Conversations with My 2 Year Old

If you have a two year old in your life, this post may seem familiar. The things that comes out of Chickie's mouth keep me on my toes, make me smile, make me laugh, occasionally make me blush, sometimes make me want to bang my head against a wall, and never cease to amaze me.

Recent examples:

Last night at dinner, with a full plate of food in front of her (all which she has eaten and enjoyed many, many times!):
Lily: Umm, I need a snack.
Me: You have a full plate of food right in front of you. Try the chicken in some dip-dip, it's yummy.
Lily: No, I think I need a snack.
Me: You need to eat your dinner.
Lily: Umm, I think I will just watch cartoons.
Me: looks at Matt and smacks own head as child climbs down from table

About 10 pm last night.
Lily (over the monitor): Momeeeeeeee
Me (going into her room): What's wrong baby, why aren't you sleeping?
Lily (fake crying): I want to go in the pool.
Me: It is sleeping time now, we can't go in the pool. Besides, it is dark out and we wouldn't be able to see. We can go in the pool tomorrow, if it isn't raining. We will go do errands, eat lunch, and go in the pool.
Lily: And have a snack too.
Me: If you eat a good breakfast and lunch, we can maybe have a snack.
Lily: And go in the pool.
Me: Yup.
Lily: And have a snack.
Me: You have a two track mind. Go to sleep, I love you.

Today at the grocery store, passing a woman in a full on burqa, face covered and all:
Lily (pointing, of course): What's that?
Me: It is a woman grocery shopping, just like us. (and hurrying out of the aisle!)
At least she didn't ask what that smell was, because this woman was, umm, fragrant!

Today, once home from the grocery store. I am trying to unload the groceries.
Me: Lily, please watch some cartoons while I unload the groceries. Then we will have lunch and can go in the pool.
Lily (after having been re-directed into the other room at least ten times): Mommy, why are you mad?
Me: I am not mad hun, I am just a little frustrated that you aren't being a good listener.
Lily: But why are you mad?
Me: I am not mad, but please try to be a good listener.
Lily: But why are you mad mommy?
Lily (a couple minutes later, after the above has been repeated no fewer than 8 million times): It's okay mommy, we are both sorry.
Me: Okay. Wait, wha? (bangs head repeatedly against wall)

Five minutes after lunch is done.
Lily: Umm, I need a snack.
Me: No (walks away....)

This is just a sampling of the last 24 hours.

I think I need some Advil.

Small Victories

I have been a mommy for a little over 27 months now. Most days I would say it isn't too bad of a gig. Most days I would say there is nothing I would rather be doing. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I am a rather lazy parent. I have poor follow through. I don't always do a good job of setting boundaries and communicating expectations. I am the strict parent in the house, and that statement alone is a joke. We are lax, but that has worked for us. We aim for a relative bedtime. We suggest helping to pick up toys, or the toys may have to sit in time out for 24 hours. I have been known to dole out snacks within 30 minutes of an uneaten lunch, or dinner, or breakfast. I have also been known to engage in - and lose - arguments with a two year old. I think I, er, we, have been able to get away with this because, as a whole, Chickie is a pretty clever, easy-going, mild mannered child.

Lately, however, I have reached the conclusion that we need some discipline and I am going to have to make more of an effort to set boundaries and limits, follow through on discipline, and so on. Today is a great example. Today was a rough day. Today started off with Chickie sleeping until almost 10. Personally, I don't usually drag my extra large behind out of bed until Chickie is ready to get up. I know some of you hate me for admitting I sleep in until 9 some mornings. So when she sleeps that late, guess who else is sleeping in? Yup, we both got up late this morning. I was bound and determined to get something done. The bathroom majorly needed to be cleaned. I had laundry to do. The house needed to be dusted and vacuumed. I also thought that a shower would be nice. Silly me and my best intentions.

