LAYLA

Sometimes I wonder if I am not a child raising a child.   I have these wonderful ideas of what may be fun for Layla and they almost always end up a total and complete mess.   One time I thought if would be just fine for her to help me mix pancake batter....but she's two and has no concept of gravity and the mess that pancake batter can leave if hurled onto the floor.  So she started stirring rather aggressively (and said, "See, just like mommy"--I had no idea I stirred with such enthusiasm) and the bowl ended up face down on the floor.  I will not repeat this fun little craft...ever...until she's got at least another year under her belt.  We did get a good laugh out of the mess it left.

Then there was that one time I thought it would be a great idea for us to go play pretend with her shovels and rakes in the yard after it rained like crazy.  I thought she'd enjoy pretending to cook (which is her favorite pretend game)--and I was right.  She had a blast digging through red mud...sitting in red mud...asking to bring her red mud cake in the house.  I, however, did not have a blast cleaning the mud off her clothes and shoes and fingers.  She had dirt under her fingernails for at least three days (sorry mom).  This one, however, we'll do again--wear old clothes--and we'll both have a blast in the mud.

Finally, last night I encouraged Layla --okay some moms may call it bribing, but it wasn't...there was no "if you do this, then you'll get _____"---shhhhh, I've done that before too and felt pretty rotten, but not this time.  I digress.

She was pretty adamant about staying in her room and playing with her Aunt Chi (Lauren).  I kind of thought that Chi would rather be downstairs with everyone than up in Layla's room.  We had already been up there  reading books for an hour.  So I told Layla to come downstairs with me and I'd fill her play sink up with soap and water and she could cook and wash dishes like mommy.

RED FLAG...FILLING up a PLAY sink (not intended for water) with soap and water?  Needless to say, she dumped two cup fulls of water on her shirt and pants and all over the floor.  So, I stripped her of everything but her diaper and her cowboy boots.  It was flipping hilarious.  Then she requested her apron.  She was so adorable and she was happily occupied for at least 45 minutes--wanted to play all by herself, occupied (which is a blessing while I'm cooking dinner)!    AND, the floor by her little kitchen set has never been so clean.  We are now out of paper towels, but the floor is so sparkly.  I think we'll have to do this again...she had so much fun (and I got the floor cleaned AND dinner cooked).  Hum, perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea?

RUNNING:

Dad and I added another long run to the books yesterday morning.  We had so much fun--despite the consistent rain.  The weather was nice and we ran a route that we haven't done since before the marathon.  I finally felt really strong yesterday--I spent the three days prior to yesterday running with stomach cramps and this desire to head to the side of the road to throw up.  Must have been that stomach virus going around.  But yesterday, I was all better and it felt great.  

I love this time of year...the smell of spring in the air...getting up kind of early to run.  There are some mornings while we run that I swear if I close my eyes I can see my grandparents old house...set up for a yard sale...my grandmother outside smoking and my grandfather LOUDLY sipping his coffee outside.  That's probably my favorite thing about the seasons changing...they always bring back distinct memories.  I love that being outside running...with no other distractions...lets me enjoy those little memories.  It allows me to think about them for longer than a second or two--because I really have nothing else to do for 15 miles.  I like to share them with dad and laugh.  Its a nice change from the political ranting that we also do while running.  I did notice that our mile splits were a lot faster when we were talking politics.  Didn't have a heart rate monitor on...that would have been interesting.

I'll have a picture of dad and I running soon...really soon.