Bed bugs

Reading in bed.

I love that Jellybean is brushing Monkey's hair from her face. It is such a gentle moment. You know, before any maiming or other bodily harm occurs. 

The beginning of the end

Jellybean and Monkey are pretty good together. They only try to hurt or maim each other about 2% of the time, and steal toys from one another about 5% of the time. Altogether, that's darn good. And recently they have started to play - actually play - together, and it warms my heart.

However, the other morning they did something that put a tender tendril of fear in my heart, instead....
they BANDED TOGETHER against a common threat.

They both turned and told a babysitter - in a simultaneous showing of spirit - "no, don't touch our structure." It was like listening to defiance in stereo!

It's the beginning of the end....they are going to plot together against their parents. They will back each other up and wriggle out of trouble together! Manufacture excuses! Plot for more dessert and toys! Get the keys to the car! But, I wouldn't have it any.other.way. That sisterly bond is a beautiful thing.

However, don't ask me about this sentiment when they are teenagers. I will deny it.

Big Girl

After some hemming and hawing (and worrying about someone - ahem - getting out of bed all the time)....

we turned Jellybean's crib into a big girl bed.

The first thing she did was invite her big sister into her bed to read with her. All together now...awwwww.

They are growing up so fast. Where did my babies go?

sisters

Big Sister...

Recently, we've reversed our morning commute.

Now, Monkey and I take Jellybean to her school and drop her off, then make our way back up to our neighborhood to Monkey's preK class and then I'm off to work. It saves time, and now that Monkey is truly settled into her new school, it isn't too hard on her to visit - and then immediately leave - her old school. (even if she STILL won't talk to her favorite teacher Jenna - I guess some old habits/grudges/love affairs run deep. stubborn kid!)

I love watching Jellybean after we drop her off. She runs into  her room, zooming about to check out any new books, and settles into her "morning work"so happily. She's a joyful joyful toddler - full of humor and love and hugs.

But even better? Is watching Monkey watch Jellybean.

Often, Monkey will lean on a low bookshelf, cupping her chin in her hands, smiling as she watches Jellybean. She loves her little sister as much as I do. And that is saying a lot.

Then, moving on from that peaceful respite, our commute recommences. And monkey says goodbye:

"bye Jelly jelly cocopuff!"

Yup, it's official; Monkey has started giving her little sister nicknames. I love these two.

Bath time

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.

Princesses

Hello....anyone still out there?

I know, it's been radio silence. Hope readers still exist...

We've been busy. I'm on augmentin for a sinus/bronchitis infection and am feeling much better (aw, thanks for asking!)  - as a result I once again have the mental capacity to actually note the happenings in our lives....going to bed 38 seconds after the kids do leaves little time for things like blogging. Or, you know, life.

But life has been happening! Let me fill you in:

Jellybean broke my nose. She head butted me. (stop laughing, little brother!) I have been calling her a butthead at work for the past two weeks and only today did anyone get the joke. Head butt....butthead. Oh g*d my jokes are bad that I need to explain them! (I'm here all week! don't forget to tip your waitress! har)

But, no joke here - we're potty training our Jellybean! She's had three days at school without an accident! She's my big girl. We started this process at the prompting of her school - and also because she won't tolerate a dirty diaper. The kicker was that she kept taking off poopy diapers and I had to go find the - ahem - nuggets that rolled away. That was pretty motivating, between you and me.

Monkey wants in on all the praise we're heaping on Jellybean for using the potty - so now she offers to "show her sister how to use the potty" each time she heads in. And what the heck - she's a great role model, so we praise her. I love that kid. And I'm not the only one...

It's amazing how much Jellybean adores her big sister. She wants to sit by her at breakfast. She wants to wear her big sister's clothing to school (she wore two of Monkey's pj tops to school today. Yes, that's right, two. And yes, Jellybean is now picking out her clothes. sigh)

Anything that Monkey does? So does Jellybean. It's (no pun intended) monkey see, monkey do. And it's adorable. We used to think we had Jellybean for Monkey, but I think it's the other way around.

Monkey is thriving at school. We just signed her up for summer camp, and part of it will be Spanish immersion. I give her about 6 months before she starts teaching me things to say in Spanish, and tricks me (you know, like the lead in My Big Fat Greek Wedding who says "I have three testicles" to his fiancee's family....funny).

Monkey has also bought into the Santa thing, hook line and sinker. I was talking to her the other day, suggesting that if she was good maybe Santa would bring her and Jellybean a table that they could do artwork on together, and wouldn't that be fun...and she sighed, said yes it would be great, but "how will Santa get it down the chimney? the chimney is only 18 inches wide!!" Funny kid. Especially since we don't have a chimney!

Recent bon mots

Jellybean at breakfast: "I love you sausage..." (no, I love you daddy or mommy, though! the stinker)

Monkey at 9:45pm at night, when her little sister is wailing in her crib: "Shush!"....the response?... silence. (the guilty parents? we shrug and call it a night....)

Monkey when we did something dire (you know, enforcing bedtime, etc.): upon repairing to the couch, she informed her mother "You've ruined all my love for you. I only love Ollie, because she's nice to me. (and the academy award for best dramatic actress goes to....)

