So as a quick addition to my post on "the things they say," I wanted to share one from this past weekend. Often on the weekend mornings I make my daughter an extra special breakfast consisting of eggs and toast. She loves it and it really makes the weekend mornings special. This past weekend was special and yet had a side of some humor.
So as I start preparing some delicious eggs for my daughter, I notice that she is in complete awe of me taking the eggs out of the carton. She watches cautiously as I place each egg on the counter. As I begin to crack each egg into a bowl, her eyes widen, mouth opens and she shouts, "Look ma, it's hatching!"
Happy Breakfast!!
Yesterday I performed a virus scan on my computer. Anyone who has ever done one before knows they can take a bit of time. I had other things around the house to do, so I left the computer on the table to complete the scanning. When I returned I noticed things looked different. A step stool??? hmmmmm, the table isn't that tall, so who would need a stool? Oh, and whats that...there is an empty package of fruit snacks right next to the computer. So I ask around....who needed a stool to reach the computer. Who was hungry while they were "computing".... It remains a huge mystery until I question my 3 year old daughter. I asked if she was playing with the computer. She responds with a heavy sigh (as if I am an idiot) and says, "yes, I had to use the computer." ...guess she had to check her email, pay bills, or update her Facebook status???? Mystery solved :)
Either there is a grape thief on the loose, or my little one has a new skill of being able to open the refrigerator.
Not long after this photo was taken, I heard a little voice say, "I am thirsty," followed by the sound of the refrigerator door opening.
Looks like I might need to re-evaluate what goes in the fridge and where to put it.....
I think this is one of those posts I am going to update frequently. At this age, kids really do say the funniest things.
The other day, we visited my grandparent's grave sites. I bring my daughter over, and show her the gravestones. I let her know, that although she never met them, her great grandparents are there. She then says, "oh, hi.....mom, they are very small." Silly girl, didn't realize they weren't the size of the headstones.
When my daughter sees men with chest hair, she asks my why they have grass growing on them.
And more: My daughter somehow got it in her mind that she wanted a baby sister (little does she know they don't just lay there quietly like her baby dolls.) So the other day, she advises me of this request. I tell her, not now, but maybe one day. Her response: "Yes mom, I want one, you have to go cook one," and points to my stomach.
more to come.....
Also, here is my most recent picture. This time I was given a crown for my head....does that make me queen to my princess :)
As a parent, we all can appreciate it when our child is quietly playing in their room, allowing us a chance to take a moment to relax......but then there are the times when you realize things are "too quiet," and something other than "play" must be going on. This was my moment/reality about an hour ago. I was able to take a break from playing and cleaning and enjoy a moment of silence.....until I went to check on my daughter. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and just smiled as if she created a masterpiece.....except this was all over her legs and arms!!!! I breathed a sigh of relief that she was using the "washable markers." That didn't last, because after I put her in the tub, I realized the word "washable" was deceiving. I was frustrated that the marker was so dark on her legs, that it wouldn't wash off....only to have my daughter then look up at me again to ask me if she could now paint. oh boy!!!
My daughter has such amazing love for animals, so much that our family dog often gets lots of hugs and care. She is very attentive to his needs and this is reflected by her constantly filling his dog dish full of food when it is empty and even "sharing" some her snacks. Recently she took this exemplary care to a new level.
The other morning I was in the kitchen cooking my baby girl some breakfast. The dog was outside roaming the backyard. My daughter went outside to check on the dog and see what he was doing. Within one minute, I hear her yelling for me. "Mom, mom.....Max needs a tissue, his nose is running." My daughter frantically runs inside, still yelling at me to get a tissue. After I tell her where she can get a tissue, I go and sneak a peak at the dog. He is sitting by the back door, waiting to come in. His nose was very wet.
After I took a peak at the dog, my daughter runs outside as fast as she can; tissue in hand. A minute later she returns to tell me that she took care of the dog. She appears very proud of her accomplishment, as she is walking around the house trying to show both me and her father the tissue she used to wipe the dog's nose. She continues to march around announcing that the dog is now "much better." I couldn't stop laughing until I realized I have to explain why dogs have wet noses and we do not.....hmmm might take me awhile.
Sunday is Mother's Day! Wishing all of the moms out there the best! We have all experienced our funny moments with our children and cherish them every day. I just received an early Mother's Day gift.... a portrait of myself, created by my favorite artist... my daughter.
