The Night Before Christmas

There are moments in parenting when I say something to the girls and immediately want to take it back, this is the story of one of those moments. !Christmas Eve we spent the night at Colin and Robynn's house so that Santa could make one stop for all the grand kids and they could all wake up together to check out the loot. By the time we got to their house Addy and Jax were already in bed. I put Parker to bed and got started with Robynn and Payton setting out cookies and milk for Santa. Robynn offered to read "The Night Before Christmas" to Payton to help her get into the mood for bed. That was lovely, but not convincing. So we sat for a bit chatting and trying to get Payton convinced. A few minutes in Colin innocently mentioned that he thought he heard something outside, maybe Santa?? Thinking I was going to help, I said, "OH NO, I hope he doesn't skip us since we're still awake!" WELL, that was more than Payton could take. She flipped, started stomping her feet, crying and begging to go to bed right NOW. I felt about 1 inch tall. I thought I'd peak her interest and that she'd want to go to bed, not loose her poor little mind. From there I tried to take her up to bed in the room she was to share with Parker. That too was somewhat of a disaster. When we walked into the room Parker was still up. I tried to put Payton down, asking her to try to be quiet and not talk to Parker. I gave Parker a hug and kiss and put her back down in her pack-n-play, and left the room. Within minutes Payton came back out frustrated and still a bit scared that Santa wasn't going to stop. "Parker's talking to me" she said. So, plan B. I decided that I'd put her down in C & R's bed to fall asleep. That would have been fine if she'd have stayed in bed, but she didn't. She tried to come out, but instead we heard her bawling at the door, since she couldn't get the bedroom door open she thought I'd locked her in. When I finally got to her she was crying more, and once again begging to go to bed in her bed. Thankfully by this time Parker had given up and fallen asleep, and Payton was able to go into her own bed and crash. Poor kid, Christmas Eve shouldn't be so tough on anyone

Darnedest Things

Here's our current list of kid phrases in the house:

HOLY MOLY - Payton's exclamation phrase, we assume she learned this from someone at school since Charly is saying it as well

Openmeal - Oatmeal Payton style

Peez - Parker saying please, impossible to say no to this regardless of what she's asking for

key key and or gee gee - thank you or kitty , depending on the situation - but both cuter than cute and always said with enthusiasm!

ta te? - Santa, always said with a big smile and a waving finger in the direction of any picture of Santa

appy - happy (we think)

MMMMMMAAAAAAA! - You've just been sent a BIG kiss from Parker

ank you - Payton's thank you

New Daddy

Here is a conversation I had with Payton in the car a few mornings ago.

Payton: Daddy's broken so I got a new daddy, Jason.

Me: Huh? You got a new daddy?

Payton: Yeah, Daddy died so I got a new daddy, Jason.

Me: Really?

Payton: Mommy died too, so I got a new mommy, Leslie.

Me: Leslie??

Payton: Yeah. Leslie. but not Karl, just Leslie

Me: OK?!?!?

Payton: You and Daddy were broken, so I put you back together, I put on your necks...and your heads...And put you back together.

Yep, if I go apparently Payton's got a back up plan all worked out. I wonder which friend I should credit for giving her these ideas???

Unt!

This morning I went into Parker's room to pick out clothes for her and she followed to help. I picked out clothes while she tugged at her Halloween costume telling me "unt, unt!" I walked back into my room and heard a snap in her room, wondering what might have been broken I looked around the corner to find her walking my way holding her Tinkerbell Dress with a now broken hanger continuing to tell me "Unt, unt!" with a great deal of enthusiasm. I tried to reason with her, suggesting we put on her clothes to go to Grandma's house, but she pushed the costume demanding that she unt (translation = want) the Tinkerbell suit. How can you argue with such a cute face! Payton had to get in on the fun and ran to get her Ariel dress as well.

Time Out!

Parker does understand what I say to her. A few minutes ago she was trying to steal a toy from Payton by wrapping her arms around Payton and pulling with all her might. I told her no, and asked if she wanted to go to time out. Apparently she did, because she grinned at me and marched right over to the time out spot and sat down.

Holidaze

Payton's been working very hard to understand holidays/the calendar/time for the last couple of weeks. Before Halloween she started asking about fireworks and planning her birthday party. She would ask (daily) when is 4th of July? What month is that? And then she'd go on to tell me how she wanted to buy herself a birthday card for her birthday party. Each time I go though the calendar, first we'll have Halloween, then Christmas, then Valentines, so on and so forth.

Progress!

Parker is more aggressive than Payton ever was as a toddler, and we're trying to figure out how to teach her how to rein in her outbursts. It's a little funny, but we can't let her know that. She bites sometimes and hits when she's trying to get your attention or is excited. So we tell her to be gentle, and show her how to touch softly. So over the last couple days when she starts to hit, I say "gentle", and she stops hitting and starts gently rubbing her hand on my arm and grinning at me knowing that she's making me proud.

When's Daddy Coming Back?

Jason's been gone for 2 days of an 8 day trip to Denver. I have been dreading this for weeks for fear that I might loose my mind and run away or be locked up, but it's going amazingly well. Payton's been on her very best behavior, all thanks to her desire to please Santa and Daddy. I've been giving her huge amounts of kudos after each outing or situation she's handled well, hoping to encourage more of the same. Parker, well, she's been more of a handful, working hard to make up for any ease that Payton's offering me. After each round of high fives Payton reminds me that Santa likes it, and he doesn't like fits or whining so Parker's not going to get presents. Tonight I had to remind her that Parker is trying to be a good girl (I truly want to believe), she's still a baby and learning how to be good, and that Santa will probably understand that and still bring her presents. I'm not sure that she bought it, so there may be a problem on Christmas morning when Santa does treat Parker equally.

As well as things are going, we all miss Daddy. Each time we come through the garage and see his truck Payton's convinced that he's home. Every few minutes (no I'm not exaggerating) she asks if he's coming home today, even though I'm quite clear that it's 6 more days. It's hysterical to hear her on the phone with him, filling Daddy in on how good she's being and how bad Parker is being. I felt so badly for her last night at bedtime, she seemed very uncomfortable without Daddy in the house, even though she didn't vocalize it I could tell she was nervous. Parker misses Daddy too, but is somehow afraid of the speakerphone and clings to me when Jason tries to talk to her on it, I'm hoping that tomorrow when he can talk to her on Skype she'll loosen up. The rest of the day she walks around talking into everything saying da-da da-da da-da. I am afraid to fall asleep, somehow thinking I need to stay up all night to keep everyone safe from the bad guys. I won't even go into our diet for the week, man we really need Jason around here!


