My savior

Tonight, had you stood outside the door to our apartment, and listened in between the hour of 7 and 8 pm, you could be forgiven for thinking that either 1) I was completely abusing my children, or 2) my children are unable to communicate except through screaming, crying and yelling at the top of their lungs.

Jellybean and Monkey yelled and cried because I wanted them to eat. Because I wanted them to keep the milk in their cups instead of on the floor. Because I insisted that hair brushes are not intended to be dipped into milk and then sucked on. Because chocolate is not a main course. Because air must be breathed. Because the light is burnt out in their overhead lamp. Because I am not dad. Because baths are required when your face is covered in dirt. Because it was night time. Because the cat wouldn't stay anywhere near them as they S>C>R>E>A>M>E>D>>>>>> at the top of their miniature lungs. (good lungs, those!)

(they were a tad bit overtired, I think)

And then, it happened. They cried and asked why  - WHY - wasn't Ollie cat staying with them.

I told them the truth. Ollie cat doesn't like it when they cry. She likes it when they are quiet. And happy.

And I swear to G*d, it took Jellybean precisely 4 seconds to simmer down and plaster a smile on her face.  When I carried Ollie into the living room it took only another 10 seconds for Monkey to stop the hiccuping and dry her tears.

Jellybean, bless her earnest little soul, turned to me and said "I can be happy now mama"...as she stroked Ollie's soft fur.

I am totally brushing Ollie an extra 10 minutes tonight. She can even have my pillow, if she wants it. She's earned it.

Goodnight, moon

So with the girls sharing a room, sometimes the bedtime routine gets a bit messed up. One girl will stay up later than she should, and keep the other one wide awake.

Sometimes they even yell at each other.

But most nights? Most nights they are a comfort to one another.

Recently we got a LED moon for Monkey. She takes it to bed, and the light is sufficient to make her feel safe, but not so bright as to wake up her little sister (who goes to bed before her, and needs the lights out). We love this moon. It's made nighttimes easier.

But the other night? For whatever reason, Jellybean just wouldn't got to sleep. I blame it on the excitement of having grandma in town. She was PSYCHED. And, consequently, was wide awake at 9:30pm. (monkey was sound asleep)

I walked into their room. She perked up, rolled over and said "hi mama!" I used the mom-voice and intoned "Jellybean?" (translation.....you are in trouble, dude). So, smart cookie that she is?

She said "ok mama, good night." Like - get outta here, I get it.

I think she fell asleep 30 minutes later. Total stinker.

An unmitigated failure

As part of the preparation for babygirlcarter#2's immininent arrive in 8 weeks 4 days (but who's counting, really), we need to move Monkey to her big girl bed.

In her big girl room....

On the other side of the apartment.....

Without all her toys, books, and artwork on the wall that make it "her" room......

And which presently looks like the receiving bay of a goodwill or salvation army drop-off site. Replete with boxes of books, detritus, used coats, electronic odds and ends, and you know - stuff.

That sort of chaos makes me itch. Yes, because I'm anal and I love a clean and tidy apartment. It makes M itch even more, because he abhors clutter like...hmm, roaches hate Raid? It's a strong aversion, let's just leave it at that.

So, it shouldn't have surprised us that Monkey didn't like this room either. She IS our child, after all.

Still, we tried on both Saturday and Sunday to get her to take a nap in her big girl bed. In theory, she's over-the-moon excited about this option. She begs to sit on her bed, and when you ask if she's going to nap there you get an "oh YES" and vigorous head nodding.

Reality was a wee bit different. Tantrum central: crying, wailing, gnashing of teeth and throwing herself at the door. Oy.

So she slept in her crib. Even there we had to let her cry it out - she'd worked herself up so much there was no other option.

We have a lot of work to do. We need to transform the pit of hell, um the big girl room, into an actual big girl's room. Wish us luck.

So Hey! See you at the Salvation Army drop off this weekend!

We're in for a bumpy ride

Monkey continues to amaze and confound me.

