Happy Halloween

Years ago, my sister Lisa gave me a pumpkin-carving pattern for a witch riding on a broomstick. Over the years, I've tended to use patterns because if I'm left on my own, my jack-o-lanterns are truly boring. You know, the triangles for eyes and nose accompanied by a gap-toothed grin. During the years we lived in NY, our friends Shela and Ray had an annual pumpkin-carving party where freestyle or patterned carvings were equally welcome. Imagine 15-20 people sitting on the floor, carving in unison. (B.Y.O.K.) Shela sent us an email last week telling us the party has now grown to 75 people. They really know how to put on a party.

After a 2-year layoff, I got the patterns out the other night. Jeff was out of town and the little one was sound asleep. I like how this one turned out, but it made me wonder: If you use one of those fancy patterns to carve out a cat sitting on a tree branch, is it still a jack-o-lantern?

It's the Great Puppy, Charlie Brown!

Mia's preschool Halloween party was this morning. I brought her to school and stayed for a bit before heading off to work. It was amazing to see how nicely Mia behaved in a more structured environment. I was impressed. She was awfully quiet, didn't talk at all. Sarah stayed with Mia all morning, ensuring she didn't fall off the pony (yes, they had pony rides!), taking pictures, and being Mia's all-around best friend.

Sarah reports that Mia wasn't scared of the pony at all. She loved it! She happened to be the first child to ride the pony, and apparently the pony had gotten hungry on the long trip because it kept stopping to eat. Mia got a nice long ride and cried when she had to dismount. Maybe she will take after her horse-loving cousins Claire and Emily.

Pumpkin Pi

Remember last week how I posted those blurry photos of Mia romping at the local pumpkin patch? Over the weekend, Jeff found another pumpkin patch where we wouldn't be recognized. This one was set up really nicely. It was on a soccer field next to a church. Decidedly un-farmlike. On the other hand, they clearly understand their target market, because they had set up little photo-ready vignettes with hay bales, multi-colored pumpkins, split rail fencing and scarecrows. As we posed Mia for the shot, I discovered my camera battery was dead. Darn.
In the end the trip was worth it because they'd also set up a moonwalk/bounce castle. No one else was in it, so Jeff and Mia tried it out. Mia quickly tired of it, but as she and Jeff exited, I realized I have never once in my life bounced in a moonwalk. They had just come into fashion when I was a child and as I recall you paid a significant amount of money for the privilege of bouncing around. At least that is the reason my Mom gave when she said we couldn't go in the moonwalk - maybe she was more worried that we'd break our necks.
Anyway, I hopped in and had it all to myself. Totally fun.

Fun Day at the Petting Zoo

Sarah surprised me at work today with a lovely email. So, I thought it might be fun to feature Sarah as guest author. In her own words...

Hey Donna,
What a day we have had. We started off at the Berry Farm. There we pet farm animals and took a hay ride through the pumpkin patch! Mia loved the farm animals. It was hard to get her to leave. I think her favorite was the Sheep (of course). As you can see in one of the pictures she wanted to give it a kiss. I had to to warn her to be careful as there were signs that say WATCH OUT WE BITE. We walked through the pumpkin patch that barely had any pumpkins left, but Mia still had a blast.
Our next stop was Chik-Fil-A for lunch. As soon as we walked in Mia wanted to go to the play area. I reassured her we could play after lunch. We sat and ate and Mia was all smiles. She constantly waved to the customers walking in. After our tummies were full I took Mia to the play room and from there we climbed and laughed.
Our fun day continues with pumpkin carving after nap. Please enjoy the pictures.
Sarah

