Elmo Pancakes

I totally qualify as the mother of a toddler.

Yes, that is exactly what I made Bea for breakfast this morning: Elmo pancakes.

Striking resemblence, don't you think? Bea thought so - she loved my creation. Here is the commencement of the Elmo Feast:

Now feasting on Elmo's eyeball.....

...and finally, satiated Skeetie

Frau begging for a little piece of Elmo

After brekkie we took a long, hot shower, then Bea jumped on her rocking cow for a little nudie bareback riding - moooo!!

Quite simply, Georgie has no earthly idea what his girls are up to while he's away. Long leisurely breakfasts; nice hot showers wherein we use every single drop of hot water; simultaneously turning on the heat and opening the windows for fresh air; running around the house nudie (Bea, not me); trips to Target for no other purpose than to purchase potpourri. When the cat is away the mice will play!! And I know Frau ain't talkin.
Not like he doesn't indulge our every whims when he's here anyway...

Only 2 more nights until Daddy comes home!!! Then, 2 weeks down, 10 to go. Love you sweetie. xx00

George's arrival at home last Friday was far more thrilling for Bea than a visit from the Easter Bunny. He was the highlight of her weekend. Her Nannay taking a close, I mean very close, second.

Prior to that, last Weds Chowds and I had a particularly fun day. She dressed herself up in her riding gear and we biked downtown, hit Go Fetch to get treats for Ollie, Bella Sauvage, lunch at the Catalyst together and spent some time playing at Dragon's Hollow. She's hilarious now. She has a tendency to pick out one particular item of clothing to complete her outfit for the day. Last Wed it was a hat she used to wear as an infant. She insisted on cramming her Skeet head into it, then topped off the look with sunglasses.

We came home to a Easter package from Grandma (Mamaw) and Grandpa (PaPa) complete with chocolate eggs and bunny ears. I had to strap Bea into her carseat to get her to put the ears on for the first time. But then she warmed up to them, put them on and hopped around the house like a Bunnn-neee!!

Thankfully Nannie came on Friday to babysit Bea. Bea loves her so much that I actually got snubbed in favor of her Nannie. Here's why, I come home to find Bea sitting in her high chair eating ham for lunch while my mom is giving her footrubs. Seriously. My mom would finish with one foot and Bea would automatically stick out her other foot for another rub. Nothing like ham and foot massage before your nap. She also adores my mom because my mom actually slept in a blow-up Elmo toddler bed on Bea's bedroom floor with Bea.

Poor Bea was fairly confused when my mom left. Of course she's just generally confused about people leaving. The Thursday night before G got home Bea heard my mom talking about her dog Bella. Bea had a complete emotional breakdown crying, "Bellya, Bellya, Bellya..." She knew she missed someone (George) but couldn't quite figure out who she missed.

George made it home without incident on Friday. We went out to dinner at the Bridge then went to bed. Bea throughly enjoyed snuggling with her dad. She spent that morning doing yardwork/gardening with him moving piles of dirt from one corner of the yard to another.

We ended up celebrating Easter a day early; so that Sat afternoon we went to my Aunt Laura's house for Easter dinner. Bea and Gabe had a blast hunting eggs. Bea even hopped on a tricyle and hunted eggs on wheels. Egg hunting proved to be an instant hit which kept them busy while we at deviled eggs and drank wine.

Here's little precious pants just prior to the hair-pulling; egg snatching; trike-riding for advantage; who's basket is the fullest Egg Hunt.

George & I snuck away from Easter dinner to attend Elizabeth & Shawn's joint 30th birthday party. It was a good time: copious amounts of hot wings and a keg to boot.

Next morning Bea was mildly excited about her Easter basket, whereas Oliver was ecstatic about his basket. Frau wasted no time snarfing and scarfing down all his basket treats, including some Easter grass which I discovered the next day while walking him. I will spare you the deatails.

We spent the rest of the morning with my parents eating hot cross buns, drinking coffee and generally relaxing. It was really nice. Here is a picture of Bea hugging the bunny she got from Todd & Cakey, she loves that bunny!!

Well, George is back in Helena and we are making our way through another week. Can't wait to see him on Friday though. Love you Georgie - we think about you all the time. See you in a few days Babes.

The Easter Daddy

George's arrival at home last Friday was far more thrilling for Bea than a visit from the Easter Bunny. He was the highlight of her weekend. Her Nannay taking a close, I mean very close, second.

Prior to that, last Weds Chowds and I had a particularly fun day. She dressed herself up in her riding gear and we biked downtown, hit Go Fetch to get treats for Ollie, Bella Sauvage, lunch at the Catalyst together and spent some time playing at Dragon's Hollow. She's hilarious now. She has a tendency to pick out one particular item of clothing to complete her outfit for the day. Last Wed it was a hat she used to wear as an infant. She insisted on cramming her Skeet head into it, then topped off the look with sunglasses.

