Pre-Terrible Twos

Maevy,

This week has been interesting one. I haven't heard any comments from school, but at home we have had some "situations".

Situation 1- On Tuesday night, you lost it. In retrospect, I think maybe you are getting your 2 yr old molars in,which might have made you cranky. You said you were hungry, but would not get in your seat or eat anything. You just crying and crying. Finally I just held you for a few minutes, and then you just stopped and pointed at the pictures of our families we have on the wall. You finally ate dinner and took your bath. Then I snuck out for a meeting. You went to bed ok, but kept waking up crying for the next hour or so. Again, I think it was your teeth. We should have given you some tylenol.

Situation 2- See Designer Diva post.

Situation 3- Food Demands
Last night during dinner you were doing great, as usual. You ate your ham and all of your broccoli. For some reason, you didn't want your vegetable orzo that you've been eating all week. You started pointing towards some pumpkin cookies that I made the night before. You've never had a pumpkin cookie, but you did have some pumpkin bread that morning for breakfast. I think you thought that's what it was. After lots of whining and crying, I offered you a piece of cookie. It was not what you expected and you lost it. This was kind of funny to me because what child cries over a chocolate chip pumpkin cookie. While you were crying with your mouth open, I put a little bit of the cookie on your tongue so you could taste it. After you composed yourself and realized chocolate was involved, you picked up the rest of the cookie and ate it. P.S. I snuck a pea in the cookie.

Situation 4- Mommy obsession
Right now you are obsessed with the Mommy. We have been doing the same routine in the morning for over a year now. Daddy gets you up, brushes your teeth, and gets you dressed. Mommy gets your breakfast ready and Daddy sits with you while you eat. Once Mommy is done getting ready for work, we head for school.

But this morning, you would not eat your food if Daddy helped and you pulled Daddy's hand to get him out of the chair he normally sits in. Then made Mommy sit down and help you eat. I love you Maev, but this is ridiculous. If we didn't have such a tight schedule, I don't think we would have given into your demands.We're a team and you're going to need to get on board with both Mommy AND Daddy.

I'm praying this is just a phase. Otherwise I see lots of whining and crying in our future.

Designer Diva

Maevy,

This morning was the first (I'm sure) of many fights over what outfit to wear. Daddy picked out an outfit last night, like always, and this morning while getting you dressed, he saw that the shirt was sleeveless. It's getting a little cooler out and it's definitely not sleeveless shirt weather. Daddy ran upstairs and grabbed you a long-sleeved shirt that matched your pants. I took off your shirt and started to put on the new shirt.

Well, you weren't interested. You started whining, wouldn't put your arms through, and kept taking the shirt off your head. So I thought ok...you can eat your breakfast without a shirt on. You'll forget about the sleeveless shirt and we'll be good to go.

Um...no. After breakfast I tried again with the long-sleeved shirt and you said "No." I asked if you wanted to wear the brown shirt (sleeveless shirt) and you said "Yes" or really you smiled and happily grunted. (We're still working on actually saying the word "yes") So fine. You got to wear the sleeveless shirt and we threw a white cardigan on over it in case you got cold during the day. At least this "fight" was still over age-appropriate clothing, I can only imagine what the future brings.

Tomorrow, you're wearing long sleeves.

Love,

Mommy

Organized Living by Maevy

Maevy,

You might not always pick up your toys, but you definitely make sure your shoes and socks are put away. Everyday when you get home from school, we take off your shoes and socks. They're big and clunky, and it's time to let your feet air out. After we take your shoes and socks off, you stick your socks in the shoes and then take the shoes to the laundry room and place them on the floor.

I guess you know that the laundry room is where dirty clothes go, but I'm not sure why you insist on putting the shoes in there too. We don't keep any other shoes there. But everyday before we start playing or reading books, you insist on taking your shoes and socks to the laundry room.

I might have an apprentice on my hands. I can already see color-coded binders in your future.

Love you and your stinky socks.

18 mo. Growth Stats

Yesterday you had your 18month old check-up. No ear infections this time, and you seem to be growing just fine. Oh but Dr. Ladd is a little worried about your tonsils. They're big, like Mommy's. If you show any signs of sleep apnea or problems eating, then we might have to get them removed. Mommy's doctors always threatened to take hers out and it never happened. We'll see.