Really kind of looks like me don't you think?.....
So in a recent visit to a local pond to feed the ducks, I was able to see how loving and compassionate my daughter is for animals. She was in complete awe of the ducks in the pond and especially the ones walking towards her. It is then we introduce feeding bread to the ducks. After watching our demonstration for oh about 30 seconds, we now hear "I try it, I try it." The bag of bread is immediately torn from my hands and now in the hands of my toddler. Within minutes, the bread is being tossed around, as if in celebration of ducks, who now needed some "confetti."
"Here ducky ducky," I hear my daughter say....(not realizing that they don't respond the same way that dogs do) " Come and get your meal....."
This then continues for the next few minutes until the bread is gone. When the tiny hand reaches in and realizes the bag of bread is empty, my tiny girl frantically searches around.....there has to be something....something to feed the ducks....
She glances down at some cereal (most likely left from the feeders before us)
and shouts out in pure delight "Yay....cereal, the ducks will be so happy."
My daughter, so happy with her recent find,is unaware that the cereal is laying gently on some duck poop.
As the tiny hand reaches down, I urge her not to pick it up. She chooses not to listen and grabs the cereal anyway. She lifts her hand as high as it can go, and thrusts the cereal forward......landing directly on the eye of the poor duck in search of its meal.
Happy feeding duckys! Sorry about that :)
Anyone who lives with a toddler can pretty much agree that privacy was a thing of the past. Those curious little minds of theirs are always wondering what you are doing. Even when you think they aren't listening or watching, somehow they are. This can be demonstrated when you hear them repeat things that may of been said on a phone conversation you are having or had (and you foolishly thought they were preoccupied with toys and television.)
And then there is the special day they gain that oh so wonderful ability to open doors. To me, I personally didn't anticipate that milestone. I was okay with it not happening until, well.....college.
Okay, so now with this new ability, let's think of the moments we are in the bathroom. For a tired parent of a tiny one, sometimes the bathroom becomes your own personal sanctuary as it is (or was) the one place that provided you a quiet moment. It provided a momentary escape.....until now.
So there I was, in the bathroom, taking my moment, and in walks my daughter to ask mommy what she is doing. I simply tell her I am using the bathroom and ask her to close the door so I can have some privacy. So what does she do? She closes the door, just like mommy kindly asked......yet, the only thing is, she closed it with herself still in the bathroom, as if her tiny ears heard me say, "come on in, let's hang out."
So I contemplate the idea of getting into deep lesson of privacy, but honestly, what toddler cares about learning at a time like that; a time where they can join mommy's quiet time. Sure I could have locked the bathroom door to avoid this situation, but the question is do I take my chances of my toddler walking in, or pounding on the door and screaming at me because of pure frustration of not being able to get in?
Looks like I need to re-evaluate my quiet place :)
So recently I came to the conclusion that I don't know anything about ants......Thank goodness my little toddler has taught me proper care and handling of them. Due to the seasonal changes and weather, I have the occasional ant that likes hang out in either my living room, kitchen or bathroom. This recent minor infestation has my daughter going crazy.....Each tiny ant that enters my house gets their own special welcome.
Did you know that by blowing on ants, it actually helps them walk faster; therefore they are able to accomplish more work.
Also, they have amazing hearing, just like dogs. If you call "come here ant," they are sure to respond.
Lastly, by piling mounds of dirt and grass on them, you are actually "feeding" them, not hurting them.
How did I have it wrong all these years????
So at a routine visit to a local pharmacy, my daughter and I enjoy some light shopping. As we are walking the aisles, my daughter shouts, "mom, it's the Curious George song." She exhibits excitement and dances around in the carriage, clapping to the song she recognizes.
As we approach the cash register, my daughter is looking around, trying to pin point where exactly the music is coming from.
She hasn't quite grasped the concept of music playing within a store. So as we are checking out, my daughter continues her frantic hunt to find "monkey George." Unsuccessful in her mission, she comes to the conclusion that somehow this must be controlled by the one person visible to her in the store; the cashier. So as we are leaving, she looks directly at the cashier and shouts, "bye monkey, bye monkey," and waves as fast as her hand would move. The cashier stares back at her, reluctant to wave back unaware she is NOT the monkey, but the one who supplied the music :)
You always read and hear about children 18 months and up, growing some sort of an attachment to an animal or toy. Some may refer to this as their "lovey." Well, my daughter has FIVE (and some extras that are privileged to join the existing group)
As a parent, that means, not only do I have to search for one animal gone missing, I need to search for FIVE....yes I said FIVE.
