Life is a Banquet

What Can You Do Now?

Telling Hat Jokes
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Tavy is 16 months old today, and since she's decided to get a head start on the terrible twos, I find myself having waves of nostalgia. When did she become a PERSON? A person gives new meaning to high-spirited no less?

In the last few weeks, a major change has occurred, and she has become really routine driven. Just tonight we had a major meltdown, and I think a huge part of it was that dinner was an hour and a half later than she is used to. As soon as she is done eating, she signs "all done" (don't be too impressed--she only has like 3 signs, and she's just picked up on the ones we use with the DOG) and immediately demands, "BAT! BAT! BAT!" Off to the bath, we trot. Child has almost had more baths in the last month than in the previous 15 months combined. She lets us know when she is done, then she needs to have her run-around-naked time. When she is done with that, it's time for lotion, kiss-kiss, and bed. She walks Daddy and Uncle Nanny through the routine when I teach.

In the morning, I can't dwaddle too long, because she needs her breakfast. She trots to the cupboard, fetches me her bowl, and points to the food shelf. She loves having predictable things to follow, and I like how this is forcing me to become more routine driven myself.

At Christmas, when she turned 15 months, she had a few words, but she's added Bath, Bye, Block (BOC!), and Box (BAX! Looks for present BAX!) and said a bunch of other stuff just once. She's become obsessed with looking at books and pointing to items, and then finding those items in the room. She has longer and longer concentration for the stories now. She uses this pointing skill to communicate with us, and also now drags us from room to room. She's enthralled with her power over us right now.

Last month, she got her first set of Mega Blocks, and she struggled for a few days to put two together, but now she can build whole towers! It's amazing to watch their little minds expand and new synapses form. I know that this happens to every toddler, but it's still incredible.

She's learning to help put away her toys, and little miss routine LOVES a clean space. If only Mama were better at complying . . .

It's funny to think of how much toddlers change, and how much we stay the same. In the same time that she's mastered spatial relationships, two-way communication, and advanced gymnastics, I've done . . . Well gee. What have I done new? I've added some new widgets to my sidebar on here. I've joined facebook. I've started keeping track of my food on www.thedailyplate.com. Nope, no where near as impressive.

So tell me, what new thing did YOU do this month? Or your child? Or your pet? I

I am a teacher

Perhaps I just have a really great group of students this summer or perhaps I'm finally settled enough with this mothering thing (will I ever be TRULY settled?) to allow the professional me to creep back in, but I'm really buying into my identity as a teacher right now. It's become something more than a waystation on the road to being an author and something way more than how I contribute financially while doing the mothering thing all day. I NEED this. I look forward to it. I search for ways to be better in the classroom. I'm having more and more fun at the lectern, and I'm more comfortable being guided by students. I think I've learned a lot about being a better teacher through parenting--you teach to the student you have, not the student you WISH you had.

I had professional disapointment this week, and I realized that I was most bummed about the loss of the chance to expand my skills. This was actually a really powerful realization for me. This MEANS something to me, and I'm very invested in it. Yes, I really wish I were writing more, but I no longer see this as a stopgap. This month's RWA had a fabulous article about the realities of publish (don't quit your day job!), and not only did I accept that I'll probably be teaching even if (When. When. Must believe) I get published. And I welcomed that realization.

I'm grateful for this article, and yes, for the disapointment. It was a crappy week, but sometimes crappy weeks are when we grow the most.

Back to our regularly scheduled fluff ASAP, I promise.

REVIEW: Special K Crackers

When you have food allergies, being in charge of food shopping and menu planning for "normal" people is a bit like painting a room blindfolded. While I am still gluten-free, we decided that in the absence of any obvious food allergies, Tavy would be an omnivore. Freak is hampered enough by being soy-allergic, salt-sensitive, and lactose intolerant. Uncle Nanny is very lactose intolerant. Thus, trying to find foods that she can share with at least SOME of us is the key. One of my big challenges recently has been trying to find healthy snacks that Freak, Uncle Nanny, and Tavy can share that a) don't cost an arm and a leg, b) have some nutritional value, and c)taste really good. With C) being a complete and utter crapshoot, I jumped at Mom Central's Tour for Special K Crackers. Free Samples??? SIGN US UP!

