Sometimes toddlers say the funniest things….Today I wanted to get a few recorded lest I forget in a moment of frustration how funny and silly my kids really are.
In the car this morning….
Bekah: Oh no, oh no MOMMY!!! I just ripped my book to pieces!!
While eating some lunch this afternoon…
Me (handing her a package of goat cheese medallions): Bekah, will you please put these cheeses back in the fridge?
Bekah: No Mommy. Jesus does NOT belong in the fridge.
Me (chuckling): Right. Now will you please put this cheese in the fridge?
Today was a strange day. Ashleigh did not have school (professional development day for teachers) so we had a girl’s day around the house. I did some cleaning, they did some playing, I did some work, we caught up on last week’s American Idol. You know, the usual.
Both girls were in rare form today. Ashleigh was amazingly helpful, and she only whined a little this morning. She really was not happy that Bekah got to watch Sesame Street when it was on at 9:30, because this took away from her Idol time. I promised her we would watch Idol, but we were also going to watch Sesame Street. There were a few sisterly fights over toys here and there, and neither one really wanted cooperate with my desire to take some photos of them, but all in all, Ashleigh had a GREAT day and I was so excited about how helpful she was being.
It was a good thing, because Bekah has hit 2. HARD. She is quite stubborn and will hear nothing about what you want her to do, it is only what she wants to do. Oy! She gave me a run for my money today. I’m hoping after a few rough days she’ll figure out that doing what mommy says you may not do is not a good idea. (I know, but please let me live in my fantasy world for a LITTLE bit, k?)
Of course, it all fades away when dinner begins. Tonight we sat down to eat and after I put food on the girl’s plates Bekah folded her hands and said, “Jesus, food, Amen.” My eyes welled up with tears as I was so proud of my little girl. Two may be the age of stubborn and seeing what they can get away with, but it’s also the age of finally being able to express themselves and understand and put things together.
A few moments later Ashleigh began singing her grace, and Bekah tried her best to join in. She doesn’t know the words, but she does know the tune and she made up words and hummed right along with her big sister. Those are the moments that make me a proud & happy mommy.
It’s been a strange day around here, and when I was making dinner at almost 7 o’clock right on time this evening Ashleigh and I had the following conversation-
A: (whining) WHEN is dinner ready?
Me: I really don’t know. I’m hurrying, but I defrosted the wrong spaghetti sauce and I’m waiting for the water to boil for the pasta and then I can put the bread in the oven and I’m so sorry I’m apparently having a rough day and I just can’t seem to get dinner right. (sigh)
A: Mommy, would a hug help? How about 6 hugs?
Me: 6 hugs sounds perfect. Thank you.
A: Ok, 12 hugs it is.
She gave me my 12 hugs and went downstairs to play in the playroom. I went back to trying to defrost and heat the spaghetti sauce, rush the water to boil, and getting everything else ready to go.
A few minutes later I was given a card. A card my special little girl made for me.
And the translation (with her spelling since she is only 5, she spells phonetically and isn’t big on spacing or punctuation):
Dear Mommy,
I love you. I am sory tate you are haveing a ruf day today. I love you so much il never stop loveing you so much.
Love,
Ashleigh
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Yeah, as I read it my eyes filled up with tears. When I start to get frustrated with the lifestyle we’ve chosen, and the fact that our parenting style means I don’t get to leave my 2 yr old who still needs me to head away to Vegas for a girls’ weekend. It also means that I’m still up at night with the 2 yr old who needs me at 2 AM. Sometimes I get burnt out and exhausted. Moments like this just remind me why we parent the way we do, and that it really is all worthwhile. I’m such a lucky mom.
Ashleigh and Bekah were lucky enough to be the recipients of a very cute Princess Playhouse. They are very happy that Aunt Beth & Uncle Roy love them so. Ashleigh wanted to give a tour of the playhouse, so I handed her the video camera and sent her to it. Be warned, it is a 5.5 yr old at the camera. If you get sea sick, you may want to look away.
