Milestone

So for the past week or so Jake has pooped on the potty every night. (Sorry for the lack of warning there - I just went straight into it, didn't I?)

If you knew us when Sam was potty training you would understand what a feat this is. Plus, as any parent can tell you, changing the poopy diaper of a toddler is NOT a good experience. I mean, changing any dirty diaper is not a great way to to pass the time, but changing a toddler - I might as well be changing Bryon's diaper.

But one day last week, the timing was right and he did it and now every night he gets out his little stepstool and his toilet shim, turns on the light and fan, and goes.

Sometimes he tells you he needs privacy but sometimes he wants you to sing songs about pooping (ours is more of a rap really: Outta my butt, into the potty, outta my butt, into the potty ... You get the idea.) And sometimes he wants you to sit there with him, cheer with every plop, then count the ... er 'results.' Don't get me wrong I would rather have him go in the potty, but it is really hard to act like you are having a good time while someone else pooping. You'll have to take my word for it.

Hair Envy

So I have really short hair. Like boy short. Shorter-than-Sam-and-Jake short. Abby-and-I-have-the-same-haircut short. Did I say it was short? But for the most part, I think it suits me. Anytime I have long hair I end up looking more like Roseanne Rosanna Danna (what an OLD reference) than the girls in the Pantene commercials. Plus, I'm quite proud of the fact that I can go from bed to shower to backing out the driveway in less than 7 minutes. (Perhaps I shouldn't be too proud, however. I had to be at work at 6:30 a.m. today and when I glanced at myself in the mirror about 15 minutes ago, I realized my 7-minute routine is somewhat lacking.)

But every once in awhile I get the urge to have long hair. Right before my wedding. When I was pregnant with Sam. Today.

One day last week when I picked Jake up at school he was sitting in Miss Maria's lap ("Miss Maria's my fa-RAY-end," Jake tells me.), lacing his fingers in and out of her beautiful long black hair. And then last night Sam and I were watching TV when a shampoo commercial came on. He was captivated and when it was over he said, "Maybe you should get some of that." (He's the perfect consumer because he truly believes if you buy THAT shampoo, your hair will look like that.)

"Why," I asked him. "You think I should have long hair."

"Yes," he told me. "I think you'd look better with long hair."

So maybe one of these days, I'll have the ambition to grow it out again. Until then I'll visit Victor every 4 weeks, tolerate occasionally being called 'Sir' and watch with envy as Sam is mezmerized by the long-haired beauties he sees on TV.

Rise and Shine

I realize I don't write about Abby much. She's still a little piece of heaven, but, let's face it, she's a little piece of heaven who chews her fist and loves the ceiling fan. But one of the things I love most about her is how happy she is to see you every morning. She coos and grins and puts her little starfish hands on your cheeks as if she has never seen anything so lovely. I don't think I would be that happy if Keanu Reeves himself woke me in the morning with a bouquet of pink peonies in one hand and a hot fudge sundae with extra nuts in the other.

You Got That Right

The other day Sam, Abby and I were home together when I needed to take a shower. I sat Abby in her bouncy seat and asked Sam if he would sit on the floor of my bedroom next to her while he watched TV. Our floor is hardwood so I told him I would make a palette for him to sit on. With that I whisked the duvet cover off the bed, like pulling the tablecloth of a fully set table, and settled it on the floor.

Sam was impressed. "WOW! You really are Wonder Woman. No man is stronger than you!"

And don't you forget it.

Someday

So the other night I came across a children's book called Someday by Alison McGhee and Peter Reynolds. It's a children's book only in that the illustrations are wispy and charming and the 'story' is about a mother and daughter ... and it was in the children's section. I thumbed through it and bought 2 copies. I thought I could send one to my mom or my sister or give one to my friend Joslyn.

I was in the middle of methodically cleaning up today when I finally picked it up and read it through. It's short, maybe 20 pages, with one verse on each page about "Someday, I will ..." or "Someday, you will ..."

I stopped for a moment and looked at the things I was putting up. A pair of blue striped training pants that Jake won't wear at home but comes home from school in quite often; Sam's Woo, which he doesn't seem to need much anymore; drawings of flowers and rainbows and Ninja Turtles, and I was suddenly very sad ... and calm ... and happy. And just like I do every day when I wake up and when I go to bed, I said a little prayer that I would be patient and wise and silly. And that I would hug until they stopped and I would put down the laundry when they called my name. Because 'someday' I'll regret it if I don't.