A Toddlers' Nightmare

Studies show that babies actually dream. (I don't know if that is really a true statement...I think I have heard something about that but am too lazy to google it at this time).

Reese has told me a few dreams that she has had. But for the most part, I'll ask the girls what they dreamt about after they wake up and they can't really remember. Actually Drue always answers this question the same way, "I dreamed about going to the beach". After the third straight day of answering that way, I figured out that this probably wasn't the case, she just needed to have an answer handy.

So I've always wondered what dreams really do go through their peaceful little heads at night.

Drue apparently had her first real nightmare early this morning. A little before 7am I heard someone cry out. It was a short enough cry that I couldn't determine right off if it was Drue or Tate. I cocked my head to get a better listen and heard a distinct cry which I was able to deduce was Drue.

I went into her room and to find her sitting up in bed, distraught. I went over and put my arm around her and asked what was the matter. She looked up at me with furrowed little eyebrows and tearfully asked, "Mommy...did you take...my pink cereal...back to the grocery store?".

(Remember the pink cereal which brought her more excitement than the God of the Universe who knit her together in my womb?).

I stifled a giggle and assured her I had not, nor would I ever, return her beloved pink cereal to the grocery store.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and all was right with her little world once again.

More Sunday Snickers

While David went to pick Reese up from Sunday School this morning, I waited in the hallway with Drue. She excitedly showed me all her projects from her class, including a little story pamphlet she colored and put stickers on.

"What was your story about today?" I asked.

"Easter", was her response.

This caught me off guard a bit, being that it was the end of August. Just as I refocused that train of thought and decided that anytime of the year is a good time to remember Christ's sacrifice for us and celebrate the joy of His resurrection, out walked Reese in a little paper crown saying, "Look Mommy...I'm Queen Esther!".

Fabulous Faces

We headed out to the KC area KidsFest this morning. I wasn't sure what to expect but I had heard on ad on the radio about "Kids", "Fun Stuff", "Saturday" and I was hooked. We are always looking for different things to do to get out of the house. Basically it was a bunch of vendors from the KC area who offered neat things/services for kids. We received a ton of coupons, fliers, and signed up to win some free stuff.

It was crowded, however, and Tate didn't appreciate not having free reign to wreak havoc on the booths, so we tried to hurry through as best we could. I had hyped it up to be a really fun place on the way over, so I wanted the girls to at least get something out of it. We quickly ducked into the line for face painting. I'm thinking a dainty flower, perhaps a small heart on their smooth little cheek and we'll be on our way...with two happy girls in tow.

A Clown was doing the face painting, which was an added bonus. I plopped Drue in the chair and she told the lady she wanted a "kitty" on her face. This is what she looked like afterwards...

 

I was speechless! This is the most awesome display of face painting I have ever seen in all my born days. And she was only in the chair for about 2 minutes! I don't know who'll be more sad when we have to wash it off tonight....Drue or Mommy!

Reese is so shy and whispered, with my prompting, that she would like a flower. Hers turned out really cool also. And she visited the booth where a gal was doing little girl's hair in mini updos. I tried to watch how she did it, because I am sure Reese will want her hair like this for church tomorrow! When we got home, she immediately went up to her room and got a pretty dress to put on so she felt more like a princess.



Tate got his face decorated too....only it was with the bagful of cheddar chex mix we gave him to keep him occupied. So he has a nice orange tint to his face. I suppose I could have put a dot of black paint on his nose and called him a tiger...

Race for the Cure

 

Two Sundays ago my mom and I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an annual fundraiser which supports breast cancer research. My mom is a 4 year survivor and I am so grateful to be able to walk in honor of her. Many people doing the walk have a sign pinned to their backs that say the name of someone they are walking "in memory of".

This is actually our third year we've done this. Our first year she had only been a survivor for 2 months! Then we skipped a year because I was 8 months pregnant. Went the next year, then skipped last year because Tate was just a wee babe.

