I am even more determined

to leave my job to be at home with The Bean.  I've been home since Thanksgiving.  Seven days in a row.  I realized today that I have not spent 7 days in a row with my child since she was 9 mos old and we went to PR.  Even then, it's not the same as being in your own home.  And yes, she did drive me bonkers at times, but more often than not, spending time with her is a joy, a blessing and a privilege.  

Today she napped for 3 hours!  She has not done that since an infant.  Every day I have been home she has slept for a minimum of 1.5 hours - also unusual for her.  I accept that she may be going through a growth spurt, but I also maintain that my being at home has played a part.  There is nothing like seeing how your presence actually impacts someone, especially when that someone is your own child.  Yeah, the job can't compete with this.  And even though it's a great paying job, I've got to get out of there.  At the end of the day, I just do not care about it and I want to be with my child.

I hate that I'm heading back there in a few hours.

On a positive note, I visited a Waldorf day care/pre-school with her on Monday and LOVED IT! "I lika school, mommy!"  It was a joy to see her interacting with the things in the classroom.  I loved the set up of the classroom.  Even though there were no other brown children there, it felt like a wonderful place for her.  But the hours suck.  8:30-3:30 and no Friday afternoon!  We're going to have to find a way to make this work.

Went to Check Out a Day Care Center

today and was not impressed.  At all.  The rooms were small and the toys were dirty. I totally get that tons of little kids will make things dirty, but, like when do they determine it's time to actually replace something?  All of the plastic and dirt just depressed me.  And I felt bad because I'd hyped up going to school for The Bean so much and she wanted to stay and play with the children.  We're going to check out another place on Monday.  If cost is any indicator of quality, it should be better.  At least I'm sure hoping so.  If it isn't - and even if it is - we'll probably check out Sunflower for a part time program.  She needs the interaction with other kids, but we need for her to be in a place that is better than what we saw today.

At least I'm taking her to the Children's Museum tomorrow with her best girlfriend, so, that'll make up for today's disappointment.

Common Sayings

"Can I have some, please?"

"I see you!"

"Special treat?"

"Don't want it!"

"Agua! Agua!"

"Cho-chat?" (chocolate)

"Mmmmmm . . . .

Lip balm!"  In response to this exclamation, I had to keep licking my lips to taste my newly applied lip balm.  The Bean finds it tasty.  Me, not so much.  But anything to keep the peace during our 3.5 hour Thanksgiving Eve marathon of grocery shopping.  Again, I promptly passed out shortly after arriving home.  I know I didn't put away any groceries; I sure hope The Mister did.  I'm just going to crawl into bed after this - having roused myself up off of the sofa a bit ago.

She just amazes me

Yup, I'm one of those parents.  As proud as I can be and continually amazed by my daughter.  She's 2, you know, and clearly on her way to being a prodigy of some sort.  Seriously, though, I used to hate to hear my dad tell stories of the things I supposedly did at 2 or 3.  Since he was out the door by the time I was 5, I didn't put a whole lot of trust in anything he said.  But, now that I've got a munchkin of my own.  I see that he probably wasn't lying about the trip to buy my Easter coat at 2 where I picked the most expensive coat and wouldn't agree to anything else.  I spent a good amount of time knitting The Bean some longies and she cringes just at the sight of them.  No amount of chocolate bribing will get her to keep them on.

So, last night she starts whispering in my ear and giggling away like crazy.  I'm just befuddled.  What on earth is she saying?  Oooohhhh, "'prise?!" Giggle, giggle, giggle.  She's saying, "surprise!"  She wants a surprise, or as we also put it, a "special treat" - aka chocolate.  Once I understood what she was saying, I just had to laugh.  She's so hooked on chocolate.  But, she refuses juice, so, I indulge her chocolate cravings.

And coffee.  The girl loves coffee and will beg for it on Saturday mornings.  It is the funniest thing to me to see her with her tons of cream, just a little bit of coffee in her two handled sippy cup without the lid on.  "Mmmm, good!"  At 2.  Good coffee.  

Oh and one more (gotta get ready for work!). . .  Sunday we went and had our family picture taken and her 2 year photos made.  Afterward we went to Rain Forest Cafe for dinner.  She ate, a lot.  When we got home it was time for night-night.  Well, she's already a world class staller.  "Eat!  Food!"  Ok.  I cannot believe you're still hungry, but, ok.  What would you like to eat?"  She paused, seemed to be considering things, and a few moments later responded, "Egg."  Just like that.  I scrambled one and she ate it.  I don't know what happened after that because I passed out and when I woke up, she was in her crib.

She just amazes me and I love her to pieces!