Spring for a day

Last week we managed to have one day that felt like Spring.  Kinley's Aunt Pam gave her this great little scooter.  Kinley was able to ride her scooter one day (while wearing her "summer shoes") and then of course the weather turned cold again.  She just kept saying, "I'm having a really good time on my skateboard".  It was pretty cute.

Kinley has been saying the funniest things lately.  Today, after I finished fixing my hair, she told me that I had really cute "puppy" hair.  I said, you mean poofy hair?  She said, no, puppy hair, like a puppy dog.  I'm really not sure what to make of that, but for now I am pretending that it was intended to be a compliment.

On the one good day last week, I took her to a playground that is right by the river.  Kinley told me it was called "Snake Lake" and it was filled with snakes, and she is "very afraid of snakes".  Then she suggested we feed them pine cones so they wouldn't be hungry, then of course, they wouldn't need to eat us.  I can't decide if she is creative or creepy?  At least she makes me laugh.

It's potty time!

Yes, that is exactly what you think it is, Kinley's potty chart chuck full of stickers.  Now quit laughing at what an ugly chart it is, poor Kinley is stuck with a mom with zero crafting ability and lousy handwriting.

At our house, we have been having this horrible battle over whether it is okay to urinate in the bath tub.  Rich and I are have taken the side that it is disgusting to pee in the tub, while Kinley is under the impression that it isn't a big deal.  In an effort to prevent a "pee bath", I forced Kinley to sit on the potty prior to getting in the tub.  I decided since the warm water in the tub seems to get the urine right out of her, I would give her a bowl of warm water to play with.  What do you know?  It worked.  Some how the excitement of this one successful attempt just heaved her into full blown potty training.  So, she has become, in her own words, "a big girl like mommy and a big girl like daddy".  I like to repeat the part about Rich being a big girl, I think it's funny.

We are now on our second potty chart since the first one is completely filled with stickers.  I'm just hoping that her motivation will stick.  We're stocked with bribes that seem to be working.  I am convinced that about 50% of motherhood is coming up with the correct bribe, and the current bribe of choice at our house are Peeps (I don't think there is a more delicious bribe out there).  So for now, we eat Peeps while we pee on the potty and then get ourselves a lovely little sticker.

A breakfast picnic

Every morning when Kinley and I wake up, I give her about 3 options of things to chose from for breakfast.  She typically choses to have a bag of cereal and a sippy cup of milk.   She then takes her little breakfast in my room and eats it while watching whichever cartoon she choses.  One day last week she asked that I take her "little red table" into her bedroom so she could eat her breakfast in there.  I said sure, drug the little table in, and went to get in the shower.  When I got out of the shower, this is what I found.

I asked her what she was doing and she said that she was just having a breakfast picnic with her friends.  Each friend had a pretty good sized pile of cheerios in front of them, except for poor Mr. Raffey.  He only got 2 cheerios.  Kinley said that Raffey told her he wasn't very hungry.  While I was finishing getting ready I kept hearing things like, "if you don't eat your cereal you will be in big trouble baby doll" and "can I eat your cereal Bear?  Oh, thank you so much".  The breakfast picnic was a huge hit with all of those lucky enough to attend.  I especially enjoyed the picnic because nobody (meaning Kinley) bothered me while I was blowing my hair dry.  I'm thinking Kinley may have a future as a party planner.

Possible Problem?

One day last week, while I was busy straightening up the house, Kinley went off to play in her room.  After a little while, she returned looking like this.

So, for those of you that have asked how potty training is going, I think these pictures should answer that pretty clearly.  In case it doesn't, well, potty training is not going so well.  Clearly she is not quite grasping the concept of underwear.  In the pictures, she is wearing almost every pair of underwear she has, most of which she has crammed both legs into the same hole.  So, we're taking yet another break from constant discussion of potty training.  I know she'll get it, she just needs it to be her decision, she's maybe a smidge on the strong willed side.  So for now, she will not be putting her pee pee in "the cage" as she is now referring to the toilet. 

The bedtime routine

Since transitioning Kinley to her "big bed" a few months ago, we have had the same routine.  Milk, story, brush teeth, prayers, then either mommy or daddy sings 2 songs and lays by her for a few minutes.  Then, either mommy or daddy announces some lame excuse as to why they need to leave the room, such as, need to go potty, brush my teeth, get ready for bed, put my jammies on, etc.  Last night was my lucky night to lay by her.  After I made my escape from her room, I went downstairs to chat with Rich.  I had been downstairs for maybe 20 minutes when I heard Kinley crying.  When I went to check on her, this is what she had to say.

Me:  What's the matter?

Kinley:  I need you to sleep with me.

Me:  You do?

Kinley.  Yes.  I am crying.  And I have big tears in my eyes.  And my nose is stuffy and itchy.  I need medicine.

Me:  (knowing that Kinley has been showing some allergy symptoms, promptly went to the medicine cabinet for some medicine)  Here you go sweetie.

Kinley:  (immediately gulping down the medicine) Aaaahhhh!  All better.

She then laid down and went straight to sleep.  I am now on search for medicine for myself that works as quickly and effectively as hers.

Insults from a 2 year old

Kinley and I ran to the grocery store this morning and had an uneventful trip.  After pulling into the garage and taking Kinley out of her car seat, we had the following exchange.

Kinley: Hey mommy, you stupid.

Me:  (hoping I had heard wrong) What did you say?

Kinley:  (with a big smile) Mommy, you stupid.

Me:  Kinley, that is a naughty word.  We don't call people stupid.  Do you understand?

Kinley:  Ok stupid.

This quickly led my brain to three major problems with this exchange.  First, how very rude to call your mother stupid.  Second, where on earth did she learn that?  Third, how do I keep from totally laughing?  I mean the "ok stupid", pretty funny.

I'm hoping that she doesn't really know what "stupid" means and that it was not actually meant to be an insult.  We still had a good discussion about why we shouldn't call people stupid and how it makes them sad.  As pay back, I will post some semi embarrassing pictures of Kinley that I will hope will come back to haunt her when she is in high school.

Kinley's Maverick look, ponty tail with these 1980's style sunglasses

Kinley is currently going through a "glove phase". She wears them all the time.

Cute hats

I have decided that I want to learn how to make these cute hats I keep seeing around.  I am in search of a pattern to knit or crochet some of these hats.  I know, about half of you just fell out of your chairs with shock.  And no, I do not know how to knit or crochet, but my mom does and she's going to teach me.  I figure it's about time I learn how to do something "domestic" or "crafty".  Do any of you fellow bloggers know where I might find such a pattern?  If so, I'd be ever so appreciative if you'd send it my way.