Future. Love. Paradise.

Mimi.

I had the privilege of spending the last two days with Mimi. It is impossible to describe Mimi in one blog post. Luckily, she has her own blog, and occasionally her mom puts up a video or two.

I heart Mimi. She is all personality. She needs her own show.

She helped me in the garden...


Can't this Dino go any faster?

We had long, leisurely lunches...


and spent lots of time with her favorite horse...


She asked Moses to clean her stroller...

And she stole a binky...

There is no one like Mimi. She has an infectious spirit, and a tender little heart. Throughout the day, in between ninety minute dance parties (I napped when she napped), she would unexpectedly stroke my hair, or plant a tiny kiss on my cheek. She is so full of love and joy that it is virtually impossible to feel sad when she is around.

I showed her the 8x10 pics we printed up of M&m. She said their names so beautifully, in her sweet little voice.

I can't wait for them to meet her.

Future. Love. Paradise.

Tye.

I got to spend a few hours with Ms. Tye. She is just as cuddly and loving as the day she came home. I call her the Cuddle Bug. My friend Heather said she is the closest thing to a jelly doughnut that she has ever seen. That describes her perfectly- she is a sweet, roly poly jelly doughnut, full of love and goodness.

She celebrated the news of her playmates M & m...


She rocked out on her drum for Teddy and Moses. Between sets, she gave both dogs kisses and then bonked Teddy on the head with the plastic drumstick. Teddy had mixed feelings about her from then on, but Moses wouldn't stop kissing her.


All of the activity made Ms. Tye quite sleepy.


She started doing the tired drunk walk she does when she is ready for bed. I put her in the Ergo.


She eventually fell asleep, but occasionally would wake up and give me a big smile, and bat her eyelashes at me. She is crazy cute.

I can't wait to introduce her to M & m.

Next week I get to hang out with another friend of mine...


Any guesses ?

Down, but not Out...

Sick! I have been sick since we last spoke. I think that was why I was so depressed, I was getting sick. Until I am better, here are some pics from my week. Highlights include an unexpected visit from my dad, and the second Valentine's Day Babysitting of Pip and Squeak. Enjoy.

Future. Love. Paradise.

Aliyah.

I got to spend my entire Thursday with Aliyah. We had a great time. She really likes the 'Hobbit' fence that Steven made.

She also likes Moses,



Reading the New Yorker,

and napping,

I think she may be my new best friend.

Don't Tell Steven...

I had a date last night. Do you see the way he is gazing at me lovingly from the Ergo carrier?



It was all a ruse. Little dude had other plans....

I should have paid more attention to his shirt.

Little dude invited these ladies to our date...

Flirty McFlirterson...
Dude has got some moves...



Moses was suspicious from the start...

Watch him as he 'pretends to help Pip pick her next crayon'...


Pip started getting suspicious...

When he drooled all over her drawing, it was pretty much over...

We kicked him to the curb, and settled in for some girl time...

We talked about boys, and how silly they can be.

Two pizzas, three cookies, two plums, and six Leo Lionni stories later, we felt much better.

So Marley, you broke my heart...



Yeah You! Don't look so surprised! You know you did.


Serves me right for hanging out with you while Steven is away.

Future. Love. Paradise.

Saturday with Pip and Squeak.

Adventures in Babysitting- Valentine’s Day Edition.

Part III - Where’s your Baby?

FLASHBACK. INTERIOR. Ethiopian Restaurant. Evening. January. Dinner is winding down. Injera is soaked. Hands are greasy.

Pip: Do you have a baby?

Me: Nope. Not yet. We are adopting two babies.

Pip: Oh. Where are they?

Me: Where do you think?

Pip: EEETTTIOPIA?

Me: That’s right.

Pip: Oh.



This Valentine’s Day…

Pip: Where is your baby?

[Me thinking: Please contact my program representative at CHSFS.]

Me: Where do you think?

Pip: Huh?

Me: Where do you think? What country?

Pip: EEEEEETTTTTTTiopia?

Me: That’s right.

Pip: When will your baby be here?

[Me thinking: Please contact my program representative at CHSFS.]