On the one hand, she has continued her streak of peacefully going to bed without a peep. Literally, says "I love you" and then boom - out like a light. (and can I tell you? when she says "I love you" umprompted, I melt. Good thing she doesn't know to ask for a pony right then...)

On the other hand, she loses her sh*t when her vision of the world is marred by reality.

You know, like when I cut the peach instead of giving it to her whole. The horror of it all!!

"no cut, no cut, no cut arrrghhh!! gnash teeth, wail wail sob sob shudder"

Um, ok, here's the part that isn't cut.

But no, the peach is ruined.

I think being a toddler is hard work. And that we're in for a bumpy ride. Good thing she's so damn wonderful the other 90% of the time. You know, so she can see the ripe old age of three. Just sayin'.

Bonding time

Last night M was a rock star - and by that I mean he gave me the Yankees tickets he got from work and stayed home with Monkey while I went to the fun (but embarrasing - we left when it was Orioles 11, Yankees 0....and I'm afraid to see what the final score was!) game with my friend and fellow Yankees fan Jeremy.

Jeremy and I had a blast. We were up in the deck with a great view, the sun was shining but the wind was pleasantly blowing so we weren't hot, and the drunks around us were entertaining, rather than obnoxious. All in all, a good outing.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, M fed Monkey, took her on an outing for gelato (she spurned lemon but LOVED pineapple), gave her a bath and put her to bed.

And, apparently the streak of going to bed with grace and humor continued! Last night Monkey got into bed (well, her crib), and when M asked her if she wanted to lay down so that he could put her blankie over her she said "yes" and that was that! Lights out, no fuss, no muss, one soundly sleeping child. Wow.

Of course, I was eager to wake Monkey up this morning. She is so incredibly sweet in the mornings, she almost gives me a toothache. Seriously, this kid wakes up smiling! (wish that I could! harrumph). And, since last night was all about daddy, he's the first thing she asked for.

M came through the door, I moved aside, and the look of love and adoration on Monkey's face when she smiled up at her daddy made my day. That tinkling sound? That was the sound of my heart shattering like brittle glass and raining down on the ground.

And the best part is? When BGC#2 arrives, when I'm focused on nursing her and tending to her newborn needs? Monkey will turn to daddy and find everything in the world she needs right there. This is going to be a time of incredible bonding for them. And it makes me happy.

Where is my daughter and who are you?

So Monkey has a bedtime routine that involves, among other things, delaying sleep like a Master Jedi Knight with her mindtricks, and fighting sleep like a madwoman.

Usually, she'll flick the light on, and continue to cry for a bit, then settle into her crib and play with one of the gazillion items she's wheedled out of us and that everntually we'll need to pry out from underneath her sleeping form, later in the night.

Only last night? She not only asked to be put into her crib after I read her last book of the night, but then she said "thank you mommy" and promptly laid down in her crib to sleep!

No tears! No last demands for a 18th book or 29th toy for her enjoyment! No flicking the lights back on after I left!

Where is my daughter and who are you???

Music to my ears

Tonight it is M's turn to read to Monkey and put her to bed. We trade off, so we both get to read books to her, snuggle with her on the glider, and revel in her presence.

Tonight, Monkey chose a book full of songs. So M sang.

It is music to my ears. They are so happy.

And I couldn't love them more.

Jailhouse Rock

Monkey doesn't like to go to bed.

If we let her, she would continue to run (Yeah, um, sorry downstairs neighbors. Is that why you are moving to California? Oh, really? Ha, yeah, ok I actually meant that as a joke, well then, safe travels and, um, sorry...) around the apartment for hours past her bedtime.

She has a whole veritable cornucopia of stalling and delaying tactics, which include being cute, playing us off of each other, asking for milk, pretzels, water (with ice! WITH ice!), another book, the light on, elmo, etc. etc. etc. You get the drift.

But her latest thing? It kills me. Once we decline to engage in a debate about the 8 gazillion things she asks for to delay going to bed and we close the door to her room? She plunks down on her crib mattress, grabs her sippy cup (with ice), and drags it across the crib slats.

Kind of like a prisoner with her tin cup.