baxter – Page 10 – The Thing With The Stuff

A story in 7 words

“Mama, come downstairs please!”

Crash.

“Uh-oh.”

Took Baxter to the doctor the other day to get his cough checked out (lungs clear; probably allergies), and he was THRILLED to find a My Little Pony book in the examination room. I confess I may have hidden our one MLP storybook (multiple stories) recently, sick to death of reading then to him over and over. I know there’s a strong MLP fan base, and maybe it’s just a generational thing, but quite frankly I do not understand the appeal.

Wishes Do Come True, the book we found at the doctor’s office, is actually the story I like the least. Synopsis: Twinkle Twirl is visited by a mysterious Pegasus pony (Star Catcher) and is told that she has to keep the meeting a secret. Abuser behavior much?
Then Skywishes sees the pegasus pony and every time she tries to tell others, Star Catcher disappears and Skywishes is repeatedly teased by her friends for saying she has seen this elusive jerkface pony. Her supposed best friend Twinkle Twirl says nothing, and leaves her friend twisting in the wind of pony ridicule. (Also, stop being a-holes to each other, ok ponies?)

There’s no resolution, either: at the end of the Book, Skywishes finds the land of the Pegasus ponies and that’s it. She doesn’t get to recover her reputation with her friends. No one says, “I believe you.” No one comes clean; just a lot of ponies keeping secrets and hanging each other out to dry, evidently forever. What rotten behavior to model for kids, even leaving out the characters’ constant obsession with their appearance.

Why do people love this series/universe so much? Bah.

Goofing around during Cycle Oregon break-down

When you are three and your plate of pancakes is too hot to pick up

Max finally gets the all attention he deserves

Recent Baxterisms

“Uh-oh! I don’t want to forget my Batpurse.”

(whiny) “MOMMMMM! I’m too tired to go to sleep.”

“Everything looks so far away in my bin-ah-clee-ars.”

And last but not least:

There’s a thump in Baxter’s room after lights out. Tom goes in to investigate and sees Baxter dive into bed when he opens the door. Tom approaches the bed as Baxter lies still and pretends to be asleep. Tom kisses Baxter and says, “It’s time to go to sleep now, buddy.” Baxter whispers, “I am asleep, Dada.” Tom replies softly, “Baxter, if you were asleep you wouldn’t be talking right now.” Baxter, eyes still squeezed shut, mouths silently, “But Dada, I really am asleep!”

Our blueberries are ready

Baxter’s sundress

Baxter was adamant that he wanted to wear “a sparkly dress” to summer camp today. Since we try to keep dress up clothes at home, I dug through a cache of summer clothes that Amelia wore a few years ago and found this sundress. Baxter’s delight was instant, exuberant, and enduring. So much so that he made up this song:

I love my new DRESS!
I love to TWIRL in it!
I want to wear it every DAY!
Because I look so BEAUTIFUL!

And then he ran around singing “I Have Confidence” from The Sound Of Music until breakfast time.

I’m really happy (and feel really lucky) to be able to send Baxter to a preschool where I know he won’t be shamed or teased for wearing a dress or skirt. He’s also really excited about his new sandals, “because my favorite colors are blue and green, mama!”