Much Ado About Sam

Today we depart from writing about Mia (and/or myself as Reflective Older Mother of a Toddler) to tell you about a little incident that happened to Sam last week. Sam is our 14-year-old toy poodle. She used to be black, but is graying as the years sneak up on her.
Sam has been a little under the weather lately. I’ve been hoping it’s nothing serious, maybe she’s been sneaking a few table scraps. Because of that, I’ve been putting off getting her hair cut (too traumatizing), but last Friday I decided it was time for a trip to the groomer. Sarah and Mia dropped her off in the morning on their way to the library. About noon, the groomer called to say Sam was ready to go home. We were just starting lunch, so we didn’t go to pick her up for about 40 minutes. When we got there, one of the young women groomers (hereafter called Groomer 1) looked up from the incredibly hairy shih tzu she was grooming to ask which dog we were picking up. Groomer 1 then went into the back room to get Sam. After several minutes, she returned to the grooming area sans dog and conferred with Groomer 2. They spoke in low tones which I couldn’t overhear, but I could see that they were a little flustered. Then both women disappeared into the back room. A few minutes later, they came back. Still flustered, still no dog. They conferred with the owner, then all three went into the back room. A couple minutes later, the owner came to the counter. She was visibly upset. I began to worry. Was Sam unconscious? Had she died back there?

Owner: I’m so sorry, this has never happened before.
Me: (eyes widen)
Owner: We sent Sam home with someone else. A little old man.
Me (laughing largely out of relief that my unspoken fear wasn't realized): Obviously, a little old man with bad eyesight.
Owner (grabs phone and starts looking for a phone number): I’m so so sorry. I’ll take care of this personally. The little old man doesn’t live too far away. (Dials phone, no answer.)
Me: We have to leave, someone is supposed to be at my house in a few minutes. Before I go, can I look at the dog that is left?
Owner (dubiously): OK.
Groomer 2: (puzzled look)
Owner: Go get the other dog. She wants to see it.
Groomer 2 (dubiously): OK

Groomer 2 goes to the back room and returns with Sam, who has orange and black bows in her hair.

Me: That is my dog. You didn’t make a mistake.
Groomer 2: No, it’s not your dog.
Me: Yes it is. That’s Sam.
Groomer 2: Ma'am, we didn’t put bows in Sam’s hair.
Me: (I avoid asking, “Why didn’t you give her any bows?”) No, that’s Sam. Here, let me look at her teeth. (Looks at teeth.) OK, unless you cleaned my dog’s teeth today, that is not my dog.
Groomer 2: I know.
Owner: We’ll find Sam, I promise you. I’m sooo soooo sorry. This has never happened before.
Me: That’s OK, obviously they must look a lot alike. (To myself: Oh, it’s worth it just to be able to tell this story.)

P.S. Sam was recovered about an hour later, and seems none the worse for the wear.

Toes

Mia loves playing with her feet.


Exhibit A: One of the first photos we ever took of Mia, back in the hotel in Nanchang. We'd been warned that in the orphanage they are so bundled up that they rarely get to see their toes. We were told we should expect Mia to exhibit an unusually strong fascination with her own extremities.


Exhibit B: One year later, Mia likes standing on her worktable while one of her adults traces the outline of her feet.

Birthday Party Preparations

I've been getting ready for Mia's birthday party, which is in 2 weeks. The theme is Dogs. Just dogs, not "licensed character dogs" like Blue of Blue's Clues or Scooby Doo or even Clifford the Big Red Dog. Mia is too young to have real friends yet, but last week, I sent e-mail invitations to a few of our friends who have toddlers. (e-mail invitations. Remember the days when I used to make handmade cards? Let's just say this is yet another area where I've lowered my standards.) This weekend I've been making the party favors. (Making the party favors. Perhaps there is hope for me after all.) It all started when I had this great idea that we'd have the party at our house. Instead of renting some inflatable moon castle or a petting zoo, we would feature a craft activity. Most people give out little goodie bags for party favors, wouldn't it be cool if the guests decorated T-shirts with fabric paint? (2-year-olds with fabric paint. I know, it sounds ridiculous now that I've put it in writing.) Pretty quickly I concluded that was a bit ambitious for 2-year-olds. Instead, we're going to have some physical play time in Mia's backyard (playroom if raining) followed by lunch. I've been making the party favors myself. Last night, I showed Jeff the prototype. It wasn't quite perfect, but Jeff assured me that is part of the charm. He even took a picture of me working on the party favors, saying it will make Mia happy to see the effort I put into her 2nd birthday party. Now, that's my idea of a supportive husband!
Oh, and the cake. After discovering that the local bakeries can't make a cake with a plain old dog on it, only licensed character cakes with features like mandatory blue frosting (eeeuuw), I went on the web and got a pattern for making a dog cake. For about a day, I decided that was a super idea, then I realized it would take 3-4 hours and would look quite amateurish because while I am a competent baker I am an untested cake decorator. I think I'll save that pattern for another day. Like when Mia is old enough to appreciate it and/or at least help me. It's off to the grocery store to put in an order for a sheet cake that has "Happy Birthday, Mia" written on it.
I'm beginning to see why people opt for the "write a check to the kid-friendly entertainment restaurant" theme party.

