Adventures in Toddlerhood

Washing your hands...

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:46:12 -0700

So the other day, I had asked Alanna several times to wash her hands, and I don't recall the reason why, but she wasn't doing it. So I became a little irritated and informed that she needed to get in the bathroom and wash her hands...maybe not a sugary sweet request, but not witchy either. Just that I meant business. Sensing my attitude sent her into tears. She wailed as she washed her hands...singing the ABC's as she cried and at the end wailing "rinse."

My gosh, how routinized can you get! I started having Aidan sing the ABC's while he washed his hands because he would give them a light swipe and proclaim cleanliness. I guess I never realized that when he finished, I would say "okay, rinse." Alanna needed no such strategy...she washes her hands like she's scrubbing in for surgery. But she thought it was fun to sing, so she started doing it too. In fact, Emory does it too, and she even says "rinse" when she's done, as I noticed yesterday. The things you have no idea you are doing that your toddlers are picking up on...scary.

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Easter Bunny

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:27:23 -0700

This morning I gave the kids a choice of places we could go for fun, and they chose the mall. So off we went with lunch bags in tow. They were patient while I picked up a few tee-shirts...usually they whine whenever I go into a store, but today they were really cooperative! We were hoping to get some time in the play area, but it was much too crowded for me to feel like I could keep an eye on all three of them at once. So we wandered around the mall looking for baseball caps...Alanna wanted purple, and Aidan wanted orange. I knew there wasn't a chance we'd find either one, but it kept them from being upset about not going to play. Along the way, we passed the Easter Bunny. We were upstairs, and we were looking down on the bunny, who was on the lower level. They just looked and had no interest in seeing the bunny up close. I had no intention of taking them to see him, given our experiences with Santa. A little later, though, Alanna said she wanted to go look at the Easter Bunny...just look. So we went, and she pulled back and cried as we approached his general vicinity. We went around the side, just to look. Aidan's brow showed signs of stress, Emory was very clear that she didn't want to see the Easter Bunny. They wanted to go, but Alanna clung to me and stared at the Easter Bunny. It was kind of like watching people watch a horror movie. She couldn't stop looking at him, even though she was very disturbed by the sight of him. I asked her several times over a period of several minutes if she was ready to go. She repeatedly said "no." The bunny waved at us a few times (no one else was around), and no one waved back...except me anyway. I felt bad for the poor Easter Bunny...probably sweating to death in that outfit!

Finally, we made our way back toward the car. We were playing at the fountains; they made their wishes. Emory went into the stroller because she repeatedly tried to climb into the fountain. Just as I was giving her a second chance, reminding her to keep her feet on the ground, Aidan threw out that familiar refrain, "I gotta go potty!" Poor Emory, she was just getting back to having fun, and back into the stroller she went. We were halfway between the car (our destination anyway) and the public restrooms (not my favorite place.) We usually keep a potty in the car, but I couldn't recall whether I had noticed it in the van as I was loading/unloading them. I asked Alanna (because she seems to know everything anyway,) and she said it was in the car. So I had to make a choice, and we went to the car. As I'm sure you can guess, I chose wrong. So I hurried as fast as I could with the double stroller while carrying a toddler who may very well lose control of his bladder at any moment...on me. I wasn't intending to exercise today, but between carrying kids who were tired of walking around the mall while pushing a 60 lbs of kids and stroller, and running back to the mall for a potty break, I definitely FEEL like I exercised.

I think I need a nap!

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Babies and Stuff

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:42:12 -0700

I guess Aidan and Alanna had an epiphany recently. We've had numerous friends give birth in the last year, so they had some idea of babies in their mommies' bellies. However, yesterday we came across a book we hadn't read in a while, not since they were really old enough to "get it." It's called God Gave Us You, and it's about a little polar bear cub asking her mommy how she came to be. So the mother bear goes on to tell her cub that God gave her to them. They go a little bit through the ideas of babies growing in the mothers' tummies and getting bigger, then the mother gets a sign from God that it's time to come out and you go to the hospital. I think it's a really sweet book, and it's a nice way to address the question when it comes up.

