The Name Game.

I took AB to the Taste of Chicago this past Sunday. We ate overpriced cheesecake and “Chicago-style” hot dogs, but had a good time nonetheless. I realized as we were walking were about to walk into the mass of Taste of Chicagoers that this excursion could be disasterous. A friend had told me of her son getting lost in Target and then I thought of when I got lost in a Home Depot and wound up holding the hand of a stranger who I thought was my father. (My dad has conveniently forgotten this event, suggesting that I dreamed it. Incredible jedi mind tricks is what I call that. I am not ashamed to say that I use it on AB as well. I learned from the best.)

 What if AB got lost?! So, we stepped to the side and I did a quick Safety101, which I realize in hindsight would not have worked at all, but I needed the assurance.

“You need to hold hands with Mommy at all times, okay? But just in case, what’s your name?”

“Annabelle R____!”

“Awesome. And what is my name?”

“Mommy.”

“Riiiight. But Mommy also has another name. Mommy’s name is Tiffany Hayes.”

“You’re not Stephanie Hanes. You’re Mommy, silly.”

After about 5 minutes she got it and we went on our way. I pointed out what the policemen looked like and that she should find one of them if she got lost. She nodded like she got it, but I know she didn’t. Thankfully, she held my hand the entire time. I think that the crowd scared her into behaving.

Last night we were having our quiet reading time on the couch, (me- Lincoln by Gore Vidal, her- a stack of Arthur books from the series by Marc Brown). Apropos of nothing, she looked over at me and said, “What’s your name again?”

Ruh-roh.

“Mommy.”

“No, your other name.”

“Um, Tiffany Hayes.”

“Tiffany Hayes, can I please have some milk?”

Egad. After an incredibly inept explanation that she only needs to use my other name if she cannot find me when we are out, she seemed satisfied and reverted back to her various forms of “Mom” depending on her wants, needs and moods.

But my name resurfaced right before she fell asleep. We were into our third bedtime book when she closed it and said, “I’m going to take a nap.”

Alrighty, then. Rarely, does “night-night” happen so smoothly. I was about to celebrate with some ice cream and more SVU, when she stopped me.

“Hey! Lay down.” Damn. It turns out that this “I’m going to take a nap” was code for, “I’m going to turn my back on you and close my eyes but you still have to lay next to me because it is your motherly duty.” So, I laid down.

She turned to face me and pressed her nose against mine. “We are best friends. Tiffany Hayes and Annabelle are best friends.”

Tiffany Hayes’ heart in that moment = completely melted.

Barry and Bill.

I woke up at 12:30 am thinking about the election.

So much is at stake. I have always been a political junkie and I haven’t felt this sure about a candidate since Clinton in 1992. (Bush I just seemed so dishonest…if only I knew what was in store with W.).

Bill was exciting, fun and insanely smart. He was the spark to my political awakening. I called it in Mrs. Hope’s 4th grade class when I wrote down on the wide-ruled paper in my childish script “Bill Clinton will win.” The man had me with the word “Hope”, while Bush bounced me out with “Read my lips.” Did I care about taxes? No, but I cared about liars.

Now Barry comes along when I have become more sophisticated, jaded, and cynical thanks to my spiffy political science degree and eight years of W. We were so excited when he spoke at the DNC in 2004. He was exciting, fun and insanely smart. Whodathunk. But my heart still lay with the Clintons, so I was Hillary all the way, when the primary season rolled around. (I’m not bitter though as I have a feeling that she’ll hold an important place in his administration because yes…he is going to win.) So instead of Hillary, I am getting Michelle.  Dearlord, I loves me some Michelle. They are my JFK and Jackie O (’cause let’s face it, Hillary was no Jackie).

Then there is the other factors. I believe him more because he has kids and I believe him more because he is of mixed heritage like AB. And oh, I cannot forget his astute judgement in picking a candidate who actually adds substantively to his ticket. (Joe’s got love for the single parents – that moment in the VP debate was awesome).

Plain and simple, I believe him.

While the Clintons still hold a place in my heart, I have made room for the Obamas as well.