Before I got to work, I decided we should play outside on Chickie's water table. She adores the thing and it keeps her occupied for hours. I wanted to do a little weeding in the garden and re-pot a couple plants that needed it. Unfortunately the hornets, or wasps, or bees, or whatever exact species of flying devils that Matt has been battling for three weekends are still hanging around. They don't really bother us, but there are enough of them that I don't want to play outside mere feet from where they have taken up residence. Chickie could easily step on one, or lean against one on the hot tub. I don't want her getting stung, especially since I am not sure exactly what they are. Anyway, I also thought it would wear her out since she had slept a little later and I had BIG plans for her nap time. But it wasn't to be. I threw in a load of laundry, started on the tub, and left Chickie playing with her toys. For good measure and added insurance that she would be occupied, I also put on some cartoons. She played relatively well and only asked for the mysterious "bear cookies" for a snack a couple times. (Seriously, she requests bear cookies for a snack all the time. We have no idea what they are. She takes us to the fridge, but can't find them. She takes us to the pantry, but can't find them...) All was going well. Since we had a little bit of a later breakfast, I distracted her when she asked for snacks since I wanted to try to stick to a somewhat normalish lunch time. I made her a lunch of grapes, a cheese stick, a jelly sandwich, and some milk. All things she eats. All things she likes. She can be picky so I usually only make things I know she will eat. Today she wasn't having any it. Not even the grapes. She always at least eats her fruit, unless it is a banana. I told her fine, but I am tired of throwing away food, so I left the plate on the table, put the milk in the fridge and told her she could watch Word World and then it was nap time. Almost immediately she came looking for a snack. I told her no snack, but she could eat her lunch. No dice. She didn't want it. Another thing she had no interest in - napping. I wasn't totally surprised, since she had slept in a bit. Still, it was messing up my plans!

The afternoon was rough. She would play, she would ask for a snack, I would tell her no but offer her lunch, she would refuse, she would be under foot and whiny. She would hit at me, we would try time outs. She would throw a fit. I even put her in her crib for a time out, in hopes that she would fall asleep. I don't generally like to use her crib as a disciplinary tool because I don't want her to associate her bed with punishment. No dice still. I resigned myself to the fact that my itty bitty bathroom was going to take me all afternoon to clean. That shower I was hoping for wasn't going to happen. I had to use all my energy not to totally lose my flip-flip-flippity-flipping mind!

The victory? Besides not totally losing it...at 5 pm, after asking a million times for a snack and refusing her lunch a million times, Chickie finally decided she wanted to eat her lunch. And she ate every bite! It doesn't seem like much, but I did the happy dance because I won this battle. The battle wasn't so much with her, though. I won the battle with myself to stick to my guns, let her know who was boss, and show her I meant business. You don't have to eat your lunch, but you aren't getting a snack five minutes after leaving the table (despite what usually happens!) I felt like a real mom. You know, the ones that actually discipline and set good examples. The ones that aren't total push overs. Yup! That's me. And after that, the whole day turned around! She still ate some dinner. And an earlier bed time to boot!

I think I might be getting the hang of this mommy thing...

My Family

Saturday we spent an almost perfect day with my family. I say almost because the dang mosquitoes were out in droves. Unfortunately it seems that Chickie is just as tasty as I am to the blasted little bloodsuckers! I counted 10! bites on her while giving her a bath this afternoon. We spent the afternoon and evening sitting on the deck, talking, eating, watching Lily play in her little pool, just doing what we do best. I asked my mom no fewer than five times if we could move in. I just love being at the house I grew up in, surrounded by my family.

I seriously have the greatest family in the world. We are loud. We are boisterous. Occasionally we are crass. Often we are funny. We talk, we drink, we eat. Any one of the aforementioned may be done in excess at any time, by any member. We laugh. A lot. Sometimes people get pissed. Very rarely someone crosses the line. We tell it like it is. A stranger would be terrified, possibly even horrified. But no one remains a stranger long in my parents' house. If you tolerate people interrupting each other, good company, even better food, and being amongst people who truly would choose to hang out with each other, even if they weren't tied together by blood, then you are welcome with open arms.