So today, as I was exercising, I looked over at Aidan and Alanna across the room, on the other side of the bed...I could see them only from the chest up. Alanna is nodding with a wide smile, and she whispers to Aidan, "I'm having a baby!" Then Aidan decided he was having a baby too. They were stuffing their lovies up their shirts and proclaiming that they had a baby in their bellies. Even Emory got in on the belly-stuffing action with her blankey, but she didn't get the whole baby things so much, except as in imitation. When I asked when their babies would be born, Aidan said the baby would come when he turned five. "TWO YEARS!" I exclaimed, that's a LONG time to be pregnant. (I shudder to imagine how unbearable that would be.) He informed me that it was mere minutes away in actuality...and out came "Buddy," his little doggie...a brand new baby girl, coincidentally named "Buddy" as well. Then Alanna had her baby...an elephant, and she named her something I couldn't possibly reproduce at this point. She loves to make up nonsense words and tell me what they mean. She asked me if I knew what it meant, and when I told her "no," she shook her head at me and shrugged as she said "it's just a name." How silly of me! At dinner, they were telling Jason about it, and he was a little surprised at the events that transpired. He asked Alanna "Who's the lucky father?" and she said "Mickey Mouse." That was too funny.

In other funny news...
Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like a total klutz? I was trying to hurry and get part of dinner made before they got up from their naps. In the process, I dropped the jar of minced garlic on the tile floor (my fresh garlic had sprouted...and they were out at the grocery store this weekend. WHAT???) Thankfully it didn't break. Then as I was trying to put it away, I dropped the lid on the floor. I nearly grated my finger tips into a cheese mixture...twice. So the kids got up and got situated. As I'm in the midst of stuffing manicotti shells, Emory decides she needs to go upstairs and get her blankie. She somehow climbed into her crib (with the rail lowered), but then she couldn't get out, which actually cracked me up. I had expected her to climb out before she climbed in. Serves her right for makin' mischief, right? :) I was covered in cheese, spinach and the like, so she just had to wait until I was done (I only had about 4 shells left to stuff.) I wonder if she'll do that again?

Speaking of climbing, Emory taught Aidan and Alanna how to climb out of the pack n' play. They never attempted this on their own in their three and a half years of life. I knew it was only a matter of time with Emory. Fortunately, the first time she did it (and only the first time), she stopped as she teetered at the top of the pack n' play with one leg wrapped over the rail and asked "Can I get out?" That happens no longer...I know in a previous post I had written that I gave her a trial run at being out of the pack n' play while I get ready in the morning, and she was doing well. Again...only a matter of time the novelty of sitting with Aidan and Alanna wears off and she discovered the beauty of her freedom. So now I'm brainstorming a new strategy.

Oh, the kids had a birthday party for me while I stuffed manicotti. They lined up tupperware presents on the floor, and they could not WAIT for me to open all of them. I wasn't sure if they expected me to know what imaginary present they had selected for me. So I just acted like I was so thrilled as I opened each empty container. Aidan gave me 5 or 10 varieties of chocolate treats (chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milk, Hershey's kisses, just chocolate....), a car, and a Buddy (the doggie reference above.) Alanna looked at me knowingly, with her hands on her hip, and her head tilted to the side as she informed me what each gift was. She had more variety...a car, a cup of milk, an elephant, etc.) It was fun, and they even got my age correct..for this year anyway....not there for a few more months! Emory grabbed whatever open container was nearby (which really annoyed Aidan and Alanna) and gave me a duplicate of whatever present I just opened.

Is it bad that Aidan knows so many varieties of chocolate already???

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Fingerpainting!

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:16:21 -0800

This is how Jason decided to beat the rainy day blues on Friday. He stayed home with the kids while I went to a conference for two days. They had a ton of fun the first day....went to the park for lunch, followed by a trip to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and playing outside after nap time. What a perfect day! Unfortunately, it rained all day Friday, and the kids were not happy being cooped up! So Jason bravely got out the fingerpaints and fun was had by all!

Fingerpainting copy

Credits:
Template: Racketty Scrappety #41
Paper and Tag: "For the Love of Clover" by Amy Bleser

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Alanna learned something today too...

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:47:48 -0800

Today at lunch, Alanna was asking how to say things in Spanish and French. I think it started when I inadvertently did something someone didn't like, and I responded with "Excusez-moi." So Alanna wanted to know what that meant. So I told her it meant "excuse me." After a brief pause, she responded with some nonsensical word and said "That's how you say 'excuse me' in Spanish." I responded with "Oh! Not 'perdon?'" Then I went on to explain that another way to say "excuse me" in English is to say " pardon me," and you can say "perdon" in Spanish (I think) and "pardon" in French.

A couple of minutes later, Jason was talking to Emory, who was talking back quite loudly. She was in a very noisy mood. In the midst of this, someone "let one rip"...a big one. Jason and I looked at each other, and we looked around trying to figure out who "cut the cheese." Then Alanna, a little flushed, with her chin tucked into her shoulder, looked at me and said "perdon" with a faint smile on her face.

