Me: Knock Knock

You: Who's there?

Me: My son.

You: My son, who?

Me: My son wiggles his little wrist back and forth and so it looks like he's knocking on EVERYTHING.  It's super silly and really cute, I tell ya.

Speaking of cute:

He's usually as happy as he looks right here.
Which, you know, IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

***

Since TLNG is [an avid Ni Hao Kai Lan watcher] the daughter of a therapist she often talks about Feelings.  In addition to being well-versed in Happy, Mad, Sad and Afraid, she is also familiar with Annoyed, Irritated and Frustrated. Ahem.

Anyway.

For the past week or so, she's been talking about my Feelings, while stroking the outer-most ridge of my ear.  When I inquired about it, she said, 'That's where your Feelings live.  That's where they go.'  I tried to explain to her that Feelings are invisible, that they are inside you and that you can't see them.  But she persisted.  Then, a couple days ago, at bedtime, she was again talking about my Feelings.  She was reaching through the bars at me, as I sat on her floor.  She gently pinched my earlobe between her fingers and said, 'This is where your Feelings go.'

....

??

And then I said, 'Do..do you mean earrings?'

And she said, 'Yes. Like Nanny wears.'

***

My dad put in an offer on a house. It's absolutely PERFECT for him.  It is move-in condition and everything he needs with nothing he doesn't.  He low-balled the first offer and the guy came back with a counter offer and then my dad had to *think about it* and then he countered and then the guy countered, so they were 10K apart and then my dad wanted to counter 2.5K, even though his top number was 5K and OH MY WORD, am I glad I am not a realtor who works for my dad, is what I'm saying.

They accepted the final offer, with settlement date of end of July.  So. The summer should be...um..interesting.

***

I have been making an effort to keep the house cleaner.  This translates into cleaning a lot in the evening and then collapsing into bed to read (Percy Jackson. I KNOW) before passing out to wake and do it ALL OVER again.  I am trying to find the ZEN of cleaning.  (I KNOW.  Whatever. Blah blah it'sajourney blaaah.)

***

My girl is in the midst of some [Mythical Hell-Beast Training] cognitive leap in development.  As is her custom, it is accompanied by [the most annoying, irritating and frustrating behavior on the planet] behavior and sleep disturbance.  But look at what she's drawing:

This is a self-portrait. She's holding Baby-Baby.

.

.

This is the rest of the family. OMG. Look at The Little Brother.

.

.

LOOK.

And, I know I'm biased, but I also think she's morphing into a Stunning Little Beauty, really.  

It's a good thing I'm not really all into the Kid Pageants, though, because I don't think she'd go for the fake eyelashes.
Tactile issues, you know.

***

Now, I have to go and fix my son a bottle, because he refused to nurse this morning. *sigh*

Me: Knock knock.

You: Who's there?

Me: ZOOM ZOOM.

Comments

[Nursing PJs]

Wow! its so cute!! Hmm very nice...Your daughter is great!

[Laura]

I know this isn't groundbreaking news...but the boy looks EXACTLY like the girl!

[Chibi Jeebs]

Awesome post! Love it all! :)

[Manic Mommy]

Kids' portraits are blog-fodder for a lifetime! When my boys did/do this, I call it an intellectual growth spurt.

There is no Zen in cleaning. It's tedious, necessary bullshit.

[J from Ireland]

I think your son looks the image of TLNG. She really is a beaut, alright. Is your Dad happy? I hope you are all adjusting well. Earrings is a classic!!

[Beth from SJ]

Swistle summed it all up, thanks,Swistle! And thank TNG for the laugh about the earrings/feelings - love it!!!

[Swistle]

This is PACKED WITH FANTASTIC.

First, the drawings, which are so great. Keep keep keep and maybe frame a couple. (I get the 8.5x11 "Format" frames at Michaels for like $5.)

Second, she is not morphing into a beauty because she has always been a total beauty. I see what you mean about morphing from babyish beauty to older-girl beauty, though.

Third, your dad's house, yay!

Fourth, EARRINGS OMG.

Fifth, your boy looks so much like your girl to me. Does he to you, too?

[mamatulip]

I LOVE the kid art!

And the kids ain't bad, too. ;)

[attiton]

Hey! I read the Percy Jackson books! Which one you on? I liked them, but the latent misogyny really got to me by the end...

[The Domestic Goddess]

Re: cleaning.

Try motivated moms. It's a calendar of daily cleaning and it's like 5 small things a day. Keeps you organized, your house is clean and VOILA! HAPPY!

Seriously. www.motivatedmoms.com. Or something like it. Best $8 I've ever spent.

[Alias Mother]

Yes, that is why I hate cleaning too and why all my attempts to be a better housekeeper FAIL and will always FAIL. When people claim to love cleaning I'm all BUT IT NEVER ENDS. And then they're all, if you keep up on it then it doesn't take as long. And I'm all, but keeping up on it means it NEVER ENDS. As in, I'm ALWAYS DOING IT.

Bah.

Yes, TLNG is a beauty. Not as gorgeous as my daughter, of course, but that's how these things roll.

[Marie Green]

Earrings! Of COURSE! Too funny!

And both of those children are absolutely adorable! Your daughter really *is* starting to look like a grown-up version of herself. With or without fake eyelashes, her eyes are stunning.

[Forgotten]

Gah! The internets ate my comment. Here goes again:

Awwww. Sooooo sweeeetttttt.

Sorry. Had to get that out of my system.

Your babies truly are beautiful. I wish I lived closer to you. Our kids would have a blast playing together. If you ever make it down to Virginia, let me know.

Anywho, I loved the earrings/feelings thing, too! It reminds me of the time that I thought my boy was saying sh*t when he was actually telling me to sit. I fussed on him and he got mad and made me sit down then said sh*t again. It took me a few to get what he was saying but when I did I laughed my butt off. I love the image of your little guy knocking on everything. Adorable!

[sarah]

both your kids are beauties!

earrings/feelings made me laugh.