Love in Bloom

J and I celebrated his return to DC by taking Little One to one of our favorite events- the Cherry Blossom festival. Every year right about when everyone in DC is on the verge of clinical depression, Spring pops up- fashionably late to the party and impeccably dressed in Japanese couture- and saves the day. There is something about ten bazillion lacy pink flowers that puts even DC locals into a good mood. Which I can tell you from my experience driving on the beltway, is not easy to do. I've been enthralled with this mass of frilly trees since the first year J and I moved here from Arizona. (Flowers on trees? Who knew!) Every year as my relatives stick their thumbs in their ears and say, "na na na boo boo, it's eighty two degrees here!" while I scrape frost off the windshield, I start thinking maybe we were too hasty in divorcing the Southwest. Couldn't we have tried counseling?! But then DC kicks up the romance, sending all these fabulous flowers day after day, and I remember why we eloped with the East. I do love this city. And since this is Little One's first spring, it really turned on the charm to win Her over. Here are some pictures of DC flirting with us. You can see that Little One is quite besotted.

Back Together!

More coming soon...

Sing it, Annie.

Little One and I are singin' today. "Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow! You're only a daaay away!" We're doing it with proper theatrics, too, jazz hands and everything. Tomorrow is a big day. So if you don't hear from Little One and I for a bit, it is because we will be unable reach the computer keys. We will be happily glommed on to J, squeezing every bit of J-ness out of him possible, and competeing with the doggies for who can slobber him up the most. I know what you're thinking. That J is a lucky, lucky man. You are right! Or you will be, tomorrow.

Little One is SO ready.

What's cookin'

We are in the home stretch to making it to the big 6 mo. That means many things, as I will garrulously discuss in Her birthday post, I'm sure. But one of the exciting things that will happen when Little One reaches this turning point is the introduction of solid foods!
Little One has been intently watching every spoonful going into any mouth with an expression of pining and angst I thought She was supposed to save for preteen-hood. She is SO ready. She will have to wait awhile yet, thanks to the demon-allergy genes, but I want to be prepared when the time comes. So I have been going crazy with the babyfood maker my in-laws gave me for the holidays (Little One thanks you). Our freezer is LOADED. I mean how many kids get their own stash of rutabega? Mmm. Thanks to Her other grandma, She's also ready to help out. Time to get cookin!

Making a Splash

Please imagine trying to stuff a hot dog into a shot glass. This feat approximates what bathtime has become for Little One and I. So tonight, She graduated from the sink to the tub. Well, the baby tub. How did it go? Now imagine a puppy let out of it's cage into a big, open field. Woo hoo!!! Little One stretched out and said..

"where's the edge?...*Stttrreeeeeetccchh*....must be here somewhere.......maybe if I kick I'll find it....*splash*....WHAT?!...What was that?!.....*splash*....Ho.lee.cow. I think I did that!...*splash splash splash*....I did! I did it! Look!! I can do it again! *spashityshplishsploshsplash*...and again! .....WOOOH HOOOOO!!!"

It took Little One not long at all to find that all four limbs can create the maddening delight of disrupted surface tension. And let me tell you, the girl got a workout. And that wasn't all. In the vast Ocean of Tub Little One found a friend. His name is Ducky, and he comically dances around, cleverly evading capture. But if you do get him, and push him under the water, why, the fellow will pop right back up again! Hilarious! The little trickster!
I wish I had pictures to share of Little One and Ducky exploring the crashing waves of Tub together. But seeing as I'm on my own here, I figured that holding up a slippery, flailing child in a vat of potentially hazardous liquid and wielding a camera might not get me nominated for Mother of the Year. But it was some much needed fun. Fun enough to distract Little One from Her recent woes, and even fun enough to distract me from the fact that She was having all the Tub-fun because She is so quickly making Her way from ripple to tsunami.

Either way, it Bites.