This morning we ventured out to Chuck E Cheese, yep, me and the girls for Jake's birthday party. I was pretty convinced there was no way this could go well, but I couldn't NOT take them so off we went. I was proud of us, we arrived happy and unstressed, only 20 minutes late which they didn't even understand AND made it there with a gift in hand. I had visions of Payton clinging to me, begging to be carried as Parker sprinted off in multiple directions all at once into the ciaos. I was pleasantly surprised when Payton met up with Charly and tagged along with anything she wanted to do. Parker was thrilled to ride the merry go round over and over, and then again. She'd kick and get mad when I'd take her off of it. I was impressed with all the things that she found that she could do. I had so much fun watching them playing together and with their friends. It is funny that they can be so amused by the simplest things. Mind you, it's all wrapped up in a crazy place, but truly the things that they loved where the same rides that we had in front of K-Mart when I was growing up, the little car/train/horse that goes up and down maybe 6 inches, the barely-merry-go-round with horses that don't move just go around three times and stop. Ah to be a kid!

Mommy

This is the word that plagues me these days. I've decided that on average (waking hours) I hear this word at least once every 30 seconds, maybe more often. I now have two darling voices chanting at me, mom-mie, mom-mie, all of the time. It's making me a wee bit insane. Yesterday Jason reminded me that there was a time that I longed for this, and that made me think that there will probably be a day when I miss it, but today is not that day, and I don't think tomorrow will be either.
I've come up with different responses, sometimes I'm chipper, sometimes loving, sometimes helpful, sometimes not. When it's not, Payton responds with "I love you" in her sugary sweet voice, just right to make me feel terrible. And then she says again, mom-mie? Really kid?

Catching Up

Here is Parker playing in the pool last night.


Payton has developed some awesome softball skills! She kept Grandpa Jim busy for 30 minutes last night throwing balls to her to whack. Needless to say, these skills did not come from Mommy.

I've been slacking in the blogging lately, and really don't have an excuse. You girls just keep me too busy? Everything you do is cute, so to put them all down is too exhausting? I'm a lazy slacker mom? What ever.

So, here's what you're up to.

Payton, you love to tell us what letters you see in the world. From the TV screen to signs on the street, you'll point them all out as if you've just discovered a buried treasure. I suppose if you thing about it the alphabet really is that, a treasure. You can spell your name, and do over and over and over. We've tried to work on O-H-I-O, but it tends to come out O-H-O. When I try to tell you how to spell Parker you get so hung up on the fact that there is a "P" and an "A" that we can't get any farther than that. You crack me up because you tell me that every letter "starts with" your name, as in "A", MOMMY, "A" STARTS MY NAME! And you have such enthusiasm for it I have a hard time correcting you. It's only October, and you are already planning your birthday party. You're also starting to plan for Santa's arrival, which is serving me well. I can always remind you that Santa doesn't like whining and that seems to slow you down a bit with it. You love Baby Jack, but always remind us that he's too little and you can't touch him yet. I'm glad that you got that message early in the game and don't really even bother with him. You are LOVING that Grandma Jackie returned last week, and are anxious to sleep at her condo in YOUR room. I think it's going to kill you when you realize that you have to go to school three days a week while Parker is with Grandma all day.

As for Parker, well, you're usually up to being a daredevil. Today you have three bruises on your face. I have no idea where they came from. You love to climb up on the sofa, stand up and fall over backwards. Usually you land on the sofa, but sometimes you'll just fall right off the end, and you don't seem to care. You run around the house yelling like a mad woman on a mission, but you're not going anywhere. Sometimes you run into things, sometime you don't but you just keep going, and giggling. We love to just watch you. You're still speaking 99% Chinese, but you jabber and jabber. On a rare occasion we think we hear a word, but when asked to repeat you tend to come up with something else. You use MA-MEE for everything and everyone. You have one other word you're using a lot right now, tickle-tickle-tickle, and you wiggle your fingers like you're going to tickle someone - or scratch their eyes out! You love to drag the "Brown Bear" book around the house and are constantly demanding it be read to you. You will sometimes even sit still long enough for us to read it, if we read REALLY fast.

Together you girls are a ball! You are the best of friends, chasing and running and tugging and pulling on each other. I catch both of you trying to steal toys and of course hitting each other, either trying to thieve or trying to defend, I'm never certain who's doing which. You run around and giggle forever.

Thanks for the memories girls

Today was Mommy's birthday, and you girls were left to help me celebrate while Daddy headed off to a football game with the boys. I picked you up from Grandma Barb to find a very fussy Parker. I made a deal with you, you had to help me work for a little while and we'd go for BBQ and then meet friends for ice cream. Well, work ended up being us spending an hour with a customer in a vacant (and hot) house waiting. Payton, of course you kept reminding me that you were being a good girl, and that being a good girl meant that we'd be going for ice cream. You also announced twice that you needed to use the restroom - once to pee and once to poop. Great, just what this guy wants to hear. Parker, you don't get the whole making deal game yet. You proceeded to be a wreck. I don't really blame you, it was a long hour, but you fussed, you hid in closets, you demanded to play with ink pens, you fell repeatedly but you survived. At long last we got to leave there. We made it to Shane's for dinner and you girls turned on the charm! You made friends with the staff and found the ability to control yourselves in a manner that made me proud. Once, you Payton, asked to go to the bathroom. I knew you'd just been, twice, and told you to finish your dinner. We bid farewell to your new found friends with apologies for the small mess, and moved on to find our old friends at Marble Slab. This is where the evening gets exciting. As Ava and Charly and then Jake arrive the energy level multiplies and we all headed into the small ice cream shop. We were lucky, there was only one other family in the place and they were already at a table. I quickly order for us, and hand Payton her ice cream. I take a bite of mine and start to get some ready for Parker, as Payton looks at me and tells me she has to potty. I am trying to figure out the logistics of this event as I look down and see a puddle forming. So, there are 4 kids standing there playing around the puddle, Parker strapped in a stroller and I'm holding an ice cream cone. Now what! As I calmly walk her to the bathroom she's leaving a trail behind her and Ava is happily following along seemingly oblivious to what's happening. I don't know how or why, but I kept my cool. Luckily I happened to have her suitcase in the car from Grandma's house so she got a fresh skirt and panties and marched out to continue her ice cream. The best part is that all of the kids just went on as if nothing had happened. I have no idea if it was the great parenting skills of my friends, or if the other kids just didn't realize what had happened but no one teased her or said anything to her. The shop owner mopped up and didn't say a word. We all went on to enjoy our ice cream. That is until Charly started yelling from the bathroom. Leslie goes in to discover diarrhea and a clogged toilet. At this point I'm pretty sure that they've added a poster of our mug shots in the back as people that are banned! Once again, the kids didn't seem affected a bit and moved on to play outside. Thank God for my wonderful girls, good friends and their fabulous kids. I had a wonderfully memorable birthday.

