I'm just saying...

I have neighbors from Argentina, neighbors from Cambodia, neighbors from China, and neighbors from Iran. I have great relationships with all of them. Based on criteria that I've heard thrown out lately, I'm now qualified, in areas related to foreign policy, for Vice President. I can't balance a checkbook, though, so that might disqualify me!

Johnny and the Bailey Sprite

Well, after seeing how sweet John Tartaglia was with the little guy last night, we decided to estimate the end of the matinee performance of Shrek today and see if (by chance) John would come out and meet a fan of the 2 year old variety (Bailey). With this being closing night, and the evening performance only 2.5 hours later, we knew that there was a good chance that he wouldn't come out and would choose to start cleaning up for strike. We just thought that we'd take a chance. As chance would have it, he did come out and spent a good 5 minutes talking with Bailey (who suddenly got a case of the "I'm super duper shy" behavior). It didn't seem to matter that she was shy - he just kept trying to engage her in some small talk (about Ginger Sprite, mainly). Bailey was intrigued, but froze at answering questions. She did, finally, take a picture where she didn't hide her face (although, my camera skills caught her looking down). She also blew him a kiss, gave him "5" and said, "Bye Johnny". He told her that he would tell the sprites "hi" for her and that he would think of her next time he was on T.V - she said, "ok" and smiled. This is one very talented young man who definitely doesn't take his talent for granted - such a humble guy, and so kind to his fans - even the little ones!!

Johnny - without the sprites

So - Adam and I saw Shrek the Musical this evening with Johnny (of Johnny and the Sprites) playing Pinocchio. After the show, we went to the stage door to see if he would take pictures and sign autographs. There was a woman there with her (looked to be about) 5 year old son and the little boy's grandma there. Before Johnny came out, she and her son and the grandma were talking about the episode of Johnny and the Sprites where Johnny dressed up like a Bora Bora bush, so you knew that they were waiting to see Johnny. As soon as Johnny came out of the door he scanned the crowd, saw the little guy, and went over to talk to the little guy. He squatted down to the little guy's height and talked to him about the sprites and the Bora Bora bush and just gave the little guy special attention - it was so sweet to see. This little boy was just beaming and I found myself wishing that I'd brought Bailey because she would have loved to have seen him. Some celebs are still nice people!!

I'm looking for Bob, Dad!

Last Saturday night one of the most exciting events touring the nation came to our neck of the woods!! The Jonas Brothers, you ask? Perhaps Madonna? No - Veggie Tales Live!!

We took Bailey and one of her buddies, Zoe, was there. The two of them had a BLAST!! I won't spoil the plot for anyone who is planning to take in this epic show, but near the beginning of the show Bob goes missing (I know, you're on the edge of your seat - do they find him? What happened? Was there some time warp? Will I fall into it? All of those age old questions!). While he's missing, the Veggies are "stalling" (the twists and turns that this show takes - it was tough to follow at times). Shortly before the intermission, Bailey was just crawling around under seats and goofing around on the floor. I asked Adam what she was doing and he shrugged his shoulders and then asked her what she was doing. She looked at us as if we were the biggest morons around and said, "I'm looking for Bob, dad. Bob's missing." I almost hit the ground laughing. How insensitive of us to just sit and watch this show when the real tragedy was that Bob was missing!!

So - did they ever find Bob? Was he returned in good shape? Well, I don't want to ruin it for you, but I'll say this - we had a great time!

Guess who is off of the paci?

From exhaustion is born progress! That's my new quote. Need a little explanation? Adam and I have been working a lot of hours and sleeping very few. Of course, anytime that we're not either working or sleeping we're enjoying family. But, the fact remains, that we're both running many hours short on the sleep front. Two nights ago we accidentally forgot (too tired to think) to attach the pacifier to Bailey's jammies when we put her to bed, and somehow she missed this fact or was so ready to go to bed that she didn't care. I didn't even discover it until she woke up yesterday morning. After talking with Adam, we decided to just see how it would go - if she asked for Paci we'd try to engage her in something else, if she started crying for Paci we'd let her have it. She didn't ask for it all day. So, we put her to bed without it - no problem! She's been without Paci since around 6pm on Wednesday and hasn't seemed to even notice! I'm thrilled because I was envisioning many bribes and much begging to get rid of the pacifier before she graduated from college. Her dentist has told us that we need to wean her of paci by the time that she's three - I was really dreading it! This just reinforces that, as with every other thing that Bailey has done (sleep, eating, weaning from breast feeding, etc) when she's ready, it just happens. So - no more paci - way to go peanut!!

Remember

They say that you never forget where you were when you heard about certain events. The day that President Kennedy was shot. The moment that Pearl Harbor started getting bombed. The day that we initiated the first Gulf War. September 11, 2001. I was on a treadmill.

