thumbkin

Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin?
Here I am, here I am!
How are you today, sir?
Very well I say, sir.
Run away, run away.

Just a little while ago I looked down at Ellie and she was sucking on her thumb. I haven't seen her do that before. Whole fist, yes, lots of fun to gnaw. Thumb only is a new one. Not sure if my friend introduced her to it earlier tonight - she mentioned that she introduced her kids to their thumbs rather than waiting for them to discover it on their own. Coincidence?? Either way, I'm well pleased.

I was surprised when the Thumbkin song popped into my head, though. That's one of those songs that I wonder if everyone knows, or was it one of the random, esoteric songs my mom taught me to keep me occupied? There are accompanying hand movements, you see, and anything that even remotely involves characterization - even just personifying one's thumbs - has always been a big hit with me. I vaguely remember wondering as a kid what the thumb was afraid of, that it was running away.

We went to my writing improv group tonight. It was my first time back since Ellie was born, and it was so fun. It's really nice to feel like I don't have to give up the things I enjoy in order to be a parent. She can just do them all with me! Of course, Little Miss Sleep-Through-Everything was wiiide awake during most of our meeting. But it was fine. I'd nursed her on the right side before we went, so I could nurse her on the left side during improv if she got hungry (and of course she did) and I could still write with my right hand. 'Cause I'm all planning ahead like that. (Mom tip #5: plan ahead like that. Also, learn to eat with your left hand.)