Dear World: I Promise I'm A Good Mother

Dear Colleague:

I realize that despite the cold spell Arizona has had recently, Baby Sylvie consistently comes to work in little more than a onesie. I refuse to take responsibility for this...Brandon is perfectly capable of dressing her in weather appropriate clothing. He feels, however, that Sylvie has enough baby fat to withstand the elements.

I could fight this battle but I would lose, just like I lost the baby kissing/baby pinching battle. Plus, if I were to actually exert the energy it would take to insist that Brandon put a sweater on our Rubenesque child, I would no longer have enough energy to keep from telling you that "supposedly" is never pronounced "supposebly."

Dear Random Man at Church:

Yes, I know my son's hair is similar to that of a old, homeless man's. Despite my best efforts, I cannot tame the monster's mane...

I have cut, brushed, combed and gelled as much as one mother can do with a two year old. Unfortunately, I cannot overcome swift toddler hands or my father's genetic gift of cowlicks.

Don't worry, I'm fully intending on taking George's do from Transient to Skinhead as soon as the weather heats up. Yeah, that's how I roll.

Dear Judgemental Lady at Safeway:

I agree that perhaps m&m's at 10:00 a.m. is not the wisest nutritional choice for my child, especially as his genetic line is littered with people who have "the sugar." Nevertheless, I think that you'll agree that your shopping experience is much pleasanter without his goat-like bleating reverberating off the canned foods.

Also, thanks to your withering death stare, I just forgot to pick up the key ingredient I need to make dessert for Valentine's Day. So, ruiner of my self-esteem and chocolate bread pudding, if you would please remove your cart from the middle of the aisle so I can push my double stroller through, I would appreciate it.

Dear Neighbors:

If you think you hear my child screaming alone in the backyard and worry that he is being neglected, please don't call the police. I promise that he is actually in his screened-in playroom playing with the mountain of toys that I have bought him out of my hard-earned guilt...I mean money.

Your benevolence in this matter will save me a year's worth of humiliation, a fight with my husband and two days worth of crying.

Thank you all for your patience.

Sincerely,

One unexceptional, but earnest mother

Fashion Week

So we are creating new trends in haute couture here in the Matthews household. George has a real knack for choosing amazingly dapper ensembles. Featured below is his latest pick--he is wearing it as I write this post!--Pampers diaper (size 4), Sunday dress from waist up (blue shirt, red tie, suit vest), monkey leash harness (he literally asked Meghan to put it on him), and that "tie it all together" accessory, the fireman's helmet.

Doesn't he look reflective in that shot? Looks like it is straight out of the Neiman Marcus catalog.

Sylvie is wearing what I call the Rhapsody in Pink:


In case you assumed that Dad must have chosen such a get-up, I must inform you that you guessed wrong. This was Meghan's fashion sense, all the way.

Happy Birthday, George

This has been Georgie's birthday weekend. We have been very busy celebrating and having fun--and dealing with the rather disappointing reality that George doesn't yet understand how special a birthday is compared to every other day. Even when his Mom and Dad go to great lengths to have toddler-friendly festivities.

Friday, the birthday proper, began with the two-year old opening his presents. His favorite was a racing cart his parents have him. The video below shows his first drive; initially you will see that he was not pleased that he was being filmed so early in the morning. What a vain two-year old!

George had a monkey-themed weekend, and breakfast featured "monkey bread," basically cinnamon pullaparts with a carmel sauce. Very yummy. The rest of Friday was very busy--work for Mom, lunch appointment for Dad, and several voice lessons in the afternoon. That evening we had a fancy dinner in George's honor and saw a movie, The Tales of Desperaux. It was cute, and George enjoyed it (most of the time).

Saturday we invited some friends (the Steeds and Curtises) over to have lunch and monkey cake. We had a lot of fun, especially having other adults over to keep us company. We really had a blast--thanks for coming over, guys! Meghan created the most amazing cake, see below. Its creation was an odyssey in itself--ask us again sometime...

Everyone was happy to help George blow out the candles. We had at least four boys trying simultaneously. In the end, Meghan did the honors.

We were just relieved George seemed to enjoy the cake!

Call of the Valkyrie

As you may know, Sylvia is a vocal little baby. She loves to coo, goo, and shriek with delight. I've always wanted to catch her vocal outpourings, but whenever I got the camera in front of her, she clammed up. Well, this week she has become even more vociferous, and far less camera shy. So here are a couple of clips of Sylvie-speak, one filmed by me and the other by Meghan.