Snapshot 08.27.14

- Isobel has adapted to school beautifully. She had a far better week than I did. It’s challenging her and channeling her energy and I love thinking about all the fun things ahead of her. I’ve been walking her to school each morning while Elias is strapped into the baby carrier. I had planned on walking her home, too, but she considered this child abuse so we only walk one way. At first she didn’t understand that all the other kids she saw weren’t actually following her, but they were walking to school, too. “Mama, that girl who was following us is ahead of us now!” Yes, darling. We are going to the same place. “It’s freaking me out.”

- Sometimes when I walk home I walk past kids forming games of soccer or basketball around me. It’s neat to watch the kids form teams and work together for a goal. This must have been what hunting in a pack was like. I wonder if wolves would like basketball.

- I’ve been working out on the elliptical again as my health allows. I usually do it after I walk Isobel to school so I still have Elias in the carrier. Instead of waking him up and trying to juggle fussy baby with getting my workout done, I just leave him in the carrier and he usually sleeps through it. He’s a big fan of the swing and the bouncy seat and movement in general. It’s sweaty but it’s such a good feeling when I’m done. I unlatch the carrier and put him down and feel so light I could fly away. I tweeted about how virtuous I was to workout with a baby strapped to me and one of my friends replied, “Big deal. It’s not like you climbed a turbolift shaft while singing Frere Jacques. While being tied to three children.” He’s right. Picard can take anything you do and do it better–while being tied to three children. And, as Anthony pointed out, they carefully edited that episode to cut out all the scenes where the littlest kid let go and just hung off Picard while shouting I’M TIIIIIIIIIIRED because that is exactly what would have happened. From now on I vow to work out with Elias and two cats tied on to me.

- Awhile ago we were at Isobel’s cousin Jewel’s house hanging out with family when she became upset and started pouting. Anthony and I took turns trying to cheer her up but she was determined to have a pout. This went on for awhile. Eventually an aunt came up to her and said, “Jewel, is there anything that will make you feel better?” Jewel thought for a second and replied,”Yes.” The aunt sighed, “Well, honey, what is it? What will make you feel better?” Without hesitation she replied, “A ride on a unicorn.”

- That is Skippy in the photo above. His gray smudge is hard to even find anymore. He’s so big and grown up now, hardly anything at all like the scraggly kitten my Mom brought us.

- Isobel is obsessed with Pokemon and begged me and her father for a Pikachu backpack as soon as she realized that was an option. Her fancy Hello Kitty one that Grandma bought her (that was undoubtedly expensive) just won’t do anymore so we took to the internet to find her one. Of course she sees the plush backpack version and immediately falls in love, but that isn’t a backpack that will work for school. Anthony is a total sucker and buys it for her anyway. The funny thing is, I had that backpack, years and years ago, when Anthony and I attended raves. Anthony bought it for me (always a sucker!). Well, the backpack that I had was slightly different–it was plush and really nice, better than this one, and I have kicked myself about a thousand times for getting rid of it. I also had a ton of first gen Pokemon figurines, which I held onto for a long, long time before donating. I remember decorating my first apartment with them. I feel like a huge idiot now because I kept them in storage forever (I mean years) but then some how decided to get rid of them right before my kid was born(?!) Great job, me! I lugged them around several moves without having that pay off by giving them to my child who would enjoy them. Anyway. Here’s a cute photo of Isobel with her Pikachu backpack.