Extra Prayers

I've got another prayer/good thoughts request. My best friend growing up is having a baby tomorrow (Wednesday). At her 20 wk ultrasound, they discovered that he has a very serious heart condition (I believe he has only 2 chambers, but I could have that wrong). From what I understand, he will be taken to Children's immediately, and he'll have to endure multiple surgeries. She's having him by c-section, so she won't be able to go with him. I know this is killing her. She also has a little boy four weeks older than Linus. He and Linus love each other dearly. She has always taken the approach that he will live (at least with me), and I truly believe he will. I know the 'what if' thoughts slip in though. Y'all, she's one of the greatest people I know. She is an incredible friend and an incredible mom. I'm sitting here in tears, not because I don't think he'll make it---like I said, I truly believe he will---it's just one of those things, when someone you love hurts, you hurt too. I am quite thankful that the medical community is prepared for his arrival and has a plan of action in place. Anyway, I'd appreciate the prayers/good thoughts for her and the baby, and I know she'd appreciate them too.

Extra Grown

Linus has wanted to learn to whistle for quite a while. Today she truly whistled. As she heard the sound come from her lips, her eyes got wide and proud. As she began to jump with excitement, she said, "I DID IT! I really did it! Did ya hear that? I did it! Oh my goodness, I'm growing up now! I can whistle! I did it! I'm ready for high school now!" UM, NOOOOOOO!!! I'm upset enough about losing her for a full day of kindergarten, please don't push the high school issue at FOUR!!!

Extra Name Possibilities

Army and I knew there was no possible way we could pick Linus up on time after preschool Friday. I went ahead and asked the director if she could stay for aftercare. Linus loves aftercare because two of her friends stay late on Fridays, so I didn't feel too terribly bad about it.

One of the preschool teachers noticed Linus in aftercare and asked her where we were. "My mommy and Daddy are working on a new baby." Thankfully the teacher knew that wasn't the case and got a giggle out of it, but she did run with it a little bit. She had this conversation with Linus:

Teacher: They are working on a new baby?"

Linus: Yes, they sure are. I'm going to have a little sister for mommy and me, and I'm going to get a little brother for my daddy.

T: Really? What will your little sister's name be?

L: Caroline!

T: I thought your mommy likes the name Erin.

L: Nope, it's Caroline.

T: I really thought I heard your mommy say she likes the name Erin.

L: NO! CAROLINE! Her name will be Caroline!

T: But what if Mommy names her Erin?

L: That won't happen!

T: But what if it does?

L: IT WON'T HAPPEN! I can change her mind! It WILL be Caroline.

So, anybody think I have any choice/input on the name of a child? Oh, and anybody want to know what she'd name a little brother?

ROCKSTAR!!!

Thanks Linus, but no!

An Extra Conversation or Two

*****Warning! Foul Language***** (Kiddie conversation)

I'm at Linus's preschool a lot, and happily fill in where needed. I was asked to sub in one of the Mother's Day Out classes today, so I filled in for a little while. I absolutely fell in love with this class. Oh my goodness, those kiddos are so sweet and so adorable! They were 18-24 months old and just so much fun.

At one point, one of the cuties got my attention and said, "No f***ing!"

I looked at him with a very confused look on my face, and said, "Could you tell me again?" Again, he said, "No f***ing!"

Um, ok, hmmmm, let's see. I finally asked him if he could show me what he was talking about one word at a time. After those words came out my mouth, I started to wonder if I really wanted him to show me! Thankfully, he was able to show me. He turned over a truck and said, "No. F***. In"

Ahhh, the truck wasn't supposed to go in somewhere. Phew! Linus mispronounced some words, but truck was never one of them. I've heard of many children messing up that particular word, but I was totally unprepared for it today.

Let me preface this next one with this child's mother really is a good mother! One of the two year olds usually brings milk for lunch. His Mom's Morning Out teacher asked him if his milk was good. His response? "Well, actually I'm drinking a virgin screwdriver." Whoa, back up! What? He went on to say, "My virgin screwdriver is orange juice and pineapple juice." Yes, I heard it with my own two ears...and I laughed my hiney off!

Later in the day, Linus and I were on our way home from a little get together. I was praising her for her fabulous behavior today, and she admitted one little glitch.

Let me back up a little to give you an idea of where this came from. On Halloween, Linus and the other children at the preschool were allowed to dress in non-scary costumes. As you know, Linus dressed as Minnie Mouse. Gee, ya think that had anything to do with our recent trip? ;) Anyway, as we walked in to school that morning, the director and another teacher were setting up a pumpkin patch for the children. One of them said to the other, "Oh look! There's Minnie Mouse!" Linus, as completely serious as could be, shook her hand and said, "Oh no, it's me, Linus. This is just a Minnie Mouse costume. I'm just dressed up, but it's still Linus!" It was absolutely hysterical. Word got around about what she said, so many of the teachers (who I am friends with) asked her if she was Minnie Mouse. Well, Linus eventually decided she wanted to change her name to Minnie Mouse. Permanently. Today her teacher called her Linus, and she asked her teacher to call her Minnie Mouse. To understand the rest, you need to know that Linus's given name is a three syllable name. When she asked her teacher to call her Minnie Mouse, her teacher said that it was too long. When Linus related the story to me, she said, "Really Mommy! Min-nie Mouse. ___-___-___!" comparing the three syllables in each. Then she added, "They are the same length!" Thank goodness she didn't actually give her teacher a lesson in syllables!

Extra Gross

Wonder Dog? NOT so wonderful right now. She had the nerve to wake me up from my five minute nap. She wasn't barking, she was pumping her stomach. GROSS! Have I mentioned Army calls me a hurl-a-phobe because I absolutely cannot stand anything dealing with vomit? EWWW! She's fine now, so who knows what it was. Despite her bark the other night, she does not get any people food, so I don't think that's what it was. She doesn't go outside when we're not out, so I don't think she ate something bad outside. She's better now though, and that's what's important.

Linus learned our phone number today. She's tried learning it on and off over the past few months, but she just couldn't get it. Today I sang it to her to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and she learned it immediately. She also learned to spell our last name. :) Now she wants to learn to tie her shoes. Oh and guess what? She has a speaking part in her preschool Christmas play!

Extra Strange

Two things happened tonight that were rather strange.

The first has me a little worried. Linus asked to go to bed tonight. She didn't want to go through most of our bedtime routine---she just wanted to get in bed! Since she wasn't interested in eating dinner tonight, I'm a little worried she's getting sick. I sure hope not! I hope it's just the time change catching up with her.

The second one involves our wonderdog. She barked! Now I know that's not unusual for most dogs, but our dog is a year and a half old, and I can literally count the number of times she's barked on one hand. The dog just does not bark. Ever. We kennel her when people come to work on our house, and they are always shocked to learn we have a dog. Doorbell rings? No bark. Stranger in the house? No bark. Needs to go out to potty? No bark. Tonight she barked! Lots of deep bellowing barks! Why? Well, because she's got priorities! She spotted an empty container of chocolate chip cookies in the garbage, so she barked to let us know she wanted some. Poor pup, maybe she'll bark before the container is empty the next time.

As a puppy

With "Ball Ball." Ball Ball goes everywhere with her!

With her favorite 4 year old :)

Extra Curious

I was really curious about how Linus would handle trick-or-treating this year. Remember last year?

She was really excited to dress like Minnie Mouse this year.

She was a little worried, but she did ring our neighbors' doorbells herself.

And......

She didn't run this year!!! Yippee!