I arrived at the gym around 6am and saw the news reporting that a plane had flown into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. At that time, there was no reason given for the poor flying. Had a pilot had a heart attack? Did a navigation system fail? The Today Show was on and there was discussion and speculation, but the terrorist possibility was not really highlighted. I started running and watched the show. All cameras were trained on the towers, with occasional glances back at Matt and Katie. And then, we saw another plane enter the corner of the screen. And then, it headed straight for the other tower. And everyone in the gym stopped running. Treadmills still moving, but no sound of footfall on the belts. Everyone was just standing there, trying to decide if they were really seeing what they thought they were seeing. I just stood there as it happened - unable to fully grasp what I was watching. After a few minutes, I continued my workout and just listened to the news. It was so quiet in the gym. No one was chatting. Everyone was more intense, seemingly wrapped up in their workout, but really wrapped up in their thoughts and how the world had just changed.

By the time that I arrived home, a plane had flown into the Pentagon. I knew that Roger knew people there and called him. Oddly, the people that I most expected to be awake early in the morning (Roger and Mom) had slept a little later than usual that morning. Roger answered the phone and I asked if he'd been watching the news. He said that he hadn't turned on the T.V. yet. I remember my words, "the Pentagon has been hit." He asked, "by what". I then told him about the events of the morning. Suddenly it was Leiutenant Colonel Roger Gaines on the phone, "I've got to go Kim, I've got to get briefed." It reminded me that in times of crisis we default to the mode where we've known crisis in the past. After West Point, Vietnam, and his many years of service to this country, he knows briefings.

So much has happened since then. I realize that Bailey will never know a world without the very real threat of terrorism. That's strange. That's not the world that I grew up in. I realize that my dad, the ultimate history and world affairs buff, knew none of this. The first Gulf War occurred after he died. Obviously, so did the second. And, the Twin Towers were still standing during his life. I didn't even know Adam prior to 9/11.

Shortly after this event, I had the opportunity to meet a photographer named Peter Turnley. His career has been quite prolific and he has photographed events ranging from Harley Davidson's anniversary to the Bosnian war. He found his way down to Ground Zero on 9/11 and spent the night holed up in an office building accross from Ground Zero. He is far more articulate than I am, and shares his observations and one of his photos here.

So, why the brain dump this morning? What's my point? Not sure that I have one. I'll note right now that this may not be the most cohesive closing paragraph. Not sure that matters. I think I'm just rambling. But, here's my current though, this is a different world that we live in. We're at war. I never thought that I'd be able to say that in my lifetime. But, I'm thankful and I'm blessed that every day of my life I'm surrounded by people that I know and that know me. And, I'm thankful that I have Adam and Bailey. Certainly, I'll remember 9/11 forever. However, with it, I'll remember how fortunate I am to have such a beautiful family.

All Growed Up!

I woke Bailey up this morning and said, "Guess what day it is baby? It's Tuesday and it's your first day of school!" Her response? "School?!?! Hooray school!!" And, that seemed to represent how she really felt about preschool because when we got there she floated into class. Adam and I stuck around for a few minutes, but she didn't really care - she was too busy, and she was enjoying it! We said good-bye and she said, "bye mommy-dad". And that was it. She had a great day at school, too. When I got there she ran and hugged and snuggled and then told me all about how she played outside and played in the kitchen and played with friends (are you catching the theme?). She was really wired for the night, too. She took a nap, but only 1.5 hours. I think that her brain must have just been so busy processing the day! It was a great day, though - my little girl is growing up!

Is that my little girl?

Bailey started dance on Saturday and it was beautiful! We were a few minutes early so that she could observe, but she didn't need it - she's a big girl (duh, mom). For the first 22 minutes, Bailey actually did everything that the teacher asked her to do. I don't think that she has performed that task (of following directions) since she was born, and even that was a forced obedience (via c-section). Oh, and I actually know the instructor. I've directed her in shows and played a number of rehearsals for another show that she was in.

Back to Bailey, about 1/2 way through the class, Bailey went to the teacher and told her that she needed to use the toilet - so I took her into the bathroom, but she had a pull up on so I was sure that she was just fooling us. SURPRISE - she was dry and actually did use the toilet - I was STUNNED!!

Needless to say, I sat there as a proud mom watching my girl be like a bunny and wave her arms like a tree and thought about what a beautiful little person she is becoming. I just love her spirit and love her spunk (with the exception of when she tells me, "I'm not going to do that mom") and just soaked it in.

Oh, and when you see her looking behind the instructor, it's because there's a wall length mirror that she just loved to watch. She couldn't take her eyes off of herself.

Here's some video of my tiny dancer:

School Days

Bailey will start preschool next Tuesday. I am still a little shocked about this. We had parent orientation yesterday where we met the other parents and got all of our school information. It's interesting - I actually already knew two of the parents.

