Friday evening, I called Londo on my way home from work, as I do every evening. As usual, there was chaos in the background.
At one point, Londo told me to hold on a minute as he turned his attention to our daughter. He told her that she wasn't supposed to just take things and that what she had was Mommy's necklace. So she asked if she could wear it, and he in turn asked me if she could.
It had been a long time since she had played with (and consequently broke) any of my necklaces, and she was older now. So I said yes, but added, "Just make sure she's careful and doesn't play with it for long." Londo agreed and passed that information on to the Pumpkin before getting off the phone with me to deal with dinner.
When I got home, my daughter came hurrying down the hall to the front door. I was ready to hear the usual, and never unappreciated, "Mommy! Mommy! You're home! You're home!"
But I quickly realized that she wasn't saying her normal greeting. I tuned in more carefully and realized she was saying, "Mommy! I was playing with your necklace, and I broke it by accident. I'm sorry!"
When I realized what she was saying, I felt my face start to fall for a split second. I loved that necklace and was really disappointed that yet another necklace I liked was broken. But in that split second that my face started to fall, her face quivered. Her whole body was poised, waiting on my reaction, ready to fall into despair at my disappointment.
So I swallowed it. And just in time. I recovered in a blink of an eye, maybe less. I gave her an only slightly sad smile, squatted down to her level and told her, "That's okay, honey. I'm sure it was an accident. Thank you for telling me and telling me you are sorry."
"It was an accident. And I am sorry," she told me, with hope clearly showing on her face.
"I know, sweetie. Hey, maybe we can buy Mommy a new necklace to replace the broken one. We'll go shopping soon and look for a new one!" And that, plus a hug, did the trick. Her whole being brightened, and she kept talking about how we'd shop for a new necklace for Mommy. We walked down the hall into the kitchen together in good spirits.
Londo told me shortly after we got in the kitchen that the Pumpkin had been SO upset that she broke the necklace and that she was really worried that I'd be upset or mad. I could tell just by the quiver of her body and the look on her face before I hid my disappointment.
But as Londo pointed out to the Pumpkin, I really was glad that she told me and apologized. I wasn't expecting that greeting, but I quickly realized that my 3 year old was doing a really brave thing, meeting me at the door to fess up and say she was sorry. Even if I can't restring the necklace or find a new one, I will always be so proud of the courage my daughter showed, and how she was able to do the right thing even when she was so afraid that I'd be upset.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Boy With Words
The Pookie does not like diaper changes. I do many different things to try and keep him from screaming while lying down on the changing pad, including trying different toys, making animal noises and tickling his adorable, exposed belly.
One morning last week, I had just tickle-tickle-tickled his belly and was putting a new diaper under him, when I heard him go, "ticka ticka ticka." This was a new noise, so I looked at him, and his little hands were making tickling motions on his own belly! ADORABLE!!!
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The Pookie hasn't said a lot of words. He's not really signing or speaking or telling me what sound a lion makes. He's gone through periods of babbling, and he does that babbling with intent thing that is super cute. But with a three year old around, and one who was ahead of the curve with talking, I forget the normal development for babies and toddlers learning to talk.
The Pookie's first word was "da da." For a while it was the only babbling he made, but he also definitely used it with intent when looking at Londo. So we called it. His first word at 11 or 12 months old was "da da."
He started saying "dah" for dog, while patting his leg, which is the sign (abbreviated from sign language) we use for dog. Those "da" babbles lasted a while. Finally, just after 12 months, he started making other babbling noises again. But he still didn't really have many words.
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Over the last month, the Pookie has started to use more and more words. Not all of them are actually words, but similar-ish sounds used to indicate the word he means. The beginnings of toddlerese, if you will.
There is the definitely clear "no no no" he says when doing something he shouldn't be doing. Of course, he keeps doing it, but I'm hoping that's more due to a lack of understanding the meaning of the word(s) no (no no) and not willful disobedience. We've got plenty of time for the latter when he's in the Twos and Threes.
