coordinating conjunctions

A: Daddy, I heard someone say butt. It's not ok to say butt.
M: I said it, and there are different kinds of ways of saying but (butt).
A: Oh.

I don't think she gets it yet. BUT, that's ok; she's only 3.

Dogs that Ruff

An exchange between father and daughter over a hot dog:

M: How's your dog, Abby?
A: It's not a dog.
M: Yes it is; it's a hot dog.
A: But it's not a real dog, a dog that ruffs.

Show-undies

Abby standing on a step-stool, looking through my undie drawer, finds a pair of, well, fancier undies (the kind that do nothing for keeping the cheeks warm):

A: Mom, these undies are silly!
G: Yes, they are a little silly.
A: If you wear them, you can see everybody's butt.
(I think she was trying to say that everyone could see your bum, or maybe she thinks I'm Mrs. Incredible and have x-ray vision when I wear these)

A few minutes later (still sifting through my stuff) she says:
A: mama, I found anohter pair of those show-undies!

Update on the grown-ups

We're just weeks away from the end of this Fall quarter. M is busy working on some provocative research ideas. He has been meeting with his advisors in hopes of nailing down a research agenda so that he can start writing! If all goes well, M will take his Oral Qualifying Exam (and pass it) by the end of this school year. After that he qualifies as "All But Dissertation" (ABD), and can concentrate full-time on writing his dissertation, getting published, and job marketing.

We're particularly excited about two research avenues: M's St. Louis mentor wants to co-author a paper with him! (This is a very big deal; this guy is well-known and respected in the field). The other idea may lead to a joint project with M's good friend, Scott (studying Econ at Univ. of Georgia).

Matthew turns 29 on December 21st! We're looking forward to celebrating his last birthday in the 20s!

As for me, I'm wrapping up my first university writing course. My students have come a long way, and I am excited about tweaking the syllabus and gearing up for next quarter's class. It has been a lot of pressure to teach at the university while still trying to get through my own coursework. I'm currently working on two papers: spectacle in Chaucer's Clerk's Tale (from his Canterbury Tales), and second, an economic history paper on the shift from church/charity-based to more government-based social welfare (particularly for orphans and foundlings) over several centuries (medieval to modern).

My academic agenda at the moment looks like this: complete my course work by the end of this year, (receive my Masters in June!!), study over the summer and Fall 06 quarter for my Preliminary exam in early December next year. After that I "just" need to research and write my dissertation, defend it (Qualifying exam) and finish it.

One fun tid bit: All three of us will be traveling to Hawaii in January! I'm presenting a paper at an academic conference in Waikiki, and we figured it would be a great chance to take a mini-vacation! We will stay with my dad and his wife, Claudia, on thir boat (conveniently docked right across from the hotel I'm presenting at!). We have plans to go sailing, whale watching, sight seeing, etc. Oh yes, and this will be my first conference paper presentation, necessary for building a competitive resumé. We'll send pictures from the trip!

what teachers say

Matthew, Abby and I were piled on our love seat yesterday...

G: What does a turkey say?
A: Gobble gobble.
M: What does a monkey say?
A: Ooh ooh ah ah
(this animal sound game went on for a while)
G: What does teacher Judy say? (Abby's preschool teacher)
A: Shhhh
M:What else does she say?
A: Hush!
G: What else does she say?
A: Zip your lip!

M and I had a great laugh over this! Judy is a nice lady; seriously, I couldn't do her job!

Good Witch

Good Witch
Originally uploaded by gennabby.

Abby received this cute little costume from her Grandmama (Matthew's Dad's Mom, Carmen Pearson). She had lots of fun going trick-or-treating with her friend Abbey O'Brien.

cookies for grown-ups

Sunday at church, just before we walk to the front to receive communion:

G: Abby, put your shoes back on, we're about to walk to the front together.
A: Are you gonna get the cookies that are only for grown-ups?
G: (grin) yes, Abby.

