The groundhog was WRONG!

Winter is OVER, and the proof is that my family was up until midnight last night giving a tomato juice bath to Sula who got SKUNKED around 10:30 during her last "out" before bedtime. Note the beautiful peachy/pink sheen to her coat! What a mess, and the windows are shut of course, so the house will likely stink until Memorial Day. Who ever heard of skunks being out in February???? First it snows all over the south, and now hibernation is over in New England???? The good part is that we were then wide awake and had fun watching the women's figure skating at the Olympics. Even Beatrice, who had been aleep by 7:30, awoke to our noise and spent an hour or so with us on the couch applauding and "wow"ing these amazing ladies. (I never imagined I'd be a mom who would let her under-2-year-old out of bed to watch TV, but I figure this was a moment we'll always remember.)This morning Sula is still walking with her tail between her legs, fearful she's done something wrong. One of those moments when you're so mad at her but realize that we'll laugh and cry about one day.

ABC's

Language

I find myself amazed by words lately, both those that come out of my mouth, and those that come out of Bea's. Last week, I uttered the sentences "No, we don't wear boots to bed," and "Brush your teeth, not your toes." Here's a sample "conversation" I had with Beatrice yesterday as she said goodbye to Anthony, then sat in my sling as we were walking Sula outside:

A: Bye Bea
B: Buh bye!
A: Have a fun day
B: day....buh bye......buh bye!
B: Dada?
M: Daddy's gone to Boston
B: Bah Bin?
M: yes, Boston
B: Dada?
M: Daddy's in Boston visiting Uncle Mike
B: My
M: Yes, Uncle Mike
B: Wee-Wee?
M: Auntie Louise is at work
B: Woh
M: Yes, work
B: Duh duh?
M: Sula's walking
B: wah
M: Yes, walking, and so are Mom and Beatrice
B: Bebe
M: I like the way you say your name Beatrice
B: Bebe, Bebe! (applauds herself)......
B: Jojos?
M: You want some Joe's O's?
B: eh (yes)
M: How many do you want?
B: doo (2)
M: 3?
B: doo
M: 4?
B: doo
M: 5?
B: sih, gabah (7), eh (8), NINE, deh! (10) (applauds herself)
M: Good counting. I love you Bea.
B; gah wah (love you)
then she leans in for a kiss

Hallmark, eat your heart out....

I just played with some of the photos of Rachel and Bea. Is it possible to NOT smile when you look at these old friends reunited?

R&B

Much of this vacation week's agenda was unplanned, but the one thing I was so hoping would happen did so today, and that's a visit with Rachel, Beatrice's "sister" from Bac Ninh. Rachel's mom was delayed by a couple of weeks getting to Hanoi so, unfortunately, we didn't get to meet until now, yet through our blogs we have kept track of one another and our daughter's lives. I love, love reading Martha's blog because the love she has for Rachel screams out of every post. In real life, it was just as obvious, these two are a match made in heaven, two kind and gentle souls. Martha is originally a New Englander and is in town from San Francisco for a visit, so we trekked up to southern New Hampshire on this glorious day. The girls did a little of staring at each other and checking each other out, as well as a whole lot of parallel play, but I would say they were comfortable with each other. Beatrice was in a bossy mode today, and sweet, sweet Rachel unfortunately gave in to her. There were more than a few tokens of affection and a few "awwww" moments between the two. Eventually, Bea's lack of naps caught up with her and it was time to head out. Thank you Martha and your thank you to your wonderful family for welcoming us into your home! I know this will not be our only visit.