Partridge

My mom has a pet partridge. A wild one, that follows her around, and pecks at her feet. In typical fashion, she is afraid of it. You don't know my mom. She's a forester. Cuts all her own firewood. Grows all her own vegetables. Completes tedious, crushingly difficult tasks through perseverance. And was once terrified of her neighbors' fat cat, Rusty, bc he was too friendly. She is a life-long cat lover. Scared of a big, fat, geriatric, orange cat. Also afraid to do some work under her car, for fear that this little, tiny bird will peck her.

On the Gumball front, we have two-year molars. I hate teeth. We've had fevers, vomiting, constant requests for medicine, and really, really terrible moods.

She hasn't totally lost her sense of humor though. The other night, I had to change her diaper. Now she can count to thirteen, so she started counting. When she got to thirteen, I started, "fourteen..." and paused. Then she said "poop-teen" and started laughing. Yup. Poop jokes already.

Potty Mouth

Last night, before bed, I asked Gumball if she wanted to pee on the potty. We talk about the potty a lot these days, and read books about the potty, and talk about big girl underwear, and who uses the potty... ETC. So I asked casually, assuming that, like usual, Gumball would say something like, "no. No use potty. NO!!!... thankyou."

But last night, she agreed to pee on the potty. I assumed it was a clever attempt to delay bedtime, but I went along with it. Gumball walked to the potty, sat down, and peed!!!!! I really couldn't believe it!

Today, all attempts to get Gumball to use the potty have been semi-unsuccessful. She would sit on the potty, twice, but there were no... positive outcomes.

Oh well.

Fashion Advice from a Toddler

Today, at breakfast, Gumball informed me that it looked like I was wearing a bib. "Mama wear a bib."

I was wearing this shirt:

Clearly, I am wearing a bib. Thanks, Gumball. They grow up so fast.

Gumball is so funny lately. Talking is a blast. Not everyone can understand her, but those who can, hear sentences. She says things like, "I don't want milk (pronounced "munkle" or "meeeeeaalk")." Today she placed her toys in her time out spot, and gave them all a time out. When I turn on music in the car, she sings louder. Before she goes to sleep at night (7pm, whatever) she likes to talk about what we did during the day. Or what she thinks we did during the day. She has an active imagination.

She loves Pumpkin, all monkeys, frogs ("hogs"), Clifford, and, of course, babies. She currently has: Binky Baby, Water Baby, Little Dada (x2), and Tiny Baby (x2). We aren't very creative about names. But she loves them all.

In other news, I've also started encouraging Gumball to help me. I give her little tasks, and she actually does them. She loves to throw away bits of trash, and put dirty clothes in the hamper. Today, Nana was asking me where she left her shoes, and Gumball ran to retrieve them. Smart, and a proficient eavesdropper.

Reality Check

Lest anyone think that I am entirely full of sunshine and light, let me share a _delightful_ occurrence.

Gumball hadn't pooped all day, and when I put her to bed, I fully anticipated having to return to change a diaper. I arrived to an unpleasant smell, and when I asked Gumball if she had pooped, she whispered "yeahhhh." I was not anticipating that she would hand me her diaper when I came over to her crib, and that I would find myself stepping on a million little rabbit turds. Baby Gumball rabbit turds. I turned on the light. Hundreds of turds. On the bed, on the floor. Awesome. Thanks, Gumball.

Hot, Hot, Hot Summer

Things have been wonderful. I spend as many days as possible at Lake Iroquois. My little Gumball loves going. She splashes, plays with "Water Baby" (a babydoll that can go into the water) and Monkey (one of four stuffed monkeys that are not intended to be water toys.) We splash and play, and I'm more tan than I've been in years. Gumball's racial and ethnic background (1/4 black, 1/4 Puerto Rican, and 1/2 assorted white) is showing though: her coloring ranges from cafe au lait (face), to coffee with a dash of cream (feet), despite religious sunscreen application. Being out on the lake, in the sun, playing with a mostly joyous toddler, chatting with random moms- is bliss. We've been picnicking too, and good food makes all outings more fun.

When we're not at the lake, we visit playgrounds, play with friends, splash in the water table out back, and play endlessly with babies, monkeys, and blocks.

Summer has been so delightful. I'm still just trying to take things one day at a time.

Love

I thought I would never again have the luxury of falling in love. To be happy, moderately well-rested, semi anxiety free, and falling deeply in love in perfectly beautiful Vermont summer weather is awe-inspiring and wonderful.  "Wonderful" in the real sense of the word, as in full of wonder, and not just a pleasant, and positive emotion. It is new, delicate, tender and intense. And of course, terrifying. 

I still feel like I'm holding back. Having so recently been so broken-hearted that I thought I'd never be able to love anyone other than my dear friends and lovely Gumball, this fresh bloom of emotion makes me experience crazy extremes: love, fear, anger, joy, tenderness and sullen confusion. I often think that E. deserves more. More fun, more careless laughter, more unguarded affection. Less toddler-manipulated scheduling, fewer play dates, dinners later than 5:30pm.

She is so sweet to me, and kind. Lovely and generous. Gentle, sweet, thoughtful. Even better, she is unbelievably kind to my Gumball. Talks to her, plays with her, is loving and affectionate to her, and spends as much time as I do hunting down Monkey, and Baby. Every single time she offers Gumball her water, or gives her a bite of muffin ("mutton"), or tries to make her laugh, my heart melts. Melts.

Sunny Days

Now that the weather is beautiful, Gumball and I have been going everywhere and doing everything.

• We went to the lake, where Gumball got to splash in the waves, eat a grape popsicle, and nap in the car.

• We played, alone and with friends, at our water table. Gumball LOVES it. Monkey loves it less, as he is often the unsuspecting victim of multiple "kabushkas" (the sound we make when dumping water on someone's head.)

• Her love of the water isn't limited to the water table, however. Bath time is also a lot of fun!

• We also went with our friends to Santa's Village. It was a really fun trip, and Gumball and her friends got to go on the slowest, safest rides on earth, pet (or shake with terror over) reindeer, visit a petting zoo (goats!), and play in the pool.  

• Gumball is also a huge fan of the park. She occasionally goes into the "big girl swing" and I spend the entire time pushing her reminding her to "hold on with your hands." She likes to swing and sing, which is adorable. 

And being silly. Gumball is quite a ham.