Thursday Highlights 3/31/11

Molly Toddler was running around yelling: "I am WIN! I am WIN!". Upon further investigation, she was helping Pinkalicious play soccer. Apparently, she scored a goal and Molly was helping her celebrate.

A song for me, by Molly:

Your boooooow matches your shirt, shirt, shirt!

And your haaaaaiiiir matches your... other shirt (she meant undershirt)

You have soooo many things that match, match, match!

Molly walked into the kitchen after I cleaned.

Molly: Wow! It smells nice in here. Like... sweet potatoes!

Me: Sweet potatoes?

Molly: Yes. Sweet potatoes. I'm recognizing what's that smell.

Well kiddo, +2 for using the word "recognizing" but -1 for the grammar.

Molly: Mommy, I need you to move the (baby) gate.

Me: Ok, I'll be there in a sec.

Molly starts "snapping" her fingers (she's getting pretty close)

Me: What are you doing?

Molly: I'm snapping my fingers so you will open the gate faster.

Um... how about no?

Wednesday Highlights 3/30/11

I let Molly Toddler wear my pink flower hair clip this morning. When we got to our play-date, I realized she was no longer wearing it and must have left it at the consignment store we visited beforehand. This necessitated a second trip to said store. When we walked in, I asked her to please try to find it. She went straight to a little girl size amoire, opened the drawer and pulled out my clip. Clearly, she'd put it in a safe place for later :-)

Molly was inspecting a new kid proof bowl when she got very excited.

Molly: It looks like a planet!

Me: A planet!

Molly: Yes! Like in outer space! A planet wearing rings!

We were listening to the radio in the car...

Molly: Who is singing that song?

Me: I don't know...

Molly: Oh! It's my "twenty-old" sister singing that song!

Then, when a guy started singing...

Molly: Oh! That's my brother Michael!

Molly was trying to play a game on the iPad, but she was getting quite frustrated becuase she couldn't hear it.

Molly: Turn up the "Vah-dee-in".

Me: Excuse me?

Molly: Will you please turn up the "Vah-dee-in"?

Me: Do you mean Volume?

Molly: Yes. Vol-ah-ume.

I think I like "Vah-dee-in" better...

Daddy Toddler was showing Lucy a family picture (taken when I was pregnant).

Lucy (Pointing at DT): DaDa!

DT: That's right! And who's this? (pointing at Molly)

Lucy: Badee!

DT: What?

Lucy (carefully puts hands together and rocks her arms): Bay-bee! Bay-bee! Bay-bee!

She was "singing" the theme from Baby Signing Time.

Monday Highlights 3/28/11

I was sweeping up the many thrown pieces of Lucy Toddler's lunch while she was trying to get into the pantry and then chasing around the pile of swept stuff.

Molly (in a goofy deep voice): Oh... I think I want to come get in this cupboard!

Me: What?

Molly: I'm pretending Lucy can talk and saying what she would say.

Me: Oh- that's pretty silly and fun!

Molly (pretending to be Lucy): Ooooo!!! Look at this pile of apples and cereal! I want to eat it!

Anytime Lucy does something that displeases Molly, she begins her reprimand with "Lucy Florence SULLIVAN!'. It's hilarious...

Saturday and Sunday Highlights

Last night, Molly Toddler told a whopper. I'd painted her finger nails earlier in the day, and she had clearly chewed the polish off several fingers.

Molly: Oh no Mommy! I don't have pink on one... two... three fingers!

Me: Ohhh... I think maybe you bit your nails and it came off.

Molly: Um... no. It MELTED off! That's what happened to them!

Me (sternly): No, it didn't. I know you chewed it because you had pink pieces on your teeth when I picked you up from Grandma and Papa's house. Molly, you need to tell me the truth. Did you chew your nails?

Molly (in a serious hushed whisper): I think.... that... a FOX came and CHEWED IT OFF! Do you want me to tell you the story about the fox and his mommy?

I changed Molly into play clothes after church today. Her sarcastic response?

Molly: A princess shirt? Lovely...

We had a wonderful visit with a wonderful friend the last few days. She is already sorely missed!

Molly: I'm just so sad about Auntie Jen.

Me: Why?

Molly: Becuase I miss her. And I love her so much and she loves me so much. And I want to hug and kiss her all the time!

I've been trying to find a push toy that would move at an appropriate speed for Lucy Toddler. This evening, she took matters into her own hands.

Blast from the Past: Molly names Shapes and ABCs

I was looking through some old videos and found these. They were taken about two weeks before Molly Toddler turned 2. She is so small and so smart! (Of course, I'm not prejudiced at all ;-)

Molly identifies shapes:

Here, Molly identifies all her ABCs, with few little sign reminders from me. She actually knew all her letters at 15 months, but mostly just the signs. We had no idea she knew them, and she just started picking up letters in the bathtub and naming them! She learned them from watching the Signing Time ABC video.

