Hair and Make-up with G-Man

I've had the cutest little best buddy to hang out with the past four months or so: my adorable grandson G-Man.  I've been his live-in nanny since early January (along with my husband, when he's not busy flying to far-off lands for his job as an airline pilot)--and I've got to tell you, it's the best gig on the planet for any doting grandmother.  But his mommy is about to become a SAHM; and when that happens, I'm going to become, once again, a SAHG.

We are pretty much joined at the hip, G-Man and I.  Literally.  The little guy rides around on my left hip for a big portion of every day, helping me out as I go about my business.  A few days ago, he sat on the left side of my lap while I ordered a Mother's Day gift for my mom online. I typed away on my laptop, awkwardly and painstakingly, using my right hand only.  While I was otherwise occupied, G-Man decided to play hairdresser.

How did my hair look when he was done with it?  You be the judge.

Actually, it doesn't look that much worse than normal!  (People who know me well are reading this and saying, "Wait.  Isn't that how you always wear your hair?")

I usually bring G-Man along when I do my make-up, too--if he gets too stressed about being left a whole five feet away in his crib, sitting in a cozy pillow nest with his toys, with me calling out "Hey buddy, I'm right here" and singing songs to him.  If that situation makes him feel too abandoned and sad, I bring him along and let him watch.

It was a lot easier to perform tasks such as this when I first got here, and he was a wee sleepy 3-month-old.  Now that he's a squirmy, grabby, 20-pound, almost-7-month-old, it's a little more challenging.

I don't recommend that you try this at home.  It's actually pretty difficult.  Luckily, my left arm muscles have gotten fairly well-developed the past four months, with all this weight training!  And also luckily, my normal make-up routine involves only powdered concealer, bronzer, and blusher, applied in a rather inexact manner.  Because any kind of detailed work around the eyes might be a little too dangerous with this pint-sized cosmetologist around, eager to lend a chubby little hand.

My husband and I are going to be leaving VA a week from tomorrow, heading back to our "real" life in NH.  And I'll tell you, I can hardly imagine what it's going to be like performing all my normal everyday tasks--typing a quick email on my laptop, brushing my teeth, putting on my make-up--without my sweet little cling-on stuck to the left side of my body.  I think my left arm and hip are going to feel like they're on vacation or something.

But I also think it's going to be sort of...lonely.