Nope, daddy.
Jellybean was engaging in some dramatic play the other night. (read: dressing up in WILD tutus, jewelry, and a hotpink cape with a lemon yellow lightening bolt on it)
She was running around chanting "hero, hero, hero..."
I asked her who her hero was.
Without breaking stride she yelled out "DADDY!"
That's my girl.
Now, go ask for that pony. Quick, before the endorphins wear off...
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Magic
The stories inside Monkey's head are magical. Full of laughter, and imagination, made up words and wacky strangeness.
I understand why the Dr. Suess stories are so appealing to her.....her brain thinks like that, too.
This morning she lagged behind on the way to the bus stop, because, as she put it, she needed to lock the door so the polar bears wouldn't get out while they were sleeping. This was in reference to a padlock hangling idly on the side of a window...
Yesterday she left the room and shut the door because..... I was at the dentist, and I didn't need to go with her because she's older than me.
She has mentioned repeatedly that Jellybean needs to share her teething toy, Sophie the giraffe, because she (Monkey) needs to teach her how to talk (by squeezing the toy and making it squeek).
She cooks dinosaurs with carrots....
Elephants live in trees.....
Princesses are known as dancerinas....
Life is very, very interesting to a three year old!
I understand why the Dr. Suess stories are so appealing to her.....her brain thinks like that, too.
This morning she lagged behind on the way to the bus stop, because, as she put it, she needed to lock the door so the polar bears wouldn't get out while they were sleeping. This was in reference to a padlock hangling idly on the side of a window...
Yesterday she left the room and shut the door because..... I was at the dentist, and I didn't need to go with her because she's older than me.
She has mentioned repeatedly that Jellybean needs to share her teething toy, Sophie the giraffe, because she (Monkey) needs to teach her how to talk (by squeezing the toy and making it squeek).
She cooks dinosaurs with carrots....
Elephants live in trees.....
Princesses are known as dancerinas....
Life is very, very interesting to a three year old!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Green Eyed Monster
One of the most common questions M and I answer these days is how Monkey is behaving now that Jellybean has arrived. This question comes in many different formats and forms, but basically, everyone wants to know if Monkey is jealous.
And the short answer is, sometimes.
The long answer is that 98% of the time, Monkey loves being the big sister. She parrots the things we say but with her childish inflection and doe-eyed wonder at the world.....so things like "she's awake" and "look, Jellybean" convert from mundane sentences to the most adorable little vignettes of domesticity ever. When she tells you that the name of her baby doll is "jellybean" you want to just squeeze her tight and hope that her joy and wonder rub off on you - joy by osmosis!
But then, occasionally, things don't go quite as swimmingly.
Last week I was invited to participate in Monkey's school day for an hour - all the parents were invited to come in. They called it "work with your child" and it was a fun way to see what her life is like at school. Of course, being the dork that I am, all I could think about was the scientific principle (the name escapes me right now) that, by being present to observe the phenomena, you change it with your presence. But I digress.
Monkey and I arrived at school, and her day started. Taking off of coats and snowboots, putting her name on the fridge, putting away her lunch, all her normal chores. Then....books! (of course) Lots and lots of books.
Mama, read this. Mama read this. And this. And THIS. AND THIS. Sensory overload on books.
We were having a grand old time when her friend Nomi wandered over to give me a hug. Nomi always hugs me, so this is no big deal. But on this morning, Monkey was just.....not.....having.....it.
She announced, with a good deal of force, "no, walk away. MY mommy!" and then, in case her point was not clear, she took Nomi by the shoulders and showed her on her way. You know, with a polite shove.
She has to share at home. By god, she was NOT going to share at school, too.
And the short answer is, sometimes.
The long answer is that 98% of the time, Monkey loves being the big sister. She parrots the things we say but with her childish inflection and doe-eyed wonder at the world.....so things like "she's awake" and "look, Jellybean" convert from mundane sentences to the most adorable little vignettes of domesticity ever. When she tells you that the name of her baby doll is "jellybean" you want to just squeeze her tight and hope that her joy and wonder rub off on you - joy by osmosis!
But then, occasionally, things don't go quite as swimmingly.
Last week I was invited to participate in Monkey's school day for an hour - all the parents were invited to come in. They called it "work with your child" and it was a fun way to see what her life is like at school. Of course, being the dork that I am, all I could think about was the scientific principle (the name escapes me right now) that, by being present to observe the phenomena, you change it with your presence. But I digress.