Lucy's first yogurt

It's official: the whole Toddler Family loves cultured yogurt. Though Lucy wasn't sure at first...

She soon figured out how delicious it is!

Lucy Steps Out

Lucy Toddler is now a professional puller-upper! She really figured it out Friday, and we found her standing up holding onto items all over the house. This is a huge step and we are ridiculously happy for and proud of her. She's such a hard worker.

Today we got a video of her taking a few wobbly steps while holding onto my hands. She did this on Thursday for the first time, but today we captured it on video!

Not to be outdone, while Lucy was showing off her walking skills for the camera, Molly was doing this:

Thursday and Friday Highlights 3/25/11

Molly Toddler came to one of Lucy's therapy sessions for the first time yesterday. The staff was amused :-)

Therapist: What's your favorite show?

Molly: Kipper!

Therapist: Oh, who is Kipper?

Molly: Um, he's just a dog...

Therapist: Does he have adventures? Does he fly to the moon?

Molly: No, he just pretends to fly to the moon.

Molly: Why is it dark at nighttime?

Me: Because the sun goes to sleep.

Molly: Um, no mommy, the sun goes down.

We were listening to Signing Time in the car and a song came on that talked about brushing and flossing.

Molly: I'm going to brush my bear's teeth... On no, now he's loss-ing his teeth! My poor bear "loss"-ed his teeth. They are so lost!

It hurt my heart to correct her... so cute!

Molly (holding a little American flag): Look Mommy! I'm "wagging" my flag like a puppy's tail!

Me: you mean you're waving the flag?

Molly: Yes... and also wagging.

Lucy Toddler loves to play the "thank you" game. Here's a peek :-)

Wednesday Highlights 3/23/11

I put a halter dress on Molly this morning and she got quite upset.

Molly: No Mommy! I want one with leaves!

Me: But it does have flowers and leaves on it sweetie.

Molly: No, leaves....

Me:... you mean sleeves?

Molly: Yes!

Lucy stood with me holding only her hands today, and when I pulled back she dragged her feet towards me a little bit. Progress :-)

Molly: One, Two, Free, Thor, five, six...

She can make both sounds, but they are apparently interchangeable :-)

"Don't be Sad GOGOGO" and "It's Fun to be a Little Girl"

The choreography to this one is rather like power walking.

This dance is a little more "modern".

Lucy Belly Laughting

This should brighten your day :-)

Tuesday Highlights 3/22/11

Today was a momentous day. At 13 months, 3 days Lucy pulled up for the first time.

This video was the second time she ever did it! :-)

Go Lucy!

Toddler Trouble: Mother's Day (Acting) Out

Molly Toddler got sent to the principal's office today.

Well, not technically the principal's office. I arrived an hour and a half early today to pick up my toddlers, when I noticed a little yellow chair outside the door of Molly's classroom. My heart sank- I knew it was for my child. I was right. Apparently Molly refused to read or play quietly during nap-time. Her teacher put her in the chair outside, at which point she had a throw-down and tried to get back in. Then she said she was acting like a baby and needed to go play in the baby room. She was eventually sent to the office to sit because she was being so disruptive. When I arrived she was happily chatting with of the adult staff members.

Molly doesn't nap every day, and has napped at MDO a grand total of two times in the last two years. Acting out during nap-time is not acceptable, but possibly understandable. (What's an active 3 year old gonna to do for an hour while everyone else sleeps?) When I asked if the problems started at nap-time the teacher said Molly had acted like that all day. She yelled, hit, and threw toys. She refused to listen and was sassy to the teacher.

Her behavior at MDO has been on the decline for about a month now. I have absolutely no idea what is causing it. I was in tears today as we were leaving because I am at such a loss. It's impossible for me to control her behavior when I'm not there. I'm not sure how much if it is lack of classroom control on the teacher's part, and how much if it is her being naughty.

So, I'm asking you: do you have any advice? What can I do to turn this around? PLEASE HELP!

Monday Highlights 3/21/11

Yesterday, Molly asked if we could go to the zoo. I told her that we could go to the pet store today and pretend it was a zoo.

Molly: The pet store? I will get to pet ALL the animals!

Me: Well, we call look at all the animals, but we don't touch.

Molly: But it's the pet store. I will pet them all. And I will tickle them and they will laugh to me. And I will laugh to them!

Me: You mean laugh at them?

Molly: Yes! We will have a birthday party!

