July 12, 2007 by Barbara.

I try to rotate the books that we’re reading, really I do. I haven’t been doing as good a job as I should’ve, I guess, based on the scene that played out at Reid’s bedtime or Monday night.

First, Ken read Biscuit Loves Father’s Day. I had high hopes for this one since he’d begun by commenting about it’s nice that dads are in Father’s Day books, unlike in many of the other books we own. Now that I think of it, he did say something about the Father’s Day books being more about the kids than the dads but I didn’t consider it a real problem. Until Ken started reading the book aloud. He read about “Bisquick” who says “Meow! Meow!” in the places that Biscuit says, “Woof! Woof!” I didn’t pick up on the switch the first time. Reid didn’t object until the little girl was calling Bisquick a nice kitty and then she objected to such foolishness.

I offered Go, Dog. Go! as the second book but Reid said, “no” and Ken expressed approval of the decision. I thought he liked that book - maybe he used to. Instead, I passed him *The Mitt* by Jan Brett. I knew from his sarcastic, “oh, great” that we were in trouble. He pointed out the intricate designs surrounding the main picture saying, “These are the illustrations that mamas like.” Naturally enough, Reid asked, “And daddies.” Of course, Ken said daddies didn’t like them. Next he pointed out how the next animal to enter the story was featured in the miniature illustration of each page. Finally his comments were making both Ken and I laugh so much that Reid had to resort to a smiling, but firm, “Stop it, Daddy!” to get him back under control.

I’ve since measured the book shelves we have devoted to Reid’s books. There are approximately 9 linear feet of bookshelf dedicated to Reid’s books. This doesn’t include the 13 books in her backpack of the various volumes scattered around the house. I haven’t counted the 33 we currently signed out from the library. In short, we have many books but apparently not enough of them.

Thank goodness for the library, I say. I’ve a book with recommendations of authors and books that I need to use to order books from the library. It’s hard to choose kids’ books based on their spines. With Reid, especially, it can be a mad grab of books from shelves before she finds another bright, appealing book in another area. When I’m on my own, even, I’m impatient. Often I choose several books by the same author since they’re all together in one place. This falls apart when the authors tend to repetition. For example, “Franklin could count by two’s and tie his shoes.” gets old rather quickly. But not for Reid, of course.

I read the last stories of the day and find that it’s comforting to read a familiar story. I think it’s like spending time with an old friend while settling down. Okay, maybe part of it is that familiar books lead to fewer questions and less discussion - normally good things but not so much so at bedtime.

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July 12, 2007 by Barbara.

I picked up a plastic “Birthday girl” tiara yesterday at Claire’s. They had feather boas, tutus and other baubles in the area that I thought Reid would love to play with. They reminded me of the princess dresses that she dressed up in when we went to visit some friends who have a four year-old daughter. When I expressed surprise that Reid was choosing the fancy dresses, Jennifer asked if I had philosophical objections to them. Apparently she has a friend who doesn’t put her daughter in dresses or give her dolls or anything “girly”. When the girl visits, she heads right for the dress up box and becomes a princess or Pochahantas or something.

We have a few animal costumes but no princess ones. Reid doesn’t ask to wear her dresses and so I hadn’t thought of them. It’s not a political thing although if I’m not careful, it could be. But I’m careful. I guess it’s time to add a princess outfit to Reid’s present wish list. And way past time to get rid of some of her other toys to make room. Just ask Ken!

Reid liked the tiara, by the way, for *me* to wear. The comb-like bits designed to hold the tiara in place were deemed to be too likely to hurt for Reid to even try it on. Now to convince the clerk to take it back …

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July 12, 2007 by Barbara.

Reid and I are going to Chicago at the end of the month so that I can attend the BlogHer conference. In talking about the unexpected expense, I said that maybe Grandma Joyce would bake us some cookies so that I won’t have to buy treats. Ken immediately said, “She should bake cookies for me! She could send them in the mail.” He is, afterall, missing out on a trip to the city that is home to his beloved Bears. I know they’re not playing yet but if he were involved in planning a trip to Chicago it would definitely be for a time when we could go to a football game - or maybe just he would go. Reid and I talk during sporting events. Actually, we talk pretty much whenever ;+)

If you’re talking to Grandma Joyce, I like snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies. Ken prefers oatmeal raisin and *her* ginger cookies (not the ones I make) but mostly he likes oatmeal raisin.

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July 12, 2007 by Barbara.

Reid and I are going to Chicago at the end of the month so that I can attend the BlogHer conference. In talking about the unexpected expense, I said that maybe Grandma Joyce would bake us some cookies so that I won’t have to buy treats. Ken immediately said, “She should bake cookies for me! She could send them in the mail.” He is, afterall, missing out on a trip to the city that is home to his beloved Bears. I know they’re not playing yet but if he were involved in planning a trip to Chicago it would definitely be for a time when we could go to a football game - or maybe just he would go. Reid and I talk during sporting events. Actually, we talk pretty much whenever ;+)

If you’re talking to Grandma Joyce, I like snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies. Ken prefers oatmeal raisin and *her* ginger cookies (not the ones I make) but mostly he likes oatmeal raisin.

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July 12, 2007 by Barbara.

Reid saw a drawing of a baby with a Blackberry in the Today’s Parent that I was reading last night. She grinned and asked what the baby was doing. Instead of answering her question, I asked her what the baby was holding and she said it was a Blackberry but that only mamas were supposed to use Blackberries. I asked if daddies could use them, too. “Not daddies,” she giggled. “Just mamas.” What a silly woman I am!

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