Here is where Little One's tummy hurts.
And here is where Her mouth hurts. And here She is, going after the ice cube wrapped in that tea towel like the doggies with a chicken-flavored rawhide. And here She is, looking sweet and adorable, as She tried to be stoic. Just before resuming the incessant whimpering. For the last couple days Little One has been making it subtly, yet CONSTANTLY known, that She is not feeling quite right.Are there teeth preparing to make their grand entrance? Are the hives from the pollen in the almost-spring-like air? Or from some nefarious insect that managed to sneak through my mama-radar? Which one is causing the Whimpering? Both? At this point, I dunno. But I can tell you (and Little One agrees) that whether we're talking teeth or mosquitoes, this bites.

P-retty H-ard D-ecision

I can admit it. I've got problems. One of which is that I have a serious case of indecisiveness. Or maybe I don't. Or maybe I do. When faced with a big decision I tend to perseverate and freak out and call everyone to take an opinion poll, and make lists of pros and cons, and then pace around and fret. You're thinking, "do people really fret anymore?" Yes. I do. I'm pretty spectacular at it, if I do say so myself. So if I've been quiet around here, it's because all my meager mental energies leftover from entertaining Little One have been expended in this manner.
My big decision has to do with whether or not to go back to school, and whether to go full time if I do go. As many of you know, I'm slated to finally begin working on my doctorate this coming fall. Which would be hard work, stressful, expensive, and a logistical mess. Especially considering the fact that Little One and I are really enjoying my current job title. But, it is a great opportunity, it's something I love, and I want to be able to tell Little One one day to educate Herself and to chase Her dreams without being a hypocrite. I've been having trouble sorting out whether I'd most regret not having at least tried to finish school, or most regret the time I'd miss with Little One. J, darn him, is just no help at all since he has to go and be all supportive all the time. Sheesh.
Well all the fretting has helped me come to what I think is a pretty good compromise, for now. Or maybe not. Or maybe so. Well, good enough to free up a few brain cells for other activities for now, and so pictures and updates of my current, teensy boss will be forthcoming. If you'd like to add to the running opinion poll, feel free to visit the Peanut Gallery down there. And if not, at least you'll know next time I don't post for a while that I'm not ignoring you, just probably having to choose between two flavors of ice cream or something.

Now THIS:
is a sweet, sweet baby. That I'm sure of.

Baby Doll

Bitty Romance

Get ready for this, peanuts. Little One has a boyfriend! They met in utero, which is like a really truly blind date, because of course they couldn't actually see each other. But they had their real first date just a few months later. He was long, dark, and handsome. She was outgoing and laughed at his jokes. They shared a lovely afternoon together. He was like, "girl, nice legs!" And She was all, "you flatterer! All riiight, you can hold my hand. Tee hee."
They really hit it off. They've been out a few times now. Here are some pics from a recent date. We overheard them flirting. They are quite the item. And the PDA, I mean really. Just look!


Little One: "O, you are so cute."O: "Little One, you are cute. I love your stunning belly button!"Little One: "And I love your luscious cheeks!"O: "Why thank you! I shall kiss your hand like a gallant Frenchman!" Little One: "Oh you charmer!"Little One: "All riiiight, you can hold my hand again. Tee hee."

Bibbity bobbity boo-hoo

Remember that part in Cinderella where the clock strikes 12 and suddenly her ballgown and white horses and carriage turn back into rags and mice and a pumpkin? Today that is me. My fairy godmother (AKA my mom) disappeared today, and sadly prince charming is not due back at the castle for awhile yet. *sigh*. Having my mom here totally was like being a princess at a ball....a catered ball, with good conversations and free child care. So before I get back to washing diapers and cleaning floors, I would rather focus on the past! Here are some pics of my charmed life while Little One's Gramma was here and breakfast magically made itself every morning. My little glass slipper and I miss her already!

Mount Vernon


Playing at the Park



St. Patricks Day Parade



Botanical Gardens


Sightseeing




Fun in the Snow


Gramma Snuggles!