baby talk.

Nora is spending some time with Nanny and Pop this week. Nanny emailed me the following conversation she had with Nora today in the car:

Nora: I see a crane.

Nanny: Yes, it's downtown. That's close to where your Daddy used to live, downtown. They're building a big parking lot there now.

Nora: Did I live there too?

Nanny: No you weren't born yet.

Nora: Was I in Mommy?

Nanny: No, Daddy didn't know Mommy yet. They weren't married yet.

Nora: Where was I?

Nanny: You weren't here. Then Daddy met Mommy and they got married and then they had you and Julian.

pause for thought..........

Nora: Did you have any children?

Nanny: Yes, I had 3.

Nora: Who are your children?

Nanny: Daddy, Uncle Ian and Aunty Jenny.

Nora: and Mommy.

Nanny: No, not Mommy.

Nora: Not Mommy? Who got Mommy?

Nanny: Grandma

Nanny: Grandma got Mommy?

Nanny: Yes, and Aunty Shari and Uncle Brad. Grandma had three children too.

Nora: Aunty Shari doesn't have children.

Nanny: No.

pause........................

Nora: I don't want to have children either.

Nanny: No?

Nora: No. I don't! Do I have to have them?

Nanny: No but you're only young now you might change your mind.

Nora: No, I won't! I want to be like Aunty Shari. She doesn't want childrens either. I'm just going to be me!

Nanny: Okay then.

pause.......................

Nora: When we get back I want to ride the scooter around the block and take Bella for a walk.

Nanny: Okay then.

Nora: and I'm not having children.

Nanny: Okay then.

jbxo

a religious experience.

I spent a lovely weekend at my parent's farm with Julian and Nora. On Saturday I drove them to my grade school, they played on the playground, which, by the way had changed SIGNIFICANTLY since my days there! There is now one, large play unit - like you would find in your local park (primary colours and very safe)... when I went to the school we had:

1 set of monkey bars

1 set of swings

1 row of see-saws (teeter-totters... not sure which is correct)

1 row of tires... yes, tires... ranging in size from car to truck to TRACTOR, all buried half way in the ground - the goal being to jump from one tire to the next (I am surprised there were no casualties on the tractor tires - they are HUGE!). Julian didn't seem to believe me when I told him we used to play on tires at school. He kept asking me to "tell the funny story about the tires" again and again.

I decided we should go for a walk to the cemetery (behind the school and church) as a few of my relatives are resting there. Julian and Nora decided they would walk around and pick up the "stray" artificial flowers that have fallen away from their holders during the snowy winter. They each walked around with handfuls of plastic and silk florals. We brought most of them to my grandparent's headstone. They neatly placed the flowers into the soil in a row. Nora wanted to be different and decided that she would put hers on graves of people we didn't know. At first Julian didn't like this at all - but after a while he was okay with it.

The headstone next to my grandparent's has an engraving of Jesus on it. At one point Nora was trying to decide where she should put the flowers when Julian said: "Hey Nora, you should put some on Jesus' spot. Everybody likes Jesus."...

jbxo

P.S. Julian saved a blue flower to give to his friend Isabella. He told me he gave it to her at school today, but one of the children said it wasn't a real flower. Julian said he told Isabella that it is a magic flower because it will never change... love it.

obviously...

Julian is at Grandma and Poppa's farm for the week, and we brought Nora out for a treat tonight. She picked out a little bunny toy at the store. During dinner I asked her if she had named the bunny. She said yes. I asked her what the bunny's name is. She took a long pause to think about it, then she replied: "His name is Bunny." pause... "I named him that because he is a bunny." pause... "Bunny is a bunny."

jbxo

lost in translation.

Singing a little Lady Gaga with Nora tonight:

Me: "You're beautiful in your way, 'cause God makes no mistakes, you're on the right track..."

Nora: "Baby you were born this week."

jbxo

belly.

This is a photo of my lovely cousin, Ashley. Actually, she is technically my cousin's daughter - but that makes me feel rather old, so let's just call her my cousin. She is a very talented photographer who is expecting her first baby soon.

I always felt very lucky that I truly enjoyed both of my pregnancies. I never felt ill. I didn't gain more than the recommended 25lbs. I truly felt like I was glowing. I'm pretty sure I felt exactly like Ashley looks... however, I am VERY well aware that I looked nothing like this.

Congratulations Ashley!

jbxo

Ashley's work can be enjoyed here.

I am not making this up...

Conversation with Nora tonight after her bath:

Nora: "Mommy, I love the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!"

Me: (not so much as a question, but more in a: "hello, me too!" kind of way) "Who doesn't?!..."

Nora: "Daddy?"

I still can't stop laughing.

jbxo

Happy Day.

Worst part of yesterday: Julian telling me he knows I'm "too busy" to bring cupcakes to school for his birthday.

Best part of yesterday: The look on his face when I arrived at school with cupcakes.

I love you J-bug, happy birthday.

jbxo

Plastic.

Nora is only allowed to bring "soft" toys to daycare. Teddy bears, stuffed kitties, her favourite stuffy, a little brown dog named "Chocolate". She knows the rules, but, of course, like every 4yr old girl - she likes to try to challenge them.

A few days ago we were getting ready to leave and she was holding a new Barbie from Christmas when we had the most interesting conversation:

Nora: "Mommy, we can't bring Barbie to school."

Me: "Right, Nora - because she isn't soft."

Nora: "Yes, Mommy... because she is too tight."

Silence.

jbxo