The city’s gonna be crazy tonight and while I am going to avoid Grant Park like the plague, I am going to try and have AB stay up to watch the results. My budding politico chants ”Obama for President” and actually sat through a substantial portion of “The War Room”. I am so proud.

Exciting, fun and insanely smart, folks. That is what I want and that is what I’m gonna get. Hoorah.

Cookie Kidsfest Chicago.

One of my favorite magazines, Cookie, hosted an event at the River East Arts Center here in Chicago.  After missing our stop on the bus and riding to the end of the line and back (with a very cute bus driver…hehe), we arrived and proceeded to fest it out. AB decorated a tasty elephant cookie, read Where the Wild Things Are, painted a giraffe, colored a lemon tree, made a button, got a manicure while listening to the rockin’ sounds of Milkshake, entered to win a new Quinny stroller (*swoon*) or Maxi-Cosi car seat, colored some more,  played house/market, and waited in line for a few minutes to take a picture with a real live monkey (!) before deciding it would be too scary (“Monkey scare me, Mommy!”).

Showing off her new manicure.

Coloring intensely for the car seat contest entry.

Not exactly sure what she was going for here.

My little businesswoman.

Good times. Well done, Cookie.

I am.

I am a mother.

I am a single.

I am a law student.

I am in love with Chicago.

I am happy.

Yet…

I am lonely.

We’re Here…

and I’m exhausted, yet wide awake. For the second night in a row. 

So the kid, my dad and I made the ridiculously long trek to Chicago in a rented SUV and arrived yesterday evening. I now sit on the floor of my new apartment surrounded by boxes, suitcases, my sleeping kid and my sleeping dad, typing away on my brand new laptop (woohoo!) feeling completely overwhelmed and in over my head.  And I haven’t even started school yet. Boo-hiss.

Today was a shopping spree for the apartment, which would have been a lot of fun had I not been the one paying for it. My pockets are a lot lighter, my friends. My sleeper sofa does not arrive until next Saturday, therefore this fabulous hardwood floor and I have become fast friends.

AB appears to be…adjusting.  The tantrums are a bit more frequent and her schedule is completely off. Of course, I am the one who is supposed to set that schedule but it is a bit difficult when I am a bit discombobulated myself.  The biggest issue has been that she is just so loud. This was not a problem at my parents house in the suburbs where the only people who could really get annoyed was my family or in Massachusetts when her infant cries were softer and could be easily soothed. The only logic behind tantrums are that the kid didn’t get her way about something  and the thought of being a pushover mom makes me cringe. I’m sure it will get better once she starts school and we get into a routine.

Tomorrow (or rather today) is School Day.  First we visit her preschool then it’s off to the law school so I can handle administrative stuff, buy books and hopefully get excited again about this whole thing.

Then on Friday, my dad leaves and I am all on my own. *gulp*.

Chicago Bound.

Surprise surprise, I love Chicago and I love my new school. Everyone is just so goshdarn helpful.

Wednesday was a extremely long day, but I am proud to say that I found the perfect preschool for AB, plus a great apartment thanks to the help of supercool agent Jill at Apartment People.  Our new neighborhood is Edgewater, which is true to it’s name and really close to the lake. It has two large parks nearby and is on a treelined street.  I heard birds chirping as we walked up to the building, I kid you not. It is small, but considering that it is just me and the kid, I believe it will do quite nicely. It is within my budget and it includes heat and electric. Score. Now, it is a good 30 minute train ride from school.  But, the train is right around the corner and both my school and AB’s school are blocks within a train stop, so all systems go on the transportation end of things.

I cannot wait to bring the kid to her new school. It was all that I could have hoped for and more.  They have the whole second floor of their building.  There is a security guard.  They have a chef.  They have both an indoor and outdoor playground.  There were plenty of books, toys and activities.  At the end of the day you receive a written report of what activities your child participated in, what she ate, when she slept and which of the activities she liked the best. As the director gave me the tour, she knew all of the kid’s names, as well as the parents. Very hands on.  The best thing was that all of the kids looked happy. Double score.

So far, so good.