Ribbit!

A few weeks ago, we decided it was time for Grady's Paci to go. He had become totally attached, and could not function without it. The only time I saw his cute lips was when he was eating. So, we first took it away during the day. Which was living hell for about three days, and then he weaned himself from it totally, and now will not even take it at night. Atta boy! Anyway, since then his vocabulary has just soared. I was counting the other day and I am pretty sure he has about 30 words that I can recognize. Some of his newest are "Tick tock" and "bear", but by far the cutest is "ribbit". It sounds a tinge like "bibbit" but he definately only says it when he sees a frog or a picture of one. I managed to catch him the other day with the frog toy we bought him this past weekend. Please excuse the mess in my house.


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Are you mad?

When I was in college, Nicole Kidman was riding the wave of fame. She had recently split from Tom Cruise (crazy...much) and made about a dozen award worthy flicks in a row. I definitely watched Moulin Rouge about 2,378 times, and I enjoyed many of the other movies she starred in. There was one, however, that had a certain line that became a catchphrase for many of my college friends and I. Now, those that read this blog are probably already saying it in their heads "are you mad? I am your daughter".
This sentence was uttered in the movie "The Others" when Nicole Kidman's character walks in to find her daughter "possessed" by an old woman. I won't tell you what really happens in the movie in case you haven't seen it (you should). Anyway, the little girl is freaky in her own rite, and the line is meant to be scary. We, however, found it insanely comical. I cannot tell you how many times I walked into a room to be greeted by a ridiculously high pitched, girlish voice, screaming "Are you mad? I am your daughter!" in a fake British accent.
We used it as a greeting, a joke, and an answer to any question we found appropriate. I am sure we really annoyed a few folks with it, and I know there are people who never used it, but found it funny.
A few days ago, my husband was playing with our son and a recently purchased curtain which we intend to hang in our front window, but it took me back to the days of "are you mad, I am your daughter..." and I had to post some pictures. Hope you all enjoy.

Oh, the last picture is not of that, but of Grady's new hairdo. I took him to get it cut and they ruined my baby's cute hair! This is after we got it fixed, but I miss his little bowl cut.

Two drifters, off to see the world...

I have what I would describe as a decent singing voice. Decent enough to land me a scholarship as a music major my Freshmen year of college. It has gotten me parts in musicals (see picture...yep, that's me with the red hair) and solos in various choirs, but nothing has ever made me feel as proud of it as my son does. Every time I put him down for a nap or bed at night, we have a little ritual. We read a book and then he settles his little head on my shoulder and I sing to him. Sometimes it's only one song, and other times I'll sing a little mini concert of our favorites. It just depends where the time takes us.


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Now, I am not the kind of mommy who only sings lullabies or the ABC song, even though those mommies are great and I applaud them for singing to their kids. It is my secret desire for Grady that he grow up with an eclectic taste in music like I have. Therefore, I am starting him young. Many times I wind up singing a Beatles song, followed by something by Barbara Striesand (my husband just puked). We do bluegrass, rock, top 40,old standards, classic lullabies, and I even occaionally kick it back to my days as a music major. I guess I DID learn Caro Mio Ben for a reason! He's heard Ave Maria and Pie Jesu right along with obscure songs from musicals I am willing to bet 90% of people my age have never even heard of. Some of his favorites come from "The Sound of Music" (my sister in law just puked), Aerosmith, and The Dixie Chicks.
While I sing I scan my brain for another song we haven't done yet, and he lays his hand on my voicebox to feel the vibrations of the air moving across my vocal cords. His other hand wraps around my hair and he moves his fingers back and forth to the music. In his room, my voice sounds crisper and more clear than it ever did to me on stage. When I am done singing and he's ready to go to sleep, he pushes up off my chest and applauds like he just got done watching a live Wiggles concert. I feel myself smile, so glad he liked it. It's the best applause I have ever gotten. I don't doubt he'd do the same for anyone, but I still feel like maybe I should go audition for American Idol this year ;)
Bonus points if you can tell me what song the title of this blog is from. It's one of our all time favorites.