There's more to my little girl than her steadfast refusal to allow me to read to her at night. She actually has a lot of wisdom. Here's some of it:
"Dad, I can speak cat!" (4/11)
WonderWife™: "What's wrong?"
Sprout: "My bone hurts."
WW™: "Which one?"
Sprout: "The left one." (4/11)
Me: (putting Sprout down): "Go, run be free."
Sprout: "No, I’m going to be four." (5/11)
Me: "How do you fit all of that food in you?"
Sprout: "I have five pipes!" (5/11)
"I have bare feet because bears don't wear anything on their feet." (5/11)
"Did you just fart? Because farts are funny." (5/11)
"Grownups say a lot of things." (6/11)
Previous Sprout Wisdom:
Volume 1
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Hot N Cold
It had been quite a long time since I spent QT with Sprout, so I took her out for a much needed daddy/daughter day. She accompanied me to the park, where I pushed her on the swings for 20 minutes straight. Sprout giggled uncontrollably when I performed the Super Push, one of those overly-exaggerated moves that only a parent of a young child could get away with and not look completely foolish. It was a crowd-pleaser that I pioneered years before when her brother rode the same swing set. As I pushed Sprout, her face glowed and her taut brown curls bobbed in the breeze.
Afterward I took Sprout out for a sushi dinner. Yes, my girl loves sushi. So I splurged and drove us to one of the best spots in the city. We bellied up to the bar and feasted on heaps of expertly prepared salmon and yellowtail. I exposed her to the joy that is the blue crab roll. She even dared to try spicy tuna. The sushi chef was impressed with this little girl savoring his creations and began to flirt with her by making faces as he skillfully prepared our meal. I was impressed with her too.
“I love you, Daddy!” she exclaimed throughout the meal. “I love daddy/daughter day!”
We topped off the feast with a big bowl of ice cream. We were both in heaven, my little foodie and me.
That night, as I was giving the kids a bath, Sprout said to me, “I want Mom to read me a story.” Later I went to give her a hug before bed, but she turned her back to me. She refused to give me a kiss or talk to me. Sprout went off to sleep without so much as a glance in my direction.
And such is life with my daughter.
Afterward I took Sprout out for a sushi dinner. Yes, my girl loves sushi. So I splurged and drove us to one of the best spots in the city. We bellied up to the bar and feasted on heaps of expertly prepared salmon and yellowtail. I exposed her to the joy that is the blue crab roll. She even dared to try spicy tuna. The sushi chef was impressed with this little girl savoring his creations and began to flirt with her by making faces as he skillfully prepared our meal. I was impressed with her too.
“I love you, Daddy!” she exclaimed throughout the meal. “I love daddy/daughter day!”
We topped off the feast with a big bowl of ice cream. We were both in heaven, my little foodie and me.
That night, as I was giving the kids a bath, Sprout said to me, “I want Mom to read me a story.” Later I went to give her a hug before bed, but she turned her back to me. She refused to give me a kiss or talk to me. Sprout went off to sleep without so much as a glance in my direction.
And such is life with my daughter.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Jealousy
I know that summer is a stressful time for parents. Robbed of the structure of school, the long, hot summer days can descend into lethargy and crankiness. To combat this, WonderWife™ plotted out her summer with more strategy and cunning than everybody I’ve played in Risk. She's jam packed her days with outings and playdates in order to keep the kids, and to keep herself, from losing their minds.
Stuff like:
Zoos
Ice cream cones
Swimming
Roller Coasters
Cotton Candy
Wooter Ice
Sprinkles
Ferris Wheels
Spinny Rides
Demolition Derby
Part of this means leaving me to my own devices while they go play on the other coast. Because summer is a busy season for me too--my work hours ramp up and travel becomes more extensive.
I’m a little jealous of their exploits--a little left out. But I’m glad they’re all having a good time. Me? I’m just happy that there’s Netflix streaming and that there was a wine sale this weekend.
Stuff like:
Zoos
Ice cream cones
Swimming
Roller Coasters
Cotton Candy
Wooter Ice
Sprinkles
Ferris Wheels
Spinny Rides
Demolition Derby
Part of this means leaving me to my own devices while they go play on the other coast. Because summer is a busy season for me too--my work hours ramp up and travel becomes more extensive.
I’m a little jealous of their exploits--a little left out. But I’m glad they’re all having a good time. Me? I’m just happy that there’s Netflix streaming and that there was a wine sale this weekend.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Fate
So many things could have gone differently...
My date might not have canceled at the last minute.
My friend might have not invited her friend.
The friend could have had other plans.
I might have convinced my buddy not to go back and get a bucket of fried chicken.
I might have caught the ball in the outfield.
I might not have sat next to her in between innings.
But…
The woman that I had gone out on two dates with decided at the last minute that attending a picnic/kick-ball game wasn’t her thing. I knew at that moment it was never going to work with her.
In an effort to expand our social circle, my friend decided to ask her friend, a recent arrival to LA, to come to the game.
The friend didn’t yet have anything to do for the 4th of July.
Although we were running late to the picnic I was hosting, my buddy, who was driving, decided not to listen to me so we went back to get a bucket of fried chicken.
The new friend was unsure about playing kickball. Our first interaction was me telling her not to worry because we’re all terrible at sports. Moments later, I would prove this to be true by dropping an easy fly ball.
I found her sitting on the grass during a quiet moment between innings and we began to talk. We spent the rest of the afternoon together. Before she left, I gave her some fried chicken. She gave her friend permission to give me her number...in case I asked for it.