STOP

Parker you make me laugh every day. You've not been a great speaker up to this point, instead excelling at things that require fine motor skills which is just fine by me as eventually I'm certain you'll start speaking and never stop. But this weekend you've come up with your first command, STOP. You use it when appropriate, and sometimes just to make me laugh like last night when I took you up to bed and started putting your jammies on, you looked up, grinned and yelled STOP, well, your version of it which I can't even attempt to spell. Funny Girl!

Princesses Are Old News

Last night Laura sent me pictures of Lily all decked out in her princess atire for her 3rd birthday party which made me stop and think, somewhere along the last couple of months Payton has grown out of the princess phase. How is that possible?? She still loves to strut around the house in my high heels carrying a purse, but she seems to be over the ball gowns and fairy wings. Seriously, she's only 3 I am not ready for her to move on to the Barbie's and Hannah Montana gear! She does still ask to go see the princesses (Disney World), but she's just not IN a dress all the time like she was not that long ago. Now she insists on wearing skirts or jeans every day. She tells me when I'm brushing her hair to make sure I don't make it flat. I really don't know where she's getting it. Obviously she does have some older friends, and we know that Ava's quite the diva influence, but I just didn't realize that she was paying that much attention. I'm certainly no great example of fashion, and we rarely see the Disney chanel with the hip attire for her to copy. Where is this coming from?? Oh well, we'll see what the future holds.

Swine Flu?

These days if you turn on the evening news, or flip on the laptop, you will undoubtedly hear how the Swine Flu is taking over the world! And being a family with two kids in two daycares, we were sure to run into the drama of it all. And we have. Last Friday Parker's daycare provider, Toni, called me in a panic to tell me that there was a "confirmed" case of Swine Flu at her daycare and went on to tell me how she was certain she'd be shut down by the health department. Blah, blah, blah. I was not sure what to do. We had plans to meet up with a bunch of neighbors that night, and of course lots of kids. We'd been at the gym all morning with the girls in the Kid Zone. We were STANDING in Jill's living room while she was on the phone freaking out at me and I was supposed to be leaving the girls there to meet with clients 10 minutes later. What to do, what to do? So, I ran out the door with the EXPOSED child and met my clients 5 minutes late and frazzled carrying a baby that might be exposing the world. Called the pediatrician (love this woman's grip on reality) who confirmed my thoughts, that it's a freaking flu and to go on with life. If she gets sick, give her Tylenol and fluids. Skipped the family evening out in the hood, and low and behold woke up to a baby with a pretty good fever come Saturday morning. Darn, now I started waiting for the vomiting and diarrhea, but it never came. She did have a fever over the weekend, but then just a runny nose come Monday. And on Tuesday we went in for her 15 month check up, and being the cruel mother that I am, I let her get 4 shots because the pedi confirmed that she just had a cold so it was ok. So the poor kid is now a complete mess! She has a nasty cold (or Swine Flu), 4 shots, and 4 new teeth coming in. Really, could I be any worse? I have at least not sent her away, and have spent every waking moment with her for 7 days. And I still like her. Hummm, maybe I am ok at this mom thing after all.

PS - AFTER the dr appt Tuesday I called Toni to tell her we were in the clear only to learn that the "confirmed" case was really just suspected, and that the health department wasn't involved at all. Toni didn't like that Parker hadn't been tested, and treated as some of the other children had been. That Toni BLEACHED everything in the house (I think even the light bulbs). I also learned that Toni tried to rat me out to Payton's daycare. I may have been a bit to vocal in my frustration over her overreaction when we talked. She in turn called Nancy to get her opinion of the situation. I'm SO not impressed by this, but only 5 more weeks then Grandma will be here and I won't be dependant on Miss Toni anymore. Ah, the joys of day care. Next year I think Parker's on her way to Allie Gator.

Kids come up the funniest stuff, and Payton, well, she's ahead of the crowd in this area. Here are a few recent conversations to prove my point.

To set the stage for this one you must know that Payton rarely gets genuinely frustrated with her sister, maybe at us, but not so much at Parker. But being sick for a couple weeks must have been wearing on her. We were driving down the street and both girls we buckled in their seats behind me. Both yapping away, Payton pro baby telling me some great fable and Parker repeating her favorite word, Dacky, as she's talking to her stuffed animal. Suddenly Payton whips her head around to Parker and yells, It's not Dacky, it's a DUCK!

A few weeks ago I may have set a bit of a bad example, shame on mommy. I was driving the girls home from Naples through a nasty storm, one of those where you can't see the highway in front of you. I don't recall what happened, but I mumbled "Shit" under my breath. of course, as kids will, Payton somehow caught it and started repeating it over and over and over. Being the witty woman that I am, I quickly corrected her and told her that I thought we needed a SHIP to get home in all of this rain! She went right along with it, and for the next 20 minutes wanted to talk about the ship that we needed to get home. Now any time it starts raining (every day in Florida) and she and I are in the car she tells me "Mommy, we need a SHIP!" She's so proud of herself.