Somehow Tavy always knows that the Mom Central packages are for her, and she was so excited to see the boxes of crackers that I sent her toddling off into Daddy's office with both. I joined them a while later, "Did you see my latest sample?"

Munch.

Munch.

Rattling of empty box. "This?" Somehow Daddy and Tavy ate the whole box of multi-grain crackers. I made them save the Italian Herb ones for Uncle Nanny. Who also ate an ENTIRE box with Tavy. Luckily, the Special K crackers come in both the box size and in convienent single serving size pouches. Should you know, you not be the long lost cousin of Yogi Bear. Since the sample box came, we've bought several other boxes, both of the portion control variety and the single-serving feed bag for those training to Eat Like Michel Phelps.

Here's what we like:

I like that whole wheat flour is the first ingredigent and that lo, and behold, there is actual GRAMS OF FIBER. You have no idea how many "whole grain" snack products I pick up that have ZERO fiber. Not even the less than 1 gram fudge, but ZERO. Whole grain crackers should have fiber. I wish that they had a few nutrients other than a smidge of iron, but I've had such an impossible time finding crackers with the 2 grams of fiber per serving even in the health food aisle that I'll settle for them actually having fiber. I'm picking my battles  Oh, and having fiber AND the men folk eating them. Nothing irritates me more than seeing a 3/4 full box of crackers that I can't eat and that no one else WILL. Ugh. ( And sure, I'd like them to not have high fructose corn syrup, but my mantra these days is "pick your battles." Fiber = good.)

I like the convienent snack packs for dropping the diaper bag. I like how much neater they are for Tavy than goldfish, and I like that they have more fiber and nutrition than even the whole grain gold fish, with the added bonus that Uncle Nanny can share them with Tavy. I like that they are reasonably priced. I'm really tired of getting expensive just-for-toddler food that she won't eat.

Freak likes that they taste like "salty animal crackers." And he means that as a compliment--he likes the combination of sweet and salty. He eats them with peanut butter or hummus which probably defeats the whole "diet" aspect of the cracker, but it's still far, far better than his usual tortilla chips. When he's not in feedbag mode, he likes the little packets as a method of portion control.

Uncle Nanny loves that the Italian Herb flavor does NOT have cheese. So many flavored products have cheese in them. (Note that they do contain whey, so these aren't for someone who can't have ANY dairy, but they are a good choice for those to sensitive to cheese or large quanities of dairy.) He claims that they have "excitoflavens" which another way of saying that they are addictive. He likes sharing them with Tavy becaue she doesn't make mess.

While eating that is.  She did, however, dump a box on Uncle Nanny's bed and proceed to do a can-can dance until they were all nicely ground into to his comforter. Uncle Nanny is now also a big fan of the single serving size for the toddler.

Both Uncle Nanny and Freak like having something easy to grab for Tavy for a quick snack and to add to their lunches without any hassle. So much of what we cook here is from scratch, and I have to make all my own baked goods and snacks anyway, so we don't really buy a lot of convience food products. They really appreciate when it is in the house.  However, it just doesn't STAY in the house.

Thanks Mom Central!

Share My Inauguration with Tavy

I wrote this before Mom Central selected me for the amazing Share My Inauguration Blog Tour. Share My Inauguration follows the DC-24, 24 students selected from inner city Chicago to attend the Inauguration. These Middle School students are blogging about and sharing videos from their experiences. They are far more articulate and in touch with the historical significance of the day than I could ever hope to be. Please visit the site and share your inauguration experiences with this incredible group of students. Thank you to Mom Central for raising awareness of this unique take on the Inauguration!