During communion, just after receiving communion:

A: (louder this time) Mama, why are those little cookies only for grown-ups? I want some.

wish list

Saturday mornings at our house almost always include watching Nick Jr. on CBS before we head out to the farmer's market. This morning I have noticed that 'tis the season to get little kids longing for the newest toys (available for Christmas). Parents across the country are, no doubt, saying: "Yes, honey, I know you want the My Little Pony Butterfly Island. We'll see." What does that mean: "We'll see"? For parents it is THE stalling tactic (i.e. If I wait long enough she will forget about it); for the child it is a dream deferred and an opportunity to hone one's memory skills (i.e. she thinks I'll forget about this, but I wont).

This got me to reminiscing about my own childhood. In my day (with no cable TV to teach me about what I HAD to have), there came a day each year when mom would bring home the bible of all catalogs...the SEARS catalog! I think she finally started bringing home two of them, but at first it was just one copy to share between my sister and I. We got to pour over the pages, (skipping the boy pages and grown-up stuff) and pepper them with circles, initials (indicating if this was a "G" wish for Genna, or an "A" wish for Andi), and our kid-versions of emphases: hearts, exclamation points, dog-eared pages, arrows, PLEEEEEEEEASEs, and a number of other creative indicators of our deepest desires.

This yearly ritual was almost as satisfying as actually getting all of those toys, which we never had the money for. We did get showered with gifts, but the exhilaration of shopping and dreaming was unforgettable! Matthew had a similar experience; he and Adam would shop to their hearts' content (but in the boy section). Matthew thought he would go nuts if he didn't get the 7-foot G.I. Joe battleship. Seriously, he still talks about it as if he would actually WANT this thing! If we have a son someday, we may need a very large garage.

So I am tempted to go to Sears and pick one of these things up. Shopping on Amazon just isn't the same. Seriously, it is like trying to read Shakespeare on a computer screen...some things you just have to hold in your hands to dream about.

O Captain! My Captain!

It is strange how every class you teach has its own personality (classinality?). I think this class will be a good one in spite of the 8 a.m. meeting time. Things went very well yesterday morning and the students actually got involved! It was a little Oprah like when they introduced themselves and why they are taking this class. In general, they all want to learn how to write more clearly and "do grammar." :)

They got fired up over a Washington Times article on prices after Katrina. They fell right in to my trap; it was great! The class had an overwhelmingly emotional reaction to the article, then slowly began to realize that the article didn't make emotional claims. It was a perfect example of reading closely and analyzing your own reaction to a text.

I did not make anyone yawp while standing on my desk, (a shout out here to all "Dead Poets Society" fans), and no, they didn't stand together on desks and call out "O Captain! My Captain!" It was just the first day. There is time.

fingers crossed...

I will teach my first University course in the morning. I've been a teaching assistant before, but this will be my very own class of students, my syllabus, my reading choices, my TRUCK-LOAD of grading and exam writing, etc. So, fingers are crossed and I'm praying that the alarm goes off and I wake up ON TIME. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

When the cat's away...

Why is it that when one parent has to go on a trip, the child in the scenario decides to do otherwise very quirky things? Matthew is on an Economics retreat (the kind where you don't retreat FROM economics, but rather dive into it! Yeesh!) so it is just us girls for a couple of days. We went to a "Music Matt" concert tonight. Music Matt is Abby's absolute FAVORITE music artist and for good reason; he is an outstanding performer and his music is the kind that everyone can listen to in the car! Abby got to request three songs and Music Matt even personalized them for her and sang right to her. She wont soon forget her first concert!

A and I had dinner together and then got her ready for bed. I figured that she could sleep in our bed tonight. Nope. She tossed and turned and finally came out to the livingroom and said she couldn't sleep. She actually wanted to be in her own bed. Then she came out with poop on the sleeve of her nighty (after a failed attempt at taking care of business by herself, poor kid.) So she had a bath and as we went to get her new jammies, I very nearly stepped in another surprise pile on her floor! She said it just slipped right out!

Matty, things just are not the same when you are away. You do such a good job of killing the spiders, chasing the "monsters" away from under the bed, singing "Dogface Boy" by Phish to Abby at night, making us all feel so comfortable and safe as we drift off to sleep, making excellent coffee in the morning, and, of course, using that extra measure of elbow grease on the carpet, when needed. We miss you.

copycat

Abby was trying to share a picture with Matthew a minute ago and Matthew decided to copy everything Abby was saying (Abby does this to us from time to time). Abby was getting frustrated so I told her to say: "fathers, do not exasperate your children." She obliged:

A: Daddy, "faders, do not raspberry children!"

