Holiday Road Interlude

Before we get to the big FIRE museum, let me just say that my child, being the only child around for the vast majority of the week, the only 2.5 year old around to entertain SIX adults... was an angel. It's exhausting being the center of attention for so many... for so long, but she handled it like a champ. Of course, it's hard to find something to complain about when you have six people to meet each of your needs, desires and whims... but still. Not one behavior problem all week. Seems pretty impressive at that age.

Now, this week, she remains worn out. She had a swim lesson this morning where she did great, but despite repeatedly telling me that she wanted both of us to visit the pool afterward, she wouldn't come in past the first step and kept saying the wanted to go home. What a nut!

One instance of her incredible-ness was one night when she got a bit sick and tossed her dinner just after midnight. She called me and I came a-runnin'. I figured she might just need to go to the bathroom and was going to give up the pull-ups. So, in the dark, I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom. She told me she needed to "doh tee-tee." I took her, she went and as I put her back in the pack and play, I touched something that I had to further inspect...

After changing her sheets and clothes and cleaning her up, I also realized that it had gotten on her beloved blanket, "Nah-Nah." Oh no. How was she going to sleep?! I explained that it had to be washed and she helped me get it into the machine. Fortunately, I brought a back-up blanket that we cover her with every night after she goes to bed. I had not put it on her yet that week - apparently some instinct told me to save it?! (And to bring the extra sheet.) She laid back down with it and drifted right off. I was fully prepared to break a rule and bring her to bed until the blanket was clean and dry, but she managed just fine. (And it's a good thing because deprogramming her after vacation can have some challenges without that one added.) But I know, I have little room for any complaints.

A funny thing: she always wakes up when coffee is brewed or warmed up. She even woke up, slap in the middle of her nap on vacation when I heated coffee in the microwave. I went up to check on her and she was fine with going right back to sleep. I couldn't figure out what was going on until Mimi reminded me that it was likely the coffee! I guess she smells it, but we're always careful at home about warming coffee during her nap (gotta do it right away!) or wait until she's ready to get up anyway. She loves coffee, so perhaps she just hates to miss out on the opportunity.

She also impressed us big time with her ocean swimming. I think it must have been Wednesday, but there was a sand bar way out in the water that we took her out to visit since Mimi was out there and Libby was dying to get to her. She swam ALL the way back to the shore (with me just barely holding her under her tummy to keep her up). Seriously- anyone who saw it would have been impressed.

Tonight's big funny at the dinner table was that I called Commissioner a "silly goober dog." She found it so hilarious - and it was a hoot because when she'd laugh she bang her fist on the table like some grown-up man. It made ME laugh out loud (but no fist-banging.) I don't know who taught her that one!