Quiet weekend

So when we moved to Jersey, I figured I'd be more comfortable with everything. It is where I grew up. Where I always returned. So now that I'm here, it is amazing how perfect my life feels. I have close friends and family I can call on a whim. I have people I can call in the middle of the day for a playdate or a coffee. I have friends I can not call for two months, then call and it picks up like yesterday. It is so right for me.

But I wonder if it is really as comfortable for Chris as it is for me. He went mountain biking this weekend and I know he is enjoying the time away. I haven't been away from Vail for more than 12 hours ever. Not once. I spent one night supervising a lock-in for my job, and I left at nine and returened at 8am. I have never had a night or a weekend away. I know that this time always does Chris some good. He comes back relaxed and happy. I wonder what a night or two away would do for me. Would I worry the whole time that I was gone? No, I trust Chris with Vail completely. What on earth would I do with myself when I was goign to bed? Would I be able to sleep through the night. I have a feeling that I could check into a hotel and hit the bed by eight pm and sleep until eight the next day. No problem. Who knows.

Vail seems more comfortable with my Mom now more than ever. I can drop her off there, like I did today to go to work, and they have just the best time. She said to me tongiht at bedtime that she had so much fun going to the playground today with Marmee and going out to dinner tonight (to the Chinese Buffet with Marmee and me). How sweet. My Mom is a huge part of Vail's life now. I never had that with my grandparents. Chris never had that with his grandparents. I lways wanted to give this to my children. It just seems so perfect that we are here.

I hope it seems that way for everyone.

The joys of being 2.5

What on earth goes on in the head of a two-year-old that makes her think that screaming at the top of her lungs and kicking accomplishes anything positive? Ugh. I have read the books. I understand that 2 1/2 is the "terrible" part of the terrible twos, but seriously. Vail has a breakdown about something everyday. Going to bed. Eating dinner. Going to the pool. Not going to the pool. Goodness, please tell me there is an end to the drama. Oh wait, she's Vail. No end to the drama :-) That's okay, I just hope that she can learn to express herself verbally quickly. This kicking thing is crazy.

House searching

What is more frustrating than looking for a house? Nothing like dropping six figures for somewhere to wash my undies and hang my coats. Really. And in NJ, taxes are ridiculous. For one quarter acre, three bedroom humble abode, expect to pay close to ten thousand. I felt a little better today when I saw a listing for a deal in Maplewood that was a genuine Stickley house, seven bedrooms, three and a half baths, one car garage, unfinished basement with taxes at 27000/year. Um, I barely clear that after taxes. AS A SALARY. Ugh. Where do I want to hang my hat? Jersey. So get used to the taxes. At least we have decent schools. If I wasn't procreating, I'd say screw it. Let's move somewhere where the schools bite and the taxes are low.

Outdated

So, part of any librarian job is weeding. Get over the fact that you bought the book in 1982. Get rid of it if is out of date. This is a list of titles I've made up about books I've found. If you find me, weed me:

1) If Men Have Landed on the Moon, weed this book.
2) If Women Vote, weed this book.
3) When China reaches 1 million People, weed this book.
4) Getting to Know your 48 States, weed this book.
5) Men are not Childbearers, weed this book.

More to come.

Getting a laugh

Visited the Dain Shoppe this week. What a fun place. Brought my Mom, which would have been SO embarrassing when I was in high school, but so fun now that I'm an adult. Bought some beautiful lingerie which I proceded to bring home and put on the floor in my room. Um, remember, you have a curious two-year-old. Needless to say, Vail had to try everything on. A two-year-old in a lace bra and thong is definitely a sight to behold. She was hilarious. She still has not inquired as to why my undies don't have backs. I think I'd like her just to accept it. :-) No questions necessary.

Public does not mean free

So a man came into the library yesterday and demanded his copies to be free because he pays taxes. He was downright belligerent screaming at our director about how he already pays for the ink and paper and maintenance and how he should be permitted to make copies anytime because he is a taxpayer. Then he wanted to know how many of us have benefits in the building. Wow. So not wanting to support our institution but yet wanting all of its advantages. Ummm, go to country that has socialized everything. See how you like it. Btw, you won't find David Sedaris and Marice Sendak there. They're censored.

Mother's Day dinner at Mattar's Bistro with Daddy-o, Marmee, & Grand-John. Well, Grand-John was there, he just couldn't eat din-din with us.

Angel-kin

Vail is big into talking in third person. About one year ago, I would have just collapsed if she would actually sleep for longer than one hour without waking crying at the top of her lungs. Now, she is talking constantly. From the minute I put her into the car until she closes her eyes the very last time at bedtime - constant chatter.

Tonight, she would talka bout what she wanted to do and then do it.
"Daddy, I'm going to throw this pea at you." Pea is then thrown.
"Momma, this angel-kin is not listening to you." Vail completely ignores request to take her feet off of the table.
"This little angel-kin needs to apologize. Sorry, Daddy."

What prompts her to talk in 3rd person? Is it that she is actually hearing us tell her to do things with her name and therefore she wants to talk about what she is doing and prefers (this week anyway) to say them in third person?

And why is she so funny about food lately? She used to eat her veggies like they were the best parts of her dinner. Now getting chicken and peas down her gullet is like conducting a ballet of cats and parakeets. What on earth? Between her wanting to use her knife at the table and then exploring the texture of food with her hands, swishing through her teeth into her milk and then back into her mouth, stabbing it with her fork, trying to scoop and smush with her spoon, it is a wonder she has time to eat at all. I am so thankful that she does eat though and the trick to make her try everything on her plate is also a good one. She has to eat one of everything on her plate every night. Even if she doesn't like it. One of everything.

Sneaking teddy grahams on the plate next to abhorred food is always a good way to sweeten the deal.

Sleeping in undies and dinner out with Marmee

Last night we went out to dinner with Marmee. Dinner for a 2 year old. Very easy if there are actually edible things on the menu - in 2 year old speak. We settled on Bensi's in Mansfield b/c it was right next to the Book-Loft - our very favorite bookstore in the area. It reminds me of Kings English in SLC, but a without the charm factor. That is not to say that the Book-loft isn't great, but King's English's building was just so charming. Anyway, so we went to Bensi's and Vail decided on spaghetti and meatballs. She got a bowl of pasta for about twenty toddlers. Crazy. Mental note, just order one adult order and give Vail an appetizer plate full of pasta and a meatball.

Oh, restaurants - you may receive your meatballs separately from your sauce and pasta. You may not make them in house. But please fake it. Goodness. Simmer them in the sauce for a while - it will soften up the meatball and make it so much more integrated into the dish rather than a dry meatball with sauce poured on (WE CAN TELL when you do this). Even my toddler can tell.

I ordered pizza. With it came oregano, garlic powder and red pepper. Vail named them dust, dirt, and poo. Momma, would you like dirt on your pizza, she asks as she pours her parm onto it. Sure, I'd love some dirt and poo.

HUGE BREAKTHROUGH - last night Vail slept in undies for the very first time (w/o having an accident). What a great night. Good job, Vail.