that, Lila?" My heart burst with pride.:)

Rachel was having such a good time playing with Lila and Lila's tea set that I really had to drag her away -- the only thing that worked was when I told her we were going to the GROCERY STORE, which meant she would get a red car to ride and could help Mommy unload the groceries on the conveyer belt -- it is so cute to watch her stand on her tiptoes and set yogurt and baby food very very carefully on the belt -- and so we did our usual Saturday round of errands until naptime. Then I got her up, we had leftovers for dinner, and then I put her to bed.

I had rented "Inception" to watch just before the Academy Awards tonight, which was good because if I hadn't there is no way I would have understood the opening montage. Anyway, I was late watching the movie because Craig, my most excellent tenant, gave me a book he had bought, a guide to hiking, canoeing and camping with toddlers. He had heard me express my desire to do so but hesitancy because of Rachels' age. AND he said that when his girlfriend, Brenna, comes to visit during her spring break (a week after Drew's), then she'll be happy to babysit Rachel while I go out one night. I was so overwhelmed with that generosity I didn't know how to react except to say thanks.

Today I was tired because I stayed up too late watching the movie, but we still managed to fit in a lot. I dropped off a cake I'd baked for a brunch event at the synagogue. Then Rachel and I raced to a storytelling time event at a coffeeshop, sponsored by the Portland Jewish Library, which sends Rachel free books every month until she turns 7. (She adores those books and I love that they communicate such strong Jewish values at such an early age). We did some crafts (mental note: Need to buy Rachel a bunch of books with stickers, and beads and string, so we can start doing crafts projects at home. I think she may be ready). Then the head of the Portland Jewish Foundation read three books (one of which we have at home, about Noah and the Ark, and Rachel helpfully pointed out pictures of the animals in her cheerful, warbly voice). We left just in time to meet my friend Amy back at our house, minus her kids because they were sick.

Amy and I chatted for a 2 1/2 hours and Rachel was fabulously well-behaved; she only seriously interrupted us once. At once point she took her puzzles and a music box that Molly bought her over the Christmas break into the kitchen with us, and while Amy and I were talking Rachel started talking quietly to herself while she was playing. "Isn't that so adorable that you can barely stand it??" Amy murmured, and I have to agree she was right.

After Amy left we returned the movie and then went to the library where we checked out more books. Then home for snack and a nap and I got to watch 2 uninterrupted hours of the Oscars. I woke Rachel up at 7:20, and by 8:35 we had made dinner, eaten dinner, cleaned up from dinner, changed into her sleepsuit, read books, sang songs and put her to bed. Fastest I have ever gotten her down on a Sunday (she didn't need a bath because I gave her one last night).

All in all, another busy, happy weekend. I LOVE our time together. Rachel is the best companion any Mom can have!