I’ve been so busy writing posts lately that I failed to post. Great job, self. That’s actually true, though–it’s not that I’ve got nothing to say, but rather that I’m in the middle of writing a bunch of ridiculously lengthy and involved posts about things like universal health care (for it), book piracy (for it, conditionally), and Disney movies (against it).
Tonight, though, something magical happened and, obviously, the thing to do is tell the internet.
Tonight, Maura went to bed without fussing. Or whining. Or calling me seventy-eight times to fix her blankets, find her a book, charge her (kinetic-energy-powered) flashlight, get her some more water, turn the lights on so she could go to the bathroom, or adjust the openness of her window.
You might think that this is because I’m a fantastic parent, or because she’s the sort of child who likes going to bed, or because I drugged her with Benadryl before putting her down, but you’d be wrong on all counts. No, my friends. Tonight, I said that she could have fifty cents if she didn’t fuss at bedtime.
And it worked.
We’ve been meaning to give her an allowance for a while now, but weren’t sure exactly how to handle it. This is perfect–she’s ridiculously money-oriented, and I’m more than happy to pay $2.50 a week for the privilege of being able to put her in bed, sit down, and then not get up for an hour. I can’t believe that I didn’t figure this out months ago. Now that we’ve done it, it seems so obvious, but I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I could’ve saved myself many hours of lost sleep if I’d just wised up a bit earlier.
In other Maura-related news, she’s lost one of her bottom teeth. The photo above was supposed to be of her smiling so that I could send the picture to my mother, but Maura wanted to lounge against the tree and occasionally lunge at me, baring her teeth. Eventually she stayed still long enough for me to snap her missing teeth, top and bottom gaps lining up perfectly.
My baby’s all grown up.
Awww.
She’s so freckled! I will call her Huck Finn.
I am always amazed at how much she looks like you!
Oh she’s getting so freaking big, I can’t believe it I need to come around more often it seems.