During the past few months I've learned that the vocabulary of the second child mirrors that of the older child. So, T says things like, "Cool, mom" and "I really want...", phrases that weren't in Oo's vocabulary when she was newly two.
Naturally, T also imitates Oo's actions. Silly faces, dance moves, and jumping down from the 3rd step. (When he jumps that far, he lands on his face and my heart stops. Only one bloody nose so far!) And since Oo is always pretending to be an animal, T now does the same. Oo likes to be all sorts of animals -- lizards, monkeys, hamsters -- but she is usually a dog or cat.
T's begun to mimic this by crawling around on the floor, carrying things in his teeth, and curling up on the rug for a pretend nap. Close observation of Oo has also taught him to eat off of the floor w/o using his hands (ewww!), to lift his leg and pretend to pee (ewww!), lick my face (ewww!), growl, meow and purr. If you ask him what a dog says, he'll woof. If you ask what a cat says, he'll meow (in the same high-pitched voice that his sister uses). But when he's playing pretend, he'll bounce back and forth between animal traits, and I'm never sure if he's pretending to be a dog who meows or a cat who barks.
This week he has been taking his "acting" very seriously -- probably another lesson learned from watching Oo. He will now take a snack from me ONLY if I put it directly into his mouth. He gets really, really mad when I don't let him crawl on all fours. (Sorry little dude, but crawling on the slushy, wet driveway is NOT an option.) And sometimes he answers my questions with only barks or meows.
So if I say that I feel I'm living with a bunch of animals, it's not a comment on my children's manners so much as it is kudos to their very active imaginations. Woof! Prrrrrrr.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Cabin Fever
I'm composing this blog on paper -- later I'll post it online. I'm standing at the kitchen table folding laundry and listening to Oo's plastic dinosaurs throw-up in the garbage can. T is busy stuffing fridge magnets into his new snow boots. (Note to self: Must remember to check T's boots for foreign objects before cramming in his squat, little feet.)
T is also singing "It's raining sunshine" -- just those three words -- over and over and over again. Of course, it sounds more like, "Uh rainin stun stein." He has now sung these words more than 50 times in a row. No lie.
We need a break in this weather and we desperately need some fresh air. But the temperatures are just way too low. And when the temperatures approach 30F, we usually get a big batch of snow. Oo loves the snow, but T is not thrilled with the lack of mobility winter affords him. In addition to his puffy coat, stiff snow pants, and mittens that might as well be thumbless (no matter how hard we try, we cannot get his little thumbs in position)... in addition to all that, the thigh-high snow (thigh-high to a two-year-old) makes it impossible for him to take so much as one step without falling on his face. Once he's on his face, the winter gear prevents him from standing himself back up. He hates it. And I don't blame him.
We're trying to remain content while we're inside, but we're running out of ways to keep entertained. Here are a few things we've tried:
Playing in the snow... inside.
Coloring on the floor... sort of.
T is also singing "It's raining sunshine" -- just those three words -- over and over and over again. Of course, it sounds more like, "Uh rainin stun stein." He has now sung these words more than 50 times in a row. No lie.
We need a break in this weather and we desperately need some fresh air. But the temperatures are just way too low. And when the temperatures approach 30F, we usually get a big batch of snow. Oo loves the snow, but T is not thrilled with the lack of mobility winter affords him. In addition to his puffy coat, stiff snow pants, and mittens that might as well be thumbless (no matter how hard we try, we cannot get his little thumbs in position)... in addition to all that, the thigh-high snow (thigh-high to a two-year-old) makes it impossible for him to take so much as one step without falling on his face. Once he's on his face, the winter gear prevents him from standing himself back up. He hates it. And I don't blame him.
We're trying to remain content while we're inside, but we're running out of ways to keep entertained. Here are a few things we've tried:
Playing in the snow... inside.
Coloring on the floor... sort of.
Fun with static.
Yep, we're ready for winter to end.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Children's Music: Why?
That's the title of a chapter in my favorite parenting book, "The Three-Martini Playdate." The book was a gift from my sister years ago, but it was too tongue-in-check for me to read it until this summer. (Up until that point, I needed real information, as in, "What the heck am I supposed to be doing as a parent?" And "Are they just playing mind games with me?")
Back to the children's music...
So this chapter titled "Children's Music: Why?" brings up some very thought-provoking questions, such as, "Why do we torture ourselves by listening to purple dinosaurs sing about love?" When we were young we listened to our parents' music. And we turned out okay. In fact, certain songs from the 70's still take me down memory lane, helping me remember very specific moments in my childhood.
