katie allison granju

Lots going on this weekend June 28, 2008

The babyproofing is now well underway, with two gates installed, many outlet covers installed, and more on the horizon for tomorrow. Next up is bolting all tall bookcases to the walls.

I also decided to put some of the area rugs we have back down on the hardwood floors - plus I bought one new one - because baby C. needs more soft places to play and crawl. I had put them all away some time ago because one of our dogs (Mabel the pug) decided that she didn’t believe in housetraining at all. For several years, I’ve tried everything to get on track, but she basically acts as if any carpeted area or rug is a direct command to immediately relieve herself. She does way, way better with hardwood. But you know what? I like having some rugs. And now that we have the kichen gated off, she may just have to spend her indoor time in there (tile floor) because having a small, surly black pug make all the decisions as to how you can cover your floors in your entire house makes no sense.

Thankfully, Leo the superpup is doing GREAT with housetraining, as well as with just about everything else. Have I gushed enough about this puppy? He’s 4 months old now, and the most mellow, easygoing, well-behaved guy you can imagin. Here he is lounging under the coffee table.

I made many mistakes during Fiat and Mabel’s respective puppyhoods (they are 5 and 6 years old now) and I am not going to repeat them with Leo. We are being very vigilant and careful in how we are raising him. But he makes it easy. This is one awesome dog.

In addition to all the babyproofing going on, J. left today for two weeks of travel with her grandparents, and E. leaves tomorrow for two weeks at sleepaway camp in Noth Carolina - his first time. He’s very excited. His best friend is going as well (he’s been before and his dad grew up going to this particular camp), so that makes it even more fun. E’s father is taking him to camp and I will pick him up in 2 weeks. H. is spending some extra time with his father this summer, but I did see him briefly today, which was good. I miss him when he’s away, even when I know he is where he should be at the moment.

E. is suddenly rather obsessed with motorcycles - dirtbikes - about which I know nothing. Today we had a mother-son (plus baby sister) outing to go window shop motorcycles, but both the places we wanted to look were closed. So instead we had greasy fastfood together and chatted about camp. He’s a little worried about getting homseick, and I told him he probably will, but that he can handle it, and I will write almost every day.

C. has suddenly gotten much more toddlerish in the last two weeks. She’s crawling everywhere, babbling up a storm (and saying “bye bye” and sometimes, “cat”), and using her new walker toy thingy to toddle all over the place. She loves the thing. She had a playdate this morning with cousin N.C. and they had a grand time together. They get so excited when they see ach other. They screech and pat each other’s faces. Too cute. Sometimes they get in baby spats and slap at each other and pull hair (well, C pulls cousin’s haor, since she has way more of it than C does). Maternal intervention is often required in these matters of infant diplomatic relations.

Tonight we are eating on Market Square with my sister and my two nieces, then tomorrow night Jon and I are having a real date (leaving C with my sis) to go see Tom Waits. We are both really looking forward to it.