My two-year-old has style. So don't say I didn't warn you if you see us around town sometime and she's wearing a puffy blue Cinderella princess dress with cowgirl boots. I'm just letting her express herself...and boy, is it hilarious to see her preferences unfold.
It all started a couple of weeks ago. See, I sing silly songs all day long because well, what else am I going to do with my time, and sometimes we have dance parties too (in which we may or may not dance to the ending song from High School Musical or the lively tunes of Flogging Molly, which Cbear calls "jumping music"...we have a wide range of tastes in this house). Somehow with all this dancing "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" turned into the twirling song, and of course one must wear a skirt when twirling (according to my daughter, anyway). So for the next week she refused to wear anything but, as she called it, a "twinkle twinkle little skirt". Understand that this meant she wore the same two skirts all week, because apparently denim doesn't qualify: twinkle twinkle little skirts must be a floral print.
One day I had a brilliant idea. A friend had given us some dress-up clothes and I hadn't shown them to Cbear yet. And you should have seen her face when I showed her the Cinderella dress. Priceless. We put it on and she exclaimed, "I'm a little princess now! Let's show daddy!" So she wears her princess dress quite often now and even though I'm not totally into the whole princess thing, it is pretty adorable. There was almost a meltdown today when she had to go to the bathroom with it on and I wasn't in the room and she sat down and peed on it, but I reassured her the dress would survive and she could wear it again later.
Fast forward to the boots. We just got some hand-me-downs from my cousin and there were a couple pairs of cowgirl boots in the box. Cbear was so excited, because daddy and her papas wear cowboy boots and now she had her very own. Well, it was good-bye sandals and flip-flops in our house and now it's all boots all the time. Mostly without pants on. She went to church tonight in jean shorts and boots. Yep, I'm that mom. I love it. I love my little Cinderella in boots, because it totally captures the essence of her personality. On one hand, she's a little girl who wants to be a princess and dance and show daddy how pretty she is. But she's also my little tomboy in cowgirl boots who loves to run and jump and play in the dirt. It's just so her, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
In other news, my Jellybean is becoming quite a cute little monster. I should probably stop calling her that because Cbear has picked it up, but she bares her teeth and scrunches her nose and snorts and growls, so what would you call her? She also eats books and stickers. I don't know why. She's kind of like Animal from the Muppet Babies, only cuter and more lovable. I guess that makes me the legs with the striped tights?
Jelly's as full of life as ever, so expressive, happy almost all the time with a major temper streak if she doesn't get her way. And the most determined person I've ever met. If she could turn herself inside out to try and get something she's not supposed to have I think she would. She's a little ham and loves to be silly and make us laugh. I can't wait until she starts talking to see what she has to say.
For now, she has discovered her own way of communicating with us. A while back she started nodding or shaking her head, and I finally realized that she knew what she was doing when I asked her questions! We did a lot of baby sign with Cbear, but I've been more lazy with that this time around and she doesn't seem very interested anyway, so I'm just going with her chosen form of communication. Now I purposely ask her yes or no questions just to see her response. "Jellybean, do you want to go to bed now?" Vehemently shakes her head no. "Are you done eating, do you want to get down and play?" Excitedly nods. She also points to things she wants and then looks at the nearest person with eyebrows lifted so high they're about to jump off her head and mouth open expectantly, like why aren't you hopping to it now? Especially if someone's eating cheese and not sharing with her or if there's a phone or remote out of reach. I love watching all these new discoveries and can't wait to see what she'll tell me next!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Why Two are Easier than One
I've been thinking about this topic for quite some time...every time one of my friends mentions that they are so exhausted with one child and can't imagine adding another one, how do I do it with two, etc. So this post is for all the moms of one. Here is a well-kept secret: Sometimes two are actually easier than one!
Occasionally I have days where I wonder what life would be like if we only had one child. On the surface, it seems like it would be easier...my attention wouldn't be divided and there would be plenty of mommy to go around, perhaps discipline would be more effective (Right now it's like this: "I'd love to continue this chat, dear daughter, about why we ask nicely and don't throw a fit, but your sister has climbed into the fireplace and is eating a candle. Excuse me while I dig candle wax from her mouth, and feel free to totally forget everything I just said and continue to whine.") and maybe I wouldn't be so frazzled.