Your next appointment isn't until next March when you are 2! Oh my!

Here are your stats-

Age: 18 months
Weight: 26lbs 5.5oz (80%)
Height: 35" (79%)
Head circumference: 17 7/8" (25%)

Jail Break

Bright and early Monday morning, you showed Mommy a new skill, climbing out of your crib! I have no idea if you've tried this before, but if it was your first time/last time, I'm glad I was there for it.

Grandpa and M were in town and planning to stay home with you all day. I went to get up in the morning and Grandpa came in to say good morning. You were bouncing around as usual pointing out animals on your walls or in your books. I walked across the room to get you some clothes, and the next thing I hear is a gasp from Grandpa. I turned around and there you were on the other side of the crib still somehow standing on the mattress. I assume you were going to try to step down to the floor. I quickly grabbed you, and didn't seemed phased by your dangerous attempt at an escape.

Not wanting to witness or not-witness another jail break, Daddy with the help of M quickly moved the level of your mattress DOWN. Before we know it will be time to take off the railing, and then you'll really be FREE. Well not really, I still reserve the right to put you in some type of "jail" be it a crib or a bedroom until your 18. Ha, ha, ha (insert funny/evil laugh)

Love you Maev.

Weekend Round Up

A couple funny stories from the weekend-

Saturday night we headed over to a friend's house for playtime and dinner. You and Charlie were so cute playing together. I think he even gave you your first kiss (on the mouth!) You practiced your animals sounds together and even played in the bath together.Earlier in the night, I was reading Charlie a book and Charlie's mom, Kate, was reading you a book, which happened to be an Elmo book. I didn't realize it was an Elmo book, but all of sudden I heard you saying, "El-mo" and pointing at Elmo. I was shocked. I didn't know you knew who Elmo was! You don't watch tv and don't have any Elmo books or toys at home. I told the story to your teacher at school this morning and she thinks it's because a lot of diapers have Elmo on them...and sometimes they'll give the kids a clean diaper to play with while they change diapers. Well I guess when you finally do watch Sesame Street, you'll have 1 character down. (Oh dear...)

Sunday we headed to the Frist Museum for Family Free Day. It was crazy busy, but it's always fun to see free art. After we made a craft and went through all the exhibits we headed outside to play in the fountain and get a free ice cream sandwich. (Daddy found the sandwiches.) You were unsure of the ice cream sandwich at first, but quickly started taking huge bites and then running back to the fountains. The pool of water and bench is tall enough that you have to get on your tippy toes to touch the water. I think Mommy and Daddy were both thinking you were probably going to fall in...and sure enough you did! We were right next to you and picked you right up, but you were soaked. The funniest part was A. you didn't cry at all and B. the second you popped up and caught your breath you opened your mouth toward the ice cream sandwich for a bite. We had to leave quickly afterward because other little girls were asking if they could get in the fountain.

We heard a couple of these conversations-

Little girl: "Mommy, can I get in the fountain?"
Mommy: "No, you can't get in the fountain."
Little girl: "But she got in the fountain."
Mommy: "I don't think she meant to get in the fountain."

We'll have to work on setting a better example next time.

Tomato Festival 2010

Maev-

Today we headed to our neighborhood festival, the Tomato Festival. This is your second one and this year Aunt Lesley made you a cute tomato-themed dress. You received lots of compliments.

Mommy started the morning by running in the 5k. Then you had breakfast at Bongo Java with Grandpa and Daddy. We participated in the New Orleans-style parade, and danced with the band afterward.Luckily we brought the spray bottle and lots of water for the heat. After the parade we found a bouncy house-

Then after nap time, we went back out in the 100 degree weather, but ate lunch inside at Rumours.

Daddy tested his strength at the Tomato Olympics and we enjoyed some ice cream at Pied Piper.

Everywhere we saw dogs and you kept pointing them out.

After we headed home, you and Grandpa played in the sprinkler.

It was a hot, long day, but you were great and we had a wonderful day celebrating the tomato... a uniter, not a divider.