Dear Tavy,

I like to think that you woke me up at 7:30 this morning because you had a premonition of the day's importance and wanted to make sure that I'd muddle through the mess of wires and rabbit ears and pull in the NBC signal before breakfast. You ate blueberries and oatmeal while VIP after Even-more VIP was introduced, and I had so many goosebumps that I forget what I had for breakfast. You got into the clapping for a while--they'd do an introduction, everyone would clap, and you would too. You spent the rest of the morning pushing Baby Baby, Billie Baby, and Pixie around in the stroller while I sat glued to the TV. I was such a bad mama that you managed to decorate yourself with a blue pen, strew paper all over the room, and reorganize the DVD's. I think perhaps this was your version of the victory dance? Or perhaps you were trying to make a sign for the parade and needed inspiring music?

Right when President Obama started talking about spreading democracy and peace, you decided that peace begins at home. Share tasty for everyone! So we nursed for the rest of the speech, and it was among the most serene and peaceful moments of my life. I had been feeling a little lonely, watching history all by myself (with no Clanna to bug on the phone with my pithy observations). However, you made me feel like we really WERE sharing the moment.

Years from now, I am sure you will cringe when I tell you that you nursed through one of the most important speeches in American History, so I want to tell you now that looking from your face to the millions of the people crowding the Mall in D.C. and back to you, I not only witnessed history but I watched it unfurl as I could see the future looping back to us. If I blink, you'll be too active for the next inauguration and too uninterested for the one after that, but if I squint, I see you standing there BEING A PART of the history that was made today.

President Obama said, "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met." Many of the programs, initiatives, and orders of President Obama will truly pay off when you are older. You will BE the Obama generation. When I look at him, I see hope and purpose. When, I look at you, I see the realization of that hope--a generation born to universal health coverage, better schools, community college for all, cleaner energy, and diplomacy. The service generation. Generation O: Others. 

President Obama gave all of us the charge for creating and guiding the future of your generation. "Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

One of my most fervent hopes is that in your lifetime you will be able to say not only that you witnessed the first African American President, but also the first woman, the first Hispanic, the first openly gay, until "first" becomes meaningless. When you learn about this day, much will be made of that first, of the realization of the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King and millions of others, of the fact that today we finally laid to rest one the ugliest parts of American History and gave new life to the American dream.

That's what I want you to hold fast to. You witnessed the moment when hope won. You witnessed a worldwide rejoicing at the rebirth the American Dream, not just for who President Obama is, but for what he's done. Yes, you can take the higher road, be the better person, do the right thing, and dare to dream big. While you were stacking blocks, hope carried the day.

Thank you so much for sharing the day with me.

Love,

Mama 

P.S. I hope that someday we can watch the ceremony again, and I can tell you the story of how we didn't shower, you ran around like crazy child, and we ate bad snacks all in the name of Hope. I hope that you will get to hear the wonderful poem that was read and hear the beautiful music with older ears while I look at you and remember.

How I Get It Done

Welcome to a lovely interactive, entertaining, meme-free game of "How I Get it Done." I'll share how I get some things done, and you'll share how you get things done. Feel free to use it on your blog and leave me a comment or just tell me how you get it done in your comment here!

Shower: I wait until morning snack time, then I move the high chair into the bathroom, and provide a tempting, messy snack like blueberries or oatmeal or hummus. I can usually get a decent 10-15 minute shower this way.

Dinner: I make dinner one of three ways 1) baby on the loose, 2) Uncle Nanny, and 3) Baby on my back. Baby on my back is probably my favorite, when she's happy and not pulling my hair. This way she's out of the way, but I don't feel like I'm ignoring her. Baby on the loose is fine for short cooking stints, but it results in all the tupperware all over the floor. She's happier when she has multiple rooms to roam through, but this makes cooking more tricky. Uncle Nanny is a good adjunct to the baby on the loose option; however, we much prefer to use Uncle Nanny for dishes.

Laundry: Laundry used to be so simple: Load in the morning with her in the crib, load at night after she went to bed. Lately, laundry has been more problematic b/c she doesn't like playing in her crib, and we're trying to only associate it with sleep, and her wandering around the laundry room makes it hard to actually DO laundry. After she goes to sleep, I'm usually scrambling to get grading done.

