School House

Mia now sits on her chair that she's not supposed to sit on in her room. It's an old fashioned school house seat; the kind that were nailed into the floor of one room school houses. It will flip forward if too much weight is placed on the seat because it isn't actually nailed to our floor! Try explaining that to an 18 month old. I guess she has awhile to go before it actually does flip. She pulls herself up onto the chair and then begs for me to hand her books. She's a little student in the making.

She's also way into shoes. All kinds thank you very much. She is totally profecient in getting around in them too. Thank God I don't wear heels.

The Girls

This is a typical afternoon when Mia gets to watch her video. Her very favorite poodle will sit with her and patiently allow Mia to finger her curly fur. Imagine your very best friend being an animal...this is the creature that truly gets her. They both eat off of the floor, could care less about using a toilet, make noises inappropriately, play hard, sleep hard, and love hard. It's like they are soul mates. I totally get it.

Redefining Dress Pants

Please don't snap me. I will unsnap. Anytime. Anywhere. This isn't a threat. It's a promise.

Love,
Mia

Ditch Day

Today couldn't have been any better. What is my perfect day you ask? 6:00 a.m. yoga class (Just for the record...I thought I was going to be given a door prize upon entering the studio at such an early hour. I was hoping my prize would be the cute black zippy I covet every time I'm in signing in for class. Alas, I wasn't given any prize. In fact, the class was packed with other perfect day seekers. One man was even so contemplative that he brought his own meditation book and was reading it on the mat next to me. I just hoped I didn't breathe on him because I had yet to brush my teeth.) Class was excellent and set the tone for a great day. V, Mia, and I went to our favorite hang out...need you ask...the Littleton Historical Museum. We checked on our babies and were told that baby pigs should be arriving at the end of the month! I almost did a back flip in excitement. I'm so easily pleased. We wandered around all by ourselves, no one else was there. We watched the animals being fed their breakfast and chatted with the farmer. I asked him about the root cellar. I wanted to know if root cellars ever housed families during the 1860s in this area. He looked at me quizzically. Sir, I wanted to say, Laura Ingalls? On the Banks of Plum Creek? Don't you remember when the family had to live in a dugout house until their REAL house was complete? Don't you remember how they kept cool, like little prairie dogs in their house in the side of a hill? They were in Minnesota but I thought maybe pioneers in this area might have done the same thing.He told me never read the book. I was kind of deflated and then had to remind myself that I am indeed NOT a pioneer and neither is this poor man working the fields today. He's just an old retiree with a long beard and a passion for the land. A volunteer. Anyway, he was quite helpful with the rest of our conversation and questions so I forgave him for not reading my most favorite book of the series. We chased the house cat, talked to each and every baby sheep and goat, and mooed at the cows. Mia did all of the above to be exact. V and I ran after her trying to keep her on the outside of the post fences. She kept signing "more" to me every time we tried to walk away from the sheep. They are indeed some of her closest confidantes these days.

After the museum we got coffees at a cute cafe and talked about how much fun we were having. I was reminded of my parents, and how much fun they always had, no matter what they were doing. I told V that I think we are like them in a lot of ways. He and I have the same vision of a happy life. A full one. A good one. A truthful one.

Ditch days are indeed good for the soul.

Paparazzi

I STILL sneak into Mia's room every night to check on her. It's either V or me. It's the same story each night. Either I turn off my light if V is working or we turn off the light if he's home. Just as we're starting to snuggle in we'll realize that we haven't gone in for one last peek. I have that moment where I think, "Should I? Do I need to?" The urge to go always wins and before I know it I'm standing over her crib with one hand on her little back to make sure it's moving up and down. I don't have to. I don't need to. I want to. That's what delights me every single night. I want to. The sight of her, clutching her beloved stuffed animals, is something I had to photograph. It felt kind of wrong to be taking a photo in her dark room, the flash blaring above her sleeping head. I had to do it though. When I'm 90 and rocking on some chair, I want the visual of her holding her lovies tight as she sleeps.

A week update

Mia continues to amaze and delight. She is gaining fluency in sign language which makes the many many signs we've given her feel worth it. She would be a competent farmer at this point because most of her vocabulary is animals (pig, dog, cat, mouse, butterfly, rabbit, etc.) She often signs the animals as we see them in books or outside. She can sign all done, more, please, and thank you now too. Last night I was eating a cracker while she was in the tub and she asked me for some. I said, "Sign please". She did so obediently and I felt total pride swell in my heart. I gave it to her, expecting the show to be over. She then signed thank you with no prompting from me. I almost fell over because I had no idea she even understood the concept of please and thank you. I think that's when children really amaze; when they can take what you've taught them and apply it independently.

Her talents don't just end with signing. Oh no. Her vocabulary is also growing. New words everyday. For awhile it was an obsession with words ending in K (sock, work, duck, etc.) She says "baby" now and watching one baby call out "baby" to another baby is enough to make me smile for a week. She also says, "shhhh" now when we walk by Bijou and she's sleeping. What kills me though is the gesture for "shhhh" (finger across the lips) has been interpreted by Mia as finger pointing to the tip of the nose.

I've been daydreaming about my tea at the Brown last week. I have mentioned several times to V that I'm desperate for the little silver teapots they use. I so want one and believe deep in my heart that constant mentioning is sure to bring a new reality to my kitchen one day soon. We shall see. Melanie and I had a ball as we chatted and ate scones and devonshire cream until I almost had to unbutton my pants. Cheers to you dear tea mate for being my date.

Speaking of dates...I had another very cool rendezvous at this terribly cool club that few people know about. It's called "Chez Pellegrino". It's an after hours club that serves cocktails and people can bring in delights if they so choose. It's reminiscent of great clubs in NYC with no awning or signage out front to indicate a club even exists. ( I remember being in the city once and ducking into what appeared to be a private residence but was really a left over "speakeasy" from the days of the prohibition. Nothing says New York quite like that.) Anyway, I've recreated the same vibe here when Mia goes down. Last night Tanya came over and brought these outrageous cupcakes. I had a terrible bottle of wine which was embarrassing for such an established club to be serving. The cupcakes and company by far made up for the sour wine though! Anyone is welcome to come visit. Call me to make sure you're on the VIP list and it's a done deal.

V is off tonight so we're going to start watching on of our favorite shows, Curb Your Enthusiasm. He went with me shopping this evening so he deserves kudos.

Hopefully a week won't go by without an update. Don't hold your breath though!

She's darn cute....

and she knows it. How did I get so lucky to call two such cute individuals my very own?

La Capelli Serio

Mia is sporting a SERIOUS hair do. It's a new style, the comb over meets the barrette. She isn't sure what she thinks of anything in her hair yet. She is kind of a minimalist, like her mama. She likes few adornments and no frivolous frill. She has stuffed animals to meet and sippy cups to drop off so she is far too busy to complicate her life with unnecessary drama.