On the other hand, there are times when Cbear goes to spend the day with her grandparents or Jellybean takes a long nap and I only have one child. And while I cherish that one-on-one time (Cbear is loving "helping" me cook or asking me to read Fox in Socks for the millionth time, and Jellybean is totally delighted by me hiding behind something and jumping out) but by the time Cbear returns or Jellybean wakes up I'm actually relieved. Shocking, I know. But it does get very tiresome being the sole entertainment for someone. And while I do encourage them to play on their own, sometimes they flat-out refuse and it's really not effective to try and put away dishes while a ten month old has a death grip on your legs. Also, it wasn't so long ago that I only had Cbear and I remember how lonely the days could be with just one baby that couldn't talk. So here are five reasons why two kids are actually easier than one:
1. They entertain each other and always have a friend to play with. This one takes a few months, but once the younger one is out of the tiny baby stage they can actually interact a bit and the older one can be enlisted to help keep an eye on the younger one. Watch out if they're out of sight and quiet, though...I made this mistake a few months ago. They may be sliding through a pee puddle, playing in the toilet, or have escaped into the back yard (this all happened within a thirty minute time span...I was ready to be committed that day).
2. Communication. Jellybean can't talk much, but when she does I'm sure it will be entertaining. For now, Cbear jabbers to her and Jellybean responds with hand gestures, random sounds, clapping, and others. It's really funny to watch and listen.
3. Sweet sibling moments. There is nothing better than seeing your kids hugging or happily playing together. Of course it has the ability to morph into something like this: C patting J's head lovingly, saying, "good night, Jellybean...you're beautiful...I love you!" and J sweetly smiling and then reaching out to pinch C's face, resulting in screaming and C saying angrily, "I just want a hug!" I know, I shared this story in the last post, but it really was hilarious to watch C try to be so nice and J wouldn't have it.
4. You are never bored. There's no time for that, and there's always something that needs done or someone that needs attention. So when you actually get time to yourself, there's a list a mile long of things you'd like to do and it's much sweeter to get to do them. Simple things bring me so much joy now...reading a book, going out with the hubs, even exercising because it's something good just for me.
5. Twice the love! You'll get double the hugs, kisses, and "I wuv you"s. Jellybean can't say that yet but I'm assuming the endless mantra of "Mamamamamamamama" kind of means the same thing.
Occasionally I have days where I wonder what life would be like if we only had one child. On the surface, it seems like it would be easier...my attention wouldn't be divided and there would be plenty of mommy to go around, perhaps discipline would be more effective (Right now it's like this: "I'd love to continue this chat, dear daughter, about why we ask nicely and don't throw a fit, but your sister has climbed into the fireplace and is eating a candle. Excuse me while I dig candle wax from her mouth, and feel free to totally forget everything I just said and continue to whine.") and maybe I wouldn't be so frazzled.
On the other hand, there are times when Cbear goes to spend the day with her grandparents or Jellybean takes a long nap and I only have one child. And while I cherish that one-on-one time (Cbear is loving "helping" me cook or asking me to read Fox in Socks for the millionth time, and Jellybean is totally delighted by me hiding behind something and jumping out) but by the time Cbear returns or Jellybean wakes up I'm actually relieved. Shocking, I know. But it does get very tiresome being the sole entertainment for someone. And while I do encourage them to play on their own, sometimes they flat-out refuse and it's really not effective to try and put away dishes while a ten month old has a death grip on your legs. Also, it wasn't so long ago that I only had Cbear and I remember how lonely the days could be with just one baby that couldn't talk. So here are five reasons why two kids are actually easier than one:
1. They entertain each other and always have a friend to play with. This one takes a few months, but once the younger one is out of the tiny baby stage they can actually interact a bit and the older one can be enlisted to help keep an eye on the younger one. Watch out if they're out of sight and quiet, though...I made this mistake a few months ago. They may be sliding through a pee puddle, playing in the toilet, or have escaped into the back yard (this all happened within a thirty minute time span...I was ready to be committed that day).
