Birdie at the Window

This is Birdie, this very morning, at the window in the peak over the porch.  It's not your every girl that can pull off yellow (or hearts on her her butt), but then, as has been written here before, Birdie is not your every girl.

Big Girl, Big Time Snuggler

Brigade, as you know, Clara, has been rockin' the Big Girl Bed for a few weeks now.  She has fallen out (once--the first night) and has discovered that she can get out of the bed (but not yet out of the room).  Some nights, Clara likes to get out bed after being tucked in (but before Joe has been tucked in) and distribute all of the animals that have been relegated to the animal basket because Julie has decided that 15 bazillion and one animals in residence on the bed might be just one too many.  The night before last, there were thumps and delighted shrieks emanating from behind the door after both bambini had been tucked in for the night.  Investigation revealed that Birdie was underneath Joe's bed with assorted animals.  We supposed that this was a kind of big brother ordered bunk bed arrangement because as he padded into bed, Joe had asked when we would be getting "beds like Jonathan's."  (Clara slunk out from under there and made a beeline for her bed without us saying anything.)  In other words, Birdie's makin' like a big girl now that she's in the Big Girl Bed.

But here is the best part of Clara now sleeping in a big girl bed: it is now possible to snuggle with Clara in her bed and Clara is, and has always been, a very good snuggler.  In the way that Joe is very much in his head, chasing whatever glimmering thought has flashed through it, Clara is just so much of her body, always in the moment, so warm, and so earthy.  Sometimes, when Julie lies down with Birdie in the morning, Clara will reach up a little hand and put it on Julie's cheek and murmur, "Mommy."  And if that wasn't enough to make you never want to get up and make the donuts, there is also that when you lie down next to Birdie, she scoots right in close or pulls you right down to her and just settles herself, like she'd be perfectly content to lie there all morning, too.

Who's Got Spirit? We've Got Spirit!

The powers that be at KinderCare anointed Friday Dress All in One Color Day.  Periodically, they come up with some themed "spirit days" that might sound fabulous in theory that are anything but in execution.  This actually isn't one of those spirit days.  This one doesn't even sound good in theory because if you think about it even for the length of time it takes to say "Dress All in One Color Day," you instantly realize how ridiculous it is going to be in execution.  Participation was understandably low when considering the center as a whole, but here at Raleigh House, it was high: 100%!  Joe was in orange, a statement color.  Even though it was warm that day, we have had a few cooler days that have called for socks and sneakers instead of sandals.  Joe is fond of a sock, and now that they are back on the table as a possibility some days, they are his default choice whether he is wearing long pants or not.  Hence, the statement socks Friday.  Clara was clad in navy, sort of a sad wannabe Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation look, and would not be left out of the socks action.  This Friday coming up is Pajama Day.   Thank goodness.

This Just In. . .

Fans!  It's been a big week here: we have a new potty seat.  That's right. And you thought you'd had a big week.  After seven years, we decided it was time.  So far, the bambini haven't remarked on it, which we really can't figure given the manner in which they treat everything that happens in the bathroom as worthy of an investigative report.

In other potty related news, these days, when Clara uses the potty to tinkle, she will sometimes cock her head, lift a finger to her ear, look at you and whisper, "I hear it."  Julie usually whispers back, "Me, too."  If Julie is tinkling and Clara is about (which, let's be frank, she often is because potty time is often not private time these days), Clara will regard Julie seriously until the dulcet tinkle begins and then Clara will point to her ear and whisper, "I hear it."

You heard it here first, Fans.

Another Occasion For Birthday Cake

As our long time Fans know, we Raleigh Housers are ourselves Fans--of cake.  In particular, we are fans of the cake that comes at least four times a year--i.e. the traditional Ekkers birthday cake: Duncan Hines classic yellow cake with strawberry jam between the layers and chocolate frosting.  As many of our Fans also know, today was an occasion for just such a cake.  Ted turned 37!  Besides eating birthday cake tonight, he got to open birthday presents this morning.

Ted made out pretty well, but next year promises to be even better.  We know because this morning Joe told Ted that next year, he would go out to the store with Mommy to get Ted a "stuffed animal friend" for Ted's birthday, you know, "to snuggle with."  Fans, we know.  Your heart just melts like a birthday cake candle!  We're just 364 days away from meeting this new stuffed animal friend, and from celebrating again the guy who makes every day seem like an occasion for birthday cake around here.