And here's a picture of my not so adventurous little girl, screaming NOOOOO...... Last weekend we took the girls out to dinner for some BBQ, their favorite. Afterwards we were wandering around the mall and I thought that maybe Payton would enjoy the big bouncing swing thingy that is set up there. We watched a few other kids do it, and she seemed like it was an OK idea. I handed over my $10 and my big girl to the attendant. As soon as he started strapping her in I realized this wasn't going to go well. But, I pushed her and kept talking her up, reminding her how much she LOVES to jump on the bed, and how she's always walking around the house showing us how high she can jump. This apparatus would help her jump REALLY high. She was not buying it. We got her to jump once or twice, but then she was done. And begging to get down. She is so my offspring - she was wearing a skirt and whining about how it hurt her legs. I knew exactly how she felt, but wanted so much for her to get over it and just enjoy the trampoline!

Bigger Girls Have Less Vices

It's a week of change in our house, and it seems it may actually be harder on me that the girls!

We started the week off when Jason dropped Payton off at school to learn that she's been moved to the next classroom up, and that in the 3 year old classroom Kitty is no longer welcome for nap time. I worried and worried all day. I even went as far as to call and complain that we weren't given any notice and I thought it was really wrong to not give us the weekend to prepare her. It seems I was the only one bothered. She came home from school at the end of the day never even mentioning it. Two days later when I went to pick her up she came running to me proudly exclaiming that Kitty isn't here, he dones't come to school anymore. I guess we're over that.

Since Payton's weaning went so well, I've decided it's time to wean myself, I mean Parker, from the paci. See, we're both addicts, probably me more than her. In theory she gets the paci for bed and car rides only. But, then she also gets it at the gym, and if Mommy needs to make a call, or she's finds it, or we're out and about and she's being loud, or we're in the office, or Daddy needs to make a call...you get the point. A few weeks ago she was at Jill's for the evening and Jill put her to bed without even thinking of it, and she was fine. So last night I decided we'd quit cold turkey. I put her to bed without it, and listened to her fuss and play for almost an hour. Eventually she went to sleep and I thought, that was easy, a little noise in the moniter no big deal. So today we loaded up in the car to head to the gym, it was a long 10 minute ride, but ok. The gym she was fine I was told. Then came the long trip to run some errands - about and hour of her fussing, yelling and exhausted in the back seat, man I really needed that paci. So we finally got home and headed up for a nap. She usually falls asleep right away, this nap took 15 minutes for her to fall asleep, and then only lasted 45 minutes. I've been told that this will only take a few days, and I hope so or I may not make it!

Rock Out Parker

I know all babies love to dance, but right now I'm convinced that Parker is the cutest of them all. You will be too when you see this. She gets her shoulders going, arms swinging, head bopping, hips swaying, feet stomping and grins eat to ear.

Daddy loves to turn the Reggae station on the TV for her. She "rocks out" as Payton would say, and seems to have some rhythm even!


Did I mention she does this for any music weather it be a commercial or in the car?

P-A-Y-T-O-N, Sort Of

Payton and Daddy have been working very hard at spelling her name.

Money = Disney

Payton’s been in a Disney World fog this morning as she is from time to time. First she started off by telling Jason on his way out the door that she’d see him on Wednesday at Disney World when he got home. After he left she mentioned to me a few times that she wanted to go. As usual, I reminded her that we need money to go to Disney and that I needed to work to make money. So, while the girls were eating breakfast I thought I could get a few quick calls in for a customer. I told the girls that I needed for them to be quite so that mommy could work. For the most part they were pretty well behaved while I made my three calls. When I came back to the table to congratulate them on behaving so well handing out high fives to both, Payton politely asks if she could get down now, and then asks “Did you make some money?” I’m either creating a very balanced and money aware child or a monster. I guess time will tell, but if she tries to sell you her sister for Disney money, please don’t buy!

Walking, Climbing and Becoming a Mini-Addy

Oh Parker, Parker, Parker. What will we do with you! You are our daredevil, and you're gonna kill yourself if you're not careful, or I don't keep a close eye on you. I've taken to calling you Addy, as she's the only other girl I know who likes to climb quite so much. Daddy's thrilled, he's deemed you the athlete, while I'm wondering how to keep you alive long enough to excel at any sport. Since you started walking a few weeks ago (slipping that in here since I forgot to mention it previously) you also think that you can climb Kilimanjaro. I find you standing in your chair, in Payton's chair, trying to climb/stand on your little play table, and yesterday you got mad becuase you couldn't figure out how to climb up onto the kitchen chair. I'm guessing we're only weeks from that. The funniest part is that even when you get up into your chair and fall, you just do it again. Never tears, never fears, just do it again and again. You crack me up dragging heavy toys around the house, as if you really need to contribute to the clutter around here. Today you were picking up a ball that Payton can hardly carry around because it's so heavy, and yesterday it was the BIG ball that I still can't figure out how someone with such a small wingspan could even grasp. You do it all, just grinning at me from ear to ear.

Here are two videos, blue shirt is 2 weeks previous to the one with the chair. PROGRESS!

Parker's Tantrum!

Parker has recently really learned how to express herself, and not in a good way. I probably shouldn't, but I find it really funny. I'm also impressed with her physical ability to throw herself up into the air using her feet. This particular fit is, I think, due to the fact that she doesn't want to drink from the sippy cup I've provided for her, she wants a bottle. We're trying to make the switch right now. Most of the time she's fine and thinks it's fun to such through the straw, but this moment she's frustrated because she has to suck more than one suck to get milk into her mouth and I think she thinks that the cup is empty.

Bum

Today Payton's been scratching at her bum all day, so being the attentive mother that I am I thought that I should take a peak at it while I was helping her wipe. As I somewhat expected, her bottom was a little pink, I'm thinking that maybe she's missed a wipe or two recently. I said somewhat rhetorically, "Your bums a little red?" She quickly and happily responds, "It's because you've been spanking me so much." She then grins and goes on her merry way to her nap. I was about to explode laughing. She wasn't mean, or scared or anything. She was just matter of fact, like, duh, of course it is! Honestly, the red on her bottom has nothing to do with spanking, and everything to do with 3 year old hygiene.
As I mentioned before, Payton is currently experiencing the terrible three's, after being a delightful baby and a pretty good toddler. I'm usually somewhat of a softy mom, I try to talk and explain with loads of time outs, but I haven't been feeling like any progress is being made. So, two days ago, I decided to try out a no tolerance approach. I am not coddling any more. I tell her no, or stop and offer the consequence of a spank, and a trip to her room. If she continues, I follow through with whichever was offered as consequence. I know that no one believes in spanking anymore. I'm sure that if all my mom friends read this I'd be dis-momed, but I am trying to raise a bull headed child here and it seemed to work out for my own parents so I'm giving it a shot. I still love my parents, and they still love me. Payton, at this point, seems to still love me and still loves to hug, kiss and snuggle me. She's by no means afraid of me, except when I'm mad about something she's done or is doing. Ya know what, that's a good time to be afraid.

