Milkmemos Blog

I love how Caleb’s mind works. Today, on the way to school, he asked me, “What are baby bunnies called?” Pause. Longer pause. I had no idea! Then came the answer from the back seat: “Bunlings!” said Caleb. “What?” I asked. “Well, if ducks have ducklings, then bunnies have bunlings!” So, bunlings it is.  I love it. For those who want to know the real answer, a baby rabbit is called a kit. And when rabbits give birth, it’s not called birthing. It’s called kindling!

Caleb is sort of famous for coming up with his own “logical” names for things. He calls the place behind his knee “kneepits” (like armpits), and when he plays with my hair (a habit he formed while nursing as a baby), he calls it chut-chut or rub-rub, depending on the technique he’s using. He also calls his tie-dye shirt his “sky diving” shirt — because when he first heard “tie-dye” it sounded like “sky dive.” I always promise I’m going to write these things down in a book so that I can remember them in my old age, but who has time? This blog will have to be the next best thing!

Two posts in two days! How about that?!

I just have to tell you about day 2. Today we got to the bus stop 5 minutes early (no small feat). Our orange tabby cat Pumpkin was there waiting for us! (Some people would consider that a coincidence, but I know Pumpkin already has this bus thing all figured out.) Another little girl, Megan, walked up. She is our kitty-corner backyard neighbor, and they have a trampoline, plus (you’re going to think I’m really crazy now) I swear we’ve seen them ice skating in their backyard in the winter. So, clearly, she is a good friend to have. Anyway, Megan is starting 2nd grade, I think. She said shyly, “Charlotte, are you sitting next to any one on the bus?” Charlotte replied, “I’m saving the seat next to me for Mary.” (This explains why Charlotte sat alone on the bus yesterday.) Leoni (our au pair) explained (in her lovely South African accent), “But Mary won’t be ready to ride the bus with you until year after next, big girl.” “Oh, right,” said Charlotte. Then Megan asked SO SWEETLY, “Would you like to sit with me and my friend, Whitney?” Pause. “Sure!” replied Charlotte. The bus pulled up at EXACTLY 7:38 and all the kids climbed in, Charlotte following confidently right behind Megan, neither girl even looking back! All the parents (and Mary) waved to the bus, and Leoni and I stood there on the sidewalk with big lumps in our throats as the bus pulled away.

Next, we took Mary to her first day back at pre-school. I kept looking around for Charlotte, I’m so used to her being there too, in pre-K! I wanted to make sure Mary felt special, too, so we took lots of pictures — she was ADORABLE in her chunky pink and red plaid sunglasses. Leoni and I posed with Mary for a picture. We got down on our knees to be at her height. So, of course, Mary got down on her knees, too! As we said goodbye, Mary promised to make friends with the new kids and tell them jokes if they got sad.

Is there anything in life better than being a Mom??!!

Cate

My dear, sweet Charlotte (a.k.a. Doodle Bug, Doodle Nut, Bugsy, Nutsy, Doodle, Sweetsie Pie, and of course, Lottie) is at this very moment attending her first day of Kindergarten. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! She’s going to our neighborhood public school, Crestview. She even rode the BUS!!! Hopped right on, clutching Ellie, her most special elephant toy. I could tell she was scared, and acting brave — which just makes my heart BURST. As the bus drove off, she was looking out the window with a big smile! Chris (my husband), Mary and I dashed to our car and raced the bus to school so we could be there to greet Charlotte. Off she came, down those HUGE bus stairs, still clutching Ellie. Half-smile at this point. I asked her if she rode with anyone nice, and she said no, she sat alone (GULP). But she was fine! She said the bus was bouncy and leany when it turned. The Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Cerny, remembered Charlotte’s name (from meet the teacher day; also she goes to our church, which is nice). She put Charlotte’s name tag on, and all the students lined up and marched into the school. “Bye, Doodle Bug! I am so proud of you! I love you!” Charlotte turned, smiled (big smile), waved, and walked into school. It all went so fast. Chris and I drove home with Mary (3 and a half yrs). Mary said she wished she could have ridden the school bus with Charlotte. “Your turn will be here before we know it, Mary-bug.” And so the mothering journey continues…

With love, Cate

In recognition of Father’s Day, I offer an enthusiastic (though belated) shout-out to my husband of ten years, “The Milk Man,” Chris Smith: love of my life, father of my children, grocery shopper, dinner maker, house cleaner-upper, lawn and garden keeper, bill payer, social planner, camping ace, vacation planner, amazing runner, history buff, can-have-an-intelligent-conversation-about-anything-without-being-a-know-it-all wonder, total fox, and exactly the foundation our family needs to counterbalance my wide range of emotion and tendency towards stress. I love you, Chris! Charlotte and Mary do, too!

And here’s to all the Fathers in our lives. Thank you for all that you are and do.

Love, Cate

P.S. Lest you think Chris is perfect, I add this tidbit: I just said to him (as he finished unpacking groceries and began making dinner), “You should see the blog I just wrote about you! I e-mailed a link to you.” His reply: “Babe, I didn’t know you had a blog.” Sigh. Love him still.

I hope every one reading this had a FABULOUS Milk Mama Day on Sunday. For me, Mother’s Day is right up there with Thanksgiving and Christmas in my top 5 favorite holidays. I guess to round out the top 5, I’d pick Charlotte and Mary’s birthdays!

I had the ultimate, most perfect Mother’s Day this year. For starters, my Mom was in town! My parents live in Oklahoma (where I grew up) and were visiting Boulder for their 50th college reunion at the University of Colorado. (How cute is that?) On Sunday morning, Mary greeted me bright and early with snuggles in my bed (as usual). Charlotte came about 30 minutes later and announced it was my morning for breakfast in bed! So I HAD to come downstairs — come ON! I explained that the idea was for me to STAY IN BED, but that didn’t go over so well, and I didn’t press it. Chris baked Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls — the refrigerated dough kind that you pop open on the edge of the counter — yummmm. With a side of rasberries and blueberries, and plenty of coffee with cream. The girls woke Grandmommy Charlotte and Grandaddy Frank up, and in we came with trays of warm, sticky cinnamon rolls. We ate in the guest room bed, much to Chris’ relief (not so big on crumbs in bed). Then I went on a quick (as in short) jog for penance. We all went to 10:45 church which was lovely. Mom and I wore beautiful rose corsages — a Mother’s Day tradition. Unfortunately, Mary got poked by my corsage pin during church. She cried loudly, “Mommy, I got poked by the pine tree!” then recovered quickly. After church we went to the Pearl Street Mall, an outdoor pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder. It was a gorgeous, sunny Spring day and the tulips were in full splendor. The girls got balloon animals from Captain Twist (a pirate, of course), and then we headed to the Boulderado, a lovely historic hotel for brunch (which also happens to be where we had our wedding reception 10 years ago!). The rest of the afternoon/evening we just hung out at home. Now tell me, is that not the PERFECT Mother’s Day?

Until next time… xoxoxo, Cate