He also says "go go go" when we are going somewhere or when I'm kicking the dog out of the kitchen.
He also says "dye dye" for bye bye, as waves his little hand when we are leaving or someone else is leaving us. He's started blowing kisses with his hand, too. It's super cute, and all the ladies at his daycare just laugh and think it's so adorable when he does it. (On a related note, his daycare drop offs are finally getting better!)
Two almost words he uses close to correctly are "dak oo" for thank you and "ja joo" for gentle. I say almost because he says his version of thank you while holding something out for us, as in he is giving us something and we say thank you to him for giving it to us. But he doesn't always want to really give it up. Sometimes, he just wants to hold it up and say "dak oo." As for gentle, that's the word we use when he starts to pet the dog. He is generally gentle, but I believe he thinks it mean pet the animal. He saw the cat yesterday and started saying "ja joo" even though the cat never lets the baby near enough to pet him.
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The day after he started saying "ticka ticka" while tickling himself and trying to tickle us, I had the kids at the table for breakfast. I was turned away from the table, stirring the cream of wheat into the milk, when I heard someone say "ah oh." I assumed it was my daughter, since it was so clear and obvious as to what was said. But then I realized that it wasn't her voice.
I turned around and asked my daughter who said that. Before she could answer, the Pookie dropped another cheerio on the floor and said it again, clear as day! "Ah oh!" The Pumpkin and I started laughing and joining him in his "ah ohs."
Two new words in two consecutive days? Wow. He is really starting to talk. We are now entering a period of development that I love: beginning to talk. It will of course be followed by periods of learning to back talk and argue, but let's focus on the fun cuteness that is toddlerese, shall we? And let's all prepare for more and more stories about the cute things my kids say!
Speaking of which, my daughter still calls Baa Baa Black Sheep: Bla Bla Black Sheep. She also still occasionally uses the phrase "because that's why" in place of the word "because..." when she is trying to explain something. But more and more, she's saying words and phrases the right way. So the Pookie is starting to learn some words just in time!
One morning last week, I had just tickle-tickle-tickled his belly and was putting a new diaper under him, when I heard him go, "ticka ticka ticka." This was a new noise, so I looked at him, and his little hands were making tickling motions on his own belly! ADORABLE!!!
----------------------
The Pookie hasn't said a lot of words. He's not really signing or speaking or telling me what sound a lion makes. He's gone through periods of babbling, and he does that babbling with intent thing that is super cute. But with a three year old around, and one who was ahead of the curve with talking, I forget the normal development for babies and toddlers learning to talk.
The Pookie's first word was "da da." For a while it was the only babbling he made, but he also definitely used it with intent when looking at Londo. So we called it. His first word at 11 or 12 months old was "da da."
He started saying "dah" for dog, while patting his leg, which is the sign (abbreviated from sign language) we use for dog. Those "da" babbles lasted a while. Finally, just after 12 months, he started making other babbling noises again. But he still didn't really have many words.
----------------------
Over the last month, the Pookie has started to use more and more words. Not all of them are actually words, but similar-ish sounds used to indicate the word he means. The beginnings of toddlerese, if you will.
There is the definitely clear "no no no" he says when doing something he shouldn't be doing. Of course, he keeps doing it, but I'm hoping that's more due to a lack of understanding the meaning of the word(s) no (no no) and not willful disobedience. We've got plenty of time for the latter when he's in the Twos and Threes.
He also says "go go go" when we are going somewhere or when I'm kicking the dog out of the kitchen.
He also says "dye dye" for bye bye, as waves his little hand when we are leaving or someone else is leaving us. He's started blowing kisses with his hand, too. It's super cute, and all the ladies at his daycare just laugh and think it's so adorable when he does it. (On a related note, his daycare drop offs are finally getting better!)
Two almost words he uses close to correctly are "dak oo" for thank you and "ja joo" for gentle. I say almost because he says his version of thank you while holding something out for us, as in he is giving us something and we say thank you to him for giving it to us. But he doesn't always want to really give it up. Sometimes, he just wants to hold it up and say "dak oo." As for gentle, that's the word we use when he starts to pet the dog. He is generally gentle, but I believe he thinks it mean pet the animal. He saw the cat yesterday and started saying "ja joo" even though the cat never lets the baby near enough to pet him.
