I’m going to Washington DC for a week long teacher’s union conference tomorrow. It will be my first time away from Little Lassie for more than a few hours. I will miss her, but I’m looking forward to taking a bit of a break. FlyGuy often travels for work, so LL and I are left trying to entertain each other throughout the week. I’m curious to see how FlyGuy handles the job with me away. He’s already lined up babysitting to the point we may need to dip into LL’s college fund to pay the sitters. I’m sure I’ll return and FlyGuy will tell me that staying home with LL isn’t so hard. He really doesn’t have a good idea of what it takes to keep her happy and fed, the house clean, cupboard full and dog walked. I don’t mind being a stay-at-home mom because truthfully, its much easier than my previous job of teaching visually impaired children.

The conference I’m attending is probably my last hurrah as a union worker since I’m on a break from teaching to stay home with LL. I got involved in my teacher’s union years ago because because I’m interested in what goes on politically and professionally behind the scenes in our school district. I was elected to go to the conference and it will likely draw some big name speakers particularly since its in Washington. In the DC convention center I’ll be in the midst of 10,000 education professionals who are mostly democratic and politically active. Presidential candidates usually come to speak. I’ve seen Barack a few times, but I hope McCain comes because I’ve never seen him in person.

Aside from the fun of getting together with teacher friends, dinners out and booze cruises, I’ll enjoy putting my finger back on the pulse of what is happening in education today. There are so many facets to the field of education I always leave this conference inspired to come home and try new things or make waves and become more politically active. Hopefully, I’ll be able to maintain my excitement for the field until I’m able to enter it again when Little Lassie goes to school, because no matter how much I love teaching it just doesn’t compare to how much I love Little Lassie.

My little darlin’ gave us a bit more attitude the last several days. The topper was when she refused to reach out for her toys that were right in front of her. She preferred to have me HAND THEM to her. We had a heart to heart and now she realizes mommy and daddy cannot carry her from room to room, nor can we sit next to her every moment handing her various items to peruse, drool on, then discard.

Here is a peek into our home.

Do you SERIOUSLY expect me to get my own toys or WALK to my milk?

Yes, I do intend to stand right here in the middle of my room for 30 minutes or until my legs get too tired to stand. (And that is exactly what she did.)

Life is Good!

I haven’t really talked about this on eggsbene before, but *ahem* my Little Lassie has Attituuuuude. That’s attitude with a capital A and 7 syllables. She’s darling, delightful, funny, sweet, cheeky and Stubborn. Its pretty challenging when FlyGuy is out of town and I’m the only one left to deal with her boundary testing self.

Today, she got it into her head that I was supposed to carry her out of her bedroom after her nap. We used to routinely do that months ago before she became such an independent gal. (Trust me we carry her and cuddle her plenty.) When I followed the usual routine today by changing her diaper and telling her to come into the kitchen with me for her juice and snack, she freaked out. I ignored it and went into the kitchen, prepared her snack while she stood in the middle of her bedroom and wailed. Every few minutes I went to the door and encouraged her to come out and get her snack, read a book etc. She wanted nothing to do with me and only wailed louder. This went on for a half hour. During this time I called FlyGuy for support/reinforcement and to tell him he better bring me flowers when he got home…. I got his voicemail.
Here is a series of pictures that pretty much defines the strong will my Little Lassie sports of late.

One day after her nap, she decided to bring her changing pad into the kitchen. It was a struggle. Look at her determined face.

Oh no, she trips over the recycling bag!

The pad is slipping and sliding, she struggles to right herself and forge ahead….

Finally, upright again and more DETERMINED than ever!

Ahhh, made it around the corner and everything is right with the world.

FlyGuy always says: Ah’m scurd of whut she’z gow-na do win she’s ah teeen-a-yah-jer