Big News from Anna Rose

Anna Rose and I were waiting at the doctor's office for something unrelated to what this blog is about when something strange and wonderful happen: something moved in her mouth. I said, "Anna Rose, is something in your mouth?" She shook her head. Suddenly, it dawned on me what it was: her tooth!

It was wiggling around. I said, "Anna Rose, do you have a loose tooth?" "No Daddy,"she said. I saw it again! I said, "Anna Rose, I think you have a loose tooth. Open up." So she opened up and sure enough there it was. I wiggled it for her. 

Her eyes widened in glorious revelation. She shouted: "I'm growing up!" I said, "Yes, sweet girl, I think you are."

Growing up has been a top priority lately.

Coincidentally, I was chatting with my mother this morning, relating to her the great news when she related to me my first words after my first tooth came out. I had said with all the glee a six year old could have (this is a quote): "I never thought this would happen to me!"

Well, it did for Anna Rose on Monday. She had mentioned to me after I picked her up from school that the tooth seemed a little extra wiggly that day. I took that as a sign. So we went out on the porch, and I gave it a little back and forth tug. (Anna Rose is very trusting.) I could tell it was about to topple. As much as I wanted them, I decided to give her the honors. I told her to get her finger nail underneath and pull. She did. Once. Twice. And on the third time, Pop! Out it came.

What a moment! Our little girl truly is growing up faster than the grass in my lawn (which I'm about to mow for the second time this week - spring is for the birds, I tell ya.) - for more see Love and Hate

The same thoughts come to mind about parenting, about the fact Anna Rose is growing up so fast and so beautifully. It's crazy. It's crazy they let me do this. Crazy what it's done to my heart. Crazy what it's done for it.  

Anna Rose asked me a week ago if I liked being a parent. I said, "Well, there are things I really like about it, and there are other things I don't like at all." She said, "So being a parent is hard but good." I smiled as I looked back at her in the rearview mirror. "Yes Anna Rose, parenting is very hard and very good." 

When you think about it, most worthwhile things are.

Taking it for the Team

What a roller coaster. We were down when I started watching. Immediately, we take the lead. They take it back. They extend it to 4. We can't seem to get any closer. But they don't seem to be able to extend it either. Then right before halftime, their lead balloons to 8.

I come to the conclusion it's my fault. If I wasn't watching, we would certainly be hitting our 3's. So I go for a 5 miler for halftime. I help Leela in the yard. I check in and we're now down by 12! Oh no. It must be because I'm NOT watching. I flip on TBS. We break into single digits. The lead goes back to 10. Time is running out. Time is running out....time ran out. 69-62. erg.

It all leads to this conclusion: I don't think I had anything to do with the outcome. And you know what? That's all right with me. I'd rather not carry the pressure. On the other hand, had there been something I could have done to influence the outcome - you bet I'd do it - within reason. I can think of a few things I wouldn't do - like shoot somebody or eat lukewarm lard out of a feeding trough or kiss a cobra. You know, things like that.

Believe it or not, the loss provided a teaching moment. At dinner, Anna Rose asked: "Daddy, would you be happy if everything went your way?" Of course, I thought. But then I started thinking about it. I said, "Well, I might be happy for awhile but not always." "Why?" Anna Rose asked. I said, "Well, today Davidson lost the basketball game, so I am sad. If they won, I would have been happy. But the Louisville fans would have been sad. So because I'm sad, the Louisville fans get to be happy."

So basically, today we Davidsonians took one for the team. Not on purpose. Cohen and the boys played their hearts out. And, well, the shots didn't fall. Credit the swarming Cardinal defense. And certainly on our side, there were some big stage jitters (Davidson didn't start any seniors). But in the end, Louisville gets to celebrate. Good job, guys.

And I was reminded of two important lessons (1) that the world doesn't nor should it revolve around me, and (2) that I am not the determining factor for the ultimate success or failure of others. I can cheer. I can support. I can pray even. But what others do or do not do is, in the end, their responsibility for better or worse.

Like I said, a teaching moment...Oh, did you think the lesson was for Anna Rose?

Go Cats!

I'm too nervous to watch. So I'm writing about it. I love being a Davidson alum. I have them going to the Elite 8 in my bracket. Wish I had as much faith. So far, we're holding our own. With 13 minutes to go in the first half we're down by 1. 

All right, the excitement's getting to me. Win or lose, I've got to watch. Go cats! Clobber dem Cardinals.

Robot

We traded Anna Rose in for a robot. It happened Monday evening. It was an impulse decision. But it turned out great. Robot is obedient, cordial, and low maintenance. Best of all, it has an "off" button.

Instead of food, we simply have to recharge its batteries. Occasionally it requires a little WD-40 around the joints. And Tuesday morning we had a unfortunate mishap with one of its eyes. But on the whole, Robot has been a splendid addition to the family Erickson.


It didn't take long, however, for us to miss Anna Rose. Although she is not always obedient and cordial, could never be described as "low maintenance", and when God put her together, he forgot the "off" button - there's something about her...

Anna Rose has that je ne sais quois that maddens you but also makes you madly love her. 



Not to mention it only takes spaghetti to recharge her batteries. So in the end, we decided to get Anna Rose back. The house was too quiet with out her.




We kept Robot.

Old MacDonald Then and Now

Anna Rose Winter 2008

Anna Rose Winter 2012

Is it too early to have a senior moment?