The Cast.

Dad: This former jock did pretty well, despite being blessed with three daughters and zero sons (biological anyway...he does have one pretty kick ass son in law!). All three of his daughters can throw spirals like no one's business. He is one of the hardest working people I know and just a ridiculous source of information. The man knows everyone and everything. He would give you the shirt off his back. We butted heads a lot when I was growing up (because he was uber strict!) but I love hanging out with him now. He loves his family and I think being a grandfather is one of his biggest joys. He has a special bond with Lily and has since she was born.

Mom: This lady can cook like no one's business! She is the best cook I know, hands down. My mom knows how to do everything. I can't remember calling her asking how to do something and her not knowing. She is creative and grows a mean garden. My mom has a huge heart and great ears (you know, for listening). I am sure we also butted heads when I was younger, because I was a brat to be sure, but nothing comes to mind. She is never more than a phone call away, but even that seems too far sometimes. I think I am a lot like my mom, and while some people might cringe being told they are just like their mothers, I take it as a huge compliment. My mom is truly one of my best friends.

Jackie: Middle Child. Independent. Doesn't take crap from anyone. Funny. Hilarious. A total clown. Whatever you do, don't interrupt her sleep! Opinionated, but in a good way, because she knows what she is talking about. She is the grammar nazi and has her finger on the pulse of current events. She is tough as nails, but beneath her iron exterior, she is really very sensitive.

Steph: The Baby. I don't think she will ever move far from home. Shares my love of celebrity gossip. We talk all the time. She talks all.the.time! Lily's godmother. Compassionate. Huge heart. A born teacher - I see her with Lily and teaching is just what she was designed to do. Sometimes a drama queen but a lot stronger than I think anyone gives her credit for.

That's them. In a nut shell. I could write volumes about the people that mean the most to me in the world, beside Lily and Matt. We are an ornery bunch to be sure, but fiercely loyal. You won't get far talking smack about one Smith in the presence of another. We are a goofy group. But on a Saturday afternoon, in the middle of summer, there is no one I would rather be surrounded by, and no place I would rather be, than with my family on my parents' deck!

Things I Love Thurdsday: Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer

Chickie has had a fever for the past couple days. It averages around 102, goes down with Motrin, and then comes right back up at about the six hour mark. We are leaving for the doctor's in about an hour. I really hate fevers! Chickie has no other complaints other than she is hot. The problem I was having, aside from the unexplained fever, was getting a good reading on what her actual temperature was. This is only the second fever she has had, so I have made due with the couple of, ahem, cheapy thermometers I had. I had an underarm one. I think it was pretty accurate, but you try keeping a thermometer under the arm of a two year old for three minutes. Ditto on the temple thermometer which had to be held against the temple for a minute. Our ear thermometer has never really worked, not to mention the battery was dead and I have no idea what kind of battery it takes. Small and roundish? And rectal temps...yeah, forget that. I read somewhere a while ago that it was accurate but there was a danger of inserting it too far and injuring your child, and that was enough for me. So what is a mommy to do?
Well, Facebook of course! I put out the call for thermometer recommendations, and almost every.single.person! responded with the Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer. And then something in my brain registered...I think my BFF Jen told me about three years ago that it was pricey but a baby must have. I am a little slow on the uptake sometimes.
This thermometer is a little on the pricier side, about $49.99 at Walgreens and BabiesRUs (I did find it at Walmart for $33.94!) but as any parent knows, when it comes to your child's health, no price is too high! What I love about the Exergen is that I merely hold down the button and scan it across my daughter's forehead, from the center to the hair line, and it instantly reads her temp. It takes about three seconds and was with in .2 degrees five times in a row. My husband and I had fun scanning each other's foreheads all evening. What can I say, we are easily amused! But the thing never wavered! It read true all night long. Ahem. When I give her a dose of Motrin at 6 pm and know that it is about worn off at midnight, I no longer have to risk waking her up to take her temperature. I can scan this across her forehead while she sleeps! The only thing that would improve this thermometer is a backlight display so I don't have to scamper into the hallway to read it. Truly a worthwhile investment.
And as a funny coincidence, when I was in the recovery room after my little surgery last week, the nurse used a similar type thermometer to check my temp. In my post anesthesia stupor, I am pretty sure I asked the nurse if it was an expensive thermometer because it would sure be handy to have to take Chickie's temp. I am also pretty sure she looked at me like I was crazy. And I am positive that the one she used was a super fancy one that probably cost more than my house.
Anyway, what do you love this week? Head over to The Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday! And by all means, if you are a mommy, get yourself one of these babies!

