Mimi Do

Sorry I haven't written in so long, but it's been a hectic week. Not because my mother came to visit; she's the only reason we survived the week. No, it was hectic because I had the California Bar Exam Tuesday and Thursday, and Mama had midterms for her summer semester--which means that finals are in a couple of weeks, but that's another rant.

My mother came for a week of "Grandma Camp," as she called it--a week of constant attention to her one and only grandaughter, Siena. While Daddy and Mama attended to other matters, GranMary (we're trying to wean Siena off of "Mimi") would tend to SIena from about 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., often without a break as SIena doesn't like taking naps when there's company around. It was exhausting, even for someone whose reserves of affection are as inexhaustible as my mother. But GranMary couldn't have been a better babysitter--for Siena and us.

Siena always seems to enjoy a developmental spurt whenever family visits, and this time was no exception. Just before GranMary arrived Siena had begun putting together simple sentences, like "Enna Do!" or "More Please." But with GranMary around the sentences became more complex, and stopped being phrases she'd just heard from one of us.

Reaching up for her crayons atop the cabinet and yelling "I Need It!" Sitting in the shopping cart on an outing and saying to Daddy "Mimi Push It." Siena surprising us with a whole new vocabulary, including "Airplane," "Ock-pus" (we visited the Long Beach Aquarium), and "Pee-tr" (Daddy's laptop, which is not a toy). And Siena knowing on-sight at least a half-dozne letters and as many words. No doubt about it, Mimi inspired Siena.

Siena even stepped up her game in the bathroom. For some time, she's been willing to do Number One if circumstances had her in the right place at the right time with her diaper off. But after a week of GranMary's patient encouragement, Siena's tantalizingly close to actually (1) sensing when she has to go; (2) telling us about it; and (3) holding it in until we get to the toilet. Oh, and for all you new parents out there: the potty is a waste of time. Kids want to do what adults do, and we don't use a potty (and if you do, keep it to yourself)

But now GranMary's on a plane back to New York, Siena's back in day care, and Daddy has no excuse for not regularly updating this blog. So I'll see you soon--or at least, I should.