Babies and Bellies

Here's another funny one from today. Payton is constantly saying things these days that kind of make you stop and go humm.

Payton and I were playing in her room, listening to the radio station blasting Brittney Spear which has recently replaced the Toddler Favorites CD that used to play in her room so often. That alone frightens me, but isn't the story. No this story is about babies. This story starts with Payton telling me to take Parker's jammies out of her room. What? I ask. She points to a set of blue jammies that I recently tossed into the "TO LESLIE'S HOUSE" pile that lives in the top of the closet. I explained that they needed to go to Leslie's. Of course she assumed that meant that they were for Charly. I thought it would be a good time to remind her that Leslie has a baby in her belly, just like I had Parker in my belly before she was born. She sat for a few seconds thinking and told me that I should put Parker back in my belly. I'm now realizing that she REALLY doesn't get this concept. Guess I'll let that one go for a while.

BIG, BIG, BIG

I have to type this one real quick, cause it's too funny to let go.

Payton and Jason are snuggling on the sofa right now while I'm online. I hear Payton say to Jason, "I like your boobies, cause they're big". She goes on to tell him that she has boobies too. Jason, trying not to laugh, tells her that someday she'll have bigger boobies. She has to continue the conversation with, "I'll have BIG BIG BIG BIG (4x) boobies!"

Someday she's gonna kill me for this one!

Payton Turn's 3 with lots of, uhm, spirit

Wow, how is it possible that three short years ago it was just Jason, Oliver and I laying around the house. It was so quiet back then, so still. Now there is a constant energy, even when the girls are asleep they're like computers with that little wizzing noise always on stand by, at any moment ciaos could erupt. And at age 3, it often does. Payton was always a happy even tempered baby, never even that curious getting into things, just mellow and content. Oh how things have changed recently. Now she's constantly on one end or the other of the emotion pendulum. She loves with such vigor, often telling us that she loves us THIS much with her arm out as wide as she can stretch. She will list everyone she loves, Mommy, Daddy, Parker, Oliver, Marmar Barb, Papa, Marmar Jackie, Marmar Teresa, Papa, Charley, Leslie, Thomas, Annika...and the list goes ON. She loves to snuggle and give hugs and is totally in love with her baby sister. Then, at the drop of a hat she's in hysterics because she needs kitty (or milk, or a certain doll or anything else) and it's like the sky has just fallen. She's crying, and just destroyed. If you raise your voice to her over this mess, somehow she finds another level of hysterics that seemed unimaginable only moments ago. So as parents we scratch our heads. Are we supposed to yell louder, use MORE time outs, spank more? What is the answer?? We've taken to sending her to her room lately so that we don't have to listen to her, but getting her up there is a whole fiasco of it's own, and usually the punishment ends up creating a need for a whole additional discipline session as she refuses to accept it. I'm 100% certain that my own parents are laughing their butts off as they read this, as I believe my apple didn't fall far from the tree. With that said I often try to relate to her. I know that as a kid/teen/adult I've always been a bit on the emotional side myself. Now I look at her and I know how she feels, I know that harsh words just make me cry more, but what's a parent to do? Ah, only time will tell.

With all of that said I must also say that she is such an amazing kid. She is so charming and for the most part polite. She loves to talk to strangers, and I think she's going to live life by the motto "There is no such thing as a stranger, just a friend you haven't met." She's well behaved now (for the most part) and I actually enjoy taking her with me when I head out and about. She loves to dance and play dress up. She lives for time with her friends, and leaving them is often cause for a melt down as described above. At 3 years old she can swim like a fish, and has no fear of the water. She is a bit bossy, but think that's might be genetics well!

I love you baby girl!

Great Grandma & Grandpa Visted

It's been a while since I've found/made the time to blog, but I'm going to go back in time here and try to catch up. We've had a spring full of activity, which leaves little time for writing it all down.

So the day finally arrived for the Great Grandparents arrival. I decided to take Payton with me to the airport, so we loaded up in the car and headed off. I had mentioned that they were coming, but we hadn't really gone in depth as to who they were. So the conversation went something like this.

Me: We're going to get Grandma Donna & Grandpa Dean, that's MY grandma & grandpa and Grandpa Mark's mommy and daddy

Payton: But what are their last names.

Me: Last names? Their last name is Orr.

Payton: But what are their LAST names.

Me: Their names are Grandma Donna & Grandpa Dean, Marmar Donna & Papa Dean

Payton: But what are their LAST names

Me: I don't know

We've had similar conversations since then, and I still don't know what she's looking for in a "last name."

Anyway, we had a wonderful visit with the highlight of Payton getting to play in the ocean with her great grandparents. I am pretty certain there are very few kids in the world who can say that! From the beach it was pretty hard to tell who the grownups were and who was the kid as they were all three having a blast and giggling like little kids when the waves knocked them over again and again. Parker spent most of the time on the beach eating sand, but she also enjoyed playing in the surf as well. I don't have photos from that day because I forgot my camera!

The rest of the visit we hung out around the house and the Estero area and filled their bellies with good fish. We took Grandma & Grandpa to Koreshan Park to show them some of our areas history, and enjoyed some good Florida April heat and humidity. It was a very special week for me, as I have very fond memories of my own great grandparents and I am so thrilled that my girls had a chance to spend this time with theirs.

Mr Pabst

For the last year or so we've noticed that Payton has had a special place in her heart for our neighbor Karl. Karl is Ava and Charley's dad, and has a wonderful wife of his own, Leslie. BUT, Payton is somehow thinking she's gonna melt this older gentleman's heart with her sweetness. So far, she's not broken him down.

Saturday night we're all hanging out eating pizza while the girls play in the pool when Payton announces, "Karl, I love you. And I love your EYES!"