Outside my window..... I can see that the bushes out front really need to be trimmed.

I am thinking..... about starting to think about the upcoming MOPS year. I am doing Finance this year.

I am thankful for... a wonderfully successful surgery last week.

I am wearing.... khaki capris, a printed green tank top, and some of my new Lia Sophia bling...a necklace, earrings, bracelet. Oh yeah, and I actually put mascara on today.

I am remembering..... that I need to pay a bill.

I am going..... to veg on the couch and watch TV while Chickie is napping. Technically I am still recuperating!

I am currently reading..... The China Study, The Celestine Prophecy, and The Time Traveler's Wife.

I am hoping.....that Chickie stops running a fever.

On my mind..... thinking of a friend who lost someone unexpectedly.

Noticing that.....I really need to repaint my nails.

Pondering these words..... Live like no one else so you can live like no one else.

From the kitchen..... lunch dishes need to be put in the dishwasher and we are having spaghetti for dinner.

Around the house..... mounds of dog hair that reappear within mere moments of being vacuumed up!

One of my favorite things....my little girls giggle!

From my picture journal.....

Chickie and her Gi-Gi-ma, almost exactly two years ago. I miss you everyday Grandma!

{Untiltled}

As I am sure my sister is just about to point out, it has been almost exactly a month since I have posted anything. So I guess you could say I am due - well, over due. Life has just been trucking along here. Not too terribly much has been going on. We have been enjoying summer. I haven't touched my camera in weeks, so I don't have any new pictures. Lest you think I am not taking any, I have been using my iPhone, which is significantly smaller and fits in my pocket. It allows me to be both a participant in activities, as well as the photographer. The only problem is I haven't quite gotten around to figuring out how to get said photos from phone to computer. I am, however, really good at posting them to facebook. That has to count for something. I am in a bullet point kinda mood, so here is a bit of what has been going on:
- This past weekend was the 4th of July. It was a bit low key due to my recuperating from minor surgery, but Chickie loved the fireworks. She calls them "Big Booms" and made the connection (all by herself!) that they are like thunderstorms. I never cease to be amazed at her little mind working. Soon, very soon, she is going to be able to outsmart us. Wait...she already can!
- I had laproscopic surgery last Thursday for some girly issues. I am feeling pretty good, and the surgery was a big success. I was more nervous about the outcome and will gladly deal with the healing process since it was so successful!
- We (okay, Matt!) finally got the pool up yesterday. Unfortunately, because of the aforementioned surgery, I can't be in the pool for a couple weeks. This is very hard on Chickie as she asks me every 20 seconds if we can go in the pool. I have to keep reminding her about the owie on my belly button. She seems to understand, but it breaks my heart not to be able to take her in it. Especially when in is 90 degrees out.
- Even though I just chopped my hair at Easter, I have decided to grow it out again. It is looking quite two tone right now and I am having a hard time deciding if I want to continue being a blond or go back to my natural color (which is technically known as blah). This keeps me up at night.
- I have been craving sushi ever since I had it over a week ago. It is like an all consuming thought. Clearly, I have issues.
- Chickie loves to sing. It is the cutest thing.
- Except her dancing, which is equally as cute.
- I love my little girl so much.

The End