When We Hit a Party, We Leave Our Mark

During Little One's demon possession, it was suggested that maybe She needed a good distraction. So we joined some friends at a picnic. How lovely. How idyllic! The green grass, the barbecue smells, the sunshiney air! Everyone was settled into their picnic tables. Eating. Watching the adjacent grassy area where their children were sweetly playing. Little One was among the innocent children, frolicking about of course, and I was chatting. Little One was behind me. So occasionally I'd turn around and check on Her, and then let Her do Her thing while I turned my attention to my friend. After all, she could see Little One from her spot, and like everyone at the picnic had an eye on the grassy area. So if there was any imminent danger it's not like She was alone in the woods. A fact I'm not sure She was aware of.
Because suddenly my friend's eyes got wide, and she said, "umph!" and pointed behind me. So I turned. I scanned the crowd of innocent, frolicking children, and soon spotted Little One.
*With Her dress up over Her shoulders, Her undies around Her ankles, singing a little tune and hanging out in a squat with Her buns in the breeze right there in the middle of everything.*
Ohmygoodnessohmygoshyouhavegottobekiddingme.
I instinctively shrieked, "Little One! What? No!" which was surely the most discreet way to handle the situation. I bolted over to Her and swooped Her up. Hastily yanking clothing over bare parts. "Little One. What are you doing?"
She looked up at me like I must be a little slow, and stated the obvious. "Potty."

Maybe camping was a bad idea...

Little Yin

Late last night, Little One's fever subsided. Yay! However, it seems to have taken with it Her good nature. She spent most of today in an utter conniption which made my ears ring as if there had been a bombing nearby. It was truly stupendous. She took 3 naps, by request, so She might have been really, really worn out from Her little illness. Or it might have been a demon possession. Very hard to tell. But whatever it was, it was LOUD.
This was awesome! Because it kicked off sharply at 7am, on a Saturday, and did not stop for HOURS. Which made me feel so, so much less antipathy for my new neighbors and the motorcycle they leave running in the backyard, and the music that shakes the basement walls, and the dog that barks all day while they are at work, and their adorable, throttle-able puppy which has been, and in fact is right now, barking its little head off from its imprisonment on their porch-right under my bedroom window- all night. Every night. Good job, Little One. Restoring some Karmic balance to the universe! Or at least the neighborhood.
She showed that puppy how it is done.
I think that the new sibling should also be taught the zen art of symmetrical justice. When it comes, especially if it has colic like Little One did, I'm thinking we should begin its training by learning which wall we share with our dear neighbors' bedroom. And putting the cradle, right there.
My kids are so great. Little superheroes already! Ooohhhhmmmmmm

The Parade

On Labor Day, our fair city puts on an adorable parade. Who doesn't love a parade?!
So Little One and I parked it on the curb and watched the show.

She and Baby gathered just a few campaign stickers.

She was a little freaked out by the dragon, but She stared it down.

We saw some A. Maz. Ing. little kid dancers in fantastic traditional costumes. Something I love about the diversity of our area is the abundance of cultures to liven things up. I have to say the Central and South American traditional singing/dancing groups stole show. I would have paid to see that, and if you know me and my cheap self, you know it was pretty good. At least as far as I was concerned.

Little One was most impressed by the marching bands. Every time we started to hear one coming up over the hill She stood up and started dancing and clapping, screaming "yay!" She'd look at me with the "can you believe this?!" face and say, "muso mommy, MUso!"

But the true highlight for us both came with the wildlife rescue center crew. I saw Her staring. Awestruck. Coveting. She'd turn to me. Turn back. And whisper quietly, with amazement and devotion in Her voice, "Hop-hop...". So finally I said, "if you want to go see, Little One, it's ok". I didn't really think She would, truthfully, but the words were still traveling out of my mouth as She dashed into the street in a beeline. "Hop-hop!" She cried, raising Her arms. And gave the 6 foot tall bunny a big, squeezy, lovey hug. And would not. Let go. The amazing ginormous hop-hop had to carry Her back to me, dangling from it's neck, and deposit Her, flush with joy, into my lap.

The crowd cheered. And hop-hop said to me, "Wow, that is a brave little girl! Most kids cry when they see me." And I realized, hey. She is getting pretty brave! Little One is by nature very cautious, very fond of my shoulder when there is anything new around. But She saw something She adored so much, that She mustered up Her courage and went for the hug. Going waaay outside Her normal mama-range to do so. You go Little One! And I hope that as She grows She always finds that courage when She sees something She loves. To just go for it! Grab it! Hold on tight. Before the parade passes by.

Pink Plastic Bangles of Honor

I was going to tell you about Little One's awesome prize-winning fever episode and the medical juggernaut She traversed in consequence. But, really, She tells it better. This is Her version of today:

"Hopital. Doctor come. (points sharply to the crease of Her arm)- POKE! Little One owie. Poke owie. (shakes Her head morosely a moment, then straightens up and puffs out Her chest) Little One Bave! (brave). Bave! Doctor come. Give treats! Goo gurl Little One. Bave, treats. Tank you!! Tank you treats! (shows off the plastic bracelets. Smiles.) Mommy? Doctor. She nice!"

