Music

Monday morning e and I walked to the library to pick up a book held on reserve, the fifth installment of the Outlander series.  While there I found another book for e, a version of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" that includes a new couplet for each stanza instead of just repeating the first phrase.  For instance, "She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes, Toot Toot. She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes, Toot Toot.  Yes, she'll whistle like a train as she speeds across the plain.  She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes."  Very clever lyrics, and "she" is the Bonnie Bandit, a young girl with long braids.  We've read or sung that book at least 10 times already.

Monday afternoon a fellow piano teacher I know from chorus came by to look at the music I purged from my files.  Carolyn and I enjoyed chatting about teaching, retirement, husbands at home all the time.  When e woke up she came down and allowed Carolyn to play with her, and they had fun with the stacking cups.  I think I would like to get to know Carolyn better.

Sometimes when I pause while blogging I return quickly to finish the post.  Other times, not so much.  It is now Sunday morning.  EeK left Friday night for PV and Bella's first birthday party Saturday.  Today they will continue to Phoenix.  Our house is quiet with just Randy and me...and James.  I've made a list of things to do before they return next month.

Food, fun and Chopin

Saturday afternoon we all went to a barbecue hosted by friends from First Pres.  Most of the guests were from Koinonia, and since the group often prayed for e last year I thought they might like to meet her and her parents.  She enjoyed running around the back yard and climbing up to the tree house.  I enjoyed chatting with people I don't see very often.

Sunday morning EeK went to Tillman park to play in the sand and climb on the large play structure.  E said e stayed active for about an hour.  After lunch e and I stayed home while the others went to some open houses.  At supper Friday night Randy put on a CD of Chopin.  I mentioned hearing one of his beautiful nocturnes in the old Hallmark film "The Secret Garden," and E took up her phone and ordered it for me.  A neighbor brought it to our door yesterday; it had been delivered to him by mistake.  So after e went to bed we watched it.

"Much better"

New words and phrases pop out of e's mouth daily.  After a bout of diaper rash she says her bottom is "much better."  Or after I check the eye she's been rubbing and find nothing, she assures me it is now "much better."  I heard her say "yellow" for the first time the other day.  Thursday night the "mean cat" came on the front deck and James got out (briefly) to respond to it.  Lots of noise ensued and e cried for 10 minutes or more as I held her and her parents dealt with James and the screen door off its track.  Her dad assured her the mean cat was outside, so she must have repeated that a dozen times once she calmed down.  Admittedly sometimes the only reason I know what she is saying is due to the context, but still she's increasing her vocabulary.

For some reason e has decided she does not like being in a car seat, which has caused us a lot of frustration.  This makes a simple trip to Safeway take a lot longer since she has to be coaxed into her seat both at home and then after the shopping.  I end up feeling like I will never try to take her out again.  And walking down to meet K at the ferry then driving home with him is no longer an option because she won't leave her daddy's arms.  You may say "But she's only a toddler, surely you can just hold her down and strap her in."  Well, maybe I could if I weren't worried about hurting her, and the height of the car seat in the van adds awkwardness.  Just another thing that makes us think more creatively.

More company!

We had a busy weekend.  K's brother and girlfriend arrived Friday after driving up from Palos Verdes and stayed till Sunday morning.  They slept on the couches in the living room, and fit in well with our tendency to revolve around e's schedule.  It was also my birthday, so Randy made two delicious pecan pies.  Clay was comfortable playing with e.

Yesterday afternoon E, K and Randy visited some open houses, trying to get a feel for the type of house and location E and K want.

This morning e is sleeping in.  It is 7:15 and I haven't heard a peep from her or E.  K has left for work.  I have caught E's or Randy's cold; we are going through lots of Kleenex.

That old devil cat

I was sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal when James began hissing and yowling.  The draperies behind me were closed but they don't quite reach the floor, allowing James to see out onto the deck.  Our self-appointed guard cat saw the gray calico and warned him to get away from the house, which it did when I opened the drapes a bit.  James then ran over to a window, to make sure the other cat hadn't just moved to the front walk.  I don't know what to do.  September is usually pretty warm, and we like to have the sliding doors open to allow breezes to flow through.  Randy just put new wheels on the door to the front deck, hoping they will keep the door on its track when James leans on it, and we've begun using the latch/lock on it.  But if James goes into attack mode every time he sees that cat, I'm afraid that sooner or later he'll get out.  Would he actually fight the calico?  I don't know, but I'd rather not find out.

As we walked back from the mailbox yesterday, e stepped in a small puddle.  I guess she liked the sound because she walked back and forth through it several times.  She squatted and put her hand in the water, then just sat down in it.  How funny!  After a bit she stood up and we returned to the house, where I took off her wet, muddy clothes and put them in the wash.

For two days now she has not napped.  She gets in her crib easily enough after lunch, the chatters to herself and bear but does not sleep.  Yesterday after almost two hours of this I just got her up again.  By supper she seemed cranky, so I think she still needs the nap and will continue to give her the opportunity to sleep, or at least rest in her bed.  This also will allow me to do some things without her.

Some good days

When I don't write for a few days it can be hard to remember what has happened since the last post.  But maybe I can think of something if I just start in.

Linda stopped by last Friday morning after Jazzercise to see e and to chat with me one last time before her move to Chicago.  She has enjoyed watching e's growth, especially as a preview of her Anna's growth.  The movers were to pack her belongings today then load the truck tomorrow and head east. Linda and her sister-in-law will begin their drive tomorrow afternoon, probably.

Yesterday, Labor Day, Dena and Alan joined us for a supper of sausages, potato salad, broccoli salad and more.  Fortunately e had napped and was quite responsive to Dena.

Today e and I spent probably 45 minutes or more walking around the neighborhood looking at ducks and dogs, watching the landscape crew cut grass, seeing a painter prepping the house a couple of doors down, and rolling the basketball back and forth to each other.  I got out the old Duplo blocks and was surprised at how easily e put them together then broke them apart.  She did not nap, and I expect K will put her to bed pretty soon.  E flew back to Phoenix this afternoon to check the house and to keep her doctor's appointment tomorrow.