So the kids and I were in the car last week, heading to the library and listening to a radio station that plays only kids' music. In between songs, the DJ was pretending to talk to an elephant -- an elephant who spoke with a voice that made elephants sound like absolute morons. Even Oo asked, "What IS this?"
I thought back to that chapter in the book -- the fresh perspective it offered -- and I consider two options: Listen to the dorky elephant or switch over to one of the stations I like to listen to when the kids aren't with me. The down-side to the latter option is that we have satellite radio in our car. The DJs are free to drop the f-bomb or any other colorful language whenever they choose. But, in reality, I've only ever heard the f-bomb on the Howard Stern channel. So I go ahead and switch over to XMU -- the independent/college/alternative channel that I do so enjoy listening to.
Kid you not, at the very moment that the station tunes in, there is a young guy singing very apathetically, "When they pulled her body from the river, her eyes were still wide open, but her mouth was sewn shut."
CLICK! Immediately I switch back to the kids' station. From the rear-view mirror, I scan the look on Oo's face. No reaction. Whew!
I think to myself, "Maybe when the dumb elephant shuts up, they'll play that song about french toast, or better yet, maybe they'll play 'Alien in My Nose.' Oo and I like singing along with that song, and it's far less grotesque than what we just heard on XMU."
Back to the children's music...
So this chapter titled "Children's Music: Why?" brings up some very thought-provoking questions, such as, "Why do we torture ourselves by listening to purple dinosaurs sing about love?" When we were young we listened to our parents' music. And we turned out okay. In fact, certain songs from the 70's still take me down memory lane, helping me remember very specific moments in my childhood.
So the kids and I were in the car last week, heading to the library and listening to a radio station that plays only kids' music. In between songs, the DJ was pretending to talk to an elephant -- an elephant who spoke with a voice that made elephants sound like absolute morons. Even Oo asked, "What IS this?"
I thought back to that chapter in the book -- the fresh perspective it offered -- and I consider two options: Listen to the dorky elephant or switch over to one of the stations I like to listen to when the kids aren't with me. The down-side to the latter option is that we have satellite radio in our car. The DJs are free to drop the f-bomb or any other colorful language whenever they choose. But, in reality, I've only ever heard the f-bomb on the Howard Stern channel. So I go ahead and switch over to XMU -- the independent/college/alternative channel that I do so enjoy listening to.
Kid you not, at the very moment that the station tunes in, there is a young guy singing very apathetically, "When they pulled her body from the river, her eyes were still wide open, but her mouth was sewn shut."
CLICK! Immediately I switch back to the kids' station. From the rear-view mirror, I scan the look on Oo's face. No reaction. Whew!
I think to myself, "Maybe when the dumb elephant shuts up, they'll play that song about french toast, or better yet, maybe they'll play 'Alien in My Nose.' Oo and I like singing along with that song, and it's far less grotesque than what we just heard on XMU."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Two for T
This past weekend we celebrated T's second birthday at Adrian's dad's house. Since T pretends that everything he plays with, from stuffed animals to fridge magnets, is a rocket ship, we decided on a rocket theme for the party. I made a rocket cake and cupcakes, and Adrian's dad decorated with a bunch of rockets he made from mailing tubes. The rockets were placed on the mantle, counter top and tables. They were even suspended from the ceiling with balloons. It was so cool!
With Oo positioned ready to help, T blew out all the candles by himself.
He then delightfully ate a cupcake in his usual fashion (without lifting it up from his tray). And then I gave him some chocolate decorations from the cake to give him that extra sugar boost he would need to skip nap time and stay awake through the end of the party. (Horrible, I know.)
The gifts were generous -- toddler sports gear, cool duds to wear, a book and video. His favorite gift was definitely the "dop-der" that my dad gave him. Happy Birthday little guy!!
With Oo positioned ready to help, T blew out all the candles by himself.
He then delightfully ate a cupcake in his usual fashion (without lifting it up from his tray). And then I gave him some chocolate decorations from the cake to give him that extra sugar boost he would need to skip nap time and stay awake through the end of the party. (Horrible, I know.)
The gifts were generous -- toddler sports gear, cool duds to wear, a book and video. His favorite gift was definitely the "dop-der" that my dad gave him. Happy Birthday little guy!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Bathroom Reading Material
Today I was preparing Oo for watching the inauguration on TV tomorrow. Not only do I want to view the traditional ceremony myself, but I want Oo to perhaps one day remember that she saw history in the making. (And, truth be told, I also don't want hear whining because we're not watching "Super Why" or "Word World.")
I told Oo that we would be watching some different shows tomorrow, that I want to watch the inauguration of the next president. I explained what "inauguration" and "ceremony" meant, and I explained again what a president does. I reminded her about the day we went to the polls, and about how presidential inaugurations are the result of the voting. I described how both the old and the new president will be in the ceremony to show us when one president's job ends and the other one's job begins.
