Olivia

Author and illustrator Ian Falconer has created a beloved picture book character named Olivia. She's a pig. A delightful pig who stars in a series of picture books.

Olivia does all kinds of things that capture the imaginations of pint-sized readers (and their parents) such as forming a band, going to Venice, saving the circus, and more. The ever-charming Olivia has earned Caldecott honors for her creator.

Bubby loves Olivia.

I tell you that not as a review of the Olivia series in any way. I tell you that because Bubby got a new babysitter.

And her name is Olivia.

And Bubby was thrilled by the news! He thought Olivia—the pig!—would be coming to his house to watch over him and Baby Mac while Mommy was away.

Of course, Mommy had to ruin the fun by explaining the reality of the situation to Bubby. Olivia, the new sitter and the first Bubby would have outside of family and friends, was a high-school girl. Not a pig.

So, once Olivia—the girl—arrived for duty, introductions were made, and Mommy spent some time acquainting Olivia with Bubby, with Baby Mac.

Then Mommy was out the door for her tennis lesson.

When Mommy returned, all reports were great.

Olivia loved Bubby. Olivia loved Baby Mac.

(Although, how could she not, with charges as precious as Gramma's favorite little TV watchers.)

And everyone loved her back:

Megan loved Olivia.

Baby Mac loved Olivia.

Best of all, Bubby loved Olivia.

Even though she's not a pig.

Olivia graphic courtesy Simon & Shuster.

Today's question:

How old were you when you started making money as a babysitter?

Photo replay: Background double feature

The background on my phone:

The background on my computer:

Helps ease the lonesomeness. A little.

Today's fill-in-the-blank:

My phone (or computer) background is _____________.

Bubbles, Bubby, and the final frontier

I have a pretty large bubble—the amount of personal space I need around me. Strangers and folks with whom I'm not intimate best stay at arm's length or I get crabby, uncomfortable, anxious.

Folks I love the very most are welcome to enter my bubble any time they want, of course...as long as they don't dwell there too long.

Indeed, I need my space.

Bubby, on the other hand, has not yet learned about bubbles, doesn't understand the concept of personal space. Especially when it comes to his brother, whom he loves so, so much that time and—especially—space know no bounds.

To wit:

Bubby will eventually figure it out. Especially considering how often Mom and Dad—even Gramma—gently remind the enamored big brother that "Baby Mac needs some space."

Despite concerns about rendering Baby Mac claustrophobic at times, I adore the unabashed, in-your-face loving Bubby offers his brother. Such things are short lived and it surely won't be long before the "Mom, he's touching me!" complaints start up between the brothers.

From the looks of things, though, I'm pretty sure Baby Mac will be the one to first utter the refrain.

Which means Bubby's bubble-bursting privileges will remain intact for at least another year or two—about the time it will take before Baby Mac will be able to put into coherent words such pleas for intervention.

Today's question:

How big is your bubble?

Photo replay: Babes in arms

Gramma and her grandboys.

August 18, 2011

Today's question:

Which is more prevalent in your family and extended family: males or females?

Oh, joy!

I know grandmothers shouldn't compare their grandchildren. But since being around Bubby and Baby Mac the last couple of days, I've found it impossible to not compare the boys. Not in terms of bigger, bolder, brighter, or anything of that sort. This isn't a judgement, merely an observation.

I'm talking here about smiles. For I truly don't recall Bubby—as full of unabashed goofiness as he is now—ever smiling as much as Baby Mac does at this age. Megan and Preston agree. I mean, the kid is 10 weeks old and he's more full of grins and giggles than most kids twice his age.

Here's a small sampling of the happy expressions I've been blessed to receive since Friday...and this doesn't even include the ones he generously doled out during the 3 a.m. feeding I covered.

No, in comparison—and by comparing the pert-near thousands of photos I have of Bubby by the same age—Baby Mac clearly has Bubby beat in the smiles-per-hour category.

But then again, Bubby was at a slight disadvantage: He didn't have a goofy older brother to entertain him and encourage continual rounds of grins.

I can only imagine the giggles and grins we'll see from Baby No. 3. And yes, Megan and Preston plan to have more. Eventually.

How could they not after giving birth to sheer joy personified?

Today's question:

Fill in the blank: Of all the people I know, the one who most exudes joy is _______________.