Random Factoids

Today, a bunch of random things the kids do that I am sure I will forget soon:

• Grace loves to dance in front of the TV, where she can see herself like in the mirror


• Right now she is really into Laurie Berkner, and that is how we motivate her to get into her carseat quickly


• Viv also likes to dance, she tucks her chin into her chest and bops


• Viv loves to crawl over to the powerstrip and unplug the modem


• Viv seems to like to sleep with her face buried in the mattress


• This morning, out of the blue, Grace started theatrically grabbing her arm saying, "My elbow is freaking, my elbow is freaking! My arm aches, my arm aches!" Then she collapsed into a chair, saying, "I'm going to died!" She is still alive and her arm seems fine!


• Grace LOVES berries. Eating them, picking them, reading books about them. Right now her 2 favorites are Jamberry and Berry Magic. And she just found a movie where Max and Ruby go pick berries--heaven.


• Grace doesn't like me to sing along with her music.


• Viv claps by slapping her tummy.


• Grace recently had a potty training relapse, and the way she got back on track was by having Rob bring home and orange for her each day she kept her panties dry. Who knew the motivation she needed was an orange????


• Grace's "dot blanklie" is apparently a girl. She has started referring to it as "her."


• Viv likes to pull things over her face, then she has a spaz until she pulls it off and you say "Peekaboo." This is one of the few things that makes her laugh.


• Viv crawls by pushing off on one leg, while the other stays still, kind of like she's on a scooter.


• Grace can't wait for Christmas. She asks almost every day when Santa is coming. She also likes to play trick or treat.


• Viv has quick hands. We have to keep the baby food far away from her! She figured out the whole pincer grasp in about 2 days, and she has already figured out how to undo the latch on Homer's crate (that might have just been luck).

Little foodie

Today's quote from Grace. It's actually more like another monologue. All given while pulling leaves off various plants in the little garden and placing them in a little pot.

"Now, we're going to use some scallions. If you don't have any scallions, you can use glitter. Next we'll put in some parsley. If you don't have any parsley, you can use tomato sauce or whatever else you have at your house."

I remember when I was little I read all the "Little House on the Prairie" books. At night, I would lay in bed pretending to write up my day like Laura Ingalls Wilder. I guess now everyone does that--we just call it blogging :) But I think Grace pictures herself as the host of a TV show. As long as she sticks with the Food network, I'm okay with that!

I didn't get a picture of the cooking show, but here is a totally unrelated picture that Grace took a couple of days ago. I like it.

Body parts are dropping like flies

First to go was my waist, of course. But it has been reincarnated as a huge, pulsating mass around my middle, which I am pretty much obsessed with. I don't even notice how my face looks any more because any time I'm in front of the mirror, I'm staring at my belly. This is good, because the next to bite the bullet was my chin. Actually, it's now more like 3 chins, directly connecting my jaw to my ribs. So I'd rather pretend they aren't there. And, now that it's hot out, my ankles have bought the farm. I really miss them. And finally, my belly button is circling the drain. I guess I won't miss it too much, but I had gotten used to having it around. Sayonara, old buddy. Sayonara.

It must be done

But for months I have not been able to bring myself to do it. Two things, actually. We need to get rid of the cable (and therefore all TV) and we need to find a new home for Homer.

I don't think I watch that much TV, and especially now that it's summer there isn't much I'm interested in. But it's just knowing that I could sit down and watch if I wanted to. Veg for a while. I know, I know, I should read a book instead. Or just go to bed early. Or play Boggle with Rob. Millions of things to do instead of watching TV. But sadly it is hard to let go of. It is just so easy to sit down and flip a switch.

And then there's the really hard one: Homer. We have had Homer for almost 7 years. Homer brought me some emotional stability through the years when I wanted a baby so badly that I was really pretty crazy. It was Rob's idea to get a dog, and according to him it was pure revelation. I totally believe that. I just can't explain how having him around helped me.

But things change, and now I find myself annoyed with him pretty much any time he isn't asleep. He just adds a little too much chaos to life, and with little Bert on the way, it's more chaos than I'm prepared to handle. The hardest part is going to be breaking the news to Grace, and helping her say goodbye. I tear up just thinking about it, or maybe it's because I'm thinking about me saying goodbye. The other day she said to him, "You're my best friend forever." Granted, pretty much everyone is her best friend right now. I'm sure she'll recover quickly, but I just dread that moment of watching him walk away with another family. Some days I think we could make it work, that we should make it work. But we think it would be better to have him gone before the baby gets here. This is for the best, right?

So, if you know anyone who might want to provide a good home for a beagle who is really a good dog, send them our way.