about last night

I am going through serious withdrawal from Toddler Storytime at the library. At the Main branch it is on hiatus until January. A branch closer to our house, in Squirrel Hill, still has Toddler time scheduled throughout December. But one of the Baby Lapsit moms we know tried going to Lapsit at the Squirrel Hill branch and she said it wasn't as much fun because it was soooo crowded and just not the same. We would probably have the same experience. The Main branch is like Cheers for Myles. Everyone knows his name. There are certain librarians he just loves-Kathy and Brooke, for instance. He goes into fits of excitement when we make an unscheduled stop at the library and he sees Kathy. Heck, even the surly barrista cracks a smile at him. Oh yeah, that might factor into my preference, too, for the main branch. You can get coffee at the Crazy Mocha and enjoy your beverage anywhere on the first floor, including the children's rooms. You cannot do that at Squirrel Hill.

So last night there was scheduled a Pajama Story Time. I was ridiculously excited about it. Before we went to our doctor appointments yesterday I made sure I threw into the laundry my favorite pjs--flannel with snowmen. There would be no fumbling around, making due with sweatpants. It was a Pajama party!

So we got to the library, both of us in pjs (Myles' favorite being of course Steeler pjs), and I started to feel a little ridiculous. The children's room was nearly empty, and I was the only adult in pjs. I saw Kathy and asked her if Pajama Time was that night (I had checked and re-checked the website a few times before we left). She assured me that yes, it would start in a little bit, and...."Wow are you in Your Pajamas, too?"

Yup, not even the librarian was in PJs. Some of the kids were, but no other grownups. But you know what? I would and will do it again. And it was so much fun. We read Taxi Dog and a cool Doreen Cronin book. The kids got to play with scarves (see above). Kathy even pulled out the "Greatest Hits" of Lapsit/Toddler Time--reciting Dickery dickery Dare, The Pig flew in the air while each child takes turns throwing a toy pig in the air, and reciting Humpty Dumpty while each child takes turns pulling a felt Humpty Dumpty off a felt board--both while everyone claps enthusiastically for everyone's attempt. Myles, being the old pro at these games (because I am such a library junkie), was invited to go first in both of these to show all the other children how to do it. Oh yeah, he was pretty proud of himself, but not so proud that he didn't clap enthusiastically for everyone else's turns.

Somebody pinch me!