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Brooke

Wishful Thinking

, , 8

While grocery shopping, Brooke snatched my list and started “reading” her version of the things we needed this week.  It sounded like this:

“Peanut butter, suckers, and…marshmallows!”

Now you know what Brooke’s diet would look like if she were left to her own devices.

I was noticing I haven’t posted pictures in a while.  Here are a few:

This was Brooke right before church.  Dress courtesy of my sister-in-law.  (Thanks!)  3D glasses courtesy of the movie Up.

We are at the stage where this happens when we ask Brooke to smile for a picture.

Library Tantrums

, 4

I hardly dare to say this, but I guess I will – I think everyone in our family is healthy. Of course, that is subject to change at the least provocation, so we’re taking advantage of our good health while we can.

Last night we decided to go to the library to get the girls out of the house. Anytime we take Brooke out in public, we prep her as to the behavior we expect. We must do this, because you see, Brooke is a hooligan.

As we were parking our car I said, “Brooke, when it’s time to go, what do you say?”

The correct answer to this is some version of, “Goodbye library. Goodbye books. See you another day!”

Brooke was sitting happily in her car seat when she gave us her animated answer: “MOM! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!”

When it’s time to go, that is what she usually says.  I guess I need to rephrase my question to, “Brooke, when it’s time to go, what should you say?”

Lesson learned.

P.S.  I’ll let you use your imagination as to the scene that unfolded when it really was time to go…

The Kindness of Strangers

, 4

A couple of nights ago Dallas and I took the girls to a pet store to waste time before bed.  Brooke happily wandered the store squealing in delight at the puppies and the fish and shrieking in disgust at the snakes and the lizards.

After her third lap around the store, she noticed the bubble gum dispenser near the check-out desk.  Quickly, she got on all fours and started playing with the trap door opening and closing it in the hopes that this time a gumball would magically appear.  When that didn’t work she said, “Mom!  I want gumball.  You have money?”

I thought back to everything Brooke had just touched:  fish tanks, fish water, bird cages, pet food, dog toys, pet carriers, the floor, and finally, the bubble gum trap door.  How many other kids had done just the same thing with their grimy hands?

The answer was easy; I said, “No Brooke.  We don’t have any money for gumballs today,” but what I was really thinking was, “There is absolutely no way any child of mine will EVER eat a gumball that we’ve purchased from a pet store.”  Involuntary shuddering occurred next.

Just as we were turning away, I heard a woman say, “Here.  Here’s a quarter for her.”

“Oh, no, that’s okay…”  I stammered.

“No really.  Take it.”

I prompted Brooke to thank the woman, and I gave her a very sincere, “You shouldn’t have.”  Brooke deposited the quarter in the machine and watched the gumball spiral down to the door.  I swooped down to get the gumball before it had a chance to fall on the floor (did I mention there were mealworms in a box on the floor nearby?).  As I held the gumball, I realized it was  somewhat of a large choking device for my two-year old.  With the stranger watching on, I swallowed, heaved a sigh, and bit into the gumball.  I gave Brooke half of it and forced myself to chew the rest.

Brooke hummed her delight at the taste of the gum.  The woman stood nearby beaming at her.  And I tried not to think about all of the germs we were being exposed to at that very moment.

You can’t get rabies from a gumball, right?

Wow!

1

On our way down to the library this morning we were listening to the soundtrack of Pixar’s Up.  This was the first time we were listening to the CD.  I thought it would be a good time to find out if Brooke understands the emotions of music by asking Brooke if it were a happy song.  Her response was that it was raining.  We were a bit confused until I realized that it must be the music from the scene when they are going through the storm.  After listening for a minute I realized that Brooke was right.  I’m quite convinced that Brooke has a musical ear.  I now need to know how to keep Brooke’s attention long enough to start teaching her music theory and how to play.

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