There is never a dull moment around here and you just never know what Abby and Currin will do or say next. The other day Abby was using the potty when she looked at me and said “you drink pee, Nana”. “No, I don’t”, I replied. “Yes you do” Abby insisted. “You drink cow pee”. I asked where on earth she had gotten that idea. “My Aunt Bri told me”, she said. “You drink milk and milk comes from cows. See, cow pee”! Thanks Aunt Bri.

Abby started running a fever on Friday and spent the night with Nana. By morning she was burning up in spite of Motrin and looking very puny. By Sunday she seemed some better, but Tuesday Mommy had to take her to the doctor. Of course, it’s only a virus. Of course, there is nothing but time, fluids and the proper diet to help her. And of course, by the time she got to the doctor she was better. Murphy’s Law for kids.

I have upper dentures. From time to time I take them out and play with the kids, making faces, just showing them my teeth are removable and making hand puppets. Mommy told Abby Nana didn’t brush her teeth properly and that’s why she had to get plastic ones. Abby has been brushing her teeth without a fight ever since. Yesterday she brought her brush to me and said “here Nana, brush your teeth. Maybe you can grow new ones”.

Awhile back I told Abby I loved her, to the moon and back. It’s become our game. Yesterday she came up, gave me a hug and said “I love you to the moon and back, Nana, two times”. I hugged her and said “I love you to the moon and back ten times Abby”. With that, she hung her head; her eyes teared up and she started to cry. When I asked her why she was crying she said “because you love me more times”. Only a Nana and a Mommy can understand the logic of that.

Abby is smart, witty, funny, silly and one of the sweetest and most loving little girls I’ve ever known. She is also a bit precocious. The other day she came into the garage and told Mommy she wanted a snack. Steph told her to go back in the house, close the door and she would be in in a few minutes to talk about it. Abby batted her eyelashes, hung her head and said “but if you don’t mind, mommy, I’d like to talk about it now please”. It’s hard to discipline a child when you are laughing hysterically.

Today she and Currin were playing with my glasses. When I took them away I told her it cost money to get new ones. “It’s okay, Nana”, Abby said. “If you don’t have the money to buy new ones, just get more”. I told her you don’t just “get” more money. She said “of course you do Nana. Just tell them you want some more and the nice people will give it to you”. Now if it were only that easy.

And then there’s Jesse, the new family dog. She is such a cutie and such a puppy. This morning I left a bag containing a couple of new tee shirts hanging on the chair in the garage. I went back out and found Jesse had grabbed the bag and torn it to pieces. Luckily the bag satisfied her urge to chew. The tee shirts were fine. Then I found my purse on the floor. Jesse had selectively picked out various items and scattered them around the garage in a game of hide and seek. Luckily I was able to find everything.

I am gadget challenged. I had trouble locking the old gate on the stairs and this one is not much better. But Abby has noooooooooooooo problem. And when she can’t unlock it, she simply climbs from the couch to the side of the stairs and slips through the bars on the rail. Yesterday she taught Currin to do it as well. Fun, fun, fun!

Currin is getting to the point he repeats almost every word we say. Each day I try to teach him a new one, Mommy teaches him a lot. It’s such fun to watch our little man learn and grow. But it is a constant reminder that he and Abby both are growing much faster than we’d like.

They start school two days a week next week. Mommy is going to have to take them the first day. While I know it’s a good thing for them, for Mommy and for Nana, the thought is breaking my heart. It’s hard to let your babies go out in the world without you. I know. I already had to let four of my own leave the nest. And it doesn’t get any easier.