A new species discovered

As I rode my bike to an appointment at school today, I felt something scratching or biting my right shoulder. I turned to see what it was and was terrified to see a gigantic, bright green praying mantis! The thing was an inch from my face! While still pedaling (I really should have stopped), I swatted at the tenacious thing with my left hand several times. It would NOT let go, which freaked me out even more. Then it was making clicking sounds or something. It might have been its wings. Anyway, I kept swatting and swerving until I thought it was gone. I kept riding and a few minutes later (after a few false alarms, during which I shook my head, swatted at my hair and nearly crashed because of my shirt tag), I decided it was gone. I was wrong. This bug must have travelled across my hair or my back until it reached my left shoulder. I caught a glimpse of it and immediately stopped my bike, nearly running into a well-dressed man in his 60s. (I hope he wasn't a university dean!). I asked him if there was a bug on me and he said yes, which made me start swatting and freaking out again. He said "Wait, be still. Don't worry, I'll get it." It took him three swats and FINALLY that bug was on the pavement. I thanked him (and the gentleman across the way who was laughing).

After telling Abby about this episode, she waxed imaginative. She described a bug called a "meninin." Here is what she had to say:

A: "It has a bump that has pokie edges. If you sit on the pokies, it will hurt your bum. It walks, it runs so fast and it has little tiny eyes, tiny, tiny, tiny. it has little silver black stuff that has little pokie edges and it has little gooey-purplie fishes on it."
G: What would you do if you saw one of these bugs?
A: "If I went near one of these, it will poke me on the back. The yuckie stuff is all over them, legs and top and all everywhere, tummy and head. I would run away and call for you and you wouldn't hear me across the street. I ran and found the house, and I was smiling that I found you and I said "mama, I'm so glad you're here!"

Abby later said she would "freak out" if she saw one of these bugs.

Gee, thanks!

Abby watched "Toy Story" tonight. It may have been the first time she's seen it; she just got it in the mail from my mom (her "Mia"). As I was saying goodnight to Abby, she had something to tell me:

A: I want to be da girl on Toy Story, da one wif da hanger (it's a shepherding staff) and da dress.
G: That would be sweet.
A: I want daddy to be da guy, um, Woody!
G: Yeah, that would be fun huh? Who would mommy be?

Abby had to really think this through. It took her a minute.

A: Mrs. Potato Head!

more confusion

As usual, we prayed last night before munching our (yummy thai food) dinner. Many times Abby prays, but this time deferred to Matthew. Apparently he did it wrong.

A: Daddy, you forgot to pray about the orphans and the houses that, that, that the water went rushing through!
M: OK, we can pray about that...

Matthew then prays about Katrina victims and the many orphans in the world (note: Abby ALWAYS prays about the orphans). Then start eating and Abby chimes in again:

A: Mommy, when you were born, were you a girl?
G: Yes, I was always a girl.
A: Daddy when you were born, were you a girl?
M: No, I was always a boy, even in my mommy's tummy. (pause) Abby, when you were born, you were a.... (waiting for answer)
A: Orphan!

We clarified that this is not true, that she was and is a girl, and not an orphan, thank goodness.

Go Matty!!!!

Matthew was informed about 15 minutes ago (by email) that he has PASSED his 4th and final preliminary exam! In fact, he didn't just get a pass, he got a GOOD, which is no small feat. This test was the hardest he's taken yet. He spent a year taking Behavioral Economics classes at Berkeley in order to prepare for this, and the Berkeley professors wrote and gave the exam. Matthew took the exam surrounded by Berkeley students.

So now what? I asked him this question a moment ago...

M: Well, I guess I'll get my PhD.

While Forest Gump-like in the understated truth of it, Matthew is now cleared to do his research and dissertation writing. We're guessing this process will take 2 more years. Anyway, if you are inclined to do it, email or call Matthew with congratulations. This is a massive hurdle accomplished! pearson at ucdavis dot edu (I typed out the symbols so that "spambots" don't get his address. I'm inclined to believe Matthew that these things exist, but then, he also told me that jackalopes were real too.)

confusion

One drawback of learning your catechism by listening to catchy songs: the answers can sometimes sound a little ambiguous...