Monkey when I pick her up at school at 5:55pm: "Mommy, you're TOO early." (as I'm thinking, phew, I'm tired kid, let's go home already!)

Jellybean when we exhorted her to eat the "bears" (aka gummy vitamins): "no, mama, those are vitamins." (I stand corrected, kid - can't pull one over on you!)

Sometimes, money CAN buy you happiness

Jellybean is precocious in the manner of all second children (or any number other than first!). She watches her big sister and imitates her.

She imitates her reading. She imitates her silly voice. She imitates her dancing. She imitates her mad toothbrushing skillz..... and, she imitates her using the potty.

In fact, the other night we put her on the potty, and she actually peed in it! I'm not sure who was more startled - her, or me!

Now, as a resident of Manhattan that isn't wildly wealthy (or wildly underwater on a jumbo mortgage), we have limited living space. Our bathroom, shared by 4 humans and a geriatric cat, gives new meaning to the concept of family closeness. We simply don't have much extra space.

When Monkey was potty training, I bought her a special Elmo potty training seat. Which she thought was cool (in theory), but I hated. HATED.

See, this g*dam&n potty seat was HUGE. It took up half of the available space on the floor of our bathroom. And worse yet? When you touched Elmo's hand? He'd cackle, and say something congratulatory like "way to go" in that highpitched voice of his (shudder).

Then, when we were visiting Grandma and 'Andpa, we saw...THE potty seat. The BEST potty seat - ever. The kid part is hidden (held by a magnet) in the lid of the regular seat. No extra stuff in the way. No creepy voice in the middle of the night when your foot brushes Elmo's hand, causing you to leap 3 feet into the air.

And do you know that it cost about $30? That 30 dollars really made a vast improvement in our life.  Sometimes, just sometimes, money really can buy you happiness.

Interlude

Usually, evenings are a hectic mashup of the girls being hungry, being tired, struggling to garner my attention, etc. etc. etc.

This week, school is closed. In fact, Monkey will not be going back - she's graduated! But I digress.

This evening, I came home to reliever the sitter and, as I was leisurely preparing some baked salmon, I heard the girls....doing nothing.

I heard nothing.

So, I investigated. And found the two of them, side by side on the guest bed, reading books. It was lovely.

And then Jellybean objected to the excerpt she was reading and threw herself screeching on the book.

Interlude, interrupted. As it should be.

Cahoots

A lot of the time, the girls are either 1) ignoring each other, or 2) fighting and/or struggling with one another over something – a toy, a seat on the couch, mom or dad’s attention, etc. Monkey wants the book, Jellybean wants the cat, etc. etc. etc.

This morning, however, they were in cahoots. Secretly collaborating. Plotting and scheming. Being sisters.

Once I would get one settled/ready for school, the other would run off and cause some havoc. So, I would turn to that child and either get their shoes back on, or try to contain the mess, or – whatever - and as my attention was divided…the OTHER one would get into something. I’m not talking terrible mischief, just – you know – mischief. Shoes off, books on the floor, bags pulled out from under the stroller, etc.

At one point, I turned my back on them to shut a door, and as I was doing this they started screeching at each other. I turned back to see Jellybean with a blanket over her head (playing “spooky ghost” so she could reveal her face and say “boo!”) and Monkey tugging at it. (evidently Jellybean wanted to be in control of the reveal, not her sister!)

I raised my eyebrows to say “now girls, what’s the story here….” And before I could even say a word – they BOTH STARTED CHORTLING….and then took off in separate directions. It’s like they just know, innately, that if they run in opposite directions I can’t catch them both. I don’t know how they know this, they just do.

They are troublemakers. Rabble-rousers. Partners in crime…..

They are sisters.

You win some, you lose some

So this morning was a mixed bag. Monkey referred to The Girls' Room as "my room" (see! told you it was coming!). And that made me smile.

On the other hand, when I dropped the girls off at school I learned that Jellybean, aka Jaws, is biting. Again. She bit two kids yesterday because she didn't want to share (her toys, her space).

Like I said, you win some (sharing is good!), you lose some (sharing stinks, am biting in outrage!).

Sharing

Now that the girls are sharing a room, we're talking to them about sharing a lot more. In fact, we no longer call that room Jellybean's room, but affirmatively make a point of calling it "The Girls' Room" - and this title has taken hold to the point where if I ask Monkey where something is, she's more likely than not going to tell me it's "in The Girls' Room" which cracks me up. She hasn't yet said "my room" but that will come. Even though last night was a little rough, they are doing a spectacular job together.

However, we moved them into each other's space *just* as Jellybean's language skills have expanded to include the second favorite word of toddlers ("no" being first on the list, bien sur)....mine.

MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE

Ah, timing. You can't make this stuff up.

Murphy's Law

I think I shall stop crowing about our successes until they are SO FAR back in history, I can barely remember why I even cared at the time.

Why yes, tonight isn't going well putting the girls to sleep in their shared bedroom....why do you ask?

Sigh.

