The painting part…

Today I was a good mom. I let my two year old paint. Somehow, I feel that messy arts deserve an extra pat on the back. Like extra credit points or brownie points or something. A bad mommy secret…this is the first time he has ever painted. It took longer to set up and clean up than the time he actually spent painting, but he seemed to enjoy himself, and actually he was a very good listener. He stayed at his table and didn’t challenge me by running around the house dragging the paintbrush along the walls as if keying a car. I told him that painting was messy and we had to stay in the playroom, and he stayed! I was impressed. He let me know when he was ready to be cleaned up. His pictures are still hanging on the back porch drying. When you use 23 layers of paint, sometimes it takes a little longer to dry. Who’d a thunk it.

I think I’ll slip a product review in here. Caleb is using an Alex Toys easel. So far, two thumbs up. It is a tabletop easel, thus takes up less space, but is still a good sized easel with plenty of room. It folds flat for storage. One side is a chalkboard, and the other is a magnetic white board. This particular one (I purchased from eBay express) came with two paper clips (you can see the yellow one above), four no spill paint cups that fit in the four holes in the easel tray, four paint brushes and a set of magnetic (fridge) letters. My only complaint is a minor one. It came with cellophane over the chalkboard. I am going to have to get a screwdriver and take the chalkboard completely off to get the cellophane out from behind it. If little things like this don’t bother you, then you can probably just leave it there, it isn’t hindering the use of the chalkboard. But speaking as someone who cannot STAND to leave stickers on rubbermaid containers, or product decals on electronics (you know the 7.1MP! sticker on the camera), I will be removing the chalkboard to get rid of the pesky cellophane.

My shaggy-haired, sick little snot monster, just be glad I decided not to include the close up drippy nose picture.

The rambling part…

I have been thinking about Maggie non stop for days. I guess it is just part of my grieving process or how I’m dealing with it, but I want a puppy so bad. There are a laundry list of reasons why we can’t/aren’t going to/shouldn’t get one. We already have one dog (whose behavior isn’t exactly what it should be, largely my fault), we can’t afford a puppy, I have enough to do already, it is too soon, the list goes on. But for whatever reason, I can’t help looking and longing. I must look at these two pictures a million times a day.

I have the first one set as my desktop background. It has become a favorite picture. The photographer in me loves the lighting and the colors. The girl in me that just misses her baby, loves the pink nose, and the look in her eyes, as if she is peering into your soul. I learned today through my searching and reading that Mag’s coloration is called a “Dudley.” This refers to the lack of pigment in her nose and around the rims of her eyes. Traditionally, yellow labs have black noses, feet (the pads), lips and rims of their eyes. It is considered a flaw, yet every person I found with a Dudley lab thinks they are just beautiful. I disqualifies them from being a show dog. Not that I care in the least about that. But Maggie was all pink. Her nose, around her eyes, the inside of her ears, the underside of her belly, her lips, even the lads on her feet, all pink. I just miss her so much.

Comments

2 Responses to “painting and other ramblings”

    Lauren
    January 8th, 2008 8:04 pm

    WOW! ME TOO! Whenever I do something “creative” with Aidan, I’m like huh, go me! Great mom here! Everyone look at me….and I’m good for at least a week! lol Poor baby! My kids are FINALLY getting over that nose crude! It’s not fun!

    nadine case auntie of caleb
    January 9th, 2008 6:09 am

    Rach,
    The pictures you have posted of Maggie are beautiful. Maggie is the most beautiful dog I have ever seen. Dogs are family members that are as close to our hearts so I know this has to be very hard for you. Keep Maggie alive in your heart as you think about the many wonderful memories you have of her. I will be thinking of you and hoping that the hurt gets better with time.

    Caleb looks like he is feeling pretty bad, colds are nasty and really drag us down. I will be praying that he feels much better soon. Looks like painting was lots of fun.

    Love you all very much, give Caleb a big hug for me.

    Favorite Sissy – N Law Naidne

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