I was there. I can tell you, it's all true. Especially the part about Her being so brave. Even the part where She thanked the nurse that stuck a needle in Her arm- and that was before the bracelets. Having a sick Little One gives me reason to feel helpless, and sad. But also proud.

Say Hello To My Leetle Friend

What Do Doggies, Summer, and Babies Have in Common?

Little One adores the dogs with the over-exuberance of a toddler. Sometimes, as they wander by, She leaps out at them, wraps Her arms around their bodies and hugs too tight. They wriggle onward, pulling slowly through Her arms until She is left squeezing tight to their tail, hanging on as long as She can before it slips through too.
That's what we've all been doing around here, with Summer. Folding it into us as it keeps moving past, squeezing every last bit of summery-ness out of it we can as it slipped away.
There have been trips to the fair, hiking in woods and by rivers, carnivals, parades, swimming and jumping through sprinklers, evenings at the park, picking juicy fruit at orchards, petting calves at the farms, concerts in the town square, popsicles made from leftover watermelon juice.
Little One is growing and Her babyhood has slipped away too, like the summer. Leaving us to wonder all the same things; did we take it for granted? Did we enjoy every moment? Make enough sweet memories? Take enough pictures? Stop taking pictures long enough to be present?
I know how Little One feels when She's left standing there calling after the dogs. I want to ask Her the same things She's thinking about them. Why can't you slow down, just a little bit? Why can't I hold on to you as long as I want, just like this?
But they go. She grows. The leaves are starting to turn.
The only thing to do is follow Her lead on these things. Watch them go, pout a little, move on to the next thing. The summer is over and my sweet baby is just a couple weeks from being two. Two! Two?! I suppose it's time to hold on to Her two-ness as hard as I can, make some apple cider and jump in some piles of leaves. I guess it's a good consolation prize that even though we can't keep all the moments we love, there are so many more to love around the corner.

Remembering the Fallen- and Falling.

This September 11, it seems like a good time to reflect on something I think about a lot. Every day, actually. Which is how knocks-my-breath-out grateful I am for the safely and the peace of my home.
On THE September 11th, even though most of us watched from safe distances, we still felt shaken. Something most of us take for granted was completely shattered for a day.
There was the Fear- consuming, stunting, numbing- that completely overwhelms. It shut us down. It stirred us up. It pushed everything else aside. It gripped us tight.
Today I am remembering those who lost lives and loved ones. I'm remembering those like my dad, who rushed into the flames to help those rushing out. I'm thinking of those like J who have pledged their lives to keeping us safe, especially those who have suffered so much for that goal.
I am taking some time to close my eyes and Thank. With every fiber of my everything I have, for waking up each morning with my husband, with my daughter, and NOT wondering if we will all make it through the day. For tucking my baby into bed with an amazing kind of certainty that the only nightmares She will experience, are in Her sleep. I'm putting my hands on the walls of my home, and appreciating that they are standing. That I am so sure that tomorrow they will be strong around us. I'm saying a prayer of thanks that horrors like that of September 11 are so rare in my homeland, hopefully less than once in a lifetime. I am loving my country, and my countrymen.
And. Today I am also remembering the so, so many people in this world, for whom that Overwhelming Fear is present every. single. day. For those who feel as I did when I watched that plane hit the tower- but feel it always. And are somehow expected to go on with the business of living. Of trying to raise their children. Of trying to be human. There are millions. All over the world. In the neighborhoods not so far from mine. Yours. Today my heart goes out to those for whom being terrified and uncertain are 'normal'.
And among my prayers of healing for the 9/11 victims and their families, my prayers of gratitude for those who save and protect us, and for the safety we take for granted, I am also saying prayers of compassion. Of human understanding. For families and children and nations... and all of us.
Prayers for peace.

http://www.theirc.org/

Itst Bitsy Spider, Spinning a Web for Me

Little One loves the itsy, bitsy spider. The song is a carseat entertainment staple.
She also has two beloved books about itsy bitsy; one that takes the whole water spout thing and runs with it, continuing the rhyme so that the itsy, bitsy spider has a series of adventures in bug-land.
A little while ago, out of nowhere, Little One had an Idea. She pointed and begged until I took Her upstairs. She pushed me into the rocking chair. "Sit, mommy. Sit there." Ok. She went and got the epic adventures of itsy from the shelf, and climbed into my lap with it. "No read mommy, no. Little One do it." Ok.
She turned the pages quickly, looking for something. Then She found it. "Read, mommy". I read the ryme about the spider falling and scraping her knees. Little One wanted to emphasize some of the thematic elements of the plot line here:

LO: "Ouch! Fall! Spider owie."
C: "yes, spider fell and scraped her knees"
LO: "Spider owie! Ohhhh, cry! Owie!" And then, pointing; "mama banade, fix".
C: "yes, her mother gives her some band aids."
LO: "mama, cracker."*
C: "yes, I guess you're right. In the picture her mother gives her a cracker too".