More Scenes from the Pumpkin Patch

It was a lovely sunny afternoon. Eventually Mia slowed down enough for me to get a few photos. They had lots more itty bitty pumpkins than I remembered. Mia found them irresistable. She always likes things that are just her size. We never did get that family photo I'd hoped for, or even just a photo of Mia and I. Back in the minivan, I lamented that since I'm always taking the pictures, I'm never in them. Jeff assured me we can go find another pumpkin patch this weekend. Perhaps he thinks we've worn out our welcome at this one :)

Pumpkin Patch 2008

I loved last year's photo at the pumpkin patch so much that it is still on display in my office. I've been thinking I should replace it with a more current photo, and what better than another trip to the pumpkin patch? Mia and Jeff were wearing red shirts, so I put my red shirt on before we left, thinking we'd get a lovely family photo as well. What a difference a year makes. Last year, Mia wasn't walking yet, so we could sit her down in the pumpkin patch and snap, snap, snap until we got just the photo we were looking for. This year she was running around non-stop. They have lots of toddler-sized pumpkins at this particular pumpkin patch. Mia spied a wheelbarrow nearby and proceeded to pick up tiny pumpkins one by one and load them in the wheelbarrow. It was somewhat cute until the pre-teen boy working there got the idea that we were going to buy them all. We unloaded the wheelbarrow, put the baby pumpkins back in their places, and moved on to another part of the pumpkin patch where the pumpkins were too large for Mia to carry. I thought it would make a better photo, anyway. Except Mia doesn't pose for photos. (I've probably already told you that a hundred times, but what is 101 among friends?) As usual, it was impossible getting her to stay in one place long enough to focus the camera, and when she did, she wouldn't look up. Eventually we gave up, bought one of the overpriced baby pumpkins as payment for the photo op, and headed back to the van. While Jeff strapped Mia in her car seat, I reviewed my photos. If photos are meant to capture memories, this one is destined to be my favorite. (But stay tuned for more scenes from the pumpkin patch.)

Grass

Mia is really enjoying her ASL skills. In the car, at the dinner table, wherever we are, she may spontaneously break into signing (that's signing, not singing). Sometimes she is signing what she sees (cars, dogs), other times she just seems to be practicing. Or showing off. We especially love it when she signs for us while speaking the associated word. Which brings us to today's photo. Mia looked so lovely in the pink dress she wore to church today, I brought the camera so we could take a picture in the church courtyard. As soon as we let go of her hand, she ran around the courtyard and church steps in an impromptu game of "catch me if you can." Jeff eventually caught up to her and stood her in a grassy spot for the photo. Which prompted her to point to the ground and then make the ASL sign for "grass." (You cup your hand under your chin as if you are lying in the grass.) Not exactly the shot I was looking for, but a moment worth capturing.

P.S. She is talking more too. New favorite word: Mine.

New Outfit

I love Mia in this outfit, a cute little denim jumper with coordinating top.

Loving Arms

I recently overheard a mother of a 7-year-old tell the mother of an infant, "When you are a parent, the days are long but the years are short." There is a lot of truth in that, though now that Mia is more active (and interactive), the days go pretty fast.
I have really been enjoying the affectionate stage Mia is in. When I am rocking her before naptime or bedtime, she holds on tight. That is so different from the early days. At first, when we held her, she really didn't hold on. Within a couple of months she learned to hold on with her arms, and it was months later that she first clung to us using her legs. That was a big sign of progress!
When we met the staff members from the orphanage, it was clear they were loving people who cared deeply about Mia. I'm sure the caregivers gave her as much affection as they could under the circumstances. With that foundation, Mia spent her first year in our family learning how to be loved and to give love in the way that only parents and child can.

