I Said Baa Baa, Baby
Since my life is just plain awful, horrible, and no good, I have been doomed with a child that insists that we go for a walk together every day. Just the thought of it probably will give you nightmares, and for that I am very sorry (OK, so I love every second of it. I admit it.). Lately I've gotten brave/stupid and started doing walks in our own little neighborhood, instead of going up the road to a walking trail. I'm probably setting my self up for hours of annoying because there are three little playgrounds in our development. I have to weave and dodge and circle back to try to confuse the Toddler when we're walking around because once she figures out how to get to even one of those playgrounds, I'm going to be in BIG trouble.
Past the playgrounds at one end of our development is a miniature little farm, or rather a house that has a bunch of sheep. I have declared it a farm, because if you have a dozen or so sheep and a barn, I think that qualifies as farm. Back in my North Dakota days I wouldn't have considered a place with only one or two acres a farm, but this is Pittsburgh, so I get to change the rules as I see fit. Considering that we can see downtown from our deck, I think it's like there is a little farm in the middle of a metropolis. I'm amused by it.
Today I took Alexis up to the farm for the first time so she could get up and sort of personal with the sheep.
She was floored.
She has known for months that sheep say, "Baa," but she had never actually heard a sheep say, "Baa." I SO wish I had the camera ready when she first heard one of those sheep make noise. It was as if she had discovered that the sheep were in on a secret that she thought only she and the CIA knew about. With eyes as big as dinner plates, she picked her jaw up from the ground and yelled, "MOMMY! SHEEP SAID 'BAA!'"
Even better, though, was as we were walking away. She didn't want to leave, so I had to pull out my usual trick. For whatever reason, if I tell her to say, "Bye-bye" to something, she will leave it willingly (it works for toys, places, just about anything--it's MAGICAL). So, I told her to tell the sheep, "Bye-bye." Just as she waved and yelled, "BYE-BYE SHEEPS!" one of them let out the most perfectly timed series of baas of all time.
"Baa Baa."
Alexis very nearly laid an excited little toddler egg right then and there. She spent the next twenty minutes gushing to me that the sheeps talked to her and that they said, "Bye-bye."
How much do you want to bet that if she ever manages to escape our watchful eyes, she'll run right past those playgrounds and go straight for the sheep?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Reader Comments (54)
Honestly, Alexis, your daughter is beautiful. Love the photos.
Love them! Come visit a real farm anytime!
So, just how fast can you run? 'Cause you know she's just waiting for that half second when you let your guard down :)
Oh, that's the sweetest thing. Did she share Big Water with the sheep??
What a cutie--even the sheep love her :)
I love the honest reactions of children! You better watch out...she's gonna run to the sheep the next time!
Yes, I agree with Alexis, sheep make life worth living. I wish I could have one as a pet, just to hear it go baaaaa! And LAmBS are even better!!!!!
That's it. BigBrother is breaking up with his intended wife and he's now set to marry Burgh Baby. BECAUSE I SAID SO.
:)
That is the sweetest story! Something very similar happened to my daughter not too long ago. Don't you love those moments? And want to fuse them in your mind? :-)
Aw! What a wonderful story! She's so cute. I LOVE that first photo!
"Baa baa!"
Now that just gave me a warm fuzzy! WTG Mom!
I think I just dropped a little mommy egg~ROFL!!!!!!!
You get to change the rules as you see fit huh?! NOW I know where Alexis gets it from! hahahahaha
Baby sheep are the cutest things ever!
What can I say but one big Awwwwwwww?
she really is the best, you know.
even if she DOES keep you up at night ;-)
Sheep make me nervous. Perhaps next time I encounter one, Alexis can come and hold my hand!
Hallie
how cute! I just know she is plotting her escape route, wearing you down with sleep deprivation, and then running out the door as you head for coffee.
You could not have timed that better if you'd planned for months! Too cute!
How cute :) Morgan saw sheep at a farm last year and freaked the heck out when they "talked" to her.
:)
Awww, that is really cool. This almost guarantees that the "Magical Bye Bye" will continue to work for some time to come! She must have felt so special :)!