Bonding

Well folks, we did it. We officially moved Monkey and Jellybean into a room together. Yes, yes, I know that Monkey has been camping out on her sister's floor all month long, but now....she has her very own BUNK BED! (caps are necessary, as that's how she says it!)

Ok, calm down, we aren't actually letting her sleep on the upper bunk. Matter of fact, there's no mattress up there and instead houses only the ladder. So no jumpin' and fallin' off the bed for our Monkey. (I am now presently humming that nursery rhyme..) She's not allowed up there 'til she's 6. (yes, I know, two years from now, I can do math really I can!)

And she loves it. The gawdawful princess sheets help! (blech. shudder)

The best part, however, is watching Jellybean scramble up and over the end (it's too hard to get up on the side, as the mattress and comforter just don't give enough traction) of the bed, flop onto the pillows, and mutter "night night" as she giggles into the pilllows. I swear to g*d, if that kid only knew how to get out of her crib? I bed we'd find her in bed with her sister every.single.night.

Of course, Monkey might be cheesed to discover her sister snuggling up to her....but still, it's so cute.

I am not good at hiding things, apparently....

Getting Monkey out the door this morning was was tough.

She is getting a new (bunk) bed so she and Jellybean can share a room. So, to sweeten the pot (fine, BRIBE HER), we purchased some truly gawdawful "Princess Sheets."

This morning, Monkey found the princess sheets (no clue why she was digging to the bottom of the pile of clean laundry!!!) and went NUTZ with happiness. She wore them around the house like a robe, rolled on the floor, kissed and snuggled them, and basically ignored me while she petted her beloved sheets.
35 minutes later, we left.

Shake n Bake

This morning was - um - uneven.

The bad:
I spent 20 minutes looking for Jellybean's shoes, only to discover them at SCHOOL when I dropped her off. Grr. (babysitter decided to take her home, sans shoes, for whatever reason)

Then, once I lacquered the girls with sunblock, Jellybean made a beeline to the bathroom sink to wash her hands, and before I could provide the stepstool to her - she stood on the lip of the (dirty) catbox. And, well, catapaulted the litter (sh*t and all), all over herself, the bathroom floor, and even the bathroom door. The fine dust at the bottom of the litter pan clung to her legs like shake and bake. Needless to say, she got an impromptu bath before we left the house.

Gah, clumping litter does not wash off well when it's stuck to your sunblock-misted toddler.

The good:
The girls shared goldfish crackers on the bus as we went to school together. Each time Monkey fed Jellybean a "fishie", Jellybean would burble "thank you Monkey" and giggle, pleased that she was saying the right thing.

Jellybean is enjoying learning to talk. She is clearly full of ideas and conversations, brimming to get out!

These two get along so well, it is just amazing to me. I love my girls.

In which I pretend that she doesn't speak English....

This heat wave is pretty brutal.

I'm going to stop making jokes about it (for the next 5 minutes) as I just stuck my foot in my mouth with a colleague. I opened up the conversation with a bit about how this heat was killin' me, only to learn he's recently been released from the hospital, where he was treated for heat exhaustion. And he spent 2 days there, he was so sick. *cough, cough, let me remove my foot from my mouth*

Like I said, the heat is brutal.

Our a/c at home just can't keep up. We have a huge window unit in the living room that usually does a good (enough) job, but because of the odd layout of our apartment, Monkey's room stays hot. Too hot. Hot enough that it feels like you are walking into a sauna. So hot that, for the past few nights, she's been bunking with her little sister, crashed out on the floor with a sleeping bag.

I wasn't sure that this would work out. I mean it's worked well on vacation to have them share a room, but on vacation we run them ragged: walking all over Washington, DC., or spending hours at the Milwaukee County Zoo. So that when we put them to bed, they're both so tired we don't worry one will wake the other.  But we've never had them share a room, not even for one night, at home after a regular day.

The first night I was worried that Jellybean would wake Monkey, or vice versa; it was a roaring success. Both slept well, and when I went in to spring Jellybean from her crib (she was singing and talking), I found Monkey wide awake and happy! My normally sullen in the morning teenager was awake and happy on a school day. It was so pleasant I was shocked. I kept thinking I must have wandered into the wrong family! Monkey loved it, and was charming as she told stories to me and M about how she and Jellybean were telling each other jokes. (JOKES! how does she know about jokes?) She even talked about the sleeping bag and pillow on the floor as "her bed."

The second night was also a roaring success, in part, as the 5 times that (poor, poor) Jellybean woke up crying (and screeching) in pain from heartburn (we think), Monkey slept right through it. She didn't even wake up that night to go potty.

I'm telling you? Monkey sleeping in a/c is a VERY GOOD THING. And, quite frankly, after Monkey expressed an interest in sharing a room with Jellybean after our recent visit to the Midwest, we started to talk seriously about doing just that.

Last night over dinner, I prompted the girls (in a leading question) if they liked sharing a room together. Monkey immediately piped up with a cheerful YES.

Jellybean? She looked at me, looked at her sister, looked back at me and said "no."

Monkey told me that Jellybean said no, and she sounded a little puzzled/confused.

So I asked the question again.

And.........no.

And that is when I might have hinted that Jellybean doesn't really understand everyone yet, as she's still learning to speak English....