It Gets Me Every Time - Part II
Mood:  special
Topic: Lauren
The other day, while Lauren and I were talking, the subject of my mother came up. I mentioned that sometimes I really miss her and wish I could see her. When I made that comment I expected the conversation to move toward where she was and why we couldn't see her. But no, I was "gotten" again (see It Gets Me Every Time). Instead of the expected conversation, Lauren said she could be my mom.

2B Or Not 2B
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Bonus Features: Chocolate vs Cone and False Advertising
Topic: Lauren
It's almost 3 months later and I had just about given up on any progression in The Plan when, lo and behold, Lauren informed me that she succeeded in step 2B - her very own special step, added to the poop training plan for her benefit - and we had to go get a celebratory treat.

The story I heard from DH is that maybe she succeeded and maybe she did not. He is not sure because he didn't actually see it. We are no longer permitted in the bathroom when Lauren is doing her duty. We have to stay in the hallway and the bathroom door has to be just about closed - sometimes we are even instructed to sneak away into another room LOL!

Well, we really had no choice but to believe her because if we did not, we could very well end up, heaven forbid, back at step 2. Besides, up until now, she's been very truthful with us. So off we went in 4 degree weather to get her treat - a chocolate ice cream cone.


Chocolate vs Cone
Little did we know the DQ closed at 8pm. The open light was lit as we rounded the corner, but by the time we entered the parking lot, the drive thru was blocked, the light was off, and the doors were locked. And DQ is the ONLY place around that actually has CHOCOLATE ice cream cones. Uh-oh...disaster approaching...what did we mean "no chocolate"?! We quickly tried a distraction move by suggesting we could substitute a McDonald's triple thick chocolate shake for the cone. It had its drawbacks true - triple thick - would she be able to get it through the straw? We'd have to get a spo... wait a cotton pickin' minute...what did we mean "no cone"?!


False Advertising
Ten minutes later we exited the McDonald's drive thru with a vanilla ice cream cone for Lauren and two triple thick chocolate shakes, one for mom and one for dad. Lauren was in heaven because she had her cone and mom and dad were left wishing they had had a cone as well. Triple thick? Yeah, right.

Time To Wash Up
Mood:  silly
Topic: Lauren
No it's not time for Lauren to have a bath. Well, it is, but that's not what this is about.

This is about that poor little boy who went to see baby Jesus - Lauren sang me the song about him yesterday. They told him to come, rub a dub; He was so poor he had no gift to bring, rub a dub; so he played his drum and the baby smiled at him, rub a dub. She did add a line to the song (not in any version I've ever heard) that he was joined there by three men in a tub - must have been the wise men - so at least he wasn't poor, dirty, AND lonely.

Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps it would be a good idea for that little drummer boy to join the deer and the antelope out where they make their home. That would be, of course, in the rain.

Pass the soap please :-)

It Gets Me Every Time
Mood:  special
Topic: Lauren
Sometimes I swear my daughter is really my mother come back in a new body.

As mentioned in Another Whole Year Passes, I found out I was pregnant with Lauren the day my mother died. After Lauren was born, she was so much my mother, I could not, and still can not, believe it. From the day she was born, her hands and fingers are the spitting image of my mother's. She moves her feet in the exact same way my mother moved hers - rotating in little circles. When Lauren was 9 months old we snapped a picture of her playing in her MegaSaucer and she looked so much like my mom, it was uncanny.

Well, it happened again over the weekend. We put up our Christmas tree and for the past two days Lauren has been pointing out her favorite ornaments to me. She picks my mother's ornaments that I now have. They were my mother's favorites as well.

A Senseless Tragedy
Mood:  sad
It's been over a week now and I just cannot get her out of my mind.

Last week Tuesday, a young woman jumped from the roof of a building located a block away. She worked there as a security guard and it happened in the early morning.

She fell 41 floors.

She was 25 years old.

She left behind a one month old baby.

My immediate thought was post-partum depression. I wonder if she was getting help or if she was suffering in silence. If not, I wonder if just one person would have said one little thing, she would have sought help. I wonder if anyone noticed anything at all.