Me: Probably in about a year.

Pip: Oh good, THEN we can be friends.

I think Pip is going to kick my ass to the curb if I show up to see her again without a playmate more appropriate in age, size, and energy level. I’m working on it Pip. I am working on it.

Adventures in Babysitting – Valentine’s Day Edition.

Part II- Bedtime.

Steven, having finally made his entrance with little fanfare, sits with Squeak watching
SuperWhy.


Me: Where’s Pip?
Squeak: She’s in the bathroom.
Me (outside the bathroom door): Pip, you okay in there?
Pip (mid teeth-brushing mumbles) : Yeah why?

She has miraculously started the bedtime routine without any prompting from her babysitters. (I have never seen a child do this). She has changed into her nightgown, cleaned her new ear piercing with Claire’s ear solution. She offers me a cotton pad with said solution to clean mine.

Squeak pops in and gets her toothbrush ready. She, too, swabs her tiny ear piercings.

We go to the playroom for Steven’s Helicopter air show.


It’s a big hit.

After the helicopter’s unfortunate crash into the shoe bin, we all retire for story time.




Me: "I will not eat them here or there…"

Pip: My dad reads it upside down.

I turn the book upside down and continue.

Me: "I do not like them anywhere!"

Pip & Squeak: UPSIDE DOWN!!

I think to myself, maybe Pip's and Squeak’s dad literally gets upside down to read them Green Eggs and Ham ? I scan the house for telltale yoga mats. Maybe he kicks himself up into a yogi headstand for bedtime stories ? I bend myself over at the waist and continue reading:

Me: "You do not like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-am."

Pip & Squeak: Upside down! Upside down!

They are laughing hysterically.

I try, unsuccessfully, to become even more upside down. My head is nearly touching the floor. This is making it really difficult to read.

Me: "Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see."

I try, inconspicuously to right myself into a standing position without the girls noticing.

Pip: My dad does this here. She demonstrates her dad’s facial and hand positions for the very important part of the story:

"SAY! I do like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I am!"

Pip & Squeak: He likes them! He likes them!

They bound around giggling.


Later, when yogi master dad returns home I ask him;

Me: What’s with the upside down?

Pip's & Squeak’s dad: Oh, I just turn the book upside down.

Adventures in Babysitting - Valentine’s Day Edition.

Part I - “Where’s Steven?”

Pip arrives home to find me in her living room. Her entire head and one eye covered by a large, colorful bucket hat.

Pip: What’s going on?

Pip’s mom: Julie and Steven are going to babysit remember?

Pip: Oh yeah, where’s Steven?

Squeak (Tumbling in behind Pip): Where’s Steven?

Me: He will be here soon. He is still working.

Pip: When will Steven get here?

Squeak: When will Steven be here?

The next 45 minutes:

Pip & Squeak: Where is Steven? When will Steven be here? How long does it take Steven? Is Steven coming straight from work? Is Steven on his way now? Will he go home first or come straight here? Will he be here soon? Let’s have pizza. Is Steven on his way? How far away is his work? Is Steven coming now?

Me: I think he is on his way, would you like me to call him and make sure?

Pip & Squeak: Yes! Yes! Call him! Call Steven!

I call Steven on my cell phone and put him on speaker...

Me: Hi Steven are you on your way?

Pip: Whereareyouareyoucomingwhenwillyoubeherewhatistaking so long?

Me: Tell him who it is.

Pip: It’s Pip.

Squeak: It’s Squeak.

Pip and Squeak: Whenareyoucomingwhereareyouwhyisittakingsolongwhenwillyou be here?

Steven: I will be there in ten minutes.

Pip: Yeah! Ten Minutes!

Squeak: Too Loud!! Too Loud!

Me: Okay Steven, the speaker phone is too loud. We will see you in ten minutes.

Pip: We are going to need another pizza.

Future. Love. Paradise.

But if only you could see them
You would know from their faces


There were kings and queens
Followed by princes and princesses


There were future power people
From the loved to the loveless
Shining a light 'cause they wanted it seen...



Check back this weekend to find out about "The Valentine's Day Babysitting Adventures of Pip and Squeak."