Cleaning the bathroom: The bathroom is easily the cleanest room in the house right now. She gets popped into the tub, and after many "sit down in the tub" reminders, I scrub what I can while watching her, put away towels, sweep the floor. I do different tasks each night, but overall it stays pretty good. If ONLY I had a similar way to keep her occupied for kitchen cleaning.

Picking up: I'm working really hard on getting Tavy to help pick up every day. Now, if only Daddy would follow suit . . . . .

Grading: Grading is the new knitting. It travels around with me, and I do a few here and there in the car while Freak drives, or sitting parked while Tavy snoozes in the car seat. I do most of my grading on Freak's lunch, on the rare 30 minute nap, and at night. I do most of my lesson planning once she's asleep.

Shopping: I usually shop with her on my back. Happy baby, easy to navigate. She doesn't tolerate a shopping cart all that well, although she will for Daddy. I try to always have a list.

Budgeting: Freak and I have a new system where we put a certain amount of $$ in a spending-only checking account to cover groceries, gas, and other incidentals. Incidentally, we will be eating gruel the rest of this month. We both get paid once a month, so it's been tricky coming up with a system that works for us. Freak handles the actual bills with paytrust.

Reading: I frequently get asked how I read so much. I read while nursing the giant toddler (who apparently hasn't heard of "self weaning"). I get a good reading session while getting her to sleep for her nap and at night, and I can't fall asleep without reading. I also read rather fast.

Internet time: Sadly, I have absolutely no problem getting to the computer--I squeeze this in when she is happy playing, and I should really be cleaning. I often have trouble doing more than surfing though, as it's hard to reply to student emails and draft blogs in 1-2 minute bursts.

Blogging: Right now, Daddy has Tavy. I often blog as the last thing before I go to bed, which is why it's so sporadic.

Writing: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

What I don't get done:
Phone Calls
Post Office
Packaging Items
Cleaning Floors
Baking my GF Bread
Exercise
Laundry (some days)
Cleaning my own room
Making the beds
Networking
WRITING

Now, your turn: Tell me how you get stuff done, and what you don't get done, but wish you could. Are you trying to turn over any new leaves in 2009?

Review: Cozi Family Organizer

I am a calendar slut. Each March, I start dreaming up ways to cheat on the happily-ever-after I married on January 1st. By Summer, I'm usually outright cheating with a new leather-clad hunk of organization bliss who whispers promises of never forgetting things again. But by Fall, my rebound relationship has failed, and I'm again on the market for a new organization system. I started my calendar-kitten ways back in high school, which means that I've spent 15 years flitting from system to system, never staying around long enough to buy the refill pack or upgrade. I've tried:

• Academic Planners of various types, including those with funny sayings and those with helpful hints
• Dayplanner 
• Outlook
• Dell Axim (like a palm) 
• Pocket Calendars 
• Yahoo Calendars
• Franklin Covey 
• Specialty Organizational Planners
• Google Calendar 

I think this makes me either the perfect calendar tester, if not the perfect user. When Mom Central sent the announcement for the Cozi blog tour for their online family organizer, I was already having a tiff with both Google Calendar and my 2009 paper organizer, so I jumped at the chance to flirt with something new.

The premise behind Cozi is "Family Life. Simplified." They aim to allow you a single place to manage multiple schedules, shopping lists, to-do lists, keep a family journal, and send reminders and emails to family members. I've been using Cozi for around two weeks now. So far, I like it better than Google Calendar, which made the Google & Open Source loving Freak scoff. But then, in the last few days, I had him try it. He really likes the mobile feature. He probably won't ever use the web version, because lately he lives more and more on his cell phone as Tavy and life keep him away from his desktop. But, he really likes the idea of being able to check a shopping list that I uploaded from home at the same time that he sees what Tavy and I are up to and verifies my teaching schedule.

I really like that I don't have to click 9 zillion things to add an appointment. I just type: 1/21 12:00 pm Story Time, and it translates and adds it to the calendar. Adding items to the shopping list is equally easy. You can have multiple lists--to-do, work to-do, Big Box Shopping, Whole Paycheck Shopping, etc. I like that it has zero learning curve. I like the *idea* of google calendar, but I hate searching for the perfect widgets to make it do just what I want.

