Ms Petite Unique

I was out running errands today (big surprise).  I needed to hit more than one store in the same area, so I parked closest to the one I'd planned on going in last, and decided to let the little miss walk instead of ride.  Anything to help her get her exercise (and get her primed for a nap).  "I walk, but you hold my hand," she said when we set off.

We're walking along, and she's intrigued by all the bugs we encounter on our way to the new Barnes and Noble.  Gross, nasty, dying black beetles, every few steps; and my girlie girl must pause over every one of them, as though she's about to sprinkle some holy water on them and say a few words.  Granted, the words she's saying are "ewww" and "buggie", but to her, it's important, and I am just along for the ride.   Besides, it's nice when a two minute walk stretches to ten minutes of the bug death watch and I am simply grateful that she has no desire to perform mercy killings by stepping on them.   I have no desire to hear 'crunch' noises like that, ever.

'Whatever it takes' is my motto when traveling with the whims of a toddler.  If it takes longer to get from point A to point B and there is no tantrum involved; then no harm, no foul, count yourself up one for that moment.  (Cause you know the tables could turn on you at any second.)

Finally, we reached the promised Barnes and Noble land.  I need to pick up a book Nolan asked me for, and of course, inhale deeply and often the scent of newly printed books.  After I eyeball the stationery.  And the cute bookmarks.  Do I need some coffee?  Isn't that the new Sue Monk Kidd book?  Why am I here again?  Ugh, where did she go??

I'm at the table in the center of the aisle that is all things Star Wars.  She is underneath it, peeking out and smiling at me.

Okay, Mom, time's up.  Come and play another day, but for now, tend to the matter at hand.  "Let's go to the kid section,"  I tell her, as I contemplate crawling under the table with her (nah, not a good idea).  I hold out my hand as she comes out on her own, and send her packing in the right direction. 

I had a bit of trouble locating Nolan's book, but I did find it eventually.  I was so dazzled by the section in general, and the fact that it was deserted (woohoo), that I let her browse alongside me.  She'd take books out, hold them up, and announce who they were for; run up to the little stage area, where she became enchanted with the bright green little Adirondack chairs "I like these"; and sat at one of the pint-sized tables to look at a puppy (of course) touch-and-feel picture book.  I had a lot to do, and was plotting my exit strategy, when she solved it for me by bringing me a book.  "I take this home?"  she asked.

We are in a section inundated with Pretty Pony, and Dora the Explorer.  We'd just walked by a rack of girly books.  Cute stuffed animals (I have to have an Olivia for myself--gosh, I love that little pig story by Ian Falconer) and board books galore are all around us...and what does my little princess pick out?

A book, a non-fiction one at that, about tigers, of all things.  Guess that zoo trip stuck with her more than I thought.

I dig that!  I love it that she's so unique, so, so...Audrey.

Some little girls like dolls.  Tea sets.  Staying clean.

My little girl likes getting dirty.  Roughhousing.   Bugs and tigers.

But she likes it in a dress with matching shoes, of course.

Oh, I think I can live with that.