soft

In my previous post I mentioned the book "The Goose Girl". Well, after loving that book so much I did a little research on the author, Shannon Hale. And I have to say she's one of my new favorite persons-I've-never-met. I can't hardly wait to read the rest of her books (but I'm trying to be good and wait until the next payday because our library is not so great), so in the meantime I'm catching up on her blog: http://oinks.squeetus.com/ She almost almost almost makes me want to be a writer. Except for the fact that I have no literary training, I don't know anything about the rules of the english language (besides the difference between "there" and "their"...the misuse of which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine), and... oh yeah, no real interest in that sort of thing, then I would give a shot. Anyway, I just wanted to share what I've been into lately.

Also I'm making Tyler a quilt. It's been an idea for awhile and I finally dug out the old sewing machine and got crackin'. So far I love it and am pretty proud of myself, but I am in no way, shape, or form a perfectionist. Because that would be boring right? I'll post a picture of it in a few weeks when it's all done.

I wanted to share a cute story. Alexis is very particular these days about what goes on with her bedtime routine. I'm not sure what Jeremy does with her when it's his turn, but when I put her to bed there are several things that have to be done:

a) read at least one bedtime story (several if I'm generous)
b) say a prayer
c) back-scratch, where she lays across my lap and pulls up her shirt then repeatedly tells me "softer, softer, softer*" until I'm not even touching her.
d) talk. This is where we talk about whatever she wants. Except that I'm not allowed to say "what should we talk about?", that's her job. The topics vary from alligators to ballerinas to school to the volcano sisters. My knowledge on most of these topics is pretty skimpy, but fortunately she doesn't mind if I make things up. One of these days I'm going to videotape a "talk" because they are when she is quite possibly at her cutest.
e) goodnight kiss and a huggle (that's what we call a hug, except it's better than a hug)
f) another goodnight kiss, but this time a very soft one placed on her cheek while she's pretending to be asleep. And if I don't do it soft enough she says, "no mom, like this", then she puckers her little lips and makes a kiss motion, but no sound comes out because it is that soft*.

And after all those steps, especially the last one I think to myself, "okay, I can handle another day of this".

*Soft is her most favorite adjective. She wants everything soft, including her milk. Somehow I've managed to accomplish that.