I have raised a completely adorable, entirely dramatic child. If you follow Addison Road on Facebook or subscribe to my twitter feed, I apologize for the repeat message. But just in case you missed it...
You have to watch this video. This kid cracks me up. I cannot believe she will be 3 years old next month- I am completely, forever in love!
I have been writing and recording a new, SOLO, album! Finishing up a book that I have been working on for some time now. Advocating for the Southern Sudan village of Lietnhom with World Concern. And trying to keep up with my sweet- slightly deranged- 2 year old Annie. I apologize for my absence here in this place. I will be back shortly.
Until then, enjoy this conversation and audio clip.
Me to my mom: Hi mom. Just calling to say good morning. What are you preaching about this morning? Mom: I'm so glad you called. I was sound asleep and I have to go get my sheep in an hour!!! Me: Sheep? A live one? Mom: Yeah, I rented one for $50 to bring to church with me this morning!!! Me: What??? Who's bringing it to the church? Does your congregation know? It's a really expensive sanctuary, mom. Mom: I'm bringing him to church! I'm putting him in my backseat. They don't know- but they'll know soon! His name is Jasper. He's gonna sit in my lap while I preach.
5 minutes later I get a voice mail. It's Jasper the lamb screaming in my mom's backseat.
I officially have the strangest family in the whole wide world.
Meet Lexie Grace, my first ever niece!
Meet Abigail Hope, my second ever niece!
Meet Bella
my daughters best friend who is a puppet that lives on my hand that I might have to knock off soon because OH MY GOSH every-ever-lovin'-waking moment Annie wants me to "talk Bella and Tad." Tad's her brother. They are from Chicago but they live with us because- Lord only knows- but I think I told her their mom couldn't take care of them anymore. Great, not only do we have sock puppets, but they are foster-sock puppets with heaps of therapy in front of them.
Y'all, what started out as a fun craft project has turned into a seriously unhealthy relationship. They have their own personalities and voices and Annie, I am quite sure, loves them more than Ryan and I combined. And I don't know how to kill them off. But it's become a real problem. The very first words out of her mouth each day are, "Talk Bella! Talk Tad," and she falls asleep with them every night. She wants Bella to go potty with her and help her wipe. She wants them to eat at the table with us, drive the car with me, and she wants them in the bathtub. She cries as if a puppy is being ripped from her arms,"Don't take my friends away," if I take them off for a time out.
She doesn't understand why I don't bring them in public and though the grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends have been so nice to Bella and Tad- I swear they think I am insane. (You know who you are. Thanks for treating them like people in front of Annie, but you should know, I promise I don't get some weird joy out of being a puppetmaster for my strange 2-year-old. I promise.)
This week, I am sad to announce, I gave in to Annie-
who begged and pleaded with her most logical arguments and sincerest desires that we please bring Bella and Tad with us to the park where we took a 40 minute train ride on Martin Luther King day, with every other child in Ft. Worth, Texas who wasn't in school.
And so I brought them.
On the train.
On a public train...
I talked to socks.
I talked to socks on my hands in front of hundreds of people- any my daughter gleefully relished every second of it. Every kid on the train was staring at us. Then, they started asking the puppets questions and laughing and having fun with Bella and Tad!?! Having fun with my hands and the creepy ladies puppet voices.
OH MY GOSH. Every adult looked at me like I might try to steal their child for use in my own, twisted, personal circus. Like I actually enjoyed it. Like this brought me great pleasure to talk in voices to socks to lots of strane children while my daughter kisses the socks and tells the other kids they are her best friends.
Wow. That's really all I can say. I have stooped to a new low as a parent. Today, I raise a toast to all the people in this world doing insane things for the children they love...
That was a good Christmas miracle. But this year's might be better.
Read MoreYou wouldn't know the kid in the corner goofing off with the other 17-year-old guys could play Silent Night on the violin so effortlessly, so beautifully, that an entire gymnasium full of inmates would sink softly into the sound of beauty and freedom and they would forget they were in prison...
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