Monkey is definitely over this virus, as she is back to her normal high jinks.
Last night we went to one of our favorite sushi restaurants on the UWS. There are other, fancier places that get higher Zagats and Chowhound ratings, but this one is always in the #2 spot so the sushi rocks - but really, we go there because the waitstaff is just so cool with Monkey. Even the sushi chefs took time to tell her what they were doing.
To get home, we take the M11 bus up Amsterdam, which works well - when it shows up. Maybe 4 or 5 M7 buses passed by our stop before the first M11 showed. Annoying.
So the bus arrives, and it is already well past Monkey's bedtime. She squirmed and chattered the whole way home - and was generally in a pretty good mood despite the late hour.
We sat in the handicapped/elderly seats because of Monkey and the stroller. Oh and me being 5 months pregnant. But about two stops before our stop, an elderly gentleman got on the bus. M immediately got up and offered him the seat. The gentleman smiled graciously, nodded his head and when he sat down, said thanks to Monkey.
I told Monkey in a sotto voice that we always give up our seat to grandpas and grandmas, since they needed the seat more than us.
When we got up to leave the bus, Monkey blurted out "BYE GRANDPA!" to this elderly gentleman. Earning not only the biggest smile I've ever seen on a stranger's face, but also - the entire bus started to laugh! (and that is a tough, tough crowd).
I'm guessing she made that guy's night.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Oh, she made my day!
So Monkey is having a rough week. Fever since Monday, sent home from school tuesday, and yesterday she puked and had some seriously nasty diarrhea. (Grossest yet I've seen in two years, and let me tell you I've seen a lot. Phew)
Yet, through it all, she's been in a remarkably good mood. Seriously! If you didn't touch her head or the skin on her back and then wince from the searing heat, most of the time you wouldn't know she's sick!
Today I took her to the doctor to just make sure it was a virus, and that it wasn't anything worse. And it's a virus. But, while we were there we managed to squeeze in her 24 month wellness checkup, which means we don't have to go back next Monday! Part of the checkup is testing for lead, and the nurse couldn't find her artery/vein, and kept digging around with the needle under her skin. Monkey did break out in tears, but only after after 3 attempts with the needle...many adults would have whimpered after just one! I was very proud of her.
And, once she got a Nemo sticker, her tears dried up completely and she started smiling and laughing again. Oh - I almost forgot to mention that she didn't cry, wince, shudder or try to climb up my body when the doctor used the stethoscope on her - a serious first! She just watched it and tried to touch it! I was thrilled - that play stethoscope we have at home was totally worth the $12 I spent on it. One less toddler phobia to deal with - huzzah!
And, as if this exemplary behavior wasn't enough to make my heart swell with pride and joy, when we went to the drug store to get tylenol, do you know what Monkey said?
She said "I like babies." And I melted. Right then and there - they had to scrape me and my bump off the floor with a spatula.
A mom with a toddler and a baby in a doublestroller moved past us in Duane Reed and when I pointed out the baby to Monkey that's when she said it! Unprompted! I didn't even know she knew how to say "I like" anything!
I just love that kid.
Yet, through it all, she's been in a remarkably good mood. Seriously! If you didn't touch her head or the skin on her back and then wince from the searing heat, most of the time you wouldn't know she's sick!
Today I took her to the doctor to just make sure it was a virus, and that it wasn't anything worse. And it's a virus. But, while we were there we managed to squeeze in her 24 month wellness checkup, which means we don't have to go back next Monday! Part of the checkup is testing for lead, and the nurse couldn't find her artery/vein, and kept digging around with the needle under her skin. Monkey did break out in tears, but only after after 3 attempts with the needle...many adults would have whimpered after just one! I was very proud of her.
And, once she got a Nemo sticker, her tears dried up completely and she started smiling and laughing again. Oh - I almost forgot to mention that she didn't cry, wince, shudder or try to climb up my body when the doctor used the stethoscope on her - a serious first! She just watched it and tried to touch it! I was thrilled - that play stethoscope we have at home was totally worth the $12 I spent on it. One less toddler phobia to deal with - huzzah!
And, as if this exemplary behavior wasn't enough to make my heart swell with pride and joy, when we went to the drug store to get tylenol, do you know what Monkey said?
