E-I-E-I-O

Obsessions tend to take flight at the L household and they are normally led by Miss O.  Cows hold a special fascination to her only outdone by school buses.  There is a livestock auction in our town and last week we were on our way home and we got next to a truck with a trailer that had cows in it.  I knew where they were going; poor cows.  She just thought it was “fun” they were going for a ride.  This is how the conversation went:

Me: Look Olivia.  Cows.

O: Moooo (which she always does when she sees a cow)  Cows go riding mommy.

 Me:  Yes, they are going for a ride.  They are in a trailer. 

O: Trailer?

 Me: Yes, trailer.

O: Pulled by red truck.

Me: That’s right.  Cows in a trailer pulled by a red truck.

O: Where’s fahhmuh?

Me: Huh?  Farmer?

O: Yes, fahhmuh.

Me: He’s driving the red truck.

O: Me want one.

Me: Want one what?

O: Cows and truck.

Me: You can’t drive.

O: Fahhmuh drive.

Me: How are you going to get this?

O: Daddy buy it.

 Oh, if she only knew daddy’s budget doesn’t have room for purchasing livestock.  How do we end the conversation?  With an E-I-E-I-O, of course.

Comprende?

Life is ever changing at the L household. Everyday I notice something new about Olivia and she is always surprising us with the things she says and does. Her comprehension is what keeps me the most awestruck.

If you ask her what her daddy’s name is she’ll say, “Daddy Will.” Mommy’s name? “Mommy Susan.” Your name? “Jia Jia baby girl Lxxx.” What street do we live on? She’ll tell you the name of our street. Such a cute little cookie she is.

We were at the cell phone store because Will needed a new phone and we were talking to the lady. Olivia wanted our attention so I put my hand down to her to let her know mommy was talking and I’d be with her in a minute. Normally this works but not this time. She hollered out, “Will, I need you now.” Whadda you do? We tried not to laugh but simply couldn’t help it.

Since he has his new phone, she has his old one and he and I were in the kitchen and I heard her say, “cooking dinners.” She continued to have a little conversation with someone on the other end and piped up with, “I told you once, I cooking. I not tell you again” and hung up the phone. Mmmm….

The other morning I was getting dressed and she saw me put my bra on. She has learned about “b00bies.” She questioned what it was, why, etc. I explained to her it was a special “shirt” for mommy’s b00bies to hold them up. She accepted it and moved on. Phew. Much easier than I had anticipated. Not so much. Sunday afternoon we were running some errands and because she was good, I bought her a new necklace as jewelry is her passion of the week. I was in line paying for our treasures and she had wrapped it around her body and piped in her best most bellowing, those three states over could hear her voice, “MOMMY! Jia Jia hold b00bies up just like you!” My face was red as were those around us…mine from embarrassment, theirs from laughing so hard.

She’s also very thoughtful. At night when we say our prayers, we pray for mommy, daddy, the “gamos” and the “papas” (grandmas and grandpas), all of our family and to keep our soldiers safe. Sunday in church during prayer, the pastor mentioned our service members in prayer and Will had guard duty so Olivia knew he was being a soldier. Just after that she asked was daddy safe? Oh, my heart melted. And so did the hearts of everyone in ear shot of her. After the service when someone asked her where her daddy was, she would say, “being a soldier. But, he’s safe. I pray.”

When I tell Olivia something, I’ll ask her does she understand. She’ll nod. I’ll ask her am I clear? She’ll nod. Just to make sure, I’ll ask one more time if she understood me. Her answer the other night, “comprende.” Not sure where that came from. That and Tinkerbell are two of our life’s mysteries right now.

Will bought her a t-shirt that matches his ACUs while he was at Ft. Bragg last weekend. She slept in it Tuesday night and yesterday when I got her up for school, she REFUSED to wear anything but her “daddeeeee shirt.” So, yesterday she trodded off to school in her ACU t-shirt, khaki shorts and pink Mickey Mouse Crocs. Such a little fashionista I have. She told everyone repeatedly, “I have shirt like daddeeee.” She does. She’s right.