When we went to the store today, she was so good :-) She was incredibly excited and loud but didn't touch anything.

There were 2 dogs running around...

Molly: Do you see the two dogs. One is black and one is white... Just like the ones at HOME! They match Mommy! They are the SAME!

Not sure why this was so exciting, but it was. :-)

Lucy was absolutely fascinated by all the animals. I'm hoping the trip sparked an interest in learning what they are. Molly was about Lucy's age when she started identifying animals, and Lucy already says "dog".

I leave you with this picture. I think the appropriateness and hilarity of the name was lost on Molly...

Sunday Highlights 3/20/11

I sneezed several times while changing Lucy. When I stopped, she grinned and signed "more".

Me: Do you want to come to the store with me?

Molly: Um... instead of the store, can we go to the zoo?!

I feel that was a reasonable request- we're planning her first trip :-)

Molly: I think that yesterday, germs came in a door to my body and made my ears hurt.

Molly: Oh, that's the sound I heard last night! That's what was making that sound!

Me: What was?

Molly: A bee! That's what it was! Mommy, you need to say "Bee-a-high"

Me: What?

Molly: Bee-a-high!

Me: Why do I need to say that?

Molly: Because I'm going to help the little King-a-Joo!

I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about here... We think it was from Go Diego Go:-)

Me (singing): I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it...

Molly: And I just can BITE it!

Saturday Highlights 3/19/11

Sorry about the belated post! Yesterday was crazy!

Molly and I were going through some Brain Quest flash cards, when they asked what part was missing from a pair of glasses (it was the left side of the frame, specifically the part that hooks around the ears). Molly thought about it and said "the angle is missing".

Molly was furiously "writing" on a Post-It note.

ME: What are you doing?

Molly: I'm writing a question!

Me: A question!

Molly: Yes. See this? It's a question. It means I don't want any boys or girls here. Not Jaiden of Benny or anyone right now!

Molly: Here's some cheese- it's coming right out! (instead of right up...)

Before bedtime Molly composed the following song:

The bunny, the bunny, the bunny in the hat

It's sooooooo funny!

When it comes oooooouuuut

It's sooooooo magic!

I really wish I'd gotten it on camera because it was hilarious!

Friday Highlights 3/18/11

Molly Toddler woke me up this morning by crawling into my bed while holding a box of tangram puzzles. She was disappointed when I told her she'd have to play with them at the kitchen table...

Molly and I have conducted several "experiments" involving using primary colors to make other colors. This morning, she progressed to more advanced color combination questions:

Molly: What happens when you add purple and blue?

Me: Well you get a more blue-y purple...

Molly: What happens when you add orange and blue?

Me: You get brown.

Molly: Um... That's kind of silly... (tries it) OH! Mommy it DOES make brown!

Molly showed me a finished drawing

Me: Oh Molly, it's so beautiful. You did such a good job on it!

Molly: But Mommy, this hand is not perfect "enouth".

My 3 year old perfectionist :-p

Toddlers are loud. I was unloading the dishwasher and Lucy scooted up to "help". While my back was turned, she began to systematically unload the utensils, licking each one before she threw in on the floor. Not to be outdone, Molly grabbed a metal pie server and began repeatedly dropping it on the floor, saying "Listen! It sounds like a BELL!".

Lucy was playing in the laundry room this afternoon while I sorted clothes. She began scooting away, stopped, looked at me and said "Bye-Bye"! As I left the house this evening, Lucy said "Bye Bye Mama". I melted into a Mommy puddle of love :-)

Thursday Highlights 3/17/11

Molly tells a bedtime story (You will want to turn your volume way up...):

Wednesday Highlights 3/16/11

Toddlers are very literal creatures. This can lead to amusing situations.

Molly Toddler was two and happily eating a big plate of broccoli (yes, my child is weird ;-). She got it all over her hands and started fussing for me to clean it off. I told her that if she'd just use her fork it wouldn't be a problem. She gave me a 13-year-old worthy "Mom you're crazy" look, and began scraping the food off of her hand using the fork.

Tonight, we were playing "Sack of Potatoes" with Molly. It was all fun and games until she got too close to the oven (I was making baked potatoes). She began screaming and crying. When asked why she said "PLEASE DON'T PUT ME IN THE OVEN! IT'S TOO HOT FOR ME!".

Is it bad that (once I calmed her down) my first thought was "Oh please don't say something about being put in the oven to your Mother's Day Out teacher tomorrow"?

Toddler Mommy Moment: Lost Wedding Ring

I lost my wedding ring this morning.

I grabbed my socks, shoes, shirt, and rings to go put them on in the living where I could monitor the youngest Toddlers.