And while Cozi doesn't do everything I'd like, it far outshines Google and Yahoo by adding the to-do list to the same program as the calendar. Yahoo has a task list, but adding each task is very cumbersome. Google has a number of gadgets that you can download, none of which work very well in my experience. I really liked how Outlook had tasks and to-do lists as part of an integrated system, but since Yahoo is still my primary email client these days, I no longer use it as it's just one more thing to open and manage. My current paper planner has to-do lists, but they follow each week and it's difficult to have longer range goals (procrastination projects). I like that with Cozi, you simply click the list, type to add items. So much easier than filing out a form, and it allows me to empty my mind in a manner that makes me more likely to remember even the obscure stuff that needs to be on the list.

I really like the ability to send Freak emails directly from Cozi--eliminating the need to open Yahoo to send him a reminder email. I like that I can have a schedule for each of us. I like this feature in Google Calendars as well, however Cozi's version is much more user friendly. I really, really how little clicking, scrolling, and loading Cozi requires. However, all this usability comes at a price, and that price is fewer options and ways to customize. To me, this is a pretty fair tradeoff as I don't really need one more application to try to make pretty, and I operate better when I don't have to deal with an overload of choices. (This why I really prefer Facebook to Myspace. If you are also feeling the facebook love, you may also enjoy Cozi over other calendar applications).

I'm a pretty visual person and I like being able to check items off my lists--on Cozi you simply delete them. I'd really like to see a tally of everything I do--a tally, checkmark, or line through. Also, I'd like the option of viewing my calendar and my lists side by side. However, the primary idea behind the lists is for shopping, so my off-label use of the lists is probably a "misappropriation of the application." Freak informs me that this means that the user ends up wanting features that the application was not designed to do. Fine, programmer boy, take the side of the designers.

I suppose this is kind of like expecting husbands to share my love of knitting, truffles, and pink pajamas--beyond what they are designed to do. However, a girl can dream. One of my other wishes for Cozi is the ability to sync up with meetup.com. Right now you can sync Cozi with Outlook which is beyond awesome for those who use Outlook at work. Had I had this option when I worked a 9-5, I think I would be still using my Dell Axim. However, now that I wear the mom jeans, most of my calendar comes from my meetups and playgroups. Meetup.com lets you export to google, outlook, yahoo and a few others, but it would be really nice to see Cozi on that list. Perhaps they can think about adding this in future features.

Cozi is free to use which is another plus. Also, they have additional features for displaying your "my pictures" folder as a screen saver, and for having a family journal. The family journal is kind of a private facebook w/ the ability to add pictures to quick little entries. I like this idea, but I haven't had a chance to use it much. I think Cozi will attract a variety of members, including those with no interest in blogging/facebook, so this is a nice feature to make it one-stop shopping for members.

In sum, I like Cozi, and we've decided to go steady for now. In the coming weeks, I'm hoping this advances to living together on a trial basis, and perhaps we'll be able to make a deeper, more permanent connection. I truly hope so because being a flighty calendar user was okay when I could change at a whim and drop the $$ at OfficeBox, but I just don't have the time or the cash for Calendar Dating right now. Props to Mom Central for playing matchmaker :)

Tell me, are you loyal to your Calendar? What do you use? What do you like/dislike?

Bald No More

Just Back from the Salon
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

This is what happens when bored Uncle Nanny and a jar of hair goo meet a willing toddler. Oh and I may have had something to do with it. She really *does* have more fuzz lately, but this is the toddler equivalent of the comb-over.

She's changing so much lately, and not just hair. She's grasping language better. She likes to point to all the similar items in the room. We point to a baby in the book, and then she finds all the things with babies on them in the room. The same thing with feet. She doesn't have a lot of new words yet (shouting for baby baby every few seconds tends to limit one's vocabulary). However, she did have her first real "conversation" with another 15 month old baby at a playdate yesterday.

S: What Dat? (Pointing at doll)
T: BABY! BABY! BABY! (Snatches doll up)
S: WOW!
T: BABY BABY! YUM YUM! (Shoves biscuit at doll)
S: WOW!