What do I say? She’s ruling our roost like a rock star and we’re following her along like good groupies should. We love every day with her and all that comes with it. It’s amazing the transformation.

Busted with Mustard

Two weeks ago I took a little trip up to Virginia. I left Thursday and flew in to Newport News where I had the glorious afternoon to myself to melt my credit card to do a little outlet shopping. Yes, there are outlet stores decently close to our house but isn’t it much more fun to venture via airplane to do outlet shopping? I thought so. Miss Olivia scored the biggest thanks to end of season outlet sales at Little Me, Strasburg Children, Gymboree, et al. I came in a close second with a trip to Crabtree and Evelyn. If you have never tried their La Source line. WOW. Fabuloso. I first commandeered a bottle when we stayed at a Hilt0n. Yes, there is a C&E very close but, again, it’s not the same. So, I had super flouncy hair for my trip. The bad thing about flying commuter flights is 1. you board the plane from the tarmac and 2. you deplane on the tarmac. So, stepping off my flight was like stepping right into a boiling vat of asphalt. But, I managed to suck it up and shop, shop, shop. My next stop. The C0ach Factory Store. Oh, how I love the smell of leather bags, belts, wallets, etc. just waiting for a good home. I obliged. I came home with a new bag, wallet, makeup type bag and photo album. All because my bag was on sale! YIPPEE! Will’s perspective is I should have reveled in saving the money. Not mine…mine is I was able to get more stuff for the money I had planned on spending. Cha-ching! I stayed at the Omni. It was my first time and I loved it. The front desk folks were so gracious and they had me all checked in when I got there. There was a little league baseball championship going on and I guess I had a concerned look about staying on a floor with 90000 little leaguers. She smiled and told me not to worry. I wouldn’t hear a thing. She was right. Friday I went on a dinner cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk. Wonderful food. The cheesy show was great and I had dinner with some great friends. Weather was beautiful and I loved cruising through the harbor looking at all the big ships. Saturday and Sunday I spent time wandering through Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown enjoying a cup of tea on the riverfront while watching boats go by. Good stuff.

I picked up some souvenirs to bring back including the ever so famous Virginia hams. LOVE THEM. I also picked up some of my favorite sweet/spicy mustard. I was so careful when I packed this time. I used a plastic box in my suitcase to put all my liquids in and I checked my bag so I wouldn’t have any security issues. Well, that was until I forgot about my jar of mustard. My delicious sweet/spicy mustard that would have been so wonderful on a sandwich of French bread with my newly bought ham. They questioned me 1000 times about having liquids, etc. in my carry on and each time I told them no and proceeded with my box in my suitcase so I wouldn’t have any problems. Chick whips out my jar of mustard and asks, “So, what would you call this.” Crap. Except for the mustard I bought at the last minute and shoved in my carry on. This warranted shoes back off, standing on the little foot printed mat with my arms spread wide and looking straight ahead. She wanded me. She patted me. She wanded me again. She patted me again. There was this HUGE burly drill sergeant also getting a pat down and he looked at me and we just smiled. We came to the conclusion it was the cute ones getting the pat downs. So, needless to say, I got a lecture on transporting liquids in my carry on and was asked did I want to “surrender” it or check it. Surrender.

Got home and as I unpacked I found my ham suitcase had been searched by the T S A folks. Missing are my iPod cable and my cell phone charger with the little double outlet thingy that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car. I took it b/c I had a rental my whole trip and threw it in the bag at the airport. Also gone, the only pair of expensive sunglasses I’ve bought in YEARS for the simple fact I lose them or break them. I think I left them in the rental car, though and surprisingly enough, no one found them. Sunglasses: $100. iPod cable: $80. Car charger: $30. Double outlet thingy: No idea. It was Will’s. Sorry, babe.

Will and the fabulous Miss Olivia had a good time together.  I had bought her a special t-shirt that read, “Bad Hair Day.  Daddy was my stylist.”  She wore it and wore it well, I might add.  Daddy’s and pig tails.  Kind of like oil and water, I think.  At least at the L household.

Great trip and I had a wonderful time.  There’s nothing like a little R&R to renew the soul.