Oh, my darling Mia -
Thank you for letting our love in.

For you see, each day I love you more.
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
~Rosemonde Gerard

Blog Envy

I have been admiring recent upgrades in several of the blogs I follow. Custom graphics, pleasing color schemes. They have me wondering, "How did they do that?" Now that I'm learning digital scrapbooking, I think I could beef up my own blog image if I put my mind to it. Nothing as fancy as my friends' blogs, but something more than the plain-vanilla blogspot template. Then I remember that Mia's paternal grandparents print out every page, and someday I may just do the same. Can you imagine the tab for ink? And anyway, I like lots of white space in my life, so why not in my blog? I guess I'll keep focusing my energy on the words.

So, to my blogging pals with the lovely lovely sites (you know who you are) -
Thank you for making my world more colorful, not just with your graphics but with your vivid pictures of life with your daughters.

P.S. I suffer from scrapbook envy, too. My favorite scrapbooking author is Cathy Zielske of "Clean and Simple" scrapbooks fame. Oh, to be able to capture moments with one-tenth the eloquence she does in her scrapbooks.

Puppy Practice

After I wrote about our Halloween plans, I thought I'd better try out Mia's Halloween costume.

Day 1: Mia fusses as we put the costume on. The whimpers continue as I tell her, "You look so cute, you're a dog!!! Let's go look in the mirror!" while escorting her to the full-length mirror in the master bath. Mia whimpers some more and stamps her feet in protest as we look in the mirror and I try to sell the costume. "Look, you have a tail, too!" Wag, wag, I flop the attached tail around. I try to get Mia to put the puppy head on. She twists her head away, so I put it on myself to show her how cute it is. Then I attempt to get Mia to wear it, and the protests increase. Mia whimpers, "Off, off." I remove costume. Sarah witnesses it all.

Day 2: I come home from work and Sarah shows me this photo. If this were a competition, I'd retreat with my tail between my legs right now.

P.S. Notice the treat bag in the shape of a puppy's head. Mia is into carrying purses and bags right now, so that is her favorite part of the entire costume.

Made in the Shade(s)

Now that summer is over, Mia has been enjoying wearing her sunglasses. Only indoors, of course. We can never get her to wear them in the sun. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Sometimes when I look at her, I see a teenager in training. Until I notice she has her sheep in tow. Still plenty of wonder years left.

Campaign Promises

Those of you who watched the Vice Presidential debate last week may remember the moderator's question that went something like, "Tell us about a time when you changed your position on an issue." With one year and three weeks of parenthood under my belt, I have been reflecting on the positions I took about how we would raise our daughter during the 2+ year wait for Mia to join our family. For example, I asked Jeff to make a pact that we would never give our child a new car, whether we could afford it or not. You see, I think Jeff and I have been well served by our Midwestern values which say you only appreciate the value of things you really have to work for. I want my child to have the sense of accomplishment that comes from working hard and earning the things she wants.
One plank of my parenting platform had to do with toys. Before we had Mia, I insisted we wouldn't buy her too many toys. I thought a kid could have plenty of fun with pots and pans, old tupperware, and wooden spoons. For extra fun, save those giant cardboard boxes your washer and dryer arrived in. Cut a few windows in the side, give the kid some crayons, and they've got a custom-designed playhouse. I even saved an old sheet with just a couple of holes in it, thinking it would be great for making an indoor tent.
As I look around our playroom, I have to admit that while I never officially (or even consciously) changed my position on toys, an impartial observer could only conclude I have flip-flopped. In a big way. In my defense, many of these toys were either:
(a) hand-me-downs from cousins,
(b) gifts, or
(c) recommended by Sarah or friends and family for their developmental value and/or enduring appeal to child and parent alike.