Monkey and I arrived at school, and her day started. Taking off of coats and snowboots, putting her name on the fridge, putting away her lunch, all her normal chores. Then....books! (of course) Lots and lots of books.
Mama, read this. Mama read this. And this. And THIS. AND THIS. Sensory overload on books.
We were having a grand old time when her friend Nomi wandered over to give me a hug. Nomi always hugs me, so this is no big deal. But on this morning, Monkey was just.....not.....having.....it.
She announced, with a good deal of force, "no, walk away. MY mommy!" and then, in case her point was not clear, she took Nomi by the shoulders and showed her on her way. You know, with a polite shove.
She has to share at home. By god, she was NOT going to share at school, too.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Another GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!
Huzzah! My little brother and his gorgeous wife (parents to HP) are having a girl! (And she's healthy - that's really the best part of their scan today.)
The tribe of bossy girls is growing. God, this is going to be fun. And OHMYGOD are the teen years going to be interesting!
The tribe of bossy girls is growing. God, this is going to be fun. And OHMYGOD are the teen years going to be interesting!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
To sleep, perchance to dream...
Monkey had an extra-early start this morning. About 4:55am she was restless in her crib, and by 5:05am she was crying for milk. (By the way, this is a big deal - asking for "milk" instead of a bottle! She now drinks all of her milk out of a real cup. Laundry has increased, but she's a big girl now!)
I got up to wrangle her, and M got the milk heated in the kitchen. After Monkey gulped down the milk I brought her back to her room and snuggled into her rocking chair/glider with her under her blankie, hoping she'd go back to sleep. A few times I tried to put her into her crib, but she fussed so I just ended up holding her.
I'm exhausted, because I didn't go back to sleep. But do you know what I got to see? I got to see Monkey dreaming.
She was in my arms, snuggled against me, and she started giggling - in her sleep! She was smiling and giggling, at whatever dream was flitting across her retinas....
Tonight I'll regret being up so early, as I will be extra tired. But I wouldn't have missed watching Monkey dreaming for anything in the world.
We always say she's a happy kid. She even dreams happy. I like that.
I got up to wrangle her, and M got the milk heated in the kitchen. After Monkey gulped down the milk I brought her back to her room and snuggled into her rocking chair/glider with her under her blankie, hoping she'd go back to sleep. A few times I tried to put her into her crib, but she fussed so I just ended up holding her.
I'm exhausted, because I didn't go back to sleep. But do you know what I got to see? I got to see Monkey dreaming.
She was in my arms, snuggled against me, and she started giggling - in her sleep! She was smiling and giggling, at whatever dream was flitting across her retinas....
Tonight I'll regret being up so early, as I will be extra tired. But I wouldn't have missed watching Monkey dreaming for anything in the world.
We always say she's a happy kid. She even dreams happy. I like that.
Monday, March 17, 2008
She's found religion
We brought home the palm fronds from church yesterday. We figured, correctly, that Monkey would have fun playing with them.
What we didn't figure on? Was how much fun Ollie, our beloved cat, would also enjoy playing with them.
Monkey figured out that Ollie liked the chase the fronds, and the game was ON.
First, Monkey would dangle the frond. Ollie would pounce. Monkey would shriek. Then Ollie would run away from the noise. So Monkey would chase her, and shriek. Then, once the cat was good and cowering (in a corner, under the couch, etc.), Monkey would shriek and run away. The cat (bless her soul, for putting up with this....that or bless her walnut-sized brain!) would see the frond bouncing across the carpet, and pounce. Monkey would shriek some more.
Are you seeing the pattern here?
I wonder if I should search webMD for "toddler-induced temporary hearing loss"? Hmm? Sorry, couldn't hear you, speak up!
What we didn't figure on? Was how much fun Ollie, our beloved cat, would also enjoy playing with them.
Monkey figured out that Ollie liked the chase the fronds, and the game was ON.
First, Monkey would dangle the frond. Ollie would pounce. Monkey would shriek. Then Ollie would run away from the noise. So Monkey would chase her, and shriek. Then, once the cat was good and cowering (in a corner, under the couch, etc.), Monkey would shriek and run away. The cat (bless her soul, for putting up with this....that or bless her walnut-sized brain!) would see the frond bouncing across the carpet, and pounce. Monkey would shriek some more.
Are you seeing the pattern here?
I wonder if I should search webMD for "toddler-induced temporary hearing loss"? Hmm? Sorry, couldn't hear you, speak up!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Hello, is there anybody out there? Just shout if you can hear me....