She said "I like babies." And I melted. Right then and there - they had to scrape me and my bump off the floor with a spatula.
A mom with a toddler and a baby in a doublestroller moved past us in Duane Reed and when I pointed out the baby to Monkey that's when she said it! Unprompted! I didn't even know she knew how to say "I like" anything!
I just love that kid.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The things she says these days...
Monkey: Open this?
Daddy: No sweetie, daddy's head doesn't open up.
Monkey: Open this?
Daddy: No, his neck doesn't open, either.
Monkey: I'm going to be a naked girl (as she got into the bath)
Monkey: Ollie play ring around the rosie? (as she knelt on the ground and crouched to put her face next to Ollie's face)
Ollie: No answer, but she did touch her nose to Monkey's nose.
Daddy: No sweetie, daddy's head doesn't open up.
Monkey: Open this?
Daddy: No, his neck doesn't open, either.
Monkey: I'm going to be a naked girl (as she got into the bath)
Monkey: Ollie play ring around the rosie? (as she knelt on the ground and crouched to put her face next to Ollie's face)
Ollie: No answer, but she did touch her nose to Monkey's nose.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Bookworm
Monkey's new routine when we walk to and from school? Why, reading books!
Yeah, she is a bookworm like me!
Only problem? She likes the books to be read outloud...and she still can't read. (I know, I know, do you think I should be worried? ha)
So her solution? Why having ME read her books. As I push her stroller. You know, through the streets of New York.
Yeah, she is a bookworm like me!
Only problem? She likes the books to be read outloud...and she still can't read. (I know, I know, do you think I should be worried? ha)
So her solution? Why having ME read her books. As I push her stroller. You know, through the streets of New York.
It's not just me
This thing with my absolutely fearless child running away from me on the sidewalks of New York really worries me.
On top of the normal "I don't want her to die" fears and anxieties, there was this small, niggling little fear that maybe it was just me.
That maybe she was acting out against me because I'm pregnant, or because I'm not doing an effective job of monitoring her, or you know, that I was just failing as a mom.
And yes, these are the worries that creep into my brain and keep it busy at night when I can't sleep because: A) it is too freakin' hot out; 2) my geriatric cat likes to paw my face and nuzzle my eyes for attention at 1,2,3,4 and 5am; and finally)because at 19 weeks pregnant my bump has started to interfere with my sleep. And yes, I realize that my 3am fears tend to be a (ahem) wee bit melodramatic. Give me a break, it's 3am! (btw I can see your eyelids twitching, dear readers who notice lapses in grammer and punctuation. I did that A 1 finally thing just for you. You're welcome)
Therefore, I confess that I felt a little bit better last night when I picked my insane toddler up from her Montessori school and they told me that Monkey was running away from them, too! And had received a stern lecture about not running away! They even let the entire class walk into the park without her, to emphasize the point that if she didn't hold either the rope or a teacher's hand, she could not go to the park. For an almost-two year old, that's hardcore.
Monkey's sidewalk privileges have been revoked until further notice. And it's going down on her permanent record.
On top of the normal "I don't want her to die" fears and anxieties, there was this small, niggling little fear that maybe it was just me.
That maybe she was acting out against me because I'm pregnant, or because I'm not doing an effective job of monitoring her, or you know, that I was just failing as a mom.
And yes, these are the worries that creep into my brain and keep it busy at night when I can't sleep because: A) it is too freakin' hot out; 2) my geriatric cat likes to paw my face and nuzzle my eyes for attention at 1,2,3,4 and 5am; and finally)because at 19 weeks pregnant my bump has started to interfere with my sleep. And yes, I realize that my 3am fears tend to be a (ahem) wee bit melodramatic. Give me a break, it's 3am! (btw I can see your eyelids twitching, dear readers who notice lapses in grammer and punctuation. I did that A 1 finally thing just for you. You're welcome)
Therefore, I confess that I felt a little bit better last night when I picked my insane toddler up from her Montessori school and they told me that Monkey was running away from them, too! And had received a stern lecture about not running away! They even let the entire class walk into the park without her, to emphasize the point that if she didn't hold either the rope or a teacher's hand, she could not go to the park. For an almost-two year old, that's hardcore.
Monkey's sidewalk privileges have been revoked until further notice. And it's going down on her permanent record.
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