Curly Straight

Nothing like waking up to the sounds of police sirens and garbage trucks.

Had such a nice day with the two kids today. Seems easier lately.

I attribute some of it to the sunshine; some of it to TJ starting to get in the car by himself; some of it to Julia's beautiful smile and demeanor and some of it to TJ calling me Pretty Mama.

Mama, showing TJ a frozen chicken pot pie: Do you want this for dinner?

TJ: What is it?

Mama: Chicken pot pie.

TJ: Does it have birds in it?

TJ started quoting from a library book we have while at the doctor's office for Julia's 15-month visit today.

Every night we go through a ritual with both kids, we read to them, snuggle up and tell them all the people who love them. Tonight John put TJ to bed, and I put Julia to bed. John told me that TJ was requesting me, so I went in to his room. Since John had already told him all the people who love him, I decided to go a different route.

Mama: Sweet dreams.

TJ: Sweet dreams.

Mama: Sleep tight.

TJ: Sleep tight.

Mama: I love you.

TJ: I love you too.

Mama: God bless you.

TJ: I didn't sneeze.

I was trying to make TJ feel better after getting his hair washed, which he is not fond of.

"TJ, come help me get Julia's milk."

"I can't right now, Mama, I'm too busy crying."

TJ stands at the landing and says "Mama, what stairs are you? Upstairs or downstairs?"

Mama: TJ, I bought you a bunch of good stuff from the grocery store last night. French fries and drinking yogurt and spaghetti-os.

TJ: Mama, you are hooking me up.

Finished returning emails, dealing with property issues, talking to bank, etc. Just about to open a word document to start a project.

Hear wee little cries and noises from the Little One.

Won't be starting that project now.

Mama: TJ, do you want to watch a dvd?

TJ: Yes. You pick it.

Mama: I get to pick it? Oh boy!

TJ: Pick Heffalump.

In the category of things I never thought I would say:

"TJ, please take the Sam Adams box off your sister's head."

One of the happiest parts about being a mom for me is reaching into a pocket and finding some little random toy in there.

John says that Julia laughing the baby laugh anymore. It's true! She has a little chuckle that just warms your heart.

TJ, to guy at gym: Do you have a baby in your belly?

In the category of things I never thought I would say:

Please don't lick the table.

In South Beach baby.Waiting for my Shelby.

Leaving the house, Mimi tells me "watch out for sharks." Yipes, I never even thought of that. I never saw Jaws when I was younger and have avoided it all this time. Although I have read the book about twenty times because it used to be in the bookcase outside of my bedroom. That and the World Book Encyclopedias.

So, get on the plane. Crazy lady two seats over from me, talks to herself the ENTIRE three hour plane ride. I thought she was praying but she was seriously just chatting away. The whole time. At the end of the flight, she suddenly becomes coherent enough to tell the girl in between her and I about a shark that bit off a guy's nose while he was at the beach.

Get to the hip trendy hotel. Giant fish aquarium in the lobby, featuring - you guessed it - sharks.

Sun. Shopping. Sand. Shelby.

TJ asks me this morning, "where are we going? School? Gym? Church?"

When I tell him gym, he says "yay!" but I'm pretty sure he would have said that for any of the options.

Julia is getting closer to walking, but as far as standing up by herself, it's not her thing. She can do it, because I take her and hold her up, then let go. She laughs and laughs, a cute little chuckle, (as if to say "are you doing this game with me again?!") and immediately plops herself down on the floor.

Then climbs up on the couch to look out the window. Then climbs down and crawls to the rocking chair. Climbs up into it, opens a book and reads it. Then turns around and climbs down and crawls to her next destination.

Then does a few cartwheels on the way to her highchair. I made that part up, but I can tell that she can totally do it, she just doesn't want to.

I predict within a week.

I need to clean off my desk. Which leads to me needing a space to put things. Which leads to me needing to clean out other spaces where stuff already is. Which leads me to looking at and reading the other stuff. Which leads me back to my computer where I think I am going to create a file which will end up helping me organize said stuff. My computer leads me directly to Facebook, which leads me directly to Procrastination. How can I ignore "you have been tagged in a photo" - there's no way.

Our kids names kind of rhyme with our dog's names...not on purpose.

Julia.
Georgia.

Thomas.
Amadeus.

See?

While at the condo, Julia stood up on her own for about 10 seconds yesterday, after I propped her up and took away my arms. She swayed, but stayed up. Until she realized "Oh my gosh, how are these boneless rubber bands known as my legs going to hold me up?! I don't think so!" and boom! back onto the bum.

Mama: TJ, how many Madagascar books to you have?

TJ: Two ones.