Somehow, my ring disappeared between the nightstand and the couch. It was no longer in my hand. I spent 5 minutes retracing my steps to no avail.

This happens all to often.

Call it Mommy Brain or ADHD- I forget stuff constantly. It's never important, static things like tutoring or doctor appointments. I don't forget to feed my children or gas the car. I do forget where I put my keys, purse, and phone.

The locations of these items (especially my phone) are in frequent flux, and my brain just does not keep track of them. Daddy Toddler calls my phone about every other day so I can find it. I am not entirely to blame for this though- Molly often "borrows" my phone and puts it in fascinating places.

This morning I let Molly play angry birds on my phone while I grabbed an extra 10 minutes of shut eye. When I could delay getting up no longer...

Me: Ok sweetie, where's my phone?

Molly: I DON'T KNOW!

Me: What do you mean?

Molly: I think it's lost!

Me: Did you look on the floor?

Molly: It's not there. I gave it to my brother Michael. I think he hid it!

Daddy Toddler called the phone and it was stashed in the bed covers. Sigh.

When Molly Toddler was about 2 1/2, we were about to walk out the door to run some errands when she stopped in her tracks.

Molly: On no Mommy!

Me: What's wrong sweetie?

Molly: I can't find my phone! It's lost!

Me (trying not to crack up): Well, lets look for it in the kitchen.

We went to her play kitchen and I found a play phone.

Molly: There it is. Ok, we can go now!

The wedding ring story has a happy ending. After giving up after 5 minutes because I had to attend to a tiny Toddler tantrum (Lucy wanted more beans), I felt something odd in my shoe.

Ah, Mommy Moments :-) Have you had one lately?

Tuesday Highlights 3/15/11

Today was crazy busy, so I don't have a list of quotes or hilarious stories. Instead, I give you an original song, performed by Molly Toddler moments before bedtime this evening. Presenting "The Lamp Song: A Sonata in 3 Movements:

Monday Highlights 3/14/11

I made homemade black eyed peas on Friday. I was a little nervous because it was my first time using non-canned beans (Here's a link to the recipe - I didn't use the tomatoes and would recommend using about 2/3 of the water they suggested). They were a hit here at the Toddler house, especially with the youngest Toddler. Lucy is still enjoying them several days later!

Lucy is really starting to initiate conversation. This afternoon, instead of screaming bloody murder when she wanted more food in her high chair, I heard a sweet little voice say "ah-duh ah-duh" (All done). She was in there signing all done and smearing residual bean mess all over herself. I asked her if she wanted more and she said and signed "breh breh BREH" (bread). I love the early communication that signing with your baby makes possible. Asking instead of squealing is the best :-)

Molly Toddler demonstrated her tantrum skills for much of the day, so I don't have any endearing quotes. I'm not sure what's going on, but hopefully she'll be back to her sweet self tomorrow.

Life With a Toddler Twist

Your perspective changes when you are taming toddlers.

You anticipate is Spring Leap instead of Fall Back. (The Toddler girls slept until almost 8:00 this morning. It was beautiful).

"Me time" consists of going to the grocery store alone or perhaps going to your favorite clothing store and buying something cute... for the kids.

You use the buggy at Target differently:

You have a sous chef:

When you're taming toddlers, everyday objects have new uses.

Lucy played in the laundry room with a (clean) flip flop and a (cold and unplugged) iron for about 15 minutes

Molly "fished" with her baby blanket for about 30 minutes:

What's the funniest or most original thing you've seen a toddler doing lately?

Sunday Highlights 3/13/2011

Today in the church nursery, Lucy grabbed the Lego table and pulled herself from sitting on my lap to standing. It was a big deal :-)

This afternoon, Molly and I planted a window sill herb garden and some flower bed lilies. Here are just a few gems from our time outside:

I pulled some old tools out of the garage.

Molly: Oh Mommy... Thank you so much for my wonderful new tools! I'm going to dig and dig and DIG!

After a while, we found an earthworm and I explained what it was and how they help our garden grow.

Molly: Next time I will find a pink worm!

Me: Sweetie, earth worms are usually brown, not pink.

Molly: Then I will find a red and blue one!

I realized after a moment that she was looking for sour gummy worms in the dirt...

A few more digs and I found an evil grub worm. Molly was curious about my reaction.

Molly: Mommy, is that a bad worm?

Me: Well, he wants to eat our flowers so he has to go!

Molly: Oh... But what is his name?!

Me: He's a grub worm.

Molly: Did he have bad manners?

Molly: I got some mail! It's 45 morning. I've got some 45 morning for my yellow house!

Reading a some of the "mail"...

