Keep Track of Things

One of the things I miss as my kids get older are the mispronunciations of words. My son, at 6, still confuses words once in a while but Miss M has mostly past this stage of development. I loved those unique words the kids made as toddlers and I still enjoy D's own language.

Miss M frequently asked for "bapes" as a toddler. (grapes to those without toddlers)

K Man called his pacifier a "ginkie." Even today he calls our home addition the "caddition."

I'm afraid I've forgotten most of their toddler words. Did I write about any here? I'm not sure.

So I write about D. Her toddler words make me smile daily. Her pacifier? Doo doo. Why? I haven't the slightest idea. It's been Doo doo since she could talk about it. I love it. She loves "booberries" and has recently started declaring "Howee Cop!" (Thanks to her older siblings.) I've already said she likes to inform me when she has "fawted."

I want to document it all with Ms. D and I want to go back, just for a few moments to remember the other kids' language. I feel like I missed it because I didn't write it down. Hindsight.

Another good and bad day

You know, I keep trying to make good memories with my kids. We've been doing the "Fun Box" for that reason, and to avoid wasting days doing nothing but watch TV.

Last night the box decreed that we should go to Lark Toys in Kellogg, MN. I think a groan may have escaped my lips when the slip was pulled. M was excited as usual What does it say Mommy? I fudged and said "it says to go on a trip to a surprise place" (thank goodness she can't read much yet!). I thought I'd give myself an out in case I really didn't want to go in the morning.

This morning, I really didn't want to go, but I sucked it up. I only have a few more days before M starts school and I figured I didn't have anything else to do anyway....birthday party? What birthday party?

I'd never been there before. We've been past it at least a dozen or more times on our way to the river (that's the Mississippi to those not from around here) to fish or whatever but we've never stopped.

I thought the kids were going to explode from anticipation waiting for the 20 minutes before the next carousel ride (they run it once per half-hour). It's a beautiful wooden carousel.


The best part was that kids younger than 36 months are free to ride. Three and up pay $1. So I paid $2 for the three of us since K is just shy of 3 years old. I think that's the cheapest carousel ride ever.

After the ride we ate lunch there. The kids ate like crazy today. They ate about 10 mini-pancakes each for breakfast, both ate their grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, plus some fries and a pickle or two. As we were leaving we got a lunch sack of popcorn as well that the 2 of them had devoured in no time. (Normally they wouldn't eat anywhere near this much food.)

Since we were in the area, I headed to Wabasha to the National Eagle Center. Contrary to what the website implies, it is completed and open. However, it costs $4 per adult and $2 per child to go in it. Since I had no idea what was in the building I chose to forgo it this time. Both kids wanted to go in though. The building is really nice-looking architecturally. So, instead we went down to the water and just watched a few boats for a few minutes before M started asking to go across the river on the big bridge.

Of course we had to go across the bridge then. As we crossed, I started thinking maybe we should stop and get an ice cream in Nelson and soon M piped up Hey! We're in Wisconsin! Lets go to that one place and get ice cream. How does she remember this stuff?

They enjoyed their messy ice cream and we laughed about how messy they were. Then, time to head home. I'd thought K would pass out on the way and it would be a peaceful ride. Yeah, not so much.

Then, because I am a stupid, stupid woman, I went to Hobby Lobby, oh, with the kids. The instructions were laid out before we left the car: K will sit in the cart, there will be no screaming, M will stay by me, etc.

Did I mention that I am a stupid, stupid woman?

It was fine until we had to wait in the long line from hell to check out. I had found some shelves in the 90% off clearance so I couldn't just leave and go later to get the stuff. It would be gone.

K decided to stand up in the cart. Refused to sit. Then finally convinced to sit, decides to throw his ginkie. Yes, I know, he shouldn't have the ginkie anyway. He didn't have a nap and I wanted to shop a bit. The ginkie usually gets me a bit of time. Sue me.

Anywho. He chucks the ginkie once and M retrieves it for him. I tell him if you throw ginkie again, you will not get it ba--. Yeah. Ginkie's in the air already.

But he knew what I was going to say. I know he did. He knows the threat. So I had to follow through.

Mommy! I want my ginkie back! Mommy! I want my ginkie! I want my ginkie! I want my ginkie! Ginkie! I want my ginkie!

Um. Yeah. Until we got to the car. Do you think I got a few stares and disapproving head shakes in that store?

Do you think I had a bad mommy moment or two? Perhaps. M told me that I shouldn't use the words shut-up because they aren't nice. I thanked her for her perspective and tried to not pull any of my hair out.

Yep. I'm a good mommy and a crappy one all in one day.

On a slightly positive note, K has gone to bed without his ginkie...because I reminded him that he threw it and it is lost.

I really don't know what to do with him sometimes. M never had tantrums and freak outs of this magnitude. The boy is almost 3, really he should be able to miss a nap once in a while and not have a meltdown. M stopped napping by 2 1/2. I know you can't compare kids, but sheesh. Are there really that many 3 year olds who still need a nap every day? (I actually like it that he still naps, but once in a while it would be nice to let him miss it without a meltdown.)

