Making Up For Lost Time

Daddy is home all day long right now.

The kids are eating it up.

I have seen more smiles on both of my kids' faces than I've seen collectively for a long time. They usually got to see him a total of 5 hours a week -- if work didn't call late after he got home.

A has been trying to play more, tickle more, and laugh more. He sang the entire song, "I Like To Move It, Move It" from Madagascar for us. Granted, it was garbled in his unique way, but we knew what he was doing. And it was precious.

He is also getting closer to hugging us. We can put our arms around A, but he very rarely reciprocates. His version of hugging is leaning on you for a second. Kisses are also making some progress: instead of keeping his mouth open and sliming our cheeks, he now actually closes his mouth and makes the "mwah" sound.

Potty training is still an ongoing challenge, although he will stay dry most of the time for us now. A is being made to clean up his own butt now, so we're hoping that will speed the need for clean underpants. He hates having anything on his hands, so we're hoping that is additional incentive to do his business in the toilet and not get it all over his bum.

Miss K has been shrieking with joy and laughter as she chases her daddy around, draws pictures for him, and sings him songs. She is a Daddy's Girl, through and through. She is also emulating the "Fancy Nancy" books. She has her own pen with a plume, has played dress-up all day long for the last 2 days, and I had to address her properly at lunch today: "Princess Artist K and her Royal Peanut Butter Sandwich". She corrected me when I told her mommy had to go back in the kitchen. "No, mommy, you're The Queen Mommy." I suspect some Britons might have an issue with that one, but we'll let it slide.

The dogs are also eating up all the extra attention; both of them are following my husband around from room to room and try to lay on his feet if he stops or sits down somewhere. He's forever tripping over them and the kids right now.

The good part is, even though we're not getting paid for anything at this point, Z is able to do a lot more with the youth ministry and worship. He's also designing websites and job hunting. (He used to own his own web design business about 9 years ago; 9/11 and the subsequent economic turn deep-sixed it.)

So we're grooving right along and just enjoying our time together.