I tried to make it exciting for her -- again, because it is an historical event (and yes, because I don't want to hear whining). Ready to show her any of last week's newspapers, I asked her if she wanted to see a picture of the guy who was going to be the new president.
She replied, "No, that's alright. He's always smiling at me when I'm trying to go potty."
I told Oo that we would be watching some different shows tomorrow, that I want to watch the inauguration of the next president. I explained what "inauguration" and "ceremony" meant, and I explained again what a president does. I reminded her about the day we went to the polls, and about how presidential inaugurations are the result of the voting. I described how both the old and the new president will be in the ceremony to show us when one president's job ends and the other one's job begins.
I tried to make it exciting for her -- again, because it is an historical event (and yes, because I don't want to hear whining). Ready to show her any of last week's newspapers, I asked her if she wanted to see a picture of the guy who was going to be the new president.
She replied, "No, that's alright. He's always smiling at me when I'm trying to go potty."
Monday, January 12, 2009
Location, Location, Location
T: Here! Here!
(I have no idea why he was yelling this.)
Oo: (sitting several feet away from him) T, you're not here, you're there. If you were here, you'd be here. And if you're there, you're there.
T: I here! I here!
Oo: NO YOU'RE NOT!!
(And on and on it went. While I stood in the kitchen giggling.)
(I have no idea why he was yelling this.)
Oo: (sitting several feet away from him) T, you're not here, you're there. If you were here, you'd be here. And if you're there, you're there.
T: I here! I here!
Oo: NO YOU'RE NOT!!
(And on and on it went. While I stood in the kitchen giggling.)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
O Blog, Where Art Thou?
Holy moly! It's been 5 weeks since my last blog entry. That's a long time, especially since the past 5 weeks have been so full of holidays and events, decorations and cake, visiting and gifts. There's no way to reasonably re-cap it all, so here's a quick summary:
St. Nicholas' Day
As our tradition goes, St. Nicholas brought each of us a new Christmas ornament. But rather than including the usual cookies and candy with our ornaments, St. Nicholas surprised us with new Christmas books and CDs. Oo got "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and immediately fell in love with it. T got "A Pirate's Night Before Christmas," which reads, "The stockin's were stuck to the bowsprit with tar, In hopes that Sir Peggedy soon would be thar."
Oo's Birthday Party
Inspired by her Halloween costume, Oo chose a dinosaur theme for her party. The cake had a waterfall and a volcano (I turned a cupcake upside down and added frosting lava). When Oo saw it she squealed so loud that the windows nearly broke. The "Happy Birthday" banner had a typo, which was first discovered by T. No lie! I hung the decorations the night before the party. Watching me put the banner up, T read aloud, "H - A - P - P - P..." Sure enough he was right.
Oo's Actual Birthday
Adrian took the day off, and we all went to lunch together. Chocolate chip pancakes for lunch -- Oo and I were in heaven! Then while T napped and I proofed, Adrian took Oo to see her first movie in the theater -- "Madagascar Back 2 Africa." In the morning, Adrian prepped Oo on movie theater etiquette. At the matinée, they were the only two in the theater, which made it tempting to ignore theater etiquette. But the two of them assured me they behaved very well.
Santa Sightings
Our neighbors are good friends with Santa, so he makes a special trip to their house a few weeks before Christmas every year. Last year, Oo wanted nothing to do with Santa. (see Santa waving in the background in last year's picture)
But this year both kids were delighted to sit on his lap.
Every year on Christmas Eve afternoon Santa also rides down our street on top of a fire truck. This year he was inside the truck, barely visible, as the truck sped down our street. A bit disappointing -- the event prompted Oo to write a new blues song -- but we tried to remember that Santa had a very busy night ahead of him.
The 5 Days of Christmas
We went to 10 places to visit with friends and family over the course of 5 days -- the "Oo and T Holiday Tour" as I like to call it. Yet, there were still some very dear friends we couldn't manage to visit. We all received wonderful, wonderful gifts this year. Oo loves everything she (and T) received, but she raves most about several pairs of warm, snuggly PJs. That's my girl! My brother-in-law and sister spent months making T's present -- a rocking motorcycle. It's amazing, and words can't do it justice. Neither can this picture, but it's the best one that I have on my computer right now.
