Pizzazz

Avery’s pizzazz has done it to me again—a real down-for-the-count knock out punch. Lately, I’ve been feeling as though my time with Avery is running out. Soon she’ll have a sister and will have to share my attention. So, to make the best use of our time left, I’ve signed Avery up for various park district and library programs (yes, I’m her cruise director and she’s spoiled). This week was kick-off week—and so far, so good. Avery’s enjoying herself, mommy’s tolerating it well, high-fives all around. Then comes Wednesday’s story time at the library. The story is best told like this:

Scene: Avery and Mommy walk into the room, and take a felt apple from the teacher. The teacher tells us to put the apple on the story time tree, and take an apple nametag from the hook.

Avery: “Cool apple!”
Mommy: “Yes, cool.” And Mommy puts the apple nametag necklace around Avery’s neck, wondering how long Avery will actually keep the nametag on.

Scene: The room fills with 9 other toddlers, and their mothers. All of the toddlers are subdued, well-behaved, and are quietly sitting in their mother’s laps. Avery’s Mommy thinks: We’re screwed.

Sure enough, Avery starts dancing around the room, loudly performing for the room. Unfortunately, the room is not amused, and neither is Mommy, so Mommy snatches Avery. Avery is not pleased, and wants to dance. Luckily the teacher starts, and grabs her guitar.

Avery: “GUITAR! GUITAR! GUITAR!” And throws her body on the floor for a full-body tantrum, continuing to scream “GUITAR! GUITAR! GUITAR!” and bewildered as for why the teacher will not give her the guitar.
Mommy: “Ave. It’s the teacher’s guitar, so hang here with me.”
Avery: “NO! GUITAR!” and then proceeds to run up to the guitar and tries to take the guitar from the teacher. Teacher is not amused, and neither is the rest of the class. Mommy grabs her bag, and the screaming child and exits the room as if it were on fire. And……….scene.

So, story time is no more (I’ve forfeited our spot, and our apple name tag), and if we weren’t blacklisted from the library before, we certainly must be now. Such is life with a two-year old, right? Tomorrow is Kid Rock, and I have high hopes. Avery loved Tot Rock last year, and the instructor was fantastic. However, if she sucker punches me tomorrow, then she’s done.

On another note, we’ve had a super week. The weather here is beautiful, and we’ve gotten some great news from people in our lives—a new baby girl, a new baby boy, and a miraculous healing. God is good, and our hearts feel very full. With any luck I’ll be able to sneak by the hospital and meet the baby boy, born yesterday to a couple that is very special to us. They’ve waited a long time for this little boy, and it’s a thrill to see how God has answered their prayers.

Other news: Avery has fully transitioned to her big girl bed; communication with Avery continues to expand; Avery’s re-living her glory days (see picture); Avery LOVES to swing, and swinging for less than 30 minutes is totally unacceptable, unless she is bribed with a sugar-free popsicle; the nursery is coming together nicely (as is the “before-the-baby” project list); Dan’s in heaven watching all of the baseball and football he can stand; Entrusted with a Child’s Heart study starts at GEBC in a week; I tested negative for gestational diabetes; and my dad turns 50 in a week.

Well, I hope this finds you well. And if you are arm-wrestling a toddler, I hope you’re winning. Have a great day!