Shrek Takes a Back Seat to Buzz and Woody (at least for the time being)

Well, Brigid has left Shrek, at least for the time being, and become a Buzz and Woody freak. For the last two days, all she's wanted to do is watch Toy Story and Toy Story 2, both of which we love, and both of which she watches transfixed. Woody? Woody? she'll say over and over again. Buzz sounds more like Buzsh. Last night, when I was trying to get her to sleep, she was popping up from the boob and in a sleepy voice kept saying, "Buzsh Woody? Buzsh Woody?" and I'd say, "No, tomorrow you can see Buzz and Woody." She'd go back to nursing then pop up again, "Buzsh Woody? Buzsh Woody?" "No, tomorrow you can see Buzz and Woody." It went on like this for a good number of times before she was asleep.

We are treading into the dangerous waters of having her want to watch too much TV. She's still easily distracted so you can move her onto something else, but yesterday it wasn't going to happen. Buzz and Woody were taking over her brain. Patricia went upstairs and found the Buzz, Woody and Jessie the 'Odeling Cowgirl dolls (Patricia called Jessie the 'Odeling Cowgirl instead of the Yodeling Cowgirl, so it stuck). Brigid enjoyed taking Woody's hat off over and over again, saying, "hat hat hat?" Everything seems to come in threes. "Yes, that's Woody's hat."

She has taken to doing something very cute. When she wants something, she'll take your hand and guide you to wherever it is she wants you to go. Yesterday, I didn't know what she wanted at first, so I gave her my hand when she made it clear that she wanted it and we walked out into the kitchen. She stood in front of the dish washer and pointed up. On the top of the counter was a package of crackers. So I gave her a cracker. "Teeseyouuu," she said for Thank you. She walked back out into the living room and I followed. It wasn't 30 seconds later that she repeated the action and once again I was walking out with her to give her another cracker. "Teeseyouuu," she said and headed back out to the living room. Over and over again. I could have brought the package of crackers out with me, but it was too darn cute to see her take my hand and lead me out there. She repeated the maneuver later in the evening.

The red bottom situation seems to be much better. The A&D ointment did the trick, so she's so much more comfortable, although last night when I was changing her it was obvious that she was feeling something. When I asked if she wanted me to put the A&D on her, she calmed down immediately and stayed still so I could. She may be equating that with making her feel better "down there," so she's being cooperative because the ends justify the means.

She continues to be into everything, and last night was no exception. She ran around from forbidden thing to forbidden thing, climbing on the arm of the chair in her room, grabbing at the computer mouse, at one point even climbing up on the chair at the computer in order to bang out on the keyboard. I tried not to come up to her abruptly for fear that she'd startle and fall because she was standing on the chair seat. She turned to me and seemed very calm and nonchalant. I put her on the floor and she immediately tried to climb back up on the chair. She's a pip, that's for sure. Today, Daddy may take her up to the lake for the afternoon and early evening. It's supposed to be nice out, but it might rain later. Jack also wants to check out how his mother is doing. She took a fall off one of the horses the other day and may have actually given herself a concussion, having not remembered the fall itself. She refused to go to be checked out, and that's worrisome.

Margaret is immersed in a leaf-collecting project in science class. Apparently it's a rite of passage for everyone going through Stafford Middle School because all you have to do is mention the leaf project to someone whose kid has gone through the city school district and they nod knowingly. They have to collect 25 pairs of different leaves -- both coniferous and deciduous. They can collect more specimens for extra credit, but they have to have a pair from 25 different trees minimum. Margaret has been enjoying the project, bringing Ziploc baggies with her most places in case she finds something interesting. They have to identify them and include some basic information with each collection.

Patricia has been singing in both the chorus at Oak Street and with the Champlain Valley Oratorio Society, which is doing a children's concert in December. Her music teacher recommended her for the CVO project. Every Monday she has rehearsal on campus with other children in the project. In a few weeks the children's choir will join forces with the adult CVO for joint rehearsals leading up to the concert, which will be a performance of a children's mass -- can't remember the composer, but along the lines of Mozart or Bach. Very involved and complicated, but she's loving it. She's my showgirl no doubt about it.

All three of the girls are enjoying dance classes. Margaret just got her new tap shoes in the mail the other day in time for Wednesday night's class, and boy do they make a difference. What a sound the adult shoes make compared to the kids version. Got a great deal on eBay, both in size and in price. Margaret is only a few inches shorter than I and nearly wears the same size shoe as I. Hard to believe. Brigid enjoys dancing when the girls are in the studio. It's hard to keep her from running out into the studio from the waiting area when the girls are at class. When class is over, she runs around the studio dancing and spinning. Good thing Miss Nancy has a soft spot for her. She says, "She's a dancer." Now if they only made a musical version of Toy Story, then she could have it all.