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Our little car passed its latest inspection. When I got home I took the vehicle inspection report, circled the word "Passed" in red marker and posted it to our fridge. I am so proud of that little Neon. Not too many years left in it.
Last night I was watching something on PBS called <a href=" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys " TARGET=_blank>American Experience: The Kennedys</a>, about the famous Kennedy family. For those who are not from this area (Boston), the Kennedy family history, well, at least the Kennedy family, is sacred. The Kennedys are from the Boston area. JFK?s father, Joseph, raised his family in a Boston community called Brookline. Joseph, JFK and Edward (aka Ted) were congressmen and senators in Massachusetts. Ed (aka Ted) is still one of our senators. The Kennedy family is like royalty around here. So it was interesting to watch the show on them because I never realized some of the tragedy that family has gone through and some of the very interesting facts. Sure, we all know about JFK being assassinated. Most of us know about Robert being killed as well. But did you know that the eldest son, Joseph Jr., was killed during WW2. Or that the eldest daughter, Rosemary, was born with serious learning disabilities, institutionalized and was finally given a lobotomy. Did you know another sister, Kathleen, lost her first husband, a Brit, during World War Two and she herself was killed in a plane crash with her second husband. Or did you know that Joseph Sr., JFK?s father, was married to the daughter of John ?Honey Fitz? Fitzgerald, a popular Boston mayor. Joseph Sr. was once the 12th richest man in the country. He was the first chairman of the SEC and the ambassador to Great Britain right before WW2. When John F. Kennedy was three, he almost died of scarlet fever. When he entered the navy, his first job was clerical because of his health. Most of his life he had some kind of health issue. Robert was his campaign manager during his senate run as well as presidential run. Cool stuff.
I usually like biography or news magazine type programs but rarely find them well done. But this one was great. I recommend it.
Emily is 18 months old. Over the weekend we were driving in our truck with me in the driver's seat, Patti in the passenger seat and Emily in a car seat in the middle of the back. Our truck has an extended cab so she is able to sit back there. Here is how a simple exchange went between her and us from her point of view.
Situation: Emily had a cup with some juice in it in her hand. On the space in the front seat between myself and Patti was a bag with stuff for Emily.
(Emily thinking: This juice is good. Look at that pretty car. This music is good, better than sports talk radio he usually puts on. Ooh, there?s some crackers up there.)
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: Chatcher.
<u><b>Patti</b></u>: What sweetie?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: Chatcher. Please.
<u><b>Patti (looking back at Emily): </b></u>What do you want hon?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: Please. Chatcher.
<u><b>Patti </b></u>(looking around): You want more juice?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: no no no. A cracker. I would like a cracker). Chatcher.
<u><b>Patti</b></u>: You want some raisins??
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: what is going on here? Why can?t she just give me some delicious cheddar cheese flavored Cheese Nip crackers? They?re right there!) PLEASE! CHATCHER!
<u><b>Me</b></u>: What is it boo-boo? What do you need?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: Oh great, now he is doing it?) Chatcher.
<u><b>Patti</b></u>: I?m sorry hon, but I don?t know what you want?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: I want one of those crackers that are sitting in that ziplock bag on top of my stuff. They?re right there, right in front of you. RIGHT THERE!! What is wrong with you people? Why can?t you just give me a cracker. JUST ONE.) chatcher. Please. Chatcher. (Emil thinking: I am pointing right at them).
<u><b>Patti</b></u>: Sweetie, you?re pointing at the steering wheel, do you want to drive?
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: What?? Drive?? Are you crazy?? I. Just. Want. A. Cracker). Chatcher. Chatcher. Chatcher.
<u><b>Patti</b></u>: Oh, a cracker. You want a cracker. (hands her a couple of crackers).
<u><b>Emily</b></u>: (Emily thinking: Finally. Some crackers. Thank you). Shank Few.
The strangest thing happened yesterday. Some people started getting emails from me from May 23, 2002, 18 months ago. So far I have confirmed two emails, one work related ? I was the project manager on a project and it was a status report ? and a softball update email. My email system at work allows me to save any sent emails and I looked back at that date and saw that I had to resend one of the emails because the recipients never said they got it. So that means my email was stuck in cyberspace for a year and a half. Sort of like reading about a letter than fell behind a desk at the Post Office and was delivered later. Strange.
Emily was 18 months old on November 2. About 3 weeks ago, our morning started normally. Emily usually gets up between 6 and 7, the same time I start to get ready for work, and she?ll stay in her crib for a few minutes before she makes a sound indicating she is ready to come lay in bed with us (or Patti) and watch the Today show (or Sesame Street). Emily had a little cold for the past few days and her sleeping was a little off. We would give her Benadryl or something before bed and usually once again sometime in the middle of the night. Other times she would wake up coughing but eventually fall back asleep.
There we were, waiting for her to end her self-play and make a sound, when we realized she was unusually quiet. For anyone who has been in our house, our bedroom is very close to hers. Actually, all of our bedrooms are close together, it?s kind of a small house.
So Patti jumped out of bed, looked out of our room and down the hall, and there was Emily standing in the doorway. At 2 weeks shy of 18 months, she learned how to get out of the crib. I got up and saw a bed sheet tied to the top of the crib with little knots tied in it. I hope her prison break is not a sign of other things to come. Joking. No bed sheet. She figured out how to get out and hang from the crib and make the small jump to the ground.
About a week later Patti was out on a Saturday and I had Emily all to myself. While she was taking a nap during the afternoon, I was doing stuff around the house, constantly checking up on her. I heard her stirring so I gave it a minute and went upstairs to get her. As I walked in, I noticed the crib empty and Emily sitting on the glider with a devilish smile on her face. The floodgates are open.
The question now is do we make it safer (and easier) for her to get out (I have images of lying in bed and hearing a loud ?thump? following by ear shattering cries) or do we, well, I am not sure what to do. The crib bed is at its lowest point and shy of putting a net or something on top, I am not sure what to do.
Oh well, I guess we?ll figure out something.
On a side note, Emily?s recent phase (she does strange things for a while then stops) is walking around saying ?Apple? and pointing at everything. But in her sweet toddler voice it comes out like ?Ah-puh? like she is substituting the ?L?s for ?W?s.
I have some pictures of Halloween I am going to post soon too.