The kitchen is for dancing

Gramma Jean and Audrey spin around the kitchen.

Her Ruby Red Slippers

She never gets far in an adult-sized pair of shoes, but she always likes to try them on.

Still sick, still bored. Poor Gramma Jean.

We are so idle we have taken to spreading hummus in our hair just for something to do.

Mom says that the whole point of her visit was the see her granddaughter, so she doesn't mind this house-arrest (or getting sick herself, which she has) but I can't help thinking that trading the weather and Mexican food of her home in southern New Mexico for those of Massachusetts in January is a bit of a raw deal.

At least Audrey is cute to watch. Her latest is that she has figured out how to indicate "Yes" by nodding. ("No" is indicated by a shake of the head, or "uh-uh" or, more directly, a slap in the face). Until now she has said "Yeah-yeah!" in place of "Yes!" but now she has also an emphatic nod while involves tipping her head way back and slamming her chin to her chest.

Surefire signs that your toddler is not well

Does your toddler exhibit an unusual willingness to cuddle quietly on the couch and rest her head on your shoulder? Does she turn down offers of cheddar-bunny crackers? Does she answer "Yeah" when asked if she is ready for a nap? These signs are even more reliable indicators than fever that your child is ill. Enjoy the extra cuddles while you can-- they are merely a sign of delirium.

Quarantine: Day Three

Arlington Woman and Her Toddler Spend Third Day Trapped in Their Suburban Home Under Self-Imposed Quarantine. Pink Eye and Chest Cold are Labeled Wintertime Culprits.

We are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo bored....................................................

Sunday Snow Day

Being snowed in is no problem when other short people (and their parents) live all around us. An extra pot of coffee, some plastic trucks, and the morning flies by. Thank goodness for the spontaneous play date!

Charm School graduates, Alice and Audrey

While uploading this video we are eating the homemade cinnamon rolls that Margaret brought over this morning. Come over again anytime!!

We clean up respectably

While we were not the best-dressed guests at Elizabeth's black-tie birthday party, we did "dress up" which was quite unusual for us. Audrey was excited to see my high heeled pumps come out of the closet.

A fresh perspective?

Audrey started doing this tripod pose a couple of weeks ago, and apparently not as an attention getter. I came upon her in the kitchen this morning, quietly meditating upside down.

A Passion for Footwear

Audrey loves shoes. And anyone who has seen the shabby, scuffed up, hard-worn shoes on her mother's feet will know that she does not inherit this interest from me. "Shoes" was one of her first words, and it continues to be one of her favorite things to say, point to, and try on. She has greeted us in the morning by saying "Shoes!" and she has even called it out-- no kidding-- in her sleep. The other day we went to the local mall (I hate shopping but am willing to make exceptions for trips to the Bose outlet) where Audrey spotted a childrens' shoe store, and just completely lost her mind. She ran into the store, shouting "Shoes! Shoes!" to the surprise and delight of the people working in the store. It's probably not often that they see such enthusiasm from a two-foot customer, and not just for a particular pair of shoes-- for shoes in general. Shoes as an idea. Shoes as a way of life.

Above she is wearing her cousin Nathan's cowboy boots. They give her flower-appliqued over-all's a funky, urban-cowgirl sort of look.

Future Cheesemongers of America

At first, she'd eat what we spooned into her. Now, she will eat it her way or no way at all, and usually after a few bites she tosses it over her shoulder or wipes it off into her hair. The long list of her favorite foods includes cheddar, gouda, leyden, swiss and chevre. See the theme?

Scott and his sibs

Some of the Willcox and Bailey clan in Ardmore. From L to R, Hanna, Brianna, Chris, Rob, Audrey, Scott and Christie.

Give. Me. That. Camera.

To photograph Audrey, you basically have to be able to run backwards because as soon as she sees the camera, she has to have it.

Bon Appetito

It looks like spaghetti, but it's actually just decorative fringe for the highchair. I think one noodle actually made it onto her mouth.

Pop-Pop helps Scott with our elaborate "bedtime routine."

First of our holiday series from the Texas/Oklahoma trip. This one is from the living room at Scott's folks place in Grapevine. Jim, a.k.a. Pop-Pop, helped Scott read Audrey her current bedtime favorite, Llama Llama, Red Pajama.

More photos coming shortly, soon as I can wrestle Scott's laptop away from him. He insists that he needs the laptop to do work, in order to provide our household with an income, and that this must come before blogging. Scott's very eccentric like that.