15 minutes at our house

1. Noticed something a tad odd about the cat. "Avery, what did you do to Thomas." "Oh, Lipstick mommy." Great...I guess I'll be getting new lipstick. But it is really Thomas's color, we'll save the rest for him.

2. Avery notices that Eli sleeping in the buff (trying to help that diaper rash). "Ohhh, he's wearing the same jammies as daddy." I about lost it at that one. DH had NO idea Avery knew about that...guess he won't be wearing those "jammies" anymore!

You got to love it...

Sorry folks, I'm feeling kind of sappy today so bear with me. I just have to say that T is the best daddy in the world. Right now he is re-laying our brick patio (not sure why...when he talks landscaping, I just hear "wah, wah, wah wah wah, wah wah"). However, he encourages Avery's "help" (that term is very, very generous). Instead of getting her out of the way and just getting the job done, he wants it to be their project together. I just love it! All too often, I feel, that little girls get pushed to the side while daddy's do "manly" tasks. I love that T engages Avery and encourages her along the way.
On T's way home from work there is one of those billboards that says, "Have you been a father today?" T always tells me how sad it makes him that some dads need a billboard. Even with a billboard...some dads just don't get it.
So, how has your man (or you...if you are a dad) been a father today?

We're going with door #2

So, I admit that I procrastinated a bit. Yesterday, I ask Avery what we should get daddy for Father's Day. Her first suggestion was a "shiny new black truck". Now considering my ridiculous Mother's Day gift and budget, that wasn't going to fly. I asked if she had any other ideas. She says with great enthusiasm, "Socks!" I'm pretty sure someone had been feeding her a gift idea . Good thing I've got an enthusiastic traitor on my hands.

FYI

Sleeping with a two year old was WAY WAY better than sleeping with a kitten. Stupid, stupid, husband. At least he's good looking, sometimes it is his only saving grace.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Well, night one with the kitty would have been an absolute riot had I not been coming off two weeks at a frantic pace and utterly exhausted.

You can just imagine how bedtime went over considering that was right about the time DH and Avery arrived home with Mr. O'Malley (the kitty....named from the Aristocats).I think we probably had to put her down about thirty times. That's not exagerrating to make the story better. That's fact. So, the reason she had "earned" the kitty was that she'd stayed in her own bed all night (genius dad's plan).

Wouldn't you know it at 3:00, we get not one but to visitors to our bed. "Look daddy, I got my kitty."This basically starts World War Avery in our bedroom. DH tells her she needs to go to her room, she refuses. It gets a little messy as they "argue" (since the voice of reason was trying to block them both out and get a bit more sleep). I wake up, diffuse the situation, get her back to bed, and all is well with the world again. For about 10 minutes and then it starts all over. Avery enters room, dad tells her no, Avery says no, mom tries to sleep, mom gives up, Avery goes to room. Lather, rinse, repeat and that's how the rest of the night went. Over and over until, Avery crashed about 20 minutes before we had to get up.

I couldn't help but giggle even through my sleep deprevation at how miserably DH's plan had failed. Did he seriously think getting her a kitty would make her stay in her bed? Our only hope is that she will stay in her room tonight because she realized kitty has claws.So here is Thomas... I particulary like the one where she is trying to make him turn his face and show his good side.

The fish is doomed.

Yep. I'm pretty sure his days are numbered and it is all my DH's fault. Grab some popcorn, sit back, relax, this might be a rather long one!

Avery has been coming to our bed in the middle of the night. Not for any reason, but to cuddle in and fall right back to sleep. DH in all of his parenting genius told Avery that if she stayed in her bed at night, he'd get her a kitty. How's that for a reward? Idiot. So, miracle of all miracles, she stayed in her bed all night that very night. Can you say master daddy manipulator? First thing she said when she woke up was, "Where's my kitty." Umm, score one for the two year old.

First thing she tells my mom when I drop her off, "Daddy is bringing me a kitty today." So, I call my DH and told him Avery fully expects a kitty. Today. Black. It darn well be a kitten and not a cat. Per the girl's specifications. Litter trained. Per the wife's order.

So, DH spends all day trying to find a kitty. A black one. Kitten, not a cat. Today. Litter trained. No luck. Comes in the door tonight and Avery runs yelling, "You got my kitty?" At which point a look of total defeat crosses my DH's face. Score two, for the two year old.

He had actually found her a black kitten. Only problem was it was stuffed. She didn't buy it. Score three, for the two year old.He expands his search to a neighboring community. Finds a kitten. Litter-trained. Black and white. Loads up Avery and off they go to see if he'll meet the requirements. I remind DH that if this kitty is up to the inspectors specifications that he needs to get food, a litter box, and litter.

They come back a bit later. Kitty in hand as well as a litterbox, food, and litter. And also cat bed, collar, and numerous cat toys. Can you say sucker? Score another one (I've lost track) for the two year old. DH had said that the kitten was "free to a good home"....umm yeah, how did that work out for you buddy?

As they walk in the door, who gets to meet the kitty first???? Mommy? Izaac? Eli? Remember what this post started out to be about? The fish. Poor guy. He's had it rough as it is and things are just starting to calm down. He hasn't needed any fish therapy in weeks. So, Avery presses poor kitty's face to the aquarium and introduces them. Now that Avery's gone to bed, I've tried to explain to the fish about a possible opening in the witness protection program, but he was too distraught.

Another Avery funny: She was showing the kitty and I all of the "tuf" her and her dad had gotten at the store. She pointed to the bed and said "sleep" and then pointed to the litter box and said "poop". I'm pretty sure the kitty understood.