Monday, October 29, 2007

Eyeless in Gaza* (at the mill with friends)

Sorry no pictures today, but I can't find where we put the camera, can't turn on the light and don't want to wake Little Missy creeping about in a dark house with toys on the creaky wood floor. I'll throw up some pictures when I get home tonight.

We had a sort of white-black weekend: Saturday was bad...Missy woke about seven times Friday night, I was sleep-deprived and cranky, the kids were pissy (Peep was an utter PILL and woke Missy when she was napping twice), and Mojo was harrassed. So let's give Saturday a pass.

I should add a quick note here: I've been calling our second child Shaomei on the blog, which is, in fact, her middle name. Mojo pointed out that her first name is Maxine, and we should figure out a name we like and use it until she is old enough to make up her own mind. But I don't want to break my rule about not using our real first names online. So, for security's sake, and convenience, here our daughter will go by "Missy" or "Little Missy", which is our nickname for her.
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Sorry. Back to business...
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So Saturday sucked pipe. But Sunday? Nice. Missy slept almost all the way through the night Saturday and late into Sunday morning, which gave the Peep his own time to come in and cuddle with Daddy and Mommy. I have to say that I miss that Peeper time a lot...and so does he, I think. That used to be our weekend morning routine, a cuddle in bed followed by couch-time with Thomas the Train, Bob or Fireman Sam. Now Little Missy is usually up by seven, which means that the Peeper has to get his cuddles where and when he can. I think it makes him demanding and cranky, poor guy.
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So we got our Sunday cuddle, Missy woke up and we got out of the house and down to our St, John's Starbucks for coffee and a pricey egg-mcmuffin (or chocolate milk and a chocolate donut, you can see where's the Peeper's going with THAT...). Then down to Cathedral Park to play on the little beach under the bridge in the brilliant sunshine. We skipped stones, dug our hands into the sand (Missy), wrote names in the sand (Mom and Peep) and marvelled at a huge Herring Gull stalking earthworms in the park lawn (Missy and I).
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After a stop off at home and a failed attempt at napping for Little Miss we saddled up the Honda and rode down to Columbia Pool for a nice splash and giggle. Our little girl loves to paddle her hands and feet in the water, and can kick like Esther Williams! I gave the Peep multiple pool-floatie-spin rides, which he loved, and we got out before Mommy and Missy so we shared a secret ice cream sandwich...all the more delicious for being stolen and illicit (Daddy sometimes gives sugary treats that we know that Mommy wouldn't approve of...bad Daddy! but happy Peeper!)
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On the way down the street Little Missy fell asleep, so we parked at the Lombard Goodwill and went inside - got Missy her own plastic Halloween pumpkin, Peeper a fire truck and Daddy and Mommy some books. Then it was back in the car and on the road to Millicent, Floyd and Nola's place!
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These lovely folks have been - camping, basically - on the first floor of their gorgeous Victorian house as the upstairs is completed. Now the upstairs is done - OMFG, it's delightful, Millie promises that she'll blog again soon, and I'm sure you will see it then over at Different Dirt - and we moved up a bunch of heavy furniture including the God of Television (note: simulated picture of GoT - actual GoT too large for blog bandwidth).
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While Floyd and I moved, the distaff halves of each partnership played in the yard with the littlies - a tougher job, I assure you - and tried to pull the glass shards and other inappropriate toys out of little fingers before they went in little mouths. Peeper was a big help, and even Little Missy opened up and played. What was really adorable was that once the heavy lifting was done and we all retired to the back yard, at one point Nola decided to give her guest a tour of the charcoal mulch. She grasped Missy's small hand and towed her around the playset, into the dirt and back to the paving! I can't begin to tell you how cute that was. Gives me hope that these two can get to be friends once they grasp the whole "playing well with others" concept. I understand - not a given. Much of the Bush Administration is living proof of that. But, still...
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Of course, there was also some tussling over toy animals (compete with crying), some sippy-sipping and banana-eating (Nola loves her some nini, that girl, and so does Missy, so they split it), and lots of good dirty fun as the two little girls (who really look nothing alike) disgused their differences with some North Mississippi Day Spa topsoil-and-charcoal facial masks.
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After going our way we stopped at Sal's for a genuinely pleasant dinner: both children were playful but within limits, friendly and cooperative. To such small limits are our child-rearing horizons bounded!
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Then home to HotWheels video, congee, tub (for Little Missy, the waterbaby) and bed. A delightful Sunday, and much needed.
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* Note: Normally I revel in the obscurity of my blog post titles, but I wanted in this case to explain that I am ONLY referring to the lack of visual stimulation in this post. I am not in any form comparing the work of shifting the God of Television to Samson, blinded, at the mill with slaves.
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Pictures tonight, I promise!

1 comment:

atomic mama said...

Here's to perfect Sundays...