We came home to a Easter package from Grandma (Mamaw) and Grandpa (PaPa) complete with chocolate eggs and bunny ears. I had to strap Bea into her carseat to get her to put the ears on for the first time. But then she warmed up to them, put them on and hopped around the house like a Bunnn-neee!!

Thankfully Nannie came on Friday to babysit Bea. Bea loves her so much that I actually got snubbed in favor of her Nannie. Here's why, I come home to find Bea sitting in her high chair eating ham for lunch while my mom is giving her footrubs. Seriously. My mom would finish with one foot and Bea would automatically stick out her other foot for another rub. Nothing like ham and foot massage before your nap. She also adores my mom because my mom actually slept in a blow-up Elmo toddler bed on Bea's bedroom floor with Bea.

Poor Bea was fairly confused when my mom left. Of course she's just generally confused about people leaving. The Thursday night before G got home Bea heard my mom talking about her dog Bella. Bea had a complete emotional breakdown crying, "Bellya, Bellya, Bellya..." She knew she missed someone (George) but couldn't quite figure it out because she was just so tired and emotionally overwrought from a long week without Daddy.

At any rate George made it home on Friday, we all went out to dinner at the Bridge. Then the next day here's what I wake up to:

It was really cute, she was totally snuggling and hugging his arm. They spent the majority of the morning doing yardwork/gardening together. We bought her a little spade and hoe, so she followed George all around moving little piles of dirt from one corner of the yard to another.

That Sat afternoon we celebrated Easter early at my Aunt's house. Bea & Gabe hunted eggs and caught on really quick. In fact, at one point Bea hopped on the tricycle and hunted eggs on wheels.

Here she is being a little precious pants prior to the hair-pulling; egg-snatching; tricycle-riding; who's egg basket is the fullest Egg Hunt at Auntie Lollie & Uncle Pop's.

George & I snuck away from Easter dinner to attend Elizabeth & Yon's joint 30th birthday party. It was a lot of fun: copious amounts of hot wings and a full keg to boot.

Which brings us to Easter morning. Bea was mildly excited about her Easter basket, more interested in hunting eggs yet again. Oliver was ecstatic about his Easter basket and wasted no time eating every single treat, including some Easter grass, which I discovered the next day on our walk.

We spent Easter morning eating hot cross buns, drinking coffee and just relaxing with my parents. It was really nice and Bea loved having her Nannay & Pappy around to dote on her. Todd & Cakey were passing through town and left her the bunny she's hugging in the picture below. She loves this bunny!!!

Well, George is back in Helena and we are all making our way through another week. Very much looking forward to spending time together on Friday.

We love you Georgie. Cannot wait to see you in a few days Babes - hang in there. xx00

Ma Po Po

Nope, that is not a Beatrice invented/pronunciation.
That is what George taught Bea to call me. And does she ever. "Ma Po Po!"
What would cause George to create this name for me?
Because George lets her jump on the bed; I do not.
George lets her eat Krispy Kremes; I do not.
George lets her play with Magic Markers, unattended; I do not.

So when he's in our bedroom jumping on the bed with her, and I enter the room, George exclaims in his best southern drawl:
"Uh-oh Powerskeet! It's the poe-lice! It's Ma poe-lice man! It's Ma Po Po!! Can you say Ma Po Po?"
Mapopo. Mapopo. Mapopo. Mapopo.

Ok, so here's the kicker. Bea had a really, really rough day today. Everything was just pissing her off. Tonight I was with her downstairs and she's chirping, "MaPoPo" over and over. Simultaneously, I take my water bottle away from her. Bea hollers: "No, no, no Ma Po Po!!" with a feigned scowl on her face.

Seriously. It's getting to the point where Puggy is the most sane individual in this household.

On another note, I think we finally secured a nanny to babysit on Th/Fr while Georgie is away. We hired Big Sky Nanny Service to help us in our quest; they happily charged us a hefty fee and then gave us complete shit applications. Here is a real example of one girl:
19 years old
no childcare experience
Was fired from IHOP & Target, arrested from Target at her discharge for stealing.
Admits on her application to drinking weekly; has been arrested for an MIP.

Ma Po Po had a little chitty-chat with the Nanny Service today.

Honestly, WTF??!!! Not to mention we hired this service almost two months ago, and were left the week George left with no childcare. However, we appear to have found ourselves, what seems to be, a very good, reliable babysitter, no thanks to the nanny service. Hopefully nothing falls through. This whole childcare situation makes me feel like crap and a failure for not being able to just stay home with my baby more often. I feel so guilty just trying to "find" people to watch her. This week she has four different people watching her. We're always trying to piece together babysitting and it drives us mad.