There are two ways that Monkey wakes up:
- Crying:
- Asking for our presence:
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Grinch
This morning, I felt like the Grinch when his heart swelled 10x as big....(wait, was it 3x as big? hmmm...I sense a movie we need to get!)
This morning we arrived early at school (The King drove me and Monkey to school, a real treat for everyone). So, to kill ten minutes we walked over to the nearby sliver of Riverside Park that has both a Joan of Ark statue as well as an ad hoc dog run. Monkey luuuuuvs dog runs.
After watching two young men exercise their dogs, and petting a sweet puggle, it was time to walk back to school. As we walked back on the dusty path, Monkey reached up and grabbed first my hand, then her daddy's hand. So we could all walk hand in hand to school. My heart almost burst with joy.
If I could bottle and sell that feeling of unadulturated joy and love? I'd be wealthier than a billion Bill Gates.
This morning we arrived early at school (The King drove me and Monkey to school, a real treat for everyone). So, to kill ten minutes we walked over to the nearby sliver of Riverside Park that has both a Joan of Ark statue as well as an ad hoc dog run. Monkey luuuuuvs dog runs.
After watching two young men exercise their dogs, and petting a sweet puggle, it was time to walk back to school. As we walked back on the dusty path, Monkey reached up and grabbed first my hand, then her daddy's hand. So we could all walk hand in hand to school. My heart almost burst with joy.
If I could bottle and sell that feeling of unadulturated joy and love? I'd be wealthier than a billion Bill Gates.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Some observations from the mother of an insane toddler....
For the record? I love my daughter. In fact, love is a weak word to describe my feelings towards her.
However, sometimes I have to just laugh.....here is why (at least this week):
1) The pacifier is now known as the "nuclear option" (as in, when she goes nuclear...). It used to be affectionately known as the "mute button" before we learned that Monkey's wails were loud enough to peel paint off the walls while simultaneously piercing eardrums. Why the wailing? See items 2, 4, 5 and 6, below.
2) The only acceptable food groups for Monkey include: a) cheerios; b) fruit; c) fake crab; and d) cookies. All other food/food groups are suspicious and must be licked with a wrinkled nose before potential rejection. Also, all foods must now be transported into Monkey's mouth by her hands, and her hands only. Spoons and sporks are to be rejected or recycled as weapons of mess and destruction. Ok, busted - you're right, I'm exaggerating: she will also happily ingest any random tidbits of cheerios, fruit, dust, paper or other delicious detritus she finds on the ground.
3) Monkey loves to walk, fast, and if at all possible will reject the offer of a helping hand to balance her or otherwise slow her down. Added to her "suicide gene," which prompts her to head right into traffic/towards danger, this means that we are constantly scurrying around half-bent over, keeping her out of harm's way.
4) Never the less, she manages to find harm's way. Yesterday, while at the park, within arm's reach of mom, dad, nana and granddad, Monkey bent at the waist to inspect the laces on her new sneakers. She stood there, gravely inspecting the laces when...she fell forward. Face plant. She has a faint pattern of scratches/bruises on her forehead that looksexactly like the asphalt. Just in time to go to school this Thursday.
5) Speaking of school, Monkey's lead teacher from montessori daycare/preschool came to our apartment this past Friday to meet Monkey. I was all set to comb Monkey's hair into pigtails, and put her in a smashingly-cute (or at least clean) outfit to make a good impression. So of course, not 30 minutes before the teacher arrived, Monkey was toddling past a speaker and wiped out, bashing her face on the edge. Although she was no longer sobbing when the teacher arrived, her hair was uncombed, she was still in her pj's smeared with breakfast, and her eye had puffed up sufficiently to prompt the teacher to ask if we wanted to reschedule so we could take her to the doctor/ER. Now that's what I'd call a memorable first impression.