So every night at bed time, the "fantastic five," as I will call them, must all be present and accounted for. If they are not present for their nightly "roll call," all hell breaks loose, and bed time is immediately at a complete stop until that stuffed animal is found.
Not only must they each be present and accounted for at bed time, but they must be available during the nightly check. By that I mean, once they are stuffed under the covers by my daughter, if she feels the need to take one out, they must be immediately available and ready to play.
As any good parent would, I turn out the lights in hope that the animals are all snug in bed and that is it for the night.....but it doesn't stop there....My daughter can recognize each animal by how they feel (of course they couldn't all be teddy bears) and if one is not near her hand, or decided to get cozy at the foot of the bed....again...all hell breaks loose.
Needless to say, these animals cost me about 20 minutes of my life each night-but as long as my little one is happy and cozy, that is all that counts.
So recently it has occurred to me that there are many other uses for a dog's water bowl, outside of leaving it for the dog, to quench his thirst. Allow me to share:
It makes for a great hand-washing station....Hygiene is important, and having an accessible water station helps.
Cheaper than a water table....water tables are great for sensory experiences, but why spend so much when you have your own at home.
Makes a great pool.....Have any Little People toys or dolls??? maybe they too need to cool down on a hot day!
Not only for dogs.....Sometimes little ones get thirsty too, and well, the mommy service at home is slow....EWWW
Gotta love my baby girl for teaching me all of these :)
So, good old Santa brought my daughter a doctor's/vet kit for Christmas. Immediately she felt empowered. Now able to help those in need.
Fast forward to the other day.......
After I get out of the shower, I notice a huge bruise on my shin (and we can all admit, anyone with kids this age, seems to have a lot of these)
I decide to show my daughter by "boo boo."
As any good doctor would, she immediately scurries off to find her doctor's kit. She races back to me. She is ready to save and rescue. She opens her kit and carefully studies each tool; deciding which one will get the job done.
Out comes the reflex tool (oh boy this can't be good) and BAM, directly onto the bruise on my leg. If she was aiming for the bulls eye....she won! OUCH!!!
So I am fortunate enough to have my daughter potty trained by 2.5 years. There is much satisfaction in not having to continually buy diapers (after all, you are buying something to fill with well....poop.) So, here we are, off for our first road trip after becoming "diaper independent." A trip that should only take 7-8 hours.....just not on that day......
Let's start with the traffic. Sure it was a Friday evening, going thru NYC. How bad can that be? Oh and what, my daughter never mentioned her recent fear of public restrooms....oh boy!
So in an effort to be done with the hellish car ride and get to our destination, lets increase the speed a bit. "Hey wait, I say out loud, what are those blue lights?"
enter a VA police officer.....and now insert the time my daughter says she immediately has to go to the bathroom.
"License and registration sir," the officer says to my husband. Fumbling through the mess of papers that exists in my glove compartment....anxiously trying to put this nightmare ride behind us, I hear a voice from the back "mommy!!!! I have to go poo-pee." The demand gets louder and louder. I glance over at the officer, hoping that he has some sort of compassion to realize what the trip has been like and why we were speeding.
He writes us a ticket......
The voice continues to shout from the back, that poop is urgent!
(luckily the officer chuckles and tells us to appreciate this time in our lives....ok right)
so on we go. Traffic, detours, bathroom issues, and even now a speeding ticket. On we go to find a restroom ASAP. We race through and find a random, sketchy place that allows us to use the bathroom.....and of course, my sweet little toddler then states, "I no have to go." Ugh!
For all of us who have children (especially toddlers) we all understand the amusing (and even sometimes embarrassing) moments that can happen. Each day something new happens and it creates yet another story to my toddler diaries. Each day is a new adventure, and whether I am humiliated or amused by the experience, it will forever be a memory that I have with my child. By sharing our adventures in toddler hood, it will not only help us cope as parents, but help us realize, we are not alone!
