A New Baby...of the Plastic Kind

Since we are trying to pare down in our lives, the Mister and I are also trying to pare down on the kids' toys, too. This calls for Mommy (me) - mostly - to creatively and stealth-ily get rid of some of the toys the kids no longer use.

My newest strategy may seem counter-productive at first, but it has helped us to donate 12 stuffed animals already...and we all know how stuffed animals have a magical ability to reproduce and multiply, right?

Little Miss is able to pick out a new dolly if she has had a good week of listening, following directions and being kind to others. This is the third week she has hit her goal. We went to the store yesterday to get her "new baby".

There are some ground rules for this new baby:

1. It cannot be more than $10

2. It cannot be a stuffy, fluffy, poofy animal

And...most importanly...

3. Little Miss must get rid of at least 2 stuffed animals in order to bring the new baby home.

Yesterday, she was able to find 4 stuffies that she could give up easily!

In exchange...I now have to look into these eyes every day.

...Her name is Belle...

And she frightens me a little.

;)

Mama, Dada...Doctor?

The Littlests are men of few words...a whole lotta sounds, but few words.

Each and every day, I "work" with them, trying to teach them a new word here and there. I try short words like Ball, Dog, Up, etc. I try words they love like Baby, Milk, Fish, More. I get blank stares or a whole lot of "Ga Goo By Yah Yah!" (With HUGE grins).

Little Miss was at school on Friday. The Littlests were (hold your breath) actually PLAYING in the playroom. I was cleaning up the kitchen. I was also singing "Doctor, Doctor, give me the news..."

BOTH Littlests came absolutely flying into the kitchen yelling, on the top of their lungs..."Doctor, Doctor!" Perfectly. Loudly. Proudly.

I will now sing all of their lessons.

Her Own Style

Little Miss is the most amazing little girl in the entire world. It's true! You can ask her! :)

Tuesday morning was our grocery shopping day last week. It was cold, rainy and just a yuck day. Nobody really felt like going out, but...we were out of bananas and, anyone that has children knows you CAN'T run out of bananas!

So, the process of dressing the children began. The Littlests were playing a nice game of chase with me...I am forever "it" - and they are getting faster every day. So, as I was racing around the den and playroom, Little Miss told me she was "going to do {me} a favor and get dressed all by myself!"

Okay, that's great! I said, halfway looking at her while the Littlests were playing a game of "King of the Mountain" on my back.

Ready to go out the door, I summoned for the troops and that's when I saw her.

 How cute is she??

Let me give you the run-down on that gorgeous outfit: pajamas underneath her skirted polka-dotted bathing suit. Rain hat with pink and white flowers. Sparkly red shoes.

She looked perfect.

And put a smile on every.single.person's face at the store.

And put a smile on my heart, too!

It's Complicated

Miss Priss has been asserting her independence lately. She is, after all, 3 and a HALF, in case you forget!

Some of this independence has manifestesd itself in the potty room and in washing her hands "all by myself." And, yes, her hands usually smell just like soap when she is all done. (Pointer: get peppermint scented soap...so easy to smell!)

The other morning, after a particularly long hand-washing session, Miss Priss emerged from the powder room, towel in hand...drying her hair. Her hair.

"What happened to your hair? How did it get wet?" I asked, as non-alarmingly as I could.

"Mom, it got a little complicated in there." Was her reply as she sauntered off to play dress up.

And with that one sentence, I realize how complicated (and comically fascinating) our life is going to be...

 



Toilet paper rolls and Excessive flushing

This morning, as I participated in our daily ritual of putting on my make-up, a thought occurred to me. First, let me explain why putting on make-up is our daily ritual. It generally consists of my standing in front of the powder room mirror, one leg raised so that my foot is resting squarely on the top of the commode and the other leg stretched behind me just so that I can catch any door from being slammed on unsuspecting fingers.

Yes, his shoes are on over his pajamas...he LOVES his shoes!


One of the littlests is usually practicing some sort of intense step aerobics on the stool which is, conveniently between my awkwardly stanced leg. Up and down, up and down, jammering away at his refelection in the mirror. Occassional reprimands, or as they have come to be know to the children, suggestions, flow from my mouth in the form of "leave the toilet paper roll alone", "stop flushing the potty", and "keep your fingers out of your brother's eyes". Good times.

Today, I decided, was the day to talk with the boys. I was halfway through my make-up when it was all too much. I closed the door, sallied up to the halfway unrolled toilet paper roll (obviously a slow day for the boys) and began to re-roll it. I started my speech as I was working. "Now boys, Mommy doesn't like having to re-roll this paper every day. The roll never quite looks right. There are 10,000 toys that you could be playing with while Mommy puts on her make-up. After all, I have timed myself, it only takes 6 minutes if you leave me alone. Get it?"

The stared blankly at me. Then, the littlest littlest opened his mouth. "Dada?"

Yep...I think I'll have to have this conversation again.