Where in the world does an almost 3 year old come up with this? No, she's not spending her free time watching Cinemax, I promise. I'm pretty sure that I've never heard Oswald or Diego using such a pick up line. I have no idea, but I do know that Karl did finally break a grin. Maybe she's onto something...

Stool Days

Payton, Grandma & Daddy on her first day


Last week Payton finally started preschool. The big day has come and gone, and I kept waiting for there to be some BIG drama to write about, but apparently my little drama queen doesn't feel like making drama out of going to school. Instead she just picked up her lunch box and hopped in the car after a week of saying to us, "Can we go now, can I go to stool??"


Payton and her teacher, Ms. Kelly 30 seconds after meeting each other



Some will say, she's too young (Great Grandma Orr, you know who you are) some will say it's about time (daddy)! I admit that I was nervous about sending her, but not so much for the reasons I think most are. I'm not worried that someone's going to break into the playground and abduct her. I'm not too worried the other kids are going to teach her bad habits. I'm not worried she'll be afraid without me there. I was worried that I'd dress her wrong and she'd not be able to play on the playground because she had the wrong shoes. I was afraid that I'd pack the wrong stuff in her lunch box and the other kids would think she was a dork, or that she wouldn't be able to open something and she'd be afraid to ask for help so she'd sit starving. I was afraid that she wouldn't get to have Kitty when she needed him. But after a week, and a new week starting today it seems she's surviving. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's liking it. I have to admit, I'm just guessing on the liking it thing because she won't tell us what she does there all day. We ask and ask, but it's like she's taken a vow of silence on the subject.


Did you read books?
No


Did you play on the playground?
No


Did you eat lunch?
No


Who's in your class?
I don't know


But each day she comes home starving, and wired, and grinning from ear to ear, so whatever she'd doing there it must be good!

Parker, you never cease to amaze us! Lately you are coming up with new tricks every day it seems. In the last week you've started waving, saying bye, some version of hi, maybe bottle (ba), ok that one is a big maybe, you're saying ma ma all of the time as well as da da. You'll eat anything we put in front of you, and many things we don't. I took you and Payton to lunch for BBQ the other day and you were a maniac, I barely got any of my own pulled pork. Today we headed out for breakfast where you sucked down blueberry pancakes like it was old hat. You are grinning and crawling around like every move is a race. You're starting to pull up on things, but don't stay up long. AND, you've learned that you can climb up the first stair. I didn't say stairs, because once you get up the first one you stop and get frustrated, you don't know what to do next. You don't seem to have the energy to get up the next one, can't move back down to the floor, and don't know how to sit down on the stair you've made it to. I suppose this means that we need to get the gate up pretty soon. Yesterday we took you swimming at Grandma & Grandpa's and you were loving it, I think you are going to be a swimmer like Payton is. I'm very excited for you to start swimming lessons next week! Kimmy's gonna love your spirit.

Did I mention that your first tooth is totally through and your chomping with it?! Too bad you won't give me a good toothy grin for the camera so I can show the world.

Oh Payton, it's crazy how grown up you have become. I think I realized it yesterday after you spent two days with Grandma & Grandpa. When I arrived you were napping, but when you got up you were a person on your own. You had no hesitation to swim alone, jumping in from the edge, swimming from one end of the pool to the other. You knew what you wanted and when, and asked politely (most of the time) for what you wanted. You sat at dinner and ate your fish, shrimp and couscous, even telling us that you liked the "texture" of the fish, working so hard to fit into the grown up conversation. Obviously you're still so little and do need our help for most things, but there's a lot you don't need. You can dress yourself, go potty without us, and now you're headed off to preschool this week. You've started looking out for Parker and playing with her usually with the right amount of gentleness (if that's a word). I know I keep telling you and you look at me like I'm crazy, but I'm really proud of you.

10 Months...

As much as I seem to be pushing you to be a year old, you are really only 10 months old today. For some reason this time of year, I jump ahead a bit. Grandma Jackie is leaving, Payton's birthday's in a month, and then yours is the next, so in my mind it's all happening at once and I've already graduated you out of babyhood! Sorry sweetheart, I'm just so excited for you because it seems like you are growing up so much all of the time. In the last week you've broken your first tooth through and have become a very happy chick again. You are back to eating, and are making up for lost time. Last night you ate 3 containers of baby food! You are doing your cute little crab crawl all over the neighborhood and seem to need a bath every night after crawling down the streets, pavers and yards of all our friends. You crack me up pushing your little tush up in the air. I don't know if you're doing it to relieve your poor knees or if you're trying to stand up, but it's darn cute. Payton is obviously your best friend in the world, even when she yells at you to "STOP LOOKING AT ME", you just grin and giggle more, and of course keep watching her. Tonight your dad and I got a good laugh at the two of you playing peek a boo in Payton's new tent while she told you "It's not funny" buried her head and giggled, which of course made you giggle, and made her repeat herself "IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Oh you girls are gonna make each other crazy some days, but I hope you both will always know how luck you are to have each other!

Poor Baby!

I hate this so much for you, but it seems like teething is going to be really tough for you Parker. The last two days you've been having a terrible time. You have spent so much time sleeping and when you're not sleeping you just can't take the pain and you go from giggling to bawling in no time at all. In between those times you're so lethargic it almost frightens me. You just lay on our chests and fall asleep, but when we try to put you to bed you don't want to be left alone. Thank goodness you are eating and drinking but it just goes straight though you poor thing. I don't know what to do for you except hope that it ends soon.

Parker Is Crawling

All at once you can do it all! Yesterday morning I was talking to your Grandma Teresa telling her that you were almost crawling, and then all of the sudden you did it, you crawled! It was just a creep and the rest of the day we were on the go and you never got a chance to practice anymore. So this morning you were ready to go and that you did. You will crawl a few feet at a time to get to toys or to Payton, then you sit up (also new) and clap for yourself with a BIG grin. This afternoon we went to Jim & Barb's and that's where this video was taken. You are trying to get to Payton. I think all of this crawling must be exhausting, because you've taken two naps, eaten a bunch and were ready for bed early! Night, night sweetheart.

