Then, Joe and I have a list of things we've been busy with. Joe's started his band competitions. He had two this week, and then there's another one on Saturday. I've taken Dottie with me to these competitions because they're really quite enjoyable. She likes to dance to the music. You wouldn't believe the caliber of some of the bands in this area . . . Some of the bands practice all summer long, then they practice until 6 every night, then they have Saturday rehearsals from 8-5. Basically, if you're in band, you don't have a life. So it's hard for Joe's little band, which is really just starting to get better, to compete with these band legacy schools. I think, though, that Joe has some good ideas for next year with the band. Little by little they're improving.
Last night was the state qualifying competition, and Dottie threw the mother of all tantrums. Wow. She screamed bloody-murder for a half hour straight. I had to take her to the bus and wait for the competition to be over for another hour, because you could hear her all over the stadium. She's just at a very trying time in her life right now. She hates naps, and I think she may be getting my cold. She's also decided that she never wants to eat what we're having for dinner, so she was also starving last night. What's a girl to do with a child like that? I just hope she snaps out of her Demon Dottie (Amanda's term) stage before I have another child.
The other developments in the past week and a half are Emily moving, me getting more piano students, and me practicing the piano. Yes, Em and Craig bought a house, which is really far away from my house. It takes a half hour to get there. So, I haven't been seeing as much of Em lately. Hopefully, we'll be able to work out a system so we can still see each other frequently. Dottie is going through Aunty Em withdrawals. We've been helping them move. They've been gradually moving everything over to the house for the past two weeks. The official moving day is Saturday, but all they really have left to move is their bed, their Eliptical machine, and their piano.
I get over there when I can to help Emmy. But a pregnant girl with a two-year-old is more of a hindrance than a help. So really, Joe's been doing most of the helping. In the mean time, I've redeveloped my passion for the piano, thanks to having a sixteen-year-old student. Yes, I have a new student who is very good on the piano, and likes to practice. Two pluses. Since teaching her, I've noticed that my piano playing skills are certainly rusty since high school. So, I've started teaching myself again. Right now, I'm working on memorizing Debussy's First Arabesque (not that difficult, but hey, I need to start somewhere). I've been practicing for an hour a day in the past week or so. It's good for me to have a goal again. I really think sometimes in motherhood you forget about your own needs, but having goals is definitely a necessity for any progressive human being. I feel like I'm human again instead of just my daughter's play thing.
I'll end with pictures of the week, which once again illustrate a two-year-old's eccentricities.
This is how Dottie eats. She pretends at first she likes the food, and then she throws it everywhere. Good thing this was before bathtime, because she was soon covered in oatmeal.
Dottie wore this outfit three days in a row. It was obviously her own choice.
Dottie wanted me to take this picture this morning. It's her potty-training outfit. We've had another relapse. She went a week straight with only three accidents. Then, I decided to try her wearing pants instead of dresses. Big mistake. Now she pees herself in dresses and pants.
This is my solace, the piano. I must say I like playing now more than I did in high school. It's my sanctifying water in the chaos of Dottie.