She just has a hard time sometimes when George & I aren't with her. She tends to get absolutely wild by the time we arrive home and she's craving our attention so bad that she has a tendency to act out. Poor little thing, she's the best kiddo ever. We just love her so much.

Anyway, talked with my sweetie tonight. He's hangin' in there and still trying to run certain parts of our household from his cell phone in Helena. Miss his company and presence so much. It's amazing how fulfilled our lives are together. Feels pretty empty without him after Bea goes to bed. Amen for Frau.

3 more days until our favorite, #1 Daddy comes home!!!! Love you dearly Babes.

Mulligans, Krispy Kremes & Pink Eggs

I took Friday afternoon off work to spend some last valuable time with George prior to his departure. We went golfing with Bea. Her jogging stroller doubled as a caddy/beer cooler/kid tote. It was alot of fun, beautiful weather. We'd hit the ball, Bea would haul ass down the fairway in hot pursuit. She had a fantastic time getting to the balls before we did, plucking them off the green and dumping them into the hole.
















Then we went to Tower Pizza with Ben, Kelly, Grant, Elizabeth & Yon for a little pizza party. Which turned into a full night of drinking and bullshitting with Grant & Bea to entertain each other.

Saturday morning we went for a nice long walk, then George took us to Krispy Kreme for a treat. No sooner did we pull up to the drive through than did Bea starting chirping:
"No-nit! No-nit! No-nut! No-nut!!!"
"No-nut peas?" (doughnut please?)
"Dank do" (thank you)
. . .
silence, silence, silence, silence
. . .
"Mo no-nit peas?" (more doughnut please?)
Me: No Bea, no more doughnut (I don't condone KK for my daughter, but apparently G & B eat them on the sly when I'm at work.
"Dadd-ee! Dad-ee!! Mo no-nit Dadee?"

She has mastered divide and conquer at an early age.

After KK, we went to her friend, Sam's, 3rd birthday at the Missoula Children's Museum.
After we got home Bea went to bed early, and George and I made a nice candlelight dinner and spent some very cherished, and valuable, time together.

THEN.....Doomsday. Today Georgie left for the Law Enforcement Academy.
I mistakenly told Bea that Daddy would talk to her on the phone later, so she kept running and grabbing the phone and asking "Daddee?"

Then her balloon popped (because she bit it) which scared the living shit out of her and left her traumatized for the remainder of the afternoon/evening. She repeatedly returned to the scene of the popping and stared at me in disbelief exclaiming:
Ba-moon...pop?! (balloon pop?) Ah gone, bye-bye.
2-3 mins pass.....
Ba-moon ....pop?! Noo, ba-moon!! Ah gone, bye-bye.

And so the ritual went, over and over and over. The greiving process for the balloon.

To take her mind of Daddy leaving and balloon popping, we called Uncle Al (unca unca unca Al!!!) and dyed Easter Eggs.



















We ended the day by having Sunday dinner at Auntie Lollie's with cousin Gabe, Kevin, Uncle Fuzzy (Fuh-hee, as Bea says), Scary Cameron & her favorite Auntie Libby.

Oliver got his chance to shine by pledging to MTPR in "Pet Wars." Ollie's message was broadcast at 10pm and Georgie called me from Helena to tell me he heard it in his little dorm room too! Ollie mentioned that as Bea's big pug-brother he has introduced her to, and indoctrinated her with, daily broadcasts of the Pea Green Boat, on Montana Public Radio. Good little puggy, so socially responsible.

Every day is a Bea-tiful day, even without Daddy.
5 more days until Georgie comes home!!! We love you, love you, love you Daddy!!!

Cabin Fever

Bea & I had cabin fever today. So we pretended to go to Hawaii.












Today was my day home with Bea. We slept in until 8:00, had scrams & toast, then went for a hike with puggy at Blue Mountain. Oliver almost got snatched up by what looked to be an enormous eagle, or something. Actually, it looked more like a condor, but I know that's not right. Initially I thought it was a small aircraft, then noticed how it kept getting lower, lower, lower and circling right above Frau. Yikes! So I put puggy back on his leash, yelled at the bird/aircraft and we went on our merry way.

I also got to babysit Gabe today; we finally had one-on-one time. Bea was napping most of the time he was here. Gabe & I played, played, played, rocked, cuddled, he ate some lunch, then his Grandma Lollie came to pick him up.

I put the barrette in his hair because, quite frankly, Bea has no hair and I've been dying to use those barrettes. Also, to keep his hair out of his eyes while he was eating.

