First off, I would love to post tons of pictures I owe you, but I quite literally almost burned up my computer while editing pictures last night, and I’m loathe to over-tax the poor thing before my new cooling-mat arrives.
Yikes.
So instead, I’ll share a few stories of late regarding the names Lily has given new toys and pets.
My dear 2-year-old is, of course, only 2, and so her experience in being allowed to provide things with names was limited for a great long while by her inability to…well…talk. Thus you get the ridiculous naming of her lovey provided by Michael and me at Lily’s tender age of 6 months. Her suggestions at the time sounded something like “gah” or “bah,” so we relied on our own resources to come up with Anabelle (named after my childhood imaginary friend who happened to live in the mirror) Persephone (sounded appropriately ridiculous) Kittykins (well, the lovey is a cat, after all). Absurd, but sleep deprivation and being thrust into the world of drool-filled parenthood causes your sense of humor to fall several rungs on the ladder of sophistication. Am I right? Am I? Is this thing on?
As Lily has gotten older, we have allowed her more liberty to name her own toys. I distinctly remember asking her what she wanted to name a small orange cat figure I gave her, and she wanted to name it “Floor.”
Yes, “Floor.”
A few months later, she got a small, pink caterpillar toy. Her name for it? “Blue.” This is in spite of the fact that she knew her colors at this point, and would tell you that “Blue” was pink.
A few months ago, Lily got a pink flamingo that she named “Zumi” (after my dad and stepmother’s dog). Getting better, right? At least it’s more of a name than “Blue” or “Floor.”
A few weeks ago, Michael brought home a stuffed Hello Kitty for Lily. She promptly named it “Mr. Stefaniekins.”
Seriously?
Mr. Stefaniekins?
So yesterday, I told Lily that we were going to be getting two new goldfish for our patio pond.
It was with great trepidation that I asked her what we should name these fish (who I would have to refer to by name a couple of times per day for the next - hopefully! - few years).
Based on her prior performance, I was expecting “Mommy and Daddy” or “grass and bucket” or “Mr. Penelope-Pants and Dr. Rabbit-Placemat-Head.”
Lily’s instant response?
“Paul and Judy.”
Seriously?
Well, that works for me. She named them, I would assume, after the characters from the book “Pat the Bunny.” I know we haven’t read that book in about a month, so I was also impressed it came to mind so quickly given that the book has nothing to do with fish.
We are now the proud new owners of Paul (a robust-looking orange goldfish) and Judy (a not-so-robust-looking white and orange goldfish who I have already noticed swims like her tail is broken, which surely can’t be a good sign).
Now if I can only convince Lily that Paul and Judy do not want to be held, patted, or in any way snuggled. As the lady at Petsmart was bagging the fish, Lily kept putting up her hands saying, “I can hold them in my hands!” I think the lady was seriously questioning our fitness as fish-parents, and I can’t say that I blame her.
We’re one feeding in, and we already have one sweater soaked to the elbows from Lily’s attempts to coax Paul and Judy to come and get their food.
Wish us luck!
Oh, and Judy. Definitely wish her luck. I’m afraid the poor dear is going to need it.
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