What is she doing in there?

Our little Charlotte is always full of surprises. Still a girl of few words, she is a master at animated movements, sound effects and just utter silliness.

We have an outdoor thermometer and the "base" is in Charlotte's room. For one reason only and that is to monitor the temperature in her room. It's tricky in this house in the winter thanks to radiators and multiple thermostats controlling rooms NOT on their floor (i.e. Lillie's is tied to the one downstairs and our downstairs bathroom is tied to the one upstairs). It's only taken us 3 years to figure out the puzzle.
ANYWAY...back to the original thought.

Charlotte loves to play with the base because it has buttons that beep when you push them. Unfortunately, one of the buttons turns on and off an alarm; conveniently set at the default time of 2:00am. On Sunday (rather, early Monday morning) the alarm started going off. Me, being the thoughtful wife I am shoved Pat and said "Go get it. It's the thermometer thingy." After getting it out of her room, we started to here a thump...thump...thump. It's Charlotte banging a leg, arm, some body part against the back of her crib. We didn't go in, just figured she woke up from the alarm and would go back to sleep. It was like counting "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi,..." when your waiting for a thunderstorm to pass. Thump...thump...thump...long pause. Thump...thump...thump...longer pause. Yep, she dozing off.

Eventually it stopped just in time for Pat to fall asleep and Lillie to come in for a potty break. Sorry, honey. Did I mention Pat normally gets up at 4:45am and it is now about 3:30?

So last night about 2:15am the thumps start again. Only for a short time and she's done. Then at about 5:15am it starts again. OK, I am NOT, I repeat NOT a morning person. Knowing that my alarm is going to go off at 6:30am (not that I get up at that time, it just goes off) I had to put a stop to it. By this time, I'm thinking she's building wings on her crib and is getting ready to fly this cuckoo's nest. I can see why she's had enough. I'd better check under her mattress for a hammer and nails or something!

I go in, trying to open the door as quietly as possible, and find her sound asleep. Knee bent, banging on the crib. Maybe she has a recurring dream she is a drummer in a band or something. It's a pretty consistent beat... I move her over, straighten her leg at which point she removes her blanket from over her head, looks at me, points to her wind up toy and says "more?" Sure, why not, might as well listen to music and thumping on the monitor while I try to fall asleep.

Love you, Charlotte.

Saying goodbye to a friend

When Pat suggested just over a year ago (Christmas 2008) that we buy Lillie fish, I knew this day would come. I was ecstatic when Pinky and Orangey made it one year! But, all good things must come to an end.

We noticed Pinky hiding out quite frequently behind the filter. I just assumed it was because Orangey (aka "the bully") would chase him around nipping at his fins. Nope. Poor little thing was sick. The day he met his fate he kind of resembled a puffer fish or some sort of bird-like fish. His scales were all feathery and poofy. I know, too much information...Anyway, it was this past Sunday when Pat made the call to give him/her/it the flush. Thank goodness, because there is NO way I could've done it.

It was so sad. Lillie cried and kept saying "I miss Pinky" and "Why did Pinky get sick?" She promised to take REALLY good care of Orangey so he/she/it doesn't get sick. "I promised not to feed him to much". I think she's referring back to the good 'ole Dr. Seuss book "Fish Out of Water" with little Otto. "Just so much and nothing more." So this went on for a day or two then...

Charlotte was looking in the fish tank and Lillie said "Pinky is gone, Charlotte. Pinky's not there anymore. We had to flush him down the toilet (laughing) with the (fill in blank) and (fill in blank)." Charlotte, being Charlotte then walked into the bathroom and pointed to the toilet and said "dis?" Lillie is laughing hysterically. Then in the next dramatic production pushes a tear out and says "I wish we could go to the fish store and get another Pinky." Oh, brother. All drama all the time.