Molly: Thank you for Daddy and Mommy and Matthew and Uncle Ryan and Uncle Ryan's sick and coughs a lot. And thank you for God and Jaiden.

Saturday Highlights 3/12/11

I let Molly Toddler try on some roller skates at a garage sale today because she has expressed great interest. She spent about 30 seconds in them and then looked at me with a grave expression.

Molly: Mommy, I don't want these skates. They are just too slippery!

Seriously? What did you expect kiddo? :-)

Me: We're going to go on a treasure hunt!

Molly: Treasure!? My piggy bank can be some treasure!

And later...

Molly: Mommy I want my piggy bank so I can go dig for some very treasure!

Molly was singing the ABCs and said "LMNO-Pay" several times. Thinking she was just being silly (and sounding rather southern) I corrected her.

Me: Molly, it's L-M-N-O-Pee not "Pay".

Molly (sighs and gives me an exacerbated look): No mommy, I'm saying it in Spanish. The letter P is "pay" in Spanish!

Touche...

I was telling Molly all the things she needed to clean...

Molly (Sigh): Wow... I have so many works to do.

Me: You mean, so much work to do?

Molly: Yes. I have so much works to clean!

My favorte quote of the day comes from Daddy Toddler.

Me: I love my southern gentleman husband.

Daddy: I love my wild alaska woman who would rather be an ice road trucker than a pageant queen.

It's totally true :-)

Friday Highlights 3/11/11

Molly: Did you know that my brother went to holidays?

Molly: Mom! The Big bad wolf is here! He's going to huff and puff and blow this house down! And then we'll have no house! And we'll have to live in the outside!

Lucy is really getting into the "1-2-3 Wheee!" game. I walked into her room after nap-time, and she was playing it all by herself :-)

In this clip, listen for Mama, dada, bear, ball, what's that, uhoh, hello, and byebye! (And of course, some more 1-2-3 Wheee!)

My sweet little hard worker

At 11 months, Lucy Toddler could not roll from back to front, support herself on her hands and knees, or bear weight in her legs. If you tried to help her stand up, she would point both legs out parallel to the ground and shriek. The few times I managed to get her to "stand", her knees and ankles hyper-extended strangely.

We took her to the pediatrician, who said she has low muscle tone and hyper-flexibility of the hips, knees, and ankles (he said she has a range of motion in her hips you'd expect to find in a baby 6+ months younger). Her x-rays were normal, so he prescribed physical therapy to and told us to apply to Shriner's Hospital just in case.

Lucy has been in physical therapy twice a week for about 6 weeks. She can now roll from back to front, get into a sitting position independently, support her weight while on her hands and knees, and stand while leaning on something.

The physical therapist thinks there is something wrong with her right hip, because when she army crawls she drags that leg. Because of this tendency, she will probably never "crawl" (which is not a big deal- tons of kids skip that step). We're focusing on standing and walking at this point, and hopefully the doctors at Shriner's will say everything is fine.

Last week, she brought one of her feet forward for the first time while in a walker. It was more like an assisted drag, but her body is learning how to go through the motions (which is the first step). We're still far away from being able to stand or walk independently, and that's ok. I am not in a rush for my baby to be running all over the house. It's just good to know that she's going to be able to do it some day.

Leaving Her Mark

The Toddler girls leave telltale trails all over the house.

I found a small pink mark in the hallway. I asked Molly what it was, and she told me playdoh. I gave her a wipe to clean it up. It wasn't: it was left over food coloring.

I walked into the bathroom this morning to find this:

Molly the Jester

Molly Toddler just rattled off the following (original??) jokes. Enjoy!

Molly: Why do froggies sit on balls?

Me: Why?

Molly: Because they don't have any chairs!

Molly: Why do froggies walk on balls?

Me: Why?

Molly: Because they don't have any roads!

Molly: Why do froggies snuggle with coats in their beds?

Me: Why?

Molly: Because they don't have any blankets!

Molly: Why do froggies wash their feet with soap and water?

Me: Why?

Molly: Because they don't have any hands!

Thursday Highlights 3/10/11

Me: Molly, I will love you forever and always.

Molly: I will love you always too!

Me: Aww, thank you sweetie!

Molly (shaking with excitement): Mommy! Always rhymes with hallways! They sound the same!

Molly: I want to water my flowers! And dig them with my rake!

Me: Please don't dig, that will kill them. Just water them.

Molly: I want to water ALL the thirsty plants!

(several minutes later)

Me: Molly, you need to go get your watering can and come inside.

Molly: Mom, stop talking. That's enough.

Oh the sass... can't wait until she's a teenager :-\

Molly: Where's my bear? I can't find him. He was all the way from California!

I have absolutely no idea where she learned that state...