It's just amazing to think about LAST January, when I had just started back to teaching, and how hard it was, and how tiny she was, and how really, she didn't DO much of anything.

Now she can:
Walk side to side. And backward. On her tippy toes. And on her knees. Twirl. Dance. Climb. Carry up to 5-8 lbs across the living room. It's a bit like living with an Iron Man training to be on Dancing with the Stars.

She's very interested in stories now, and loves to point to items in a book. She remembers that certain books have certain stories--she makes the giggle-giggle-quack noise before I open "Click, Clack, Moo."

We've also put her to work. She can fetch a variety of items. Swiffer the floor. Wipe down surfaces (repeatedly. Shine would be a better word). She can put away jars of baby food, her blocks, and her books. She unpack anything else you wish. Or not.

Last January, I returned to teaching, and she only ate Mama Milk directly from the tap. Tonight, I returned from teaching, and she was already asleep, no need for Mama Milk, having eated: Pad Thai, Applesauce, Ham, Animal Crackers, Green Beans, water, and rice milk. And it was a slow food day as she was "off her grub" today.

Stay bald. Stay little. Please.

Review: Stolen Fury (& Good Reads & Paperback Swap)

Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This debut is fabulously original, and I can't wait to read the rest in the series. The treasure hunt kept me intrigued, but the romantic tension kept me up late! Rafe is one of the most unique heroes I have read in a very long time, and I won't soon forget him! I loved the intense attraction between Rafe and Lisa and really enjoyed their banter. If you've been wishing for more lighter Romantic Suspense (no serial killers here!) with plenty of action and steamy heat, then you'll find a treasure here. Fans of Susan Andersen, Christie Ridgeway, Rachel Gibson, Patti Berg, Lori Foster, and Christina Dodd's Contemporaries will want to welcome this addition to their must-read lists!

View all my reviews.

If you buy Elisabeth's book, please be sure to give her an Amazon review, Good Reads review, or other ranking! Read this insightful article on the realities of publishing for more on why debut authors need ALL our help.

I pasted this review in from Good Reads, and after months and months of dickering with it, I finally explored their features, and I have to say, I'm really impressed with how easy it is to add books, reviews, ratings, friends, and compare book shelves. Also, I'm surprised by how many authors are on Good Reads. The fan girl in me is all a twitter at the idea of having them as my friends (Strangely, MySpace doesn't excite me at all--but given the chance to see what my idols are reading makes all weak knees).

Because I am now a die-hard Paperback Swap fan, I had wanted to use only them for ratings and reviews and to keep track of my TBR pile. However, they aren't as easy to use as Good Reads, and Good Reads reaches a wider audience. But, Good Reads is one of several competing social networking for reader forums right now, and it's hard to predict which will dominate. I like Good Reads platform the best out of those that I've seen.

If you are still waiting to try Paperback Swap, wait no longer! I love all the new authors I've discovered with Paperback Swap. For me it's not about saving money since I rarely buy new, but the chance to connect with other readers and to take a chance on new works has been really wonderful. At first I felt guilty that I wasn't adding to author's royalties; however, after over 9 months of swapping, I've actually bought MORE new than ever before as I find myself hooked on new series and new (to me) authors. Case in point, I discovered Julia Spencer-Fleming in a random box of books trade, roared through her backlist, and bought the most recent two. If you join Paperback Swap, please look me up. If you are local, I'm happy to do postage-less trading.

Do you keep track of the books you read? Where? Are there other books-I've-read sites I should know about?

Future Member of the Babysitter's Club

Double or nothing
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

It's a baby baby kind of day . . .

When Tavy wakes up, she needs BABY BABY BABY before Mama rubs the sleep from her eyes. Mama stumbles over one baby, but since a certain Santa (who should be fed sour eggnog) got her a NEW baby, Tavy needs BOTH before she can feel right with the world. Mama needs coffee. Baby Baby and Billie Baby are hungry! Too hungry to wait while Mama slugs back the brew. Each baby needs a bite before Tavy can allow herself to eat. All three will need outfit changes. Mama tries to cut down the DOLL laundry by lining up the babies and their bowls to watch Tavy and her bowl, but she will not be deterred! Baby Baby Yum Yum! Several times a day, each baby needs to be offered a sippy cup before Tavy can take a drink.