Well, 3 days until Georgie leaves. I'm stressed and sad, but Bea & I will just deal. Puggy will have to step up and be man of the house for 3 months. I'm really going to miss talking to George. After all, he is my very closest friend and no one else listens to me and understands me the same way he does. I'm also worried about Bea. She is very close to George and I don't think she's going to understand what's going on. She talks about him constantly when he's at work or out of the house. She is definitely just as attached to him as she is me. At least we get to see him on the weekends. Just makes me realize how fortunate we are to have such a close-knit family. The four of us really get along great for the most part.

Spokane Follies

So we took a little family trip to Spokane last weekend. I had to do some business over there so we combined the trip w/ some family play time.

Friday morning we got up at 4:00 am (!!!) got ready and left the house by 5:00am. Took a beautiful drive over to Spokane arrived at 7:00 am Spokane time.
Took Bea to Arny's diner for breakfast (where George & I had our 2nd date ever.....) then went to St. Al's on the Gonzaga campus for 8:00 mass. Bea wasn't so interested in mass, so she passed the time chatting it up with the statue of baby Jesus. She was conviced that the eucharist in the statue's hand was a "dookie" (cookie). Likewise, she was conviced that she was cheated out of a "dookie" when I was given the eucharist and she was not. She voiced her displeasure at the injustice of it all to the priest.

After mass we headed over to Safeco so I could attend some meetings and George (my chauffer) drove Bea around the parking lot in circles for about an hour or so.

Then we all went downtown, had some lunch (I swilled two glasses of wine; Bea threw chicken strips at the booth; and George exhibited a ridiculous amount of patience with the two of us.)
Realizing that Bea had been either strapped to a carseat; stroller; shopping cart; high chair; or was forced to sit through mass, we felt it was only fair to let her run wild at Mobius, the Spokane Children's Museum. It was an amazing children's musuem and all three of us had a ton of fun playing there.

After the musuem we took a ride over Spokane Falls in the new gondola system; then Beatrice and I took a spin on the carousel at RiverFront Park. It was perfect as the museum; gondola and carousel are all located right at the Park.

Not surprisingly we all walked back to the hotel for a nap. Upon waking we went for dinner at the Elk Public House where Bea absolutely inhaled the garlic & onion bread, as well as a Chipolte BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, or "DEEE-A!!" as so so fondly hollers when she's hungry. George indulged in a "hot lamb sandwich" that came back to haunt us all the next day.

Finally, back to the hotel for a little Daddy & Bea swim time in the pool. Then just as planned, Bea dropped dead from exhaustion and George and I utilized the free drink coupons provided by the hotel.

Thinking we were in for a good night sleep.....Ha! No such luck! Bea was up & at 'em at 4:30 am. So we just decided to get ready and pack another day full of activities. We ended up taking an early morning walk at Manito Park in the South Hills. Beauty of it is, George, Puggy & I froze our asses off while Bea slept blissfully in her jogging stroller tucked into fleece blankets.

But she woke up when we came to the duck pond, oh, the glorious duck pond. Bea and I hung out at the olive-brownish colored duck pond while George had a "come to Jesus" talk with the "hot lamb sandwich" in the Manito Park public restrooms. When George re-joined the group we were busy quacking like idiots at the ducks and taking family videos when out of the corner of my eye I see Bea's jogging stroller go flying towards the duck pond (Bea was not in it). George couldn't make it to the stroller in time and....kerplunk into the stagnant (duck shit) pond it went...and fully submerged. Poor George had to fish it out and strap it to the top of the car with an extra electrical cord found in the trunk. "Naass-nee!!!" (nasty) as Bea would say.

As if that weren't a rude enough wake up for poor Georgie, I then subjected him to a full day of shopping wherein I acted horribly indignant if he didn't take charge of Bea the entire time. Because after all, just how much time do I actually get to shop by myself?! George played along with my spoiled routine and I was granted an afternoon of shopping and he dealt with a very cranky Skeetie. He really is not only a good guy, but a gem of a husband and the #1 Daddy (to Bea, not me).

All in all it was a really, really fun trip. And pugster wins the award for the least amount of whining.

Nein!

Skeet-a-keet. She is a total parrot these days. She says anything and everything that comes out of our mouths.

Example: George taught her to scream "Nein!" at the pug when he chews her toys. Now she hollers "Nein!" in a gutteral tone when she's aggravated at us, or pugster. Complete with the staccato finger movements. What have we created....

Here she is commanding "Nein!" from her carseat. She wanted out.
(Note the pointed finger, she had just admonished us with it.)

Every day is a "schon" day with Beatrice ("bea-utiful" in her most current tongue of German)