Me: Molly, I just love your imagination.

Molly (makes a hilarious frowny face and says in a fake deep voice): I don't have a 'magination.

Molly: My orange ball is not bouncing very high because it doesn't have a lot of En-jer-gy. (throws it up high). Now it has a LOT of en-jeri-gy!

Wednesday Highlights 3/9/11

Last night, Molly Toddler and I made cookies. This morning, when she didn't see them on the counter she said "Mommy! Where are the cookies? I think maybe the penguins ate them like they ate my purple lollipop!".

Molly: Is it just a Mommy & Molly day?

Me: No, it's a Mommy, Molly, and Lucy day :-)

Molly: Um... no, I think it can just be a Mommy and Molly day.

Me: We can't leave Lucy here alone. She would get lonely!

Molly: No, Lucy can stay here. She won't even cry!

Right on cue, Lucy began crying from Molly's room... Molly rushed in to comfort and entertain. :-)

Molly is singing "Oh Caravell, oh Caravell" to a tune that is a hybrid of Oh Christmas Tree and Jingle bells. According to her, she was singing about being careful...

Molly: I want to make a pretend snow angel!

Me: Ok...

Molly (stands with her arms out and begins to fall backwards towards the hard floor): I'm falling!

Me: Nooooooo! When we're pretending, we lie down carefully and then make a snow angel!

Me: Are you cool like Uncle Ryan

Molly: Um... I don't want to be hot, so I'm cool!

Me: Molly do you want a grilled cheese sandwich?

Molly: Yes! I want a girl cheese sandwich!

Tuesday Highlights 3/8/11

Lucy Toddler "stood" with minimal help from the therapist today. Her motivation?

Pavlovian, yes?

I love watching Molly and Lucy interact. Lucy was trying to fall asleep in the car on the way home from Mother's day out. Molly knows I don't want Lucy to fall asleep until we get home, so she was helping me. In addition to singing she talked to Lucy for about 10 minutes. Some highlights:

• I see those toofers. Look at all those cute toofers! Lucy, do you see my toofers?!
• I'm gonna tickle your toes... I'm gonna get you!
• Lucy, don't close your eyes! LOOK AT ME!!!

Tonight our baby sitter taught Lucy a new game. I present, Lucy counting! (Or pretending to anyway ;-)

And some more :-)

*Update*

Me: Go get your baby blanket

Molly: It's not called a baby blanket. It's a "nah-nah".

Me: A what?

Molly: A nah-nah. That's what Kent calls it.

Me: Is Kent a boy at school?

Molly: Yes. And he wants his nah-nah aaaaaaaall the time!

Me: That's the silliest thing I ever heard.

Molly: Yeah, me too.

Monday Highlights 3/7/11

Molly loves to "snuggle buggle" in the morning. Who wouldn't want to snuggle that face?

Molly: I'm going to wash the pink chalk of my hands

Me: That sounds like a plan

Molly: That's what my play-un is!

I cannot figure out where Molly is picking up a southern accent. I don't have one, Daddy Toddler's is mild, and her Mother's Day Out teacher is British.

At the end of Lucy's 1 year check up today, a nurse came in and told the doctor he was needed in another room. A few seconds later, something quite loud and traumatic sounding happened one of the other rooms...

Molly: What is going on in there? Why is that boy yelling?

Me: I don't know sweetie.

Molly: He's having very bad manners.

Me: Well, why might a little boy have bad manners at the doctor's office?

Molly (pondering): I think maaaaybe he is getting a shot.

Me: Well, you sometimes have bad manners when you get a shot, so you might be right.

I later found out that the kid was getting staples removed from his head. I'd yell too...

There is nothing quite like watching your child fall in love with one of your favorite movies. When we got home from Lucy's appt, Molly said: I just want to have some quiet time. I want to watch Mary Poppins and drink some juice. How can I say no?

Sunday Highlights 3/6/10

Molly picked up a novel and asked if she could read it.

Me: Sure sweetie, but it doesn't have any pictures.

Molly: That's ok. I'm looking for the page that says "Fail". Hm... it starts with an "f". Fail... Fail... Fail... Oh! There it is! I found the "fail" mommy!

When Daddy Toddler walked into the house, Lucy looked at him and smiled a huge smile. She said "Hello!", waved, and yelled "DADA DADA". He's whipped ;-)

I was tucking Molly into bed tonight and she sweetly reached up and stroked my hair. "Mommy, I think your hair is thick. And it smells like chocolate pudding!". I think I'll take this as a complement :-)

Just in case you think my child is never ridiculous, observe the picture on the right. When I was singing to Molly before bedtime she kept going "Ahhhh Laaaa" in a loud toneless fashion and making this face -->

She likes to sing along even when it's a song she's never heard before. Silly girl :-)

Too big for naps?

