Metal Meredith

Tonight, Vivienne’s bed after looking at the book about dinosaurs and fossils and palaeontologists:

Vivienne: When I grow up, I am going to be a Scientist of Everything.

Phil: Really?

Vivienne: Yep, because I know so much.

Help me. Please.

If you know me at all, you know that I am not a fan of the outdoors. I do not enjoy heat or glaring sun or humidity. I am not fan of the ocean or the sand it sits upon. Now that I sound like the most boring person on the planet, you will understand why my husband decided to take Vivienne on a weekend beach vacation this year. (Add in the Henry factor and I would be downright miserable. There is a very good chance that he will be as annoyed with heat and sun as I am.)

Last Thursday, the Dynamic Duo set out on a 4 hours drive to Nags Head, NC to stay with some friends. They stayed 2 full days and 2 full nights. Vivienne had a blast. She swam in the ocean, in the pool, played mini-golf, went on a fishing pier, played skee-ball (in the middle of the night!! - 9 P.M.), ate lots of ice cream and hot dogs, played in the sand, watched fireworks and trick kites, and didn’t miss me one bit.

In fact, when I asked her if she was ready to come home, she said “Not really.” When I told her Henry missed her and wanted someone to play with, she answered “Maybe you should call someone over for a playdate?” And when I told her I missed her and wanted to hug her, she reluctantly said o.k. and agreed to come home with Phil. Somehow, my mommy-addicted little girl that wouldn’t leave my side more than a month ago was nowhere to be found when sand and water are present. 

She gave me this picture this morning:

It is Barack Obama, a Unicorn and some birds above. Notice the flower? He is picking them. She watched Phil and I throroughly enjoy the JibJab cartoon about voting in this election and I suppose she enjoyed it, too. What 5 year old girl doesn’t like unicorns? Too bad she can’t vote!

Vivienne is going through some major transition problems which we think stem from both losing a tooth and turning 5, getting ready for Kindergarten as well as an uncertain daily summer schedule. It is a lot for a tiny 5 year old brain to process, I suppose.

These problems are manifesting in a unusual need to be no less than 4 feet from me at all times. Add to that the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep and you have two unhappy parents to deal with an increasingly weepy child. It hasn’t been so much fun around here.

My big plan was to get Vivienne to my mom’s house for a good part of one week and then re-do her room. I wanted to rid her of the toddler things that have been in her room since we moved here in June 2005. After all, she was still in the crib then. I have been planning for this for about 6 months, collecting linens on sale, scoping paint samples and planning around things we already have as to not spend too much. I had everything ready to go when Vivienne decided that she wasn’t able to let me out of her sight without having a little kid panic attack. She only made it one night (and two fun filled days) at Camp Grandma before demanding to come home.

So we rushed to get her room done. It was well worth it and I spent a lot of time in there this week just ‘visiting’ the room and sitting on the floor and enjoying the uncluttered, non-baby design of it all. It feels good to pat myself on the back when I am able. I am taking that opportunity now, and bragging on my own abilities.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Vivienne does love the room. She thanked me many, many times and is excited that her room is pink now. Truth be known, I didn’t do it for her, but don’t tell her that.