delusions of childhood

When I was little, maybe seven or eight years old, I wanted to be the tightrope-walking cat from "Dumbo's Circus."  So much was I wrapped into this fantasy life that I wore my ballet leotard, tights, and ballet shoes on a daily basis, and tied jump ropes between any trees I could find close enough to each other.   Needless to say, I moved on, but I remember so badly wanting to be what I saw on television.

Hence, my daughter's obsession with Disney Princesses.  It helps that it's near Halloween, so no one thinks Britton wears a princess dress daily.  But, in all reality, she does.  Even if I convince her to wear real clothes to school, she's stripping her clothes off the minute she hits the door when we get home, in desperate search for her next Disney princess dress fix.  My house is covered in glitter.  So covered that I no longer bother trying to clean it up.

And she wants the hub to answer to "Prince" exclusively.  And waltz endlessly across the family room, just like all the other princes do.  It's cute, though.  And reminds me daily that a girl's first love is her father.

Snow White for Halloween?  Of course.  Tiana on the television screen?  Of course.  Has she changed her mind from Snow White to Cinderella back to Snow White then to Belle but no to Belle because the Belle dress is too big back to Snow White?  Hundreds of times this week.  Just one of the beautiful dreams and delusions of childhood!

i had it coming

Do you remember that car commercial where the dad puts the little girl into the car, and she doesn't stop talking the entire time? Britton has gotten to that point in life, and it's completely my fault because that is the way the universe works. Let me explain...

I started noticing that Britton had more to say on our drive home from daycare.  Instead of the usual one-word answers to my questions, she started expanding into whole stories.  Stories about her friends, by name, what each one said to the other, entire re-enactments of the trials and tribulations of the playground.  I admit, I loved it because it gave me an insight into her days.  But it's moved into another realm, and I don't know if I can handle it.

We've gotten into movies now.  Britton treats movies like long television shows, and doesn't mind only watching 30 minutes at a time.  It's fine, because all she really wants to watch is Disney Princesses now, and at least I don't have to listen to commercials.  Though, admittedly, I do find myself missing Dora, but that's neither here nor there.  The problem comes when Britton takes a deep breath at the opening credits, and DOESN'T STOP TALKING for the entire movie.  She's not chattering, no.  She's asking question after question after question after question.  It goes a little something like this:

B:  "Who is that man with Snow White?  Where are they going to?  Why is Snow White running away from that man?  Why does that tree look mean?  Why is Snow White crying?  Where is the Queen?  Where did the little rabbits come from?  Why are the animals showing Snow White that cottage?  Where are the seven dwarfs?  Why aren't they home from work yet?  Can I go to your work Mommy?  Why is Snow White cleaning?"

It's constant.  And if you don't answer or even dare to get a little fed up with it, Britton gets mad.  So it's just easier to answer.  And I've learned that if I want to stay sane, I just make up the answers as I go.  No need to be accurate.  It then becomes a little entertaining game for me.

B:  "Why did Snow White eat the apple?"

Me:  "Because she's not too bright, honey."

The hub informs me that I as well ask question after question after question while we watch movies, so I don't see Britton growing out of it soon.  I'm telling myself she didn't learn it from me, since we don't watch any movie I like together.  But who knows?  According to the hub, I had it coming.

Welcome Jason!

Mr. Jason Oliver is here!  I headed out to Virginia last Wednesday to meet Jessica and family at the hospital.  I think I had warned my bosses in my interview that this "vacation time" was a non-negotiable - when my sister had her baby I was going to be there.  I missed Emily's birth two years ago, unable to wait until the last minute to book a flight, and with the ability to drive this time I was going to be there.  

Well, I may have been a little over-anxious to get there!  I was running late because we had Britton's parent-teacher conference that morning (yes, for a 3 year old) and I wanted to be on the road already.  Two missed turns to get onto the turnpike, and by the time I was getting past Winchester my pedal was glued to the floorboard.  And I was of course distracted by some found years-old mixed CDs, which I felt the need to sing at full volume.  I got pulled over for speeding.   And I admitted my mistake the minute the trooper got to the window.  And I explained that my sister was in labor.  And he let me go with a warning.

Whoo who!  I was off (albeit, slower) to the hospital, where I arrived a mere two hours before Jessica gave birth.  The whole experience was so relaxed - we were even making Tori Spelling jokes with the OB/GYN!  Jason just joined us like he had been here the whole time.  Yes, it is always amazing when a new baby arrives, but it honestly feels like he's always been here.

I got to spend the night with Jessica on Thursday night, which reminded me why I had chosen to leave the hospital early when I had Britton.  A different nurse was in the room every hour, and the sleep was never good.  By Friday, everyone was ready for the new normal to commence.  I headed out ahead of Jessica and Tim so I could squeeze in some grocery shopping.  No pizza delivery for Jason's first night at home!