This is what happens when your 3 year old decides she's too big to take a nap:

Outside of napping in the car and on airplanes, this was the FIRST time she'd ever slept somewhere besides her bed. It was so stinking cute!

Toddler Wisdom: Beautiful Weeds

It is completely unreasonable of our yard to start growing weeds in mid-February. Our lawn mower broke last year, and we pay to have someone cut the lawn (which is worth every penny as it eliminates yard-work as a source of marital tension :-). The problem is that I asked to have it cut a week ago and it's still not done. This is stressing me out, because we are now semi-finalists in the neighborhood game of "ugly-yard-chicken". I don't want to win this game.

Anyway, I was letting the girls enjoy some spring air and trying not to look at the foot high patch of weeds. Then, Molly let out a squeal of delight. "Mommy!!!Look at these BEAUTIFUL purple flowers. I'm going to pick some for you to put in a vase!" She was genuinely delighted with and fascinated by the unsightly clump of weeds in the yard.

I get so busy living and doing what I want on my schedule that life's little annoyances make me unnecessarily upset. The train delay is more time to talk to and sing with my girls in the car. The early wake-up time means extra cuddle time. The tutoring student that canceled with no notice allows me to take an hour to cook and eat with my family. Sometimes I have to stop and remember that the weeds are beautiful.

Sorry to get all philosophical. It was just one of those moments where you realize you're going about things with the wrong attitude and I wanted to share.

Saturday Highlights 3/5/11

This morning, Molly Toddler was looking at my arm and said:

Molly: See that nipple on your arm? It's making you stinky!

Me: Sweetie, that's not a nipple. That's a mole.

Molly: Oh, well that mole is making you very stinky.

Me: I just showered- I'm not stinky!

Molly (sniffs me skeptically): Well, I think your mole is stinky.

Today, Molly took a trip to the beach. In our living room :-)

Molly: This is a shell, it has a scary crab. I'm so very scared.

Me: I think it's a friendly crab.

Molly (standing on a newspaper, and crinkling it with her feet): This sand is very cold!

Me: Well, lets go put some clothes on.

Molly: No mommy, we don't wear clothes at the beach

Me: You wear a bathing suit at the beach.

Molly: But we don't wear clothes in the water!

I'm not sure I quite approve of her kind of beach...

Molly found some new toothbrushes I got at the store today.

Molly: Look at that brand new toothbrush daddy!

Daddy: Sweetie you don't need a new toothbrush

Molly: But Daddy... it's just ADORABLE!

Toddler Translations: Vaccinations

I taught Molly toddler the word syringe the other day: both girls have been taking a lot of medicine and I use the little syringe dispensers. She was calling them "shots" and using the shot from her toy medical kit to give her toys medicine. I felt the need to correct her since it's just unsettling to see toys getting shots in their mouths.

Today, I came across Molly poking a toy frog with the av jack end of some head phones.

Me: What are you doing?

Molly: I'm just giving this froggy a vaccination.

Me: Really... What's a vaccination?

Molly: It's when you put something in your body. Some medicine to make you feel better.

I'm just impressed she knew the word.

Friday Highlights 3/4/11

The Toddler girls were on a roll today.

12 month old Lucy told me "No" for the first time today. She was being extremely uncooperative while being changed and I told her to stop and let me put her diaper on. She looked at me and yelled "NO" while shaking her head back and forth. Stinker ;-)

Molly was "helping" me sort laundry when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, a pained and concerned expression on her face.

Molly: Oh no mommy... Santa forgot to bring me roller skates!

She had asked for Hello Kitty roller skates for Christmas but was told that she was too little. Considering the frequency with which she falls down for no reason at all, the addition of wheels was frightening :-p

The toddler girls and I drove to Ruston today to pick up my very sick brother and take him to the doctor. Molly was quite worried.

Molly: Why is uncle Ryan sick?

Me: Because he got your sick germs last week.

Molly: But I'm not sick, I'm all better now!

Me: That's true. That's why we're taking Uncle Ryan to the doctor. We want him to be all better too!

Molly: I'm healthy mom. I'm as healthy as can be!

I let Molly open some junk mail. She took out a piece of paper and excitedly said: "Look mom, it's the instructions!"

Meet Susie

I'm not sure if she will be permanent, but we welcomed another addition to the family last night.

Molly: Did you know I have a big sister?

Me: Really? What's her name?

Molly: Her name is Susie.

Me: Oh, what does she look like?

Molly: She looks like my teacher.

Me How old is she?