2. Communication. Jellybean can't talk much, but when she does I'm sure it will be entertaining. For now, Cbear jabbers to her and Jellybean responds with hand gestures, random sounds, clapping, and others. It's really funny to watch and listen.
3. Sweet sibling moments. There is nothing better than seeing your kids hugging or happily playing together. Of course it has the ability to morph into something like this: C patting J's head lovingly, saying, "good night, Jellybean...you're beautiful...I love you!" and J sweetly smiling and then reaching out to pinch C's face, resulting in screaming and C saying angrily, "I just want a hug!" I know, I shared this story in the last post, but it really was hilarious to watch C try to be so nice and J wouldn't have it.
4. You are never bored. There's no time for that, and there's always something that needs done or someone that needs attention. So when you actually get time to yourself, there's a list a mile long of things you'd like to do and it's much sweeter to get to do them. Simple things bring me so much joy now...reading a book, going out with the hubs, even exercising because it's something good just for me.
5. Twice the love! You'll get double the hugs, kisses, and "I wuv you"s. Jellybean can't say that yet but I'm assuming the endless mantra of "Mamamamamamamama" kind of means the same thing.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Summarizing Summer (Heat, Olympics, and new stuff the kids are doing)
I'm not sure what I've been doing all summer, but it seems like I haven't had much time to do anything other than, you know, sustain life in our house. Sometimes I imagine it like treading water while juggling bowling balls...but anyway, I haven't updated the blog as much as I would like. I'll try to remember (what day is it, again?) some of the highlights and post them here.
So what's been going on in our lives, you ask? Well, record-high temps (isn't that every summer in OK?) have limited our activities. I was about to start channeling my dad and use phrases like hotter than the hubs of Hades, but thankfully a cold front that has the temps only in the high nineties saved us from that. The girls and I frequented the splash pad for a while, but lately haven't even ventured there. I'm thankful for two things: air conditioning and the fact that I am not pregnant this summer.
Confession: I've become a bit of an NBC Olympics coverage junkie, what with being cooped up inside so much and all. I've always loved the Olympics, though (in the summer...winter Olympics are kind of lame in my opinion). I love the camaraderie between the teammates and cheering for USA! USA! But my favorite events (swimming, and to a lesser extent, gymnastics) are over and I'm a little depressed about it and having withdrawals. Boo for having to wait another four years!
CBear is now in a toddler bed. I know. But potty-training has actually been going well, now that I'm paying her to pee (It's not as bad as it sounds. There's a chart and stickers involved, and for every three stickers she gets coins for her piggy bank. Whatever works, right?!) and she did not like having a wet pull-up on in bed. So she would take it off and end up peeing all over the sheets every. stinking. nap/bed time. Now she can get up to go to the bathroom/wander around/pull off her wall decals/take all her clothes out of the drawers/flush some wash cloths down the toilet/go into Jellybean's room and wake her/etc. It was a little rough at first, but it's much better now. Today she didn't get up at all after she got in bed for a nap. Miracle!
Jellybean took a few steps the other day! It's so funny to watch her wobble on her chubby little legs and she gets so excited about it. She can also climb up onto the fireplace now, so that's awesome. She has a bit of a little temper when she doesn't get her way...I'm scared for the future! She's happy most of the time and just slightly ornery. And she has six teeth now! Jellybean doesn't look like a baby anymore, which makes me kind of sad. But she's still a mama's girl and says my name over and over (she also finally said "Dada!" We heard her in bed over the monitor one night, laying in her crib saying it.) and climbs into my lap whenever I'm near.