On Saturday we had Jason's pediatrician appointment.  I planned on taking Caroline to her softball game so that Jessica could get Jason home before he needed to be fed.  It was also a nice break for Jessica since the house would be empty, save for her and Jason.  We ended up having the wrong time for the game, so Caroline only got to play two innings.  But it turned out to be a bonus for Jessica, because the minute we got home she went to take a nap!

I've got to tell you a little story, because it's one of those things that I may not remember years from now, but if I do remember it, Jessica and I will be laughing ourselves silly about it.  When Jessica had Emily, it was almost Thanksgiving.  Now, the late-night television is usually bad, but at that time the Christmas movies were getting into heavy rotation.  We must have watched "The Family Stone" about eight times over those couple of nights.  It was always on!  So I ordered a copy of the movie and brought it with me for Jason's birth.  And come Saturday night, Caroline and I snuggled on the couch and watched "The Family Stone" while Jessica got some much-needed naptime.  She ended up joining us for the last twenty minutes of the movie.  I don't know why, but that is the perfect late-night movie, and it never gets old to me!

Britton's first fall leaves

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."

-William Cullen Bryant

When we moved to Pennsylvania, we knew that we were giving Britton the gift of seasons.  Memaw gave her the gift of raining leaves.  If Saturday was the only beautiful fall day we ever get this year, it will all have been worth it.

a missing word

This is quintessential "workplace" nonsense.  I put up with the diet and "no sweets for me!" talk around any sugary items someone dared bring into the office, I respond appropriately to people who do not care about my answer ask about my weekend, and I see fliers like this every day without making smart comments.  C'mon, people.  Are we really supporting cancer?  You know what belongs after "cancer"?  Hmmmm, maybe "survivors" or "research"? Because no, I don't support breast cancer.  But I won't say anything about it, because Lord knows I don't want to spend two hours in a "sensitivity training course."  

And am I the only one who sees the random bolding of first letters?

the punkin patch

Yes, the "punkin" patch.  That is how Britton pronounced "pumpkin patch" all day yesterday and I just giggled every time she said "punkin." It totally reminded us of that "Modern Family" episode about "punkin chunkin" so Memaw, the hubs, and I ended up yelling "punkin chunkin!" at each other!

We had actually been planning on going to the punkin patch for weeks now.  Before we left for Disney, we had placed an ad in Craigslist to sell Memaw and PawPaw's golf cart.  We ended up selling the golf cart to a farmer whose wife has arthritis, and she needed help getting around the farm.  He gave us a flier for their punkin patch, with a pass for a free family hayride as a bonus!  

We ended up leaving with SEVEN pumpkins!  Three for the front porch, one small one for Britton, and three pie pumpkins for Britton's class to decorate.

We also got to meet some goats, donkeys, roosters, and baby chicks.  And of course go on our hayride (where we were treated to the view of a farm cat eating a mouse!).  We finished off our trip at the farm's market, where we bought a pumpkin roll, some cookies, a brownie, apple cider, and so much yummy goodies!

38 months old

Back for our monthly check-in!  Well, we've experienced a first for Britton - her need of winter clothes that last more than two months!  It's starting to get colder here, and so I've gotten a chance to buy her a winter wardrobe, something I never really got to do in Texas.  She's in 5T/5 clothes, which just blows my mind.  And Britton has taken to pants very well, which I wondered about since she refused to wear anything but skirts this whole summer!

Britton's sleeping has gotten so much better too, now that she's settled in the new house and her routine.  One night I just had enough, I threatened to take a stuffed animal if she got out of bed, and lo and behold, she got out of bed.  So, I took her stuffed animal.  She cried, told me she got her friend at the store and it was hers and I couldn't take it, which of course made me feel bad.  But the consequence had to mean something, and it did.  We've had no problems since.  Now she knows Mommy means business!

Britton loves going on walks in the neighborhood, especially when her "friends" are out playing.  "Friends" can be any of the number of children who live on our street!  Britton wants to hang out with them all (with me in tow), which often times leaves me chatting with the moms while Britton tries to keep up with the older kids.

She's still eating well, though she has definitely developed a sweet tooth!  This girl loves her lollipops and Oreos!  But she's also really enjoying fruit and veggies regularly, so I can't complain - everything in moderation.  

Likes:  walks, going to the park, playing with Sadie, dressing up in Princess dresses, school, dancing, singing, the original "Parent Trap" movie, reading books at night, going to the library and visiting the library parakeets

Dislikes:  not much these days - this girl has gotten to be so easy to get along with!