26 Minutes

Do you know how long I have been waiting as a parent for a child who would go into a room and find a toy(s) to play with by herself without adult supervision? I think it has been since late 2002. Yes, I've been waiting for 5 1/2 years for a child who would self entertain.

I only mention this because for the last 26 minutes Olivia has been self entertaining in her room with her toys. Her toys that were purchased for the first child who we had hoped would self entertain...but alas, never did. Will wonders never cease, finally a prayer answered...self entertainment. Let's have a party!

What have I been doing for 26 minutes? Paying bills, reading the first 1/2 of my blog list and trying to figure out how to get the Muffin Man to let us adopt a stray cat that has been hanging around our house for the last 2 weeks. He is, shall we say vehemently opposed. He sites his cat allergies and Ava's cat allergies as good reasons in the no category. But really it is the cutest little black cat in the world and it is ripping my heart out to see it wander in and out of our yard and crying each morning as it tries to get into our garage. Oh, and in the yes, category it has really pretty green eyes. Olivia tried to feed it Teddy Grahams this morning after our walk. It refused...perhaps the bird head it ate this weekend is still making it full or so sick that it can't even stomach the thought of a Teddy Graham. It's a toss up.

We are up to 32 minutes of self entertainment. Should I check on her? Should I make sure she is not squirting Purell into her mouth like canned cheese? Should I make sure she is not peeling paint off the wall? Should I take my camera?
This, my friends is the face of self entertainment. Complete with minimal furniture displacement and random toy rearrangement. Nice diaper pail shot in the back, yes? That's the other thing I've been waiting to 5 1/2 years for....no diaper pail. I'll take 'em as I get 'em.