Happy Day!

Joy, Joy, Joy! A strong, conservative, gun-owning, hunting, fishing, beautiful, mother as VP. Love it. Finally, something to get excited about.

Today, Palin said:

"I didn't get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why the ship is built."

Brilliant.

Pampapes

Nod is on a trip. So when my alarm went off this morning I knew I had to get up even though I was sleeping perfectly (for the first time in ages). I had to get up because I had to get in the shower and get as far along in the "get ready" process as possible before Munchkin woke up. She's not entirely predictable, that one, but wake-up time is usually between 7:15 and 7:45. I hope for 7:45 so I can be completely ready, but you never can tell.

Today, she slept right on through and I even ate breakfast, like a human being, on a plate and with a fork and everything. So, at 8:15 (late, late, late!) I decided I had to go in and wake her. And there she was, lying in her crib, my blond beauty, completely awake and smiling. Just quietly smiling. She must have slept well, too.

After she was dressed and we were in the kitchen, she walked over to the freezer and, very excitedly, said "Pampapes!" Oh, her little voice and little words are so darn cute it makes me want to burst. Too bad we're out of pancakes, and "waffles" is just a bit harder to say.

Certified Mail

As I pulled into the driveway last night, I saw a little brown paper stuck to the front door. Wedged in, half-way in and half-way out, was a slip from the post office. Nod has a certified letter. It must be picked up or signed for in person. We know what it is. We don't have even have to read it (but we will). Nod is being furloughed. Laid off. Sacked. He has about two weeks left. Wonder how much sick time we can use in those two weeks?

Good news: we get to keep our travel benefits.

Munchkin likes to spend her mornings with *. * takes her downstairs and lets her watch Wonderpets or Backyardigans while they cuddle. Then he makes her pancakes (by which I mean he warms up some frozen mini pancakes) and she eats breakfast by pulling her tiny chair up to the coffee table/ottoman. Eventually they wander upstairs and pick out an outfit and get dressed, and then come to me with a come and a couple of rubber bands for a hairdo.

When *is on trip, Munchkin only gets to cuddle for a few minutes with me while we sit on the rocking chair in her room and read a short story. Then I dress her right away and come with me to my room. She gets to watch Elmo videos while I finish getting ready. She likes Elmo OK, but she HATES getting dressed before breakfast. She wines and moans and fusses and cries. Afterward, she pulls on my legs and dances around me so that I trip on her every time I turn around. All morning she does this with only intermittent moments of sweetness and happiness. Today it was when I handed her a giant, peeled banana to eat while watching Elmo, and when I handed her a cracker with peanut butter on it that she had been begging for. Why this child begs for saltine crackers with peanut butter I will never know, but she loves to get them. When she does, she'll eat a little bit of the peanut butter and none of the cracker, so pretty much the whole episode is just a messy waste. Then I heat up her pancakes, toss them in a Ziploc baggy with a little syrup and we get in the car to head to work.

Mornings are better for everyone when * is home.

* Don't have a blog name for DH yet.....

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;

Sailed off on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.

"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea.

Nets of silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.

And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.

Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea;

"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"

So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.

So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.

'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.

'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be.

Some folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea.

But I shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

Now Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed.

So close your eyes while mother sings of the wonderful sights that be.

And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea,

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.