6) Amidst the trauma and melodrama, some seriously funny behavior....Monkey adores her pediatrician but is woefully afraid of his stethoscope. Having it placed on her back caused her to shake, shriek, and sob for a good 10 minutes AFTER he hid the infernal device from her sight. So, being a good godmother and a good pediatrician, my cousin Heather brought over her own stethoscope to help Monkey with this phobia. At the sight of it, Monkey's eyes grew wide and her lip started to tremble in anticipation of tears. A compromise was reached and the stethoscope was nonchalantly hung on the back of a chair, while Monkey played on the other side of the table, out of sight. Perhaps 5 minutes passed, and then....Monkey tried to sneak up on the stethoscope! She crouched down low, put her hands out in front of her, and - with her eyes glued to the stethoscope to make sure it wasn't moving - she snuck around the edge of the table and another chair to take a peek at it!! My little huntress!!! Heather laughed so hard I thought she was going to fall out of her chair, and I had Elmer Fudd's voice running through my head ("Shh, be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting a wabbit..."). While this does not bode well for future doctor's appointments, we did discover that stringing the stethoscope through the handles to the china cabinet will stop Monkey from attempting to break through the babyproofing. Excellent (ab)use of a phobia, wouldn't you say? I thought so.
That's all for now. Stay tuned!
MamaCarter
(Editor's note - Monkey is fine, healing nicely, and that nasty speaker is now swaddled in foam...oh and Social Services has yet to appear, so apparently we're in the clear, for now....)
However, sometimes I have to just laugh.....here is why (at least this week):
1) The pacifier is now known as the "nuclear option" (as in, when she goes nuclear...). It used to be affectionately known as the "mute button" before we learned that Monkey's wails were loud enough to peel paint off the walls while simultaneously piercing eardrums. Why the wailing? See items 2, 4, 5 and 6, below.
2) The only acceptable food groups for Monkey include: a) cheerios; b) fruit; c) fake crab; and d) cookies. All other food/food groups are suspicious and must be licked with a wrinkled nose before potential rejection. Also, all foods must now be transported into Monkey's mouth by her hands, and her hands only. Spoons and sporks are to be rejected or recycled as weapons of mess and destruction. Ok, busted - you're right, I'm exaggerating: she will also happily ingest any random tidbits of cheerios, fruit, dust, paper or other delicious detritus she finds on the ground.
3) Monkey loves to walk, fast, and if at all possible will reject the offer of a helping hand to balance her or otherwise slow her down. Added to her "suicide gene," which prompts her to head right into traffic/towards danger, this means that we are constantly scurrying around half-bent over, keeping her out of harm's way.
4) Never the less, she manages to find harm's way. Yesterday, while at the park, within arm's reach of mom, dad, nana and granddad, Monkey bent at the waist to inspect the laces on her new sneakers. She stood there, gravely inspecting the laces when...she fell forward. Face plant. She has a faint pattern of scratches/bruises on her forehead that looks
5) Speaking of school, Monkey's lead teacher from montessori daycare/preschool came to our apartment this past Friday to meet Monkey. I was all set to comb Monkey's hair into pigtails, and put her in a smashingly-cute (or at least clean) outfit to make a good impression. So of course, not 30 minutes before the teacher arrived, Monkey was toddling past a speaker and wiped out, bashing her face on the edge. Although she was no longer sobbing when the teacher arrived, her hair was uncombed, she was still in her pj's smeared with breakfast, and her eye had puffed up sufficiently to prompt the teacher to ask if we wanted to reschedule so we could take her to the doctor/ER. Now that's what I'd call a memorable first impression.
6) Amidst the trauma and melodrama, some seriously funny behavior....Monkey adores her pediatrician but is woefully afraid of his stethoscope. Having it placed on her back caused her to shake, shriek, and sob for a good 10 minutes AFTER he hid the infernal device from her sight. So, being a good godmother and a good pediatrician, my cousin Heather brought over her own stethoscope to help Monkey with this phobia. At the sight of it, Monkey's eyes grew wide and her lip started to tremble in anticipation of tears. A compromise was reached and the stethoscope was nonchalantly hung on the back of a chair, while Monkey played on the other side of the table, out of sight. Perhaps 5 minutes passed, and then....Monkey tried to sneak up on the stethoscope! She crouched down low, put her hands out in front of her, and - with her eyes glued to the stethoscope to make sure it wasn't moving - she snuck around the edge of the table and another chair to take a peek at it!! My little huntress!!! Heather laughed so hard I thought she was going to fall out of her chair, and I had Elmer Fudd's voice running through my head ("Shh, be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting a wabbit..."). While this does not bode well for future doctor's appointments, we did discover that stringing the stethoscope through the handles to the china cabinet will stop Monkey from attempting to break through the babyproofing. Excellent (ab)use of a phobia, wouldn't you say? I thought so.
That's all for now. Stay tuned!
MamaCarter
(Editor's note - Monkey is fine, healing nicely, and that nasty speaker is now swaddled in foam...oh and Social Services has yet to appear, so apparently we're in the clear, for now....)
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