Over the course of a week, most of these toys actually get used, in 10-15 minute increments. A lot of them get used nearly every day. (After all, there are 96 15-minute increments in a day.) And in my defense, I've minimized the expense by purchasing a good portion of them at the children's consignment sales that are huge around here. (Thank goodness some things don't change when you become a parent: I'm still my old thrifty self. You should see me when those boxes of hand-me-downs arrive. I'm as giddy as Christmas morning.)
OK, I admit it. I have totally changed my position on the toy thing. But there are a few parenting promises I still insist I will never break. Read my lips: NO NEW CARS!!

Big Appetite

Sarah reports Mia loves Subway sandwiches. Usually they dine in. According to Sarah, Mia sits nicely in the booth while Sarah orders the food. Supposedly the staff thinks she is really cute. Apparently Mia behaves better when Sarah takes her to a restaurant then when we do.

The Scream

Sarah frequently uses our camera to document interesting moments in Mia's day. Sometimes when I download the photos, I have no idea what is going on in the photo. I can't tell whether this was a happy scream or an angry scream. In the photo just before this one, she is smiling, but then Mia's moods are as mercurial as any other toddler. Anyway, this photo reminds me a little bit of Edvard Munch's "Scream" painting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream

Ross

Mia has spent more time with her cousins Ross and Claire than the others. Given all of her cousins live over 1000 miles away, that is still not a lot of contact. Imagine our surprise when Mia recognized Ross in a photo of Ross and Claire that is probably 7 or 8 years old. Ross was just a toddler at the time. Said photo resides on the bookshelves in our living room. Mia took the photo off the shelf (she must be getting taller – we’re finding lots of new things are suddenly within reach). She then put the photo on the floor, sat down, and proceeded to point and say, “Ross, Ross, Ross.” We suspect she would have said “Claire, Claire, Claire”, too, except Mia can’t make K sounds yet.
That brings us to her other male person of interest (aside from Daddy, of course). Mia loves the Signing Time sign language videos, and she has a vocabulary of over 50 signs. The videos feature a boy and girl, Alex and Leah. Mia has been saying “Alex” a lot. The other night, she was watching a video with her father and when Alex came on, she pointed excitedly and said “Alex” over and over again. Daddy took the opportunity to put in a friendly taunt, “Mia’s got a boyfriend.” Fortunately, Mia has no idea what a boyfriend is yet. Otherwise I’m quite sure she would have said “Eeuw,” which is one of her favorite words lately.

Halloween Contingency Planning

I've had several people (including Mia's father) ask me what Mia will be for Halloween. Last year, she went to our subdivision's Halloween party as a hot ladybug. You see, the costume was a lovely fake fur number handed down from her cousin. Just add a black turtleneck and black leggings and you are good to go. The only problem with this was that up North (where the ladybug costume came from) the temperature is often in the 40's on Halloween night. (Fun fact: in 1991, the great Halloween blizzard dropped 28 inches of snow on our hometown, making it one of the top 5 weather events of the 20th century there. Right up there with the Dust Bowl of the 1930's.) Anyway, I believe it was about 80 degrees here last year, so as soon as I'd proudly paraded my new daughter in front of the neighbors, the fur had to fly.
This year, Mia is going to be a dog. A white dog with brown spots to be exact. I found this very cute costume on clearance last year. My hope is that the temperature will be a bit cooler than last year. The National Weather Service says the typical high temp on Oct 31 is 68 degrees.

WARM WEATHER CONTINGENCY PLAN:
If it is too hot for the dog suit, we will pull out the still-too-big purple leotard I found at a consignment sale, pair it with the still-too-long lavender tutu my sister sent and whatever shoes look the least stupid, and Mia will go to the party as a rather poorly dressed ballerina. (Darn, I should have picked up that pair of used ballet shoes at the consignment sale when I had the chance.) Or, maybe we'll add a wand and pretend she is a fairy. No ballet shoes required for that.

DOG COSTUME REJECTION CONTINGENCY PLAN:
Mia can be a bit fussy about what she wears, so there is no guarantee she'll wear the dog costume even if we have a successful dry run. See WARM WEATHER CONTINGENCY PLAN.

Happiness Moment: For most of my adult life, I wished I had a child to celebrate Halloween with. Now I do.