Sunday, January 20, 2013

He Speaks!

Aaron is two.  He can show you on his fingers and everything.  He can pee on the potty (although usually doesn't) and pull up his own pants.  He can run and eat with only spilling 75% of it.  I've said it before, but he is just freaking awesome. 

The one thing he doesn't do is talk.  Now, he never stops making noises...they just aren't words.  He will say a few things; momma, dada, nana, thank you, i love you (melts my heart everytime), but really has no desire to talk.  I didn't talk until I was almost 3 and I'm super smart.  :)  While it may scare other moms, it really doesn't bother me much.  He understands exactly what we are telling him/asking him to do.  Plus my pediatrician said not to worry. 

So imagine my surprise when he decided to mimick someone in Target this weekend.  Aaron and I were picking out Valentine cards when a mom came around the corner.  She was clearly flustered with her children (don't judge, we've all been there).  She gave them a curt and purposeful, "Now!".  This was shortly followed by Aaron's unmistakable immitation.  Yes, she was close enough to hear him.  Yes, she turned to see who the jerk was.  Yes, I'm positive I turned crimson red.  And I'm not an Alabama fan.  I said, "I am so sorry" but she was a little too far away to hear my meek reply.  Mortified doesn't even begin to describe it.  But I couldn't help but laugh at my child who doesn't speak!

She walked off and I was positive the daggers she shot at me and Aaron had just narrowly missed.  Well, a few minutes later and no closer to finding a card she came back.  I had no where to run.  I saw her coming and immediately said again, "I'm really sorry".  She took me by surprise.  She actually responded, "Actually, hearing him helped my stress level return to normal."  I told her that he doesn't really even talk.  She said, well, I guess he needed to say it and I needed to hear it. 

I hope that one day when I am angry with Aaron (or Brad) in the store and a small child mimicks me that I am as gracious as this woman was.  A bigger hope would be to keep my attitude in check.  But I'll settle for the former...

Monday, January 7, 2013

Maddie Girl

We had to put our dog down a few weeks ago.  As anyone with a pet can imagine, it isn't always an easy decision to make.  My mother reminded me that we had been wondering if it was time for well over 6 months.  It still wasn't easy to do, but the time had come when it was best for her.  But I miss her.

We've had Maddie since she was a puppy and we basically were the same, pups.  Brad and I were in college went she came to live with him.  She was such a regal dog.  Most of my friends were scared of her and most of his helped to take care of her.  Maddie would have been 16 in April.  I've never known life as an adult without her.  I haven't known married life without her. 

As we were leaving the vet's office that day he asked, "what is the funniest/stupidest thing she ever did?".  I couldn't think of one stupid thing she had ever done.  Funny, though, I had a few. 

Maddie could fall asleep standing up, and liked to exercise this skill often.
Maddie liked to curl into the smallest possible space to sleep.  And with Doberman legs this wasn't always easy.
She slept on her own bed (after we broke her of having to sleep with us) and she would carry her bed all over the house.  In fact one night I thought someone had broken in the house and was noisily walking down the hall, only to discover it was Maddie moving her bed from the family room. 
She used to want to sit between me and Brad on the couch (again, before we broke her of that habit). 
She once pinched my butt between her front teeth because I was hugging Brad (clearly she was his dog).
Maddie knew the exact way to burrow her nose under the covers to wake you up the quickest. 
She was a master ventriloquist.  She could make tons of noises and her mouth never opened. 

Maddie was fiercely protective too.  I once saw her make an ex-Marine scream like a kid.  To Maddie's credit he walked in our house without knocking. 
But she loved other dogs.  Taking her for walks was tough because she knew they were out there for her to play with. 

Maddie was our baby when we thought we couldn't have any.  And she carried us through.  And for that I will forever be grateful.

Goodbye, Maddie girl.  Say hi to kitty for me.