My Experiences as a Father... March 5 to April 4, 2001 (23rd month)

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Sunday, April 1, 2001
I put the new file cabinet downstairs.  Maeve helped me make room for it.  She started opening the drawers.  I asked her if she wanted to get in a drawer.  She did.  I put her in the bottom drawer and closed it most of the way.  Then I asked Maeve if she wanted me to get Mom so Mom could look for her.  She did.  Jill was playing along when she came down the stairs, saying, "Where is my baby?  Where could Maeve be?"  When she got downstairs she started saying, "You didn't put her in the file cabinet, did you?"

Later we were on the hardwood floor in the living room.  Maeve was laying on her blanket and I pulled her to me.  Then I pushed her away.  Maeve said she wanted to do it again, so I pulled her back and pushed her away again.  We did that about 10 times, and Jill was getting more and more upset.  Jill said she didn't want me to do it anymore.  I stopped and told Maeve that we couldn't do it anymore because Mom didn't like it.  Maeve prevailed, however, and Jill said I could do it, but that I had to be careful not to run Maeve into anything.  I was only pushing Maeve about 5 or 6 feet, so there was no problem.  Maeve enjoyed it, and was upset when it was time to read books before bed.
 

Saturday, March 31, 2001
Maeve and I ran a bundle of errands today.  When we got back, Jill had sewn some pajamas for one of Maeve's dolls.  Maeve has been saying that her doll needed pajamas when Maeve put on her own pajamas, but we didn't have any for the doll.

For some reason, Jill kept getting carried away and sewing shut the holes for the arms and neck.
 

Friday, March 30, 2001
Jill and I were playing downstairs with Maeve.  Maeve wanted Jill and I to get into her playhouse.  Then Maeve went to prepare some food in her kitchen.  Jill wanted to get out of the playhouse, so I told her to get out while Maeve wasn't looking.  As soon as Jill stuck a leg out I started yelling, "Maeve!  Maeve!" to let Maeve know that Jill was trying to get out.  Maeve ran over and pushed Jill's leg back in.  Then Maeve went back to her kitchen.  Jill tried it again, with the same yelling from me, and the same pushing back in from Maeve.  Jill waited a little longer, and just overpowered Maeve the next time she tried to get out.
 

Tuesday, March 27, 2001
Jill has always told people who have to deal with me, such as co-workers, friends, etc., to "hit me in the head" if I give them a hard time.  Lately, when Jill has gotten frustrated with me, she has told Maeve to "hit your father in the head".  Maeve thinks it's funny, and it is cute now, but I think this is going to get to be a problem as she gets older.  It would be bad if Maeve still does this when she is 15.
 

Saturday, March 24, 2001
We saw some joggers while we were out for a walk today.  I told Maeve that some people like to run around.  For the rest of the "walk" Maeve wanted to run, except when we had to stop to look at dirt, rocks, etc.  I could walk fast and keep up with her running, but she wanted to see my arms moving like I was running.

Later in the day we went for another walk with Mom.  She kept making excuses about running, like, "I don't want to shake up the baby" and "Mom's too tired".
 

Friday, March 23, 2001
Jill is always regaling Maeve with all of her crazy talk about a "baby in mom's belly".  She keeps telling Maeve that it moves, and trying to get Maeve to feel it.  Of course, when Maeve tries to feel it, the baby won't move.  Maeve then whacks Jill's belly and yells, "Move, baby, move".
 

Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Jill is doing a good job of brainwashing Maeve.  She asks Maeve if the house is ugly, to which Maeve replies, "Yes".  Jill asks if it needs to be repainted, and again Maeve says, "Yes".

Jill asks if we need a new vacuum cleaner, and Maeve says, "Yes".

Jill hasn't gotten Maeve to answer "correctly" yet, but she is asking Maeve, "Should Dad give Mom more money?"
 

Sunday, March 18, 2001
Maeve has started wanting to feed her doll at the dinner table.  Tonight she put a piece of corn in the doll's mouth.  Since it wasn't swallowed, we hit the doll on the back of the head to get the corn out.  Maeve wanted us to hit her on the back of the head to get out the corn that she had eaten.  We explained that we didn't have to do that because she swallowed the corn.
 

Friday, March 16, 2001
I have been pushing my idea that having a "sturdy girl" is the best of both worlds: a girl can do all sorts of feminine things, but can still get away with doing "boy" stuff like fixing cars and repairs around the house.  Tonight Maeve got a little blister from pinching her finger someplace.  That reminded me of one flaw in my plan; it's not very feminine to have callouses.  I guess there has to be a choice in that area; either have soft, wimpy hands or not have feminine hands.
 

Thursday, March 15, 2001
Maeve once told me that I made her as smart as she is.  Today Jill was holding Maeve and we were talking about how smart Maeve is.  Maeve put her finger on Jill's neck and said, "Smart".  Jill interpreted that to mean that Mom made her smart.  I said that was Maeve trying to put more smarts into Jill by putting her finger near Jill's brain.  I put my finger on the other side of Jill's neck and tried to help.
 

Wednesday, March 14, 2001
Maeve really likes her new desk.  Once I get up in the morning I try to eat my breakfast.  Maeve will say, "Desk, desk" and want me to eat my breakfast at my desk.  She wants someone else to sit at their desk while she is sitting at hers.
 

Sunday, March 11, 2001
Today Jill was saying that she has become a New Englander.  She said it was only 50 degrees outside, but she was saying that it was hot and that she didn't need a coat.
 

Saturday, March 10, 2001
We got Maeve a desk of her own today.  It was an adult desk that I cut the legs off.  Now she points at my desk and I say that is my desk.  She points at Jill's desk and I say that's Mom's desk.  Then she points at her desk and I say that's her desk.  She likes to show off her very own paper clips.  She also has her markers, drawings and blank paper in the drawers.

Jill is talking about all sorts of goofy feminine colors for the desk.  She is asking Maeve is she wants to paint it pink with yellow flowers.  She talks about periwinkle.  As long as Jill was going to be so absurd, I started pushing for urban camouflage.
 

Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Maeve saw a lawn mower today and said, "Mommy".  I hope that lasts.  It's a small yard, and Jill won't shovel any snow.  I think it's only fair that Jill mow the lawn.
 

Tuesday, March 6, 2001
We got about 18" of snow today.  Maeve was helping with her shovel.  After we got it all off the driveway, we put Maeve on the piles and took some pictures.  She was near the top of the yard light on top of one pile, and was about 5' high on another pile.
 

Monday, March 5, 2001
Maeve was breast feeding one of her dolls today.  She was even trying to sing, "Jesus loves me..." as a lullaby.
 


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