My mom and I had some business today at her attorney’s office and took Ouest along with us. We walked in the door and were saying our hellos when I looked over and saw Ouest had backed herself up behind the chairs against the wall of the small sitting area and had big crocodile tears welling up in her red eyes. It hit me immediately that she thought we were at a doctor’s office. It took a minute to convince her otherwise but we managed to do it before the tears fell.

This afternoon we surprised Ouest with a new book. A book that we knew she would love. But we were still caught off guard by her response to it. Two minutes before we gave it to her we had told her it was almost nap time. “No sleepy,” was the response. That’s her standard answer which we always just ignore because in fact she is always sleepy by nap time. Anyway, we give her the book and she is excited about it.

“We can read it when you lay down for your nap.”

Five second pause while she looks longingly at the cover, then, “Me sleepy now. Sleepy now Papa.”

And off we went.