Hold on to Your Hats...

...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.  This post is going to be all over the place tonight, so hang with me.  I'm starting with Miss Cutie Pie Bean just because.

She is turning out to be such a clever puss.  She helps dress herself, giving arms, legs and feet at appropriate times.  If I tell her, "No, the other foot," she tucks that foot away and gives me the other.

 She loves (and when I say "loves", I mean LOOOOOOOOOOVES) music.  We are one of those households that would dearly love to be free of noise making toys because Miss Beanie here will push every button on every toy to have them all playing at the same time.  And then, she just bounces and dances and claps right along. 

 She is a funny kiddo too--B and I are always laughing at something or other she has done.  I remember when Lil was a baby I kept comparing her to Hannah--not because I wanted to, but because Han was what I knew, and as humans, we have a tendency to compare the unknown to the known.

It's funny, but I really don't compare that much now.  The unknown is now the known.  Is that what comes with having your third?  And, I find that things I was absolutely positively I was SURE I would remember, and remember which of my delightful girlies said it, I don't.  Oops.  Let this be a warning to you--WRITE IT DOWN!

 She's sleeping better once again as the cold runs its course.  Her nose is still a disgusting faucet of goop, and those two eye teeth are hovering thisclose to the surface.  Surely they'll break through soon.  Right?

 Ah, here we are, this is not an accidental blur--as so many photos of the Bean are.  Nope.  This next series is my girl telling me she is "all done".

May I just tell you how helpful this sign is?  We don't have a lot of screeching and screaming because I find between Lil and I, we are able to decipher what the child wants/needs.  As any of you with toddlers who are not yet verbal know, this is a HUGE deal.

One other note: the child doesn't want me to leave her sight.  Ever.  Well, except when I put her to bed.  If I go to the garage and close the door behind me, she flips out.  If I go out the front door to check the mail, she flips out.  If I go to the bathroom and shut the door...yeah, then too. 

(Okay, so the mama who just a couple of paragraphs ago said she doesn't compare much any more is making a liar out of herself here.)  Because Miss Monkey and the Bit were in daycare, they were good to go with me leaving.  Sure, they might have squalled a bit during that separation anxiety stage, but the minute I was out of sight, they were fine.  And, they got to the point where I could just drop them off and they would take off and play and not even tell me goodbye (yeah, that feels good too...).  Not this little Beanie.  :shakes head:

 Okay, and so I posted this one (in spite of the blur) because of the devilish glint in her eye.  She's up to no good this one.  ;o)

 And this photo?  It just makes me laugh.  Oh, and check out those eyes.

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Okay, post part two.

I've been feeling down a bit of late.  I don't know if it's hormonal or if it's post project letdown.  Doesn't that sound weird?  I'm so delighted to be finished with those two projects, and the rooms look SO wonderful, and yet, I'm bummed. 

So, I've decided I need a new project or six or twelve.  ;oP  Brien told me to go back to work. Ha!

These are the projects I've come up with so far:

• Paint the areas of the main living area I can reach.
• Paint the dining room.  I know, I know, so many people LOVE the color.  I've just never really warmed to it.  
• Have B put "picture frames" in below the chair rail in the dining room.
• Redo the downstairs bathroom.  I have fallen in love with "Sea Salt" by Sherwin Williams (I think I may have mentioned that before) and need to use it somewhere in my home. :oP  I also want to put in board and batten in there--it just looks so nice, you know?
• Make faux frames for the mirrors in my bathroom and the downstairs. 
• Paint Lil's room and put in bead board.  As my friend Amy said, I guess I'm the bead board queen.  I like how clean it looks, what can I say?  
• Paint a couple of shelf-y things I have that have seen better days.

I think that should keep me busy for a while, no?  ;o)

Since I used Behr paint in the laundry room, and that's the paint Lil wanted in her bedroom, we headed to HD to pick up another gallon (Behr is on rebate right now!) so I can have it on hand when I'm ready to get started.  I have a few other odds and ends to pick up, but I have to take inventory of my painting supplies before I do. 

Anyhow, we went to HD.  We arrived around 5:30.  We left the store at 6:30.  Yes, you read that right, it took that long to get ONE GALLON of paint.  O.M.Goodness.  There were only two people in front of me at the paint counter.  Two.  That's it.  It was hot in there.  I don't do hot (I may have mentioned that before as well).  I had a squirrely Bean.  I had a bored Bitty.  It was BAD.  The thing is, they were both so dang good, I couldn't see leaving, for surely my turn would be soon, right?

The nice lady in front of me is restoring a cottage on the York River--I'm sure it's utterly delightful--and she and I chatted while I wrestled with a squirmy Beanie. Lil?  Was an angel.  The child was absolutely utterly perfect.  She stayed out of the aisle, she didn't touch anything she wasn't supposed to.  She didn't interrupt the adults' conversation.  She stood patiently and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  I don't when I've more proud, because, let me tell you, I was miserable, and I'm the adult.  What a wonderful little girl.  I really am blessed. 

And Bean? She didn't fuss or fret or scream, she just wanted to be held.  Right up against me.  In that heat.  Oh, and help me cool down by pulling down the neck of my shirt.  Again.  And again.  Thanks, Sweetie.  :shakes head:

At any rate, I'm feeling far more chipper and more me today.  Whew.  :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  We have toads, folks:

2.  And frogs too!

3.  Yes, yes, I know, plant overload.  I'm sorry.  Forgive me.  I was just really lovin' the lighting this evening, and Han would have loved them, so definitely a sparkly. :o)

I promise that's the last you'll see of the flowers for at least a week. ;o)

4.  Feeling more the thing today.  Whew.
5.  A/C and Sonic limeades.
6.  Lily in Home Depot.  What a kid!
7.  Magnum bar coupon in Sunday's circular (okay, okay, so I only just got to going through my coupons this week...)

No milestones.
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I'm not going to go into it now, for really, it needs its own post, but I'm having a difficult time with having a five year old again, and the memories of one sweet five year old being supplanted by another.  :oS  It's something I need to think about and put into words and work through, but tonight's not the night.  I just wanted to jot it here as a reminder I need to do so.