Move Over Lola

Lola fever has died down a bit around here, but has been replaced with a passion for Parris. Eliot has been talking about her from dawn to dusk. Of course, when he says 'Parris', we hear 'Pay-pay'. Or sometimes 'Pep-ie'. And sometimes even 'Pee-Pee', but we try and discourage that.

E has been demanding to see picture slideshows containing nothing but Parris pics and demands more when they end. He has a picture of her and her sister Bronte in his room, and he often reminds us that it's there. Anything in the apartment that has ever been touched or looked at by Parris is lovingly referred to by her name.

One of the upsides of his crush is that I can use Parris as leverage to get my way. As in "Eliot, Parris loves vegetables, wouldn't you like to eat some more peas?" And it works. He even remembers Parris-related trivia. "Who's favorite fruit is mango, Eliot?" "Pay-pay!" And so on.

You may want to grab a hankie for this heartbreakingly sweet tidbit: Justin was reading E a book and on the last page there were a few illustrations of tiny red hearts, and Eliot pointed to each one and said, "Pay-pay!"

I told you.

I can only imagine that he will carry this unrequited love late into his twenties. She will always have a soft spot for him in her heart but will determine that he is just too young for her (what with the five year age difference). And then, after a life-changing visit to India to save abused tigers the year before her thirtieth birthday, she will run into him on the street and realize that he was the one all along, and then I'll get to help plan the wedding of two of my favorite people on earth.

Wishful thinking I know, but aren't they so goddamn cute together?

P.S. - I love you.

As you know, I have been nannying part time for two little cutie pies, Parris (5) and Bronte (3). This August has been roastingly hot, approximately 1000 degrees daily, so we have been spending pretty much all of our time indoors. This may sound like the least fun ever, but you don't know Parris and Bronte. These two have endless amounts of creative energy, and are constantly coming up with new things to play and make. Their games include "Lion King" (Parris is Simba and Bronte is Nola), "Cats, cats, cats" (which includes lining up all the cat dolls they have, and the resulting adventures) and "Princesses" which is pretty self explanatory. They also enjoy singing along to various soundtracks, occasionally switching up the lyrics to include the words "butt" and "poop". We currently have a poop and butt ban going, but they sneak it in whenever possible. Additionally, the house has an area jam packed with everything one would need to start up a small art supply store. Needless to say, I haven't heard the dreaded "I'm bored" very often.

Mostly, we draw. And paint. And color. And sculpt. And repeat.


The gang's all here! (l-r) Parris, E, Bronte (holding Twinkle and Pip)


Still life with monkey.


Parris is 100% crazy for cats. She's also a very talented cat artist.

And they are helpers. They are still really into Eliot, which is awesome for everyone involved. They instantly start singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" whenever he cries, because they know it is his favorite and usually calms him down. They are both all about helping me with him in other ways too, especially when it comes to doling out toys and administering diaper changes. Bronte gets out the changing pad and asks for Parris' help in rolling it out. Then they both gather round to watch, with one of them saying (usually Bronte) "Let's see his noodle butt!" and then, if there's poop, they both want to have a look, which usually goes something like, "EWWWWW!!! " and then, "Let's see it again!" I'm not really sure what the fascination is, at least for anyone that isn't his mother, since, as you know, I am also obsessed with Eliot's poop.

One of Parris's moms, Mia, has commented that her eldest daughter seems to have really tapped into her nurturing side since we came along. She's even more helpful and big sisterly (in a good way, not in the bossy way that my sisters are all too familiar with) with Bronte. Apparently she wasn't a big baby fan until Eliot came along. Now she asks every day to hold him in her lap, and she can make him laugh in a way that no one else can. They seem to have some sort of undefinable kid bond. It's really so amazing to watch and I really love that Eliot is having this experience with these girls.


You can't see it, but he's cracking up.

One Friday, after we left their house for the 4 minute (literally) drive home, my phone rang. I answered, and I had one of the sweetest conversations of my life. Please note: this transcript is somewhat phonetic for maximum cuteness.

Parris: Heavah? It's Pawis.
Me: Hi Parris, what's up?
P: Um, I love you.
M: Oh, Parris, I love you too.
P: And tell Ewiot that I love him too.
M: You know Eliot loves you, right?
P: Yeah, I know. Okay - bye.

If I hadn't been driving, I think I might have had to have a good old fashioned tears of joy cry fest. Ah kids.

Poor Noodle Butt.

As I no longer have a 'real' job, I decided to start nannying. It only seemed natural as A) I love kids and B) I could bring Eliot along. Recently I started nannying for two little girls, Bronte, 3 and Parris, 5. Their moms Mia and Catherine found me on Craigslist. They live in this great big house in our neighborhood, they are very pro-breastfeeding, slinging, attachment parenting, organic food, limited TV, etc. In short, we have a lot in common in the parenting arena. Plus, the moms share my sense of humor, which is key.

Parris and Bronte are quite possibly the cutest girls this side of the Mississippi. They are both creative, funny, thoughtful, energetic little people. They are really the kind of kids that should be on television, the Cosby Show maybe, they would totally out-cute Rudy. Parris is an amazing artist; her artwork hangs all over the house. She's really into the details, like drawing eyelashes and ears. She also has amazing handwriting for someone so young. It could easily be confused with my own. Bronte is the performer, she loves to sing and bounce around and is constantly changing her clothes, even matching her undies with her dresses. They both laugh easily and are well on their way to wicked senses of humor.

They both seem to love Eliot. They are very interested in all of his accessories; his toys, his cloth diapers, and his clothes. There was one accessory in particular that no one else in the house (other than the felines) have. On our first morning there, I put E. on the floor to change his diaper, and the girls gathered round for the show. As soon as I pulled off his pee-soaker, Bronte shrieks, "HE HAS A NOODLE!!"

This proclamation leaves both girls in hysterics. Parris, the consummate big sister, helpfully announces very matter-of-factly, "That is his penis." This cracks Bronte up even more, to which she replies, "He has a noodle butt!" And a new nickname was born. Chants of "Noodle Butt! Noodle Butt!" ensued, followed by irrepressible laughing, yes, even by me.

So the baby Butter has a new nickname. At least for these two. Occasionally when he is upset, I find myself saying, "Oh, poor Noodle Butt." All I can picture is our little boy, all grown up into a man, running into Parris and Bronte on the street in 20 years, only to be recognized as Noodle Butt. Hopefully he will have absorbed our smart ass sense of humor by then.

Poor Noodle Butt.


Left to Right: Parris (5), Noodle Butt (5 months) , and Bronte (3)