YIPPEE!

Last night Maci decided that she was going to bed by herself. She wanted me to come tuck her in and turn on her lamp, but then she was going to sleep alone. She has been sleeping in her own bed, but usually one of us has to lay down with her until she falls asleep. AND she really likes her dad to do this job, because he falls asleep too! She went to bed on her own at 8 p.m. I told her I would be in the living room if she needed me. It took her about 15 minutes to be out - I know I couldn't not keep checking on her. I just couldn't believe that she was going to do it all by herself. She woke up about 9 p.m. for a second (I think I might have over blanketed her because she was all sweaty), and then right back asleep. She didn't get up until 6:30 a.m. However, she proceeded to get in my bed while I was getting ready and fell back asleep.

Irritated

Why do all stores assume that people are not tall? I am feeling the strain of my pants and I can't find pants that are long enough. AND might I add I am cheap. I don't want to pay Gap prices. However, I will keep looking. I did find a nice tummy band. It look like everyone needs one of them. It is a big elastic band that allows you to wear your pants for longer with no need to button them. I know several people that could use that say on Thanksgiving!

First Time Through the Drive Thru...

...at the bank. Of course we have been through the drive thru at various fast food chains, but today was her first trip through the bank. For various reasons she hasn't been with me most days I go to the bank. Mostly I don't go to the bank very often. We have direct deposit and online banking so really I never do actually hold on to my money. Today I forgot to drop the school deposit before I picked her up, so we had to run it through. She had to ask why are there banks? Why do they keep your money? Do they pay your bills? How does the microphone work? (Of course the teller increased the confusion on this questions. The teller was talking away to me, but forgot to turn on the microphone. So Maci could not understand what was going on - I kept saying I can't hear you. The lady keeps talking. You get the picture) Who goes to the bank? Where does the money go? The questions did not stop until we went past the school and she saw a school bus. "Mommy mommy it is a school bus!!!"

When I get bigger...

Maci lately has been saying when I get bigger I get to...

There is wide variety of things, such as,
...I am going to play basketball.
...I am going to get a skateboard.
...my dad is going to take me deer hunting.

So today on the way to Jeanne's we passed the library and the skate park. Every day she ask about Grandma's hospital, the library, the municipal building, and for some odd reason the Mason building. I think it is all the brick buildings on the way to daycare. When we passed the skate park she stated "when I get bigger I am going to bring my skateboard to the skate park."

So I wonder what age she thinks is bigger?

70 degrees & water main break = LUCKY!

It quite possibly will be the last day we could spend outside for a while. AND it so happened the fiber optics people cut the main water line in Atlanta. It is the only time that I couldn't drink or pee and was excited. So school was let out early, I did my Valentine's Day shopping for Maci, and headed to get her from daycare. We came home put away the shopping stuff (although it was hard to leave the new Valentine cards at home), and headed to the park. We have the same it is not just your park conversation going down the hill to the park. I don't think she believes me because the 3 times we have been to the park there is only us there. Or we might have one straggler stop in and head out. Maci is probably trying to figure out why I tell her she has to share the park when obviously there is no one there. Maci did discover she can access all the areas of the jungle gym with the slides. She even climbed up to the lookout tower several times. Although she was pretending it was a shower and the telescope was the shower head. She would climb up there pretend to wash her hair and sing at the top of her lungs. Maybe it is a good thing we are the only ones at the park.

Tonight we are going to work on our Valentine's Day cards. We have the cookie snacks cooking. Who knew Valentine's Day was such a big deal at daycare?

Tomorrow night her friend Cara (PAT) comes to visit. She is excited to see her. I think we might be doing a testing visit. So we will see what we are falling short at doing so I can obsess about it. Last time the only thing we had to work on was lacing beads. AND the bad parent I am - I didn't find the lacing beads. So I guess we will fail that again...

First day at the Park

We had our first day at "Maci's Park" - I spent 1/2 the walk on the way telling her it was not just her park. It was a little breezy so we didn't get to stay as long as she would have liked, but we managed to play on all the equipment. Her favorite is the big slide. I was a little nervous for her on the steps, so I would help her up the steps. Then before I could get to the other end she was giggling up a storm -saying "I beat you I beat you!" (I will post photos after I find the camera cord).

Also, this weekend her dad brought home her bike from the other house. She rode that in the driveway Saturday evening. She is getting so good at the peddling. She had been too short to peddle both sides. She hasn't mastered peddling back up the incline on the driveway.

Hopefully tonight it will be nice enough for her to get a few outside minutes. It might rain though...

Friday, 60 degrees, 1/2 day of school = Happiness!

Last night we went by to see Grandma Dunham. Maci is feeling good and Grandma didn't have a contagious illness, so we took the opportunity to visit. Maci doesn't get to do much visiting in the winter. Maci's grandma Jane keeps me paranoid that we are going to catch something. I get weekly reports - did you know there are 35 cases of influenza in Columbia? It is only a matter of time till it is in our area. I don't think it helps that I work at a school either. The parents call in for the sick kids and the nurse has to report to the health department the different illnesses we have here. So, I give the parents the 3rd degree. I know they are thinking my kid is sick why is she asking so many questions. I think they think I am judging their parenting skills. I am not - I just want to know for the nurse and my own paranoid self. Anyway moving on...

I had told Maci we were going to visit Grandma Calista. She responded "she has lots of good books there." And if you have been by Grandma Calista's she does have lots of good books for the old and the young. She enjoyed playing with all the toys and Uncle Paul. They did argue for a bit about who could have which truck, but I think they worked it out. Aunt Amy was looking a bit tired. I told her some nights we struggle to make it to a normal bedtime. I tried to convince Maci the other night we should take our bath early and go to bed. It was 6:30 p.m. It didn't work. I thought it would be perfectly appropriate if Aunt Amy went to bed at 6:30 why not?

Maci is really enjoying the new room. She has spent hours in there playing independently. She cooks, cleans, and plays baby dolls. After a long quiet time, I realize wow she is still in there playing. Do I go look or do I just enjoy the peace? If I go look, she will come out. If I don't, she could be painting her room. What is a parent to do?