Alexis is not alone. I kept doing double-takes when I was shopping at a sheep festival and heard what for all the world sounded like someone (human) standing there saying, "BAA."
Of course it was coming from the sheep.
I want a sheep "farm" in my neighborhood.
How cute!
My daughter loves the petting zoo type animals. Last time we went to one, she tried to steal a baby goat. I shit you not.
She tried to pick it up and carry it, saying, "Mine. My goat!"
I love how surprised she was that you were right about what sound the sheep makes.
You know what she'll be asking Santa for this year, don't you?
Aww. What a cute story! How cool that you have 3 playgrounds and a farm that close! I had to work late last night, and didn't get to say goodnight to Dylan, and it totally ruined my night. Same thing tonight. I hate it when work interferes with life.
That is the cutest thing ever!
Punkin's favorite joke right now (learned from her old brother) is "What did the sheep have for lunch? A baa-loney sandwich" and I LOVE to hear her say baa-loney. It cracks me up every time.
If they said bye-bye to me I would spend all of my time with the sheep too! So cute!
Too freaking adorable. Can you get chummy with the sheep people and maybe they'd let her feed them?
Awww! We used to feed sheep at a local petting zoo.I need to take the kid there.
We live across from some cows at our old house.
Bean thinks they are cool. He like the horses much better.
And your kiddo is so friggin cute.
I know I have said it before but I feel the need to repeat it.
Adorable! The "say bye-bye" trick works for us too...it's a good one...I'll have to pass this on to friends.
I can relate! If you really want to put her into sensory overload, take her to Round Hill Farm in Elizabeth....Sophia had a BLAST!
absolutely precious... but even at 32 I am still enamored by sheep, so I get it...
First of all, you are such an awesome mom. I'm willing to bet that your walks with Alexis are the highlight of her day. And they should be. So cool.
Secondly, your line about the excited little toddler egg made me snort I laughed so much. That's what I envy about your writing...those one liners.
Holy crap! She's the freaking sheep whisperer.
This should serve her well in her future career as a sheep shearer.
That is so cute! Talking sheep and a little girl who lays eggs! I'm impressed!
I'm gushing! Has she seen Babe yet?
Sheep are cute, no wonder she loves them.
Oh, I love watching them "get it"!
You can see it in there face...and it's great!
that is possibly the cutest thing I've ever heard.
And sheep are great. Here I am an adult, and if we ever have enough space or time or money, I want to get a few Hampshire-Downs sheep.
And a Jersey cow.
And...well...basically start a little farm of adorable little livestock.
Dude - there are SHEEP where you live? I thought you lived in Da City. Or at least near enough to it that there wouldn't be any livestock.
Anyway, sheep are hawt, but not as hawt as donkeys, whose noises are much cooler.
Aww shes just to cute!!
Oh how frickin' adorable!!! Wish I could have seen it!! And yay for little farms :D
What a cute story!! And how nice of those sheep to play along. Pics are beautiful too!
Awesome! Sheeps said bye, bye. You'll never convince her otherwise!
The whole say bye thing works for us too! Isn't it great!
Just put her back in the high chair. She won't be going anywhere!
Baa Baa :-)
I wish I could have seen it! I bet Stella will react the same way when she sees real sheeps :-) just wait until they figure out they can feed grass to the sheep - oy, we'll have to seriously make sure all doors are locked then :-)
Heck yeah! Sheep are way more fun than playgrounds anyway! Playgrounds don't say "bye-bye" back! Bo-ring! =) She's so sweet. I wish I could've seen the look on her face!
I seriously love this post. The part about the toddler egg being laid=perfect!!
She's adorable and I can't wait to see her again.. Soon, will let you know when we plan to come thru again!
Ok, I'm number 48, so I just second what everybody else said.
But that baa baa thing was really sweet! She's such a cutie. We have a playground here, too, but it's too damn hot to walk to it. Then it's too damn hot to play on it.
I. Miss. New. England.
LOL! The bye bye thing works for my 19 month old too!
Beyond precious!!!