Hiatus and Christmas

Posted by Jyllian on January 1st, 2005 filed in doings

It’s been a while. Mostly because of illness and busyness. Right now I’m in bed with my laptop, three cats, some coffee (which does not go well with leftover anesthesia, but still I perservere), some antibiotics, some decongestants, some painkillers and the inability to walk far without falling over. As long as I stay in bed, I’m tired but ok, it’s that walking thing that’s all screwed up.

James is over at the Farm with Dr. John, Ariel and the Bean, riding horses. I wish I were there. James has really turned a corner with the Bean–he’s all about taking her places and doing things just the two of them. I don’t have to push anymore, just throw up (ahem) the suggestion and they’re off. It’s really good for all of us. I kind of figured as she got more verbal and less like a baby they’d be doing more things together, that’s the way of many fathers. He’s always been a sweet daddy to her and willing to do whatever is needed, but now he relies on himself to figure out what’s needed, not just me–though of course I get deferred to in certain situations. It’s very cool.

But I wanted to put down three really cute things that have happened so that I don’t forget them.

One: The Bean really like Pikachu. REALLY. Carries around a little pikachu doll that Glenn and Liz gave me (then I gave to the Bean) about 5 years ago. I showed her the pikachu dance on the computer and then we remembered we had the first Pokemon dvd. Well that was a revalation.

Within two watchings she’d started memorizing dialogue. Within three (just like she did with Nemo) she started acting it out. She runs around and around the table, arms going up and down , with hands closed into fists in an exagerrated anime style, saying “ah ah ah ah….go away spearows…ah ah ah…” the she grabs pikachu off the ground, hugs him to her and says, while running, “Don’t worry pikachu, no matter what I’ll save you.” Then she gets on her bike, rides it for a bit, falls off and they they go off to the pokemon center.

She does this reenactment quite often and every time we fall over giggling. We managed to use it to our advantage too: when she had to go to the doctor, we said her doctor was at the pokemon center and when they got there, she made the doctor look at pikachu, so he could be ‘fighting fit.’ She now takes her ‘pika medicine’ with no trouble. When I go to the dentist or doctor too (things I’ve had to do quiet frequently of late) I’m going to the pokemon center, so it’s quite good. Going to bed at night is now about “going to pikaland to see all those pikachus.” Which works, if you read about five books first.

The second hilarious (ok, go with me here, she’s our beloved,much waited for child, the center of our joy)thing is the naming of “yet the bear.” We went to the optomotrists –James and I both needed glasses (new for me, first time for him) so we picked at random a local eye doctor. We picked the right one–the folks at The Eye Works are really nice. Laura, the office manager, even gave me a good recommendation for a new salon to help fix my horrible hair cut from the (aveda) Ben E Salon. And she’s just nice to talk to when we run into each other. ANYway…they gave her a little paddington bear and asked “Have you named your bear yet?”

To which the Bean answered “YET, his name is YET.” and lo and behold his name has remained Yet. At home we now have Yet’s mommy and Yet’s Daddy and they go to the park together, have snacks and many snuggles. And they always have to be close together.

Finally, I got a shipment from Gymboree of next year’s clothes (I wait until the year end sale and then buy the hidiously expensive clothes I wanted all year for 1/4 of the price, at least the ones that are left)which included a little toy kitty. I gave Miss Bean the kitty and she ran about saying “My Kitty, Bean’s kitty, Bean’s new toy kitty!” After a bit, I asked her what her kitty’s name was. She thought for a bit…the looked right at me and said “Piano…Piano the kitty.” And so Piano the kitty it remains. Piano went with us to the grocery store day before yesterday and she told everyone in passing “Hi, I’m Bean, this is piano the kitten.”

Head explody with cuteness.

She had a great time at the Vet’s xmess party as did we all, congested or not. Dr. John had the girls up on the pool table throwing balls into the pockets. Kept them amused enough that the adults could talk. Ariel tried to talk all of us into going for a pony ride with Bean 🙂 Then they bonked each other with toys, yelled a bit and got back to the business of re-arranging Ariel’s toys.

She’s a most outgoing Bean. I’m proud, in awe and a bit terrified of this characteristic. I want her to grow up without the same distrust of people I have or the general antipathy her father has. I want her to grow up extroverted and at ease. I just want to make sure that she doesn’t have the arrogance and thoughtlessness that often goes with those personality traits. I have met some kind outgoing folks, so I can learn from them how to help the Bean be well rounded.

This Xmess was the largest one yet, with presents from my family (the first time that has happened in over five years) and they outdid themselves. Jam’s mom sent beautiful clothes , as she usually does–for all of us. I so need that pretty blue hat to cover up my hair while it’s growing out. And James got to retire the robe I got him so long ago for a nicer one. My mom and Carl sent a toys R us gift certificate, part of which helped Santa to get the amazing Butterfly Garden kitchen you can see in the background. Santa also got the matching coffee set and blender set. He did also wrangle up a talking pikachu, little people schoolbus and dollhouse along with various stocking items. My sister got her a lot of little “prizes” –a sequined xmess purse which a comb, brush and mirror inside, which she consults by hooking the brush in her hair and pushing her nose up to the mirror–some crafts to do with mommy, a soft stuffed piggy, some lipgloss that has to be hidden for awhile and a bunch of Payton’s clothes! It’s will be so cute to see pictures of the girls wearing the same outfits. Bean saw the boots “Payton” sent and had to wear them all day. I can’t wait to see them all again, should be in May. Now, lest this become too much about me and not enough about the Bean:

Now for some pictures!

She’s asking for ONE piece of chocolate candy.

The biggest bow had to be a hat of course:

This is the Butterfly Garden Kitchen from Imaginarium–it’s really cool and perfectly sized to last her awhile.

She’s snuggling with Pikachu on the comforter James got me (a Sally comforter with matching Jack sheets). She’d pretend to sleep then way up and say “Merry Christmas, sandy claws brings presents!”