After watching you move around for just the few hours today we're already scared, you are gonna be TROUBLE! You spent 5 minutes today trying you hardest to get your finger into an electric socket that you found after crawling around under the kitchen table. These are thing that Payton never bothered to do.

Parker Is Up To Lots

Oh my sweet baby Parker, what are you doing these days? Last week you shocked me by clapping, and I was so excited to report to your daddy that you clapped for me and then he burst my bubble by telling me that you had actually started the previous day and that Grandma Jackie had shown him when he got home that evening. I suppose that's what happens to mommies who go to work, we just miss some firsts. But, you know what, you've been doing it for a week now and every time I see you do it it makes me giggle, and you too. You think it's very fun to do, but seem to have your own schedule as to when it's appropriate, and it doesn't seem to include when I have the video camera going.

Let's see, what else. Well, you are REALLY REALLY close to sitting up on your own AND crawling. You keep getting up onto your knees, but then can't figure out where to go from there. I am certain that you'll figure it out any day now. While I know you're going to be so excited I am dreading it a bit because you are already into everything, so we're gonna be in big trouble once you can get up as well as around.

And then there's your conversations! For the last couple of weeks it's been dadadadada, which is cute, but give momma a little love. Lately there have been a few mu...mu's but I'm still waiting for the enthusiasm of the dadada's. I'm sure it's coming, you're just waiting for the right time.

Minnie Me

Payton has become a little mommy in her world. She has Baby and Dolly and Elmo, and she's obviously not got any more control over her children than I do, because I often hear her putting them in time out for terrible atrocities such as not sitting up or misbehaving or anything else or nothing at all! Sometimes she's living out the daily grind of being a mother, trying to take TWO children to the grocery store, as she is in this video. Ah, and I thought I'd have to wait 30 years for her to understand how difficult it can be! Of course there are also times that I'm so impressed with her, I'll see her with Baby over her shoulder, patting her back working a burp out and she's always adiment that we be careful when we hold Baby and do it just so. She'll work hard to get Dolly dressed with her silly socks and shoes that fall of the moment she gets them on, just like a real live baby I must say. Elmo is always in trouble because he just refuses to stand up, you know, she can't hold him ALL of the time I hear her telling him!

Other times she needs to capture the precious moments and breaks out her camera. I can not tell you how many times in the last few days she's insisted on posing her "children", her grandmother, Oliver, Parker, Jason and/or I. Then we HAVE to say cheeeeeeeese until she clicks the camera. She tells us how good each photo is and we're released. In these pics she's trying to get Elmo and Dolly to pose with Oliver who's trying desperately to hide under the dining room table.

Big Girls

Another milestone yesterday for Parker, she got to ride in the big girl seat at Costco instead of in her car seat. It had been a long morning of errands and car time and we were all at the end, so we stopped for a slice of pizza and hot dog before finishing up our shopping. I took Parker out of her car seat to offer her a bottle, which she refused, and could tell that there was NO way she was going to get back in her seat. Luckily Costco has the big carts with double seats so the girls had a ball. Payton spent the ride trying to protect her hot dog, while Parker switched between grinning at everyone passing and trying to thieve the very attractive hot dog.

Mickey'll Make It Better

My last blog was written the day before we were heading to Disney with Payton for the first time, at that moment she was perfectly healthy. Somehow over the course of the night that changed. Drastically. Unbeknowst to me, she woke Jason up a few times in the night, and eventually ended up in our bed and at 4:30 we were all up for the day to learn that she had a pretty good temperature and was sick as a dog. Being the stellar parents that we are, we pumped her full of ibuprofen and strapped her in the car seat. I was apprehensive, suggesting that maybe we put off leaving at least until later in the day, when Payton answered "Mickey'll make it better." With that we headed off.

She was a trooper, never complaining a bit through the drive or the 8 hours that we kept her going through Animal Kingdom. She even had a good time for the most part, and some moments she had a great time. We probably shouldn't have started with the 3D Bug's Life movie, it just about brought the poor kid to tears. She was begging to get out of there as the bugs were spitting at us and the exterminator was coming at us with bug spray, never mind the huge spiders dropping out of the ceiling. From there we jumped on the safari ride which was amazing. It was a very cool morning (OK cold), so all of the animals were out and she got to see more than I think you would typically see. She was a little nervous about meeting the characters, but did give Mickey, Minnie and Daffy hugs after waiting in lines to meet each one. She had a blast at the Bone Yard, which is basically a big playground with enormous slides. But, by the end of the day, she was a sad puppy, falling asleep in her stroller before the big parade. I know that she would have loved it, but I just couldn't wake her up to force it on her. So we headed back to the hotel where she was quite content to take a hot bath and snuggle while the other kids headed to the pool.

Day two was off to The Magic Kingdom with more ibuprofen, and it was SO worth it! As we entered there was a show going on at the castle and she was in awe. I have to admit, watching her watch the Princesses and Mickey and Minnie dance and speak kind of brought a tear to my eye. She was so into it, jaw-dropping-into-it. From there we met up with the Bond's and explored the rest of the park. I thought that it would be a good idea to take her on the teacups, what was I thinking! As we stood in line Lea started talking about spinning the cup as hard as she could. I began wondering if Payton would be able to handle it, I had no idea that she'd love it and I'd be the one that couldn't handle the spinning. It was almost time for the big event, lunch with the princesses. But before we could get to the castle, we had a 45 minute wait to see Tigger and Pooh. I really didn't think that she knew who they were, but she was bound and determined to see them, waiting and waiting and waiting. She was thrilled when we finally made it and gave them lots of hugs. And then the moment arrived for the Royal Table Lunch, unfortunately it was about the same moment that the ibuprofen was wearing off, and it was kind of ugly. Miss Payton was rough, very rough. All she wanted was to be held by Mommy and Daddy. She did get her picture taken with each princess and mustered up a smile, but you could see how miserable she was. The princesses all stood back from her, obviously afraid of the germy kid. She wanted so badly to talk to them, she just didn't seem to know what to say. The best line was when she looked at Snow White in amazement and announced to her that she had makeup on, as if it was going to be a big shock to Snow White to learn that someone had snuck it on her. After a while she perked back up and we continued our day heading on to another risky new experience, the roller coaster. Which she amazed me by loving. As we got off she was begging to do it again. It was getting late and was almost time to go. On our way out we were passing the castle as the show was starting. We couldn't help it, we had to sit down and watch it again. This time was even better than the first because it was dark out and the castle was lit up and truly looked magical. I sat down in front of the stroller and had such a great time just watching her face as she watched the show, a toddlers version of Broadway. Ahh, the magic of Disney!