I love some of the sweet sister moments I get to witness now. A few nights ago, I told CBear it was time to say good night to Jellybean, and she got right up in her face. Lovingly stroking her cheek, she said softly, "I love you Jellybean...oh, you're so beautiful...good night, sister!" In response, Jellybean smiled sweetly, reached out and tried to pinch the skin off CBear's cheek...hard. It turned violent quickly with CBear trying to free herself and yelling angrily, "I want to give you a hug!" Like she really wanted to be nice but Jellybean was interfering. Ah, sisters.
Summertime has been fun, but we sure are ready for fall around here. Cooler weather, new routines with fall activities picking back up, and everything that makes autumn AWESOME and my favorite season: pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, apple cinnamon fragrance and flavors, beautiful colors, and all the holidays coming up involving family and food. The leaves have started to fall off our neighbor's maple trees into our yard...which could be because they're dying in this drought and heat, but I choose to believe fall is coming early. CBear was standing under them as the breeze blew the leaves down, armed with a plastic shovel from her sand box yelling, "I catch the leaves! I got one!" My feelings exactly, sister. Fall: Bring. It. On.
So what's been going on in our lives, you ask? Well, record-high temps (isn't that every summer in OK?) have limited our activities. I was about to start channeling my dad and use phrases like hotter than the hubs of Hades, but thankfully a cold front that has the temps only in the high nineties saved us from that. The girls and I frequented the splash pad for a while, but lately haven't even ventured there. I'm thankful for two things: air conditioning and the fact that I am not pregnant this summer.
Confession: I've become a bit of an NBC Olympics coverage junkie, what with being cooped up inside so much and all. I've always loved the Olympics, though (in the summer...winter Olympics are kind of lame in my opinion). I love the camaraderie between the teammates and cheering for USA! USA! But my favorite events (swimming, and to a lesser extent, gymnastics) are over and I'm a little depressed about it and having withdrawals. Boo for having to wait another four years!
CBear is now in a toddler bed. I know. But potty-training has actually been going well, now that I'm paying her to pee (It's not as bad as it sounds. There's a chart and stickers involved, and for every three stickers she gets coins for her piggy bank. Whatever works, right?!) and she did not like having a wet pull-up on in bed. So she would take it off and end up peeing all over the sheets every. stinking. nap/bed time. Now she can get up to go to the bathroom/wander around/pull off her wall decals/take all her clothes out of the drawers/flush some wash cloths down the toilet/go into Jellybean's room and wake her/etc. It was a little rough at first, but it's much better now. Today she didn't get up at all after she got in bed for a nap. Miracle!
Jellybean took a few steps the other day! It's so funny to watch her wobble on her chubby little legs and she gets so excited about it. She can also climb up onto the fireplace now, so that's awesome. She has a bit of a little temper when she doesn't get her way...I'm scared for the future! She's happy most of the time and just slightly ornery. And she has six teeth now! Jellybean doesn't look like a baby anymore, which makes me kind of sad. But she's still a mama's girl and says my name over and over (she also finally said "Dada!" We heard her in bed over the monitor one night, laying in her crib saying it.) and climbs into my lap whenever I'm near.
I love some of the sweet sister moments I get to witness now. A few nights ago, I told CBear it was time to say good night to Jellybean, and she got right up in her face. Lovingly stroking her cheek, she said softly, "I love you Jellybean...oh, you're so beautiful...good night, sister!" In response, Jellybean smiled sweetly, reached out and tried to pinch the skin off CBear's cheek...hard. It turned violent quickly with CBear trying to free herself and yelling angrily, "I want to give you a hug!" Like she really wanted to be nice but Jellybean was interfering. Ah, sisters.
Summertime has been fun, but we sure are ready for fall around here. Cooler weather, new routines with fall activities picking back up, and everything that makes autumn AWESOME and my favorite season: pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, apple cinnamon fragrance and flavors, beautiful colors, and all the holidays coming up involving family and food. The leaves have started to fall off our neighbor's maple trees into our yard...which could be because they're dying in this drought and heat, but I choose to believe fall is coming early. CBear was standing under them as the breeze blew the leaves down, armed with a plastic shovel from her sand box yelling, "I catch the leaves! I got one!" My feelings exactly, sister. Fall: Bring. It. On.
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