A Christmas Miracle

After Matilda was born, Lance and Gina were two of our first visitors at home. I selfishly slept through their visit - I was fiercely protective of my rest, knowing full well the insanity that comes from lack of sleep with a newborn.

They are dear, darling people, and never said a word about my rudeness. They just dropped off a huge homecooked meal and a taggie blanket for Matilda. Their friend, Katie, makes baby gifts by hand and I had admired her work when their daughter was born. They remembered and gave us a piece of our own.

It is a little blanket - 12 inches by 12 inches, with a bold animal pattern on the front and hot pink fleece on the back. Each side has strips of multi-colored ribbon for a baby to play with. I thought it was darling and put it with Matilda every chance I got. My persistence paid off when Matilda developed a major attachment to it. It was dubbed "Blanks" and I knew I'd need a backup. Gina came through again and was able to get an almost identical blanket from Katie. The animal print is the same but it is backed with bright blue fleece. Matilda instantly loved it and happily used them interchangeably. Now, one will do in a pinch, but Matilda really wants both of them with her all the time.

This morning the kids and I went to Target. Matilda left both her Blanks in the car and the kids and I did our shopping. While we were in the store some winter weather came through. There was whipping, brutal wind combined with snow and sleet. I fought my way back to my car, pushing Matilda in the cart and dragging Sam next to me, and stopped short when I saw a Blanks on the ground about five feet from my car.

I dashed to it, certain it was about to blow away, and found it partially frozen to the ground. "Ohhh...Blanks!" Matilda said. I clutched it in my hand, horrified by how close we had been to losing it. I walked to the car and was shocked to see the other Blanks stuck to my rear tire.

Obviously they had fallen out when we went into the store. How in the world were they not both lost? The wind was so strong I was having trouble steering my cart in the parking lot. They should both be gone - one of them, at least! - but both were rescued and tucked in with Matilda in her carseat. "Blanks wet," she said a bit disdainfully.

Seriously, if anyone out there is looking for baby gifts that are both beautiful and functional, you need to get in touch with Katie. They're not just blankies - they are magic!

Halloween at IBM

2010 marked our third year of trick or treating at IBM - our favorite! It's our entire Halloween celebration.

We have roughly 70 costumes in our house that I've picked up on clearance and at garage sales. Therefore, Sam chose to wear the same costume he wore last year. It just about killed me. Matilda was a very excited puppy.

Thanks, Grandpa Mark!

She Speaks

"Matilda, what kind of cake do you want for your birthday?"

"Num-num."

"Yep, it'll be good. What kind do you want? Elmo? Cat In the Hat?"

"Melmo. Go go go go go."

"Elmo AND Cat In the Hat? Which one do you want?"

"Num-num."

"Yes, but what do you want it to look like?"

"Cake."

Done.

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"Mama! Mama!"

"What?"

"Oh, Mama. Oh, NO. Mama, DOWN."

"What fell?"

"Down, Mama! Down!"

I follow her into her room to find a book on the floor. I put it back in her bookshelf.

"Tain too, Mama. Nice."

I live to please.

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Sam, Eric, and I sat around the dinner table and discussed our Christmas lists. Suddenly:

"No!"

We all looked at Matilda in surprise.

"No! No. Shhhhhh!"

"Wha -" Eric started.

"SHHHHHH!" Matilda hissed, covering her mouth with her finger. Stunned into silence we all stared at her for a moment.

She nodded, satisfied. "Shhhhhh," she said again, and continued eating.

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And a few translations:

"Mama, show-show and brush." (Mom, take a shower and do your hair, you filthy creature.)

"No Sam! No shut! Mine! MINE! AAAAAAHHHHH!" (Sam, please open your bedroom door. I left something of mine in there.)

"Milk an' num-num an' fork." (I would like a bowl of cereal.)

"Mama! Towel!" (I have made a huge mess and need this cleaned up.)

"Shhhhhhoooooooopppppiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg!" (We just dropped Sam off at school - let's hit the stores!)

"Go. Socks. Shoes. Coat. Go." (Let's get out of this house!)

"Mama brush." (Please put my hair in a ponytail and get it out of my face.)

"Tub-tub. Bubbles. Book. Down." (I'm ready to do our evening routine and go to bed.)

Deesh-deesh - TV
Bubba - friend/loved one
Butt - diaper/bathroom
Eeeeewwww - any of us, at any given time
Bee - Grandma Bay
Papa - all grandparents
Neckdice - jewelry
Pus - puzzle
Song - all music, instruments, radios