I was in yoga with the mom of one girl while we were pregnant. It's kind of funny, this mom and I have run into each other a number of times. We both sat on a panel at the hospital for a breastfeeding class. We've run into each other at Borders and Costco. Then, I walked into the parent orientation yesterday and discovered that our girls are going to be in class together. We've exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses at least 3 times - and then lost them. Now, our phone numbers are on a class list. We'll be better at keeping track of the numbers and will see each other more frequently.

Last spring, Bailey was in soccer with one of the boys in her class - his name is Camden. He definitely listened to the coach better than Bailey did. Which means that he listened to the coach more than once. I hope that Bailey will listen more than once in school - my fingers are crossed.

I did apologize to all of the other parents right away. You see, last March, as I was walking out to the car and carrying Bailey and my purse and a cup of coffee and who knows what else (probably the kitchen sink and the fridge), I dropped something on the ground and said, "ah crap". About 2 milliseconds later, Bailey said, "aw cwap". I just groaned - ugh! And thought I'd try not to even make a big deal out of it. I thought that I'd pulled it off because I didn't hear it again. Until about 3 weeks later when Bailey dropped a toy on the floor and announced, "aw cwap". And (yes, I'm confessing) I let out a laugh. And then I suggested that she use another expression. And then she used it again. Well, we've had a "cwap-free" summer until 2 days ago when I was setting up the new climbing toy. She dropped one of the pieces on the ground and said, "aw cwap" and I just about died. We had a talk and she knows that she shouldn't use that word, but I don't have high hopes. So - I apologized to the parents for my daughter's language and expressed that I'm hopeful that she won't teach this word to all of their children. In my defense - at least it's not the "F" word!

But, I digress. The real point of this post is that we have begun the school festivities. School begins on Tuesday, but today was open house. Bailey had a blast, met a couple of new "buddies" (Anna and Kira) and is looking forward to next week. I can't believe it's starting!! Oh, and we did learn that Bailey will get to bring something for show and tell every Tuesday. This is going to be an exciting year - as long as she doesn't get expelled for her foul mouth!

Pajamas are an accessory

If every day could be a pajama day in the Dare household, Bailey would declare it to be nirvana. She loves her pajamas. I've discovered that I can "dress up" jammies fairly easily. The dilemma occurs when Bailey decides to further accessorize. What do you think about this getup:

She climbs

For awhile I took Bailey to the daycare at the gym while I worked out. The first day that I took her, I walked into the room and took a careful look around the room. I immediately recognized that Bailey was going to LOVE this room because it was filled with climbing opportunities. She was only 20 months old and none of the other kids in the room (walking to 22 months) were anywhere near as physically coordinated as she was. I spoke to the daycare provider in the room and shared that Bailey was a climber. Her response? "Oh, they're all climbers." I proceeded to explain that Bailey was not your average toddler climber - she's climbed on top of the piano at home. She was a CLIMBER. I then pointed out every area that I thought would be a hazardous area for her. They assured me that it was all going to fine (silly mommy). When I returned 1.5 hours later, the entire room had been rearranged - all of the climbing opportunities had been removed - and the provider said, "she's a CLIMBER". I just smiled and nodded my head.

We've got a new climbing toy in our backyard. Bailey's mastered it, but LOVES it. She makes us sit and watch (if we stand she points to the ledge and says, "mama, sit!"). Bailey's a climber!

I can sew!

When I was growing up my parents owned a gymnastics academy. My mother made leotards and sold them at the gym and offered my sisters and I the opportunity to earn a little money sewing the seams. Well, I did one leotard and got canned. My mother's announcement was that it would cost her more to rip the seam out and restitch it than it would for her to just take the time to sew the leo. She was probably right.

Bailey and I were at Ben Franklin about a month ago and she saw this pumpkin quilt and said that she liked it. I looked at it and thought it just looked like a bunch of straight lines and I should be able to handle that, so I purchased the kit and brought it home. The first time that I read the instructions I couldn't translate it - it looked like Greek. The second time that I read the instructions (about 3 weeks later) it made sense, and I sewed the quilt together in just 4 days. Here is the result:

Deadliest Catch?

In 1974, my family moved from Bellevue to Olympia. Before we moved down there I remember going to the Gold Creek Trout Farm where we would go "fishing". It was a stocked pond, so you could have just stood in the middle of the pond with your arms out and you would have caught something.

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon. The Gold Creek Trout Farm is still open (different owner) and still has a stocked pond. We took Bailey "fishing". It was so funny! She insisted that the pole was hers - "My fishing pole!" Anytime Adam tried to help her she would remind him of this fact. She caught 2 fish - with each one she just squealed!! She especially got a kick out of watching them get so squirmy and wiggly!! We'll be having trout for dinner in the next week or so (they're in the freezer right now). It was a great afternoon!!