M: Abby, who made you?
A: God.
M: What is God?
A: A spirit.
M: Where is God?
A: Everywhere.
M: Who were our first parents?
A: goddam and Eve.

roasting

Matthew went to get "Fluffy Doughnuts" this morning.

A: Oh-uh, I want daddy to hurry up with my doughnut, I'm roasting!
G: You're roasting hot?
A: No, I'm roasting hungry.

for the record

The other morning Abby, Matthew and I were snuggling and chatting as we often do in the pre-coffee part of the morning. Abby started talking (again) about how she would like to have a sibling, a sister, to be precise. We are not quite ready to become pregnant at the moment, but we have no problem thinking about the fun details of welcoming another member into our family. For the record, Abby predicts that we will have twins. She has mentioned this several times, which freaks us out (for no good reason besides just the thought of twins). I did want to share one funny moment...

A: Momma, when we get the new baby, my new sister, I want to name her Emma.
G: I like that name very much. What do you think her middle name should be?
A: Little.
G: You want the baby to be called "Emma Little Pearson"?
A: Yes.

Try saying that name aloud a few times.

bad blogger

Matthew told me that I'm a bad blogger for having gone so many days without a word. Part of that is going to be the way things are once classes start, but it has been a crazy week for us (as I am sure it has been for many of you). Abby and Matthew were both sick, then we had a terrific 3 days in San Francisco with my mom and grandmother (thanks mom! Happy Birthday!!). Anyway, our hearts go out to our friends and family dealing with the storm fallout in the South. Hopefully this will cheer you a tiny bit.

Tonight I brought home some Mexican food for dinner. Abby began eating her quesadilla and rice but wasn't eating her beans.

M: Abby, why don't you eat a few bites of beans?
A: No fanks, daddy.
M: How about just a bite or two?
A (more distressed): No, daddy. I don't want beans, they might make me toot!

She likes beans, but was exercising some real self control.

All toes go to heaven.

Abby has discovered how to tie knots. This is generally no big deal; however, we have had to discuss not tying things around one's neck (this, after an incident with her Groovy Girl scarf, which she now knows is too small for her neck) or around any other body parts. Last night she decided to tie a string around her big toe. I was right there and saw it begin to turn red.

G: Abigail, what did mommy say about tying things on our bodies?
A: Don't do it.
G: That's right. If you tie something too tightly on your toe, the blood cannot get to it, and it will die, and maybe even have to be cut off!

(I waited for the questions about blood, pain, amputation...)

A: Will it go to heaven?

p.s. I don't use scare tactics very often, but the honest truth about consequences can be a useful deterrent.

Update on "The Lion, The Witch, and the Roardrobe"

Abby did end up sleeping in our bed the other night, as I suspected she might. Her fears about the White Wirtch have been calmed, but now she's seriously getting in to the role play...

Last night as Matthew slaved away making Coq au Vin (it was unbelievably good!), I read two more chapters. In between chapters, I took a short break to check in on Matthew and when I came back, Abby was holding her book and talking to her stuffed animal, Curious George.
A: OK, now we're going to read our next chapter...

Then she saw me and grinned. We read about Peter's first battle, and his (rather explicit) triumph over the wolf, using his sword. I looked up from the pages to find Abby sawing poor Curious George with the wing of a paper airplane Matthew had made earlier in the day. That's freaky behavior for Abby, for any of you that might not know her well. Apparently George forgave her; he was the requested animal companion for the night.

First encounters with C.S. Lewis

I started reading Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" to Abby two days ago. This was mostly an experiment to see how well she might follow the story since we do not have the new illustrated version, but rather my childhood boxed set that has a small illustration at the beginning of each chapter. She is always very excited to see the pictures, but is going wild with imagining the scenes. This translates, of course, to many questions (and interruptions, which she promises are "just one more fing..." (thing)), but we really are making excellent progress. We are halfway through the book (Edmund has just been discovered missing, and the kids are about to meet Aslan). About a chapter ago Abby said to me:

A (with a breathless and excited tone): Mommy, I have a great idea! How about me and my friends can go there (Narnia), and live there all together!
G: That sounds exciting!
A: Mommy? How do we get in that book? (She's totally serious)
G: Well, we have to read the story and imagine what it might be like to be there.
A: (pause) Mommy, I know, we can PRETEND that we are there in that book!

