From the mouth of future big sister

May I begin with almost every sentence this week has started out with, "You know what would be a good (or great) idea?" Then she expands on her thought. If you reply back, you get that same sentence before her next though. I think her word quota has quadrupled this week.

" I think the baby's crib should go right next to my bed." I guess it doesn't matter that her room is the size of a shoebox, she wants to share!

"Is the baby still in your tummy?" She asks this every day.

"The baby can't be a boy--you and I are girls." No arguing with this one.

"Do we have food for the baby? Do we have milk for the baby? Do we have. . ." The list gets bigger and I am amazed at what she thinks of.

These are just a few that I have actually remembered in this crazy week. Its been a busy one and Paige and I are off tomorrow to go watch basketball in Bismarck for a day or two and see Dani. They made it to state and its very exciting. The excitement today was the new box of clothes that the UPS man finally delivered. I am so happy I have a girl, and happy I have a girl who dove into that box with all the gusto that I did. She has tried on all 3 pairs of shoes and oohed and ahhed over everything. Its so much fun shopping for girls!

All by myself

I am all by myself. No child, no husband. The quiet is almost eery. I was rejoicing yesterday after Paige was taken to her grandparents for the weekend. No real reason why, other than they all missed each other and wanted to see each other. That works. I came home after work in a vehicle with no little person, no car seat, etc. Then I sat in the living room in the coveted chair with the big blanket and watched what I wanted to watch on TV for a change. No cartoons and no man shoes. Bliss.

Then one hour passes and I was tired of that and lonely. Texted the cowboy to see where he was. He was taking the late shift calving at work so his boss could see his kid at a tournament. Super nice of him. Bad for me. I didn't know what to do with myself. And of course, had no energy to actually do anything other than wallow in my boredom. How sad and pathetic!

So today I am actually accomplishing things and running errands. I am going to the ranch with Cowboy tonight; since I haven't been there in months and it'd be nice for him to have some company up there for once. I am frying chicken as we speak for supper to take with us and have tons of snacks packed for my always increasing appetite. Here is hoping he doesn't ditch me for the cows and I have another lonely night!

Grampa bonding

We had a family filled Sunday and spent it in Hettinger with my Dad. He was home alone for the last few days as my mom was in Fargo spending some time with her sisters. Dad called me this morning and asked if I wanted to come over and make everyone lunch. I laughed at him and asked who everyone was, and he said you guys and me. I took it as a sign he was really lonely so we headed over there. I get there and he has the kitchen super clean, so we ordered lunch in!

He and Paige did dirty the kitchen to make cupcakes--I wasn't allowed to help so I was sneaking pictures of them instead. I was allowed to help fill the muffin tins; since Grampa had no experience doing that. He let Paige run the hand mixer all by himself; a braver man than I. She did not lift it up and splatter batter everywhere and did a good job. They tasted good too!

The bad news of the day was a phone call from mom that a deer had decided to try and attack her car. The deer seemed to win as she has some damage--including deer hair stuck to her antenna which is on the back of her car. Odd isn't it? They had to stop and peel pieces of the car off so they could keep driving, but Mom and Aunt Connie were just fine.

Something about a gramma's house

There is something mystical and magical about getting to go to gramma's house. Paige loves to go to either of her gramma's houses and will be excited for days if she knows she gets to be there. My mother-in-law lives in the same town as us; so Paige sees her a lot, but its usually short trips. Whereas, my mom is usually overnight trips. You'd think the enthusiam would be different for each place. Its not.

After today, I know why. Grammas all have certain universal things you can do at their houses, such as:

• run around in nothing but your underwear
• make a huge mess all over the house and its not a big deal at all
• eat massive quantities of food, particularly chocolate
• buy you your favorite foods and let you consume them all when you are there. The ladies at the grocery store know when Rick's grandkids are at his house because he stops in the morning and buys chocolate milk!
• do nothing but have fun
• Mom and Dad may not be there

I am not complaing about any of these items, as we do some of them at our own home. However, the consistancy with these items at any gramma's house is pretty high. Thank goodness for gramma's (and grampas!) who can brighten our day!

"But you don't have a big tummy?"

I told Paige we were going to have a baby a day or two after our families found out and that was her first response! Here is a recap of the conversation.

Me: "So what would you think if we had a baby?"

Paige: "We aren't going to have one" with sort of a whatever look.

"Yes, we are going to have one."

"But you don't have a big tummy?"

I was sort of expecting that one, so replied, "It will take a while, but Mommy will get a big tummy." Her friends at daycare are going to be big sisters in a month; so they are all very aware of the big tummy situation.

She sort of ponders for a second. "I want a girl baby."

Me too. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?" Don't know if Daddy could handle it!

Another random look by Paige as she's absorbing things. "I don't want to do diapers. I saw Trey's diapers and they are icky."

"You won't have to do diapers but maybe you could help with bath time or bringing the baby some toys."

She sort of took that in that was an okay idea. Her eyes lit up and then, "I could give the baby one of the blankets that is in my closet."

I am thinking, hey this is good. "I think you'll be a good big sister."

"I don't want to be a BIG SISTER!"

Apparently that is the phrase that sets her off. I left it alone for a while, and then we were in the grocery store and she starts piping up with more questions.

"The doctor helps you get the baby out of your tummy."

"Yes, I'll go to the hospital and the doctor helps."

"Does it hurt?"

"No." Lies sometime have their purposes.

"There will be blood on the baby won't there."

"A little bit, but they give it a bath right away." How does she know that?

"How does the doctor fix the cut on your tummy?"

"They use some big bandaids and then its all better." What! Where is this coming from?

Then the conversation sort of dropped and we got distracted by some produce! That's all the questions she's had so far. I never could have imagined some of them!

The Largest Reese's

I got my husband something for Valentine's Day that got me a super great big smile and chuckle. I gave in and gave it to him on Friday after I got my roses--they were super pretty. I usually give him chocolate because its one of his favorite things; so I don't think he was expecting anything that deviated too much from that plan. But when I presented the one pound Reese's--his eyes did light up. Check it out here. The chocoholic in him ate it in two settings. I have some pictures but they don't do it justice. Its like a regular Reese on steriods!

Chocolate cures all

Paige and I stayed home today due to her fever at 2 am and cough. A doctor visit confirmed its not strep but its viral, so we are stuck waiting a day or two for her to feel better; or it turns bacterial and I get to fill her antibiotic prescription. She's been pretty good today; she's a trooper and eats and tried to play a little with her castle and princesses. Minimal whining which makes me wonder if she's really mine! That's a sick joke because I will admit I was ruined by my mother and love to be pampered and instantly turn into a whiner if I don't feel good and she's around. She ruined me but she knows it and still loves me :)
My daughter on the other hand, looked at me this afternoon and said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate bears? They'd make me feel better."
"Of course."
Chocolate cures all, didn't you know that? Especially chocolate teddy grahams. They have healing powers.