Tonight | 12 Times as Old

Well (again), Fans, Julie's first work trip of the fall has rolled around and you know what that means: it's time for her to be all maudlin about going. She read one of Birdie's new favorite books to Birdie tonight: Moo Ba La La La. Clara likes to "baa" like a sheep (but is not so keen on mooing like a cow). When Julie gets to the part that goes "Rhinoceroses snort and snuff, and little dogs go ruff ruff ruff," she snorts and snuffs right in Birdie's ear which makes Clara laugh. She and Birdie had a long snuggle after reading books that involved Julie dishing out a lot of raspberries and Clara laughing. Julie pointed to herself and said "Mama." Clara said what may have been "mama," but she also seemed to be saying "papa" while pointing in the direction of the bathroom (where Ted was giving Joe a bath; though in all other instances he is Da-ee!!!!!), and "baby," which may have been all to do with baby doll in the stroller. She definitely said "bye-bye" all the way to bed.

Joe is still on the asking questions before bed kick. Tonight, we discussed favorite car (Bronzie got both Joe's vote, and Ted's vote, Julie said she was torn), favorite dog (Joe said Sparky--the firedog from the Little Critters firehouse book; Julie and Ted said Berenice), and favorite book (Joe said Lucky Sneaker--which we'd just read; Ted said Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog; and Julie said Where the Wild Things Are). Later, Joe was caterwauling in his room where we found him buck naked. He stated he needed to use the potty. Off he went. After he was back in his pajamas, he gave Ted and hug and then Julie a hug. He then decided to see if he could hang off Julie as she was crouched down to his level. He could. That's how little he still is, Fans. So little he can hang on one of us crouched down, just by tucking his legs up off the floor.

Julie lifted him up (magic!) and carried him back in, and when she came out, she looked at Ted, started to cry and said she didn't want to go. Ted said it would be a "good mental break." Julie refused to believe him (shook her head in the crook of his arm). So we had cookies. And then Ted said today he thought that now that he is 36, he's 12 times as old as Joe. Which set Julie off again.