A Couple of Items

1. I am starting to realize that, as a mom, I really don't care that much about germs. Probably a good thing since Lily is gross. This thought struck me when we were at the zoo the other day and I realized I hadn't brought any teething toys for Josie to busy herself with during our outing. So I dug real deep in the diaper bag and found a doll that Lily got from a McDonald's Happy Meal, oh, about a year ago. Said doll spent all summer alternately submerged in Lily's water table out back or in Dirk's water bowl, which, since I never was able to keep Dirk from drinking out of the water table, are basically the same thing. Then I watched Josie suck on this doll's hair as we strolled around the zoo. Every once in a while I would shudder but the idea of Josie's reaction to me taking the doll away kept me from taking any action. Maybe Lily's gross because I'm gross? Further introspection is needed...

2. Tim continues to say crazy stuff as he's falling asleep. Last night he said, "If I were going to start a street gang, I'd call us the leopards."

"Ok hon. Go to sleep."

"Not the jaguars."

I'm so glad we got that straight.

3. Lily hasn't slept through the night for the last 6 months. No exaggeration. Every night before she goes to sleep she talks and laughs hysterically to herself for anywhere from 1-3 hours, then will wake up in the middle of the night and do it some more.

I have tried:

Taking away all of her stuffed animals in her crib. All she has is blankets.

Taking her on really long walks before bed.

Threats (mostly idle).

Benadryl.

Reading a ridiculous amount of books before bedtime.

Putting her to bed earlier.

Putting her to bed later.

I'm convinced it's kind of a hopeless case.

4. I started taking guitar lessons. That's one reason why the blogging has been so pitiful recently. It's annoying for me to be such a beginner and have to play "baby songs" so I've been trying to practice diligently and therefore move on to more interesting fare. The other day I went to the guitar store to get a capo. I thought it would be a pretty quick trip and I'd just bring the girls and be in and out. I gave Lily strict instructions before going in: "You may LOOK at things inside the store but you MAY NOT TOUCH". Of course she's two years old so all she heard was "LOOK and TOUCH". Which she did. Then I had to stop her, which was tricky because I was also lugging the car seat with Josie, who was giving loud stacatto yells for no apparent reason. Meanwhile I'm asking the guitar store guy where I can find a capo? And what kind do I need? Beginner over here! And everyone that works in the store is looking at me like I'm crazy. And then I realize that I am wearing a turtleneck. Ohmygosh did I really just bring my two kids to the guitar store in my turtleneck? Yes. Yes I did.

5. I will leave you with this old post that I read today while looking through our archive. Cheers and Happy New Year!