Molly: She and my brother Michael are both 3 years old. (apparently I was carrying triplets)

Me: What happens when you turn 4?

Molly: They will be young! When I'm four, they will be young because they will be 3 and I will be 4.

I love how she is both so wrong, and amazingly insightful here.

Toddlers in their own words

Tonight, the girls are going to speak for themselves. Please enjoy our dinner conversation :-)

Lucy shakes her head and says cookie:

Molly tells a story:

Molly reads a Valentine from Michael

Michael is still Molly's constant companion. We just had the following exchange:

Molly: I just found a Valentine's day card!

Me: Really?

Molly: Yep it's from my brother Michael

Me: What does it say?

Molly: Dear Molly and Jesus,

Happy birthday to you. Jesus's birthday is almost to the school!

Love Michael

The actual "letter" was much longer. She read for about 5 minutes. When I asked her to repeat it, the above is what she told me.

Additional Analogies

I've been trying harder analogies with Molly. She doesn't always quite get them, but her guesses are great :-)

Me: Eye is to see as ear is to...?

Molly: Hear!

Me: Flower is grass as cloud is to...?

Molly: Rain?

Me: noo...

Molly: Sky!

Me: Top is to shirt as bottom is to...?

Molly: PANTIES!

I was going for pants, but that'll work.

Me: Leaf is to tree as petal is to...?

Molly: Bicycle!

That last one is my favorite. Ever.

She blinded me with... analogies!

I consider running errands to be a good time to engage my captive audience in stimulating conversation. Molly Toddler and I talk about phonics, rhyming, science, and whatever else I can think of.

Tuesday morning, Molly and I were talking about analogies. First, I familiarized her with the wording of an analogy:

Me: We put a glove on a hand, but what do we put a shoe on?

Molly: A foot!

Me: Great! So Glove is to hand as shoe is to...?

Molly: Foot!

After a couple more examples like this, she began rattling off answers like an AP English student. (well, maybe not quite. But she's 3 ;-)

Me: Sky is to blue as grass is to...?

Molly: Green!!!

Me: Boat is to water as airplane is to...?"

Molly: Sky!!!

Me: Molly, "Ah" is to A as, "Ffff" is to...?

Molly: "F"!!!

Me: "A" is to "B" as"1" is to...?

Molly: "2"!!!

This whole thing kind of blew my mind. In a good way :-)

She quickly got bored of this, and wanted to "tell (me) some questions".

Molly: Mommy, where do we put our carseat? Do we put it in the grass?

Me: no...

Molly: Do we put it in the water?

Me: no...

Molly: Do we put it in the car?

Me: Yes!

Molly: Good job Mommy! Now will you tell me a bedtime story???

I love that girl :-)

Edit:

Here are some more!

It just creeps me out...

I really don't like the commercials in between shows on Nick Jr. We mostly stick to PBS and videos, especially since Molly is starting to clue in to advertising.

My least favorite product right now is this:

Mostly because it reminds me entirely too much of this:

::shiver::

Tuesday & Wednesday Highlights 3/3/11

Molly: Mommy, my dress is so "hasser"

Me: What?

Molly: Hasser! Like daddy is hasser.

Me: Do you mean handsome?

Molly: Yes! My dress is sooooo handsome!

Me: I'm making you some yummy eggs for breakfast!

Molly: EEEEW! I don't like eggs!

Me: Well, how about some green eggs?

Molly: YES! I love green eggs! Blue paint (food coloring) plus yellow eggs make GREEN EGGS AND HAM!

Molly: Mommy, I want some blue play-doh. Not the new stuff. It's gross. Just the "re-guh-ler" kind.

Me: You mean the re-gu-lar kind?

Molly: Yes, "re-gu-lu-ler"

(I got her the kind she wanted)

Molly: Yeah! THAT'S what I'm talking about!

I burped, and Molly gave me a shocked and affronted look.

Molly: Excuse you Mommy!

Me: Oh, yes. Excuse me!

Molly: That's what we need to say when we burp mommy. And also when we toot.

Molly is singing a mash-up of "Doe a Deer" and "The Ants go Marching". It's epic :-p

Molly: I dreamed about swimming!

Me: That's nice!

Molly: Yep. When you were a little girl, you used to sleep in my little polka dot bed.

Me: Really?

Molly: Yep, and, you dreamed about swimming too!

Me: Oh really?

Molly: Yep! That's so funny. The funniest of all!

The "winner" of the day:

I was changing Lucy's diaper, and she was attempting a crocodile death roll. I restrained her and...

Me: Look at me Lucy. You need to stop fussing and stay still. I am the mommy, and I will always win.

Molly: Um... I think Lucy is winning that diaper.