Noise Pollution

Meredith has a new nickname. Up until now they've been largely affectionate; Sweet Pea, Buppity, and even the dubious "Stinky".

Recently I've re-dubbed her "Screech".

There is no other word more accurate for the ear piercing noise she emits when something in her universe is not PRECISELY to her liking. This happens roughly every 5 minutes.

With her lack of verbal ability she has resorted to the one noise guaranteed to set my teeth on edge. She knows what she's about too, as it always gets the immediate attention of everyone within a 5 mile radius.

Our most recent disagreement has been over feeding. Either because I would like her to eat something other than a Cheerio or two at the unreasonable hour of 5:00 pm or when she would like to eat at the perfectly reasonable hour of 2:00 am.

I have grown weary of being the 24 hour all-you-can-eat diner, and she protests this with a 120 decibel scream issued 4 inches from my ear.

Those tampons I have left over from my recent vacation can serve double duty. They make a handy earplug as well as sopping up the bleeding from my ears.