And now, for some reason, not a single day goes by that I do not think of this woman and her child. I feel so sorry for her family, especially that little baby.

Awww...Part II
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Lauren
Wow! This morning I rated three hugs and four kisses! Nothing tugs on you more than your sleepy child wanting you to stay home next to her in a nice warm bed.

I should have stayed home...

Awww...
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Lauren
As I was about to leave for work this morning, I heard Lauren start crying for me from our bed. I went back in to give her a hug and tell her I had to leave for work. With her eyes still closed, she hugged me and said she didn't want me to go. When I said I had to, that I would see her later, and I loved her, she said to wait because she had to give me a kiss. It was so sweet and tugged at my heartstrings.

I miss you and love you Lauren!

He's Here - Part II
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Lauren
She did it! She sat on Santa's lap!

We arrived at the mall on Saturday with the intention of visiting the indoor playground, but we noticed right away there was a very short line to see Santa. We hopped in and started our wait. Lauren went on and on about what she was going to tell him - she was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She was actually jumping up and down at one point, LOL! We inched closer and finally we were up next. Of the two small boys in front of us, one cried and one would only get as far as Santa's leg and only if his dad was with him. Lauren made note of all of it pointing out how the baby was crying and the other boy was probably nervous. Then it was her turn and she slowly walked up to Santa. He reached out to pick her up and she hesitated, but for only a second. Then she was there, on his lap, and she was watching him as he talked to her. I heard her say in a very quiet voice that she wanted a kitty. Santa said he couldn't bring her a kitty because it was too cold in the north pole (which I thought was a good response), would a stuffed kitty be ok? Lauren nodded. Then she clammed up. I couldn't get her to say dominoes and checkers, but what the hay...I was so proud of her for going up there even though she was nervous. So, my baby has had her first successful visit to Santa :-)

He's Here!
Mood:  happy
Topic: Lauren
Here it is a month later (see Guess Who's Coming) and it's official. Lauren and I were at the mall over the last weekend and in her words, "We saw Santa's workshop!". She kept repeating that all night long. I explained to her about sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what she wants for Christmas. She said she didn't know what she would tell him, but after a few minutes she came up with dominoes and a "checkergame".

Since that day, she has mentioned numerous times that she is a bit nervous about visiting with Santa. She continually asks if other kids are nervous. I reassure her that there are many kids who are nervous and it's OK to be nervous. She can still talk to Santa even if she's nervous. I can picture our trip now. We get to the mall along with a billion other families, wait in line for hours along with hundreds of other families, finally walk through the maze...and she won't go sit on his lap.

But it won't matter. It won't matter because this is the first Christmas where she truly gets the whole santa thing and it is blowing her away. I cannot describe the pure joy in her voice and the excitement flowing through her little body. It dawned on me the other day as I thought about not getting a tree and not decorating - it is going to be Lauren that will keep me doing the Xmas thing even when it seems too much trouble and not worth the energy. We're going to go to the parade, go to Marshall Fields to see their big animated display, drive around looking at lights, play Christmas music, and watch all the Christmas shows on tv. I am going to be seeing the holiday season through my child's eyes. I am going to tap into her joy and excitement and it is going to be wonderful.

May everyone enjoy this holiday season with the enthusiasm and happiness of a young child!

Girls Vs Ladies
Mood:  happy
Topic: Lauren
While visiting my aunt in Pittsburgh over the weekend, I overheard the following conversation between my 3 yr old daughter and my aunt.

Lauren: Where are we going?

JW: We're going to visit the girls at work and bring them cookies. (Then JW thinks Lauren will think there will actually be young girls at work so she changes her answer)

JW: We're going to visit the ladies at work and bring them cookies.

Lauren: Why did you say that?

JW: What?

Lauren: You said girls, then you said ladies.

JW: Sometimes we call ladies girls. Girls are young ladies who want to be older so they can be called ladies. Ladies are girls who are old enough to be ladies but want to be called girls. How about you? Are you a lady or a girl?

Lauren: Well, I'll just be a princess.


Hmmm...I guess sometimes it all comes down to who gets the best clothes :-)