Little One got excited. We were getting to something important here.

LO: "spider fall! Her cry! (pointing at the spider) OWIE! (tapping spider's knees) Spider mama! (pointing) Cracker! (emphatically tapping the cracker)."
She repeated this several times. "Spider owie, mama cracker".

And then She turned and patted me on the chest, "mama!" Looking me right in the eyes to be sure I was getting this. And then.
She hiked up Her skirt, and with an impish little smile pointed to the perennial healing toddler-scab on Her knee.

LO:"MAma."
C: "...Yes?"
LO: "OWie."




*In the book it was a cookie. Since Little One has never had a cookie, She assumes all round, brown, edible things are of the much coveted cracker variety. Crackers are "smeshal tyeats". So the tricks the girl with go through to get one are, clearly, endless.

A New Beginning at an Old Beginning

I have one last thing I wanted to share about our New Mexico trip before I get the heck on with it. One of the highlights of the visit, for me, was this moment here:

It might not look so special, but it is. When J first came to Santa Fe, and first met my dad, he (ahem...at the last possible minute after wussing out all weekend...ahem) had the guts to ask dad if, hey, nice to meet you, mind if I marry your daughter? My dad ran him off with a shotgun.
Kidding! He poured us all champagne, and the next morning J and I rushed out to the city, all exuberant and ready to get official. We ended up in this Trading Post, where he bought me a $25 fake diamond ring and barely made it out the door before pulling it out of the little paper sack and asking me-in the exact spot where Little One and I are standing- to be his wife. It was New Years Day, I said yes, and we went around the corner and kissed in public by the ice sculptures.
I had lived in Arizona for a long time then, and I remember thinking about how extra magical it was to be right there at that moment, in the place I was born and was a child and grew up. How lovely it was to be in the place of my beginning, to embark on another beginning, a new life.
Now I look at that picture up there, and I find myself thinking the same thing. How Little One and I are standing there, at the place where this family began, where in a way Little One began. And to know, now, that though you can't see it, in that picture there is the beginning of another new life.
There is a magic in the bones of New Mexico. It's in the mesas and the sunsets, the spices and the turquoise. It shimmers in the aspen leaves and smells like chamisa and becomes your bones too. They don't call it the land of enchantment for nothing.

Hot Chilis are Better than Hot Fevers

Although I'm sorry that Little One and I weren't the best company for the NM partying, I'm glad we were there. And I'm glad that She felt a little better on the day my mom and I had designated for visiting old haunts in Santa Fe. Because, for one thing, the Plaza in summer looks like this:

and the air feels warm, fresh and familiar. But another thing I am really glad of, is that Puke-o-rama 2010 hadn't kicked off yet. Because, Peanuts, the best food in the WORLD, yep, the whole planet, is in New Mexico. And I don't care how hard you look, how well you cook, or what anyone says or advertises, it absolutely and utterly cannot be found any. where. else.
So, seeing as how I don't get to visit nearly enough, I stockpiled green chile like a Y2K fanatic getting ready for the Big One.
My mom knows all the best places. Where the buildings are out of the way and boring and barely even have a sign, and the food nearly causes you to faint from happiness. We hit as many of these joints as was humanly possible, and walked it off in between, wandering the plaza and breathing in the cool, perfect air on the mountain.
Little One was still not totally Herself. She may have even had a little fit, resulting in a time out on the sidewalk, resulting in a big fit, that was evidently SO awesome that a photographer came up and just had to start snapping closeups (without asking), saying, "ooh, the emotion is just so real!" But overall, She had a good time exploring and a GREAT time trying the food.
That's right. Beans and tortillas, meat and chilis, salsas and sopaipillas. She totally kept up with me and my mom, which is saying a lot. And I have to confess to a little bit of pride at how the girl does justice to Her New Mexican heritage. She may be barely past babyhood, but as far as Little One is concerned, the spicier the better! Can you tell we are enjoying ourselves here?












She got further spoiled when we went into a cheesy souvenier shop for batteries, and She fell instantly in love. Oooh, Nana, Nana pleaaase? Baby Nana! Baby! You know, my Nana fell for that same trick. I had a cheap plastic Indian doll just like it, obtained with the exact same puppy eyes in pretty much the same place. Those Nanas. Suckers.
Well, Hadeezhi here has become a favorite friend, and not only comforted Little One immensely the rest of the trip and on the plane, but has come along with us just about everywhere since we got back. These Nanas, I tell you. They know things.

Guesting

Hey guys,
Today I'm featured over at A Bushel and a Peck; a great place to read one mom's experiences about resources and ideas for kids who have common issues related to adoption and poverty.
She is sharing a comment I made with some advice for adoptive families who have children with food issues. Some of these parents were wondering why their kids seem to crave protein all the time. So believe it or not, I'm talking about meat. :) Go check it out and join the conversation!