Tattle Tale

Daddy took advantage of a day off and went to see the Wildcats play. I did the Monday morning usual of dropping Amelia off at Nana's before heading to work. When I returned to pick Amelia up, Nana asked if he was at a game and I said he was (and wondered how she knew). Turns out earlier this morning Amelia said, "Mama work, Daddy basketball game."

No more secrets, we have a talking toddler!

Stinky Mouse

Amelia doesn't know who Mickey Mouse is. She has, for a while now, recognized that there is a "Mouse!" on her diaper (thank you, Huggies). Somewhere along the line she heard someone refer to Mickey Mouse when his image was present elsewhere. (I forget where now ... are you picking up on my Disney apathy?) and she said, "Stinky Mouse!". I did not correct her. Nor have I corrected her since then. Therefore, anytime she sees him she says, "Stinky Mouse!" This includes yesterday.

We were in Barnes & Noble looking at discounted children's books near the front of the store. She wandered up to the display and was practically leaning against the mother-daughter duo who were already there browsing books. (This is where my mother would have said: She's got the entire row but she wants to stand right where there already is someone. And I say: Yep, that's my daughter, but she's 2 and she isn't hurting anyone. Besides, look at how they are totally ignoring her like she isn't even there.) Anyway ... Amelia spots a Mickey Mouse book and declares, "Stinky Mouse!" That's my girl. It was hilarious.

I told her daddy later that I am wondering how long this will last and secretly hoping it lasts for a while, although not to the point someone makes fun of her over it. I am, however, envisioning a note home from her kindergarten teacher about how Amelia was arguing with her classmates over Mickey Mouse's name really being Stinky Mouse. In the meantime, it may be time to introduce her to Pinky & the Brain.

Ten Minutes

The naptime/bedtime negotiations have begun and it's hilarious. One of us will say, "Okay Amelia, ready for bed?" This used to be met with her stopping whatever activity she was engaged in and either putting her arms up (to get picked up) or running to her bedroom. Now she gets a distressed look on her face and says, "Play another ten minutes!" or sometimes just "Ten more minutes!"

Where did she get ten minutes from? We haven't figured it out. Fortunately, she's still new at this negotiating stuff and can be easily redirected, especially since she has a new Twilight Turtle that we remind her about.

Her Favorite Gift

... was a set of colored pencils, an impulse buy from Daddy. To the table she went, and joy was found. More presents were opened and enjoy, but then she returned to the table. We went to Nana's and instantly upon arrival home she returned to the table. She had to be tricked into taking her nap. Upon waking, she went to the table. We could not tear her away from them. There were no longer formal breaks for food, we simply fed her as she drew. By Wednesday, they had to be put away because she was literally carrying the yellow one around with her everywhere. She has not asked for them since, but I sense an obsession.

[pictures dated 12/25/07]

Merry Christmas to All

... and to all a good night.

[picture dated 12/25/07]

2 years, 3 months old

Today is the 22nd of December, which means that Amelia is 2 years, 3 months old today. Time continues to fly and every day still seems better than the last.

Her vocabulary continues to explode and sentences are appearing that include articles and other small but important words that make her sound suddenly grown up to me. She is also becoming more of a parrot and will suddenly blurt out, "Hello Wife! Hey Babe!" (this is how her daddy and I greet each other). And it is perfectly articulated which just amazes me. I am imagining her in first grade when someone asks what her mom's real first name is and she says, "Wife."

Amelia has suddenly decided that something besides a ball belongs in her toy stroller. This something is her Leapfrog Lion, which she got for Christmas from us last year. It is one of the few toys from last Christmas that she still plays with. (Point for mommy! ... sorry, couldn't resist.) She will announce that lion needs to go in the stroller, find him, carefully put him in behind the straps and then off they go through the house.

She's been wearing her Christmas stocking hat this past week. People are always amazed at how she not only wears it, but carefully puts it back on if it falls off. Amelia amazed me when she looked at the length of it while wearing it and declared it her "candy cane" hat.




Amelia does love her hats. Here she is this morning, wearing a hat that belongs on her large duckie, but she likes to put it on herself and wear it for a while around the house.


Yes, she is amazing. No, I'm not biased.


[Pictures dated 12/17/07 & 12/22/07]

Up goes the Christmas Tree

We bought our tree last night and put it up. At the tree lot, Amelia was much more interested in the fence than she was in the trees. Hmmm, maybe we should get one for the backyard? (just kidding)

Meg, Jim & Liza came over with medicine for Daddy and some cookies (YUM) and stayed for a little while. Liza put most of the ornaments on the tree, despite interference from Amelia, and she did a nice job. I wasn't able to take many pictures, but it was cute seeing the two of them working on the tree - Liza putting them on, Amelia taking them off (under the guise of 'looking at them'). Liza was incredibly patient with her which was also nice to see.

While I was wrestling with lights, Amelia (unknowingly) helped by pulling on the strand for me as I was untangling them. Then she walked around and lifted up the back of my shirt, saw my moles and started pointing to my "polka dots!" It was pretty funny and since it kept her out of my way, I let her do it for a few minutes.

In this picture she is engaged in earnest conversation with her Aunt Meg. She recently has been ducking her head and nodding sometimes when she talks. I think she is mimicking me from the times when I'm trying to decipher her longer sentences.

Jim kept suggesting I just go to the local discount store and buy new lights rather than continue messing with mine. That was his version of helping. At one point I did get a little frustrated since Daddy was supposed to be amusing Amelia (away from me) but she was totally in my space causing confusion and delay (have I watched too much Thomas the Tank Engine?), and I called (hissed) over to Daddy in the I'm-really-annoyed voice with just one word ... I meant to call him by name, but instead called him my brother's name. This is something I do when I am truly, genuinely annoyed. It just comes from the core of my unconscious being. There are neurons that are connected to each other, something like "Very Annoyed Feeling", therefore verbal output = brother's name. It's something that hasn't happened in a long time. I think it's funny, actually. He doesn't.

After declaring that Amelia has too many toys, Liza decided Amelia's sit-n-spin is the best toy Amelia has. And the tree got done, much to Amelia's delight since she has been noticing each "Christmas tree!" we have seen this past week. This is definitely the year for absolutely no breakable ornaments. (Last year we got away with putting breakable ones up out of reach.)

This morning after pointing out (touching) and naming one of each of the colored lights, Amelia has enjoyed inspecting the ornaments, which usually fall off under "inspection". She carefully puts them back on. Occasionally, she can't get it to stay and she calls to me, "Help, Mommy!" with an expectant expression on her face. And I love it.

[pictures dated 12/10/07]

Papa

7/17/41-12/1/07. We miss you.

[video dated 10/30/06]