So there it is. My day. Starts with fun and ends with crap! Oh, the wonderful life I lead!

Big Boy in the House

It arrived and looked daunting. But the little man saw it and said "Look at this!" and "This is great!" I attempted to assemble the bed before Daddy and Destructo Boy made it home, but alas, it took longer than I hoped to assemble. Not bad, but the placing of the stickers (Lightening and Mater) was pretty traumatic for me...Must. Place. Stickers. Just. Right.
K arrived home with Daddy and was excited to see the bed construction under way. He's not excited for his big boy bed is he? If I could take a photo now without waking him up you'd see him with his beloved ginkie and lovie, with one arm draped over his head and one leg hanging off the edge.

Now we have to disassemble the crib to get it out of his room. Then I'll officially have a big boy.

Sniff. Sniff.

I'll be okay, really. I think.

K is making me think I need medication.

I gave K his ginkie back for naps and bedtime so he is back to taking naps again. He is still what I'll euphemistically call "testing his boundaries," and generally grouchy (like his mom) but he's not having the extreme temper tantrums anymore. (just the average variety)

He's also continuing to climb out of his crib. He generally climbs out, lays near the door with his mouth at the crack and yells "Mama! Out!" When he tires of yelling for me, he gets bored and climbs into his closet (it has a raised floor). When that ceases to be interesting, he strips. So, generally I start my mornings greeted by my little nudist. Most of the time this isn't a big deal; I have to change his diaper and get him dressed anyway.

This morning, however, involved poop. Just so you know, not fun.

This, after putting him back in his crib no less than 5 times last night because he kept climbing out. He finally went to sleep at about midnight after I drugged him with some Tylenol. Hey, maybe he had a headache.

Good times. Good times.

An open letter written after a short visit to the mall.

To the Old Thing Lady at the Mall:

Count yourself lucky that I don’t own a gun because I was angry enough to consider using one. Lucky for you that you didn’t exit the mall as I was driving away either.

If you think I enjoy having my son screaming as I’m trying to leave the mall, you’re more senile than I already think you are.

It is NOT helpful to stare angrily and shake your head at the mother of a screaming child, contrary to your belief.

You said your kids NEVER screamed like that. Well, like I told you, must be nice to be so perfect. However, I have a hunch that old age has stolen your memory. Either that or you beat your children so they were too scared to cry around you.

Either way, I take solace in the fact that, since you are a bitter old woman, you will die soon.

In the future, if you live that long, I’d be careful who you cross. Someday you might not be as lucky. Perhaps a more helpful response to a screaming child could be a look of sympathy for the mom who has, no doubt, heard her son screaming like that for quite a while now.

H.

-------------------------------

With that off my chest, does anyone have any practical advice on how to get my son to take a nap? He’s refusing to nap most days, then has a major fit because he’s so tired. He won’t stay in his crib anymore. I’ve tried rocking him and he will sometimes nap then. Most times he just lays in my arms and tells me “I had a good napper Mommy!” when he hasn’t even closed his eyes. Then he gets mad that I won’t let him down and smacks me in the face a few times.

Let me tell you, it’s getting old.

Do I just lock him in a closet until he’s 4 or continue as I am and endure the looks and unsolicited comments from bitchy old ladies?

----------------------------
Edited to add:
Obviously I was a bit worked up when I wrote this, so I was overly dramatic. The (and I'm still using the term loosely) woman doesn't deserve to be shot, but I was rather upset by her.

It occurs to me that much of K's behavior has started since the disappearance of the ginkie. Perhaps I should give it back at naptime?

Miss M had a few tantrums as a 2 year old, but NEVER as often or as severe.

Another Era about to end...

The time is fast approaching that my little Destructo-Boy can no longer be called little. Well, he might have stubby little legs and still fit into some 24 month clothes, but, truth be told, he's almost a "preschooler." (And he will be attending preschool in September, just like his big sister did.)

Ack. That's almost as painful to write as the Kindergarten stuff about my daughter.

Where has the time gone?

K has abandoned his beloved ginkie without much fuss. Oh, he's asked for it a few times, but not nearly as often as I'd anticipated.

He's been attempting to give up naps for the last few weeks. He'll nap about every third day now. Argh. I'm not ready for him to give them up, but he has already napped for longer than his sister did so I guess I should stop complaining.

And this afternoon, to add insult to injury, he's figured out how to climb out of his crib. I guess those stubby legs aren't as stubby as I thought. Sigh. That means we'll have to retire the crib. No crib in our house anymore. Gah!

My son loves his "ginkie." Truly. If it wasn't for the ginkie, he'd still be nursing every hour. The sounds that kid makes when he gets the binkie. It is a sound of pure pleasure.

His first year, he had probably 4 binkies, that we alternated according to his attire. Yes, I made his binkie match his outfit. I know, I'm sick.

I also know he should have been weaned off the bink long ago, but he really does love his binkie, and we all have our vices, don't we? Here he is, almost a year ago, double-binkin' it.

You know, there are worse things that parents can do than indulging a binkie love.

That being said, K man has gone to bed tonight for the first time "ginkieless."

Hey, it's a step.