Jason and I both busted out laughing. I know, this is NOT teaching good manners, but it was hilarious that she decided to excuse herself in Spanish...and that such a sweet little girl could bring the table conversation to a screeching halt just by breaking wind.

(I think I'll focus on her affinity for acquiring foreign language vocabulary quickly...and using it entirely appropriately. Now that would make any speech-language pathologist proud.)

NOTE: Jason insisted that this story be posted.

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Unfair games

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:12:14 -0800

Today on the way to Super Target, the kids overheard me asking Jason if I should pick up something for Valentine's Day. I was trying to be discrete, but they always pick up on these things. They didn't know exactly what I was talking about, but they knew I'd be getting them something...for some reason. So they asked "Will it be chocolate???" I said I didn't know, then I asked "Do you love Mommy or chocolate more?" Both Aidan and Alanna answered that they love Mommy AND chocolate. "Good answer!" I replied. Alanna said "But we certainly love chocolate!" Then I asked Emory, who was feeling very grumpy. She tersely said "no."

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KACHOW!!!

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:07:34 -0800

This is just something I don't want to forget!

Emory loves the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. Aidan and Alanna never would've seen this movie by her age, but being around them, she's been exposed to more...sooner...what can you do!? She wants a Lightning McQueen (aka "white queen") birthday cake, like Aidan and Alanna's. I've tried on numerous occasions to see if there is something else she might want, but no matter what I offer she says "No I want 'white queen' cake!" One of the things he says in the movie is "Kachow!" I love to tease her and say "Lightning McQueen says 'Ka-chigga, Ka-chigga!'", and she always exclaims "No, 'white queen' say 'Kachow!'" or "Chick say 'Ka-Chigga!'" Now, when something makes Emory happy, she always says "Kachow!" For example, today we went out for lunch with Jason after touring a few preschools. She did NOT want to sit in her high chair anymore. I asked her if she wanted to sit in the booth with Aidan, and she replied "Yeah! Kachow!"

It always makes me laugh when she does this. Sometimes she adds a little hop in for added enthusiasm. I found a pair of (boy's) pajamas on Disney's website with KACHOW! across the chest and a picture of Lightning McQueen...she just might get them for her birthday. :)

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Daddy's Night Out

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:21:45 -0800

This is daddy's first entry in the blog....

After earning a bunch of stars for good behavior, Aidan, Alanna, and Emory had finally gotten enough to have a special night out with "just daddy." So Daddy came home early from work and all the kids piled in the car for a special night at Wendy's for dinner. They reminded mommy several times that she was not allowed to come with us....and Megan took it in stride. So off we went for a gourmet meal...

The kids did great and enjoyed more french fries and chicken nuggets than any human being should possibly be allowed to consume. Twice, daddy had to go back into line to get more food. Every time daddy was waiting in line...Emory, Aidan, and Alanna would yell out across the restaurant....."WE LOVE YOU DADDY! WE LOVE YOU DADDY." Emory even informed the restaurant that I was the "BEST DADDY IN THE WIDE, WIDE, WIDE WORLD!". Ordinarily I might have been embarrassed....but, then again, I don't embarrass that easily. Besides, it is a pretty good ego boost to have three people love you so unconditionally....and proclaim it to the world (or at least the patrons at Wendys). The people there couldn't stop laughing.

There was a grandmother there with her grandchild eating dinner as well. Her grandchild was about 9 or 10 years old. When they got up and left, the grandmother came over to our table and said, "I have never....in my life.....seen three more well-behaved children." This came after she had said, "you are one brave man" when we first walked into the restaurant.

All-in-all, it was a great night out with daddy. No offense to my wife.....but probably the best date daddy has had in a long time!

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Emory a.k.a. Popeye

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:06:57 -0800

This is Emory's newest expression of choice...

DSCN0746

Cute, huh?

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Jason on....gravity

nobody@vox.com(mmk) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:53:33 -0800

As I was cleaning up after dinner tonight, I heard a snippet of a conversation in the play room between Jason and Alanna. They were "discussing" the concept of gravity. How this conversation started, I do not know. I heard Jason say something about "it's a force that makes you stay on the ground" and "it makes things fall." A minute or so passed, and then Alanna came to me to ask me what "gravity" is; I promptly punted this back to Jason. I choose my topics of discussion, especially at the end of the day, carefully. This would lead to a multitude of questions I wasn't up to tackling. So she went back to Jason to try to decipher what this mysterious "gravity" thing is. I don't really know what they talked about, but she happened to drop her Hello Kitty phone. Then she looked at Jason and said "I don't like it when gravity makes my phone fall."

She also announced at the end of dinner that she had a "bum cold."

We have yet to figure out what that means. Any ideas?

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