It's a 5K course which you can choose to either walk or run. It was a tough decision for us, but after much debate, and after weighing the pros and cons...we decided to walk. Basically we couldn't think of any pros to running and the fact that I would probably be the first to faint from a heart attack during the run was a big con. My mom walks over 2 miles--6 days a week! (I walk around the block when I need a break from our crazy house occasionally.)

Keep in mind dear people, that this picture was taken after the 5K walk (half of which we were walking directly into the sun). The race started about 7:45am but it was already mighty toasty out. I am certainly not complaining by any means, because it is for a great cause, and I am thankful we are both healthy enough to do it in the first place. But I couldn't help but wonder why they had to schedule one of the August dates in the Midwest of all places? Couldn't they reserve these dates for oh, I don't know, Alaska?

We talked about including Reese next year. There is a one mile fun run/walk that kids her age can participate in. (Jogging strollers are welcome.)

I really enjoyed our time. It was fun getting to spend the morning with my mom. I'm already looking forward to next year's walk.

Sunday Snickers

No, not like the candy bar. Snickers doesn't satisfy at my house...it leaves my kids bouncing off the furniture and laughing hysterically at anything and everything.

Snickers as in laughter. At their funny little conversations/situations.

Reese's Sunday School class routinely eats their snacks right when parents are coming to pick up the kids. I can't very well toss her little cup of treats into the trash in front of everyone so we let her bring it with her in the car.

There is potential for that to cause a big problem...as Drue gazes longingly at Reese's edible treasures. But Reese has been very good about sharing some with her. She does need some encouragement at times, "Don't you want to share your fruit loops with your sister?" or "I bet Drue would like one of those."

Today, however, she shared of her own free will. Drue was so excited, she shouted to me across the church lobby filled with people, "Mommy! Reesie shared with me!". Which, of course, meant I had to wade my through the crowd to commend her. "Mmmmmmm, these pretzels are good," Drue commented.

All the way back to the van I praised Reese for sharing her snack with Drue. I was feeling pretty good about her selfless personality when David looked in the rear view mirror and discovered that Reese was first licking off all the salt before she so sweetly passed them to Drue!

We had to make a quick stop at Target to get a few things. One of which was not a new sugary cereal for the girls to try. Somehow, Drue got her hands on some Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats and wanted to take them home simply because they were pink. (Take one guess whose cart she was in...because one of us would have stood firm and said, "Absolutely not! That is sugary junk. We didn't come here for cereal." The other of us is a big ol' softie and I'm surprised didn't let her dump the whole shelf in her cart).

As we headed home, I didn't catch the first part of their conversation, but I heard Reese say, "Drue--are you excited about God?".

"No."

"Drue! You're not excited about God?!?".

"No. I'm excited about my pink cereal."

Progress

Tate's 15 month development sheet that was sent home with him today after his checkup listed many things he can do great...and a few he needs a little work on.

His "Right on Target" subjects include: walking well, stooping, and recovering, and scribbling (albeit he chooses to practice this skill on the walls).

His "Needs Improvement" subjects include: removing clothing (I'm sorta glad he hasn't figured that one out yet), 3 additional words (additional?? we are still working on the first 3), and points to body parts.

Then I spied "spoon usage better" indicating at this age his usage should be improving. So I took a few shots at dinner tonight to gauge his progress....

 

 

 

Hmmmmm....well, the sheet didn't actually say better than what? So I could fill in my own blank there and say with confidence "His spoon usage is better than that of a trained monkey".

Queen of Charts

The age old question/debate...what exactly is the best way to mold your child's behavior into something socially acceptable...or at least into something that doesn't leave you banging your head against the wall after a long day of battling a toddlers' will?

At our house, I've become "all about the CHARTS"!