This anticipation to be IN the story is so fresh and wonderful. The downside is that Abby is quite concerned about the White Witch and Aslan (the Lion). She wants to meet Aslan (A: I want to be right up next to him. I'm not afraid!), but requires many assurances that the White Witch is not trying to capture her. Tonight we peeked ahead at the illustration of Aslan. I made the mistake of "rarring" (roaring) and jumping up a little. Bad mommy. Abby cried and was quite indignant!

A (through tears, and ever so slightly red-grey from crying): That's not what Aslan is like! He doesn't RAR like that. You shouldn't say that!
G: You are right, Abby. I'm so sorry for rarring at you, I was just playing. I wont do that again, I promise.
A: It's OK, I'm not mad at you.

Then a few minutes later, when it was time for her to get into her PJs, I asked her to fetch them from her bedroom. She ran about halfway down the hall and stopped abruptly, then she ran right back to me.

A: Mommy, I'm afraid!
G: Honey, what are you afraid of?
A: I'm afraid of the White Witch.

OH BOY. Now I've done it! Abby LOVES this story, but I have a feeling she is going to milk this fear for all it is worth! I'll admit, Lewis is amazing at creating a riveting story...ten bucks says she sleeps in our bed tonight.

good daddy

Abby walks down the hall with her glass tea pot tied up with a shoe string, leading the (breakable) tea pot like a dog:

A: Look daddy!
M: Oh boy, that looks like a very neat idea, but why don't you practice your cleverness on something less breakable.

I was impressed with this response. I just wonder if he would have been quite so thoughtful and relaxed if it had been his iPod she was trailing with a string!!

morning funnies

A: Why does daddy not wear undies like a girl?
G: Daddy wears undies, but he is a boy.
A: (pause) One time he wore girl undies. It was a long time ago, and you didn't know it.
G: Did you see him wear these undies? What color were they?
A (leans closer and whispers): pink.

I went to the source (chuckling), and asked:

G: Is this true?
M (laughing): No, that is not true and you cannot blog about that.

I post this blog with Matthew's blessings, by the way.

Another daddy comment:

A: Daddy, you'll wake the children with your tooting like that.
(Note: We do not have other children)

storytime

A story by Abby: August 8, 2005

"Little Froggie's house was by a new orchard, and all of a sudden the princesses ran by to get their princes to go back home. They went back home to get visitors. And all of a sudden the strong wind came and started to blow them away. The princesses went back to their house in the wind. Some princesses have to leave. If they are gone they have to leave the house. They go back in, they go back out, they go back in, they go back out. And all of a sudden, the rain came and they went back in and snuggled up warm and cozy. Then they were all happily ever after."

Abby's first Love letter

We recently returned from a long trip to visit friends and family in the South. Before we left California, Abby's friend Miles (also 3 years old) became so excited to see her that he had his mommy (Paige) write a message, word for word, to Abby. This may just be her first love letter:

"I miss you Abby, I love you Abby, I love you so much Abby, I love you
to the moon and back, I love you so much to the planet and back, you're
so pretty, I can't wait to see you, I can't wait to see your house, I
can't wait to see you Abby. I love you so much, I miss you , I love
your house but I can't remember what's inside your house. I almost
want you I can't wait so much. I can't can't wait to see you berry
berry berry much. To the planet, to the moon, way to your earth I
love you and I miss you. That's all."

Sunday Morning

On our way to church this morning, and after momentarily forgetting that we needed to make a left turn, Matthew pulled the car to the left more forcibly than usual. A similar turn to the right into the Starbucks parking lot made me wonder if he was testing the steering:

G: Matty, your driving is a bit erratic.
A (from the back seat): Yeah, daddy, you need to go to church!

G's first Blog entry

After enjoying the blog entries of several friends (and my husband), I thought it might be fun to give this a try. I mostly hope for this to be a way to keep family and friends up to date with the goings on with our little family in Davis. Between two adults working on Ph.Ds and a 3.5 year old, life here is busy, crazy, wonderful. I hope this keeps us better connected!