Confession

If the girls didn't love Alex the cat so much, I would have shuttled him down to the willing and able cat lady neighbor shortly after we found him at the shelter.  She loves black cats and, given my indifference and sometimes concern, she was willing to help us out. 

Alex is a fine kitty.  He is going to have a playdate with his cousin Shya, the dog, next weekend.  The last time they played, they got along so incredibly well...blew all the dog/cat stereotypes out of the water.  I am in email correspondence with my SIL re: our family gathering with animals included and she tells me that on their first and only cat-dog playdate, Charlotte pleaded with them,
“make sure he doesn’t hurt him because he is really special to me.”

Yeah, he's a keeper.  He has the advocacy of the heartstring tuggers in our home to thank.  I'm still more of a dog person.

Origins

Two ones originated from two year old 'lottie.

C: "Mommy can I have a cookie?"
M: Ok, one cookie."
....

C: "Two ones?"

She still uses today, age 4.

2=two ones

LOST

• 1 cardboard square cut out mailing material with $85 worth of professional wedding photos (8 total).  Images include: cute flower girls, lovely natural scenery complimentary to and bride and groom, big families, etc.  I already had buyers remorse for my excessive spending on 4x6 snapshots but now...ugh.
• 1 maroon Blackberry.  Long overdue for replacement with its cracked crystal and limited features/no data/web access.  I need to get the contents of phone book and calendar from my relic phone.
• My mind

On the morning commute

Mama, do porcupines live in the woods?  WHERE do they live?  Do they live in our woods?

Mama, did I talk when I was zero, one or two?

C: Why can't we have another baby?  Jillian's mom had three girl babies.
M: Can you imagine how loud our house would be with THREE little girls?
C: I'd like a boy baby.

You Can Do Better (exclamation point)

That is all.

Back from San Diego

And, despite the 80 degree temps, I think I brought a cold back with me.

This outing was especially hard on N.  She missed her mama more than I missed her, which is a milestone.  Usually we are able to keep her entertained just enough so she doesn't care.  She was sad on phone calls.  At one point, we discussed how it's ok to be sad, but is it really worth the energy to cry so much and sob.  I was coming back the next day.

I know there are a lot, A LOT of emotional highs and lows with girls and I hope I help mine through it with as much useful knowledge as possible.  I always think I was socialized like a boy, growing up with two brothers before and after me, and then a sister eight years later.  Birth order?  I am more direct but I am also extremely senstive, like my Natalie.  I'm not sure it is helpful to send her to a Catholic school but that's an issue for another day.

Charlotte was sweet and got on the phone quickly to say, "I yuve you Mama," and that was about it.  I found them some sun gear from Del Sol...rings and hair clilps that change colors in the sunlight...so cool.  So cool that I stashed the first "mommy goes on a business trip" gifts I got them for Christmas in favor of the sunny San Diego memorabila. 

I also went for the first time to Cornado Island.  Saw the Hotel Coranado, watched the sunset from the deck of the HC, and just soaked in the beauty of that little corner of the country.  San Diego, so lovely. 

But, now I am sick and need to start popping airborne.