Minutes after she left, I asked for the number.
I called the next day. Two days later was our first official date. We've been together ever since.
So many things could have kept me from meeting WonderWife™ 10 years ago today.
But they didn’t.
My date might not have canceled at the last minute.
My friend might have not invited her friend.
The friend could have had other plans.
I might have convinced my buddy not to go back and get a bucket of fried chicken.
I might have caught the ball in the outfield.
I might not have sat next to her in between innings.
But…
The woman that I had gone out on two dates with decided at the last minute that attending a picnic/kick-ball game wasn’t her thing. I knew at that moment it was never going to work with her.
In an effort to expand our social circle, my friend decided to ask her friend, a recent arrival to LA, to come to the game.
The friend didn’t yet have anything to do for the 4th of July.
Although we were running late to the picnic I was hosting, my buddy, who was driving, decided not to listen to me so we went back to get a bucket of fried chicken.
The new friend was unsure about playing kickball. Our first interaction was me telling her not to worry because we’re all terrible at sports. Moments later, I would prove this to be true by dropping an easy fly ball.
I found her sitting on the grass during a quiet moment between innings and we began to talk. We spent the rest of the afternoon together. Before she left, I gave her some fried chicken. She gave her friend permission to give me her number...in case I asked for it.
Minutes after she left, I asked for the number.
I called the next day. Two days later was our first official date. We've been together ever since.
So many things could have kept me from meeting WonderWife™ 10 years ago today.
But they didn’t.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
She Turns Three
Sprout turned 3 today. A whole lot happened. It's best summed up by WonderWife™. Here's what she wrote about it:
I started my blog when our family of three turned into a family of four and life became pretty insane. Spout was the one who completed our family; she was born three years ago today - 7:02am on 7/2. I accused the nurses of fudging her time of birth, but apparently they take these things very seriously and assured me that 7:02am was in fact Spout's legitimate time of birth. I spent last night re-reading my birth story and getting nostalgic.
For her second birthday, she got a shirt with a "2" on it and she's been wearing that thing for a whole year. It's really small on her now, so I made her a new one for her 3rd birthday, complete with "sparkles" around the neck. She loves it.
Before she went to bed last night, we asked Sprout what kind of cake she wanted. In typical fashion, she was very specific and asked for cake that had "a little bit of pink on it, with chocolate frosting and sprinkles that are purple." So that's what I made for her.
We also asked her what she'd like for her birthday and I swear to you that when she answered "fabric to sew with" I almost wept. Spout is now the very proud owner of a Singer Pixie Plus and five FQs from my LQS. Happy birthday little girl.
Sprout told me that she wanted to make a quilt, but when I told her that we could make a skirt that she could wear today, she was sold. She picked out the fabric she wanted and I plugged in her new machine. It's basic but smart - there is a foot pedal, but for people with little legs that can't yet reach the floor, there is a button that will engage the needle, so Sprout can make the machine sew all by herself.
I taught her how to raise and lower the presser foot, turn on the sewing action, and cut threads. Together we helped guide the fabric through the machine. And in less than an hour, Sprout was wearing the very first piece of clothing she ever sewed. On her third birthday.
We zig-zaged the raw seams, but 3 year olds aren't known for their patience, so the fabric isn't prewashed. We'll see how it holds up once it's washed. Both the length and the stitching are uneven, but it fits and she loves it. And so do I.
I am such a proud mama. I can't wait to sew more with her - I wonder what she'll want to make next. Happy birthday, my sweet little girl.
I started my blog when our family of three turned into a family of four and life became pretty insane. Spout was the one who completed our family; she was born three years ago today - 7:02am on 7/2. I accused the nurses of fudging her time of birth, but apparently they take these things very seriously and assured me that 7:02am was in fact Spout's legitimate time of birth. I spent last night re-reading my birth story and getting nostalgic.
For her second birthday, she got a shirt with a "2" on it and she's been wearing that thing for a whole year. It's really small on her now, so I made her a new one for her 3rd birthday, complete with "sparkles" around the neck. She loves it.
Before she went to bed last night, we asked Sprout what kind of cake she wanted. In typical fashion, she was very specific and asked for cake that had "a little bit of pink on it, with chocolate frosting and sprinkles that are purple." So that's what I made for her.
We also asked her what she'd like for her birthday and I swear to you that when she answered "fabric to sew with" I almost wept. Spout is now the very proud owner of a Singer Pixie Plus and five FQs from my LQS. Happy birthday little girl.
Sprout told me that she wanted to make a quilt, but when I told her that we could make a skirt that she could wear today, she was sold. She picked out the fabric she wanted and I plugged in her new machine. It's basic but smart - there is a foot pedal, but for people with little legs that can't yet reach the floor, there is a button that will engage the needle, so Sprout can make the machine sew all by herself.
I taught her how to raise and lower the presser foot, turn on the sewing action, and cut threads. Together we helped guide the fabric through the machine. And in less than an hour, Sprout was wearing the very first piece of clothing she ever sewed. On her third birthday.
We zig-zaged the raw seams, but 3 year olds aren't known for their patience, so the fabric isn't prewashed. We'll see how it holds up once it's washed. Both the length and the stitching are uneven, but it fits and she loves it. And so do I.
I am such a proud mama. I can't wait to sew more with her - I wonder what she'll want to make next. Happy birthday, my sweet little girl.
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