Molly's Reading Pick o' the Week

So, we're at the grocery store to pick up our corsages for prom, when we walk by the magazine aisle. I get easily distracted by the magazine aisle, so I start to look... when Molly says, "Mommy, I want this one."

Here's the cover:

I kid you not.

As she starts thumbing through National Geographic and its newest cover story "Ice Baby," she comes across this picture:

"Mommy, why does that elephant look so sick?"

(And here I had to suppress every sacrastic bone in my body...) "Um, well, sweetie... probably because it's dead."

So I started explaining to her it's a mammoth that lived a long, LONG time ago... and it's so great that they found it, just like SUE the T-Rex because it will help scientists... but why don't we pick a different magazine.

Nope, not the Nickelodeon magazine... not Thomas the Train... not even a Tiger Beat with David Archuletta on the cover.

Nope. Molly wanted this one. She hugged her copy of National Geographic and took off down the aisle.

Here we are later, reading about the death of Lyuba. She fascinated by it, which is fantastic. But the sad, shriveled mammoth on the cover is making me a wee bit sad. I don't know if I could handle watching the TV special on this. (Shhhh.... don't tell Molly it's on!)

Beauty and the Beast

More on the circus visit later... but photos of Molly and her elephant-riding extravaganza...

Here's Molly and Cindy.

Molly and Papa and Cindy...

Molly and Mommy ready to ride Betty.

A Vigil for Jade

About a week ago, one of Molly's favorite elephants at the zoo -- the two year-old Jade -- was diagnosed with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). This is a very serious virus for elephants -- most of them who contract it die soon after contracting it. And reports of Jade's illness were all over the local news.

Aaron looked at me and said, "We have to tell Molly."

I knew he was right. Molly was bound to see this sooner or later. Or, if Jade were to *gulp* pass on, and we didn't tell Molly, our next trip to the zoo would NOT be pleasant.

So, we told Molly as we were getting ready for bed that Jade was sick. She has a really bad cold and the doctors at the zoo have her in the elephant hospital and are taking really good care of her.

Her lip quivered. "Is she going to die?"

"We don't know, sweetie. But the doctors are doing everything they can for her."

With that, she searched through her pile of stuffed elephants to find her Jade -- and has been carrying her around ever since.

The next morning, Molly announced (as she was giving Stuffed Jade her medicine), "I want to make a card for Jade. And send it to her at the elephant hospital."

"That's a great idea, sweetheart."

So, that afternoon after school, this is what she created:

On the inside, this is what Molly dictated that I write:

Dear Jade,

How are you feeling? I want to come see you in summer so I hope you feel better soon. I have a stuffed elephant named Jade, after you - and I'm taking care of her just like your doctors are taking care of you.

I love you!

Love, Molly

And she also taped inside the card a picture of her from last Halloween in her elephant costume.

So we're saying a nightly prayer for Jade - a plucky, tough little elephant who is loved very much by a plucky, tough little girl.

"There Was More than One Lobster Present at the Birth of Jesus?"

My favorite line from the movie "Love, Actually." (Here's a bad clip of it on YouTube...) That movie is wonderful, affirming, and heartbreaking all at the same time... The cast rocks and the soundtrack is amazing. But that's not what this post is about...

Molly, your Grandma Twyla gave you a wondeful Christmas present when you were 18 months old - the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set. And the story of why is even more wonderful -- it was her job every year, when she was a little girl, to set up the Nativity Scene under the Christmas tree. But it was a very breakable set - and so her parents told her to be extremely careful with it and NOT to dare play with the Baby Jesus. Just put him in the manger and be done with it. So, she bought you this set so you could play with it - just like she always wanted to. And this way, every Christmas, you and she would share a tradition. Very, very sweet.

So a few weeks ago, you lovingly set up your little set under the tree... and this year added an elephant that Grandma gave you... which made me think "I wish I had a lobster to throw in there." I walked by the tree later and witnessed this:

"So, there was an elephant and a giant tabby cat present at the birth of Christ?"

"Mommy, I'm Worried..."

Let me start off by writing that you are a very good sleeper. You always have been. (Thank GOD.) Luckily, Daddy and I got you into a routine early. There were a few on-and-off bouts. But after fighting through a couple “crying it out” phases, it’s paid off.

However, every so often, you try out a new stalling tactic.

Your latest is “Mommy, can you come here for a minute, please? I need to tell you something.” With a lead-in like that, it’s hard to resist. Upon entering your darkened room, I ask, “Yes, Molly?”

“Mommy,” you reply, “I’m worried.”

“Worried about what?”

At that point, I can almost hear the wheels in your mind turning... searching... trying to find something to be worried about.

Last week, you were worried about your elephants. “They trumpet in the night,” you explained to me very earnestly. “And they wake up my friends.” (A.k.a. the 12,000 stuffed animals in your bed.) “The trumpeting scares them, Mommy.” We identified Uncle Elmer (your elephant from Build-a-Bear) as the lead offender in the midnight trumpeting raids. So I had a very stern talk with him… and you went right to sleep.

Last night, you called again. “Mommy, I’m worried…” and I could see you searching around your room for something to worry you. Finally, you found something: “I’m worried about Hippo.”

“Hippo? Hippo is fine. He's on the back of your rocking chair.”

“Yes. I think he doesn’t like it there.”

“Would he rather be in bed with you?”

“Yes, Mommy.”

And after that, silence.

Daddy and I always love the creative, interesting ways you try to lure us back to your room. With Daddy, you always ask for pats and scratches on your back… and he can never turn that down. Or, sometimes, it’s the call of “Just one more kiss, Mommy.” And I will N E V E R turn that down.

Things Molly Loves: Elephants

Molly - I don't remember quite how this great love of yours started. You really liked the elephants every time we went to the zoo. But the tipping point came last September 1st, when I picked you up from day care. You announced, "Mommy, do you know what I want to be for Halloween? An elephant." It was only September 1st - I figured you'd change your mind a few dozen times before Halloween.

I was wrong.

As we crept closer and closer to Halloween, you held on tight to your one and only costume choice. I crafted your costume myself, thanks to these instructions and a little ingenuity on my part. So while your friends at school were princesses, a bride, and other very girlie things, you were an elephant. And it was awesome.

So it's just taken off since there -- elephant books, elephant towels, a small herd of stuffed elephant friends (named after all the elephants at our zoo). And your first movie was (of course) about an elephant -- "Horton Hears a Who!" And what did you wear to the movie? Your elephant ears and your own Horton t-shirt Daddy and I made you. And over the weekend, you even made an elephant at Build-a-Bear (which they now conveniently have.) And for your birthday, you want to make a donation to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee to help feed the elephants.

Why elephants? Who knows. How long will this last? I don't know. But you love your elephants. And we love you.