Green Acres

Ever since Audrey’s birthday party, she’s been obsessed with singing “Happy Birthday” to everyone and everything within ear shot. Nothing is exempt… the refrigerator, the coffee table, the cat…all possible targets for her birthday props. Last night she was saluting herself, and at the end of the tune she acted out an elaborate pantomime of blowing out the imaginary candle on the imaginary cake. When I asked her what she wished for she said, “a birthday cake” reasonable enough request…and then without missing a beat, “and a pony.” Damn…a pony…already?

You Say it’s your Birthday

Audrey turned two this week-end, and it was quite a raucous party. She managed to inhale 3 cupcakes, and we had German sausage, potato salad and beer to satiate our grown-up guests. Our lovely, lovely friends brought so many thoughtful gifts… it was overwhelming. One of the high points was when Audrey’s buddy Sam showed up with a perfect little bouquet of daisies for her.

Not only was Audrey completely aware that it was her birthday, but she spent the entire week-end singing “happy birthday” to herself…Gotta love that kid!

The Name Game

When I was a kid, I always wanted to change my name. Nobody could ever pronounce or spell my name correctly and for a kid in the 70’s with hippie, nomad parents, it was just a little too exotic. I spent hours dreaming up nice, “common” alternative names for myself, something easy to spell…like ‘Kim’ or ‘Lisa.’ I was thoroughly envious of my sisters who got the popular, “normal” names ‘Jennifer’ and ‘Julee.’ As you can imagine, they of course had their own set of challenges, which they lament frequently as adults -- chiefly that they never heard their names in a class roll call without their last initial after it. Let’s face it, for a kid being unique simply isn’t a priority.

But not for our girl…our traditionally named Audrey declared to us last night (at age two mind you) that her name was now ‘Bubbles’…actually ‘Bubbles Simone Taylor’ to be exact.

Good Lord.