Miscellaneous

Surviving

I appreciate the "are you OK?" emails that have been percolating my way.  We're fine, for the most part, although so much of our lives are unbloggable for family/work political reasons that we can't properly vent.  Or at least I can't. 

In Peach news: the vocabulary is definitely growing.  This week it was "hat" and "down" and "nonono" and, I am embarrassed to say, "bottle."  Yes, we still give her a couple of bottles a day, although she drinks out of a cup just fine.  We are cutting them back to just water in the bottles and milk in cups.   She signs "More" while she says it, and sometimes will say it without the sign. 

What I love?  The understanding!  "Please put that away."  "Please take that to Daddy."  "Please close the door."  And she's just so sweet about complying. 

Yesterday, Peach and I gave Matthew a "mental health day" and took off for a girl's day out.  We went to the Starbucks, to the zoo (and saw the baby elephant again!), out to lunch, and then shopping at Target.  She was so exhausted by the end of it she took a massive nap - and I actually had time to finish a novel.  Amazing.  

I have discovered she hates a dress.  I thought it was all dresses, but no, she really hates one dress particularly.  It's not just that it's got polka dots, because she has other polka dot dresses.  She will rip it off as soon as I put it on her - every time.

Peach is very mobile, but sometimes the balance is not so hot.  She was pulling open my makeup drawer, over and over again, and generally driving me crazy this morning.  She lost her grip on the drawer, stumbled backwards -- and ended up with her butt in the dog's water bowl.  She sat there, stunned, not sure what exactly had happened.  (Usually I'm quick enough to get his bowl off the floor before she comes into the room, but not this morning.)   I called for backup, and Matthew came in and started cracking up.  THEN Peach cried - and we both had to try very hard not to laugh.  It was nearly impossible. 

Anyway, my life and Matthew's life pretty much equal baby and work.  Matthew's work situation is insufferably frustrating - I really don't know how he deals with it - but mine is just crazy busy. 

Tonight I'm packing for a two-day mediation trip down in Eugene, for our biggest two cases (same defendant, two different cases).  I was supposed to have a motion for punitive damages ready to go by tomorrow (for tactical reasons, not because there was a hard deadline), but decided instead I would rather spend the time with the family today.  We had lots and lots of together time and a trip to Costco (which is always entertaining - Peach LOVES dark-haired men and says "hi" to all of them).   So I will be finishing said motion up in the car, on the way down to Eugene, while my boss is driving.  How is that for efficiency (and honesty)?   I may even pack up our printer and print from the car. 

Full post as published by The Menagerie on November 17, 2008 (boomark / email).