Cold Spaghetti

Things recently overheard, said by a voice that should have sounded like my Mother’s, but really sounded like mine:

– “Please do not drive your Mother crazy today.”
– “Sit on your bottom, please. No, your bottom. Bott-tum. Your bottom. Thank you.”
– “Be good.”
– “We CLOSE doors, not SLAM them.”
– “I’m sorry, but you have to learn to listen to Mommy.”
– “I think I’m hungry for some monkey toes.”
– “What a great poo-pee!”
– “I’ll feel so much better if you just eat one more bite.”
– “Are you trying to make me crazy?”

Will allowed me a few moments to observe him this afternoon, while he was mesmerized by his favorite Baby Einstein DVD. I was able to take some pictures of his reactions while he watched.

An interesting turn of events on Baby Einstein “Numbers Nursery” inspires hoots from Will.

Here is the pipe, as it appeared this afternoon. (Our house is to the left, the new construction is to the right.) The white run-offs are where our drains hook into the main drain, which empties to the storm drain. The gas line is underneath this. The sewer drain will (somehow…?) go above.

As Will was running around the house this weekend, making all his clicks, gurgles, babbles, motorboats, zerbers, and other assorted sounds, Paul suddenly turned to me with a look of horror and amusement on his face (a common look for parents).

“Oh my God. Our child sounds just like the Annoying Thing.”

I hadn’t heard of the Annoying Thing until then. Now that I’ve been introduced, I can only say that Paul was right: Will completely sounds like that crazy frog.

To have the experience, first see the short clip made as a college project by the creator. To see more, check out the short “Axel F” video. It’s just like being at home with Will.

In conversation with the crew next door, we found out today that our house is ABOVE sea level. Considering that virtually all of the city of New Orleans is 4-8 feet BELOW sea level, this was very exciting news.

Granna and PapPap brought Will his first BIG TOY. Will has a little tikes kitchen! Will loves playing in our kitchen so much we thought it was a good idea to try him out in his own. This one has a stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, fridge, iron and ironing board, microwave, and more. Mostly, Will really enjoys taking things in and out of the cabinets. It’s special feature is that it speaks three languages (english, french, and spanish… unfortunately the spanish is a dialect of northern spain so somewhat difficult for those of us used to north and south american spanish to understand). There are mixed reviews of the speaking, but so far, it isn’t bad. And to our great suprise and delight, he really is enjoying playing in it. He even passed up an opportunity to enter and begin destruction in our kitchen (a favorite past-time) to play in his own. We are hoping that the interest lasts!

Rawlins (foreman for the property being built next door) dug this trench between our houses today with the backhoe. This is where the pipe to the storm sewer will be laid. Both of our homes will tap into the line to help with drainage. Paul and I gawked at this for awhile this afternoon. We don’t know how he managed to fit the backhoe between the houses, much less manuver it around the down spout, miscellaneous pipes and lines, and the sides of the houses. Serious skill!

Will and Paul have fun in the pool on Father’s Day!