----------------------
The day after he started saying "ticka ticka" while tickling himself and trying to tickle us, I had the kids at the table for breakfast. I was turned away from the table, stirring the cream of wheat into the milk, when I heard someone say "ah oh." I assumed it was my daughter, since it was so clear and obvious as to what was said. But then I realized that it wasn't her voice.
I turned around and asked my daughter who said that. Before she could answer, the Pookie dropped another cheerio on the floor and said it again, clear as day! "Ah oh!" The Pumpkin and I started laughing and joining him in his "ah ohs."
Two new words in two consecutive days? Wow. He is really starting to talk. We are now entering a period of development that I love: beginning to talk. It will of course be followed by periods of learning to back talk and argue, but let's focus on the fun cuteness that is toddlerese, shall we? And let's all prepare for more and more stories about the cute things my kids say!
Speaking of which, my daughter still calls Baa Baa Black Sheep: Bla Bla Black Sheep. She also still occasionally uses the phrase "because that's why" in place of the word "because..." when she is trying to explain something. But more and more, she's saying words and phrases the right way. So the Pookie is starting to learn some words just in time!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Question of the Week - Don't Leave Home Without It
First of all, I have a winner for the Rocking Pony Shirt Giveaway! I assigned every commenter a number and used a free online number generator to pick one number. The number picked was the one assigned to: Cranky Pregnant Woman!
Cranky Pregnant Woman, please email me at caramamamia at gmail dot com so I can get you in contact with Karen! Congratulations!
This week's question of the week is:
What won't you leave the house without?
For me, it's definitely my wedding ring. Although I often don't wear them while at home, I generally don't leave my house without my wedding ring, engagement ring and bracelet-watch. But if I'm going to the pool or somewhere where I don't want to wear my diamond and nice bracelet-watch, I will at least put on my wedding band. If I don't have any, I feel naked and wierd the whole time I'm gone. It was hard to go without them while pregnant and post-partum, but my swollen fingers forced me to for months (reason #4367 I don't miss being pregnant).
I also don't generally leave the house without some sort of makeup on--at least coverup. Before I became a mom, I always ALWAYS wore lipstick. But after having babies, I often go without lipstick even to work. This probably surprises any friends I've had since I was younger. But lipstick gets in the way of all the kisses I want to give my kids, so I have gotten used to going without it. But since I still break out like a teenager, I always put on coverup an loose powder.
What about you? What do you have to have with you or on you when you leave the house so you don't feel naked (besides clothes)? Has your phone become attached to you? A special piece of jewerly become part of your body? What can't you be without when out and about?
Cranky Pregnant Woman, please email me at caramamamia at gmail dot com so I can get you in contact with Karen! Congratulations!
This week's question of the week is:
What won't you leave the house without?
For me, it's definitely my wedding ring. Although I often don't wear them while at home, I generally don't leave my house without my wedding ring, engagement ring and bracelet-watch. But if I'm going to the pool or somewhere where I don't want to wear my diamond and nice bracelet-watch, I will at least put on my wedding band. If I don't have any, I feel naked and wierd the whole time I'm gone. It was hard to go without them while pregnant and post-partum, but my swollen fingers forced me to for months (reason #4367 I don't miss being pregnant).
I also don't generally leave the house without some sort of makeup on--at least coverup. Before I became a mom, I always ALWAYS wore lipstick. But after having babies, I often go without lipstick even to work. This probably surprises any friends I've had since I was younger. But lipstick gets in the way of all the kisses I want to give my kids, so I have gotten used to going without it. But since I still break out like a teenager, I always put on coverup an loose powder.
What about you? What do you have to have with you or on you when you leave the house so you don't feel naked (besides clothes)? Has your phone become attached to you? A special piece of jewerly become part of your body? What can't you be without when out and about?
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