Hello, gentle reader! After several years, we are back, with a new look, new attitude, and lots of learning under our belts.

To quickly catch you up, Aurora is heading into 6th grade in two weeks. She turned 11 this summer. She now has her own phone, her own laptop, a retainer, and her own (very strong) will.

I apologize for the terrible picture quality, but my phone camera glass is broken.

Sushi was the order of the day after Aurora turned 11, a previously shunned food  that she suddenly decided she might like after all.

And she did!

Her tastes have expanded from rice cereal and bottles full of milk to peanut butter and tuna, and now to steak, sushi, cowboy cookies, and iceberg lettuce. (We are not so fond of healthy vegetables, she and I.)

Publishing this on June 2, 2020, although it was written in July 2019.

I love best about my new baby is how sweet and adorable she is. How innocent. How she doesn't (yet) have a naughty bone in her body. As in, I can do whatever I want to her and those little hands are ineffective at pushing me away.

Sloppy wet kisses on her head? Many times a day. Warming my cold nose on her warm face when we're sleeping together? Nightly. Laughing at her unintended and uncontrolled facial expressions?
Initiating the startle response? I'm not really that cruel. Or am I?

My mom put it best when I was describing how much I like this phase and she added, "and helpless!"

More Dentist Shots and a Giveaway

Here are two more photos of Aurora from yesterday, enjoying the dentist's chair in the special dentist's room.

Even more exciting, she didn't have any milk last night after going to sleep! We'll see how long I can hold out. . . Cross your fingers that it lasts!

In other news, I'm having a giveaway for a $20 credit to CSN stores on my other blog, What the H! Head over and comment for a chance to win.

Brush those Teeth

Today was Aurora's first dentist appointment with Dr Badger. She did a great job. It definitely helped that we went to a pediatric dentist whose waiting room was full of toys with a kids' movie playing.

She also loved the little kids' potty in the bathroom and getting to pick out her own princess toothbrush. And the bribes! Little toys! And the shades! It was kind of like going to disneyland, complete with disney posters on the walls.

I hope they don't charge an arm and a leg but it'll be worth it if I do have to pay a little extra. Here she is, ready to get her teeth brushed from the tech.

Aurora-isms

Here are some things Aurora's said lately:

As I was driving, getting riled up by some other drivers: "Why you say 'bitches', Mommy?"

After excitedly calling me into the bathroom to show me the pages of her book while on the toilet: "You go now. Wowa have privacy."

Bringing me an empty baby bottle I'd accidentally tossed into the trash in my room: "In garbage. Someone threw it. Maybe YOU?" After I began laughing and confessed, she said, "Not diaper, bottle."

Last night she held a sock between her legs and said, "Look mommy, sock penis!" Arlo thought that was mighty funny.

After I told her several stories, I figured it was her turn. "You tell me a story now," I suggested. "No, Wowa too tired," she replied, throwing my favorite excuse neatly back into my face.

While riding with Aurora and my mom: "Oh, look at that dog!" I said to them. They both looked and my mom said, "Where?" "YOU missed it," Aurora told her casually, unconcerned for my mom's disappointment.

Sing out!

Aurora has been singing like crazy lately, ever since we enrolled her in a singing class.

"Blinkle blinkle widdle scar, wonder, wonder, wonder ... youare!"

she also enjoys The Farmer in the Dell, although I can't translate her lyrics.

Mustachioed

I got Demitri (Aurora's daycare brother) some mustaches a few months ago and to my delight, photos were taken and posted at Sarah's blog.

What a cutie!