Toddlerhood is fun...

99% of the time, that is. The other 1% Emmy seems to do everything she can to ensure Mommy goes bald.

Yesterday, Keith and I both had errands we needed to do. Both of us wanted to do them on our own as Emmy wouldn't enjoy them, or they could be done much faster without her. Since Child Protection frowns upon leaving your 2 year old home alone, a compromise was made. I would take Emmy with me for my errands, and Keith would take Emmy to visit Grandma so I could have some alone time. Sounds good, right?

Our first stop, the grocery store, went amazingly well. Em was pretty well behaved, and when she was bored of sitting in the cart, she walked either beside me, or helped me push the cart. She was downright cute at times, I would give her something to put in the cart, she would run to the back, put it in, run to the front of the cart and say "ready!" All in all, it was a good trip, she listened, and we got everything we needed.

Halfway home, I realized I forgot something, so we had to make a quick stop at the drug store. Emmy walked beside me and all seemed good. We went down the baby aisle. At the end of the baby aisle, Em discovered a bath toy in the shape of a frog. If you haven't been informed of this little toddler gem, Emmy calls frogs, "Fuc*" So, imagine if you will, my toddler yelling, in her not-so-quiet 2 year old voice, "Fuc*! Fuc*! Fuc*!" For the record, she LOVES frogs, so she's very excited about this bath toy.

As I quickly correct her, I look around to see who is in the general vicinity. There is an elderly gentleman who is looking quite amused at my child and 2 mom's with kids who are looking rather horrified. Maybe they were empaths and were channelling how I was feeling at that moment? Probably not. I quickly usher Emmy out of the aisle, get what I need and head for the checkout. Emmy wasn't happy about leaving her dear frog, and this was the beginning of the end of good behavoir.

We got to the lineup for the checkout. Twice Emmy veered towards the door, so I had to grab her. Twice, kindhearted people decided to take my place in line even though I was 2 steps away. Thanks.

Emmy darted once more, this time making it out past the security devices. She was carrying a box of Kleenex, which set off the alarm. Nice. Apparantly, there is a lot of Kleenex theft that they put sensors in them.

Now the alarm is going, I had dropped my purchases when she darted, so my pads and feminine hygiene products are all over the floor, I grab her by the hood of the coat (she was heading out the automatic doors), and try to grab her. She falls onto her back, and I go to pick her up. She is screaming and crying, and generally makes it sound like I am beating her instead of trying to pick her up. May I mention the alarm is still going. Hey, store clerks, I've tackled the would-be-shoplifter, you may turn it off now.

As I have Em on the floor in front of me, she bootkicks me in the face. Not hard, but enough. She was trying to get away and she did almost suceed with that ninja move. I get her up, I securely grab her hand and calmly pick up my soon-to-be purchases. The alarm is off now, my dignity is gone, and I don't dare to look around.

I get to the checkout, pay for my purchases, and Emmy and I leave the store.

We get home and Keith gives me this funny look. Apparantly, all over my cheek and chin were perfect replicas of Em's bootprint in dirt. Lovely.

Oh, and for the record, I didn't get my time alone. LOL

Emmy versus the toddler bed

As our lil monkey girl has been stressing me out with her climbing out of her playpen and falling to the ground, we introduced Emmy to her toddler bed on Sunday.

Day 1 - at 11 pm, she got out of bed, toddled into my room, and woke me up. She was up until nearly 4 am, with us alternating who was putting her back to bed.

Amount of sleep gotten by parents: 3 hours combined.

Verdict: FAIL

Day 2 - she slept until 3 am, when she awoke, and cried at the baby gate we used to keep her in her room.

Amount of sleep gotten by parents: 4 hours each


Verdict: Improvement

Day 3 -

I went to bed early in hopes to get more that a few hours sleep. Em cried a few times, but never got out of bed. I was so surprised I actually lifted the comforter off her to make sure she was there. This, of course, woke her up, as she promptly told me, "I wake up! I wake up!"

Amount of sleep had by parents: Pretty much a full night with a few wakeup's.

Verdict: Pass

Fingers crossed for tonight!

Monkey girl strikes again

My child is part monkey, I swear.
At a year she could climb out of her crib on the lowest setting, and she couldn't even walk yet!
She climbs everything, from her highchair to the couch where she takes great glee in crawling along the back of it. We don't tend to mind the highchair climbing as it is quite nice just to ask her to get in her highchair, and she does. However, she is responsible for a few of the grey hairs I 'Nice and Easy' away every 4-6 weeks.

This morning, as I was sleeping, quite contentedly I might add, Monkey girl managed to climb out of her playpen and come running into my room. One moment, I was in blissful dreamland, and the next, there was a toddler pinching my toes and saying 'Wakey Wakey, Mommy!' as she ran out of the room giggling.

At first I thought Keith must have let her out, but as I could hear him snoring away downstairs, I realized that she had once again shown off her skills at climbing.

Why I fear taking my 2 year old out...

1. Her new word is "Clock" but she can't say the "L" sound.

2. Complete strangers in grocery stores who happen to be wearing a baseball cap, blue jeans and a jean jacket(Keith's usual attire) are called "Daddy". Loudly. Repeatedly. Not Daddy, Emmy. We live in a mill-city, there's not so many suits at Save-On Friday nights.

3. The fits, oh the fits. For the record fellow shoppers, I AM doing everything I can to calm her, and NO glaring at me like I am doing something horrible to make my kid act this way is not HELPING. She's two, rational behavoir is not mandatory yet.
(Emmy is hit and miss shopping, Friday was bad so we made it quick, the Friday before, she was absolutely angelic the entire trip. There was nothing noticeably different in her behavoir before entering the store.)

***
On a completely different note, Emmy learned today that she is tall enough to reach the light switch on the stairway going upstairs, AND the one in our bedroom. Guess who spent a good hour today just turning the lights on and off, then giggling hysterically about it? Very cute to watch her discover this, but was not cute when I made her stop for a bit. LOL She had 2 baths today (oooh it was a nasty-diaper day AND I gave her Ravioli for lunch) so she ran to our bedroom after each of them.

Just say no

Keith and I often joke that Emmy won't be lured into any wrongdoing by friends since any question you ask her, she answers with no. This is not a new occurance, and I cannot blame this on her being 2, she has always done this since she learned to talk. It's like she just didn't know there was another answer besides no, as she says no even when she means yes.

However, our little girl has gone and changed on us again. She will now, on occasion, nod her head yes in answer to a question. This is a step in the right direction as my ego couldn't take too much more of the no's. Especially to the "Do you love Mommy, Emmy?" I got a nod today, so I'll take it.

However, this new development means she may be open for influence by the friends she hangs out with. Daycare kids - I am watching you! LOL