Anticipation

Tomorrow morning at 6 we're headed to Orlando to take Payton to Disney for the first time at 2 years 8 months old. Yes, everyone says it's too young, we're crazy. Well, everyone who doesn't have a 2 year old or a 3 year old who has gone. All of them say, take her, she'll LOVE IT!! Besides, before she's 3 she's still free, and Momma likes a bargain. Wow, can you really talk about Disney and bargains in the same thought??? Anyway...

Miss Payton is excited. Very excited to say the least. We didn't talk about it until after New Year's really because that just would have been too far out for her to deal with. So about 2-3 weeks ago we started talking up the trip. We told her that Mickey would be there, as well as all of the princesses. As we've talked and talked she's had many questions and thoughts about how this is all going to go down. So we've determined that there will in fact be hot dogs there, and juice. These are high priorities to Payton, especially the juice as it's a special occasion drink. We've gone back and forth trying to explain to her that Mickey and the Princesses will talk, she still doesn't 100% believe us on that one. We've had LONG discussions about how Kitty will be traveling, where he will be allowed to go and where he won't. She's bound and determined that he will be with us at the Parks and that Mommy can carry him in the bag, her solution when Daddy expressed concerns that he could be lost. We'll see who wins that battle. So for the last week she's been running around the house in her most excited whisper voice shouting to us that we're gonna see Mickey and THE PRINCESSES!!! As she whisper/shouts this she grins from ear to ear and jumps up and down with arms waving. I don't think a little girl could be any more happy. In fact last night she professed to me again how proud she is of me, for taking her on this trip. Gotta love the kudos from a kid.

This morning she helped me pack her suitcase. And in true female character she piled every pair of shoes she has in the suitcase as well as ribbons and necklaces. I sure hope she forgives me when we get there tomorrow and instead finds only 3 pairs of shoes and 5 outfits. I may be a mom, but I'm still a girl too, of course she's overpacked! It's about 3 pm as I'm writing this and I think that MAYBE packing at 10 this morning was a bad idea, because every since we finished she's been dragging the suitcase around telling me that it's time to go.

Payton's Top 10 Recent Lines

1. You are a boy and a man.
2. DARCEEEEEE
3. Marmar's a woman, mommy's a woman.
4. Daddy calls you Darcee, I call you Mommy?
5. One, Two, Four, Five, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, TEN
6. Here's the deal...
7. Pink - This is an answer to ANY question. Name, age, what's wanted from Santa...
8. Finish it up
9. What color is that?
10. I wanna go inside (outside really)!

Grandpa's Playhouse

I can't even start to describe how much fun it was to have Grandma & Grandpa Orr, Colin, Robynn and Addy here for Christmas, but let me give it a shot. First of all Payton spent the week leading up to everyone's arrival begging for ADD-EE to get here, she would practically break out in tears when I'd tell her it would be another day or hour or minute. It was a rough week, the anticipation of Santa and the family is really trying on a girl at 2 1/2. Parker had no clue what a great week was in store for her, but she has spent quite a bit of time since they left wondering why we abuse her so allowing her to occasionally not be held.

The week started out with Payton riding in the car for 4 1/2 hours with G & G explaining to them that Grandpa is a boy and a man, over and over and over. 30 minutes into the drive they called me in my car asking where the off button was. I just laughed, and hung up so that they could continue the chat with her. See, I had a plan. I knew that riding in the car with the babies could be difficult, surely some crying would happen, but that they would eventually sleep. Payton on the other hand was likely to stay awake and at full volume the entire way. And she did.

At last, we arrived at "Grandpa's Playhouse" as the rental house in the Key's became know. And the party began! The girls were kind of a love triangle, but the love seemed to go all 3 directions. Parker was entertained by anything Payton and Addy did. Addy and Payton loved to put on a show for Parker. Payton was finally the big girl, and loved her role as ring leader/boss. Addy thought the baby was very interesting and that Payton was pretty bossy but also very exciting. There was a lot of screaming, laughing, singing and giggling. Very few naps were had and lots of emotions were expressed (loudly), and we loved most every minute of the trip! It was feeling very un-Christmas like as we sweat outside during the day, but Payton did spot Santa taking a break on the streets of Key West three days before Christmas. I really can't imagine how he had the time, but I suppose he has "people" to take care of the chaos before the big trip so he was just out enjoying an afternoon stroll.

Eventually we had to come back to reality and started the 6 hour trip home (yes it took MUCH longer to get home). This seems to be the part of the trip that Payton remembers. When I ask her to tell people what we did in the Key's she always tells them we went to the park. Well, the park was actually just one of MANY stops on the way home, but was where we decided to have lunch. Kids are funny that way.

So, by the time we got home we had started to remind Payton that Santa would soon be arriving. Christmas Eve she went to bed after helping me set out Oreo's and milk for Santa without putting up a fight. We really talked it up with her and thought she'd be racing downstairs early in the morning. Jackie and Mom and Dad arrived early to be here for all of the fun of the girls all seeing Santa's goodies. But the silly kid must have forgotten by morning, because instead of running for the stairs, she crawled in our bed and asked for cartoons. I suppose it was a good thing allowing everyone to get themselves together a bit, but being a Santa junkie myself I had a really hard time relating. Caillou vs Santa, Santa ALWAYS wins in my book! Finally we had to remind her and headed for the stairs. She was excited to check out the pile, but after surveying the situation, decided that she needed to go potty before diving in. Once again, I question her dedication to this whole Santa thing. Have I already failed as a parent?? SO, AFTER a potty break, the fun began. She opened and opened, as Santa was very generous. I have to take a break here to mention that Addy and Parker were also present at this Christmas, but they were not quite old enough to really grasp the whole event. Addy TOTALLY loved her sun glasses, and is quite the groovy chic in them. Parker got a way cool dinosaur with super cool balls that still seems to be a big hit in our house, but she was more concerned about getting her breakfast in than opening gifts. From here I'll let the photos tell the story.