Bend, place, straighten, repeat.

I'd heard a lot about the every day drudgery of being a mom. About how it feels like you do the same thing over and over (and over). Up till now, I didn't really get it. Our days are pretty similar because while I'm not a stickler for rigid schedules, Henri is predictable in her routines and, except for Wednesdays and Sundays, we follow the same pattern every day (wake up, nurse, Henri runs around while I make coffee and her cream of wheat, she eats it, plays and gets read to, we do house chores, fussy and nap with nurse at 10ish, homework, H is up for another nurse and then lunch, walk, nurse, fuss and play, nurse and nap, up for supper, dad home, play, nurse, bed...and then homework for me). Uneventful for sure, but satisfying to both. That all changed this week. I'm not sure if it's the nasty cold she has (sorry, all the following picts feature a very snotty kid, but that's current life around here) or we've entered a destructive phase but she can't stand to have anything in its proper place. I literally follow her all day around the house picking up what she's just yanked off/scattered/ripped/chewed and spat out/thrown/hidden or tipped. The floors gets swept after every meal and in between but I'm still stepping on grit. She's in a perpetual state of sogginess from drool, snot and the water (HOW do you teach a kid to use a cup??? whenever she gets any water out she gleefully sprays it everywhere!). I know this sounds like complaining, but at the moment I find it more amazing than irritating. That this tiny little bugger can make the cyclonic mess she can in the time frame she does astounds me. And lets face it, housework has never been my forte. Also I'm hoping all this bending and squats will help with the renewed commitment to weight loss....

Given the fact that we've been mostly home bound because of the cold there are no interesting photos of the week. The following is me trailing H as she puts the house into the order she likes best:

Dad's wallet, perpetual source of delight

The living room after Henri's sauntered through

She got hold of a ball of string and unwound it all over the house

More string...

The tissue box! Given her constant drip I've needed it where I could get to it easily. Which meant she could get to it easily

More tissue strewing

Makes the original mess all that much better

I keep finding small wads in the strangest places

How to get what you're not supposed to have. Step one: spot it while standing on tip toe

Step 2: Streeeeeeeeeeetch

Inspect what you've just snagged

Look guiltily triumphant (and run...hence the blurriness)

Take a quick break from destruction to sweep (and resort the recycling)

She wanted it to be laundry day

Learning to shut the door to keep mom away when she's being naughty

She loves to carry anything that has a handle or a strap

And a few random shots from the week:

Not feeling so hot

She wants to see what I'm taking a picture of as I take them so she's always running around behind me. Taking lots of over-the-shoulder shots

She waves whenever she hears the word "hi" or "bye"

Plays "So Big!".

That's been our week. Runny nose, picking up, lots of tears and laughing. Also:
Semester's over! (with decent grades, phew)
A midwife called me back and we're in the midst of emailing details and such. Nothing certain, but she's showing interest
Still waiting on the bank inspection....
Lots of home baked treats
Long walks every day in this insane heat
A new box fan!