The day had finally arrived. After multiple failed attempts, the Missus, Action and myself were finally going to going to meet up with my friend B and her daughter, Bunny (a baby that needs her own blog, let me tell you.) Ah, I’m getting ahead of myself; a little backstory is needed.
B and I have been friends since college (let’s go Red Storm!) We’ve stayed in touch since then. B’s daughter, Bunny, was born two weeks before Action. We were each other’s support network during the early days of late night feedings and laments about why these kids wouldn’t go the f*** to sleep. Those days definitely increased the bonds of our friendship. I would always joke to B that our daughters were going to be Besties. I would imagine all the parties, sleepovers and trips to Sesame Place and Disney World. There was just one, tiny little problem with my master plan: Bunny and B lived in in a different states.
Granted, They lived in VA while us Bears live in MD, and we lived close enough to DC, but it still was a 90 minute drive to see each other. Complicating the fact is that I worked weekends since Action was born, so meeting up was extremely difficult to say the least. I was determined however, to make this meeting of Destiny happen. The minute I switched jobs and got my weekends back, We scheduled a weekend to get together for a play date, and that date was finally here! After I had switched to some dry clothes, (see “The Play Date pt 1,”) we were on our way to VA.
While driving, the Missus, Bless her, tried to temper my expectations to something more manageable and realistic. “You know hon,” she said, “there’s a chance that Action and Bunny won’t get along. What are you gonna do if they don’t like each other?” “BLASPHEMER!!” I shouted. Those two will become friends the minute they see each other. “Keep your poisoned words to yourself, vile Heretic!” (FYI, the Missus and I actually talk to each other like that 🙂 .)
We finally arrived to the meeting place. I felt my excitement growing like a little kid about to into a toy store. Shoot, you would’ve thought I was the kid going on a play date the way I was acting. We finally met up with B and Bunny, and the hugs and kisses were exchanged. This was it, the moment of truth; Action was not only about to hang out with one of her peers, but her future best friend for life. In my mind, this is kind of how I envisioned our two girls reacting to each other:
*snort* yeeeah, nothing even close to that happened.
Bunny, who’s used to being around kids her age, was relaxed and seemed more easy going. Action, who until that point hung out mostly with adults, just stared at Bunny, warily sizing her up. Plus, Action was teething, so she was already in a mood. Bunny tried to reach out and touch Action and was meet with a loud, “AAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I think that’s toddler for “Get yo’ hand Outta my pocket!” or something. Up until this point, Lena usually reserved her Shrieking for the privacy of our home. I had a sinking feeling that that was changing as of today.
We sat down at the table to eat. We sat Bunny and Action next to each other so they could bond. All the while I’m watching those two, my thoughts jumping between “I hope you two bond” and “Please don’t destroy this restaurant.” My friend, B, Brought some fruits for Bunny to Nosh on and was nice enough to share with Action. That’s when Bunny got territorial. She reached over to Actions plate as if to say, “Oh, look Mommy, you seemed to put my food o the wrong plate. Let me help you with that.” *YOINK!*
B wasn’t too thrilled with Bunny’s action. I however, found it quite hilarious that my daughter just got “Dee-Boed.”
Action, not to be outdone, proceeded to Dee-Boe Bunny’s crayons. When I tried to stop her, Action flung the the crayons like, “If I can’t have the Crayons, no one can!” Bunny tried to touch Action to sooth things overand once more was met with “AAAAAAAAH!!” At this point my dreams of Besties Forever was slowly flying out the window. I was starting to resign myself to the fact that our daughters may be at best, rivals, or at worst, not like each other because Bunny and Action were both Alpha-Babies.
…and then food came.
Lena started her Battle Cry once her food was placed in front of her. I tried to shush her, but it was too late. Bunny heard Action’s battle cry and decided to join in, each taking turns to growl on the mic, a la RUN-DMC. Next, Bunny starts flinging her food every which way. Action looks on approvingly at Bunny’s form like
and starts to join in. It’s staring to look like the food fight scene from Animal House.
FOOD FIIIIGHT!!
When it looked like our Agents of Chaos were done eating, I gave them their crayons and paper to keep them busy so that we could get a breather. Bunny, apparently still hungry from the Mayhem session, grabs the crayon and starts eating them. Action looks over at Bunny like, “Hey let me try some.” Now they’re both eating crayons together. At first I was like hey don’t do that, but that thought was immediately replaced by the realization that Bunny and Action are actually bonding! Oh, Happy Day! I think I would’ve been happier if wasn’t for the war zone that some poor soul was gonna have to clean after we left. I felt so bad that I think the tip I left was almost as much as we paid for dinner. Ah, who cares? Mission accomplished.
We left the restaurant and said our goodbyes. I think Action Actually let Bunny touch her when we left. Will miracles never cease? It’s been a while since we’ve gotten together for a play date and I’m chomping at the bit for the next adventure. I can’t wait to see the mayhem caused by the Bunny and the Dear.