We resurrected the idea of the "Potty Chart" that seemed to work well with Reese and have been using it for Drue. She just flat out hated using the potty. I knew she was ready, but would act as though you were leading her to a guillotine rather than simply to our porcelain friend. She really was quite fascinated with the handmade chart I whipped up for her one day. And truly draws enjoyment from meticulously placing a sticker on it with her chubby little fingers.

Of course, I don't think the purpose has entirely set in for her yet. The other day after she awakened in a wet bed after being put down for nap sans pullup...she excitedly stated, "Mommy, I get to put a sticker on my potty chart!". To which I had to burst her little bubble and inform her we only use stickers when we tee tee in the appropriate receptacle.

The aspect of child rearing that is most exhausting and frustrating to me right now is the blasted bedtime routine. Tate is a little dreamboat and drifts off into sweet slumber without so much as a whimper after we read our story. God bless you little one.

And God bless the other two little dears also, who honestly make me choose to chew on shards of glass rather than put them down for bed some nights. I always imagined it being such a special time to be cherished. Me cuddling with my girls, tickling their arms and around their ears like my mom used to do, and whispering about our hopes and our dreams together until their little eyes fluttered closed and I would give them one last peck on the forehead as I pulled their covers up to their chins.

Not them falling to absolute pieces with just the mere mention of bed (and yes, I do warn them it's coming..."2 more stories til bedtime girls"). Thus begins the tiresome task of actually getting them up the stairs, since both sets of their legs are rendered useless past 8pm. Getting them to potty, brush their teeth, and lay down in their beds without the use of restraints (which we've never used mind you just in case you were starting to worry). What is getting me right now is the whining and crying. I'm not real patient with that at anytime of day but especially at the end of the day when all my reserves are spent and I ache to crawl into my bed and pretend to read a magazine before my own eyes slowly close.

I decided to do something about it this week. Reese is about to start preschool and they absolutely MUST have a bedtime routine that leaves us all happily content and not ready to pull every last hair out of our heads. I just hate for the last thing that comes out of our mouths to them at night is the threat of corporal punishment if they don't settle down and go-to-SLEEP!

So I made a "Good Girl Night Night Chart". Reese picked out Little Mermaid stickers to adorn her chart. My pessimistic attitude sort of felt sorry for her as she picked them out because I figured it would be a long time before she ever got to put one on her chart. I set down the ground rules. She had to go to bed willingly, without tears, and without a negative attitude. She felt up for the challenge. It was even her idea to put an "X" in the box if she didn't go to bed acceptably. I feel that may be a tad harsh yet.

Last night we implemented the new system and it worked! Like. A. Charm. She cheerfully chose a beautiful sticker of Ariel and Eric embracing and went to sleep without a peep.

The ironic part of all of this is when they fill up a chart with stickers they get...nothing. Nothing at all. I never explained to them that part of the chart. The big incentive at the end that works so well for some. They simply get enjoyment out of putting the stickers on and when a chart fills up, I make a new one. Elementary, my dear.

Of course, tonight, our second night of implementation went straight down the tubes. David put them to bed (ahem, I'll hold my tongue there) and I could hear Reese squalling about something all the way downstairs. I marched up, grabbed her chart from her room, went bounding across the hall, and demanded to know how a sticker got put on for this evening because it was coming right back off! Hmmmpppfffff.

I've decided to test a theory of mine about my dear husband and I will be putting them to bed tomorrow night. Should my theory prove correct, I believe I will use my knowledge to my advantage and negotiate a new outfit or two out of the deal.

Yesterday I had a very successful trip to the grocery store with all three of them. (Yes, to the same grocery store that was the scene of what I'll refer to as "the spectacle" last week...I was tempted to go to an altogether different store to save face, but I only feel at ease in my grocery store, where I know where everything is, and can stealthily slip in and out with my desired purchases in no time flat, with, or without a screaming toddler under my arm). After I raved to the children about how excellently they behaved, Reese suggested, "Hey Mommy, you should make a chart for us for going to the grocery store! ".

Back to the drawing board...literally.