« October 2007 | Main | December 2007 »
November 29, 2007
"Home Alone"
Our little girl gave us a scare today. I went out to the back porch with some trash, turned around, and she was shutting the door in my face. And of course, I had forgotten to completely unlock it just in case like I usually do. Ack!! Freak out time.
She's peering up at me through the glass like "Why aren't you coming back inside, Mommy?" I'm smiling back at her while inside praying like crazy. She tried for the doorknob saying, "Hep, Hep." I'm like, "No, you need to help Mommy." :) For a minute I thought she'd be able to turn the lock, but nope. Then she went for the deadbolt, and I'm like, "No, no, no!"
Meanwhile my brain is whirring with what to do. I have no cell phone with me, and it's still 40 minutes until Peter gets home. I've got to either try to keep her near the door and windows so I can watch her or try to get to a phone across the street fast to call Peter home to save the day, but I hate to run that far away from her.
Just then she went away from the door toward the front of the house, so I run around to our front window and tap on it until she comes over. I'm smiling and acting silly like we're playing a game, all the while my goal to keep her near me and away from the stairs. Now that I'm at the front of the house I see our neighbors lights are on, and I'm in a better position to run quickly across the street to use their phone while still being able to see her little face in the window. I instruct her through the window to stay there and watch Mommy while she runs across the street...which she actually does!!! God love her!
I sprint across the street and knock while looking back constantly to see that little face. My neighbor opens the door, I quickly explain the situation, and he goes back in for the phone while I sprint back across the street to touch base with her again through the window. Then back across the street for the phone. He sweetly offers me a jacket, but I'm warm with adrenaline and baby hormones :). Call Peter fast and try not to sound too frantic over the phone. I know he's already going to have horrible visions in his head the whole way home.
Back over to my confused little one. She heads toward the back of the house again, and I meet her there smiling. She runs toward the door grinning like it's a fun game of hide and seek. She engages in another futile attempt to unlock the door with her stubby little fingers, bless her little heart. Neighbor comes by to check on things, says Peter's just called him that he's on his way.
At that moment she heads toward the front again, so I run to meet her there. But she's continuing the full circle (you know what I mean if you know our downstairs) and goes back to the front to meet our neighbor, not her Mommy, which freaks her out a little, so she heads into the front living room again. But when I get back to the front window I can't see her. Uh-oh. I fear she's heading toward the foyer and the stairs, so I run to the front door where I will have visual of her. Thank you Jesus, she's there and not halfway up the stairs. I tap to get her to the door and entertain her by turning our old-fashioned doorbell. Now she's starting to cry and get scared. "Daddy's coming, baby. Coming to save us, don't worry."
I see lights coming up the street. Hallelujah!!
Next thing I know Peter's there with her, having come in the back door. She's clinging to him, poor confused little orphan. I'm in tears. Peter snaps then quickly apologizes, relating how scared he was. We all collapse on the couch for awhile and let the the stress bleed out. I think about how thankful I am that the stove wasn't on and a million other ways that this all could have been worse.
If nothing else this gave me something to blog about...oy-vey!
Posted by Shannon at 08:16 PM | Comments (3)
November 21, 2007
New Boots
Natalie loves her new snow boots and as you can hear, is learning her name. This video shows what I'm thankful for this day.
Posted by Peter at 11:38 PM | Comments (1)
November 19, 2007
The Definition of Insanity
My daughter is over a year and a half old. The past year and a half has been great, but it's also been a blur of sleepless nights, dirty diapers, screaming, worrying about her falling on her head, reading "Goodnight Moon" again and again and again, dirty diapers, and more screaming.
Good times.
So, hey, why not do it again?
Yup, Shannon is pregnant with our second. The child is due in late June, and we're looking forward to his or her arrival. If we're lucky, maybe the next one won't turn out to be a budding serial killer.
Posted by Peter at 07:04 PM | Comments (4)
November 14, 2007
Those Were The Days...
So the other day Peter could tell that I was an antsy Momma in need of some time in the outside world. He suggested that we eat out after doing some errands we had planned. Yay! We went to UNOs, one of our favorite places pre-Natalie. As we sat there waiting for our meal he said, "Remember when we used to come here with friends?"
I said, "Ah, yes, and get appetizers and talk and stay late?"
He said, "And remember when we used to dive right into our meals? Now my steak and shrimp sit untouched while I cut up her Tiny Dinos."
"Ahhhh..." (in stereo)
Yes, those were the days. These days are good too, and she was super cute and very well-behaved at the restaurant (saves her devilish behavior for home.)
But sometimes as much as you love your child, you just have to take time to mourn your childless existence.
And we want to do this again??? Crazy fools...
Posted by Shannon at 01:00 PM | Comments (2)
November 12, 2007
Bath Beads
Natalie loves these Mardi Gras beads so much that they've gone into the tub with her now on several occasions. What a hot ticket! :)
She loves her bath, and we tend to get very silly. Last night, however, her behavior took a darker turn. She repeatedly held her rubber ducky under the water saying, "Bye." Of course, afterward she held it close and said, "Hug," so it's all ok.
Oh dear, we may have a budding sociopath on our hands...or she's just like her father, ha ha.
Posted by Shannon at 10:14 AM | Comments (3)