She Says They Cost 99 Cents

If you want to see smoke shoot out of my ears, ask me when we've having another baby. I loath that question. SO MUCH. Beside the fact that it's really nobody's business but our own, it's also one of those questions that is far more complicated than meets the eye. I'd rather burn a hole in your soul with my irritated-laser-beam-vision than get into the explanation. So don't ask.

Alexis likes to skirt around that little topic pretty much every day. She makes it no secret that the theory of a baby brother or sister sounds fantastic. I'm not entirely sure she would love everything about the reality of it all, but the theory? The theory she really likes. She'll say things like, "I wish I had a baby brother," or "You need a baby in your tummy."

Yeah. Thanks, daycare, for adding that little line to her repertoire.

A few nights ago, we all sat gathered around the table eating dinner. Alexis started in on her "I need a baby brother" business. Mr. Husband is pretty steadfast in his opinion on this whole thing, so he told her, "Not a chance." She rebutted. He rebutted. She persisted. He persisted. Next thing I know, I'm listening to my 4-year old daughter and my husband argue over whether or not *I* need to have a baby in my tummy.

Funny how the people who don't have to actually do the pregnancy thing are quick to offer their opinions.

Eventually I got the two of them to shut their traps, but not before Alexis offered up another alternative to the whole thing where she thinks I need to find her a baby brother. "I know!" she said. "We can go to the baby store and buy a little brown boy!"

If you're in Pittsburgh, check between IKEA and the mall. Apparently there is a store selling babies for cheap.

 

Scrunchy Style

Stop and Smell the Barn

We pass by the barn two or three times per week. At least half the time, I ask Alexis if she wants to stop, get out of the car, and explore around the barn. She nearly always says "no."

This time, she said, "yes." I have no idea why, she just did.

So then I pushed my luck (no whammies!) and asked if I could take her picture while she explored around the barn. She said, "yes." Nothing short of a miracle.

I started with my usual trick. I asked Alexis to make the funniest face she could. I got this:

I showed Alexis the preview of the photo and she immediately cracked up. There isn't much funnier than looking at yourself looking like a dork, apparently. I whipped the camera around while she was still laughing and got this:

Miserable, isn't she? Then I showed her The Cute on the camera. She loved it.

And suddenly She Who Does NOT Pose For Photos decided it just might be fun to pose for photos. In ten minutes, I got a kajillion of my new favorite shots.

Now THAT was worth stopping for.