In the tub, Mama becomes a magician as Baby Ugly appears to take the place of Baby Baby and Billie Baby who have strangely disappeared right as the water starts running. Baby Ugly is apparently being very naughty this morning and needs to be lectured, "Baby, Baby, SIT SIT SIT SIT BATH SIT SIT BATH Baby, Baby" before being summarily dunked under the water. When she gets very naughty, she is pitched over the side, which requires Tavy to stand, but she just points at Baby Ugly. Not her fault. Bad Baby. "SIT SIT SIT BATH!"

Baby Ugly needs to have her legs removed to drain the water she drank, so Baby Baby and Billie Baby return for towel and lotion time. Each Baby needs to have lotion smeared on her head. Tavy rubs her own belly to show what happens next and then rubs each baby's belly. Everyone needs a new diaper. Unfortunately, quickly, everyone needs a REPLACEMENT, but Tavy's ready to remove her own diaper and then bring Mama the dolls for changing.

Uh oh! Nap time! Daddy's chair is empty, but this doesn't stop Tavy from recreating the night time routine: Lotion, Diaper, Kiss Kiss at Dada's chair, nursing, rocking chair, night night. Baby Baby gets whisked from station to station with all the love and tenderness of a Big Mac. Tavy sets the white noise machine as she efficiently dumps her babies on the bed. Baby Baby gets thwacked into the rocking chair and rocked hard until Tavy climbs up with a book.

Soon, Mama has a lap full of three babies and a story book. Baby Baby needs to point to each object in the book while the rest of the group clap. Later, Baby Baby will certify her genius status when she stacks blocks (much clapping). Once Mama leaves, Tavy takes over story time again, and everyone gets a book. And a skillet. It's books for lunch.

Uh oh! Time to go upstairs! Two babies! One Tavy! And Tavy wants to do the stairs! Meltdown ensues before a compromise is reached: Mama will carry Billie Baby, but Baby Baby gets tucked under Tavy's neck as she climbs up. Thump. Thump. Thump. Down the stairs is so much easier because the babies just slide down first.

Now, it's REALLY night night time. But before Tavy can settle into nurse, she has to tuck Baby Baby into her armpit so that Baby Baby can have a little nursing to sleep too. Billie Baby, Pixie, Violet, Susan, and Polly are already asleep.

When people ask Mama when she's planning on trying for a second, she says she already has SEVEN.

How to tell if Tavy likes you:

You better not be calling the understudy
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

1) She lets you talk on the phone.
2) She REALLY likes you if she steals YOUR phone, then offers it back to you.
3) She offers you bites of what she's eating.
4) She REALLY likes you when she offers you what's in her mouth.
5) She REALLY REALLY likes you when she offers to share her mama treat with you.
6) She checks to see if you have ta-ta's by lifting up your shirt.
7) She REALLY likes you when she brings you a pillow and assumes the position for nursing. Regardless of your ability or gender.
8) She brings you Baby Baby.
9) She wants you to hold Baby Baby while she goes and plays.
10) She REALLY likes you when she trusts you to find Baby Baby for her.
11) She wants to carry items of yours around the house.
12) She REALLY likes you when she wants to wear your clothing.
13) She REALLY REALLY likes you when she steals your underwear and wears them around the house. On her head.
14) She wants to give you "kiss" bye. (her version involves a wide open mouth and exhaling. She's getting it).
15) She REALLY likes you when she doesn't want you to leave the room. Ever. At all.
16) She REALLY REALLY likes you when she can yell your name.
17) She's happy to see you and says "Hey!"
18) She REALLY REALLY REALLY likes you when she's happy to see you in the middle of the night.
19) She wants YOU to play with her toys. While she watches.
20) She gives you hugs. Lots of hugs.

Thank you Daddy and Uncle Nanny for making this weekend of class prep manageable! She REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY loves you!