New Year's Eve
We toasted the New Year at 9pm at our friends' house, with all of our kids there. There were yummy nibbles, plenty to drink, and noise makers galore. Oo and her friends wore sparkly tiaras and giggled like crazy. For me, the highlight of the evening was taking a bite of the cake I had spent more than a day making -- I was given some very cool baking/decorating books for Christmas, and I just HAD to try out some of the ideas. Oo and T tried many, many times to grab a bite of cake while I was doing the decorating, but to no avail. We all had to wait until "midnight."
Currently
The kids and I all have colds that we caught at some point during the holiday visiting, but Adrian is fine (I call him Captain Immunity). And after a completely sleepless night with Oo and one teeny, tiny, little complaint she made about her ear, I followed my instincts and took her to the doctor yesterday. An exam of the left ear... yep, gross goo inside. An exam of the right ear... whoa!... blood red inside and very inflamed... surely a source of great pain. Poor Oo. We're right back to where we were before the holidays -- with an ear infection.
But it's not so bad being right back where we were. Yeah, the ear infection part stinks, but it's nice to have life back to normal. Normal schedules, normal obligations, normal bedtimes. But wait! Truman's 2nd birthday is just around the corner. There are invitations to mail and a cake to design...
St. Nicholas' Day
As our tradition goes, St. Nicholas brought each of us a new Christmas ornament. But rather than including the usual cookies and candy with our ornaments, St. Nicholas surprised us with new Christmas books and CDs. Oo got "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and immediately fell in love with it. T got "A Pirate's Night Before Christmas," which reads, "The stockin's were stuck to the bowsprit with tar, In hopes that Sir Peggedy soon would be thar."
Oo's Birthday Party
Inspired by her Halloween costume, Oo chose a dinosaur theme for her party. The cake had a waterfall and a volcano (I turned a cupcake upside down and added frosting lava). When Oo saw it she squealed so loud that the windows nearly broke. The "Happy Birthday" banner had a typo, which was first discovered by T. No lie! I hung the decorations the night before the party. Watching me put the banner up, T read aloud, "H - A - P - P - P..." Sure enough he was right.
Oo's Actual Birthday
Adrian took the day off, and we all went to lunch together. Chocolate chip pancakes for lunch -- Oo and I were in heaven! Then while T napped and I proofed, Adrian took Oo to see her first movie in the theater -- "Madagascar Back 2 Africa." In the morning, Adrian prepped Oo on movie theater etiquette. At the matinée, they were the only two in the theater, which made it tempting to ignore theater etiquette. But the two of them assured me they behaved very well.
Santa Sightings
Our neighbors are good friends with Santa, so he makes a special trip to their house a few weeks before Christmas every year. Last year, Oo wanted nothing to do with Santa. (see Santa waving in the background in last year's picture)
But this year both kids were delighted to sit on his lap.
Every year on Christmas Eve afternoon Santa also rides down our street on top of a fire truck. This year he was inside the truck, barely visible, as the truck sped down our street. A bit disappointing -- the event prompted Oo to write a new blues song -- but we tried to remember that Santa had a very busy night ahead of him.
The 5 Days of Christmas
We went to 10 places to visit with friends and family over the course of 5 days -- the "Oo and T Holiday Tour" as I like to call it. Yet, there were still some very dear friends we couldn't manage to visit. We all received wonderful, wonderful gifts this year. Oo loves everything she (and T) received, but she raves most about several pairs of warm, snuggly PJs. That's my girl! My brother-in-law and sister spent months making T's present -- a rocking motorcycle. It's amazing, and words can't do it justice. Neither can this picture, but it's the best one that I have on my computer right now.
New Year's Eve
We toasted the New Year at 9pm at our friends' house, with all of our kids there. There were yummy nibbles, plenty to drink, and noise makers galore. Oo and her friends wore sparkly tiaras and giggled like crazy. For me, the highlight of the evening was taking a bite of the cake I had spent more than a day making -- I was given some very cool baking/decorating books for Christmas, and I just HAD to try out some of the ideas. Oo and T tried many, many times to grab a bite of cake while I was doing the decorating, but to no avail. We all had to wait until "midnight."
Currently
The kids and I all have colds that we caught at some point during the holiday visiting, but Adrian is fine (I call him Captain Immunity). And after a completely sleepless night with Oo and one teeny, tiny, little complaint she made about her ear, I followed my instincts and took her to the doctor yesterday. An exam of the left ear... yep, gross goo inside. An exam of the right ear... whoa!... blood red inside and very inflamed... surely a source of great pain. Poor Oo. We're right back to where we were before the holidays -- with an ear infection.
But it's not so bad being right back where we were. Yeah, the ear infection part stinks, but it's nice to have life back to normal. Normal schedules, normal obligations, normal bedtimes. But wait! Truman's 2nd birthday is just around the corner. There are invitations to mail and a cake to design...
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